George Kelley has been the Education Director of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis since 2002. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Psychology from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, and a Master of Education from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. George has had a long career in education, including working in and running early childhood programs, acting as an educational consultant, and teaching at a university. He has also served as Chair of the Reconstructionist Educators of North America.
George has worked with the teachers to create innovative approaches to Religious School education, borrowing from other traditions and his background in secular education, blending good pedagogy with Jewish learning. His interests include developing a curriculum to help use Jewish values to enhance interpersonal relationships and exploring new ways for young people to make Torah relevant in their own lives. George has also worked extensively in the interfaith community, building bridges with others in Indiana and other parts of the world. As a storyteller and lecturer, George brings a sense of entertainment to learning both in his own school and in the greater community.
“Religious School provides an opportunity for students to gain Jewish literacy that will travel with them throughout their lives. Although it won’t provide a Jewish answer to everything, it will give students the skills to ask important questions from a Jewish perspective. The addition of Hebrew skills will give our students a passport to the Jewish community worldwide, as it is the common language of our people.”