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.

3:45pm EDT

Tot Shabbat with Savta Goose on the Loose

Monday June 23, 2025 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Explore new ways to present Tot Shabbat using the Mother Goose on the Loose method! Tried and true techniques involving the flannel board engage children from birth to age four and their parents/ caregivers.

Speakers

Betsy Diamant-Cohen

Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen developed the Mother Goose on the Loose (MGOL) early literacy program while working at the Israel Museum Youth Wing Library. MGOL has won numerous awards in the US; Betsy received the "Distinguished Services Award" from the Association for Library Service to... Read More →

Monday June 23, 2025 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Early Childhood Education Holiday/Lifecycle

Subject Early Childhood Education Certificate

8:30am EDT

Israel Education: Crisis Management or Foundational and Grounding Adaptability

Tuesday June 24, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Curriculum must be regularly reviewed to ensure relevance, include updated pedagogy, and embrace evolving diversity in your Jewish community. Sometimes these changes are gradual, but sometimes our instincts as Jewish educators pull us toward more drastic actions. Narratives change, resources improve, world events impact understanding.

Speakers

Rabbi Michal Morris Kamil

Rabbi, Congregation Beth El-Ner Tamid, Broomall, PA

Rabbi Michal has led Beth El-Ner Tamid in Broomall, PA since September. With experience for over three decades in both formal informal Jewish education in Israel, New Zealand, England, and the USA, she was ordained as Rabbi in 2022 in AJRCA. A Sabra, who has worked in building bridges... Read More →

Tuesday June 24, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Israel/Zionism Pedagogy

10:30am EDT

What Does Being an Emissary of the Shechinah Mean?

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Using texts, stories and songs, we will explore bringing the energy of the Shechinah into our lives and our classrooms every day. Come prepared to learn and to share.

Speakers

Marge Eiseman

Marge Eiseman has been learning and teaching most of her life. Whether it’s in a classroom, on Zoom, or in a chance encounter, she believes there’s power in the stories we tell and the language we choose.Singer/songwriter, Storahtelling Maven, purveyor of zesty spiritual programs... Read More →

Tuesday June 24, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Spirituality

Subject God/Spirituality Certificate

4:15pm EDT

Torah in Our Lives, Our Lives in Torah

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 121

This session will introduce Rabbi Leila Gal Berner's Kriat ha-Kodesh, "Reading the Holy," method of Torah study, a reflective approach that builds connections between the Torah and individuals' experiences and values. It will include a model study unit on one parashah, discussion of the experience, and exploration of the methodology.

Speakers

Paul Solyn

Adult Educator

Paul Solyn is an adult educator in Elmira, New York. He received an M.J.Ed. degree and family-educator certificate from Hebrew College and is an ordained maggid-educator. In May he received a graduate certificate in eco-spirituality at Hartford International University.

Tuesday June 24, 2025 4:15pm - 5:45pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Adult Education Spirituality Bible/Text

8:30am EDT

Two strange Torah passages: The Nephalim and the goat for Azazel

Wednesday June 25, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - 121

The story of the Nephalim and the description of the "scapegoat" which was sent to Azazel may seem strange in the context of the Torah, which we generally consider to be a monotheistic document. In this session we will examine these two stories and see how our various commentators have interpreted these passages.

Speakers

Stuart Lewis

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tutor, Congregation Beth Torah

Stu Lewis has been attending CAJE/NEWCAJE regularly for the past 34 years. He is an active member of Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park, KS. His current involvement in Jewish education is as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutor.

Wednesday June 25, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Adult Education Torah L'shma

10:30am EDT

Davenning and Trope – What do you need to Learn?

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 121

For teachers of students from Adults to Pre-Teens: if you teach "synagogue skills" – Liturgy, Nusach chants, and/or Trope – what do you want and need to learn from a new textbook and videos on these subjects? What would best meet your teaching needs?

Participants will be introduced to new teaching resources that are "in-progress", and in turn, participants are invited to express the topics, concepts, and specific skills that they need from these new materials, which are in the "preliminary stages" of preparation.

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 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Pedagogy

2:00pm EDT

What Does a Haftarah Text Have to Say to a Thirteen-Year-Old?

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Using Haftarat Va-yeshev (from the book of Amos) as an example, we will study the background of the haftarah and its connection to the Torah portion. After unpacking the poetry of the text, we will discuss how we would teach this Haftara, focusing on what will speak to a thirteen-year-old. Applicable to any haftarah; the session is not restricted to B-Mitzvah teachers.

Speakers

Everett Fox

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 121

Bible/Text Bar/Bat Mitzvah

4:00pm EDT

Community Transformation in Fragile Times

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 121

CBent is in a period of deep transition with the recent change of Rabbinic leadership. The community is diverse and the divisions within it are clearly recognizable. No one wants the community of 65 years to die and yet consensus is difficult to achieve. We are one of many such communities in the USA and the dilemmas of the Rabbi and the lay and educational leadership are sadly not unique. We have come up with creative solutions and would like to share and hear from you! Come join Rabbi Michal's welcoming and supportive intention to create a community of practice and be ready to try on new lenses for big questions involving retention, growth, spiritual leaning, programming and prioritization.

Speakers

Rabbi Michal Morris Kamil

Rabbi, Congregation Beth El-Ner Tamid, Broomall, PA

Wednesday June 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 121

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