Feeling renewed at NewCAJE...

NewCAJE offers networking, fun, an opportunity to deepen your Jewish knowledge and to increase your professional expertise in Jewish education by learning from other educators in the field of Jewish education. I was honored to participate in the opening ceremonies of the 2011 NewCAJE Conference.  Here's my description of my experiences:

It was wonderful to be among such a gifted group of leaders: Marge [Eiseman] sang everyone into the room to gather. Her melodious voice and minstrel spirit were inviting and welcoming. In a few short minutes, she had gathered 200 people together. Cherie Koller-Fox did a beautiful welcoming, setting the intention for out time together both then and throughout the conference. She shared her vision, inviting everyone to join her in creating a communal sacred space. I did the meditation calling ourselves in. Nancy Katz led a very interactive piece where everyone got into small groups and created colorful lists of words about their hopes, dreams, visions for Jewish education at its best. It was noisy, and full of sharing, passionate conversations. The words were all gathered up to make a "wordle," a design using the words at different angles to create a pictographic idea about Jewish education! From there I led us back into the individual realm, and participants wrote their own personal prayers for Jewish education. Then, because Judaism is a communal experience, particularly around the idea of prayer, I had everyone trade their prayers with someone else. Then they traded with 5 more people for a total of 6 trades. Then I asked everyone to pray the prayer they now held in their hands, and to keep the prayer in their name-tag holder, close to their heart, and to read it and share it and talk about it with others throughout our time together, so that these individual prayers become a communal reality. Cherie Koller-Fox  and Ken Cohen then led us through a blessing where we blessed each other, and then received a blessing from them for our time together to be full of all things wonderful and sacred and, and peaceful, and holy. Marge [Eiseman] then led us in rounds of Oseh Shalom to close our circle. It was a very powerful, moving, welcoming experience, and I am truly honored to have been a part of creating sacred space.

The NewCAJE Conference brings together Jewish educators to share the best of Jewish education in theory and in practice. On Monday, I taught a class entitled: Jewish Spiritual Direction for Teachers: A Step on Your Journey with my good friend, Marge Eiseman. Here's the class description:

"Birth is a beginning; death a destination and life is a journey, lived on the way..." But how many of us were taught how to make this journey a life of meaning and purpose? And, can we teach this to our students? Is there a way to live and learn that can make the practice of teaching Judaism feel sacred and holy to us? Music, prayer, art, poetry, movement and meditation have been tools for enriching the spiritual life of Jews (and in this setting, Jewish teachers), and we will sample these during a session that just might change your life!

And here's my experience:

It is delightful to once again be in a place of connection and community, to study and learn together with such dedicated, passionate folk. I love the AHA moments, the times of sacred space and deep connection. I appreciate all the positive, supportive energy from everyone for the work I do; and I am grateful to be able to be authentically myself, and have that be enough! I love spending this time with my friends, old and new! I am feeling truly blessed!

Teaching today with Marge [Eiseman] was amazing, as usual. Using the Sh'ma as the foundational text we practiced breathing exercises to center and ground us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Then we did some wonderful chevruta (paired) text study to parse out and expand the translation of the Sh'ma, bringing our own unique interpretations to share with others. We each wrote individual interpretations and shared them, adding yet another level of depth to our learning community experience. We concluded with sound and movement, creating a meditative "dance." 

By the end of our time together, we had journeyed through the realms. connecting more deeply with our text, our community, our history and heritage, and with ourselves. If that's not a blessing, I don't know what is!

On Tuesday I taught a class entitled: Yes You Can! Integrating the Arts into Practically Any Lesson Plan. Here's the class description:

In this informative and inspiring session, artist and educator Jennifer Judelsohn will describe how you can use the arts as a central aspect of your teaching--and you don't have to be an artist to do it! Regardless of what subject you teach, the level of your students, or the particular setting in which you teach, you can use art as both a teaching tool and a means of assessing your students' learning. Using a myriad of examples that span the gamut from painting to drawing to sculpture, poetry and creative writing, and other means of creative expression, she will show you how and inspire you to become a more creative, dynamic teacher!

I hope to see you there!