NewCAJE17: 50th Anniversary: Full Schedule

4:15pm EDT

A Panel Discussion: A Deep Dive Elevating How We Teach, Learn, Chant, and Share our Sacred Texts

Saturday July 25, 2026 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT

College Hall Rm 319

A Deep Dive Elevating How We Teach, Learn, Chant, and Share our Sacred Texts

Speakers

Eliana Light

Educator, Musician, and 2025 Covenant Foundation Family Education, The Light Lab

Eliana is working towards a world of One-ness, guided and inspired by Jewish heritage. She focuses on translating liturgy, prayer practice, and g?d-concepts in ways that are deep and accessible for all people at any age. Eliana’s music, gatherings, and teaching reflect a spirit... Read More →

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 →

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 →

Jeri Robins

Cantor / Director of Education, B'Mitzvah Tutors, Cantor, Classroom Teacher - Elementary, Classrooom Teacher - Middle School, Director/Head of School

Boston-based Cantor Jeri Robins serves as the Cantor at Beth El Temple Center in Belmont, Director of Education at Temple Chayai Shalom in Easton, and teaches at Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, as well as working with students privately. A graduate of Hebrew College with cantorial... Read More →

Saturday July 25, 2026 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319

Type Shabbat

5:10pm EDT

Can you Command Love

Saturday July 25, 2026 5:10pm - 5:55pm EDT

College Hall Rm 319

Speakers

Ruz Gulko

Rabbi/Cantor/Educator, Gan Argaman

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

Saturday July 25, 2026 5:10pm - 5:55pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319

Type Shabbat

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

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

9:00am EDT

Everything Is a Game: Gamifying Hebrew & Judaica for Young Learners

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

College Hall Rm 319

Children learn best when they’re actively engaged, moving, laughing, and participating—so why not turn everything into a game? In this session, we’ll explore practical, ready-to-use ways to bring Hebrew and Judaica to life through familiar game structures like “Who Has…?”, Headbands, scavenger hunts, and simple icebreakers reimagined as learning tools. We’ll look at how holidays, Hebrew vocabulary, stories, and Jewish concepts can be embedded into games that already work, and how small shifts can turn transitions, review moments, and even introductions into meaningful learning experiences. Participants will leave with adaptable game ideas and frameworks that make it easy to bring energy, joy, and participation into any Hebrew or Judaica setting.

Speakers

Shana Fruchter

Shana Fruchter is an early childhood music and Jewish educator based in New York City and founder of Music with Shana, music for babies and toddlers, and Sababa with Shana, an independent Hebrew school. As a Hebrew School Education Director for the past two years, she developed curriculum... Read More →

Monday July 27, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
College Hall Rm 319

Teaching Tools and Techniques

Type Main

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

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

Company History, Big Picture of Jewish Education
Audience Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers, Principals
Track Holocaust
Type Main

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

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

Company Jewish Life & Identity
Audience Middle School, High School, Teachers
Track Holocaust
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

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

Jennifer Alembik

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319

History, Storytelling

Company History, Storytelling
Audience Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Students, Teachers
Track Holocaust
Type Main

3:00pm EDT

Beyond the Workshop - Conference Partner Spotlight

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

College Hall Rm 319

We hope you will visit the conference partner tables in the cafeteria. But a chat that lasts a few minutes tableside isn't always enough to learn what these amazing partners have to offer our schools and our students. These sessions are designed to allow for deeper exploration. Stop by for a sequence of 20-minute presentations, and enjoy a sweet cold treat while you learn!

Tuesday's Conference Partners include:
MTEI ~3:10pm
Jewish Future Promise ~3:30pm
The Anne Frank Center ~3:50pm
IsraelLink ~4:10pm

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 →

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 →

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 →

Josh Schalk

Jewish Future Promise

Josh is an experienced non-profit professional, having most recently served as a Regional Director at BBYO. Additionally, he has experience working in retail management, high end luxury sales, and customer service.A native of Herndon, VA, Josh is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
College Hall Rm 319

Type Main

4:45pm EDT

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

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

College Hall Rm 319

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

Speakers

Ty Alhadeff

Director of Education, JIMENA

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

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

History, Jewish Life & Identity

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

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

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

Company Jewish Life & Identity, History
Audience Middle School, High School
Track Holocaust
Type Main

4:15pm EDT

5:10pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

9:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

4:45pm EDT

9:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

3:00pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

9:00am EDT

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