The Darim Online Learning Network is a valuable professional development and knowledge-sharing network for staff and lay leaders of Darim member organizations.  Our initial program was developed specifically for synagogues, and with funding from the Covenant Foundation we have launched a new track focusing on complementary educators.

The Learning Network is built around the model of a community of practice, in which members learn from each other through sharing resources and expertise, problem-solving, and developing collective wisdom on an ongoing basis in order to grow professionally and improve their practice.  This model is particularly valuable for the Jewish organizations with which Darim works, helping to promote best practices, share knowledge, save time, increase sophistication, and advance the Jewish community's use of these important technology tools.

The Learning Network activities include online discussions, sharing ideas and practice, one on one coaching from Darim staff and affiliates, and elearning events.  Darim organizes regular webinar and conference call sessions for which we recruit guest experts as well as members who can showcase their own practice in order to infuse the community with new knowledge and skills.
Below are examples of past webinar topics from the Synagogue network.  These subject areas were chosen based on topics that emerged from the community itself:

•    Best Use of Web Stats
•    Best Practices in E-Newsletters, presented by the VP of Constant Contact
•    How to Use Photography to Improve your Web Site
•    Facebook (3 part series)
•    Communications Planning
•    Attracting and Retaining Users and Inspiring Action

In addition to the live webinar events, listerv discussion and consulting from Darim staff, Darim offers a robust online resource bank which includes archives of each conference call or webinar, powerpoints, best practices, sample policies, resourceful articles, useful tips, and links to valuable materials on the web. The resource bank is called "Dirah", which means "apartment" in modern Hebrew, and a "dwelling place" in biblical Hebrew, as in "G-d's dwelling place". It comes from the same root as Darim -- to dwell.

This is a constantly evolving resource bank -- we welcome contributions of your best practices and materials, and invite you to communicate to us what other materials would be most valuable to you.

Current membership in the Learning Network  includes more than 250 participants from over 100 organizations. 

Organizations which have developed a web site with Darim Online are automatically members of the Learning Network, and can login to Dirah, the online resource bank, with their CMS login.  Others are invited to register online for the Learning Network and become a member of Darim.

Please do be in touch with comments and suggestions. Dirah is intended to be a resource for you, and we welcome your input.