Ari Reis, MJEd.
The son of a Rabbi, Ari discovered early his passion for Torah as well as for the enormous contribution Jewish thought, literature, and tradition can make to contemporary life.
At the age of 16, he blended his musical and theatrical talents with his Judaic knowledge, creating programs for the Central Region of United Synagogue Youth and teaching Hebrew liturgy at The Ivriah combined Reform and Conservative Religious School of Flint, Mich. Ari developed innovative teaching methods that enabled students of varying learning abilities to find a rewarding connection to their religion and culture. Through these early successes as an educator and mentor, Ari's passion and talent for teaching were born.
In 1993 Ari began his undergraduate years at Michigan State University. While away at school, he stayed deeply involved in the Jewish community. Ari was a leader at United Synagogue Youth conventions and retreats during the school year. He spent summers mentoring and teaching young people at Camp Ramah in Palmer, Mass. and other youth camps. At Emma Kaufmann Camp, supported by the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh, Ari created their first Informal Jewish Education program.
Upon graduation from Michigan State, Ari continued his Jewish communal work as a Synagogue Youth Director. He also taught 7th and 8th grade world history to inner city youth in Pittsburgh's public school system.
In 2001, he moved to Boston where he began his graduate work at Hebrew College. There, he honed his skills as an informal educator, creating inventive ways of blending scholarly Jewish texts and ideas with contemporary activities. His approach in applying and adapting a variety of teaching techniques resonated with young and old alike. In Boston, Ari taught in Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist congregations and educational institutions, guiding students of all ages to form new connections to their faith. He also worked to connect unaffiliated and interfaith families in the Boston area.
Upon completion of his graduate coursework at Hebrew College, Ari was chosen as Director of Informal Education and Youth Services at Temple Chai in the Chicago area. He then went on to serve as Education, Youth, and Preschool Director at Congregation Beth Judah in Southern New Jersey. Ari has developed programming for the Partnership 2000 community leadership exchange in Israel, Camp Ramah in Canada, and the National American Federation of Temple Youth. Ari is also an active member of the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE).
Today, Ari devotes his time to Informal Jewish Education for all ages and all communities throughout the United States and Canada. He is a pioneer and a visionary in the Informal Jewish Education movement. Ari makes his home in New England with his wife, Jenny, and son, Noah.
