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Audience: Teachers clear filter
Sunday, July 26
 

11:30am EDT

ShalomLearning Jewish Values Curriculum Training
Sunday July 26, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
This 90-minute hands-on workshop is designed exclusively for current ShalomLearning partner educators using our Jewish Values curriculum. Join our curriculum specialists for a deep-dive into the platform learning to navigate lessons, manage your classroom, track student progress, and make the most of our rich K–7 content. Whether you're new to the platform or looking to go deeper, this training is built for you. Curriculum Highlights Teaching Jewish Values for a Meaningful Life — A pluralistic Kindergarten through 7th grade curriculum that engages students with the Jewish values we all share like "using inner strength to do what's right." Curated by experts in Jewish education, the curriculum features videos, games, text studies, blessings, and stories that connect Jewish values to students' daily lives.

Shalom Learning asks all partners planning to attend this session to please complete this pre-registration form
Speakers
avatar for Shira Sender

Shira Sender

Director of Client Care and Teacher Support, ShalomLearning
Shira Sender is the Director of Client Care and Teacher Support with ShalomLearning, where she collaborates with, supports, and trains educators and educational leaders to ensure Jewish education is accessible and engaging for today's learners. With over 20 years of experience in... Read More →
avatar for Heidi Lovitz

Heidi Lovitz

[email protected], ShalomLearning
Heidi Lovitz is the Senior Managing Director of ShalomLearning, where she leads curriculum development, program delivery, and strategic operations to bring innovative Jewish education to students and families in diverse communities. With 20+ years of experience, she holds a Master's... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239

2:00pm EDT

Opening the Door: Engaging All Educators in Jewish Life
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
This workshop offers practical strategies for creating an inclusive, supportive environment where nonJewish educators can confidently participate in and teach Jewish traditions and values. Participants will explore cultural context, hands-on approaches, and communication techniques that honor diversity and spirituality while fostering understanding and collaboration in the classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Elyssa Brinn

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 →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose 2

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
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

2:00pm EDT

Teaching Israel in a Post-Oct. 7 Reality
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
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
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202

2:00pm EDT

Creating New Authentically Jewish Rituals
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
This class will explore how new Jewish rituals can be created, and how traditional rituals can be renewed, to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of contemporary life. We will examine what makes a ritual meaningful and rooted in Jewish tradition, while responding to experiences that may not have established communal practices.
Using a ritual template created by Andrea for women who have gone through the loss of pregnancy, participants will analyze effective ritual. We will identify moments in Jewish life that may call for new or revitalized rituals and consider how tradition can serve as a framework for healing, transition, memory, and connection. Through discussion and reflection, participants will gain tools to engage in the evolving work of Jewish ritual innovation.

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 →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 236

2:00pm EDT

Is It a Mitzvah to Vote?
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
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 →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319

2:00pm EDT

ShalomLearning Torah Aura Hebrew Curriculum Training
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
This 90-minute hands-on workshop is designed exclusively for current ShalomLearning partner educators using Torah Aura Hebrew. Our specialists will guide you through the complete platform experience from classroom setup to lesson navigation so you can confidently lead your students through this Hebrew learning program. Torah Aura Hebrew is more than a reading program. It is a full Hebrew experience built around meaning, movement, and connection to Israel and Jewish culture. This training ensures you know how to unlock everything the curriculum offers. Curriculum Highlights Torah Aura Hebrew Visual cueing teaches Hebrew keywords while movement activities bring action words to life. Students explore 27 prayers with a focus on prayer meaning and keywords through interpretation. Periodic virtual tours of Israel connect students' Hebrew learning to the living language and culture.

Shalom Learning asks all partners planning to attend this session to please complete this pre-registration form
Speakers
avatar for Shira Sender

Shira Sender

Director of Client Care and Teacher Support, ShalomLearning
Shira Sender is the Director of Client Care and Teacher Support with ShalomLearning, where she collaborates with, supports, and trains educators and educational leaders to ensure Jewish education is accessible and engaging for today's learners. With over 20 years of experience in... Read More →
avatar for Heidi Lovitz

Heidi Lovitz

[email protected], ShalomLearning
Heidi Lovitz is the Senior Managing Director of ShalomLearning, where she leads curriculum development, program delivery, and strategic operations to bring innovative Jewish education to students and families in diverse communities. With 20+ years of experience, she holds a Master's... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239

2:00pm EDT

All My Values Come from the Movies (and streaming and binging...)
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
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

2:00pm EDT

Walking Together: Helping Teens Support Others through Uncertain Times
Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
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

4:45pm EDT

Coming of Age with Anne Frank
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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 →
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 320

4:45pm EDT

How We Talk Matters: Communication Skills for Educators
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Every educator faces moments when conversations feel challenging. In this interactive workshop, grounded in the MTEI principle How We Talk Matters, we’ll build practical skills for listening with empathy, speaking with clarity, and responding thoughtfully in the moment. Through real-life scenarios and guided practice, participants will explore how to turn everyday interactions into opportunities for connection, trust, and meaningful learning.
Speakers
SK

