NewCAJE17: 50th Anniversary: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

This workshop explores ways to make prayer engaging, meaningful, and accessible for young children. Participants will learn practical strategies, hands-on activities, and age-appropriate approaches to help toddlers and preschoolers connect with spiritual practice in ways that feel natural and joyful.

Speakers

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 →

Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 320

Early Childhood Education, Spirituality/Tefilah

Company Spirituality/Tefilah
Audience Principals, Teachers
Track ECE
Type Main

9:00am EDT

Writing Your Own Torah: Creative Expression as a Source for Discovery

Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

College Hall Rm 323

“…Write this song for yourselves and teach it to the Children of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this poem may be My witness within the people of Israel.” (Deut. 31:19).

This last commandment in the Torah tells us to each write our own Torah, to teach it, and bring it to the mouths of others. Art is a powerful tool to bring our unique selves into the text and to engage and empower our students.

Andrea will share from her Torah song cycle “She Flows From Eden” and demonstrate techniques that inspire her writing process. After a text study, participants will tap into their own artistic expression, discovering and sharing insights gained through individual writing.

Speakers

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 →

NewCAJE Writing Your Own Torah handout 2026 pdf

Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 323

Jewish Life & Identity, Spirituality/Tefilah

Company Jewish Life & Identity, Spirituality/Tefilah
Audience Adult Students, Teachers, Middle School, High School, Not Age-Specific
Type Main

9:00am EDT

Adding Elders to the Classroom: Enhancing Jewish Learning with Intergenerational Connections.

Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

College Hall Rm 348

DOROT has been connecting generations for nearly 50 years for meaningful learning and Jewish engagement. Students of all ages can grow and deepen their relationship to Jewish traditions and text through ongoing relationships with older adults (65+). Learn practical ways to incorporate intergenerational learning into your Pedagogy. In this session we will experience and discuss tools to inspire identity formation and joyous Jewish learning through intergenerational connections.

Speakers

Shai Rosenfeld

Director - Intergenerational Program Enagagement, DOROT

Shai is the Director of Intergenerational Program Engagement for DOROT, a non-profit social services agency in New York City with a mission to bring generations together for mutually beneficial learning and connection. He and his team create spaces of play and possibility for youth... Read More →

Texts pdf

DOROT – Intergenerational Practices, NewCAJE17 2026 pdf

Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 348

Teens/Youth Engagement, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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

11:00am EDT

Judaism and Positive Intelligence - Gym for the Soul

Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT

College Hall Rm 340

Discover a powerful "operating system" for spiritual life by integrating Positive Intelligence (PQ) with Jewish tradition. This interactive workshop will help participants identify their saboteurs (internal critics) and learn strategies for grounding themselves and amplifying spirituality in their lives and the lives of their students or school. This session will help you transform ritual into a mental fitness gym and move from self-generated distraction to soulful, decisive action by using Jewish PQ reps like sensory anchors to activate the five Sage Powers and ancient Jewish values.

Speakers

Bonnie Cooper

Life Coach, Pre K Teacher, Religious school teacher, Rumson Jewish Center @ CBI

Bonnie Cooper is currently a Preschool teacher at Rumson Jewish Center and Congregation B'nai Israel as well as A Religious School Teacher for Judaics for 3rd and 4th graders. She is also a Certified Life Coach focusing on Positive Intelligence.

Positive Intelligence and Judaism for NewCAJE pdf

Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 340

Self-Care/Wellbeing, Spirituality/Tefilah

Company Self-Care/Wellbeing, Spirituality/Tefilah
Audience Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

A Tale of Two Tefillah Styles

Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

College Hall Rm 239

How do you get students to participate in and enjoy tefillah? They need to learn the Hebrew words and the traditional chanting, but how can we make tefillah time meaningful? Different teachers have different styles, both in the classroom and when it comes to leading tefillah. We will show how we transformed our Sunday morning tefillah for grades 3-5 from reciting/chanting prayers to a combination of traditional chanting led by one teacher and another teacher's current/original songs, adding in holiday music and a bit of spirituality, using a slideshow with lyrics to make participation easier for all ages.

Speakers

Shoshi Braman

rel school teacher, Beth Meyer Synagogue

Julie (Shoshi) Braman grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and moved to Raleigh in 2018. For over 36 years she has enjoyed teaching students from preschool through adult. She has worked in day schools and preschools, synagogue supplementary school and public elementary schools... Read More →

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.

Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239

Music, Spirituality/Tefilah

Company Spirituality/Tefilah
Audience Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

Circle Singing Workshop

Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

College Hall Rm 348

Join me for a joyful circle-singing workshop inspired by Jewish music, where we’ll create spontaneous music together through rhythm, harmony, and playful vocal improvisation. No experience is needed—just your voice and your curiosity. We’ll build layered soundscapes, listen deeply, and celebrate the magic that happens when a group becomes one living instrument. Come add your voice to the circle and explore the power of shared creativity.

Speakers

Jen Keren

Rabbi Cantor Jen Keren, a native Texan, received her B.A. from the University of Miami, J.D. from Nova Southeastern University, cantorial ordination and M.A. in sacred music from JTS , M.A. in Jewish education from Towson University and rabbinic ordination from AJR. She is currently... Read More →

Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 348

Music, Spirituality/Tefilah

Company Music, Spirituality/Tefilah
Audience High School, Adult Students
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

Between Word and Deed: Music, Middot, and Meaning-Making

Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

Maria Hall Multipurpose 2

Between Word and Deed: Music, Middot, and Meaning-Making invites educators into a dynamic, hands-on exploration of how language, values, and lived experiences shape identity and action. Through music, Jewish text, and storytelling, participants interpret anonymous acts of giving, uncovering the diverse motivations and middot behind them. This interactive workshop highlights how different pathways lead to similar actions, offering fresh insights and practical tools for fostering empathy, meaning-making, and relationship-centered learning in Jewish educational spaces.

Please bring a charged smartphone and Bluetooth earbuds (or headphones) for one interactive activity. A limited number of loaner earbuds will be available.

Speakers

Deborah Peretz

Deborah Peretz is an Israel educator and AJU doctoral student focused on language in Israel education. In her role with IsraelLINK, she designs curriculum, leads trainings, and works with educators across the Northeast and Canada. She’s passionate about creating spaces that are... Read More →

Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose 2

Storytelling, Music

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

9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

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