Local teachers join new group re-imagining Jewish education

Some 350 Jewish educators from around the U.S., as well as from Canada, England, and Israel including four from Pinellas County, gathered for the founding conference of NewCAJE (New Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education) in Waltham, MA, earlier this month.

The local Jewish educators were Bonnie Peskin Halprin, director of Pauline Rivkind Preschool at Congegation B’nai Israel, St. Petersburg; Cheryl Matis, director of the preschool and youth at Temple B’nai Israel in Clearwater; and Shoshana Kroll, religious school director , and Jodi Matson, religious school administrator, both of Temple Beth-El, in St. Petersburg.

NewCAJE re-establishes the core concepts of the defunct Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education, which was the primary professional development organization for Jewish teachers. The centerpiece of CAJE was its annual conference that drew upwards to 1,000 educators. Blaming the economy and in debt, CAJE closed in February 2009.

At the opening ceremony of the NewCAJE, organizers expressed optimism, reciting a blessing for “He who revives the dead,” because, in the words of NewCAJE founder and president Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox, “There has never before been a Jewish organization that died and came back to life.”

She said the new organization had come into existence for several reasons: the Internet and e-mail had allowed those who had participated in former CAJE conferences to stay in touch and a culture of voluntarism which had pervaded CAJE made it possible for its veterans to step in and plan another conference.

In the spirit of reciprocal teaching and learning that had been a hallmark of CAJE, the conference program included workshops given by 133 presenters. Topics ranged from “Should Early Childhood Jewish Programs Include Infants and Toddlers?” to “Israel Education in the 21st Century.” There were hands-on sessions in the arts, music, dancing, and yoga.

The evening programs featured entertainment by outstanding Jewish musicians, singer-songwriters, storytellers, and stand-up comics. Among the stars of Jewish music who performed were Josh Nelson, Julie Silver, Jeff Klepper, Kol Be- Seder, Eric Komar and Peter and Ellen Allard.

An exhibition area within the conference offered educators a chance to examine and purchase the latest curricular materials, Judaic software, and artistic Judaica, as well as showcasing the work of a number of Jewish institutions of higher learning.

“For me, NewCAJE was a wonderful opportunity to connect with other Jewish educators who understand the importance of keeping Jewish education alive for people of all ages, preschoolers through adults,” said Bonnie Halprin of Congregation B’nai Israel. “New- CAJE will keep dialogue open for Jewish educators throughout the country and Canada.”

For further information, contact Halprin at bonhalp@aol.com or Roselyn Bell at roselynbe@aol. com.