Deena Bloomstone

As Director of Congregational Learning, Deena Bloomstone is concerned with all aspects of education and all life-stages of Jewish learning that occur within the Shir Tikva congregation. Her vision is “to empower every member of Shir Tikva to travel their path of life-long Jewish learning.” In pursuit of this vision, Deena works with the Education Committee and the Vice President of Education as well as the chairs of the Religious School Committee, Youth Committee and Adult Learning Committee. Deena came to Shir Tikva in 2001 after three years as Director of Education at Temple Beth Avodah in Newton and 13 years as Director of Education at Temple Beth El in San Antonio, Texas. She has authored several teacher guides for Torah Aura Productions and edited their electronic weekly teacher’s bulletin. Deena is an active member of the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE), was a member of the Board of Directors of NATE and is the past president of the Boston Area of Reform Temple Educators. She is currently a member of CJP’s Commission on Jewish Life-long Learning. Deena is proud of Shir Tikva’s education program and in particular the partnerships built with the Yizraeliyah elementary school and Congregation Or Hadash in Haifa. She is especially interested in Hebrew language acquisition: “Hebrew unlocks the treasures of Judaism. My interest is the challenge of how to learn Hebrew in the small amount of time offered.”

Deena received her B.A. in Educational Psychology from McGill University and her M.A.J.E. from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She received Reform Jewish Educator (R.J.E.) certification from NATE. And in May, 2011, Deena received an honorary doctorate in Jewish Religious Education from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in recognition of 25 years as a congregational educator.