JMB launches online learning platform for teachers

“JMB di.kla is a trailblazing educational project that brings together the worlds of modern learning – interactive, digital, classroom,” says JMB Director Hetty Berg. “At a time when it is more important than ever before to engage with history and diversity, we want not only to impart knowledge, but also to encourage young people to think independently and take a respectful attitude toward all the members of our diverse society. In the interconnected world we live in today, nurturing these skills is especially crucial.” 

Innovative, Interactive, and Practical

The abbreviation “di.kla” stands for the German “digitaler Klassenraum,” or digital classroom. At the same time, it is a Hebrew first name that means “palm tree” – a symbol of growth and positivity. The avatar Dikla guides students through the app through chat, ensuring a playful interaction with the educational content. Barbara Thiele, who was appointed the new Director of Education & Digital Engagement in June 2024, comments: “By launching JMB di.kla, we have successfully implemented another flagship project in our digital strategy. It is seamlessly integrated into our outreach programs, which enable students to get to know Jewish culture and history in an appealing and accessible way – even when they’re outside the museum. I am delighted that this allows us to reach even more young people and thus promote cultural participation.”

Five modules are ready for immediate use, on the topics of Purim, Passover, Hebrew, Antisemitism, and Jewish Places. They are available in German and English, and can be flexibly integrated into teaching – whether in the classroom or a digital space. JMB di.kla is a web-based application that only requires Internet access. The modules can be used either in individual study or in small groups. They offer material both as 45-minute units and as “mini-lessons” lasting between three and 30 minutes.

JMB di.kla is already available to use here: https://dikla.jmberlin.de/en.

Initial classroom experiences highlight the potential of JMB di.kla:

“For teaching that aims to create connections with the present day and with students’ own lives, JMB di.kla is a real asset. Visiting the Jewish Museum Berlin would be hugely valuable for every school, especially in view of the current political debates over history, but for various reasons that is not always possible. Using JMB di.kla, we can simply bring the museum into our own classroom – as a digital alternative that prompts students to switch their perspective, supports project-based learning, and offers a space for first encounters with Jewish life and for the students’ individual questions.” – Teacher at a high school in Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia

“I have been part of the team working on JMB-di.kla for several years now. As a Jewish teacher myself, I find it especially important to teach students about Jewish life as something vibrant, diverse, and with clear contemporary relevance, rather than just reproducing what is so often an oversimplified black-and-white image. Jewish life in Germany is not very visible, but the multifaceted materials and up-to-the-minute commentaries by Jewish people give students the opportunity for authentic encounters. Added to that, the digital presentation motivates them to delve into the topics.” – Michael Stahl, teacher and deputy president of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg

“For me as a teacher, the JMB di.kla modules enable me to address topics around Jewish life from a range of different viewpoints. My students can work through the content at their own pace, while the multimedia resources with images, videos, and audio files offer a variety of access routes.” – Lena Blanke, teacher at IGS Peine and Coordinator of Social Studies for high schools in Lower Saxony

“After 7 October 2023, my groups had a strong desire for dialogue. For that to succeed, it is essential to understand antisemitism as a form of hate. That’s where the module on antisemitism gives me, as a teacher, the opportunity to confront students with authentic messages and strengthen their capacity for empathy.” – Lena Blanke, teacher at IGS Peine and Coordinator of Social Studies for high schools in Lower Saxony

“JMB di.kla opens up perspectives that go beyond conventional historical narratives. It offers insights into the origins of contemporary Jewish life, and also into the diversity of Jewish cultures and traditions. Students have the chance to see Jewish culture as vibrant, dynamic, and diverse, reaching far beyond stereotypical portrayals. I believe this is indispensable, especially at a time when antisemitism is growing.” – Teacher at a high school in Hamburg

JMB di.kla at the Leipzig Book Fair

On 27–30 March 2025, JMB di.kla and other JMB educational resources will be presented at the Leipzig Book Fair. In Hall 2, Stand B502, visitors can find out more about these resources and join panels on topics including “Antisemitism in the Classroom,” “Jewish Diversity in Your Teaching,” and “The JMB’s New Digital Classroom.”

JMB di.kla is made possible by support from the Friends of the Jewish Museum Berlin in the U.S.