Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education: Recent Episodes
The Jewish Education Project
'Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education' is a podcast hosted by The Jewish Education Project. Hear CEO David Bryfman and a different guest each episode exploring the big questions, challenges, and successes that define Jewish education.
After October 7, educators were asked to guide students while still making sense of their own evolving relationship to Israel and to Jewish peoplehood. What does it mean to teach when the ground beneath the curriculum is still shifting? What has changed in Israel education? What do educators need to hear?
As season of six of Adapting comes to a close, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath interviews David Bryfman on what’s changed in Israel education after October 7, drawing on ideas from his new book, Heroism & Hope: Recharging Israel Education in a Post-October 7 World. Together they reflect on how educators and communal leaders have had to navigate the emotional and ideological terrain since October 7, and how history and memory are being shaped in real time. Sharing personal anecdotes and powerful insights, Bryfman articulates a vision of Jewish learning rooted in pride, inquiry, and student agency, offering language for education that makes space for reflection before it demands answers.
Purchase the book at https://www.amazon.com/Heroism-Hope-Recharging-Education-Post-October/dp/B0GZBH6QLL/
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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This week on Adapting, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath sits down with Ariela Ronay-Jinich, founder and executive director of Olamim, to explore how education helps people navigate the richness of their identities. Drawing on her experiences as a Mexican Jew, educator, and parent, Ariela reflects on how her identities shaped her understanding of learning as a powerful tool for development, belonging, and community-building.
Ariela shares how Olamim empowers parents, children, and grandparents to create Jewish meaning together through stories, practices, culture, and shared experiences. From Latin-Jewish families to the broader Jewish community, she argues that Jewish learning is not simply about transmitting knowledge but about helping people become more fully themselves while seeing their family's unique story as an essential part of the larger Jewish story. Their conversation examines what happens when we reimagine Jewish education with families—not institutions—at the center.
Learn more about Olamim at olamim.org.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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Every few years, Jewish education declares the Hebrew school model overdue for reinvention, yet the same structures persist. That tension sits at the center of this conversation.
In this episode, David Bryfman speaks with Jonathan Krasner, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Chair of Jewish Education Research at Brandeis University, about the history and possible innovation in Jewish education. Together they examine the role of B-Mitzvah, and why many families remain satisfied with a model educators often criticize. For educators, funders, and communal leaders wrestling with institutional change and the future of Jewish learning, this conversation offers both historical perspective and a more honest framework for thinking about what comes next.
Read Jonathan Krasner's piece: https://www.sourcesjournal.org/articles/when-jewish-educational-innovation-reinforces-the-status-quo
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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Being a man is not about how tall you are or how much money you make, despite what some voices in the manosphere may claim. It’s about overcoming impulses, taking responsibility, and learning how to show up for others with dignity and care. But in a culture where many boys encounter masculinity first through algorithms, educators and parents are left asking a difficult question: How do we teach young men what healthy manhood actually looks like?
In this episode, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath speaks with Adam Teitelbaum about the growing crises facing boys and men, from loneliness and lack of belonging to the absence of visible male role models in Jewish communal life. Together, they explore how Jewish ritual, obligation, and community can offer an alternative framework for raising confident, emotionally healthy Jewish young men without diminishing anyone else’s humanity in the process.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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When Israel was created on this exact day 78 years ago, she didn’t come with an instruction manual called “How to Build a Jewish State.” If she had, Jewish educators wouldn’t be grappling today with the tensions between Israel’s Jewish and democratic values, or needing conversations like this week’s episode.
This relevant conversation between David Bryfman and Rabbi Josh Weinberg confronts one of the most pressing questions facing Jewish educators today: How do we teach Israel at a moment when love, values, politics, and identity often feel out of sync?
As students wrestle with headlines, moral complexity, and their own sense of belonging, the two discuss what it means to cultivate an informed, morally serious relationship with Israel. At a time when many educators feel uncertain about how to lead these conversations, this discussion offers a vision for what meaningful Israel education can look like now.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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In this exclusive, uncensored conversation, David Bryfman interviews Alex Sinclair, the Israel educator at the center of a recent controversy. His kippah, embroidered with both Israeli and Palestinian flags, sparked outrage, led to his arrest, and was ultimately returned to him with the Palestinian flag removed.
David and Alex go beyond the incident to explore the deeper, harder questions: How can you be a proud, public Zionist while openly criticizing Israel? Can you hold complexity without losing connection?
Alex pushes the boundaries of what it means to love a country authentically, reminding us that there’s no such thing as apolitical Israel education, and that the work is personal. A raw and honest must-listen for anyone having these conversations with their students or children.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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The B-Mitzvah is a defining milestone in American Jewish life, and offers a powerful lens into how Jewish communal spaces can foster inclusion and belonging.
In light of their new book, A Different Spirit: Creating Meaningful B’nai Mitzvah for Children With Disabilities, Howard Blas and Ilana Trachtman join Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath in conversation about what it means to build truly inclusive Jewish experiences. Together, they explore how clergy and families can create meaningful B-Mitzvah celebrations for children with disabilities, and more broadly, what it takes to ensure that every individual feels a sense of belonging in Jewish spaces, from synagogue life to summer camp to Israel experiences with peers.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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This episode features Omri Rose, author of Echoes of October, a graphic novel exploring events leading up to October 7th through four young people from different backgrounds.
In conversation with Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath around the themes of memory and Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, Omri reflects on how the events of October 7th reshaped his understanding of the world, and how we remember loss. Designed with education in mind, the novel serves as a meaningful tool for educators and families to spark thoughtful conversation around grief, empathy, and human stories beyond headlines. Their dialogue invites us to reflect on both absence and presence, asking whose stories we tell and how we carry the legacy of those we’ve lost.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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Yom HaShoah begins this evening. As we remember and honor the legacy of the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath sits down with Dave Reckess, a third-generation survivor and executive director of 3GNY.
3GNY empowers grandchildren of survivors to share their family’s Holocaust stories with students to educate and inspire future generations. Samantha and Dave discuss Holocaust education as an effective tool to address antisemitism, and how it shouldn’t be the only antidote to hate, but as an entry point into the richness and nuance of Jewish culture and the obligations we have in building a more just world. They also reflect on how the Holocaust isn’t just history and serves as a reminder for how hate manifests today.
We owe this education not only to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, but also to the generations who will carry these lessons forward.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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What does it actually look like to live Judaism in today’s world?
And what does it mean to be part of a collective when we have so many different worldviews, orientations, and perspectives?
In this episode, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath and Cantor Laura Stein explore this question through the lens of practical theology, or looking at how religion is lived, especially when paired with modern reality.
