About Us
Nefesh Yehudi Academy was created in 2012-2013 to sustain Jewish identity and culture for those students enrolled at Hatikvah International Academy Charter School and their immersive Hebrew language program. NYA is a four day a week program that meets after school and buses, currently, 56 students directly from Hatikvah to NYA. Our program is housed at the Young Israel of East Brunswick.
The program has grown, with this year’s kindergarten class having 18 students, and our reputation is excellent. We receive many calls from prospective parents who are hoping their children receive a coveted “spot” in Hatikvah, whose waiting list is over 300. Many Jewish parents, seeking a spot in Hatikvah for the excellent secular education and well-regarded Hebrew immersion curriculum, are struggling with difficult decisions regarding their children’s Jewish education. Knowing that Nefesh Yehudi Academy exists and is an excellent program for all Jews, makes their decision-making easier.
The program has grown, with this year’s kindergarten class having 18 students, and our reputation is excellent. We receive many calls from prospective parents who are hoping their children receive a coveted “spot” in Hatikvah, whose waiting list is over 300. Many Jewish parents, seeking a spot in Hatikvah for the excellent secular education and well-regarded Hebrew immersion curriculum, are struggling with difficult decisions regarding their children’s Jewish education. Knowing that Nefesh Yehudi Academy exists and is an excellent program for all Jews, makes their decision-making easier.
Our Program
1. What is Nefesh Yehudi Academy?
NYA is an after-school educational program designed to provide Jewish programming for students who attend a Hebrew-language charter school.
2. Is your program associated with any specific synagogue or other Jewish program? Is it designed for any specific Jewish “denomination”?
NYA is an independent educational organization run by its own board of directors consisting of parents and non-parents with a background in education. We are not run or managed by any other organization. It is a guiding principal of NYA that we offer Jewish education in a manner that is comfortable to families who have many different approaches to practicing Judaism. As such, our program does not espouse any single approach as being the “correct” manner to practice Judaism.
It is important to us that each family feel engaged in its child's Jewish education and not at odds with it. When it comes to the Jewish education of your child, our goal is to blur the educational lines between school and home. Our program should never be at odds with the lessons that you teach your child. Additionally, NYA intends to provide a host of social and educational extracurricular activities that include our students’ families in order to enhance the NYA experience and foster a feeling of community among its participants.
Finally, our faculty and staff all believe it is beyond their call to serve as a “rabbi” to any student. If personal religious questions arise, NYA staff will encourage the family to speak with their own religious leaders or rabbis.
3. What is taught during a typical afternoon at NYA?
The NYA curriculum is designed to cultivate our students’ pride in their Judaism and a connection to their rich heritage. Our students explore areas of Jewish literature, liturgy, and history. We teach a love for Israel, Zionism, and fellow Jews in a manner understanding of the diverse approach to practicing Judaism within our community. Our methods utilize the latest approaches to education with an emphasis on experiential methods that leverage hands-on recreational approaches where possible in order to make learning fun and exciting.
4. What is “experiential" learning?
Experiential learning is an emerging educational trend that emphasizes an engaging, hands-on approach to learning. In Jewish education, experiential learning translates into an educational approach whereby traditional Jewish content permeates all learning through meaningful and fun Jewish experiences. By teaching traditional Jewish lessons through engaging activities, experiential learning offers a powerful method for building Jewish knowledge and identity.
A number of established Jewish organizations offer training programs in this method, including the Jewish Experiential Leadership Institute at the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Institute for Informal Jewish Education at Brandeis University, and the Yeshiva University Program in Experiential Jewish Education.
5. I always assumed Jewish learning meant studying Jewish texts. How, if at all, does that fit into “experiential learning”?
Part of a Jewish education involves an understanding of classical Jewish literature and writings. Our curriculum will expose students to these classical writings in a way that enables an appreciation of the relevance of these texts to the Jewish experience. In relation to the modern State of Israel, for example, our students will over the years learn excerpts from writings of the greatest Zionist thinkers from Ahad Ha’am to Herzl and from Yehudah Halevi to 21st century leaders. The Balfour Declaration and the Declaration of Independence, among others, will be explored. Similarly, in relation to our curricular goals of love of Israel and the Jewish people and our history through the ages, our students will have the opportunity to study Torah that undergirds this vision. As they ask sharper questions they will discover that others, like our prophets, our rabbis in the Talmud and Mishnah, and later, Rashi and others, grappled with similar issues. The opportunity to study their writings will parallel the study of other literature.
Our approach to experiencing these writings, however, is not necessarily focused on the reading and translating of the texts typically associated with Jewish studies, but rather through activities. For example: a mock court could enable children engage in the sorts of debates found in the Talmud achieving an understanding relevant to their lives; the ability to read Rashi could come from art lessons demonstrating calligraphy; Dinim (Laws) can be taught through art projects in designing and building a menorah.
6. Do you teach Hebrew?
Our program does not specifically teach Hebrew. Our curriculum is designed for students who are attending a Hebrew-immersion charter school during the day and learning Hebrew there.
7. How is a typical afternoon structured?
Classes are typically held Mondays through Thursdays. Students arrive by bus from the local Hebrew-language charter school and are settled into class by 3:35 p.m., and the formal programming runs until 4:50 p.m.
8. What sort of facilities do you have?
Nefesh Yehudi is housed in spaced leased within Young Israel of East Brunswick. Our program has access to multiple classrooms, a social hall, sanctuary, playground and other facilities.
