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Redefining Teacher Evaluation at the Cognia Conference

Jan 31, 2025

Redefining Teacher Evaluation at the Cognia Conference

The Cognia Impact Conference brings together educators, administrators, and thought leaders to discuss innovative strategies, share best practices, and explore the latest research in education. Craig Carpentieri, Chief Academic Officer at Scheck Hillel Community School in Miami, one of the 12 Federation-funded schools, was a featured presenter at the Cognia Impact Conference in Orlando on Jan 29-30. Cognia is a globally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational excellence through accreditation, assessment, and continuous improvement services.
A Powerful Experience: Diller Teen Fellows Visit the Nova Festival Exhibition

Jan 24, 2025

A Powerful Experience: Diller Teen Fellows Visit the Nova Festival Exhibition

Miami’s Diller Teen Fellows recently visited the Nova Music Festival Exhibition in Miami, a powerful and moving memorial tribute to the tragic events of October 7, 2023. Through multimedia displays, artifacts, photographs, and personal stories, the exhibit educates visitors about the terror attacks that devastated Israel and the global Jewish community, while highlighting the importance of resilience and remembrance. The Fellows were deeply impacted by the exhibit’s ability to bring these events to life and underscore the dangers of hatred and intolerance.
Introducing the CAJE Israel Corner

Jan 17, 2025

Introducing the CAJE Israel Corner

The Robert Russell Early Childhood Department of CAJE is excited to introduce you to the CAJE Israel Corner, a new initiative dedicated to deepening young families’ and teachers’ connections to Israel in meaningful and engaging ways. Each month beginning in November, we have been sharing a thought-provoking article designed to help parents and educators bring Israel into their classrooms and homes in developmentally appropriate ways.
Rabbi's Dispatch from Israel

Jan 10, 2025

Rabbi's Dispatch from Israel

“How was your vacation in Israel?” a friend asked. Ha! I wanted to laugh. It was in no way a vacation, especially with the Houthi alarm service (not recommended on Yelp!) waking us up every night of Chanukkah between 2-5am. How do people there deal with this?!? And by this, I mean more than missile attacks from Yemen every night (though that is certainly a large piece of the horror). We were staying in Beit Shemesh (midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv)…
Have You Bought Your Tickets Yet?

Jan 3, 2025

Have You Bought Your Tickets Yet?

While other film festivals this year have blacklisted Israeli films, some that are not even political, CAJE’s Miami Jewish Film Festival has taken on the responsibility of creating a home for hundreds of Jewish and Israeli stories. By amplifying voices of the Jewish diaspora from more than 20 countries, the MJFF helps to preserve and celebrate Jewish identity while standing as a powerful counterforce to the disinformation and antisemitism that often proliferates in the media and online.
Exploring Key Ideas with the Shalom Hartman Institute

Dec 20, 2024

Exploring Key Ideas with the Shalom Hartman Institute

This past Wednesday, CAJE was privileged to bring Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman to Temple Beth Am in Pinecrest for a conversation with Dr. Bella Tendler Krieger, CAJE’s Director of Adult Learning and Growth, as he reflected on a year of war in Israel and shared his thoughts about how we can work together to imagine a stronger, more vibrant Israel. As the president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, Donniel Hartman, a Modern Orthodox rabbi, has championed the idea that pluralism is not just an acceptance of differences but an active embrace of diverse perspectives within Jewish tradition and community life.
Diller’s Jewish Identity Shabbaton

Dec 13, 2024

Diller’s Jewish Identity Shabbaton

Imagine 19 teens from diverse schools and backgrounds coming together for a weekend of connection, reflection, and growth! That’s what Miami’s Diller Teen Fellows did recently by embarking on their first Shabbaton of the year focused on Jewish identity, which sets the stage for their year of leadership and self-discovery. The Diller Teen Fellows program is Miami’s premier leadership development initiative for Jewish teens entering grades 10 and 11.
Revolutionizing Jewish Day School Admissions: Fostering Collaboration Over Competition

Dec 6, 2024

Revolutionizing Jewish Day School Admissions: Fostering Collaboration Over Competition

Traditionally, Jewish day school admissions in South Florida were characterized by isolation and competition, with each school independently managing its own processes. The Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) in Miami has fundamentally reshaped this landscape by fostering a culture of collaboration, transforming what was once a fragmented system into a cohesive network of schools working together. This shift has not only streamlined admissions but also strengthened the entire Jewish educational community, making the process more equitable and transparent for families and schools alike.
Understanding Israel Today

Nov 29, 2024

Understanding Israel Today

October 7th has upended so much of what we thought we knew about Israel and our role as Jews in the United States. From the shaking of our assurance that Jews are safest in Israel, to the collapse of our confidence that antisemitism is a thing of the past in America, much of what we thought we knew about Israel and the Jewish people has been forced under scrutiny. The ever-evolving news cycle has been disorienting and the barrage of anti-Israel critique from international organizations and on college campuses has made some of us question whether we ever really made it as citizens of the world.
Igniting Inspiration and Creativity

Nov 22, 2024

Igniting Inspiration and Creativity

This past month, Yehudis Smith, Director of CAJE’s Robert Russell Early Childhood Department, traveled to the Capital Retreat Center in Waynesboro, PA, to attend The Paradigm Project’s annual early childhood education conference, a leading gathering of Jewish early childhood educators from across the country.