Center for Jewish Special Education

The Center for Jewish Special Education is dedicated toward expanding and strengthening the quality and range of Jewish special education through professional training, research, curriculum development and consultation. Funded by a generous gift from Bernard J. Korman, the Center builds on Hebrew College’s extensive experience in professional training for Jewish special educators.

In 2000, the College initiated a graduate Certificate in Jewish Special Education and special education master’s track through the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education. The professional development program trains educators to integrate students with learning and developmental disabilities into mainstream Jewish classrooms. 

Certificate in Jewish Special Education

The Center for Jewish Special Education: Mercaz Meyuchad is dedicated to developing a cadre of Jewish special educators and inclusive classroom teachers. The newly designed modules integrate special education content and Judaic knowledge, and prepare educators to address the diverse needs of students in day and supplemental schools, and informal educational settings. Through online and in-person classes, educators learn to modify content and instructional methods. Our ultimate goal is to support successful inclusive educational opportunities for Jewish children and young adults with special needs.

The new module format is designed for educators seeking academic credit or professional development. Content is appropriate for specialists as well as all professionals who want to enhance their skills to better serve diverse learners. In addition, the Center offers a flexible program of instruction toward a 12-credit Certificate in Jewish Special Education. Designed for busy professionals who want to broaden their reach within the Jewish classroom, this program may be taken primarily online in combination with opportunities for field experience, and case study and curriculum evaluation. (Courses that are starred are required for the Certificate.)

Informational webinar:
Center for Jewish Special Education Webinar (recorded: June 9, 2010, 50 mins.)

Modules in Jewish Special Education (one credit each)

• Jewish Views on Disabilities^*

• High Incidence Special Needs in Jewish Settings^*

• Autism Spectrum Disorders in Jewish Settings^*

• Special Education and Second Language Acquisition: Implications for Hebrew^*

• Impact of Disabilities on Behavior^*

• Differentiated Instruction (Jewish Curriculum – Holidays, History)^*

• Curriculum Accommodations^*

• Field Experience (Open to Certificate Students Only)^*

• Case Study, Curriculum & Evaluation (Open to Certificate Students Only)^*

• Early Childhood Special Education: Identifying and Supporting Young Children in Jewish Classrooms

• B’nei Mitzvah Instruction for Students with Special Needs

• Jewish Adolescents and Special Education

• Early Hebrew Literacy

• Spoken Language Acquisition

• Working with Biblical & Rabbinic Texts

• Basics of Assessment (Tests, Standard Scores)

• Assessments for Hebrew-English Language Environments

• Managing Jewish Inclusive Classrooms

• Administration of Special Education in Jewish Settings

• Special Ed and Technology

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university

• Academic records and one letter of recommendation

• Demonstrated proficiency in reading and comprehension of basic biblical Hebrew texts as well as a working knowledge of fundamental modern Hebrew

For more information, please contact the Office of Admissions: 
617-559-8610; 800-866-4814; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Center for Jewish Special Education Lead Faculty

DR. SCOTT SOKOL,  the Bernard J. Korman Professor of Jewish Special Education, is a neuropsychologist as well as a cantor. Dr. Sokol has focused his research and clinical practice for the past 25 years on the intersection of psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics, specifically regarding how individuals acquire and process first and second languages. Prior to this appointment, he served as Dean of the Jewish Music Institute and was the founding Director of both the Cantor-Educator Program and Special Education Program at the College.

He has a BA from Brandeis University, MA and PhD degrees from Johns Hopkins University and a MSM and Cantorial Investiture from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. Dr. Sokol is past recipient of a Young Psychologist Award from the American Psychological Association, a Fulbright Scholar and Wexner Fellow. He has served on the executive council of the Cantors Assembly of America, and is the past editor of the Journal of Synagogue Music. He is the cofounder of Koleinu and Sheminiyah and concertizes widely.

DR. SANDY MILLER-JACOBS, Professor and Director of Jewish Special Education Academic Programs, is a former special needs college professor for 28 years and, most recently, the Director of Special Education Services for the Bureau of Jewish Education (BJE) of Greater Boston. Dr. Miller-Jacobs taught for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation from 1969 to 1973, then joined the faculty of Fitchburg State College, where she served as a professor in the Special Education Department for 28 years, including six years as Department Chair and two years as the College’s Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs & Dean of Academic Personnel. She earned her BA from Queens College, CUNY, MEd from Boston University and EdD from Boston College.