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Sunday, July 26
 

11:00am EDT

Main Conference Check-in / Registration
Sunday July 26, 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm EDT

Speakers
avatar for Primo Catalano

Primo Catalano

Director, NewCAJE
Primo Catalano comes to us with years of training, both formal and informal, as it regards to putting on and leading a smooth running event.
Sunday July 26, 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Student Union Foyer

2:00pm EDT

Opening the Door: Engaging All Educators in Jewish Life
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
This workshop offers practical strategies for creating an inclusive, supportive environment where nonJewish educators can confidently participate in and teach Jewish traditions and values. Participants will explore cultural context, hands-on approaches, and communication techniques that honor diversity and spirituality while fostering understanding and collaboration in the classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Elyssa Brinn

Elyssa Brinn

Director of the Early Years Program, Strelitz International Academy
Elyssa Brinn is the Director of Early Years at Strelitz International Academy. She has been in this role for 10 years, and a dynamic Jewish educator in the field for over 25 years. Elyssa's experience and expertise spans Infancy through Kindergarten, with extensive experience in each... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose 2

2:00pm EDT

Tot Shabbat' Is Not 'Just' for Tots: Intergenerational Design That Brings Families Back
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
How do we design musical Shabbat services that engage multiple ages and stages and bring families back? For folks who lead these experiences for children 0-10 and their families, this workshop combines research and 25 years of practice to explore the multiple audiences in the room, why music works, and what design principles should inform your approach, based on desired impact. The session will close with modeling, music, and movement.
Speakers
avatar for Emily Aronoff

Emily Aronoff

Dr Emily Celebrates
Dr. Emily Aronoff cultivates connection through songleading that sparks joy, makes meaning, & secures a Jewish future. With 25 years of practice, she leads music & movement with kiddos & their families, offers professional development, consulting, & curriculum to Jewish institutions... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 340

2:00pm EDT

Building Bridges: Creating Empathy Across Cultures Through Jewish Food
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
This workshop will be a look at how an introduction to how Jewish foods can be used to teach teens and adults about Jewish culture, it's similarities to other cultures around the world, and how that culture was impacted by 20th century Jewish history. The goal of this workshop is to build empathy, fight anti-semitism, and encourage people of all cultures to look for the similarities and the good in others.
Speakers
avatar for Cathy Polakoff

Cathy Polakoff

Storytelling Director, Teach the Shoah
Cathy Polakoff is a Storytelling Director at Teach the Shoah. She has held a variety of roles in education since earning her M.Ed in 2014. She now focuses on guiding people in telling factual stories to educate others about the Holocaust. Cathy frequently volunteers at her synagogue... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 323

2:00pm EDT

Teaching Israel in a Post-Oct. 7 Reality
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Teaching about Israel, Zionism, antizionism, and how these ideas can intersect with Jew-hatred is a prerequisite skill for Jewish educators in the 21st century. In this session we will explore how to teach learners in order to engage deeply with the subjects, create shared understanding, build historical knowledge, encourage real curiosity, and build Jews who see themselves as part of the story.
Speakers
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202

2:00pm EDT

Creating New Authentically Jewish Rituals
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
This class will explore how new Jewish rituals can be created, and how traditional rituals can be renewed, to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of contemporary life. We will examine what makes a ritual meaningful and rooted in Jewish tradition, while responding to experiences that may not have established communal practices.
Using a ritual template created by Andrea for women who have gone through the loss of pregnancy, participants will analyze effective ritual. We will identify moments in Jewish life that may call for new or revitalized rituals and consider how tradition can serve as a framework for healing, transition, memory, and connection. Through discussion and reflection, participants will gain tools to engage in the evolving work of Jewish ritual innovation.

