Tuesday Pictures
Wednesday Pictures
Thursday Pictures
Teen Leadership Kallah exposes teenagers to the best in Jewish teaching and learning, as well as to Jewish ideas and values.
The Schusterman College Program allows students to explore future opportunities in Jewish education, as professionals and lay leaders.
The Bogrim were full of ruach!
With Jewish Literacy the theme of the Conference, Pre-Conference sessions focused on “Shabbat as an Entry Point to Jewish Engagement, Learning and Literacy.”
And the Kavod L’Eliot Shabbat, celebrating his 26 years as CAJE Executive Director, was amazing. Those at Duke for the weekend enjoyed not only a powerful spiritual and intellectual experience, but also a witty late night post-Shabbat roasting and toasting Eliot.
Sunday afternoon, it was on to the main Conference!
The sign says it all! Photo by David Parker
Beginning at registration, everyone at the Conference is friendly.
Shabbat was welcomed with singing and dancing. photo by David Parker
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Jewish Literacy, spoke about Judaism's ethical teachings before candlelighting. photo by David Parker
At the Saturday night program, life-long Red Sox fan and CAJE Executive Director Eliot Spack gets a shirt emblazoned with his name and Ted William’s number. by David Parker
The Spack Family Singers serenade their father and grandfather. by David Parker
The food this year Southern cooking and all fresh. Check out this one small portion of a wall-long salad bar!
Choosing among 450 sessions is hard enough for those who have been at previous Conferences, let alone for a first-timer.
Even before the EXPO opened on Sunday, there was interest in the merchandise being set out for all to see. If you weren’t able to attend CAJE 31 or you want to contact a vendor once you return from Duke, click here..
The Mifgash program brings together educators from North America and Israel, as well as Europe, the FSU, and South America.
The first full day of the Conference was packed. Did you want do early morning meditation or take a nature as as shacharit alternative? How about "Spiritual Biographies for Jewish Literacy" -- engaging you in a personal exploration of how you relate to different aspects of your Judaism? Sessions on congregational school learning, early childhood education, teen programming, and adult education filled the hours. Sessions on Lashon Hara, Hallel, the Kaddish were offered -- and so were ones on a Jewish approach to Internet music, a drum circle to make holy music, and how Harry Potter can help us. Keynotes in the evening and great entertainment afterwards! Who cares if we get no sleep for a few days!
Shade of Harry Potter! The Duke dining room reminds me of something.....
Reading the newspaper might be a morning ritual at home, but at CAJE it's reading the daily CAJE Page, full of updates on sessions, meetings and receptions, and lost-and-found.
There were four new publications in the Conference teek -- a new issue of Jewish Education News,focusing on mentoring; an early childhood journal, a new chavruta book, talking about the evolution of Judaism; and a publication devoted to the importance of Jewish education and Jewish educators. If you weren't at the Conference, you'll be receiving them in the post-Conference mailing. Warn your mailman to watch for the heavy package!
Participants in the Teen Leadership Kallah travelled to the Eno Nature Reserve for a session on Judaism, the environment, and spirituality.
At a welcoming reception in his honor, incoming Executive Director Jeff Lasday holds "A Taste of J.E.F.F." candy bar, courtesy of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and its Jewish Experience for Families.
Engaging with other educators is an ongoing part of the Conference.
The week is flying by. There are so many sessions to choose from and so many places to network. All three floors of the EXPO are packed with wonderful merchandise. The food is good, the company great, the setting is beautiful, and there is so much information to bring home to colleagues.
A display helped Conference participants learn about the history of the Jews of the South.
They're packing them in at some sessions!
http://www.caje.org/learn/rapidresponse/fs_Israel_Sit_July2006.htmlAt a special meeting convened on the situation in Israel, Israel Education Network Chair Ed Snitkoff reads some material sent from Israel. For resources and curricular material about the situation, please click here.
Incoming CAJE Executive Director Jeff Lasday thanks Conference Chair Amy Ripps and Co-chair JoHanna Potts for their hard work.
Time to pack up the suitcases with all we've collected. Time to make sure that we have the phone numbers and e-mail addresses of all the colleagues we've met. Time to say goodbye to old friends and new. See you in St. Louis in 2007!
Staying in touch at the Conference is easy when you have your own laptop and there's wireless everywhere.
The EXPO vendors offered Conference participants a mid-afternoon snack -- two choices of ice cream!
Hands-on is better than looking online when it comes to deciding on educational material.
Israeli representatives from the Mifgash program presented incoming CAJE Executive Director Jeff Lasday with a photo montage of his previous interactions with the group.
It’s always nice to sit down and catch up with old friends.
CAJE President Iris Petroff and CAJE 32 Chair Peter Eckstein synchronize their cellphones.
See you in St. Louis!