Storahtelling

More Mavens, More Storahtelling Nationwide!
Highlights from the 2010 Maven Training Seminar


On August 12, 2010, 18 rabbis, cantors, Jewish educators, completed Storahtelling’s 2010 Maven Training Seminar. While Storahtelling convened the training at Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colorado, new Mavens-in-Making traveled from San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Boulder, Durango, and Austin to join the local Colorado talent. Carefully selected for their charisma and teaching skills , these local leaders came together to become masters in one of the world’s oldest professions: The Maven. While immersed in the intensive studies they also created a vibrant community, meeting across the spectrum of geography, political belief, religious observance, gender identity and sexual orientation.

Now in its 4th year, Storahtelling’s Maven Training Seminar prepares clergy and educators to implement its signature pedagogy – The Maven Method™. A decade in the making, this innovative method integrates Judaism’s oldest teaching tools with contemporary stagecraft and interactive educational skills, informing and transforming the ways modern Jews relate to their cultural legacy, ritual celebrations and spiritual heritage.

The 18 new Mavens-in-the-making join over 100 Storahtelling Mavens already using the method regularly in sanctuaries, classrooms, campgrounds and theater stages worldwide. The class of 2010 is already brimming with ideas for implementing the method in their communities:

• Rabbi Mitch Delcau is planning to integrate Storahtelling into regular services and Bar Mitzvah trainings at Denver’s Temple Emanuel.
  
  
• Rabbi Laurie Phillips is working on a High Holidays family friendly Maven program at Congregation Ha’Bonim in Manhattan, while 20 blocks away, at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, Emily Walsh is preparing this year’s Bar Mitzvah class to include the maven Methods.
  
  
• Charna Rosenholtz, a "CHIDUSH" award-winning Jewish educator, will integrate the Maven method into her work with youth and families at Congregation Nevei Kodesh and Congregation Bonai Shalom.
  

Maven events are planned this fall in synagogues from Montana to Sonoma. Tracey Wilkinson, One of the new Mavens, and the first Non Jewish clergy member to join our training seminar, will even bring the Maven to the Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden, Colorado.

Caryn Aviv, Maven class of 2008 and director of the 'Mile High Mavens' - Storahtelling Colorado Cohort had this to say about this training seminar:
“It was challenging, invigorating, and transformative. After seeing this experience in action, I am utterly convinced that training more Mavens to offer Storahtelling in their own home communities worldwide will give more people access to what Judaism is really about. This work is crucial if we want to increase people’s sense of identity, improve their Torah literacy and solidify connections to meaningful Jewish life."

Storahtelling kicks off 5771 with new Mavens and renewed commitment to making stories and rituals matter more to more people, all over the world.

Storahtelling is able to provide this service to the community through the trust and support of The Rose Community Foundation, the 18 Pomegranates Foundation, The Natan Fund, and many more.

Want to be a Maven? Email Storahtelling at office@storahtelling.org

check out the New Mavens here