NewCAJE17: 50th Anniversary: Full Schedule

arrow_back View All Dates

9:00am EDT

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

You CAN transform your Tefilah program. We'll learn how to:
• Identify strengths and opportunities for growth
• Set clear, achievable goals for your Tefilah program
• Train and empower faculty as confident, creative Tefilah leaders
• Integrate emotional and spiritual wellness practices into traditional prayer

Speakers

Joshua Cahan

Joshua Cahan is a writer and tefilah consultant from Riverdale, NY. He is the author of The Yedid Nefesh Bencher, The Yedid Nefesh Haggadah, and a new series of siddurim for camps and schools. He has rabbinic ordination and a Ph.D. in Rabbinic Literature from the Jewish Theological... Read More →

The Tefilah Reboot Project docx

Tefilah Reboot pptx

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Graduate Lounge

Spirituality/Tefilah, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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

9:00am EDT

Moments of Memory: Using Storytelling to Enhance Your Holocaust Education Program

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

College Hall Rm 319

This workshop would include a discussion of what constitutes age-appropriate content/curricula and examples of useful resources and websites. The next part of the workshop would cover the use of stories and anecdotes to enhance a Holocaust lesson, and how to find stories that are both factual and appropriate. There would also be a discussion on how to present stories without having storytelling experience. The workshop would finish with the development of a rough outline for a Holocaust lesson plan that attendees can take with them.

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 →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 319

Storytelling, History

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, History
Audience Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers, Principals
Track Holocaust
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

11:00am EDT

Comparing Shabbat Service Sections

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Maria Hall Yoga Room

You may have been to Shabbat services, but have you thought about how the different services on Shabbat work? In this section we’ll explore how the different Shabbat services are similar, comparing structures, prayers, and nusach (traditional chanting). You’ll leave with a new appreciation and understanding that will enrich your Shabbat service experience from now on!

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 →

Neil Schwartz

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Maria Hall Yoga Room

Spirituality/Tefilah, Torah Lishma

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

11:00am EDT

Igniting Tefilah Leadership

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT

College Hall Rm 340

Leading supplementary school Tefilah can be intimidating, especially if you're unsure about your singing voice or you don't have training as a prayer leader. Come learn strategies to make prayer come alive for your students, including infusing movement and hand motions, and dream about what Tefilah could be in your setting. You'll leave this workshop inspired to lead Tefilah with newfound confidence and joy!

Speakers

Shelley Stein

Melissa Pescatore

Director of Youth Learning and Engagement, Temple Shaari Emeth

Melissa Pescatore is the Director of Youth Learning and Engagement at Temple Shaari Emeth in Manalapan, NJ. Serving as Education Director in the congregation where she grew up, she is passionate about instilling a love of learning and building a strong, positive Jewish identity in... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 340

Spirituality/Tefilah, Teaching Tools & Techniques

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Teaching Tools & Techniques
Audience Early Childhood, Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Middle School, Teachers, Principals
Type Main

3:00pm EDT

Beyond the Workshop - Wool Needle Felting and the Energy of Separation

Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

College Hall Rm 340

This unique study combines the tactile, meditative art of wool needle felting with a deep dive into the holiness of separation—a principle rooted in the biblical prohibition of mixing wool and linen. The Art of Wool Needle Felting is a dry-sculpting technique that uses specialized barbed needles to tangle animal fibers—typically sheep’s wool—into solid forms. The repetitive motion of "strategic stabbing" is often described as a relaxing, stressfree creative outlet.

Speakers

Jill Eisen

Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 340

Administration, Self-Care/Wellbeing

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

Experience the Fun and Power of Hebrew Through Movement

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

College Hall Rm 348

Hebrew Through Movement (HTM) is a powerful curriculum that can be used for both younger and older children. Besides providing connection to the Hebrew language, it can reinforce holiday lessons, prayer learning, and print literacy. Best of all, every student can be successful! If you currently teach HTM, this session will provide ideas to bring your teaching up a notch. If you are curious about the program, this session will answer your questions.

Speakers

Linda Duke

Teacher, Congregation B'nai Shalom

Linda Duke is a teacher/Hebrew Coordinator at Congregation B'nai Shalom (Westborough, MA) and a Master Hebrew Through Movement (HTM) teacher. She co-facilitates HTM Communities of Practice and was a member of the 2023-2024 Onward Hebrew Think Tank. She received a Grinspoon Award... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 348

Hebrew/Yiddish, Teaching Tools & Techniques

Company Teaching Tools & Techniques
Audience Early Childhood, Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Teachers, Principals
Type Main

4:45pm EDT

Expanding Holocaust-Era Persecution: Jewish Experiences in the Middle East, North Africa, and Beyond

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

College Hall Rm 319

This session expands Holocaust education by examining the impact of Nazi persecution beyond Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on Sephardi, Mizrahi, and Maghrebi communities. Participants will explore case studies from the Balkans, North Africa, and the Middle East, and engage with resources such as JIMENA’s Sephardi & Mizrahi Educational Toolkit. The session equips educators with historical knowledge and practical strategies to integrate these narratives into curricula and connect them to contemporary antisemitism.

Speakers

Ty Alhadeff

Director of Education, JIMENA

Ty Alhadeff is Director of Education at JIMENA, where he leads initiatives promoting Sephardi and Mizrahi history, including the Sephardic Leadership Institute and projects such as Distinctions: A Sephardi and Mizrahi Journal, the Sephardi & Mizrahi Education Toolkit, and AIMEE, a... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319

History, Jewish Life & Identity

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

4:45pm EDT

Yearly Cycle of Festival Services

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

College Hall Side Foyer

Religious services during the "Shalosh Regalim" (Pesach, Shavuot, & Sukkot/Sh'mini Atzeret) have much in common with Shabbat services, but the chants ("Nusach") are very different, and there are additional texts. Come explore these differences, both for your own understanding and to help teach these to your students.

Speakers

David Schwartz

Education Director, Temple Har Zion

Neil Schwartz

Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Side Foyer

Holidays, Spirituality/Tefilah

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

9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

3:00pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

Get help with the event