Let's Take a Step Back

What motivates some students to become deeply invested in Talmud study while others struggle to connect with it? In this episode of Inside the Teen Mind: Day School Students Explain , I share findings from interviews with 47 students from 12 Orthodox high schools and 9 students from 3 Pluralistic high schools . Rather than relying on theories about student motivation, I asked students directly wha...

What actually helps students grow religiously? I asked Yeshiva Day School students: “Can you name one or two things your school has done that helped you grow religiously?” Their answers were eye-opening. Tune in to hear directly from students about what helped them grow and why. This episode highlights the most common themes from interviews with students at Orthodox schools as well as the patterns...

We often guess what motivates people and don’t realize how much we could learn if we simply asked . In this introductory episode, you’ll hear what inspired the upcoming series “Inside the Teen Mind: Day School Students Explain” —where the idea came from, what you can expect to hear, and how its core message can help parents and educators better understand the teens in their lives. Join the convers...

Recent crises make it easy to blame student incivility on stress. But is something deeper happening? Are we seeing a broader shift in how students communicate? In this episode, we break down what’s really driving these tense exchanges, explore the roots of the problem, and share practical steps educators can take. You’ll hear about compelling programs developed by innovative educators Jonah Hassen...

Gemara Is Not My Thing It’s hard to ignore how many high school students say, “Gemara just isn’t my thing.” Whether they openly resist Gemara class or quietly disengage, we need to take a closer look. Are their feelings simply a sign that Gemara is passé — or is there something deeper going on? In this episode, Gemara Is Not My Thing , we explore what’s really behind students’ lack of connection....

Have you ever sensed that something’s not quite right—but couldn’t put your finger on why? Maybe you’ve felt it while attending a Day School Tefillah service: on the surface, everything seems normal—just as you’d expect. But beneath that, there’s a nagging sensethat something’s missing. What is it? "Why Don't My Kids Sit Quietly When We Go to Shul onShabbat?" explores what might be m...

Episode Description: Parents’ sentiment that only the goal-post matters—has quietly shaped the landscape of Jewish education in recent years. But has this mindset truly led us to a better place, or are we overlooking important consequences? In this episode, I explore how this reactive approach to a new educational vision may be affecting our Yeshiva Day Schools—often in ways that fly under the rad...