Breakout Session #3 - 1:00 PM PST
TITLE: "If I Am For Myself Alone, What Am I?" - The Power of Self-Introduction in Fostering Connections and Cultivating Jewish Pride
PRESENTERS: Tzedek America - Tanae Denean Eskridge & Randall Fried
DESCRIPTION: Brachot 58a says we should learn from the wisdom of other nations. How can we use this concept to enrich our Jewish community and sense of pride? This workshop is about being proud of Jewish identity while understanding the significance of building bridges. A non-Black Jewish educator and a local Black youth minister will lead this workshop. This workshop goes beyond racial discourse to explore the depth of forging connections with our neighbors and how that strengthens and nurtures robust Jewish identity. Being confident in your own identity can create a sense of safety, trust, and respect in relationships.
TITLE: Conflicts of Interest: An Introduction
PRESENTER: I-Center - Dan Tatar & Michael Soberman
DESCRIPTION: Conflicts are an essential part of the human experience ranging in scale from the individual to the communal to the global. Engaging with conflicts is one life’s defining challenges—particularly for educators who are tasked with transforming these moments of uncertainty into moments of opportunity. In essence, education is the art of turning conflict into growth. Join us for an introduction to, and taste of, the guiding principles and approaches to conflict education.
TITLE: Wellbeing and Jewish Identity - How Adults Can Support Teens Through Turbulent Times
PRESENTER: Moving Traditions - Rabbi Daniel Brenner
DESCRIPTION: Core to Maimonidies' perspective on wellbeing is the idea of personal balance - and the belief that each person has a different disposition and unique path towards finding balance. This session of learning and fellowship is for all educators who work with teens, but especially for those who are interested in Jewish approaches to wellbeing that help young people to look inward, and explore identity from multiple angles. Educators will have time to speak with one another, reflect on the rollercoaster of emotions teens are bringing into Jewish spaces, and come away with new tools for supporting mental, psychological, and spiritual health.
TITLE: Israel Education: How to Navigate the Difficult Conversations in a Practical Way
PRESENTER: OpenDor Media - Yoni Buckman
DESCRIPTION: This session will outline the challenges that exist in Israel education today and why a new approach is needed. Educators will learn practical strategies on how to confidently lean into the nuance and complexity of teaching about Israel, as well as how to use Unpacked for Educator's videos, content, and educational resources to achieve these goals. This session is geared for educators 6th grade and up.
TITLE: Examining Student Thinking about October 7th and Its Aftermath
PRESENTERS: Dr. Sivan Zakai & Dr. Lauren Applebaum
DESCRIPTION: Facilitated by Dr. Lauren Applebaum, the Director of DeLeT Programs at HUC-JIR, and Dr. Sivan Zakai, the Sara S. Lee associate professor of Jewish Education at HUC-JIR. How do Jewish children think about the events of October 7th, the Israel-Hamas war, the ongoing hostage situation, and the rise of antisemitism in the US? In this session, we will examine transcripts of children from both day and supplementary schools thinking about this question. We'll consider: what do children say? What do children's words reveal about their thoughts, questions, and concerns about world events? And what do children's ideas mean for our own practice as educators?
TITLE: Mental Health Open Discussion facilitated by JFS
PRESENTERS: JFS Professional Staff
DESCRIPTION: A facilitated discussion for mental health professionals