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JconnecT has a new site!  Visit us now at www.bit.ly/jconnect .

Memphis Shabbaton a Big Hit

Earlier this month we had our second JconnecT Shabbaton.  The JconnecTers, ranging from 6th grade to 10th grade, all came to Memphis to enjoy a fun-filled weekend with Jewish peers their own age from the Memphis community.  Friday night featured a lively kabbalat shabbat at the Baron Hirsch Congregation followed by Friday night dinner at the homes of Memphis teens.  After dinner the JconnecTers and the Memphis teens got together at the home of Rabbi Uriel Lubetski for an Oneg Shabbat.

Shabbat morning started with shacharit at Baron Hirsch followed by kiddush and then lunch at the home of Rabbi Perl.  Joining the JconnecTers at the Perl home for shabbat lunch were the high school students who are part of the MHA / FYOS  dormitory program.  Together they represented Jewish teens from Alabama, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Carolina, New York, Michigan, and Ohio.  Needless to say, the JconnecTers felt completely at home.  The conversation, food, lively zemirot and divrei Torah made for an enjoyable experience for all.

After a nice afternoon break, the JconnecTers reassembled at Baron Hirsch for a class, followed by mincha, shalosh seudot with the Memphis teens, ma'ariv, and havdalah.  The best was yet to come, though.

On Saturday night, the JconnecTers joined Akiva Somer, a Memphis 9th grader, at his in-home movie theater to watch the Final Four with some pizza and ice cream, followed by a night swim in his pool and a dip in the jacuzzi.  It was a fantastic way to end what was a fantastic weekend.

JconnecT Featured at NAJDSC

Rabbi Perl and Mrs. Goldstein presented the JconnecT program as part of a session on eLearning at the North American Jewish Day School Conference last week in Los Angeles.  The feedback was fantastic and it has led to a flurry of conversations with Day Schools, organizations, community representatives, and parents as to the myriad possibilities JconnecT presents for creating social and educational connections between Jewish teens all over the globe.  Stay tuned for more...

In the meantime, have a look at Mrs. Goldstein's slides from her presentation:

JconnecT JDS Conference

JconnecT Video

Watch our new JconnecT video featuring Mrs. Goldstein, Rabbi Perl, and several of members of our inaugural JconnecT class!

Inaugural Semester Complete!

We've now completed the first semester of JconnecT and it has exceeded even our greatest expectations.  With 20 students now enrolled from 5 different states the program is really finding its stride.

Here's a review of the material covered in our parashat ha-shavuah class this past semester.  There are still spots open for the coming semester, so if you know of others who may be interested just send them our way!

Watch JconnecT Session on the Ingathering of Exiles

View recorded JconnecT sessions with Yecholya, our Chinese guest speaker (second from left, pink sweater), who made aliyah 5 years ago from Kaifeng, China.  View it here!  Password is Jconnect. Click the icon of the video camera in the corner of the screen to see Mrs. Goldstein, and hear Jconnecters Yoni Brande, Jordan Rich (Birmingham, AL) and Ariel Schwarzer (NJ).  (PLEASE NOTE: In an actual JconnecT session all participants can see live video of each other.  In the recording, however, only the video of the presenter is visible.)

In the beginning of the lesson, Mrs. Goldstein introduces natural vs. miraculous redemption of Kibbutz Galuyot, the gathering of the exiles, to Israel.  The interview with Yecholya begins at 27:12. Too Funny: Yoni's sister, Sara, came to the camera to practice her Chinese online with Yecholya, as she studies it in school. Yecholya gave her a thumbs up!

Virtually  'meet' Michael Freund, Chairman of the Shavei Israel Organization, who assists Jews from far flung regions of the world to rediscover their Jewish roots and often make the move to Israel. Their stories are moving and inspiring. As Freund states, "instead of us strengthening them, it is they who strengthen us."

Have a look at the Chinese and Indian communities in Israel. 

Inaugural Shabbaton a BIG Success!

Although we would have liked to have had more of the 18 current Jconnecters join us for last week's inaguaral JconnecT shabbaton in Memphis, those who came had a blast.  From the filming of our Jconnect promo video on Friday afternoon to the lively zemirot with our the Memphis Middle and High School students on Friday night, and from Mrs. Goldstein's special class for teens on shabbat afternoon to the overtime Grizzlies-Celtics game on Saturday night, a great time was had by all.

We plan on getting everyone together for another memorable weekend in the Spring.  If it's anything like this past shabbat, it's not something you'll want to miss!  Details will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.