As a Ph.D.candidate in practical theology at Boston University, Cantor Stein and Samantha discuss her research in the psychology of religion, burnout for educators and clergy, turning struggle into growth, and moving through the world with our Jewish values.
This episode is perfect for anyone who has ever felt both deeply connected to their Jewish community and at odds with it, and is searching for a more authentic way to belong.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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In an urgent episode following the recent attack at Temple Israel in Michigan, David Bryfman sits down with Daniel Held, Chief Program Officer of United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto, whose community has also faced recent antisemitic threats and attacks.
Daniel offers perspective and hope during this challenging time, sharing how educators and parents can help raise Jewish children who are proud, knowledgeable, and empowered, even in the face of hate.
The pair explore how difficult this important work is, the surge in participation in Jewish life during this moment, and how to address heavy questions from children like, “Why does everyone hate us?” Finally, they address what educators need right now, from thinking about security to developing the resilience required to support students and build a better Jewish future.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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Mister Rogers famously said that in scary times, look for the helpers. But what happens when the helpers themselves are exhausted?
This week, host Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath sits down with certified coach, facilitator, and speaker Shoshana Bloom for what she calls a “love letter to Jewish educators.” Together, they explore some of the immense pressures educators are facing today: burnout, overwhelm, imposter syndrome, and chronic stress.
In a moment of polarization, new technology, and when Jewish educators are being asked to do more than ever, this episode asks an essential question: If educators are the helpers, how can the community better support them?
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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The world feels overwhelming right now. Amid war and uncertainty, Jewish educators are overworked, and parents and students are pummeled with headlines and some with siren alerts.
So how do we return to what makes us human: creativity, play, connection, and belonging?
Stephanie Malia Krauss joins Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath to discuss simple but powerful shifts we can make in the classroom and in our own lives, like incorporating movement, prioritizing creative projects, embracing Shabbat, and thinking about our own sense of purpose. Even in the most difficult moments, our humanity is worth protecting.
Learn more about Stephanie Krauss and her books at stephaniemaliakrauss.com
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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The goal of a healthy argument in educational settings is to help one grow, learn, strengthen relationships, and gain new perspectives. On this week’s Adapting, Abi Dauber Sterne and Robbie Gringras share their research of anti-Zionist Jews across the U.S. in conversation with David Bryfman, with the goal to reduce alienation, deepen understanding, and support healthier argument within the Jewish community.
Their discussion leads the three of them to wrestle with questions such as: Should institutions display an Israeli flag even if it risks alienating some Jews? Are all welcome in every Jewish organization, even if their views offend or denigrate others? This episode will challenge you, and that’s exactly why it's worth a listen.
Learn more about For the Sake of Argument at forthesakeofargument.org
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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Before the Iranian Revolution, nearly 100,000 Jews lived rich, deeply rooted lives in Iran. Activist Tabby Refael, whose family fled in the 1980s, tells Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath in great detail how she holds complex identities of being Iranian, American, and Jewish. With the recent rise in protests against the Islamic Republic, Tabby’s conversation – taking us from Tehran to LA – feels more relevant than ever, and offers a window into a personal and oftentimes emotional world full of memory and meaning.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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What does Jewish belonging look like in an age of scrolling, searching, and self-guided learning?
In this episode, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath sits down with independent Jewish educator Netta Asner-Minster, who is inspiring and guiding people on their Jewish journey both in one-to-one classes and on social media to her tens of thousands of followers.
Their conversation enthusiastically dives into what it means to coach people through their exploration while meeting them where they are: from curiosity to fluency, from questioning to pride, and sometimes from struggle to belonging.
Learn more about Netta's work at nettajewished.com.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central Synagogue reflects on her journey, from growing up in Tacoma, Washington with a strong sense of communal purpose, to finding belonging and identity, and feeling like a stranger along the way.
In a reflective conversation with David Bryfman, Rabbi Buchdahl provides lessons applicable to any Jewish educator: how pluralism has helped shift her views, the power of music, and more.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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Even with all of the challenges in the world today Jewish education must strive to emphasize the joy and celebration of what it means to be Jewish in today’s world.
The Bible Players are experts at bringing laughter and joy to Jewish education, from using improvisation to teach mitzvot, to playing their own version of Rock, Paper, Scissors (“Candle, Cup, Challah, Bless”) to teach the order of Shabbat.
This week, enjoy a conversation between David Bryfman and Andrew Davies, co-founder of The Bible Players, and recipient of The Jewish Education Project’s Young Pioneers Award and The Covenant Foundation’s Pomegranate Prize. Hear from Andrew on why holding both the “joy” and the “oy” is essential in Jewish education, and how he brings that balance to their learners.
To learn more about The Bible Players, visit thebibleplayers.com.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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October 7th was the largest attempt at genocide against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. What does this moment reveal about modern antisemitism and the importance of Holocaust studies today?
Joining Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath this week is Alyssa Weinstein-Sears, a longtime educator and Holocaust and genocide scholar. Ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Alyssa emphasizes the goals of Holocaust education at a time when most students have a narrow view of what it was, unpacking how inflammatory language to talk about Israel can obscure historical truth, and what gives her hope.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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How can we turn collective responsibility and shared values into meaningful action for the future of the Jewish people?
Josh Schalk, Executive Director of Jewish Future Promise, believes the answer begins with how, and why, we give. The Jewish Future Promise invites individuals to commit 50% of legacy giving to Jewish causes, to help ensure that Jewish life, learning, and values endure for the next generation.
This episode goes beyond the Jewish Future Promise. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath talks with Josh about what matters most to those invested in the Jewish future: how to give based on our values, how we model those values for our children, and how to show up Jewishly through our own giving.
Learn about the Jewish Future Promise at jewishfuturepromise.org
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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To kick off the new year, David Bryfman sits down with TAMID Group’s CEO, Yoni Heilman. In a conversation that humanizes one of our own heroes, Yoni shares stories as a soldier in reserve duty after October 7th, giving an honest account about his experiences in the war, about what Zionism means to him, on what Israelis need to know about Jews living outside of Israel, and why he remains an optimist.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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In an unscheduled and urgent episode of Adapting, Australian-born CEO of The Jewish Education Project, David Bryfman, sheds light on his own Australian Jewish community, some of whom lost loved ones in this week’s tragic attack at Bondi Beach, and others who are holding hope and praying for the recovery of the wounded.
David reflects on the responsibility of educators and parents to care for our children’s safety and wellbeing, calling on them to acknowledge their children’s fear and recognize that there’s both evil and good in the world. Most of all, he urges listeners to take care of themselves and to maintain hope, especially during this season of Chanukah.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath is joined by another history professor, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, who is the lead scholar of Hidden Voices, an initiative to address how overlooked minority groups are taught in New York City Public Schools, including Jewish history and stories.
