Blog

On January 12, a sold-out crowd gathered at Sinai Temple for BJE’s annual gala, honoring four exceptional builders of Jewish education – Cheryl Weisberg Davidson, Marlynn and Rabbi Elliot Dorff, and Craig Rutenberg. Attendees, from across the Los Angeles area, represented a broad spectrum of Jewish life. The event helped raise funds to support BJE and its teen experiential programs which engage youth in action and reflection based on Jewish values of helping those in need.

In the fall, BJE welcomed two educators to its professional staff - Experiential Educator Michal Kress and Early Childhood Education Specialist Carly Rosenstein. Both natives of Los Angeles, Michal and Carly bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to BJE. Each has already begun making significant impact through their work at BJE. 

Ever wonder how your teachers get so smart? Well, we can’t take all the credit, but BJE does provide ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers in day schools, early childhood and part-time Jewish schools. Read on for more information about some of the varied programs available to teachers in Jewish schools just this fall!

On Sunday, October 6, more than 80 people gathered at the Japanese Garden in Balboa Park for BJE’s fall Day of Service Learning. Hosted by BJE’s JKidLA and PJ Library, the event was part of BJE’s semi-annual service learning program offered to the community.

BJE was fortunate to have four outstanding interns this summer – meet Abby, Noah, Sophie and Yonina!

Rising 12th graders Abby Shane, of Palos Verdes High School, Noah Weiss, of Calabasas High School, and Sophie Shorten, rising 11th grader at de Toledo High School, joined BJE through the Jewish Federation’s Community Internship Program, part of the LA Jewish Teen Initiative. Participants worked four days a week, and met as a group on Fridays for skill-building in areas such a communication and professional development.

The 2019 winners of BJE's Lainer and Smotrich Awards have been named. The awards are made to educators working in after school or supplemental religious school programs in the Los Angeles area. These awards are made possible through an endowment established by the late Simha and Sara Lainer and the generosity of the Smotrich Family Foundation.

This week, BJE-affiliated day schools were engaged in the important work of leadership development and skills building, facilitated by Rae Ringel, a faculty member at the Georgetown University Institute for Transformational Leadership and a leading expert in fundraising, board development and communication. 

I’m a product of the Reform Movement and have been blessed to have a variety of meaningful moments and experiences that have led me to where I am today. My mom is a Reform rabbi, which naturally meant that we were very engaged in the Jewish community. I was active in NFTY (the Reform Jewish Youth Movement), and was what I like to call “summer camp adjacent,” with so many friends who were devoted campers. In college, I was active in Hillel.