CAJE News

For close to 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of serving this community — first at Temple Beth Am and now for more than two decades at CAJE. From the start, I was drawn to CAJE’s mission of strengthening Jewish education across the community. Over the years I’ve worn many hats at CAJE, but I found my place in the area of professional development. That passion has led me to work with leading organizations like the Jewish New Teacher Project and Learning Forward because I believe the best way to build strong schools is by supporting its professionals. I have seen through my work that when we invest in educators, the ripple effect on children, families, and communities is exponential. And speaking of families, I am proud that my own children are products of Miami Jewish day schools. - Valerie Mitrani

There is nothing more powerful than looking into the eyes of a Survivor and hearing, “I was there.” Soon, that moment will no longer be possible. Our teens are the last generation who can hear history from the people who lived it. That opportunity is precious, and it is disappearing. Earlier this year, Future of Jewish reflected on the urgency of Holocaust education. With fewer than 200,000 Survivors remaining worldwide and many unable to travel, the article reminds us that we are now responsible for ensuring the next generation understands not only what was lost, but what continues to endure.

This week we shine the CAJE Summer Spotlight on local Early Childhood Educator Romina Naparstek, co-creator of Matzati a fun and enriching game that brings Israel to life for people of all ages from preschoolers to adults. Romina is an example of the innovation coming from our Jewish Early Childhood community, she is among the caring, talented, mission-driven people who are constantly seeking to improve themselves and the world. Let’s together celebrate the teacher leaders and directors who are the foundation of our Jewish community!

A Reform rabbi, a Conservative rabbi, and an Orthodox educator walk into a virtual room. Nope, it’s not the start of a joke; it’s the beginning of something groundbreaking! Meet Wisdom Without Walls: an online salon for Jewish ideas — the brainchild of three powerhouse Jewish thinkers — Dr. Sandra Lilienthal (Covenant Foundation awardee and beloved adult educator), Rabbi Ed Feinstein (brilliant storyteller and thought leader), and Rabbi Jeff Salkin (prolific writer and one of the most quoted rabbis in the U.S.). Together, they tear down the silos within the Jewish world and build something new: a vibrant space for real conversation across denominations, backgrounds, and borders.

When people ask how I found myself at CAJE, I usually smile and say, “It was the natural next step.” But the truth is, this journey began long before job titles, consulting work, or doctoral programs. It began in a public high school classroom in Tampa - with bagels, orange juice, and a lot of heart. I was raised in a family of six by traditional Jewish South African parents who instilled in us a deep sense of pride in our Jewish identity. We didn’t attend Jewish day school, but Judaism was part of everything - Shabbat dinners, Hebrew school, Israel bonds tucked into birthday cards. In high school, I became president of the Jewish Awareness Club. Every meeting came with “bagels and Jews” - a playful misprint that stuck, and one that reflected the joy and authenticity of our gatherings.

What was originally intended to be a transformative summer journey to Israel became something entirely unexpected, but still very meaningful for CAJE’s Diller Teen Fellows. Due to several factors, including the ongoing war in Gaza and the Iranian missile attacks in June, the Helen Diller Foundation, a San Francisco-based Foundation that provides funding and overall vision for the program, decided to cancel the Diller Program’s International Summer Seminar in Israel this year… Rather than letting disappointment define the moment, the teens embraced a new opportunity for growth, connection, and community during a powerful four-day seminar in Chicago.

When people ask how I ended up at CAJE, I usually say, “It was the right fit at the right time.” But the truth is, this journey started long before I had a title or a team. I grew up in Miami (South Dade) in a home grounded in Reform Jewish life, where Friday night Shabbat dinners were non-negotiable and Jewish learning was something that happened both at the dinner table and in the world around me. Each week, my family would go around and share the most memorable parts of our week — a simple ritual that made time slow down and brought us closer to each other. We still do this today (virtually) with my immediate and extended family each week… Jewish life was seamlessly woven into the everyday — so much so that I never thought to separate it from who I was.

While most teachers were starting their summer vacations in Florida, Lee Levy-Friedman, a beloved Early Childhood teacher at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach, packed her bags and flew to Israel — to volunteer as the war continued and amid the unexpected escalation with Iran. Lee traveled to Israel at the end of June as part of a grassroots effort led by Livnot U’Lehibanot ("To Build and To Be Built"), an Israeli nonprofit that’s been combining service, spirituality, and Jewish learning for over 45 years. Since October 7th, Livnot has restored more than 300 homes and public buildings in the Gaza Envelope and northern border communities.