What if the secret to kids loving religious school isn’t magic—it’s goats, butterflies, and a radical rethinking of Jewish education?

In this lively episode of In Such a Time, Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe sits down with Rabbi Educator Maura Linzer to reveal the rarely-shared story behind Temple Bethel’s explosive school growth and joyful, inclusive culture. Discover how Rabbi Linzer pivoted from traditional rabbinic track to innovative educator, championing educational practices that mirror—and sometimes push past—the best of public school standards. From differentiated learning and tailoring programs for kids with IEPs, to the beloved annual baby goat visit (yes, real goats!), this episode uncovers practical and heartwarming strategies making Jewish education a magnet for families from across the region.

Key highlights include: how the school connects with parents as partners and primary educators, embraces kids with diverse learning needs, weaves in Israeli emissaries for real-world connection, and sensitively approaches complex subjects like Israel and the Holocaust. Plus: hear how the curriculum gets creative with costumes, theme songs, and enrichment activities that keep kids running towards religious school, not away.

Stay to the end for a rapid-fire Q&A where Rabbi Linzer shares her local Pittsburgh favorites and her vision for the next decade of Jewish learning.

Episode Overview:

• [00:00:00 ] Intro
• [00:00:20 ] Meet Rabbi Maura Linzer and her journey into Jewish education
• [00:01:16 ] The unlikely start: from rabbi to passionate educator
• [00:02:41 ] Building lay partnership and professionalizing religious school
• [00:04:44 ] What makes Temple Bethel’s approach unique—and a community draw
• [00:05:36 ] Inclusion, special needs, and a team of 70+ teen teachers
• [00:07:26 ] Innovative programs: baby goats, chickens, and hands-on learning
• [00:09:30 ] Making synagogue a second home: joy, creativity, costumes, and music
• [00:11:57 ] Inside the educational philosophy: inclusion, movement, and differentiated instruction
• [00:17:33 ] Empowering parents as primary Jewish educators
• [00:18:52 ] Teaching Israel: community, complexity, and real-world voices
• [00:23:55 ] Age-appropriate, immersive Holocaust education
• [00:25:52 ] Retaining and inspiring teens beyond B’nai Mitzvah
• [00:28:45 ] Personal favorites, Pittsburgh tips, and vision for the future
• [00:33:00 ] Closing and gratitude

Tune in for a blueprint of how Jewish education can be daring, joyful, and truly life-changing.