As educators, we are invited to ask: What does meaningful Jewish inclusion in education really look like? What core knowledge should non-Jewish students have about Jews? And how do we teach the full scope of Jewish involvement in American history, even when that history is controversial?
This essential conversation aligns with the Center for Jewish-Inclusive Learning (CJIL), our initiative to support public and independent school educators with resources about the Jewish people and creating safe and inclusive spaces for Jewish students and faculty.
To learn more about CJIL, visit cjilearning.org
To learn more about Hidden Voices, visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/subjects/social-studies/hidden-voices
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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This week on Adapting, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath speaks with Zev Eleff, president of Gratz College and professor of American Jewish history,toaddress a pressing challenge facing Jewish education today: educators are not feeling supported enough.
In a conversation encompassing civic education, history, and text study, Zev urges educational institutions to help strengthen their Jewish literacy, with recommendations like leveraging technology to digitize archives, from Judeo-Aramaic texts to Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s documented work with Martin Luther King Jr. Another recommendation is using American Jewish history as a model for teaching inclusivity. Efforts like these, championed by both Gratz College and The Jewish Education Project, aim to give educators the tools and support they need.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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David Bryfman engages with Dr. Mijal Bitton, one of today’s leading Jewish scholars and leaders, in an illuminating, nuanced conversation about defining Jewish peoplehood in a time of polarity. Is it better to be inclusive of all beliefs in a community, or to establish clear boundaries and principals? What if it's possible to have both?
Mijal’s unique perspective, shaped by her personal background, serves as a model for how much introspection we need to become the best possible educators we can be.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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For writer and podcaster Zibby Owens (On Being Jewish Now, Blank: A Novel), it was never her plan to center her work around Jewish identity. But as the critical need for Jewish representation and storytelling grew, she started to share more Jewish voices and Israel advocacy on her literary platform.
Zibby's work serves as a model of what happens when you follow your convictions. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Jewish Book Month, this episode will inspire educators to lean into Jewish joy through the power of storytelling. Plus, Zibby shares her favorite books with listeners that have shaped her own sense of Jewish pride!
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at https://www.jewishedproject.org/
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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What does it mean to belong to the Jewish people, especially during a time of deep division? This week, Dr. Elana Stein Hain and David Bryfman explore the complex and often misunderstood idea of Jewish peoplehood, and how to navigate responsibility and nurture empathy.
Whether you’re an educator, community leader, or simply grappling with questions of Jewish identity and connection, this episode will leave you reflecting on what Jewish peoplehood means to you.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at https://www.jewishedproject.org/
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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This week on Adapting, David sits down with Rabbi Mark Wildes, the founder of Manhattan Jewish Experience. Together, the pair explore what it really means to inspire Jewish connection in young adults today.
Drawing on insights and Torah from his new book, The Jewish Experience: Discovering the Soul of Jewish Thought and Practice, Rabbi Wildes shares that Jewish education isn’t about molding students into something completely new. Rather, it’s about how educators can spark the innate pilot light of Judaism, the pintele Yid, that we have inside us. Discover how nurturing that inner spark can transform not only the Jewish learner, but the future of Jewish life itself.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at https://www.jewishedproject.org/
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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In the first episode with Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath as our new alternating co-host, Samantha shares the true purpose of Jewish education: to help foster pride, joy, and connection, rather than building identity around fear or hate.
Learn more from Samantha and hear about her journey of becoming a Jewish educator and how she has helped teens connect to the richness of Jewish peoplehood!
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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This morning, we received joyous news that all 20 living hostages are back home. At the same time, we’re awaiting the return of the bodies of the remaining hostages. So, as a community, how are we supposed to feel? As Jewish educators, how do we create the memory of what October 7th meant for the Jewish people?
Joining David Bryfman to discuss this complex moment in history are Rabbi Menachem Creditor and Rabba Yaffa Epstein, who reflect on post-war rituals and where we’re moving as a people. This is an episode of Adapting we’ve been wanting to release for two years, and it offers guidance for anyone seeking meaning, direction, and hope in the aftermath of war.
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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Two years after October 7th, CEO David Bryfman delivers an unscripted, deeply personal message to Jewish educators who have carried impossible burdens through unimaginable circumstances.
This isn't a typical Adapting episode. It's a raw, honest monologue about what it means to educate when the world feels broken. Speaking directly to all stakeholders of Jewish education—defined by anyone who cares deeply about the field and its future—David balances mourning and hope at a time when that future feels both fragile and urgent. Hope for the return of all hostages, for the end of suffering, and for the day we can return to instilling joy and pride instead of defending against hatred.
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What does it mean to bring your whole self into Jewish education? Activist, educator, and previously named one of the 50 most influential rabbis in the U.S. by Newsweek, Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, joins Adapting this week for a conversation about authenticity in Jewish education.
Rabbi Dr. Yanklowitz and David Bryfman explore how Jewish education becomes most impactful when educators are “radically inspired” by their work, drawing from their own journeys, struggles, and commitments. They discuss how the very best Jewish educators, and supporters of Jewish education, embrace plurality and curiosity, and can seamlessly integrate both their personal and professional interests altogether into one integrated life purpose.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum, Miranda Lapides, and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In this week’s episode, transformative Jewish thinker Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg joins us for a rich conversation about morality and justice, and how we as educators can empower our students to imagine a brighter future.
Rabbi Danya sheds light on how the Torah’s earliest stories, values, and the practice of teshuvah can become teaching tools for possibility, integrity, and ethical living. Just in time for the High Holidays, Rabbi Danya explores how we can nurture a generation capable of imagining a more just and compassionate world.
I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff, Illustrated by Julie Kwon
Resource Guide: On Repentance and Repair by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum, Miranda Lapides, and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
How can educators help Jews reclaim their identity from shame, assimilation, and antisemitism, and instead embrace the richness of Jewish tradition in all its complexity? In the Season 6 premiere ofAdapting: The Future of Jewish Education, David Bryfman speaks with Sarah Hurwitz, former White House speechwriter and author of Here All Along and the forthcoming As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us.
From her first adult Shabbat dinner to the ways internalized stereotypes still shape Jewish life, Hurwitz shares deeply personal insights that invite educators and parents to consider how they can guide learners toward Jewish pride, authenticity, and resilience.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum, Miranda Lapides, and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
For the Season 5 finale of Adapting, David sits down with a very special guest— himself! Before leaving for his sabbatical, David answers some of the most common questions he gets asked about Jewish education. From the need for a cohesive vision of Jewish education, to why we need more Jewish educators, to the importance of maintaining optimism, listen to hear the vision for the future of Jewish education.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Sabbaticals, break weeks, and paid vacation, oh my! For many, the idea of taking a break from work is daunting. With the disruption in the work environment, how will anything get done? As he prepares his own upcoming sabbatical, David Bryfman discusses the role that rest plays in the workplace with Josh Feldman, CEO and founder of R&R: The Rest of our Lives.
