R’ Menachem Mendel Weiss, a member of anash in Los Angeles, has come up with a brilliant, long over due idea and is in the running to win $100,000 for his idea. The voting ends this Friday. He is currently in third place. Please take a moment to vote.
The Idea
Hebrewheroes.com is an online Jewish Values based interactive game and social networking site for children. The idea of the “hebrew hero” is that we as Jews (hebrews) are meant to be heroes for the world. The web site would be similar in concept to other highly successful commercial children’s websites (e.g.clubpenguin.com & wizard101). Hebrewheroes.com would be an imaginary online world where participants are enrolled in super hero training. Every child would have his or her very own avatar and lair that they can design and continually develop. The game would consist of several aspects. First heroes in training would seek out and interact with various “Hebrew Heroes” based on famous Jewish historical figures. Each interaction would lead the child through a series of challenges, lessons and games where they would be mastering the particular value that their Hero would be teaching them.
After completing each phase of the training, the child’s avatar would gain various powers and abilities that could then be used to compete in other games using the various powers they have acquired. The player also is constantly earning points that can be redeemed for game based purchases (e.g. a menorah for their lair) as well as bonus points when they have graduated from one level to another that can be redeemed for actual prizes from the prize vault (e.g. a personalized kipa, which we send to them). Throughout the gaming experience, participants will be having fun and interacting with other Jewish kids, while learning Jewish values, history and language. The idea is to create something educational that feels totally like a gaming and social networking experience. Another important aspect of hebrewheroes.com is community partnering. We would offer synagogue based hebrew schools discounted licensing so that they could utilize the website as part of their curriculum. Once we have established a relationship with a particular synagogue, we can then use the website as a referral system for synagogues in particular regions.
The Impact
The goal of hebrewheroes.com is to create an educational option for a wide spectrum of Jewish youth who may or may not belong to a synagogue or attend any other formal Jewish educational program or school. Let’s face it, most Jewish kids today do not attend a Jewish school, and less and less are even attending hebrew school, But THEY ARE ALL ONLINE. We need an attractive, exciting online kid friendly place where any Jewish child in the world can log on to connect with other Jewish kids and with the spirit of Judaism in an interactive and non-threatening non-boring way. For individuals and parents, this web site would be a welcomed positive alternative to existing online options for children where they are playing games while being sold sugar coated cereal. As far as the impact on LA Jewish Community. As stated above, hebrewheroes.com would be a portal for any community synagogue, school or organization who wishes to partner with us in order to reach out to new members and participants. Also by existing hebrew schools incorporating hebrewheroes.com into their curriculum, they would be getting the benefit of an online engaging and effective teaching tool that could extend their student;s learning into the home. Finally, this concept is a step in the right directioon for Jewish education. The possible impact of such a web-site and the broad reach and appeal of the internet would be utilized to promote Jewish values, education and pride like never before.
This Is A Great Idea Because
What makes this project new and inovative is that it takes existing technology and uses it in a way that nowbody is currently using it. In affect, the idea of this web-site is revolutionary becaues it alows us to fucus all of our educational now how in one place that can then be accesed by anyone wanting Jewish education anywhere in the world. Once the web-site is fully functional and working with Los Angeles based synagogues and schools, it can be used and expanded to create similar such networks in other Jewish communities without having to rienvest in the actual web-site and curriculum development. That is the beauty of the world wide web. In other words, for a fraction of the cost of what it would take to biuld a brick and mortar school that would not reach a broad spectrum of children and which would require constant upkeep and renewal, we could create the Jewish school of the future that is innovative, fun and assessable world-wide at a very low cost to the consumer. Besides the fact that it can still be utilized to enhance and supplement current educational institutions and their curriculums.
Great Man!
Great Mission!
this sounds great for frum kids who also want to play games on computer. there are no other kosher jewish games to redirect them to.
He is now winning by a long shot. Chabad is wonderful.
Rabbi Weiss is an incredible person who does so much. he deserves your VOTE
He has inspired me to much greater heights! I would vote for any of his ideas!
You have my vote (i voted), I wish you every success!
Thank you for taking the time, energy, effort etc to create this for our children. The fact is that the computer and internet is here to stay, so to have kosher avenues provided for them is an amazing thing.
Wishing you hatzlochoh !
A grateful parent
Anything that keeps our children connected to good hashkofos, Torah values, chinuch and involved in a safe and kosher environment is a good thing. Since they’re on the computer anyways, this is a win win, B”H we have lots of talent out there that is being used well. yasher ko-ach and good luck
While all the other ideas are great, they are already being done in one form or another
THIS IS THE ONLY!!!!! BIG!!!! IDEA!!!!!
Please vote and help R’ Weiss continue his work of the Rebbe! Chabad has ALWAYS been the forefront of technology and using the interent to spread Jewish Education.!!!
Hatzlocha Rabbah!!!
Postville misses you!
This weiss is not related 2 Reb Berel Weiss A”H so just 2 clarify that. Thank u
Our vote count has jumped by a 100 in the last 20 min. We are still in third place, but gaining momentum. Thanks to all who take the time to help by voting. M Weiss
we Love you from Tarzana
Mendy aka Menachem Mendel is doing an incredible job with all the sephardic and persian kids. You’re making the rebbe proud!
A real chassidisher yid. Always making the Rebbe proud!