NewCAJE17: 50th Anniversary: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

An educators job hinges on the ability to communicate others and create agreement often where there are shared or different and/or conflicting interests. These negotiations hinge on assumption, preparation, and research. In this session we are going to learn how to best prepare for negotiations based on literature from the business world and then workshop areas that you might want to negotiate for yourself.

Speakers

Stacy Rigler

Non-Profit Staff/CEO, ARJE

Rabbi Stacy Rigler, RJE is CEO of the Association of Reform Jewish Educators. She served as a Rabbi Educator at Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, PA, then worked at the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Stacy volunteers with RAC-PA Onward Hebrew and Camp Harlam. She received her MAJE and... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 239

Administration, B-Mitzvah

Company Administration
Audience Not Age-Specific
Track Adminstrative track
Type Main

9:00am EDT

Cultivating Connection: Why Spiritual Development Matters at Every Age

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

College Hall Rm 202

Jewish tradition has been cultivating spiritual development for thousands of years, and Dr. Lisa Miller's research now demonstrates it is one of the most powerful protective factors for lifelong well-being. This workshop defines spirituality, examines the research, walks through the developmental stages, and equips educators with practical tools to nurture spiritual growth at every age. Participants will leave with language, a framework, clarity, and practices they can use right away.

Speakers

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 →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 202

Big Picture of Jewish Education, Spirituality/Tefilah

Audience Early Childhood, Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Teachers, Not Age-Specific
Type Main, Virtual

9:00am EDT

High Holidays and Tikkun HaYam: Repair the Sea from Your Backyard

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

College Hall Rm 322

Is it Jewish to save the turtles? Microplastics and other pollutants are an increasing problem in our waterways and your students are likely very aware of the plight of sea turtles in the ocean. How can you use Jewish values to help students and families take action in your own community? Repair the Sea has a great program linked to Jewish holidays that you can use no matter where you are located!

Speakers

Tanya Wisoker

Adult Educator, Storyteller

Tanya Wisoker is a Jewish educator, playwright, and storyteller.
Tanya is a Board Member, Instructor, and Facilitator for Teach the Shoah, bringing the testimonies of those who experienced the Holocaust, their descendants, and anyone committed to the task of bearing witness to li... Read More →

Tanya Wisoker NewCAJE 2026 High Holidays and Tikkun HaYam pdf

Tanya Wisoker NewCAJE 2026 Setting up Your Event for Tikkun HaYam docx

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 322

Holidays, Teaching Tools & Techniques

Company Teaching Tools & Techniques
Audience Not Age-Specific
Type Main

9:00am EDT

Level Up Your Classroom: The Power of Team-Building Games

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

College Hall Rm 348

Unlock the potential of play to transform your learning environment. This session explores how teambuilding games serve as more than just "icebreakers"—they are essential tools for building a strong, inclusive community where every student feels they belong. Beyond social connection, you’ll learn how to seamlessly integrate these activities into your existing curriculum to increase student engagement. Discover creative strategies to use games to reinforce core lesson content and turn learning into an interactive, high-energy experience. Wear comfortable clothes as we will learn and build kehillah by participating in these games.

Speakers

Jill Eisen

Jill Eisen is the Director of Program Partnerships at Pearlstone, the Headquarters of Adamah. She has her BA from Penn State and two Masters from Baltimore Hebrew University. Working at Pearlstone entwines the environment and Jewish values she holds dear. Each day holds a new adventure... Read More →

NewCaje TeamBuiling in Classrrooms docx

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 348

Teaching Tools and Techniques, Classroom Management

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Classroom Management
Audience Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers, Principals, Not Age-Specific
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

Onboarding for Productivity and Retention

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

Maria Hall Multipurpose 2

Join ElevatEd for a workshop for educators in any educational setting! Together we will discuss strategies to create effective onboarding experiences that boost productivity and foster long-term retention. Participants will explore best practices for welcoming new staff, setting clear expectations, and creating a supportive environment that encourages growth and connection. Through interactive discussions and practical tools, attendees will leave with actionable steps to enhance their onboarding processes, ensuring a smooth transition for new team members and a stronger, more cohesive teaching staff.

Speakers

Sasha Hass

Sasha Kopp Hass is the Senior Director of Education and Engagement at ElevatEd, where she helps strengthen and support the field of early childhood Jewish education across North America. She is a passionate Jewish educator, artist. Through all of her work, Sasha seeks to foster joyful... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose 2

Administration, Early Childhood Education

Company Administration, Early Childhood Education
Audience Principals, Not Age-Specific
Track Adminstrative track
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

Why Singing Together Works: The Neuroscience of Music, Breath, and Bonding

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

College Hall Rm 340

Music is one of the most powerful pathways we have for Jewish engagement and education. For songleaders, music specialists, and educators who use music with kiddos and their grown-ups, this workshop teaches brain-based principles that turn song into strategy: preventative care, engagement enhancement, and chaos control. We explore how singing syncs breath, builds bonding, anchors memory, and supports mood modulation and meaning-making. Songs are modeled throughout to demonstrate each principle in practice.

Speakers

Emily Aronoff

Dr Emily Celebrates

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 340

Music, Jewish Life & Identity

Company Music
Audience Early Childhood, Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers, Not Age-Specific
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

Built to Last: Jewish Practice and Lifelong Resilience

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

College Hall Rm 239

On hard days, our sense of mission can feel elusive. This session offers something grounding: evidence from neuroscience and epidemiology research that building ritual literacy, fostering belonging, and transmitting meaning can be directly linked to children's long-term ability to manage anxiety and depression, resist addiction, and recover from trauma. Your work as a Jewish educator is, quite literally, protective! We'll discuss empowering practical strategies for classroom choices and for parent communication aligned with these important findings.

Speakers

Julie Hirschfeld

Dr.Julie Hirschfeld (MA, Oxon., PhD, NYU) is a clinical psychologist and founder of The Jewish Resilience Initiative, which promotes awareness of the mental health benefits of Jewish practice. Trained in family therapy, spiritually integrated psychotherapy, and Mussar facilitation... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239

Teaching Tools and Techniques, Big Picture of Jewish Education

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Big Picture of Jewish Education
Audience Early Childhood, Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers, Principals, Not Age-Specific
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

Waterworld or Desertville: Why Does Torah Tell Us Two Different Creation Stories?

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

College Hall Graduate Lounge

Quickly: when and how were humans created, according to the Book of Genesis, Breisheet?
Did you know that there are two COMPLETEY different accounts of Creation: chapter one and chapter two?
Water-world and desert-scape. Humans last, then a human first.
What? WHY?! Which one is the “real” one??
Interested? Hope so – this is a tremendously valuable key to understanding basic Jewish theology regarding the connections between humans and the planet, human and humans, and humans and their Creator.
Bonus question: Where was Adam while Havah had the exchange with the serpent & ate the “fruit”? Learn about a certain cover-up conspiracy…

Speakers

Ruz Gulko

Rabbi/Cantor/Educator, Gan Argaman

Ruz Gulko accidentally became a Hebrew teacher in 1986, and then a lay cantor / rabbi, thus proving that no matter how you plan your life, God always has some other interesting ideas. She has worked with most of the Jewish educational and religious institutions in the greater Seattle... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Graduate Lounge

Text/Bible/Theology, Teaching Tools & Techniques

Company Teaching Tools & Techniques, Text/Bible/Theology
Audience Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers, Principals, Not Age-Specific
Type Main

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