In a time marked by burnout and uncertainty, especially in the nonprofit world, stepping back is more necessary than ever. Josh suggests that it isn’t productive to be productive all of the time; a runner doesn’t sprint for a whole race, they have disciplined places of sprint, of walk, and of stillness. How can we incorporate stillness into our work? Furthermore, Josh reminds the audience of the Jewishness of rest, and how we can be inspired by the Sabbath and the shmita year. David and Josh challenge the audience to think about when work gets done, and when it doesn’t.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Imagine a classroom where students face each other, rather than the whiteboard, and discuss David Ben-Gurion and Aristotle, while studying Hebrew and Latin.
Welcome to Emet, the first classical Jewish prep school in the U.S. Founded in 2023 in New York City, Emet is pioneering a model that integrates Jewish wisdom with academic excellence, offering students an education where Judaism is infused seamlessly into academic subjects, from physical education (Krav Maga), to chemistry.
In this thought-provoking conversation with Emet’s founding Head of School, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Unger, learn how academic rigor is raising the bar for its students to build strength and character, inspiring children to become Jewish leaders of the future.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In this important episode, David sits down with recipients of the 2024 Shine A Light on Antisemitism Civic Courage Award, Dr. Devin Randolph and Rabbi Dr. Meir Muller. Together, they discuss ways to combat prejudice, racism, and antisemitism by searching for the commonalities in Black and Jewish fights for freedom and liberation.
Dr. Randolph and Rabbi Dr. Muller encourage us to move away from black and white thinking and, instead, be vulnerable with each other, so that our human experiences may educate each other. Particularly in a post-October 7th landscape, the tension that may accompany Jewish education can create space for curiosity, support, and solidarity. Through historical and personal examples, this conversation explores the goal of promoting justice and understanding different perspectives.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
This week on Adapting, David sits down with Dr. Keren Fraiman, Dean of Spertus Institute and winner of the prestigious Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award, for an essential conversation on why Israel must be front and center in our classrooms—now more than ever. While many Jewish educators recognize the importance of teaching about Israel, research shows that fear of controversy and complexity often leads to hesitation.
In this compelling episode, Keren dives into why it is crucial for educators to embrace the discomfort and navigate these complex discussions with confidence. She also shares practical strategies for managing conflict in the classroom and highlights the power of creating a permissive, supportive environment to hold space for all the complexities these conversations hold. With Israel-related issues impacting our students daily, Keren emphasizes the need for educators to lean on each other and build spaces that allow for honest, open dialogue—no matter how challenging it may feel. The need for Israel education is urgent. Let’s not shy away from it.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In this special Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzma’ut episode, David sits down with Adam Eilath, Head of School at Wornick Jewish Day School in the Bay Area, to explore the empowering integration of Jewish, Hebrew, and Israel education.
As we commemorate these powerful national holidays, Adam shares how centering Israel in Jewish life and education has successfully inspired stronger Jewish identities and has built vibrant, resilient communities. Through methods like partnering with Israeli educators, creating intentional learning experiences that connect parents to their children’s educational journeys, and designing programs that commemorate Israeli history and culture with emotional impact, Jewish day schools can nurture a deep love for Israel that serves as a model for other schools.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In this episode, hear from prominent author Dara Horn (“People Love Dead Jews,” “One Little Goat”) about the key issues with the way the Holocaust is discussed and taught today.
David and Dara discuss how the language used in Holocaust education threatens the erasure of modern Jewish culture and perpetuates antisemitism by painting Jews as feeble, helpless, and sometimes even extinct. They reflect on popular works about the Holocaust, how they are taught to students, and how we can use these conversations, in turn, to bring the rest of Jewish civilization into the dialogue. This episode is for anyone teaching the Holocaust, from Jewish settings to public and independent schools.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In this episode of Adapting, host David Bryfman sits down with tech-savvy Rabbi Jason Miller, to discuss the role of technology in Jewish education. Rabbi Miller emphasizes the importance of embracing technology—not fearing it—and how it can bring the Jewish community closer together.
If you’re worried about AI and other tech tools replacing Jewish educators, don’t worry! Rabbi Miller asserts that these tools will enhance the work of Jewish educators, empowering them to make learning more efficient and impactful.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
This week on Adapting, David Bryfman sits down with... well, robots. In an innovative and fitting approach, he leverages artificial intelligence — a platform called NotebookLM — to make a point about the current landscape of Jewish education and where it’s headed.
Featuring an AI-generated dialogue that tackles critical issues like how Jewish educational institutions are responding to rising antisemitism, technological challenges, and the need for resilient learning strategies, Bryfman gives us a glimpse into what the future of Jewish education could look like when you mix technology with tradition.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
This week, Adapting gets spiritual with Dana Sheanin, CEO of Jewish Learning Works. Dana first shares glimpses into the Jewish Bay Area, marked by political activism and repercussions in education since October 7th.
Dana then explores how reconnecting with spirituality—including relationships with community and the divine—can provide resilience and meaning for Jewish educators and students. To return to spirituality is an essential part of what it means to be a Jewish educator today. Let’s explore this idea together.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
As Purim begins tonight, we reflect on resilience, courage, and hidden miracles—themes that feel more relevant than ever. In this special re-release, Dr. Erica Brown of The George Washington University joins CEO, David Bryfman, and Chief Advancement Officer, Nessa Liben, to explore not only the heroines of the Purim story, but also the heroism of Jewish educators today and Jewish women across the world.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
From transformative teen programs like RootOne to life-changing Birthright and Masa trips, studies have shown that Israel educational travel has been the most essential tool for building a lasting connection to Israel. But October 7th has presented a new set of challenges in the field.
This week on Adapting, David Bryfman talks with Anna Langer, who oversees the Israel Education Travel Alliance, a collective of over 140 organizations that facilitate Israel trips for North American participants. Their conversation—full of personal anecdotes and frontline insights from southern Israel—doesn’t shy away from how Israel educational travel is adapting to a new reality. This episode is essential listening for anyone who cares about the future of Israel engagement and Jewish identity in uncertain times.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
This week on Adapting, in honor of Tu BiShvat, Yoni Stadlin of Adamah challenges us to see our connection to the earth through a Jewish lens.