9. My child does not attend a Hebrew immersion charter school. Can he/she attend?
Nefesh Yehudi is a distinctive program designed to capitalize on the Hebrew language skills that its students have already acquired through a Hebrew-immersion charter school and to build on that foundation. Most public schools, even ones offering Hebrew classes, do not provide the same sort of Hebrew curriculum that we expect our students to have attained. A child who goes to a regular public school may attend our program, but at the discretion of the parents, since it may not be the right fit for your child.
10. Can I visit your facility?
We would be happy to host visits to our school. Please contact our office at office@nefeshyehudiacademy.com or 732-692-8201 to schedule your visit.
11. Whom can I talk to if I want to find out more information?
Please don't hesitate to contact us at office@nefeshyehudiacademy.com.
NYA is an after-school educational program designed to provide Jewish programming for students who attend a Hebrew-language charter school.
2. Is your program associated with any specific synagogue or other Jewish program? Is it designed for any specific Jewish “denomination”?
NYA is an independent educational organization run by its own board of directors consisting of parents and non-parents with a background in education. We are not run or managed by any other organization. It is a guiding principal of NYA that we offer Jewish education in a manner that is comfortable to families who have many different approaches to practicing Judaism. As such, our program does not espouse any single approach as being the “correct” manner to practice Judaism.
It is important to us that each family feel engaged in its child's Jewish education and not at odds with it. When it comes to the Jewish education of your child, our goal is to blur the educational lines between school and home. Our program should never be at odds with the lessons that you teach your child. Additionally, NYA intends to provide a host of social and educational extracurricular activities that include our students’ families in order to enhance the NYA experience and foster a feeling of community among its participants.
Finally, our faculty and staff all believe it is beyond their call to serve as a “rabbi” to any student. If personal religious questions arise, NYA staff will encourage the family to speak with their own religious leaders or rabbis.
3. What is taught during a typical afternoon at NYA?
The NYA curriculum is designed to cultivate our students’ pride in their Judaism and a connection to their rich heritage. Our students explore areas of Jewish literature, liturgy, and history. We teach a love for Israel, Zionism, and fellow Jews in a manner understanding of the diverse approach to practicing Judaism within our community. Our methods utilize the latest approaches to education with an emphasis on experiential methods that leverage hands-on recreational approaches where possible in order to make learning fun and exciting.
4. What is “experiential" learning?
Experiential learning is an emerging educational trend that emphasizes an engaging, hands-on approach to learning. In Jewish education, experiential learning translates into an educational approach whereby traditional Jewish content permeates all learning through meaningful and fun Jewish experiences. By teaching traditional Jewish lessons through engaging activities, experiential learning offers a powerful method for building Jewish knowledge and identity.
A number of established Jewish organizations offer training programs in this method, including the Jewish Experiential Leadership Institute at the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Institute for Informal Jewish Education at Brandeis University, and the Yeshiva University Program in Experiential Jewish Education.
5. I always assumed Jewish learning meant studying Jewish texts. How, if at all, does that fit into “experiential learning”?
Part of a Jewish education involves an understanding of classical Jewish literature and writings. Our curriculum will expose students to these classical writings in a way that enables an appreciation of the relevance of these texts to the Jewish experience. In relation to the modern State of Israel, for example, our students will over the years learn excerpts from writings of the greatest Zionist thinkers from Ahad Ha’am to Herzl and from Yehudah Halevi to 21st century leaders. The Balfour Declaration and the Declaration of Independence, among others, will be explored. Similarly, in relation to our curricular goals of love of Israel and the Jewish people and our history through the ages, our students will have the opportunity to study Torah that undergirds this vision. As they ask sharper questions they will discover that others, like our prophets, our rabbis in the Talmud and Mishnah, and later, Rashi and others, grappled with similar issues. The opportunity to study their writings will parallel the study of other literature.
Our approach to experiencing these writings, however, is not necessarily focused on the reading and translating of the texts typically associated with Jewish studies, but rather through activities. For example: a mock court could enable children engage in the sorts of debates found in the Talmud achieving an understanding relevant to their lives; the ability to read Rashi could come from art lessons demonstrating calligraphy; Dinim (Laws) can be taught through art projects in designing and building a menorah.
6. Do you teach Hebrew?
Our program does not specifically teach Hebrew. Our curriculum is designed for students who are attending a Hebrew-immersion charter school during the day and learning Hebrew there.
7. How is a typical afternoon structured?
Classes are typically held Mondays through Thursdays. Students arrive by bus from the local Hebrew-language charter school and are settled into class by 3:35 p.m., and the formal programming runs until 4:50 p.m.
8. What sort of facilities do you have?
Nefesh Yehudi is housed in spaced leased within Young Israel of East Brunswick. Our program has access to multiple classrooms, a social hall, sanctuary, playground and other facilities.
9. My child does not attend a Hebrew immersion charter school. Can he/she attend?
Nefesh Yehudi is a distinctive program designed to capitalize on the Hebrew language skills that its students have already acquired through a Hebrew-immersion charter school and to build on that foundation. Most public schools, even ones offering Hebrew classes, do not provide the same sort of Hebrew curriculum that we expect our students to have attained. A child who goes to a regular public school may attend our program, but at the discretion of the parents, since it may not be the right fit for your child.
10. Can I visit your facility?
We would be happy to host visits to our school. Please contact our office at office@nefeshyehudiacademy.com or 732-692-8201 to schedule your visit.
11. Whom can I talk to if I want to find out more information?
Please don't hesitate to contact us at office@nefeshyehudiacademy.com.