Testimonials

Students

“I would definitely recommend this course – it was amazing. It taught me about things I did not know about myself and made me think in new ways.”

 

– student at The Epstein School

“This was it was a fun way for me to learn… I think the live sessions, videos and interactive projects helped me learn better than the way I usually learn.”

 

– student at Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School

“At the beginning, I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out and if I would like it. By the 3rd unit, I started to love it. I really got a chance to express my opinion and learn a lot. I didn’t know it was possible to learn so much in depth in such a short amount of time. This was a great experience and a great way for me to start online learning. Thanks.”

 

– student at Yeshivat Noam

“I have learned more than I imagined…You made me think in such a way I never thought… There were some times where I felt [the course] was a burden, and there were times where I thought it was a gift. Now, looking back at what I accomplished, I am so glad I did this course… Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

 

– student at Albany public high school

“It was so easy to interact with the material and the assignments made me really think about it deeply. I enjoyed this course and learned a lot!”

 

– student at Jewish High School of Connecticut

“You get to interact with other students taking the course and see what everyone is thinking and share your ideas. It was a great course and I am sad it is coming to an end!”

 

– student at Magen David Yeshivah High School

“I loved it…This course gave me independence and it was intellectually challenging.”

 

– student at Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Academy

School Administrators

“Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy has enabled us to maintain a high level of differentiation for our students by offering the courses that fit their individual needs. Not only do our students get to learn with other students all over the United States, they are challenged through the innovative content and structure of the courses.”

 

– Debbie Bornstein, Director of Judaic Studies, EC-8

Atlanta Jewish Academy

“We chose to work with Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy because of the quality of bible education and the flexibility to work with individual students. The idea of working with teachers from Israel fits perfectly with the Zionist mission of our school.”

 

– Leah Spector, Principal and Judaics and Hebrew Department Head

Mandel Jewish Day School (formerly Agnon)

image015“The extensive course selection, and outstanding faculty and staff at Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy, provide an excellent opportunity for our students to engage in material that they would otherwise not be exposed to in the traditional classroom setting. Our students have found the courses challenging, and have enjoyed using their online platform.”

 

– Rabbi Sam Weinberg, Principal and Education Director

Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh

“Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy is offering our students new ways to wrestle with text that is highly engaging and offers students a level of self-directed learning through a sophisticated on-line learning platform. We are anxious to continue to explore additional learning modules based on our pilot experience.”

 

– Sam Chestnut, Head of School

Lippman School

“The Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy program has provided a wonderful addition to our Judaic Studies elective program. In addition to the various classes that our own faculty offers, we can now offer our students a broader array of classes given by a diverse group of talented, experienced educators. Our students have found the classes challenging and rewarding, and especially like being able to interact with students from other schools as part of the learning process as well.”

 

– Rabbi Yaakov Mintz, Talmud Department Chair

Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School

image040“The Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy courses have given us an opportunity to provide Judaic Studies enrichment options for our students who have a particular interest or who are capable of pushing themselves beyond what our normal curriculum demands. The courses are rigorous and thought-provoking, and our students who have participated in them over the past four years have uniformly found the experience to be an amazing addition to their course of study in Middle School.”

 

– Rabbi Dr. Aaron Ross, Assistant Principal

Yavneh Academy

“WDS has found a wondimage038erful partner in the Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy in making long distance learning for Judaic Studies a reality… Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy ha[s] been there every step of the way to support our needs. The professional team has designed captivating lessons and curricula. They have hired dynamic teachers and follow through to ensure that every student is successful. Our students are learning how to harness the power of the internet to master Torah concepts and are making friends throughout the country through the carefully constructed cohorts. And all of this has been made available within our budget. Long distance learning is now a cogent educational option… thanks to Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy.”

 

– Rabbi Stephen Knapp, Assistant Principal

Westchester Day School

“Our experience these past three years has been wonderful. The students enjoy learning in an all new thoughtful and engaging way. The students are expected to do all the work on their computers and therefore the goals are different than a traditional classroom. …The students are expected be analytic and thoughtful whether writing in a reflection journal or a creative essay. These online units expand their minds in ways a traditional classroom model cannot. I love hearing our students discuss with each other, argue with each other over ideas and discuss what topics spoke to them the most. We appreciate the opportunity that Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy has given our students.”

 

– Aliza Weinberg, Middle School Tanach Enrichment Coordinator

Yeshivat Noam

“It was a no-brainer that students liked it. The course material was very rich and very enjoyable. The interaction was excellent… I was most impressed by the design of the class, how the technology and the content worked so well together.”

 

– Rabbi Frances Nataf, Principal

Pre-Collegiate Learning Center

image025“Magen David Yeshivah HS is proud to have partnered with Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy for the last three years. The curriculum is challenging, the study guide is interesting and our students are motivated. But, it’s the 21st century skills that drew us in. My students develop concise ideas to post on an online discussion board, they collaborate to create powerpoint presentations on major events in Jewish History and they meet with peers who are scattered across the country during the live sessions… Overall, I have seen major improvements in their writing, their critical thinking and their self-reflection. But, most importantly, through learning the history of our people in an interesting and collaborative way, my students are becoming more connected to the Jewish past and more committed to the Jewish future.”

 

– Audrey Abade, Jewish History Department Chair

Magen David Yeshivah High School

Other

“As one who has both created and taught many online courses, and searched for examples of other good ones in Jewish studies in North America, I am blown away by what you have done here. …[Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy courses are] highly interactive, learner centered, filled with multiple intelligence strategies for learning; includes cooperative learning, self-assessment and wonderful graphics, video, and art. It allows learners to make personal meaning as well. You have created something  here which lives up to the highest INACOL standards and the best of online learning.”

 

– Steven Brown, Program Officer, AVI CHAI Foundation

“We were very impressed with these courses. They are innovative, well designed, and well delivered. Your teachers are exceptional educators, who are clearly devoted to their students and made every effort to provide outstanding instruction…. [Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy courses] provide excellent learning experiences for students.”

 

– Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt, Managing Partners of Crossroads Consulting Group and winners of the 2012 Wedemeyer Award for Outstanding Practitioner in Distance Education