CAJE Blog

In the aftermath of October 7th, amidst heightened antisemitism and anti-Zionism, Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Hazikaron hold deeper significance than ever before. Many Jews are asking: How can we celebrate when so many are suffering? How can we remember the trauma of our past, while we’re still experiencing it? How can we capture the heartbreak we have experienced while at the same time, highlighting the gratitude we feel? This past week, CAJE presented a pivotal webinar focused on empowering our Jewish institutions and professionals to innovate in how they commemorate of Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Hazikaron.

On March 18th, Rabbi Efrat Zarren-Zohar, the Executive Director of CAJE, was invited to teach a lesson on leadership to Federation’s Elevate Leadership South Dade Cohort, a six-part leadership program for emerging leaders in South Dade. The program was designed to give the next generation the strategic and tactical leadership skills they need to succeed. Rabbi Zarren-Zohar created a lesson entitled “To Be a Jewish Leader: Striving for a Lev Shomea (Listening Heart)” and co-taught it with Rabbi Judith Kempler.

October 7 altered our world as we know it. In Jewish day schools, guidance counselors and psychologists were busier than ever dealing with students who had siblings and/or parents serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, teachers whose children were also in the IDF and/or whose spouses had been called to reserves… In Miami, the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) had already created the infrastructure to support our school counselors and psychologists before there was an unprecedented need.

For centuries, the themes of the Passover seder has served as a beacon of hope and resilience in times of uncertainty. The seder experience transcends mere ritualistic observance; it is a dynamic educational opportunity that invites participants to engage with timeless themes and teachings in the context in which we find ourselves.

Recently, Diller Miami Cohort 11 spent the weekend learning and growing as leaders and Jews during their “Leadership Shabbaton,” which the Fellows planned almost entirely by themselves. Diller Fellows are all in 10th or 11th grade and commit to a year-long exploration of leadership skills, Jewish values, tikkun olam, and connection to Israel. The weekend included pluralistic Shabbat experiences, team building, and text study.

This past Monday evening marked the launch of CAJE’s newest Early Childhood Education initiative: Monthly Teacher Support Nights. At CAJE, we are committed to nurturing excellence in early childhood education through supporting our network of early childhood educators. Teacher support is paramount to creating enriching learning environments for our children and decreases teacher burnout and turnover.

Originating in Chicago, IsraelNow offers a transformative and enriching experience for Jewish 8th graders in Miami-Dade public schools or non-Jewish private schools over Spring Break. It serves as an immersive and guided journey, imparting knowledge about both themselves and their heritage. The primary goals for the program include developing Ahavat Yisrael, a connection to the land, state, and people of Israel, strengthening the teen Jewish peer social networks, and building their Jewish self-confidence.

Rabbi Daniel S. Brenner, Vice President of Education at Moving Traditions and Miami’s Scholar in Residence for the first weekend in February as part of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s BeWell Miami initiative, recently led an engaging program tailored for professionals in CAJE’s networks.