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Audience: Middle School clear filter
Sunday, July 26
 

2:00pm EDT

Building Bridges: Creating Empathy Across Cultures Through Jewish Food
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 323
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
  History, Storytelling

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
RF
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202
  Israel, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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
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 →
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

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
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
  Teaching Tools and Techniques, Teens/Youth Engagement

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
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
  Teens/Youth Engagement, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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
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 →
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

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
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
  History, Storytelling

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
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
  Jewish Life & Identity, Storytelling

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
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
  Teaching Tools & Techniques, Big Picture of Jewish Education

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
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
  Teens/Youth Engagement, Teaching Tools & Techniques
 
Monday, July 27
 

9:00am EDT

Teach the Shoah: Giving Voice to Their Stories
Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 347
Participants will use Holocaust testimony as well as images of an artifact to create a brief story as a tool for teaching the Holocaust. We will follow the approach of Teach the Shoah, first listening to a story and unpacking the process behind it, and then trying it ourselves.
Speakers
avatar for Tanya Wisoker

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 Giving Voice to Their Stories NewCAJE2026 pdf
Being Aware of Your Audience Teach the Shoah pdf
Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 347
  History, Storytelling

9:00am EDT

Building Muscles for Challenging Conversations: Israel and Zionism
Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 340
Struggling to talk with your students about Israel, Palestine, and Zionism? During this session we will explore how to approach this in a dual-narrative context. You can expect a collaborative session on utilizing primary sources and varied learning modalities to create a supportive environment promoting individualized understanding and safe discourse. I will share student projects from this school year to show how each student emerged after this unit with a personalized and rigorous understanding of their relationship, in this moment, to Israel and Zionism.
Speakers
SW

Samara Weinberg

Sami Weinberg is a Resident at Makom Community in Philadelphia, as well as the Anafim and Teen educator. She has worked with just about every age and grade from 2 years old to teens. Sami grew up all over the East Coast United States. She loves anything to do with yarn, clay, or... Read More →
Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 340
  Israel, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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
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 →
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

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
avatar for Shai Rosenfeld

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

11:00am EDT

Holocaust Discussion Hands-on Tools
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319
This interactive session equips educators with practical, ready-to-use tools for engaging students in meaningful Holocaust education. Through art, poetry, storytelling, and guided discussion strategies, participants will learn how to foster empathy, critical thinking, resilience, and historical understanding in age-appropriate ways. Educators will leave with hands-on activities and resources designed to help students connect Holocaust lessons to contemporary issues of identity, courage, kindness, and human responsibility.
Speakers
JA

Jennifer Alembik

Cheryl is an educator and advocate for Holocaust remembrance and youth empowerment. She is the Founder and President of the Holocaust Youth Survivors Legacy Foundation, Inc., where she creates arts- and poetry-based programs that bring survivor voices to students. Her work is dedicated... Read More →
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319
  History, Big Picture of Jewish Education

11:00am EDT

To Be A Free People - Telling Our Story Through Israel's Declaration of Independence
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 347
Struggling to pack in a lot of Jewish history in already limited time?
What better way than through the medium of  Israel's Declaration of Independence? The first 10 statements or mini paragraphs are about us as a People - our History, Culture, great teachers and Rabbis, and so much more.This project-based program helps middle school students research and create mini posters while learning about the extraordinary history of our People.
Speakers
avatar for Ilona Shechter

Ilona Shechter

teacher, Cong. Sinai
Ilona Shechter is a semi-retired Jewish Studies and Hebrew teacher who has been in the classroom for over 40 years. She has taught everything from Kindergarten to Adult education but her true love is Middle School. Her passion is Holocaust education.
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 347
  History, Jewish Life & Identity

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
avatar for Bonnie Cooper

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

11:00am EDT

Experiential Learning for Beginners
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 348
There are so many ways to create learning experiences that engage our students. What if you could create experiences where the students are the masters of their own learning? Experiential learning may be the answer. In this session we will begin to explore how one educator has helped teachers adapt the methods and ideas developed by the Institute for Experiential Jewish Education, where he trained. We will attempt the deliberate infusion of Jewish Values (Middot) into engaging and memorable experiences that impact on the formation of Jewish Identity.

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 →
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 348
  Teaching Tools and Techniques, Jewish Life & Identity

11:00am EDT

Motivations, Misconceptions, and Missed Opportunities in Engaging Today's Jewish Teens
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202
Today’s Jewish teens care deeply, but parents and stakeholders often misunderstand what matters to them. Explore the gap between what teens want and what the Jewish community offers. Through discussion and interactive activities, we’ll examine teen motivations, adult misconceptions, and identify missed opportunities. Leave the workshop with insights to foster authentic connection with your teens.
Speakers
avatar for Loen Amer

