Random thought, but I hope I'll get to see the Penguins hoist the Stanley Cup while I'm in a city like Tel Aviv, Haifa, or Jerusalem. Regardless, I know my Gram will save me the newspaper clippings. She is the only 93 year old woman that I know of who still reads two newspapers daily...
We Begin at the Same Place | Catholic Jewish Dialogue at Saint Vincent College
In the coming weeks, I will write about preparations for my expedition. I will also ask for advice on filming outdoors--I think I am opting for a selfie stick over a tripod so I can film the documentary videos on site easily and without having to inconvenience others with tripod set-up and tear-down.
Here are my thoughts that I shared with CWB / The Jewish Fedaration of Greater Pittsburgh, whom along with Holy Family Academy, have provided me with a scholarship to make this dream become a reality. I aspire to make them proud.
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Why do you want to participate in this study seminar?
As an undergraduate student at Saint Vincent College, the most transformative experience of my young life came very much as one would set-up a corny joke: “A priest and a rabbi went out to lunch together…”
It was my junior year and I was enrolled in a course co-taught by a priest and a rabbi, Catholic-Jewish Dialogue. The resulting experience was the product of more than 35 years of scholarly debate and loving friendship formed over a standing Tuesday/Thursday lunch between these two learned men. For me, it was far more than just a class, or a grade on my transcript, but rather the invitation to spend the rest of my adult life in pursuit of common ground, conversation, and quiet contemplation.
Saint Vincent College contacted me for an interview in advance of establishing the Rabbi Jason Edelstein Chair in Catholic-Jewish Dialogue. After more than ten years, I had the chance to personally thank my teachers and mentors. It is my distinct honor to help tell their story and preserve Rabbi Edelstein’s legacy for future generations. As Rabbi and Father Campion imparted upon me, at our core, we are alike in our similarity, our fragility, and our brokenness. It is our duty and responsibility to each other to learn from one another. This is what I hoped to convey while appearing on film in the video, “We Begin at the Same Place”. I want to contribute to “Rabbi and Camp’s” tradition of respectful interreligious dialogue and help to uncover truly human stories from those whom I encounter on this expedition.
I relish the opportunity to explore Israel and Palestine--to actually see the sites that I studied in my undergraduate Biblical Archaeology courses and classes in Saint Vincent’s Seminary. My waters run deep… I’ve evolved from an adolescent, dreaming of discovering hominid species as a paleoanthropologist, to a college student, pouring over texts and images while uncovering the mysteries of history in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Now, as a teacher, I hope to inspire that same sense of wonder and pursuit of lifelong learning for my students. It goes without saying that this would be personally, professionally, and spiritually rewarding. To personally see the Holy Land and actually get to participate in an archaeological dig is something that I still cannot fathom--to be selected is the fulfillment of a dream.
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What are your professional expectations for this Study Seminar?
In contemplating this opportunity, I keep coming back to the notion that this will be the most immensely rewarding interdisciplinary opportunity that I have ever embarked upon. Consider this singular experience an opportunity to realize a childhood dream--to do fieldwork in a live archaeological site. However, and I cannot believe that I am writing this, that is only the tip of the iceberg!
Professionally, I am eager to partner with educators embarking upon a similar journey. I love channeling the energy and abundance of ideas that come from with a collaborative atmosphere. As a Cultural Literacy teacher, learning from experts in the field and developing relationships with not only scholars and students, but also the archaeologists and residents preserving the treasures of the region will provide me with a perspective unlike any other professional development opportunity I have ever encountered.
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What specific areas are you planning to learn more about, i.e. government, culture, religion, art, history, current events, etc.
From the time of the Babylonian Captivity to today, Jerusalem has seen its share of tumultuous change. I am excited to go beyond the pages of a Biblical Archaeology text and to experience the Holy City first-hand. An exploration of this magnitude implies that I will play the role of archaeologist, biblical scholar, and art historian. To understand the past as well as modern day concerns of Israelis and Palestinians can only begin with an open mind and a listening ear. I am just as eager to learn about the past as I am to listen to perspectives on the present situation. As a Cultural Literacy teacher with a background in philosophy and theology, I feel that this is the ideal casting call for a lifelong learner such as myself.
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What professional interest or expertise would you be willing to share with the other teachers participating in this study seminar?
I would use my expertise in digital media integration to support my fellow educators on our mission to provide a rigorous, relevant education befitting the next generation of global citizens. We have an awesome opportunity to utilize media-rich content to both educate and captivate our students’ imaginations.
As a means of supporting other teachers participating in this study seminar, I would assist individuals in the process of setting up an educational YouTube channel. The process may feel overwhelming for teachers not familiar with digital media, but I will patiently walk colleagues (as I have done in the past) through the process every step of the way, serving as a teacher-coach and technological Sherpa. We will begin by creating and sharing video playlists featuring the best online resources available. Ultimately, my desire is to empower participants so that they can showcase their field learning experience in a way that invites their students to join in the exploration.
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Describe the final educational product that you plan to create with your students in your classroom independently or in collaboration with other teachers as a result of this Study Seminar?
I am eager to document a diverse array of experiences as a result of participating in this study seminar. My objective is to film video at archaeological sites, record the lectures of noted scholars, and profile individuals offering their unique perspective of what it means to conduct this type of scholarly research and preserve the treasures of the past for future generations.
Ultimately, my intent is to upload this original content to a YouTube channel where it can be utilized by teachers participating in the field study. Additionally, I plan to share it with teachers at my school so that it may be used and adapted for a variety of purposes. For instance, our videos can be the backbone of lessons on Biblical Archaeology within a religion class, as an introduction to Israeli life and culture in Cultural Literacy, and as a primer on the history of the Ancient Near East in a world history class.
As a PBS Digital Innovator, a distinction I was just recently honored to receive, I routinely share my work with a robust community of educators utilizing digital media and technology. By chronicling my experience of archaeological field-work and cultural appreciation with an audience of fellow educator-innovators, I will expand our networked learning ecosystem. In essence, making and sharing digital media will provide me, my fellow field-study participants, and Classrooms Without Borders with another platform to receive feedback on how we might utilize these resources to develop engaging multimedia for our students
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