Opening hearts and minds to Jewish history

New curriculum uses stories to teach about the past

By Malka Eisenberg

Jan. 2 2009 / 6 Teves 5769

Dr. Annette Labovitz began collecting stories decades ago when she and her husband, Rabbi Eugene Labovitz, a pulpit rabbi in Miami, reconnected with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, Rabbi Labovitz’s Lakewood classmate.

In 1964, Carlebach gave a concert at the Hebrew Academy of Miami Beach and renewed his friendship with Rabbi Labovitz. When visiting Miami, Carlebach would teach classes in the Labovitz home.

“I was absorbing the power of story telling,” Dr. Labovitz recounted. “I took his stories and put them on paper. I began collecting stories. I had the sources and arranged them chronologically.”

Dr. Labovitz had the idea to collect holy stories as a vehicle to bring people closer to their heritage by teaching Jewish history through stories.

“Kids think, ‘ugh, history,’” Dr. Labovitz said. “I wrote a curriculum to be used in high schools to teach Jewish history: what is the affect of a holy story? I have to give Shlomo Carlebach credit.”

Two years ago, DRS adopted her curriculum, “The Sacred Trust,” and it is currently being used in their 12th grade Jewish history course.

“It’s been very, very exciting for kids,” noted Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, menahel of DRS. “We were looking for the right type of program... It’s wrapping eras of Jewish history around poignant stories. Using the story technique touches kids in a way that facts and timelines do not. We’re seeing a lot more excitement regarding Jewish history since introducing her curriculum.”

By viewing the videos, maps, web searches and power points that are all included in the curriculum, students are learning more, Rabbi Kaminetsky explained.

“Before it was like a history course with events and dates,” he added. “Stories give it a different dimension.”

During her husband’s tenure as Rabbi in Miami, Dr. Labovitz taught Tanach and Jewish history for 18 years at the Hebrew Academy of Miami Beach High School, and then worked in the school’s resource center for 10 years. She commuted from Miami to her birthplace, Chicago, to earn her doctoral degree from Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. Throughout the year, she attended seminars taught by professors from Hebrew University and Bar Ilan.

“When I would go home for Shabbos I was wiped out,” she said. “It was the highlight of my educational experience.”

Her thesis, completed in 1998, was the basis of her Jewish history curriculum.

Since 1987, the Labovitzes have authored four collections of stories: “Time for My Soul-A Treasury of Jewish Stories of Shabbos and Yom Tov” (1987); “A Touch of Heaven-Stories for Ethical and Kabbalistic Jewish Living” (1990); “A Sacred Trust-Stories of Our Heritage and History” (1995); and “Legendary Maggidim-Stories for the Soul and Spirit” (2000).

The historical scope of her stories range from the second Temple era to modern times. All of the books have footnotes and sources. “The publishers insisted,” Labovitz noted. “It makes it real, it makes it much more alive.”

For 15 years, the Labovitzes traveled to different communities around the country for shabbatonim, as “a way to get the power of the holy story out into the world,” she explained. After Rabbi Labovitz retired, they moved to Woodmere to be closer to their children.

The Labovitzes hope to publish one more book that would reprint 50 or 60 of the best of the Maggidim stories and add some new ones to the collection. They are seeking a sponsor to finance the limited edition printing that would be distributed at the Aish Kodesh Melave Malka.

“These are mamish stories embedded in the Jewish experience,” said Labovitz.

“Stories are a viable tool if used properly, laying out the foundation of what you want to teach. It raises the level of the neshama and makes you want to know more. Stories make you become a keli for kedusha to put mitzvos in.”

For more information, e-mail Dr. Labovitz at drannette@gmail.com with book information or curriculum in the subject line.