NewCAJE15: Full Schedule

9:00am EDT

Teaching with Radical Amazement: Celebrating Children’s Thinking as a Foundation for Planning

As a partner to the children in their learning, the teacher’s way of being and “seeing” is significant and impactful. How do we enter moments with presence, awakened to the possibilities? How do we find the extraordinary in the ordinary? Using examples from the classroom, through a constructivist, Reggio-inspired lens, and with a foundation in the Jewish lens of Hitorerut/Awakening, we will discuss the role of the teacher in recognizing key moments in the children’s dialogues and actions, reacting with joy, wonder, and engagement to the insights and theories of the children, and marveling with children as they research the world around them.

Speakers

Sandy Lanes

Pedagogical Consultant

Sandy Lanes is a pedagogical consultant specializing in early childhood constructivist education, working with schools nationally and abroad. Over the past 25 years, Sandy has been a keynote presenter and workshop facilitator at conferences and preschools. She was a faculty member... Read More →

Monday July 29, 2024 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
UNIV 2012

Early Childhood Education

11:00am EDT

Grounding Ourselves in the Earth: New Approaches to Jewish Ecological Awareness

As our community and world come to grips with the realities of climate change, we have a well of traditions and practices to draw upon to more deeply root ourselves in our place Jews who care about the Earth. In this session, Rabbi Andrue Kahn (editor of the new book The Sacred Earth: Jewish Perspectives on our Planet from CCAR Press) will share theologies, practices, and prayers to help us guide our intergeneration communities toward a new, more vital orientation and relationship with the Earth.

Speakers

Rabbi Andrue J. Kahn

Rabbi Andrue J. Kahn (he/they) is Associate Director of Yachad and Adult Education and Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, NY. Rabbi Kahn is the editor of The Sacred Earth: Jewish Perspectives on Our Planet (CCAR Press, 2023) and was ordained at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute... Read More →

Monday July 29, 2024 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
UNIV 2012

Values and Ethics Social Justice

3:30pm EDT

And Rahel Cried -Infertility and Pregnancy loss

How do we support those dealing with Infertility and pregnancy loss as a community and within our institutions? Come explore and share our personal stories and what is available in the Jewish community today. There are a lot more resources out there now. How do we get the larger community to support those who need it? Most of all it will be a chance to share our stories and how our Jewish communities supported and failed to support us. How can we make a change?

Speakers

Cheryl Cash-Linietsky

HTM/Hebrew Reading Specialist Jewish studies grades 2/3, Park Slope Jewish Center/Yeshivat Bitachon

Cheryl Cash-Linietsky has taught in every setting and denomination of Judaism. Originally from Philadelphia, she was educated at Temple University and Gratz College. She prides herself on her creativity and the connections she makes with her students. In her spare time, Cheryl creates... Read More →

Monday July 29, 2024 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
UNIV 2012

Self Care

5:30pm EDT

From Sacred Text to Big Ideas: Philosophical Inquiry with Bible

Philosophers of all ages inquire into the meaning of contestable concepts in order to understand the ethical dimensions of our experience, to make sound judgments, and to take appropriate action. Engaging Texts engages young people in communities of philosophical inquiry that combine rigorous exploration of Biblical texts with community building and rich Jewish content knowledge. This workshop combines studying a text ourselves this way with watching a video of students doing so and reflecting on the experience. Participants will learn practical strategies for deepening Bible inquiry in their contexts. This session is relevant for Teachers, Education Directors, Rabbis, and Cantors.

Speakers

Jen Glaser

Dr. Jen Glaser is founder of Engaging Texts (www.engagingtexts.com), offering professionaldevelopment and a network for Jewish educators seeking to create educational environmentsthat empower students to construct meaningful identities, a sense of purpose, and activeengagement in... Read More →

Maughn Gregory

Prof. Maughn Gregory directs the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children atMontclair State University—the world’s oldest organization devoted to young people’sphilosophical practice (www.montclair.edu). He co-edits the Routledge series Philosophy forChildren... Read More →

Monday July 29, 2024 5:30pm - 7:00pm EDT
UNIV 2012

Bible/Text Teaching Tools & Techniques

8:30am EDT

Top Dos and Don'ts of the Job Search Process in the Jewish Space (and Beyond!)

