Let me go home, please! (SCP Blog)

I went to bed last night grateful that I was going home today and now on a flight back to Toronto, I am thankful that this conference is over. I am so overwhelmed by the wealth of information I’ve collected over the past seven days that I just can’t take another day of it; my notebook and brain are full. I have sheets of contacts and suggestions for my education projects, at least 30 business cards complete with notes scratched on the back, and tips to myself on how to further relationships in the best way possible. I’m excited for what’s to come.

My last full day of at CAJE was spent well – I checked out David Bryfman’s session on making Israel a central part of Jewish Identity. I couldn’t leave the conference without hearing Peninnah Schram tell a story, and I attended one of her master classes to that end – she is a remarkably approachable and insightful woman. Idle Benjamin’s session on learning disabilities was useful too.

The highlight of the day however was the series of concerts that evening, including Rick Recht’s during which he brought the youth program participants on stage with him. We got a chance to see some new Jewish performers as well – Sheldon Low and Todd Herzog.

It’s been fantastic. To those that I’ve had the chance to speak to – thank you for your help and motivation. To those I haven’t – see you next year in Vermont!

Professional Conferences for Professional Amateurs

I had a blinding realization this afternoon when it occurred to me that it’s Tuesday – and my flight leaves on Thursday afternoon. I’m not ready to go home. Although I’ve attended lots of learning sessions within the context of SCP, and a few other interesting sessions since Sunday morning, I haven’t gone to as many as I’d planned to. The reality of CAJE is that unless I figure out a way to clone myself (or send spies into all the interesting sessions), I have to make decisions about what i’m interested in, and then follow through by walking across the campus and sitting down in a lecture hall. The same thing can be said about narrowing down my choices about professional opportunities in the field of Jewish education.

Until I got to CAJE, I had no idea that so many options existed for future careers! To be perfectly honest, I hadn’t planned on a career in Jewish education to start with – I was planning to work in a very different field completely unrelated to anything Jewish! But now I’m here. And I’ve heard about the joys (and the pitfalls) of working in a rewarding field like Jewish Education – but questions remain: how do I take the knowledge that I’ve learned and integrate it to enable me to work in Jewish Education? How do I stay sane working in a field that can be very challenging at times? And how do I weigh the costs and benefits of working in a profession that at times appears to have very few perks and lots of challenges – especially when the salary at times (and especially when starting out) leaves much to be desired?

I highly doubt that I will leave CAJE on Thursday afternoon with answers. Rather, I believe that over the next several months, these questions will be the basis (or building blocks if you will) for a very personal internal conversation about what my personal and professional goals are (and should be) in relation to Jewish education. I do believe that my relationship with my mentor, along with the relationships I’ve built and developed with fellow SCP participants, staff and other CAJE members will enable me to work through these very challenging issues. If there’s anything I’ve learned while at CAJE this week, it’s that when a question is asked, generally, I don’t have an answer. Instead, I have 5 more questions in response, and it’s these questions that enable me to start thinking more critically about education, Judaism and my role in Jewish Education.

We’re in the News

We found ourselves in the St. Louis Today today!

Click here to check out the article!

The Golden Opportunity (SCP Blog)

This has been a ridiculous few days. With this entry, I mean to convey the hardly-imaginable kind of opportunities that have been available here for me — I am truly beside myself at what I have been able to do this past four days, and only two since the main conference began. In that time, I’ve formed an introductory understanding about various types of Jewish education and the serious issues educators are dealing with — from the very people that experience them. I’ve learned about this issue broadly with conference sessions on the subject, and more intimately with speakers like Jeff Lasday, Iris Schwartz and Peter Eckstein. I’ve had instruction on how to teach Jewishly from Fran Perlman, a first time for me as most of my experience has been in programing and participation. I’ve explored graduate options through the opportunity fairs here, even in one case sitting down with the Dean of the Fingerhut School of Education at the American Jewish University for an hour long one-on-one discussion.

Particularly exciting to me has been the progress I’ve been able to make with an program I’m developing. I’m working on a scuba-diving Israel-trip educational add-on program (better program title coming soon), and networking at CAJE for that purpose has been a priority for me. Let me take this opportunity now and say that there can’t be a better place to network within the field of Jewish programming and education like CAJE — it’s way too easy here. Due to the sheer number of Jewish educators and organizations that are here, most networking referrals are to participants in the conference. No phone introductions — it’s a face-to-face process here, and those I’ve already met are able to personally introduce me to their recommended people-to-talk-to — its been extraordinary. I’m not prepared to leave just yet, but when I do, I’ll be ready to continue my relationship with the JNF, Oranim, Israel Experts, and other organizations I’ve met while here. This place is a golden opportunity.

