Kesher Talk

Jews in odd places: Mexico: Mexico City’s Hebraic University, the only government-accredited Jewish university in Latin America, is positioning itself to serve communities thousands of miles away through Internet-based courses, traveling seminars and other international initiatives.

At a time when economic and political turmoil throughout Latin America has left Jewish communities with fewer people and resources, many are struggling to recruit new teachers and provide veterans with up-to-date training. The overwhelming majority of Jewish children in Latin America attend Jewish schools, and a shortage of qualified teachers could have a devastating impact on communities in the region, education leaders said.

Since university director Daniel Fainstein, an Argentine native, joined the Hebraic University in fall 2002, the institution has embarked on a major academic restructuring effort, headed by Judit Bokser Liwerant of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, or UNAM.

What started as a way to improve Jewish education in Mexico now has become an international project. The aim now is to reach even to Miami and Spain, in addition to Spanish-speaking Latin America.

The university has formed official alliances with universities such as UNAM and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is looking to expand its global ties. In the last academic year, it began an aggressive campaign to bring top scholars from around the world to lead seminars in Mexico City.

The university plans to send groups of Latin American students to Israel and the United States for workshops soon.

posted by William @ 1/29/2004 09:00:00 AM