Speakers
avatar for Andrea Shupack

Andrea Shupack

Cantorial Soloist
Andrea Shupack is a cantorial soloist, musician, educator, and storyteller in the Pacific Northwest. She is studying for Rabbinic and Cantorial ordination at the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York. For the past 25 years she has worked in Conservative, Reform, and Renewal communities... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 236

2:00pm EDT

Is It a Mitzvah to Vote?
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
We want our lessons to be relevant to our learners. Ahead of the midterms, come learn the Jewish perspective on voting. Participants will walk away with physical and digital materials that they can use with their students.
Speakers
avatar for David Schwartz

David Schwartz

Education Director, Temple Har Zion
David Schwartz is the Education Director at Har Zion in Chicago.  When he’s not doing that he is a B’nai Mitzvah tutor and Jewish storyteller.  David is also on the Board of the JEA and an MTEI graduate.  However, his most important role is husband to Miriam and Abba to 10-year-old... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319

2:00pm EDT

ShalomLearning Torah Aura Hebrew Curriculum Training
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
This 90-minute hands-on workshop is designed exclusively for current ShalomLearning partner educators using Torah Aura Hebrew. Our specialists will guide you through the complete platform experience from classroom setup to lesson navigation so you can confidently lead your students through this Hebrew learning program. Torah Aura Hebrew is more than a reading program. It is a full Hebrew experience built around meaning, movement, and connection to Israel and Jewish culture. This training ensures you know how to unlock everything the curriculum offers. Curriculum Highlights Torah Aura Hebrew Visual cueing teaches Hebrew keywords while movement activities bring action words to life. Students explore 27 prayers with a focus on prayer meaning and keywords through interpretation. Periodic virtual tours of Israel connect students' Hebrew learning to the living language and culture.

Shalom Learning asks all partners planning to attend this session to please complete this pre-registration form
Speakers
avatar for Shira Sender

Shira Sender

Director of Client Care and Teacher Support, ShalomLearning
Shira Sender is the Director of Client Care and Teacher Support with ShalomLearning, where she collaborates with, supports, and trains educators and educational leaders to ensure Jewish education is accessible and engaging for today's learners. With over 20 years of experience in... Read More →
avatar for Heidi Lovitz

Heidi Lovitz

[email protected], ShalomLearning
Heidi Lovitz is the Senior Managing Director of ShalomLearning, where she leads curriculum development, program delivery, and strategic operations to bring innovative Jewish education to students and families in diverse communities. With 20+ years of experience, she holds a Master's... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239

2:00pm EDT

All My Values Come from the Movies (and streaming and binging...)
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
What can Ryan Gosling, Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba and Jenna Ortega teach our teens about Jewish Values? A lot when they star in a popular film or series...and then YOU help them unpack what is on the screen! We will explore how to bring clips from current releases and classics and make your classes come alive. This session comes with a three year warranty!


Speakers
avatar for Ira Wise

Ira Wise

Ira currently serves as Temple Educator at Temple Beth Tikvah, a Reform congregation in Madison, CT, and has served as  a mentor for other synagogue educators through the Leadership Institute, HUC-JIR and Beit T'shuvah. He has attended and presented at CAJE and NewCAJE off and on... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 237

2:00pm EDT

Walking Together: Helping Teens Support Others through Uncertain Times
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Judaism recognizes that life includes moments of illness, grief, and loss. Rather than avoiding these moments, Jewish tradition offers guidance for how we care for one another when life is most difficult. This session explores how we, as educators, can guide tweens and teens to support those who are suffering and show up with compassion, presence, and courage. Take-home tools: Jewish texts, conversation starters, and experiential activities to effectively engage with teens in your educational setting.
Speakers
avatar for Nina Woldin

Nina Woldin

Adult Educator, Artist, Consultant, Exhibitor, Non-Profit Staff/CEO, curriculum writer, Chai Mitzvah
Nina Woldin, Managing Director of Chai Mitzvah, has worked in Jewish education for decades, creating student materials and programs for all ages, pre-K – adult. Her work has been published by Behrman House, Ktav, Kar Ben Publishing, Addison Wesley and Grolier. She created one of... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose I