Yesterday I caught a neat* session with Joel Grishaver on his revolutionary approach to teaching Talmud, and also listened to the extraordinary Joel Hoffman as he destroyed (I mean this in a positive way) my perception of Hebrew as a relatively historically intact language, and explored Jewish-religious influence on language.

Today, among other sessions, I heard Lori Erickson demonstrate “Teaching Science Jewishly”. Although it was focused on early-childhood and not terribly relevant for my particular needs, it was great fun and we will be speaking later on about ideas she has for the age group I’m looking for in my program.

This afternoon Daniel Siegel gave me some of his time to discuss texts for my program, and I had dinner with emerging Jewish musician Todd Herzog. He’s performing his acoustic Jewish pop music tomorrow night in the Mallinckrodt building — it was interesting to hear his journey becoming a Jewish artist, and you’ll definitely find me there tomorrow.

*commentary from another SCP Fellow: Jonathan is soooo Canadian!!! Who says “neat”? I suppose this may be why we love him. That or his ridiculously good looks.

Check out these SCP photos!

Lori Erickson demonstrates “Teaching Science Jewishly”

Sunday… The fun stuff begins!

After coming down from the spiritual high of Shabbat, a part of me was set up to be disappointed with the programming planned for today. My thinking couldn’t have been any more wrong! Jeff Lasday spent an hour with us discussing the benefits of being Jewish educators (among them the high regard held by students and parents, the feeling of being able to assist in changing the world – one student at a time, and ultimately, knowing that students are the future of our world and we are able to do our part in being able to help shape that future) – and I had a precious moment to reflect on some of my favorite (and not so favorite) teachers and educators that I’ve had over my years as a student.

We followed through on that notion this afternoon when we had the opportunity to do our first real bit of professional networking. A group of veteran educators met us in our lounge and we spent some time discussing our own areas of interest and how mentorship could further our professional goals.

As a young Jewish educator, mentorship is a new and exciting concept. I have not had the opportunity to network with many seasoned professionals working in an area similar to that which I am working in (informal education and congregational program planning). Being able to sit down and discuss strategies, best practises and tools of the trade with a educational veteran was a privilege. The more I think about my own experiences in the Jewish day school system, the more I realise that part of my success came from my connection with my teachers – educators who were stakeholders in their students’ successes (and failures). Similarly, understanding the needs of learners in an informal education environment means that an educator is better able to connect with the learner while establishing rapport and ultimately, better understanding the true needs of that particular cohort of students.

In other news… We have now been at Wash U for 3 1/2 days – it seems like much longer, though! I only wish that there was more time to continue building lasting relationships with other SCP participants (current peers) and other Jewish professionals (future colleagues). Tomorrow we move into the “real deal” – CAJE proper begins, and the fun starts with sessions, EXPO and learning of all kinds. In the meantime though, we SCP’ers are enjoying each other’s company, our yellow shirts, and all of the excitement that comes with being on a college campus with 1300 equally interested and excited Jewish Educators…

Shabbat at CAJE (SCP Blog)

Just having returned from a year of study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, I was sure I would never again have as many easily accessible options for Shabbat services as I did in Jerusalem. I was delighted to have such a wide spectrum to choose from at CAJE. I ended up joining Art Green and Ebn Leader as they led a “Neo-Hasidic Kabbalat Shabbat”. We actually left the building during the last verse of Lecha Dodi, to greet the Shabbat Bride outside — it was a nice addition to the service.

I’ve also been trying to get to as many of Amichai Lau-Lavie and Peter Pitzele’s “Storahtelling” sessions as I can. I’m in love with the interaction they inspire from those who join them for their sessions and services. I have never been to a Mincha like their’s this afternoon. One rarely, if ever – in fact I think pretty much never – sees torah come to life, dramatized in a service. It’s intimate in a way I’ve never experienced in a service.

After Havdalah this afternoon, the SCP and Teen Leadership Kallah groups painted a mural together for the CAJE community. Paint wars did occur, and I think we’re all ready to shower and get to bed.

Singing

Thursday’s Ice Breaker