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Summer in Jerusalem Pt. 3: The Brothers from Shuva

Sep 20, 2024

Summer in Jerusalem Pt. 3: The Brothers from Shuva

Over the last few weeks, I have been sharing vignettes from my five-week stint in Jerusalem studying at the Hartman Institute… Through my short stories, I tried to open a window into the Israeli experience, to capture a snapshot of the compassion, resilience, and ingenuity I encountered in Israel, despite the ever-present grief and fear of this past difficult year. Here is the final installment of my Summer in Jerusalem series: “The Brothers from Shuva.” - Dr. Bella Tendler Krieger, CAJE’s Director of Adult Learning and Growth
Spotlight on Mark Kravitz, Newly Appointed Board Chair

Sep 13, 2024

Spotlight on Mark Kravitz, Newly Appointed Board Chair

As the newly appointed Chair of The Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE), Mark Kravitz is eager to bring his passion for Jewish learning front and center. In a post-10/7 world, Kravitz knows now is the time to reevaluate, reenergize and redefine Jewish education, and Miami is the place to do it. “We must meet the moment and respond to Jews where they are today and education has always been the way to do that,”
Summer in Jerusalem Pt. 2: Food for the Soul

Sep 6, 2024

Summer in Jerusalem Pt. 2: Food for the Soul

One afternoon, my cohort at Hartman was invited to the home of Nissimmi Naim Naor for some therapeutic baking. Nissimmi, a celebrated Israeli chef, had just completed his rabbinical training, and our program directors thought we could learn a thing or two from a rabbi-chef. As we climbed the steps to his apartment, the most incredible scent of baking bread wafted towards us. We followed our noses to his front door, where he waited, bearded, aproned, and grinning contagiously.
Summer in Jerusalem Pt. 1: Flowers for Karina

Aug 30, 2024

Summer in Jerusalem Pt. 1: Flowers for Karina

There was an oversized banner of Karina Ariev, a 19-year-old hostage, hanging on the street outside my apartment in Baka. It read, “Karina, we are waiting for you, and for all the hostages, at home.” The poster was not unusual. Most of the wall space in Jerusalem, not to mention, the billboards and street signs, were plastered with images of the abducted Israelis. But this poster was very large and, hanging at a busy pedestrian intersection I passed several times daily, made a particular impression on me.
Spotlight on Marian Kruss, March of the Living Chair

Aug 23, 2024

Spotlight on Marian Kruss, March of the Living Chair

The March of the Living has always been a cornerstone for strengthening Jewish and Zionist identity, which is extremely important to me. The Leo Martin Miami March is our insurance policy that prepares the next generation of leaders to strengthen their Jewish identity, remember the Holocaust, act as witnesses, connect with Israel, and respond to intolerance and antisemitism.
Spotlight on Annette Raij, ECEE Chair

Aug 16, 2024

Spotlight on Annette Raij, ECEE Chair

“When children are young, their ideas of being Jewish are formed through songs and art, so if they have a Jewish education that is authentic and not just glorified babysitting, then they will actually build those core memories early on. Those songs and Jewish memories from their early years become so deeply embedded and woven into the fabric of their identities that they know nothing other than how to be tall and proud Jews.”
4 Gifts My Jewish Education Has Given Me

Aug 9, 2024

4 Gifts My Jewish Education Has Given Me

My grandparents grew up on the Lower East Side in a time when Jewish schools did not exist. My grandmother painstakingly taught herself to read Hebrew and though she could follow the Torah reading in shul, she always wished she could truly understand the words. When I graduated from my Jewish elementary school, my parents gave me a choice between a public high school and a Jewish one. I could hear my grandmother’s voice as I visited the public school in eighth grade. “Education is the most important gift you will ever receive. The world can take a lot from you, but they can never take away what you have learned.”
ElevatEd Launches at @CAJE Miami: A National Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative

Aug 2, 2024

ElevatEd Launches at @CAJE Miami: A National Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative

CAJE is thrilled to announce our participation in ElevatEd, the groundbreaking initiative to transform the field of early childhood Jewish education by addressing the critical shortage of early childcare teachers.
Diller Fellows Discover Spain: A Transformative Leadership Journey

Jul 26, 2024

Diller Fellows Discover Spain: A Transformative Leadership Journey

This year, CAJE’s Diller Teen Fellows demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation by transforming its traditional three-week Israel Summer Seminar (ISS) into an impactful one-week seminar in Spain. This shift, necessitated by the situation in Israel, did not diminish the profound experience our Fellows had. Instead, it opened new avenues for exploring Jewish pride, global networking, and maintaining a strong connection to Israel and our partnership community in Yerucham.
Zionism Unpacked: Six Paths to the Jewish Homeland

Jul 19, 2024

Zionism Unpacked: Six Paths to the Jewish Homeland

Zionism, the ideological cornerstone of the modern state of Israel, encompasses a rich tapestry of beliefs, visions, and historical contexts. By exploring the diverse ideologies that have shaped Zionist thought — from political pragmatism to cultural revivalism — individuals can gain more appreciation for Israel’s complexities and foster a deeper understanding of its significance within Jewish collective consciousness.