Loen Amer

Loen Peltz Amer (she/her/הִיא) is The Jewish Education Project’s Senior Manager, Teen Education and Engagement. A thirteen-year synagogue experiential educator, Loen most recently worked at Temple Israel of Great Neck and Bet Torah in Mt. Kisco. Loen lives on Manhattan’s Upper... Read More →
Link to Slides for Sched Motivations, Misconceptions, and Missed Opportunities pdf
Looking to build more joyful, proud Jewish experiences? pdf
PD. Resources. Inspiration. It’s all waiting for you. The Jewish Educator Portal pdf
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202
  Teens/Youth Engagement, Jewish Life & Identity

11:00am EDT

A Taste of Bartenura
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 320
This session will illustrate the sources of the iconic commentary of Rabbi Ovadiah [Yare ben Avraham] of Bartenura (1450-1516) as an entry point to the further study of Rabbinic sources and an understanding of the development of Halakha up to his tine period, based primarily on the rulings of Maimonides
Speakers
RA

Robert Alpert

Rabbi Robert Alpert has served as a substitute Judaic studies teacher at the Leffell School in Hartsdale, NY.  He has taught electives and prepared students for comprehensives at the Academy for Jewish Religion.
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 320
  Torah Lishma, History

4:45pm EDT

Making the Most of Madrichim
Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202
Investing time, energy, and money in having a team of Madrichim (teen teaching assistants) can be a costeffective way to support students who need extra help, get younger children focused on learning, and bring in a fresh perspective on Jewish education. But without clear goals and support, many madrichim wait impatiently to be told what to do, display disdain for being asked to put away their phones, or find other ways to undermine teachers. Join Rabbi Daniel Brenner, VP- Education for Moving Traditions, Melissa Pescatore, Director of Youth Learning and Engagement of Temple Shaarei Emeth in Manalapan, NJ, and other education directors who partner with Moving Traditions to learn how schools are supporting high school students in making the most of their opportunity to serve as Jewish educators.
Speakers
avatar for Melissa Pescatore

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 →
avatar for Daniel Brenner

Daniel Brenner

Chief of Education and Program, Moving Traditions
Daniel Brenner is a rabbi who serves as the Vice President-Education for Moving Traditions.
Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202
  Classroom Management, Teens/Youth Engagement

4:45pm EDT

Words to Action: Empowering Jewish Students
Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319
Words to Action empowers young Jewish people to become leaders in addressing antisemitism and encourages them to explore and connect to their Jewish identity and to each other. This session will demonstrate activities that young people engage in, and share the ways WTA can be brought to school and Jewish communities.
Speakers
avatar for Shayna Meisel

Shayna Meisel

Shayna Meisel is Director of Education Content & Advocacy for ADL (the Anti-Defamation League). She began her career with ADL as the D.C. region’s Education Director, after an 8-year career as a classroom teacher. Shayna oversees the development, editing and updating of ADL’s... Read More →
Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319
  Jewish Life & Identity, Teens/Youth Engagement

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
avatar for Deborah Peretz

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
 
Tuesday, July 28
 

9:00am EDT

Unpacking and Previewing the 2026 Israeli Election
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose 2
This session will provide educators the space to think about the 2026 Israeli election. After a brief overview of the political system. participants will think about the views of key figures through primary source quotes and political ads.
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 →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose 2
  Israel, History

9:00am EDT

The Tefilah Reboot Project
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Graduate Lounge
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
avatar for Joshua Cahan

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

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

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
avatar for Jill Eisen

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

9:00am EDT

Vayikra for Vegetarians: Teaching Objectionable Texts
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Maria Hall Yoga Room
Both young and adult students raise objections, sometimes stringently, to many texts from the Tanakh. We do no one any favors by avoiding all such texts, but how do we respond to valid ethical objections and teach the texts successfully? We'll explore issues ranging from animal sacrifice to women's rights and genocide and work together to develop a consistent framework for teaching them.
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.
Vayikra for Vegetarians pdf
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Maria Hall Yoga Room
  Text/Bible/Theology, Teaching Tools & Techniques

11:00am EDT

Resilience: Amazing Courageous Stories of Young Holocaust Survivors
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319
Resilience is an educational program designed for educators to bring themes of strength, survival, and hope into the classroom through poetry, art, and testimony inspired by young Holocaust survivors. It provides age-appropriate materials, discussion guides, and reflective activities that help students connect history to empathy, resilience, and personal responsibility. Educators are empowered to facilitate meaningful conversations about the Holocaust while fostering critical thinking compassion and deeper understanding of human dignity and resilience in today’s world.
Speakers
JA

Jennifer Alembik

Cheryl is an educator and advocate for Holocaust remembrance and youth empowerment. She is the Founder and President of the Holocaust Youth Survivors Legacy Foundation, Inc., where she creates arts- and poetry-based programs that bring survivor voices to students. Her work is dedicated... Read More →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319
  History, Storytelling

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
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 →
NS
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Maria Hall Yoga Room
  Spirituality/Tefilah, Torah Lishma

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
SS
avatar for Melissa Pescatore

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

11:00am EDT

Magic the Gathering for Your Classroom
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239
Are you looking for a way to connect your students more deeply with your content? Do your students struggle with engagement? Magic the Gathering may be the way! This popular longstanding trading card game offers many opportunities to engage students in Jewish learning of all types. Show up to learn more about this useful (and fun) format!
Speakers
avatar for Nora Gorenstein