4:45pm EDT

Coming of Age with Anne Frank
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Anne Frank’s diary is one of the most published books of all time. Written between the ages of 13 and 15 years old, modern bar and bat mitzvah age students still find her passages relatable to their own experiences. This workshop will explore ways to include Anne Frank’s legacy in meaningful ways during the B’nai Mitzvah years through interactive lessons and an impactful mitzvah project opportunity.
Speakers
avatar for Danielle Glass

Danielle Glass

Danielle Glass is educator with extensive experience in Jewish community programming. She holds a master's degree in education and is a self-taught artist. Danielle strives to inspire students through engaging and interactive learning experiences and brings her passion for teaching... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 320

4:45pm EDT

How We Talk Matters: Communication Skills for Educators
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Every educator faces moments when conversations feel challenging. In this interactive workshop, grounded in the MTEI principle How We Talk Matters, we’ll build practical skills for listening with empathy, speaking with clarity, and responding thoughtfully in the moment. Through real-life scenarios and guided practice, participants will explore how to turn everyday interactions into opportunities for connection, trust, and meaningful learning.
Speakers
SK

Seymour Kopelowitz

Program Director, MTEI
Seymour Kopelowitz is the program director of MTEI at the Mandel Foundation. He has served as a day school principal, Director of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, and Executive Director of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland. Seymour has a Ph.D. in educational leadership... Read More →
avatar for Deborah Niederman, RJE

Deborah Niederman, RJE

Leader of Recruitment, Mandel Teacher Educator Institute
Deborah Niederman, RJE is the Leader of Recruitment for the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI) and Director of Education at Temple Shalom in Dallas, TX. With over 30 years in Jewish education, she is passionate about mentoring leaders, fostering innovation, and integrating learning... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose I

4:45pm EDT

Telling Their Story
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
I will share strategies learning at the 2022 Yad Vashem Supplemental School Seminar to support educators in developing educationally and emotionally accessible lessons to elementary and middle school students. Learn methods to create content for Holocaust education which can be used in a variety of settings. We are obliged to tell stories of survivors and victims factually, using first person narrative when possible. Four different family Holocaust stories will be shared using a variety of methods, including artifacts and testimony.
Speakers
avatar for Ramona Brand

Ramona Brand

Director of Youth Learning, Temple Beth El
Ramona Brand M.Ed, is the Director of Youth Learning at Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia. She has been a director of Congregational Supplemental schools for twenty-five years and is excited to be able to share her passion for Jewish education with other educators. She will be... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 236

4:45pm EDT

The Power of Jewish Stories
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
In this interactive session, participants will explore the psychology of storytelling: how stories move us, connect us, and help us think more deeply. Together, we will examine how personal and communal Jewish stories can be used as powerful tools for meaningful education.
Speakers
avatar for Jonathan Golden

Jonathan Golden

Dr. Jonathan Golden is a Senior Educator at OpenDor Media who works in the Unpacked for Educators and ConnectED divisions. He teaches at the Hebrew College in Boston and for the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. Previously, he served as the Israel Curriculum Coordinator and... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 340

4:45pm EDT

NewCAJE Chorale
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Come be a part of the NewCAJE chorale and practice for a grand performance at evening programs on Tuesday night! All are welcome, musicians and non-musicians alike.

Resources for chorale can be found at:
tinyurl.com/NewCAJEChorale
Speakers
avatar for Michelle

Michelle

Cantor, B'nai Vail
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Student Union The StAJE

4:45pm EDT

How to Create Learning That's Deep AND Fun for Kids - and Yourself!
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
In this session we’ll explore a text in a multimodal way, hear case studies on how applying these practices has increased learner curiosity and engagement, and unpack theories of what makes multimodal learning powerful. Attendees will leave with strategies on how to apply these practices in their schools and classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Miriam Roochvarg

Miriam Roochvarg

Miriam Roochvarg is a Jewish Placemaking Resident at Makom Community. Miriam earned her Masters in Education with a concentration in Jewish Instructional Education from Gratz College. Before becoming a Resident, Miriam served as Director of Jewish Learning and Programming for a shul... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 323