From his unconventional journey—spending three months living in the canopy of California redwoods—to his belief that Jewish environmentalism should be the default rather than a niche, Yoni reminds us that every breath we take is like receiving CPR from a tree. Tu BiShvat is more than a celebration of trees; it’s a powerful reminder that the earth is our home, and it’s a call to action to care for the planet as we would care for ourselves.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Judaism gives us the tools to hold both joy and pain simultaneously. Few understand this better than Rabba Yaffa Epstein, The Jewish Education Project’s Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence, who tragically lost her nephew, Yakir Hexter z”l, while fighting in Gaza one year ago.
Yakir was much more than a soldier—he was a brilliant Torah student, a talented artist, an athlete, and a bartender with his own signature cocktail. In this week’s episode of Adapting, Rabba Yaffa shares Torah in Yakir’s memory, drawing wisdom from Ben Zoma in Pirkei Avot and from Yakir himself, emphasizing the responsibility we all have as spectators to step in and make a difference.
Rabba Yaffa juxtaposes her grief with welcoming a beautiful baby girl named in Yakir’s honor within the same week, reminding us that we can find light and inspiration even in the darkest of times.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
If you’re in a Jewish leadership role, don’t miss this pertinent conversation between David Bryfman and Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, a prominent Jewish leader and author.
Drawing on insights from Rabbi Cosgrove’s new book, For Such a Time as This: On Being Jewish Today, they delve into relevant topics, like:
- The generational divides within the Jewish community, as younger generations grapple with complex issues surrounding Israel and antisemitism.
- A vision for Jewish education that balances empathy with protection of Jewish concerns.
- How to navigate these challenges in a post-October 7th world.
As the news is seemingly changing by the day, Rabbi Cosgrove offers guidance to fellow educators while exploring leadership, identity, and the role of Jewish educators in shaping the future.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
As the largest Jewish community in Europe and the third largest in the world, French Jewry—primarily of Sephardic descent from North Africa—blends a rich, thriving Jewish heritage with modern challenges.
Giving a voice to the French Jewish community on this week’s episode of Adapting, David Bryfman sits down with Devorah Serrao, CEO of Alliance Israélite Universelle, to explore the unique dynamics of Jewish education and identity in France. Devorah shares insights into how young French Jews today balance their French and Jewish identities, as well as lessons for Jewish communities worldwide in navigating identity and finding your inner voice.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
As of this episode’s recording, 461 days have passed since Dalia Cusnir last heard from Yair and Eitan, her brothers-in-law who have been held captive in Gaza by Hamas. In the most important Adapting episode yet, David Bryfman speaks with Dalia about her personal journey, and the educational and moral imperative of pidyon shvuyim (redeeming the captives).
At a time when compassion fatigue feels all too common, this episode reminds us of the importance of hope and not giving up. As Jewish educators, we must continue to stress that the freedom of the hostages is a human issue and not just a Jewish issue. When the history of October 7th is written, educators will not be judged by the events of that horrific day and its aftermath. We will be judged on how we respond.
For a more in-depth understanding of why this is the educational imperative of Jewish education today please read David Bryfman's latest article here.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In the final 2024 episode of Adapting, David Bryfman hosts Jonathan Shmidt Chapman—award-winning artist, writer, and Jewish educator—for a lively conversation about bringing Jewish education to life through drama and creativity. Focusing on Chanukah, Chapman emphasizes using multi-sensory experiences, like smell and taste, to make Jewish traditions more immersive and meaningful for children and families. This episode explores how multi-sensory experiences like storytelling and imaginative play can make traditions more meaningful. At a time when we need it most, Chapman shares fresh ideas to illuminate Jewish education this holiday season and beyond.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In the aftermath of an arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, David Bryfman interviews two Melbourne-based Jewish educators Itzik Sztokman and Marc Light. Together, they explore the emotional and educational ripple effects of this act of antisemitism on their local Jewish community.
Itzik reflects on the growing sense of unease among Jewish students and families, emphasizing the need for resilience, open dialogue, and proud visibility of Jewish identity in the face of adversity. Marc shares how his school balances heightened security measures with the essential mission of fostering a joyous and meaningful Jewish educational experience.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Do you, as an educator or parent, wish there was a guidebook for combatting antisemitism? Look no further than Lynne Azarchi and Harlene Lichter Galen’s new curriculum: Countering Anti-Semitism and Hate: A How-to Guide for Youth, Family, and Educators.
In a conversation with David Bryfman, the authors share insights from three years of research and emphasize the importance of transforming bystanders into upstanders by instilling pride in Jewish identity.
Together, they explore how stereotypes and tropes have caused generations of harm and why fostering strong Jewish identity is essential for equipping youth to stand up against bias. This guidebook is a resource for parents, educators, and anyone looking to empower the next generation to face hate with knowledge, strength, and dignity.
Purchase the guide here.
Learn more at jewishupstanders.org
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What does an inclusive classroom look like if there's no education on antisemitism? Public school teacher Shana Dworken knows and has been a vocal advocate for Jewish students and Jewish education, especially since October 7th.
In this week's conversation with David Bryfman, they explore how to create lasting, systemic change in public schools and discuss why Jews, who have always played a significant role in public education, must be present where our kids and families are. This episode is for educators who may feel like a single, powerless voice in a vast system but who truly can make a profound difference for their students and the Jewish community.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
As we look at the future of Israel education, it's just as critical to look back and reflect on how we as educators have succeeded and could have improved in this holy work.
In this pivotal and hard-hitting Adapting episode on laying out the vision of Israel education, David Bryfman and Dr. Zohar Raviv create the space to look inward, encouraging educators to be self-critical and self-reflective. When it comes to the biggest challenges and how Israel education can improve, Raviv has opinions on this revolutionary moment in the evolution of the Jewish people. For those who care about the fate of Jewish pride, you won't want to miss this episode.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
For centuries Jews have contributed to American democracy, while American democracy has simultaneously contributed significantly to the success of American Jewry.
In a lead-up to the election, David Bryfman has a timely conversation with Aaron Dorfman, founder and executive director of A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy. Their profound discussion highlights the importance of Jewish responsibility in the context of democracy, and how Judaism is always aspirational, just like America.
Jewish educators will come away from this episode inspired to instill in their students a sense of civic responsibility and a commitment to strengthening their communities, embracing a deeply rooted Jewish tradition of working to make the world better.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In this essential episode for Jewish educators, Rabba Yaffa Epstein, an Orthodox rabbi, and Rabbi Dena Klein, a Reform rabbi, discuss the challenges and opportunities of leading prayer in today’s world. With the High Holidays approaching, they offer practical advice for anyone guiding services, from maintaining your own spiritual energy to engaging children who may not feel connected.
