Parent Education: CAJE’s Day School Parent Program
Posted on 04/04/2025 @ 06:00 AM
Dr. Bella Tendler Krieger, Director of CAJE Adult Learning (2nd from right), presents Parent Ed for Day School families at the JLA School.
Parents of school-aged children are among the most underserved when it comes to Jewish educational programming, despite their vital role in shaping the next generation’s identity.
While there are countless learning opportunities for students, young professionals, and retirees, few programs address the unique challenges parents face — like raising Jewish children in an increasingly secular world or integrating Jewish values into daily life.
Dr. Bella Tendler Krieger, Director of CAJE Adult Learning: The Center for Jewish Ideas and Engagement and a day school parent of three daughters herself, understood that expanding Jewish learning to be more accessible to day school parents would both strengthen their own personal connections to Judaism and empower them to be better role models of lifelong learning to their children, thereby enriching their families and the broader community.
Why Day School Parents?
It’s true that day school parents are already investing significant resources to ensure their children receive a strong Jewish education and are thus likely more committed to Jewish life overall.
And still, parents often need and want their own opportunities for growth and connection to their peers. Many do not have a strong Jewish education themselves but wish they knew more.
While their busy schedules make it hard to commit to regular learning, parents are frequently present on campus. So why not meet them where they are?
Innovative Learning in Action
This past fall, CAJE partnered with the Jewish Leadership Academy, a new Jewish Day School that challenges our most ambitious students academically while inspiring them to live a life of service to others, to offer an opportunity for parents to learn together at the school.
First, Dr. Krieger piloted a two-part course, Mahloket Le-Shem Shamayim: The Jewish Value of Debate, together with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies.
Timed around the 2024 presidential election, the course explored Jewish approaches to constructive disagreement, equipping parents with tools to navigate divisive times.
Building on that success, she introduced a six-part course, History of Hatred: The Ever-Present Threat of Antisemitism, developed by the Melton School of Adult Jewish Studies.
Scheduled right after drop-off on Friday mornings, the class has been a tremendous hit — where parents not only engage in meaningful discussions, but often linger over coffee, continuing their conversations before rushing back to their busy lives.
Looking for a Few More Schools
Below are a few testimonials from participating parents.
Fall Testimonials
CAJE offered thought-provoking, meaningful engagement with a topic that we have all been struggling with. Dr. Tendler Krieger took our parents through stimulating material and deepened our ability to connect with each other around topics that often create disconnection. Thank you CAJE and Dr. Tendler Krieger for enhancing our community! ~Rabbi Yechiel Shaffer, JLA Campus Rabbi
This was an extremely insightful experience! I appreciate the way in which classes like this allow us to open our minds and to create respectful debate. ~Kevin Sadovnik, JLA Parent
Both sessions have been extremely helpful in dealing with what is going on in our current society, the division between political groups, in understanding what the Jewish view is on debate, and opening my mind to other ways of seeing the world. ~Anonymous, JLA Parent
Spring Testimonials
An excellent course with fascinating material, expertly facilitated by Dr. Bella Tendler Krieger. The program is perfectly pitched at all knowledge levels and well-paced. It was particularly meaningful to be able to take this course at my child’s school with other parents. Highly recommended! ~Anna Shields-Bartfeld, JLA Parent and Board Member
This Class has been a wonderful learning experience, as Bella guides us deftly through engaging texts and complicated histories to a better understanding of the origins and implications of antisemitism. As a JLA parent I’ve found this experience to be invaluable in giving me a better foundation with which to talk about these topics with my children and help them on their educational journey. ~Sara Liss, JLA Parent
CAJE is eager to expand this program to more day schools across Miami!
If you're interested in bringing this opportunity to your school for the Fall 2025 semester, please reach out to Dr. Bella Tendler Krieger at bellatkrieger@caje-miami.org.
