David Bryfman: Re-imagining Jewish Education for Tomorrow
Posted on 11/28/2025 @ 05:00 AM
By Bella Tendler Krieger,
Director of CAJE’s Adult Learning
If you’re looking for a leader who is reshaping how Jewish life and learning meet the world of tomorrow, no one is more worth watching than David Bryfman.
As CEO of The Jewish Education Project (JEP) — a national organization that helps educators and communities reimagine and innovate Jewish learning for the modern age — he is not simply preserving Jewish education; he is boldly rewriting what it can be in the 21st century.
Soon you’ll have an opportunity to hear from him in-person (see below).
A Global Educator with Big Ideas
Bryfman holds a Ph.D. in Education and Jewish Studies from New York University, where his research focused on how Jewish adolescents build identity.
Before stepping into his current role, he worked across three continents — formal and informal settings in Australia, Israel, and North America.
Under his leadership, JEP has launched some of the most innovative initiatives in American Jewish life. Among them:
- RootOne, a transformative teen Israel-experience program
- GenZ Now, the most comprehensive study ever conducted on Jewish teens
- The “Adapting” podcast, where Bryfman hosts conversations with top thinkers re-envisioning Jewish learning
Bryfman isn’t afraid of the hard questions — the questions that many prefer to sideline.
What happens when young Jews don’t feel at home in traditional institutions?
How can Jewish education move from reaction to purpose?
How do we teach about Israel when the global climate has shifted so dramatically?
Why He Matters Right Now
In a time when Jewish affiliation is shifting and young people are asking, “What does being Jewish mean for me?”, Bryfman is an influential voice helping congregations, day schools, and Jewish organizations ask new questions and try new approaches.
He’s bridging tradition with innovation — helping Jewish education adapt rather than be left behind.
His work resonates because it says: Jewish education isn’t just about transmitting what was done in the past. It’s about helping Jews—and Jewish-adjacent families—build lives of meaning, connection, and purpose.
A Night to Celebrate Jewish Educators!
CAJE Adult Learning is thrilled to welcome Dr. David Bryfman as the featured speaker for our next SAGES in the 305 lecture series — an evening dedicated to honoring and uplifting the extraordinary educators who shape Jewish life every single day.
Tuesday, December 16 | 7:00 - 9:00 PM
(The 3rd night of Chanukkah)
Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus
Registration required. No cost to attend.
Topic: The Future of Israel Education in a Post–October 7 World
In a single day, Israel and the Jewish people were forever changed. As a result, the way we teach and learn about Israel must evolve. In a world increasingly filled with anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric, sometimes escalating into violence, Israel education can no longer be reactive. How, then, can we begin to think differently about Israel education in light of the new realities we face today?
The evening will also feature: Live music from the South Florida Symphony Orchestra, Chanukkah candle-lighting and Sufganiyot (jelly donuts) for all!
This promises to be a landmark event — a chance to hear and engage with one of Jewish education’s most dynamic voices at a time when his insights matter more than ever.
RSVP at CAJE-Miami-org/BRYFMAN
SAGES in the 305 is sponsored by the Ganz Family Foundation
in loving memory of Charlie Ganz z”l.
Presented by CAJE-Miami, The Greater Miami Jewish Federation and Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus.
For more information, contact Bella Tendler Krieger