They share thoughtful tips on how to handle diverse needs in a prayer space, reflections on Yizkor this year, and how to find moments of divine connection and flow. The episode wraps with a heartfelt blessing for educators, offering inspiration and strength as you lead your communities through this sacred season.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Education has the power to break down divisions that separate us.
This week on Adapting, David Bryfman is joined by Dr. Ethan Zadoff to discuss how a religious Zionist school has been navigating the aftermath of October 7th. Building on Zadoff's recent article, which advocates for open and nuanced conversations in the classroom. Together, they address the role of Zionism in the religious community, how to continue to pray when our prayers aren't getting answered, and other heavy questions just in time for Rosh Hashanah.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Judaism is many things—a religion, a culture, a history, a set of values—but above all, it is a people.
This week on Adapting, David Bryfman is joined by Naama Klar from the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv. The two explore how Jewish peoplehood is about preserving continuity by safeguarding the stories and rich heritage of Jewish communities around the world. Learn how through education, we can not only bridge the divides among our diverse communities and strengthen our sense of connection, but also be proactive in cultivating resilience and a deep sense of belonging.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Over the last 10 months, Dr. Tuvia Book, an author, tour guide, and educator, has been serving in the Israel Defense Forces as a paramedic. His experiences are stories of people doing the work on the ground, and while we may feel the distance between Israel and U.S. Jewry, Tuvia's Zionist story, one of optimism, courage, and strength, brings it all back together.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Since October 7th, Australian educator Sharonne Blum has been on the frontlines on the war of information both in the classroom and on social media. Her courageous approach raises important questions for both the Australian and global Jewish community: Has the role of Jewish educator expanded to include a new layer of responsibility? How do we effectively support students who are becoming increasingly curious about their identity and heritage during this war?
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Zack Bodner is asking tough, necessary questions—engaging in a kind of post-October 7th Cheshbon HaNefesh, or self-reflection, for Jewish educators.
In this week's episode of Adapting, David Bryfman and Zack Bodner have a provocative conversation inspired by Bodner's recent article in The Jerusalem Post on communal reckoning. Together, they explore where we've gone wrong as a Jewish community, and to try to figure out why some students stand as defenders of the Jewish people and nation, while others feel ashamed and distance themselves from Israel. They reflect on the idea that to move forward, we must take internal stock take of where we are.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
CEO David Bryfman kicks off Season 5 of Adapting with a powerful episode that sets the tone for the season ahead, now more critical than ever especially after the news of the six hostages who were murdered by Hamas. As Bryfman reflects on the podcast’s journey since its inception in 2020, he challenges listeners to think critically and deeply about the new reality confronting Jewish educators in a post-October 7 world—one that has upended many of our long-held beliefs.
With a lineup of guests who bring diverse perspectives and a willingness to engage in uncomfortable yet necessary conversations, Season 5 promises to be the most compelling yet. Whether you’re an educator, a community leader, or simply passionate about the future of Jewish education, this episode will leave you inspired, challenged, and ready to take action.
Tune in as we shift from reaction to proactive leadership, addressing not just the aftermath of October 7th, but the broader questions shaping Jewish education's future. Subscribe now, and join us on this critical journey.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
October 7th has forced Jewish educators and parents to look inward as to how they are impacting Jewish youths' relationship to Israel.
Since October 7th, The Jewish Education Project, along with many partner organizations, has brought over 300 educators to Israel on Mishlachot Areyvut ("Delegations of Responsibility") to bear witness firsthand and take that experience back to their learners.
In this final episode of Season 4, sitting down with David Bryfman is Michael Witman, one of the delegation participants who was deeply affected by what he saw and felt in Israel. Their candid conversation on personal reflection and growth puts into context the role that education plays in a post-October 7th world, and where educators went wrong.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What makes Jewish summer camp so powerful? How can it shape the lives and perspectives of Jewish youth and Jewish adults for years to come? How are camps approaching Israel education this summer?
In this episode, David Bryfman explores the world of Jewish summer camp in a conversation with Jamie Simon, Chief Program Officer of the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Delve into the personal and professional journey of one senior Jewish educator, and the opportunities and challenges of summer camp in a post-October 7 world, as we acknowledge the tireless work of all Jewish educators after an extraordinarily challenging year.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
If Jewish educators want to produce kids of tomorrow, then they must embrace the technology of today to help get them there. Technological tools like artificial intelligence, social media, and 3D printers aren't an elective or an addition, but are part and parcel of what we as educators should be using to get ahead of the curve.
No one probably agrees with this more than David Merel, founder and CEO of Thinkbright LLC, who is at the forefront of the intersection of education and technology. Tune in to his riveting interview with David Bryfman, which will inspire you to revolutionize your approach to teaching.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In the wake of October 7th, this year's observances of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut feel different and carry a profound sense of weight.
How do we mark this time both inside and outside of Israel? How do we, as a community, channel our grief into collective remembrance, including all innocent lives lost? As Jewish leaders, these are just some of the questions we are actively thinking about as we begin to formulate the collective memory of the Jewish people during these holidays. Rabbi Shira Koch, Epstein, through wisdom and experience, helps shed light on how to move forward through this grief.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Please note, this episode was recorded prior to the Iranian attacks on Israel on April 13th.
In our ongoing series, "Israel Education in a Post-October 7th World," Ilana Gleicher-Bloom emphasizes the new era of Jewish education we find ourselves in today, one in which Jewish educators are now full-time Israel educators.
Her message is clear: it's not enough to simply know our Israel story; we must master the art of engaging with whom we disagree, and come to the table with curiosity, empathy, and humility. The conversation is a reminder to us all that Israel education is not how we win, but how we grow together. Plus, Ilana shares what freedom means to her this Passover while there are still hostages in Gaza.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Jewish pride isn't just an emotion, but is an idea that can be taught. According to this week's Adapting guest, if it's not taught, it's dangerous to suppress.
Joining David Bryfman this week is educator, author, and founder of the modern Jewish pride movement, Ben M. Freeman. The pair discuss his experiences and overlap between the LGBTQ+ community and being Jewish, and how knowing our story leads to empowered Jews who know the innate value of being a Jew.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
We’re continuing our limited series, Israel Education in a Post-October 7th World, with Rabbi Dr. Laura Novak Winer, a Reform Jewish Educator who just returned from an educator mission to Israel powered by The Jewish Education Project along with the Association for Reform Jewish Educators and Hebrew Union College community.
It’s one thing to see posts on social media from Israel since October 7th, but it’s another to travel directly to the Jewish State to bear witness to the emotion and trauma that simply can’t be conveyed through a screen. We have already sent hundreds of Jewish educators to Israel post-October 7th. Now, prepare to be moved as Winer breaks down what it means to bear witness to collective pain, explores the responsibility of taking these stories back to her community, and reflects on her experience as both a Jewish educator and a human being.
