Atlanta Bureau of Jewish Education Records

The Atlanta Bureau of Jewish Education was founded as a result of a meeting held by the Executive Committee of the Atlanta Jewish Community Council to consider Jewish education in Atlanta in 1945. The following year, a meeting of the Central Committee on Jewish Education was held outlining some of the problems facing Jewish education in local communities, and in August, 1946, the Atlanta Bureau of Jewish Education was formed with Barney Medintz as its Chairman. A set of by-laws was prepared and adopted by the Special Committee. The purposes of the Bureau was: a) to bring about the coordination of all Jewish schools and other educational agencies in Atlanta, to the extent that their work may be promoted through common and cooperative efforts; b) to render pedagogic and educational services to all Jewish Schools and other groups and agencies seeking such assistance; c) to encourage intelligent planning and creative effort in the field of Jewish education calculated to promote the religious, cultural and spiritual growth of the individual and the community and to make the community more conscious of the program and needs of Jewish education. The Bureau consisted of all accredited Rabbis in the community, all chairmen of committees of education of affiliated schools and all professional heads of affiliated schools. It provided consultation with directors and teachers which led to improvement in texts and record keeping. The Bureau offered various services, such as: a library which grew to house approximately 5,000 books and an extensive supply of audio-visual materials including records and filmstrips; the Institute of Jewish Studies, an adult education project; Hebrew High School – Midrash; testing programs; standards for Bar and Bas Mitzvah, Confirmation, etc.; Teacher In-Training Programs for both Hebrew and Sunday school teachers; Certification of Teachers; Licensing Program for Hebrew Teachers; annual National Bible Contest; and consultation of schools and study groups.