Strengthening Our Educational Frameworks

Posted on 07/12/2024 @ 06:00 AM

Tags: CAJE Spotlight, Teen Education & Engagement, March of the Living

This past month, Carly Orshan, CAJE’s Director of Teen Engagement and Education, was privileged to join a group of exceptional national educators on a trip to Israel. Here is the second part of her reflections. Part one may be found here.

At CAJE we are continually seeking ways to enhance our educational frameworks and support Miami youth in their connection to Israel and their Jewish identity.

 

My recent educators’ trip provided valuable insights that will help shape our future initiatives.

 

A key takeaway from traveling to Israel was the importance of engaging our youth with their Jewish identity, especially as they transition to college.

 

Meeting with journalist Matti Friedman reinforced this, as he emphasized the necessity for young people to remain connected to their Jewish experiences— attending Shabbat dinners, Seders, and other Jewish traditions.

 

His recommendations align beautifully with CAJE’s focus this past year during our Leo Martin March of the Living program, where we encouraged high school seniors to understand and articulate why being Jewish is important to them.

 

As they face increasing marginalization due to antisemitism, this grounding in their heritage is more crucial than ever.

 

Educational efforts on antisemitism are equally significant. Matti's remarks about the need to define antisemitism resonated deeply.

 

This past year, CAJE dedicated significant efforts to crafting sessions for the March, Diller Teen Fellows and community synagogue programs that helped students discern the difference between criticism of Israel and antisemitism.

 

Utilizing Nathan Sharansky's 3D (Double standards, Delegitimization, Dehumanization) test as well as modern approaches, such as analyzing real social media content, we equipped our youth to navigate these complexities.

 

Additionally, the resilience witnessed from the people met— evacuees from Kibbutzim, survivors from Nova, heroes from Sderot, families of fallen soldiers, and hostages’ families— underscores the importance of sharing these stories. Their strength and determination are powerful reminders of the enduring spirit within our community.

 

As Jewish people and educators, it is a responsibility to bear witness and ensure that these narratives are passed on to our students. By doing so, we help students understand the depth of our history and the importance of standing together against adversity.


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Moving forward, our aim locally is to deepen our engagement with diverse narratives and perspectives.

 

In Israel, the group visited a bookstore in East Jerusalem which highlighted the importance of understanding the nuances within different communities.

 

Meeting with Mahmoud Muna provided a deeper understanding of the complexities within the Palestinian community. Additionally, hearing from a Bedouin woman who explained how the war has affected her community and the work she is doing to better educate women and help them advance was a significant narrative to hear and share.

 

Incorporating these perspectives into CAJE and the Miami community’s Israel educational programs will foster a more comprehensive understanding among students, preparing learners to have meaningful and knowledgeable dialogue with those who may disagree with them.

 

We have not only enhanced our institutional programs (IsraelNow, Diller Teen Fellows, March of the Living) with a more nuanced approach to Israel education but CAJE’s Teen Department has developed relevant content for Miami youth on topics such as Israel, Antisemitism, Social Media, and well-being which we will continue to do this coming year.

 

As CAJE continues to navigate these challenging times, our mission remains clear: to educate, inspire, and support our youth in their journey of Jewish discovery.

 

The resilience I witnessed in Israel serves as a powerful example of the strength and unity within our Jewish community.

 

CAJE will continue to build an educational framework that not only addresses the present challenges, but also prepares our youth for a future where they can proudly and confidently embrace their Jewish identity.


For more information, contact Carly Orshan carlyorshan@caje-miami.org To support CAJE’s Teen Programs and make a difference in Jewish teen education, CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT OUR WORK.