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.

2:00pm EDT

God loves the Jewish people, but do we?: Teaching and Learning Ahavat Yisrael

Monday June 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Many Jews find Judaism fascinating and meaningful but the subject of Jews—not so much. Peoplehood and religion fortify each other and may not be truly distinct, so how can we teach ethnic cultural particularism in a global age?

Speakers

Rabbi David Starr

Lead Congregation, Mishkan Tefila

Rabbi David Star leads Congregation Mishkan Tefila in Brooklline, MA. He was a Research Associate at Brandeis University and earned a Ph.D. at Columbia University. He is the author of a forthcoming biography of Solomon Schechter, and was the founder of the Me’ah program.

Monday June 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

American Jewish Community Creating Community

3:45pm EDT

Create Sensory Play Experiences and Build an Inclusive and Supportive Classroom

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

In this session, participants will experience the self-regulating magic of hands-on sensory play! Participants will come away with concrete tools to build inclusive experiences for learners with a diverse array of learning and social skills. Sensory integration also supports children’s complex behaviors and development. This is ideal for early childhood and elementary classrooms but can be used with learners of all ages.

Speakers

Erin Beser

Director of Whole Community Inclusion, Jewish Learning Venture

Erin Beser is the Director of Whole Community Inclusion at the Jewish Learning Venture. She also currently teaches 6th grade Jewish studies at the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr and is the founder and CEO of Adoughma Dough Play Events, a sensory education initiative working... Read More →

Monday June 23, 2025 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Early Childhood Education Special Needs Inclusion

Subject Early Childhood Education Certificate

8:30am EDT

Having Fun With Our Youngest Learners

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Teaching the pre-kindergarteners is a whole new world of fun. Come fill your bag with tricks and tips for working with four and five year olds in this workshop filled with hands on activities including cooking projects and craft ideas perfect for reaching this exciting age of children.

Speakers

Marcia Berneger

Torah School Teacher, Temple EmanuEl

Marcia Berneger teaches Torah School at Temple EmanuEl in San Diego. Her class is filled with 18 adorable 4 year olds--little sponges waiting to absorb all the love and Jewish fun she can provide. She's taught every grade level from Kindergarten through sixth grade, but has found... Read More →

Tuesday June 24, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Early Childhood Education Teaching Tools & Techniques

Subject Early Childhood Education Certificate

10:30am EDT

Filling the Faculty Toolbox: Setting Your Teachers Up for Success

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

How can we empower our teachers to thrive? This session reveals concrete strategies for supporting educators through targeted development, personalized coaching, and strategic observations. Learn how proven approaches can transform school culture, overcome implementation obstacles, and equip teachers with essential tools for success.

Speakers

Ronni Ticker

Classroom Teacher - Elementary, Classrooom Teacher - Middle School, Consultant, Self Employed

Ronni Ticker, Founder & Chief Imagination Officer of Jewish Learning Central, is a creative strategic thinker consulting with synagogues and non-profits to reimagine learning and engagement. Ronni is also the Director of Family Engagement for the Federation of Palm Beach County. She... Read More →

Tuesday June 24, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Admin Big Picture of Jewish Education

Subject Admin/School Directors 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

8:30am EDT

Creating Classrooms that Support Inclusion, Behavior Management and Social-Emotional Learning

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Participants will explore how to design inclusive learning spaces by understanding children's complex behaviors as a manifestation of neurodiversity and sensory needs. Learning can be positively affected from the moment a child walks into a room and then supported during challenges and transitions, using the space, lesson design, and teacher language. There will be sensory play for attendees!

Speakers

Erin Beser

Director of Whole Community Inclusion, Jewish Learning Venture

Wednesday June 25, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Classroom Management Special Needs Inclusion

Subject Early Childhood Education Certificate

10:30am EDT

Who is Dona Gracia de Nasi?

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Meet one of the most important women of the Renaissance, forgotten in the history books. Dona Gracia was an extraordinary secret Jew who was one of the richest women in the world. She saved hundreds if not thousands of Jewish lives while living as a practicing Catholic. What was it like to live in secret, to live in fear of being exposed? Discover this remarkable woman’s story and see how one woman could make such a difference.

Speakers

Heléna Eilenberg

Adult Educator, Consultant, Informal/Camp Educator, Online Tutor (Hebrew or Judaica), Storyteller, Merrick Jewish Centre

Heléna Geberer Eilenberg is an actress, a Jewish educator (Director of Education, principal) and a history teacher. In full character and dress, she portrays unique, fascinating women who are almost forgotten in our history books. For adults, middle and high school and upper elementary... Read More →

Wednesday June 25, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

History/Holocaust Storytelling

2:00pm EDT

Putting the LGBT in Inclusion

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

I regularly speak with educators who don't have or know about the tools or who think some students are just too young to address LGBT perspectives. This workshop will include a list of resources (including Jewish picture books) and ways to seemlessly integrate them into your religious school, day school, library, summer camp or early childhood center. Resources are inexpensive and the presenter does NOT get paid for the advertising or sale of these resources.

Speakers

Laurie Green

Rabbi, Unemployed

Laurie Green is a rabbi, educator, activist, author and aspiring yogini. She has been a Jewish educator for 30 years. Most recently, she ran a religious school in the DC suburbs of Maryland. She lives in Baltimore with her wife, their two children and three dogs.

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Big Picture of Jewish Education Teaching Tools & Techniques

4:00pm EDT

Engaging Meaningful Play in Religious School

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

How can teachers find a balance between creating a joyful classroom environment and covering meaningful Jewish curriculum? In this session, participants will explore the WHY of playful learning for grades K through 8, as well as actually creating many activities that can be utilized right away in classes.

Speakers

Meredith Silverman

Assistant Director of Education, Temple De Hirsch Sinai

Meredith is the Assistant Director of Education at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle, Washington. She has her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and enjoys developing teachers in their careers. Meredith is also a Second Year participant in the LEEP program.

Wednesday June 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Pedagogy

8:30am EDT

Unpacking Words to Action: Empowering Teens to Challenge Antisemitism (1st occurance)

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Join education expert Randi Boyette to learn about and participate in ADL's premier Jewish teen-facing program, Words to Action. In this session, you will participate in activities aimed to build student capacity to explore Jewish identity, identify and challenge antisemitism.

Speakers

Randi Boyette

Thursday June 26, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Teens American Jewish Community

Subject Holocaust/Antisemitism Certificate

10:30am EDT

Unpacking Words to Action: Empowering Teens to Challenge Antisemitism (2nd occurance)

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

Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Speakers

Randi Boyette

Thursday June 26, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Julia Rogers: JR - 277

Teens American Jewish Community

Subject Holocaust/Antisemitism Certificate