Seymour Kopelowitz

Program Director, MTEI
Seymour Kopelowitz is the program director of MTEI at the Mandel Foundation. He has served as a day school principal, Director of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, and Executive Director of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland. Seymour has a Ph.D. in educational leadership... Read More →
avatar for Deborah Niederman, RJE

Deborah Niederman, RJE

Leader of Recruitment, Mandel Teacher Educator Institute
Deborah Niederman, RJE is the Leader of Recruitment for the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI) and Director of Education at Temple Shalom in Dallas, TX. With over 30 years in Jewish education, she is passionate about mentoring leaders, fostering innovation, and integrating learning... Read More →
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose I

4:45pm EDT

Rhythm & Voice: Engaging Students through Spoken Word
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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

4:45pm EDT

Violence Against the Earth in the Abrahamic Religions
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
In this session we'll examine key texts, ancient and modern, from the major Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—to learn how each teaches its adherents about caring for the environment. We'll discuss what the differences in their approaches mean, and how to use the texts either in our own settings or with an interfaith group.
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.
Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239
 
Monday, July 27
 

9:00am EDT

Toddling Through Prayer
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
avatar for Elyssa Brinn

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

9:00am EDT

Teach the Shoah: Giving Voice to Their Stories
Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
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 →
Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 347

9:00am EDT

Writing Your Own Torah: Creative Expression as a Source for Discovery
Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
“…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 →
Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 323

9:00am EDT

Adding Elders to the Classroom: Enhancing Jewish Learning with Intergenerational Connections.
Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
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
Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 348

11:00am EDT

Welcome to ShalomLearning: Engaging Jewish Education for Your School or Community
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Are you looking for high-quality, engaging Jewish education resources for your school or community? Join ShalomLearning for a dynamic introduction to our comprehensive suite of curricula and discover how we partner with synagogues and community organizations worldwide to bring Jewish learning to life. This session is designed for educational and congregational leaders and teachers who are curious about ShalomLearning but haven't yet experienced what we offer. Our facilitators will walk you through our signature Jewish Values, Jewish Pride and Unity, and Hebrew curricula with live demonstrations of each, share what the teacher and student experiences look like, and give you a clear picture of how the ShalomLearning partnership model works. We will also explore our online options, homeschool models, and our newest plans for grandparents as family educators. The session closes with open Q&A and oneon-one time with our team.
Speakers
avatar for Shira Sender

Shira Sender

Director of Client Care and Teacher Support, ShalomLearning
Shira Sender is the Director of Client Care and Teacher Support with ShalomLearning, where she collaborates with, supports, and trains educators and educational leaders to ensure Jewish education is accessible and engaging for today's learners. With over 20 years of experience in... Read More →
avatar for Heidi Lovitz

Heidi Lovitz

[email protected], ShalomLearning
Heidi Lovitz is the Senior Managing Director of ShalomLearning, where she leads curriculum development, program delivery, and strategic operations to bring innovative Jewish education to students and families in diverse communities. With 20+ years of experience, she holds a Master's... Read More →
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239

11:00am EDT

Holocaust Discussion Hands-on Tools
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
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

11:00am EDT

Judaism and Positive Intelligence - Gym for the Soul
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
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.
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 340

11:00am EDT

Experiential Learning for Beginners
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
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

11:00am EDT

A Taste of Bartenura
Monday July 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
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

4:45pm EDT

Making the Most of Madrichim
Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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

4:45pm EDT

Words to Action: Empowering Jewish Students
Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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

4:45pm EDT

Between Word and Deed: Music, Middot, and Meaning-Making
Monday July 27, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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
 
Tuesday, July 28
 

9:00am EDT

Cultivating Connection: Why Spiritual Development Matters at Every Age
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
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
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 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 202

9:00am EDT

Purposeful Play in Every Setting
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
There is a difference between play as simply unstructured fun rather than a powerful tool for learning and connection. In this interactive session, participants will explore concepts of play including flow theory and the Reggio Emilia philosophy of the “100 Languages of Children,” and consider how these ideas can shape meaningful learning experiences in a variety of settings. Together, we will examine how purposeful play can support Judaic learning, strengthen social-emotional skills, spark creativity and curiosity, and foster a deeper sense of belonging and community. Participants will leave with practical strategies and inspiration for integrating playful, relationship-centered learning into their own work.
Speakers
avatar for Sasha Hass

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 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 340

9:00am EDT

Unpacking and Previewing the 2026 Israeli Election
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
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

9:00am EDT

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

9:00am EDT

Moments of Memory: Using Storytelling to Enhance Your Holocaust Education Program
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
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

9:00am EDT

Level Up Your Classroom: The Power of Team-Building Games
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
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 →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 348

11:00am EDT

Hebrew Games to Promote Learning and Fun!
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
For games and instructions CLICK HERE!

