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Tefillah ‘reimagined’ at MDS on Upper West Side

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Manhattan Day School on the Upper West Side, as one of two recipients of the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge (JEIC) grant, received $50,000 to implement a program called Tefillah Reimagined, incorporating a personalized digital siddur. Launched this year for MDS sixth graders, it is designed to encourage a personal commitment to tefillah now and in the future. 

Tefillah Reimagined proved more successful than MDS administrators anticipated. “It has given new meaning to the concept of davening and enhanced our students’ perspectives on what Judaism means to them personally,” said Associated Principal Judith Melzer. 

The program was carried out through weekly classes that focused on the meaning of the daily prayers. Weekly mentoring sessions dove into each student’s personal growth, self-discovery and enhanced appreciation of what being Jewish means.

The program culminated with an inspirational trip to Bear Mountain where the students focused on the connectivity of nature to davening and an appreciation of Hashem’s creations. It was an eye-opening experience. 

“It was pretty amazing to me that I was able to use an iPad to daven but little did I know we would do so much more,” said Nenjy Hild. “[The program] has enhanced my concentration and understanding of tefilla.”

This week, Mrs. Melzer and Rabbi Michael Ribalt, director of curriculum and instruction, will present a report on MDS’ experience with the program at the JEIC Innovator’s Retreat in Florida. At the conference, they will coach new applicants about navigating the application process and engage interested schools that would like to adapt the Tefillah Reimagined program.