4:45pm EDT

Rhythm & Voice: Engaging Students through Spoken Word
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Interactive spoken-word tools can empower classroom engagement. Discover how spoken-word activities—like call-and-response ‘Daily Blessings,’ guided ‘David & Goliath’ rap-battles, and group ring shouts—can energize your classroom. These easy-to-lead exercises foster student participation, focus, and joy, even without musical expertise.
Speakers
avatar for Rachel Haymer

Rachel Haymer

Co-director of rappers and rabbis, Rachel Haymer is a Honolulu native now in NYC for over a decade. With an extensive Jewish and secular résumé, she brings her experience as.Tkiya music, leader, cantorial, soloist, Jewish educator, and the new creative program director of the women’s... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202

4:45pm EDT

Violence Against the Earth in the Abrahamic Religions
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
In this session we'll examine key texts, ancient and modern, from the major Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—to learn how each teaches its adherents about caring for the environment. We'll discuss what the differences in their approaches mean, and how to use the texts either in our own settings or with an interfaith group.
Speakers
avatar for Paul Solyn

Paul Solyn

Adult Educator
Paul Solyn is an adult educator in Elmira, NY. He received an M.J.Ed. degree and family educator certificate from Hebrew College, Boston, and a graduate certificate in eco-spirituality from Hartford International University.
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239

7:45pm EDT

50th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday July 26, 2026 7:45pm - 9:15pm EDT

Speakers
avatar for EJ Cohen

EJ Cohen

ASL interpreter/Jewish educator

avatar for Karen Daniel

Karen Daniel

Teacher and music specialist, Beth Meyer synagogue Raleigh NC
Karen Daniel is a teacher in the religious school and musical accompanist at Beth Meyer Synagogue in Raleigh NC. Having grown up in Nashville, TN, she is also a singer/songwriter of original Jewish and country/folk songs.
avatar for Eliana Light

Eliana Light

Educator, Musician, and 2025 Covenant Foundation Family Education, The Light Lab
Eliana is working towards a world of One-ness, guided and inspired by Jewish heritage. She focuses on translating liturgy, prayer practice, and g?d-concepts in ways that are deep and accessible for all people at any age. Eliana’s music, gatherings, and teaching reflect a spirit... Read More →
avatar for Danny Freelander

Danny Freelander

Danny retired in 2019 from 45 years of leadership to the Reform movement.
He served as a Director of NFTY, Regional Director of the New Jersey-West Hudson Valley region of the UAHC, National Director of Program for the UAHC, and as Vice President of the URJ. In 2014 he became Pres... Read More →
avatar for Carla Friend

Carla Friend

Founder & Executive Director, Tkiya
Carla Friend is the Founder & Executive Director of Tkiya, an organization with the mission of creating joyful Jewish connection through participatory music experiences. Through Tkiya, Carla reaches 15,000 people per year with her unique methodology of Jewish education and engagement... Read More →
avatar for Marcia Wollner

Marcia Wollner

regional director, March of. the Living, Western Region
Marcia Tatz Wollner is the Western Region Director of the March of the Living. Living in San Diego, she teaches Holocaust education in many congregational schools. She is the former school services director of the Agency for Jewish Education. She holds a masters in Jewish Studies... Read More →
avatar for Cherie Koller-Fox

Cherie Koller-Fox

NewCAJE
Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox is well known in the Boston area and beyond. She was ordained by the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York which is a pluralistic Jewish seminary. She has served as rabbi at Congregation Eitz Chayim in Cambridge, Temple Emanuel of Marlborough, Newton-Wellesley... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 7:45pm - 9:15pm EDT
Student Union The StAJE

9:30pm EDT

Dessert Reception
Sunday July 26, 2026 9:30pm - 10:30pm EDT

Speakers
avatar for Cherie Koller-Fox

Cherie Koller-Fox

NewCAJE
Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox is well known in the Boston area and beyond. She was ordained by the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York which is a pluralistic Jewish seminary. She has served as rabbi at Congregation Eitz Chayim in Cambridge, Temple Emanuel of Marlborough, Newton-Wellesley... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 9:30pm - 10:30pm EDT
Student Union The StAJE
 

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