NewCAJE17: 50th Anniversary: Full Schedule

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

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

Big Picture of Jewish Education, Administration

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Administration
Audience Teachers, Principals
Track Adminstrative track
Type Main

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

Rachel Fish

Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202

Israel, Teaching Tools & Techniques

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Teaching Tools & Techniques
Audience Adult Students, High School, Lower Elementary School, Middle School, Teachers, Upper Elementary
Track Israel
Type Virtual, Main

2:00pm EDT

Creating New Authentically Jewish Rituals

Sunday July 26, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

College Hall Rm 236

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

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 →

Ritual Handout pdf

Stillbirth Ritual pdf

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

Jewish Life & Identity, Spirituality/Tefilah

Company Jewish Life & Identity, Spirituality/Tefilah
Audience Adult Students, Teachers
Type Main

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

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

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Text/Bible/Theology
Audience Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers
Type Main

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

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

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

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

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

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Jewish Life & Identity
Audience Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers
Type Main

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

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

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Storytelling
Audience Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Track Holocaust
Type Main

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

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

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

4:45pm EDT

Violence Against the Earth in the Abrahamic Religions

Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT

College Hall Rm 239

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

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.

yoreh compassion and self concern pdf

RA Teshuvah on Sustainability pdf

Redwan When the Earth Speaks Against Us Environmental Ethics in Islam pdf

Laudato Si pdf

Handout Violence Against the Earth pdf

Violence Against the Earth pdf

Sunday July 26, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
College Hall Rm 239

Text/Bible/Theology, Adult Education

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Adult Education
Audience Adult Students, Teachers
Type Main

9:00am EDT

Toddling Through Prayer

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

College Hall Rm 320

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

Speakers

Elyssa Brinn

Director of the Early Years Program, Strelitz International Academy

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

Early Childhood Education, Spirituality/Tefilah

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

9:00am EDT

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

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

College Hall Rm 323

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

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

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

Speakers

Andrea Shupack

Cantorial Soloist

NewCAJE Writing Your Own Torah handout 2026 pdf

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

Jewish Life & Identity, Spirituality/Tefilah

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

9:00am EDT

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

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

College Hall Rm 348

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

Speakers

Shai Rosenfeld

Director - Intergenerational Program Enagagement, DOROT

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

Texts pdf

DOROT – Intergenerational Practices, NewCAJE17 2026 pdf

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

Teens/Youth Engagement, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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

11:00am EDT

Judaism and Positive Intelligence - Gym for the Soul

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

College Hall Rm 340

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

Speakers

Bonnie Cooper

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

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

Positive Intelligence and Judaism for NewCAJE pdf

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

Self-Care/Wellbeing, Spirituality/Tefilah

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

4:45pm EDT

A Tale of Two Tefillah Styles

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

College Hall Rm 239

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

Speakers

Shoshi Braman

rel school teacher, Beth Meyer Synagogue

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

Karen Daniel

Teacher and music specialist, Beth Meyer synagogue Raleigh NC

Karen Daniel is a teacher in the religious school and musical accompanist at Beth Meyer Synagogue in Raleigh NC. Having grown up in Nashville, TN, she is also a singer/songwriter of original Jewish and country/folk songs.

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

Music, Spirituality/Tefilah

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

4:45pm EDT

Circle Singing Workshop

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

College Hall Rm 348

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

Speakers

Jen Keren

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

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

Music, Spirituality/Tefilah

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

4:45pm EDT

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

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

Maria Hall Multipurpose 2

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

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

Speakers

Deborah Peretz

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

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

Storytelling, Music

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

9:00am EDT

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

Joshua Cahan

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

The Tefilah Reboot Project docx

Tefilah Reboot pptx

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

Spirituality/Tefilah, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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

9:00am EDT

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

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

College Hall Rm 319

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

Speakers

Cathy Polakoff

Storytelling Director, Teach the Shoah

Cathy Polakoff is a Storytelling Director at Teach the Shoah. She has held a variety of roles in education since earning her M.Ed in 2014. She now focuses on guiding people in telling factual stories to educate others about the Holocaust. Cathy frequently volunteers at her synagogue... Read More →

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

Storytelling, History

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

9:00am EDT

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

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

College Hall Rm 348

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

Speakers

Jill Eisen

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

NewCaje TeamBuiling in Classrrooms docx

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

Teaching Tools and Techniques, Classroom Management

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

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

Paul Solyn

Adult Educator

Vayikra for Vegetarians pdf

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Maria Hall Yoga Room

Text/Bible/Theology, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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

11:00am EDT

Music That Rocks the Preschool Classroom, part 2 (Tu B'shvat to Yom HaAtzmaut)

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

College Hall Rm 202

Come sing the songs that ROCK with preschoolers! Early childhood music specialist, Lisa Baydush, will share the songs that delight and engage her students throughout the year. Learn how to make these songs POP! and get dozens of ideas to energize your music program. In addition to teaching repertoire, Lisa will discuss how to plan a set list that achieves your goals. This session will focus on holidays in the second half of the year, Tu B’shvat – Shavuot. (Just to let you know in case you’ve taken Lisa’s workshops before, this workshop will have NEW repertoire!)

Speakers

Lisa Baydush

Early Childhood Music Specialist, Temple Beth Ami (Rockville, MD), Congregation B'nai Tzedek (Potomac, MD)

Lisa Baydush is an engaging early childhood music specialist who delights in transmitting the values, stories and traditions of Judaism through the medium of Jewish music. A dynamic teacher and Tot Shabbat service leader at two congregations in Maryland, Lisa is also a prolific... Read More →

Music That Rocks the Preschool Classroom song list pdf

Music That Rocks the Preschool Classroom, 2026, NewCAJE pdf

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 202

Music, Early Childhood Education

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Early Childhood Education
Audience Early Childhood
Track ECE
Type Main, Virtual

11:00am EDT

Comparing Shabbat Service Sections

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

Maria Hall Yoga Room

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

Speakers

David Schwartz

Education Director, Temple Har Zion

Neil Schwartz

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

Spirituality/Tefilah, Torah Lishma

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

11:00am EDT

Igniting Tefilah Leadership

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

College Hall Rm 340

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

Speakers

Shelley Stein

Melissa Pescatore

Director of Youth Learning and Engagement, Temple Shaari Emeth

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

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

Spirituality/Tefilah, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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

3:00pm EDT

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

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

College Hall Rm 340

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

Speakers

Jill Eisen

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

Administration, Self-Care/Wellbeing

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

4:45pm EDT

Yearly Cycle of Festival Services

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

College Hall Side Foyer

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

Speakers

David Schwartz

Education Director, Temple Har Zion

Neil Schwartz

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

Holidays, Spirituality/Tefilah

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

4:45pm EDT

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

Joshua Cahan

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

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

4:45pm EDT

Built to Last: Jewish Practice and Lifelong Resilience

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

College Hall Rm 239

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

Speakers

Julie Hirschfeld

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

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

Teaching Tools and Techniques, Big Picture of Jewish Education

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

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

Ramona Brand

Director of Youth Learning, Temple Beth El

Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Maria Hall Multipurpose I

Big Picture of Jewish Education, Jewish Life & Identity

Company Spirituality/Tefilah, Jewish Life & Identity
Audience Lower Elementary School, Upper Elementary, Middle School
Type Main

9:00am EDT

Make a HUGE, Interactive Tot-Shabbat Siddur!

Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

College Hall Rm 340

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

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 →

2 per page Shabbat b'Yahad for NewCAJE 2026 pdf

Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 340

Early Childhood Education, Teaching Tools & Techniques

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

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