Nora Gorenstein

Educator, Jewish Community of Amherst
Nora Gorenstein is an experienced Jewish educator with a broad range of experience in classroom teaching, fundraising, nonprofit leadership, and program design. She is passionate about ensuring that every individual and family is supported on their journeys and has access to opportunities... Read More →
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Passover the Gathering 20260724 103725 0000 pdf
Mtg sample lessons docx
Passover%20Villains%20Variant%20Rules pdf
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239
  Teaching Tools & Techniques, Teens/Youth Engagement

11:00am EDT

Stirring Up Engagement: Culinary Programming for Youth and Teens
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 348
Food is an evergreen tool for building community, developing leadership, and getting kids excited. In this session, I'll share programs I've run—from teen-catered kiddush luncheons and challah bake fundraisers to cooking chuggim, recipe-testing events, and even entire pop-up restaurants. Whether you have a handful of children or more hands than you'd know what to do with, this session will provide practical ideas, lessons learned, and ready-to-use materials for creating meaningful, engaging, and even revenue-generating culinary programs.
Speakers
avatar for Emily Catalano

Emily Catalano

After accidentally gaslighting a rabbi, Emily Catalano, a bartender, found a fulfilling career in Jewish engagement and education. Now a seasoned youth director and educator, she has worked with children and teens of all ages (infants, too!) for nearly a decade. She works at PJTC... Read More →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 348
  Teens/Youth Engagement, Jewish Life & Identity

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
avatar for Jill Eisen

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 →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 340
  Administration, Self-Care/Wellbeing

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
avatar for Ty Alhadeff

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

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
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 →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 340
  Music, Jewish Life & Identity

4:45pm EDT

How the Right Siddur Can Open Doors
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Maria Hall Yoga Room
Can a siddur crafted with your students in mind help transform your Tefilah culture? We will explore the new Yedid Nefesh siddur series and talk about how it can help kids connect to prayer in new ways.
Speakers
avatar for Joshua Cahan

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 →
02 Siddur Kabb Shab pdf
Torah rdgs for siddur pdf
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Maria Hall Yoga Room
  Spirituality/Tefilah, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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
avatar for Julie Hirschfeld

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

4:45pm EDT

The Jewish Future: Investing in Teen Leadership Development
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202
This workshop is a crash course for educators, youth leaders, and program coordinators ready to take their teen programming to the next level. Participants will explore the question of how to get more teens invested in leadership and discover various structures for youth group boards and how teens can build overall ownership in their programming. By the end of this workshop, participants will walk away with a toolkit to strengthen the teen leadership within their communities.
Speakers
avatar for Brandon Gabay

Brandon Gabay

Youth and Teen Engagement Manager, Temple Sinai Atlanta
Brandon (he/him) serves as one of the Youth and Teen Engagement Managers at Temple Sinai in Atlanta, Georgia. Brandon is an alumnus of Florida State University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Communications in 2022. Brandon is a lover of all things books, baking, and... Read More →
The Jewish Future Slides pdf
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202
  Teens/Youth Engagement, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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
avatar for Ruz Gulko

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
 
Wednesday, July 29
 

9:00am EDT

YIMBY: Yes, In My Back Yard! Using Your Community's Spaces for Jewish Learning
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose I
The majority of our students lives take place outside our Jewish classrooms and Jewish spaces. Jewish learning "on the road" in your own community can increase the impact of what students learn in applicable and relatable ways. Can you teach kashrut at the grocery store? The value of Tzedakah at an art museum or gallery? Find Jewish history in your own back yard? YES, you can. Learn how you can use the spaces around your neighborhood to develop interactive learning that spark your students' interest and excitement.
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 →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose I
  Big Picture of Jewish Education, Jewish Life & Identity

9:00am EDT

Cinema as a Teaching Tool in Holocaust Education
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 319
Today there is a plethora of Holocaust themed films, many are Academy Award winners. Many also have been adapted from books.This session will look at how to incorporate the use of movie trailers to supplement curriculum on various themes- eg. Kindertransport, Righteous Among the Nations, Resistance, etc. A primary source for the session is Richard Brownstein's Holocaust Cinema Complete: A History and Analysis of 400 Films. Participants will leave the session with resources for their classroom.
Speakers
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 →
NewCAJE Holocaust Cinema pdf
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 319
  History, Jewish Life & Identity

9:00am EDT

The Joy of Jewish Music
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 236
Music enhances the Jewish experience for students and their families, and singing together is an important way to achieve community.  Learn a variety of songs from the repertoire of a seasoned song leader/music teacher that can be used for all grades and all ages.  
Speakers
avatar for Marilyn Cohen

Marilyn Cohen

I have taught Jewish music for 47 years. I am not retired, however, I started to teach music to the local JCC for the preschool classes. I taught music in synagogue, based Hebrew schools and in Hebrew day schools. I reduced plays, written scripts, put together programs for multiple... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 236
  Music, Family Education
 

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