NewCAJE17: 50th Anniversary: Full Schedule

arrow_back View All Dates

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

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

History, Storytelling

Audience Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers, Principals
Track Holocaust
Type Main

2:00pm EDT

Teaching Israel in a Post-Oct. 7 Reality

Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

College Hall Rm 202

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

Rachel Fish

Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202

Israel, Teaching Tools & Techniques

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Teaching Tools & Techniques
Audience Adult Students, High School, Lower Elementary School, Middle School, Teachers, Upper Elementary
Track Israel
Type Virtual, Main

2:00pm EDT

Is It a Mitzvah to Vote?

Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

College Hall Rm 319

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

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 →

Is It a Mitzvah to Vote docx

Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319

Jewish Life & Identity, Text/Bible/Theology

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Text/Bible/Theology
Audience Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers
Type Main

2:00pm EDT

All My Values Come from the Movies (and streaming and binging...)

Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

College Hall Rm 237

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

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

Teaching Tools and Techniques, Teens/Youth Engagement

Company Spirituality/Tefilah
Audience Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers, Principals
Type Main

2:00pm EDT

Walking Together: Helping Teens Support Others through Uncertain Times

Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Maria Hall Multipurpose I

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

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

Teens/Youth Engagement, Teaching Tools & Techniques

Company Teaching Tools & Techniques
Audience Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers, Principals
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

Coming of Age with Anne Frank

Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

College Hall Rm 320

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

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 →

AFC 2 Memorable Quote Activty ALL FILES COMBINED pdf

AFC 3 BoBS D'var Torah Workshop Activity ALL FILES COMBINED pdf

AFC 1 It's a Mitzvh Lesson Plann ALL FILES COMBINED pdf

Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 320

B-Mitzvah, Jewish Life & Identity

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Jewish Life & Identity
Audience Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

Telling Their Story

Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

College Hall Rm 236

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

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

History, Storytelling

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Storytelling
Audience Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Track Holocaust
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

The Power of Jewish Stories

Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

College Hall Rm 340

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

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

Jewish Life & Identity, Storytelling

Company Jewish Life & Identity
Audience Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Type Main

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

College Hall Rm 323

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

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

Teaching Tools & Techniques, Big Picture of Jewish Education

Company Teaching Tools & Techniques, Big Picture of Jewish Education
Audience Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Middle School
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

Rhythm & Voice: Engaging Students through Spoken Word

Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

College Hall Rm 202

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

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

Teens/Youth Engagement, Teaching Tools & Techniques

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Teaching Tools & Techniques
Audience Adult Students, High School, Lower Elementary School, Middle School, Teachers, Upper Elementary
Type Main, Virtual

2:00pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

Get help with the event