Will you be looking for your next employment opportunity in the near future? Are you in charge of hiring team members to join your organization? Many candidates have talents to share but need help showcasing their best selves. There are many useful hints, dos and don'ts that help the job search and hiring processes to be highly successful and professional. In this session, we will explore some of the mistakes candidates make when applying for positions, and we will look at some of the best practices that yield successful employment matches. Whether part or full time, working in the Jewish community is rewarding and meaningful. Let's discuss how to optimize the job seeking experience and help applicants to get the job offers they want the most.

Speakers

Rabbi Beth Kramer-Mazer

Rabbi Beth Kramer-Mazer is the Director of Placement & Assistant Dean of Student Life at the AJR New York. She served in the Reform congregational setting for over twenty-five years, bringing dynamic leadership to Jewish life, as both an educator and Rabbi. She fondly remembers traveling... Read More →

Tuesday July 30, 2024 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
UNIV 2012

Self Care

10:30am EDT

Our Sacred Text as a Tool for Understanding the Science of Pedagogy

Do you ever wonder where you can go to learn about how to be the best teacher you can be? In this workshop, we will travel through time to learn from the Rabbis of our sacred tradition. Our ancient texts are rich with applicable lessons to our work today. It turns out that the rabbis were brilliant pedagogues who really thought about the most effective (and affective) ways to meet learner needs. You will leave with a new understanding of how best to teach your students.

Speakers

Deborah Niederman

Tuesday July 30, 2024 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
UNIV 2012

Bible/Text Pedagogy Torah L'Shma

2:15pm EDT

Creating Creative Judaica

How can we design Jewish ritual objects that are meaningful as well as beautiful? How can we use art to encourage creative thinking about Jewish ritual and the holiday cycle? Artist Hillel Smith will speak about his creative process and considerations when making Jewish art projects of his own, and how he uses those frameworks to craft workshops he leads for participants of all ages. In between discussing various approaches to Jewish art-making, he will guide participants through brainstorming Judaica of their own.

Speakers

Hillel Smith

Artist & Educator

Hillel Smith is an illustrator and designer who expands the boundaries of Jewish art through contemporary media. He paints Jewish murals around the world and founded the Jewish Street Art Festival. He has created art for PJ Library, BBYO, and HIAS. He leads art workshops and teaches... Read More →

Tuesday July 30, 2024 2:15pm - 3:45pm EDT
UNIV 2012

The Arts Holidays/Lifecycle Family Education

4:15pm EDT

It's in the book: what should (adult) Jews learn?

In this session we'll discuss goals for adult Jewish learning and define topics that should be included. We'll review attempts at comprehensive, defined curricula such as Melton and Miller, plus some of the literature on adult religious education, share our experiences--successful and not--and brainstorm about substance and sequence, format, and marketing, primarily in the setting of a congregation.

Speakers

Paul Solyn

Executive Director, Jewish Center & Federation of the Twin Tiers

Paul Solyn is an adult educator in Elmira, NY, where he was executive director of the Jewish Center and Federation of the Twin Tiers until his retirement on June 30th. He studied adult learning at Boston University and holds an M.J.Ed. degree and family-educator certificate from Hebrew... Read More →

Tuesday July 30, 2024 4:15pm - 5:45pm EDT
UNIV 2012

Adult Education

9:00am EDT

Parents, Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them

The participation of tw/teens in Jewish youth education and engagement programming is highly impacted by the role their parents play as a supporter, promoter, sharer, social networker, and more. This workshop will: (1) teach the difference between parent involvement and parent engagement and the role each has in youth education and engagement programming, (2) explore a variety of ways that parents can be programmatic partners, even as their own constituency, and (3) begin mapping out ways to implement a parent involvement and parent engagement plan for the 2023-2024 year and explore how engaging and involving parents leads to tangible teen participation results.

Speakers

Erica Hruby

Erica Hruby is the Executive Director of JTEEN, the national network of Jewish teen professionals. She is also the founder of Anchored Parenting, serving as an educator and coach for tw/eens and parents. She is the Co-leader of New CAJE’s Madrichim training program. Erica has an... Read More →

Wednesday July 31, 2024 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
UNIV 2012

Administration/School Directors Family Education Bar/Bat Mitzvah