פילוסופיה של הדת וחינוך מורים

In this article we examine one possible contribution of the study of the philosophy of religion in the education of modern Orthodox teachers of Judaica. Based on the works of Joseph Schwab, Israel Scheffler and Lee Shulman, we acknowledge that it is critical for teachers to be aware of the possible epistemological status of the subject matter they teach. The article focuses on the need for teachers to address the epistemological meaning of religious propositions. Teachers also need to understand the relationships between religious propositions and propositions found in other realms of knowledge and human experience. In the first part of the article we discuss the challenge of religious propositions in the context of modern religious education. We then explain what makes some discussions in the philosophy of religion appropriate as a source of knowledge for teachers. In the second part we describe how Rabbi Soloveitchik's essay, The Halakhic Mind, does indeed address the question of the epistemological meaning of religious propositions and can therefore provide teachers with an important source of knowledge. In the third and last part we comment on the promise as well as the challenge of applying our theoretical claim in the practice of the professional development of teachers.