Register for the Spring Event here
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
This week on Adapting, we return to the series, Israel and Jewish Education in a Post-October 7th World, with a conversation on antisemitism, particularly in the film industry.
Join David Bryfman as he sits down with Todd Shotz, an acclaimed film and television producer, Jewish educator, and a leading consultant on Jewish representation in Hollywood. Shotz recently won an Emmy Award as consulting producer on "Recipe for Change: Standing Up to Antisemitism," a groundbreaking special by YouTube Originals and The SpringHill Company.
The pair discuss Jewish representation in media, the timeliness and relevance of his award-winning project, and how his work in Jewish education supports his consulting work in Hollywood.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Recorded on International Women’s Day, this week's episode of Adapting poses the question: if the workforce of Jewish education is largely dominated by women, why are there still disproportionately more men in the senior leadership positions?
This introspective conversation with Dr. Sara Shapiro-Plevan and David Bryfman explores many of the inequities that exist in the Jewish communal workspace and offers both employees and employers advice and tactics on how to bridge these divides. It emphasizes that when we uplift women in the workforce, it creates a more equitable environment for all.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Danny Mishkin and Lynn Lancaster are making waves in experiential Jewish education. Sababa Beachaway, a co-ed residential summer camp in Virginia Beach, is where spirituality and tradition intersect to empower teens and tweens.
Their conversation with David Bryfman takes you into a day in the life of a Sababa participant, and even leads listeners in a short breathing meditation! You might think this episode is all about surf camp, but at the heart of the message is something deeper: learning resilience through Jewish values in an unexpected setting.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Starting from kindergarten, how do we as educators connect Jewish tradition to where children are developmentally?
This week on Adapting, David Bryfman speaks with Rachel Happel, an experiential Jewish educator who is leading a Jewish learning revolution through unconventional programs. With the use of Jewish Learning Guides, "learning spaces" (a term used instead of classrooms), and the power of listening, Rachel helps children understand Judaism as a lived experience and answer: "What does it mean to be Jewish?"
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
We are facing a unique time as a Jewish people when the mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim, redeeming the captives, is top of mind as 134 hostages are still held by Hamas in Gaza. What can you as an educator be doing to help the captives?
In this extremely timely episode, Clare Goldwater and Elyssa Moss Rabinowitz discuss their educational campagin, Everyone Counts, which they started during the war in partnership with The Jewish Education Project. Through resources and information on their website, the campaign is for anyone who wants to raise awareness of the hostages but is not sure where to start, making this moment accessible through education, advocacy, and teaching us how to be responsible for one another.
This episode is part of a limited series, "Israel Education in a Post-October 7th World." Click here to see all episodes in the series and stay tuned for further episodes.This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
This week's multi-faceted conversation between David Bryfman and Jonathan Cannon demonstrates that even deeply religious and Zionist schools are not immune to the ripple effects of October 7th. In times of heightened antisemitism, they too need to empower their students more than ever.
As part of a limited series, Israel Education in a Post-October 7th World, this forward-looking episode of Adapting not only sheds light on the most critical needs in Israel education, but the critical actions one Zionist school is taking to address them. Bryfman and Cannon also discuss parental involvement, creating safe spaces, lessons learned after October 7th, and more.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
How has October 7th impacted your connection to Israel? Since then, is there someone you have been holding in your heart?
These are just some of the questions Dr. Jonathan Golden incorporates in his Israel education paradigm of using the heart (feelings), head (questions), and hand (thoughts) to have these important conversations.
In the second episode of our series, Israel Education in a Post-October 7th World, Golden emphasizes the necessity of first processing your own emotions, then those of your learners, before diving into the cognitive. This tried-and-true method will help us become better Israel and Jewish educators.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
This episode kicks off a new series: Israel Education in a Post-October 7th World. Stay tuned for more episodes in this series.
In the aftermath of October 7th, it's clearer than ever before that there is a need for both advocacy and education to bring about the changes necessary in independent and public-school education.
David Bryfman and Laura Shaw Frank of AJC discuss teaching history and current events while ensuring moral clarity remains center stage, responsible speech versus free speech, and stories from school that will shock you. At the end of the day, though, oftentimes it's the small actions that can have great impact that matter most.
If you're an educator looking for support on how to address this relevant topic with your learners, this episode is for you.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
"Each and every tree has something important to say. If you listen closely, you might too hear their whispers."
Rabbi Jackson Mercer creates intentional spaces as a song leader. He is also the author of Wise Friends, a children's book that's really a book for everyone, filled with millennium-old Hebrew teachings. He also just happens to be this week's guest on Adapting!
Get ready for Tu BiShvat with Rabbi Mercer and David Bryfman by learning how to connect to "the new year for trees" through art, tradition, wisdom, and growth.
Buy a copy of Wise Friends here!
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
According to Rabbi Danny Burkeman, the congregation is the beating heart of Jewish education, a driver of change which brings community together and inspires Jewish learning. So how does a synagogue adapt to keep Jewish education stimulating?
In an inspiring conversation recorded before October 7th, Rabbi Danny Burkeman and David Bryfman discuss innovative ways to engage people in their Judaism, whether Jewish learning is a spectator sport or a participatory sport, and the Torah of Ted Lasso. This week's episode of Adapting serves as an important follow-up to the Census report that The Jewish Education Project released last year in an effort to continue the conversation of the role of part-time Jewish education.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In the midst of war, the essential and timely work of Jewish educators must continue. That is why on this week's episode of Adapting, David Bryfman discusses the ongoing hot-button issue of Artificial Intelligence and its role in education.
On the cusp of 2024, educators don't have a choice: they must embrace this technology, or else they're going to fall behind. At least that's what Dr. Sarah Rubinson Levy suggests. As an AI & Jewish Organizational Expert, Dr. Levy says that for all its challenges, AI can be used as a powerful resource to enhance your teaching. Learn how in this week's episode.
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🎙️Artificial Intelligence or Artificial Education?with Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath
Watch Dr. Levy's Tedx Talk, "Why AI is the Catalyst We Need to Change Jewish Education Forever" here.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
During the eight nights of Hanukkah, Jews all over the world publicize the miracle of the holiday by lighting menorahs by the window for everyone to see. However, this year feels different, as we grapple with the horrors of October 7th and the current climate of antisemitism in the midst of war.
