Take a journey through our most sacred texts, valued traditions, and shared history:

Join The Lookstein Virtual High School Scholars Program!

Program Highlights

Cohort of like-minded high schoolers OR individualized 1:1 program

Excellent, award-winning, and accredited courses

Live classes with master teacher facilitators

Engaging, thought-provoking, and meaningful Jewish content

Transcripts and Certificate of Completion from The Lookstein Center of Bar-Ilan University

2024-2025 Cohort Study

Year-long study with a cohort of your peers:

9th Grade Cohort 
Time: Sundays, 9:00 AM EST
Fall Semester Course:
The Rabbis of the Talmud
Spring Semester Course:
The Rise and Fall of King Shlomo’s Kingdom

10/11 Grade Cohort 
Time:
Sundays, 10:00 AM EST
Fall Semester Course:
Letters Home: American Jewish History, 1870-1924
Spring Semester Course:
Leaving Egypt: The Birth of the Jewish Nation – Part 1

Important Information
Program Dates: September 15 – May 18
Registration Deadline: August 1
Year-Long Program Price: $1350

 

*Cohort availability dependent on minimum number of registrants.

 
 

 

2024-2025 Independent Study

Select from one of the semester-long courses below:

Jewish Values
Commandment to Care: A Study of Halachic Process
Sage Advice: Selections in Pirkei Avot
Character Under Construction
Developing a Jewish Ethical Voice

Jewish History
The Rabbis of the Talmud
The Story of Exile and Return
Letters Home: American Jewish History, 1870-1924
Remembering the Holocaust
The Emergence of Modern Israel

Jewish Text
The Rise and Fall of King Shlomo’s Kingdom*
The Stories and Legends of Eliyahu Hanavi
Leaving Egypt: The Birth of the Jewish Nation*
The Prophesies of Trei Asar*

Important Information

Independent Study Dates: Semester-long courses are offered on a rolling basis. Students complete independent work and meet with their teacher for up to 30 minutes approximately 1x per unit. We encourage students to take one course during the fall and one during the spring.

Semester-Long Independent Study Price: $750

*This course has two semester-long parts. Students who wish can choose to continue to part 2 after they complete part 1 to make up a full year of study.

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS…

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What is Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy?

Created in 2014, Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy is the nonprofit online school of Jewish studies of Bar-Ilan University. We offer dozens of online courses and digital content for students in grades 6-12 in Jewish texts, Jewish history, and Jewish ideas, and we work with schools, organizations, and families of all Jewish backgrounds.

What is the High School Scholars Program?

The Lookstein Virtual High School Scholars Program is a four-year program offering excellent online courses in Jewish texts, history, and values, live classes with a master Jewish educator, and a Lookstein Virtual High School Scholar Certificate from The Lookstein Center of Bar-Ilan University for students who complete 6 semesters.

 

Lookstein Virtual coursework combines the best of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (on-demand) online learning. The asynchronous coursework is independent and on-demand and can be completed whenever and wherever you like. Coursework includes reading, watching, responding to prompts, and completing varied activitiesall guided by the Lookstein teacher, who is in constant communication with the students.

 

Students will also “meet” with their teacher regularly via Zoom. These sessions allow for the teacher and student to get to know one another, to discuss course material and to dig a little deeper into the content. Students enrolled in the Cohort Study Option will participate in group classes and collaborative learning activities. Students enrolled in the One-On-One Study Option will have individualized sessions according to their own schedule.

How much time will my child need to devote to the High School Scholars Program?

Students will need to devote 2 – 3 hours per week to the scholars program. This includes the live time spent with their instructor.
Students who complete 6 semesters will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion from The Lookstein Center of Bar-Ilan University

Who are the instructors?

Our instructors are master Jewish teachers from North America that have dedicated their lives to educating and inspiring Jewish teens and pre-teens. Our teachers (and students) come from all Jewish backgrounds and we make sure to pair families with the teacher that can best meet their educational and Jewish learning needs.

Is the teacher available aside from the live Zoom meetings?

Yes! Student-teacher correspondence is intentionally built into our curriculum, allowing students and teachers to build strong relationships, dig deeper into ideas and texts, and provide extra support if needed.

My child is not in high school. Do you have a program for younger kids?

Yes! Visit www.looksteinvirtual.org/middle-school-scholars-program to learn about our middle school program. To learn more about our programming for younger kids please email us.

Are your courses accredited?

Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accrediting Commission for Schools as a supplementary Education Program.

Upon course completion, you may request an official transcript from Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy of The Lookstein Center at Bar-Ilan University.

We want to participate in the cohort this semester, but are not sure if we’ll be able to complete all 12 credits needed to get the certificate. Can we still join?

YES! You can join for one semester at a time and decide later whether or not you will complete the program and receive your certificate. Click here to sign up!

We want to participate in the program but already took one (or more) of the courses in the curriculum. Can we take something else instead and still receive a certificate?

YES! You can select the One-On-One Study Option and select the course(s) of your choice. You are welcome to join the cohort for any future semesters.

What is the refund policy?

Students who officially withdraw from their courses through written notification by the Parent to Lookstein Virtual may receive a refund of tuition according to the following schedule:

  • A full refund will be granted one week prior to the start of semester.
  • 50% tuition refund, for that semester, will be granted if the withdrawal from the course occurs during the first week of the semester.
  • Tuition refunds are not granted for withdrawals after completion of the first week of the semester.
Still have questions? Contact us at admissions@lookstein.org or schedule a chat at https://calendly.com/lookstein/families.