Today is July 27, 2026 /
Today is July 27, 2026 /
I direct Ayeka’s Becoming a Soulful Parent program. I have three kids. And I spend a lot of time with them. But I actually don’t really read many parenting books. What is drawing me in right now is reading about aging. I can’t get enough of it. I am halfway through Atul Gawande’s, Being Mortal: Continue Reading »
A new “soulful” approach to Jewish text study is helping Hillel Day School students develop strategies for mindfulness at just the right time, as the world continues to move at a fast pace and mental health challenges are on the rise among youth nationwide. “We know that social-emotional health informs general health and that it relates to Continue Reading »
Jewish educational leaders and their communities have become very good at the first stage of Jewish spirituality – connection. The time has now come to move to the second stage – calling. The First Stage When I ask people for their first association with ‘spirituality’, the most common response is ‘connection’. They speak of connecting Continue Reading »
Jerusalem, Israel, August 22, 2018 – Ayeka: The Center for Soulful Jewish Education today announced the release of the podcast mini-series Inspired Parenting: Jewish Tools for Reflection and Growth, together with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies’ online Jewish learning site, Elmad. The series delves into the soulful side of parenting, prompting parents to ask Continue Reading »
What will we say to our alumni if they return and tell us: “You helped me think and relate. You cared about me. I’m extremely grateful. But I finished my youth as a stranger to my own soul. Why didn’t you help me with that?” Teachers work very hard to welcome their students. They decorate Continue Reading »
What will you be trying to do teshuvah for this year? Raise your hand if it is the same as last year. Raise the other hand if it was the same as the year before that. Raise the other hand if… I don’t know about you, but I’ve got all my hands up. But was Continue Reading »
When we at Ayeka began speaking about Soulful Education over a decade ago – and even dared to use the “G-word,” eyes rolled and conversations ended. Today, we see schools competing to bring their educators to our Soulful Education trainings where Ayeka helps teachers to focus on their inner lives, as a vital first step Continue Reading »
Something is seriously askew. We all know that the peak moment in Jewish prayer is the silent standing prayer. Not saying the Shema, not the singing, not Hallel, not any ecstatic group experience. Everything leads up to this one silent prayer. The silent prayer usually only takes 3 or 4 minutes. A morning service can Continue Reading »
Ayeka: The Center for Soulful Education today announced that Michal Fox Smart has been hired as its first Director of North America, effective August 2018. Michal Fox Smart is currently Associate Principal of Judaic Studies at Bi-Cultural Day School in Stamford, CT. A recognized leader in innovation and curriculum design, Michal is the recipient of the Continue Reading »
There is a terrible sickness in the Jewish community. I also have it and can’t seem to get rid of it. I feel contaminated. And this is the time — from Pesach to Shavuot — to work on healing ourselves. What is the sickness? Judgementalism. We are constantly judging each other. The time has come Continue Reading »