Add engagement, enthusiasm, and energy to your Hebrew decoding and prayer lessons through games! This session will demonstrate many different games that will add excitement to your Hebrew classes (both in-person and virtual) while reinforcing decoding and prayer learning. Leave with ready-to-use games as well as ideas to create your own.


Speakers
avatar for Linda Duke

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 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 322

11:00am EDT

Resilience: Amazing Courageous Stories of Young Holocaust Survivors
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
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

11:00am EDT

Comparing Shabbat Service Sections
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
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 →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Maria Hall Yoga Room

11:00am EDT

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

3:00pm EDT

Beyond the Workshop - Wool Needle Felting and the Energy of Separation
Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
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

4:45pm EDT

Experience the Fun and Power of Hebrew Through Movement
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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
avatar for Linda Duke

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

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
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

4:45pm EDT

Yearly Cycle of Festival Services
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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
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 →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Side Foyer

4:45pm EDT

Why Singing Together Works: The Neuroscience of Music, Breath, and Bonding
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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

4:45pm EDT

How the Right Siddur Can Open Doors
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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 →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Maria Hall Yoga Room

4:45pm EDT

Built to Last: Jewish Practice and Lifelong Resilience
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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

4:45pm EDT

Waterworld or Desertville: Why Does Torah Tell Us Two Different Creation Stories?
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
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
 
Wednesday, July 29
 

9:00am EDT

Make a HUGE, Interactive Tot-Shabbat Siddur!
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Come and get some new ideas for YOUR Tot-Shabbat Siddur, with manipulatives, share what has worked (and NOT worked) for you, and learn some more engagement strategies for parents as well as kids that will keep them coming each Shabbat! (And bring home some fun dino stickers, too!)
Speakers
avatar for Shelli Aderman

Shelli Aderman

@T&V: Youth Educator (Family Service Leader, and Hebrew School Teacher) @Clal: Office and Events Manager, Clal - NYC; Town and Village Conservative Synagogue - NYC
Shelli Aderman (she / her) has been fortunate to work as a theatrical stage manager, Jewish educator, and administrator for over thirty years. In addition to her work at Clal, Shelli continues to be an active lay leader and educator at Town and Village Synagogue, and she resides with... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 340

9:00am EDT

The Joy of Jewish Music
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
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

9:00am EDT

Ayin Tovah - A Good Eye - Focusing on the Good: Cultivating a Positive Outlook through Creative Movement and Expressive Arts
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
How can we develop Ayin Tovah, a positive, healing outlook? Through creative movement! We will “move” and “be moved by” its Hebrew letters, עין טובה, explore their kabbalistic meaning, and further our understanding via drawing/journaling. Learn my holistic approach to teaching Hebrew letters, whose gestural, spatial designs connect us to Jewish spirituality. For both children and adults!
Speakers
avatar for Davida Adelberg

Davida Adelberg

Teaches Jewish Studies and Beginning Hebrew, Congregation Sinai
Davida Adelberg teaches Jewish Studies and Beginning Hebrew at Congregation Sinai in San Jose, CA.  She enjoys creative movement and Jewish spiritual connection, uniting both in "moving" the Hebrew letters with the gestural Alef-Bet, created by Stan Tenen, z"l.  Davida is blessed... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose 2

9:00am EDT

ShalomLearning JLearnHub Hebrew Training
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
This 90-minute hands-on workshop is designed exclusively for current ShalomLearning partner educators using JLearnHub Hebrew. Our specialists will guide you through the complete platform experience — from classroom setup to lesson navigation — so you and your students can get the most out of this comprehensive Hebrew reading and prayer program. JLearnHub Hebrew uses proven mnemonic techniques to build lasting letter and vowel recognition, while its prayer curriculum introduces students to modern Hebrew vocabulary through a translation-based approach. This training ensures you are equipped to teach every element of the program with confidence. Curriculum Highlights JLearnHub Hebrew — Mnemonic techniques give students memorable pathways to Hebrew letter and vowel mastery. Students work through 17 prayers using a translation-based approach that builds modern Hebrew vocabulary. Printable packets reinforce letter and vowel recognition beyond the digital platform.

Shalom Learning asks all partners planning to attend this session to please complete this pre-registration form
Speakers
avatar for Shira Sender

Shira Sender

Director of Client Care and Teacher Support, ShalomLearning
Shira Sender is the Director of Client Care and Teacher Support with ShalomLearning, where she collaborates with, supports, and trains educators and educational leaders to ensure Jewish education is accessible and engaging for today's learners. With over 20 years of experience in... Read More →
avatar for Heidi Lovitz

Heidi Lovitz

[email protected], ShalomLearning
Heidi Lovitz is the Senior Managing Director of ShalomLearning, where she leads curriculum development, program delivery, and strategic operations to bring innovative Jewish education to students and families in diverse communities. With 20+ years of experience, she holds a Master's... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
 

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