Sparking Conversation

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation between Dr. Kletenik and Emily Cherkin—educator, author, speaker, and leading voice on children and technology.Cherkin, the lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against ed-tech giant PowerSchool, shares the story behind her case and the experiences that sparked her advocacy around screen use in schools. Together, she and Dr. Kletenik explore how her work as both a teacher and a parent has shaped her perspective on educational technology.They also dive into her book, The Screentime Solution—a practical, judgment-free guide to raising tech-intentional families—as well as a preview of her upcoming work focused on the evolving role of technology in education.This is an honest, nuanced conversation for anyone navigating the intersection of children, learning, and screens.

Tune in to a conversation between Dr. Kletenik and Beata Shulman, Holocaust scholar and educator. Beata is the director of development and leadership engagement at the Long Island division of the AJC. The two discuss the recent NYC election, raising children with Jewish pride and how Holocaust education has changed since October 7th. 

Tune in to a conversation between Dr. Kletenik and Yosef Gillers, founder and CEO of Grow Torah. Grow Torah aims to cultivate a more passionate, compassionate and sustainable future driven by Torah values. MDS is thrilled to be in year three of our Grow Torah partnership. Students engage in learning Torah values through gardening in our on site Grow Torah garden. This episode explores the value of outdoor activities with children and how embodied experiences are an important counterpoint to the increasing amount of time children spend on technology. Listen in to hear predictions regarding AI, tips for outdoor fun and a healthy debate about incentives. 

Alana Gelnick, the CEO of Dreamerly, joins Dr. Kletenik to talk about intentional use of technology for children, the importance of Jewish day schools and her strange encounter with AI! MDS welcomes Alana back for a second year consulting with our early childhood department. We are thrilled to kick off the first podcast of the school year with this conversation!

Dr. Yoni Schwab, psychologist and assistant founding head of the Shef School, joins Dr. Kletenik to continue his conversation with the MDS community about the impact of screens on children and childhood. The two discuss the research, some parenting pointers and how our timeless traditions such as Shabbat and the upcoming Chag of Pesach, may unlock some of the answers to helping society today.

Rabbi Daniel Sherman, Rabbi of WSIS and WSSS, joins Dr. Kletenik to reflect on how the phone based world has impacted our spiritual life. They discuss Dr. Haidt’s research, the importance of parental spiritual growth and how our Jewish values can anchor us in today’s world. A perfect conversation to tune into on Chanukah!

Dr. Amy Kratka, MDS parent and director of Jewish Studies at City College, joins Dr. Kletenik to discuss how she has navigated the new MDS guidelines as a parent. Amy shares a bold move she made this past summer and some of her own reflections and thinking about the impact of a phone based childhood on our adolescents and community. 

Tune in to a conversation with Early Childhood Psychologist, Shira Kaizler-Martin, to learn about how to navigate the influx of imagery from October 7th with your children. Morah Shira and Dr. Kletenik discuss the complexities of the footage from the terrorist attack, including viewing the Nova Exhibit in NYC featuring raw footage from October 7th and the devastating photo of victim, Shani Louk, being taken into Gaza. Morah Shira discuss how to honor victims of October 7th and preserve their dignity and our mental health as we approach the one year anniversary of the October 7th pogrom.

Caroline Bryk, the founder of the Tikvah Parents Forum, joins Dr. Kletenik to discuss how her Jewish values and upbringing have inspired her to take action in the face of what she calls the "tech crisis." Tune in to hear her thoughts about the MDS technology guidelines, the successes and challenges of her work and what wholesome technology use can look like at the communal level.