NewCAJE16: Full Schedule

The NewCAJE conference is a vibrant gathering that unites Jewish educators and professionals to strengthen the Jewish community through education. Rooted in the legacy of CAJE, NewCAJE fosters innovation, collaboration, and inspiration. The conference offers space for sharing best practices, exploring new ideas, and deepening Jewish and educational learning. Committed to inclusivity and pluralism, it welcomes educators from all backgrounds, creating a supportive network that empowers them to make a lasting impact.

10:30am EDT

Music That Rocks the Preschool Classroom, part 1 of 2 (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah)

Tuesday June 24, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - 130

Come sing 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 first half of the year, Rosh Hashanah – Chanukah. (Just to let you know in case you’ve taken Lisa’s workshops at NewCAJE 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 →

Tuesday June 24, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 130

Early Childhood Education Music

Subject Early Childhood Education Certificate

4:15pm EDT

Musical Prayer Writing Workshop

Tuesday June 24, 2025 4:15pm - 5:45pm EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Experience writing a musical prayer together as a group! Together, we will choose a text, translate it, and decide how to set it to music. We’ll take a quick stab at co-writing, then discuss how you can use this approach to deepen meaning and engagement with prayer for your learners.

Speakers

Rory Michelle Sullivan

Artist-in-Residence

Rory Michelle Sullivan’s work as singer/songwriter, songleader, musician, composer, educator, curriculum writer, and consultant with a range of Jewish communities and ages inspires spiritual connection, growth, and joy through healthy, authentic, creative, and constructive relationships... Read More →

Tuesday June 24, 2025 4:15pm - 5:45pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Music Spirituality

10:30am EDT

Songs to the Tune of…

Wednesday June 25, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - G50

Are you a preschool teacher who feels daunted by the idea of singing with your students? Are you searching for easy-to-remember repertoire to sing in your classroom? Come learn adaptations to classic songs with early childhood music specialist, Lisa Baydush, who will share simple but engaging songs that will delight your students! Bring your inner child and be prepared to have fun! (This workshop is not intended for music educators, though they are most welcome.)

Speakers

Lisa Baydush

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

Wednesday June 25, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - G50

Early Childhood Education Music

Subject Early Childhood Education Certificate

2:00pm EDT

Music That Rocks the Preschool Classroom, part 2 of 2 (Tu B’shvat, Purim, Pesach, Yom Ha-atzmaut)

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - 130

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 – Yom Ha’atzmaut and Shabbat. (Just to let you know in case you’ve taken Lisa’s NewCAJE 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)

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 130

Early Childhood Education Music

Subject Early Childhood Education Certificate

4:00pm EDT

Six Ways of Chanting Trope During a Full Year

Wednesday June 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - G27

During the cycle of a Jewish Year, we use one set of Trope Symbols to chant six different ways: Torah, Haftarah, High Holy Days Torah, Esther, Eichah, and RaKa"SH (Ruth–Kohelet–Shir HaShirim). Learn how these melodies reflect the moods of each Book!
Takeaways
How a complete set of Trope marks reflects the grammar, punctuation, and accentuation of each Biblical book, and how the specific set of melodies within a given Trope system reflects the ambience and mood of each different type of Biblical book.

Speakers

David Schwartz

Education Director, Temple Har Zion

David Schwartz is the Education Director at Temple Har Zion in Chicago. When he is not doing that he is a B’nai Mitzvah tutor and a Jewish storyteller. David is also on the Executive Board of the Jewish Educators Assembly and an MTEI graduate. However, his most important role is... Read More →

Cantor Neil Schwartz

Director of Education, Temple Har Zion; River Forest, IL

Neil Schwartz graduated JTS in 1980; he has a Master of Arts in Religion and Culture, and 5 Units of Chaplaincy Training. Cantor Neil retired after 42 years in 7 synagogues (3 as "Kol Bo"); he taught the IMUN Lay Leader program, and Trope and Nusach online for Hebrew College. He... Read More →

Wednesday June 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - G27

Music Torah L'shma

8:30am EDT

Magical Musical Mindfulness: Tools for our youngest friends

Thursday June 26, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - 278

Practicing mindfulness can have a profound impact on children, specifically when it comes to feelings of anxiety, ADHD, sleep, and self esteem. Using original Tkiya music and content, we will explore how to use mindfulness as a tool in early childhood and elementary spaces through a Jewish values lens.

Speakers

Morgan Zweibel

Education Coordinator, Tkiya

Morgan is the Education Coordinator at Tkiya where she teaches, manages curriculum, and trains teachers, helping to bring joyful Jewish connection to thousands of families each year. She was chosen as a Jewish Rock Radio’s Jewish All Star for 2023-24. Morgan is thrilled to combine... Read More →

Thursday June 26, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 278

Music Teaching Tools & Techniques

Subject Early Childhood Education Certificate

10:30am EDT

Deepening Our Relationship with the Now (Using a Fun Call and Response Shehecheyanu!)

Thursday June 26, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - G27

Explore using this fun new musical Shehecheyanu setting as a tool for kicking off the new school year and Rosh Hashanah with more intention. Adaptable for early childhood education through adults, this Shehecheyanu setting incorporates breath, call and response, and focused awareness to bring our attention to ... this ... very ... moment.

Speakers

Rory Michelle Sullivan

Artist-in-Residence

Thursday June 26, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - G27

Music Spirituality