In this special Hanukkah episode of Adapting, here to discuss this topic with David Bryfman are The Jewish Education Project's Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath – Senior Director of Knowledge, Ideas, and Learning, and Rabba Yaffa Epstein – Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence. Their conversation, focused around intention, culture, and ritual, brilliantly illuminates where celebration meets safety. It will get you thinking of your own sense of identity and how you will approach the upcoming holiday.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
During a time of war, it's so important to maintain and uphold our spiritual selves as well as community, two traits that are essential to Judaism. As the first yeshiva of its kind in Israel, the BINA Secular Yeshiva serves as a place where young adults can do just that while promoting Jewish pluralism and social justice.
This week's episode of Adapting finds David Bryfman speaking with Ayala Deckel, head of the Secular Yeshiva. This episode will open your eyes to the Israeli secular perspective as Ayala divulges the power that comes from what happens when Jews unite in times of sorrow.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Imagine that you work on a U.S. college campus today while Israel is at war. Meanwhile, your Israeli cousin texts you from hermamad (safe room in an Israeli home) asking if you're okay given the rise in antisemitism on college campuses.
That's what happened to Merav Fine Braun, executive director at Hunter College Hillel in New York City, given the staggering rise in antisemitic incidents on college campuses across the country.
In this week's episode of Adapting, Merav engages in a heartfelt conversation with David Bryfman. She recounts her campus experiences from the past month and provides insights into how educators can lend support to their students during this time of uncertainty.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Rebecca Bardach has devoted her life to progressive education and coexistence between Jews and Arabs living together in Israel. How does she maintain strength and hope during these dark times?
Listen to a candid discussion with David Bryfman as she provides a firsthand, on-the-ground account of life in Israel, where she retells the heart-wrenching moment when she discovered her cousin's kidnapping by Hamas. She also recounts a poignant encounter with an Arab psychologist, highlighting moments of shared humanity, and offers poignant messages for educators to maintain optimism in times of crisis.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Right now, alongside the war in Israel, there is a battle occurring in America, one that plays out in academic settings through ideas that use Israel as a weapon for antisemitism.
Joining us in this provocative and timely episode is Dr. Rachel Fish, esteemed scholar and self-proclaimed warrior on the Middle East and Israel. David Bryfman and Dr. Fish discuss the wake-up call of how the war is affecting Jewish life in America, the impact of decades of festering antisemitism on university campuses and in many high schools, and how it’s imperative to include Israel in all forms of Jewish education.
At the heart of this conversation is the importance of balancing facts and knowledge with empathy and humanity, and how for educators these don’t have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, this integration of both enhances the role of the educator.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
During this time of war, it's imperative that educators and parents remain a calm presence for children. In a webinar held by The Jewish Education Project, Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath holds a conversation with Israel educator and mother Dr. Sivan Zakai on the importance and best practices on talking to children about Israel and the current situation.
Watch the webinar here and visit our Israel in Crisis Resource Hub.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
The Jewish community is still reeling from the massacre that Hamas carried out in Israel over one week ago.
In a somewhat cathartic conversation, David Bryfman and Rabbi Dr. Josh Ladon unpack their experiences as both educators and parents in helping educators and children grapple with a multitude of feelings. They emphasize that when dealing with war, one cannot deal with it in isolation, and to prioritize mental health by looking after one another in the field—from other teachers to kids—and ourselves.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In the wake of devastation and sorrow coming out of Israel, Jewish educators have been grappling with how to best communicate the events unfolding with their students.
Through grief and heartbreak, they will flick some imaginary switch in their minds and hearts and do what they do best: be Jewish educators.
This week on Adapting, CEO David Bryfman shares his own emotional experiences and challenges in addressing such traumatic events with students. He stresses the need for educators to provide a sense of belonging and support to their students, acknowledging the affective, behavioral, cognitive, and belonging aspects of education. He also shares resources and support available for educators, including webinars and counseling services, as they navigate the difficult days ahead.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
As a reputable scholar of contemporary American Jewish education, Dr. Arielle Levites is curious about all things Jewish, from "Jews of no religion" to what Jewish education looks like both inside and outside the institutional setting.
On this week's episode of Adapting, David Bryfman and Dr. Levites talk about using curiosity to fuel research on the vast topic of Jewish education — its ever-evolving trends, aspects of intersectional diversity, and ideal practices for conducting the research itself. Get a bird's-eye view on the behind-the-scenes research that works to ignite shared knowledge, build on the past, and propel us forward to shape the very future of Jewish education.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
To kick off an inspiring new season of "Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education," David Bryfman dissects the origins of Sunday School in America with Laura Yares, as the pair discusses her new book, Jewish Sunday Schools: Teaching Religion in Nineteenth-Century America.
This exploration, including a deep dive into the important role women played in pioneering accessible Jewish education, prompts a question that's still very much relevant to educators today: What holds greater significance in Sunday School, the content children learn or the emotional impact they experience? And where should that pendulum be swinging?
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
As educators, we all have a lot to say. But in this special season finale of Adapting, we flipped the script and got to hear from the learners! CEO David Bryfman sits down with his two kids, Jonah and Abby, for an exclusive interview about their Jewish education.
Join us as the dynamic duo reveals favorite topics they've learned at Jewish Day School like the story of Joseph and learning Hebrew, what they think their dad does for a living, the teaching qualities that earned a "favorite teacher" designation, and excitement over summer camp and Jewish surf camp. Yes, you read that right! Kick off your summer with some inspiration and get firsthand insights from these young Jewish minds.
This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
According to the latest CASJE study, there are more than 14,000 Jewish Day School educators in the U.S. How would the future of the Jewish people change if every one of these educators made it a priority to tap students on the proverbial shoulder who they identify as becoming part of the next generation of Jewish educators?
Joining David Bryfman on Adapting this week is Rabbi Marc Wolf of Prizmah, who addresses the pipeline challenge or decline in Jewish educators specifically through a lens of Jewish Day Schools in North America.
Rabbi Wolf's "tap on the shoulder" method is an innovative way to inspire learners to see themselves as Jewish leaders – it's direct, relationship-based, and has the power to transfer that spark of learning from teacher to student. Listen to this week's episode of Adapting to find out how Jewish educators can change the possible trajectory of Jewish education through one simple yet impactful action.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Building educational spaces for teens is no easy task -- especially for those with viewpoints considered by some to be outside the mainstream, or even radical.
Enter Club Z, a community for teens to connect and socialize over a shared love of Israel and being Jewish. In this episode, David Bryfman speaks, and even spars, with Club Z founder and executive director Masha Merkulova over philosophical differences about how to best empower teens to navigate the complex subject of Israel, including some bold moves Club Z has taken in its support of Israel, and other topical Jewish issues.
In this episode, David and Masha model the importance of engaging in dialogue across difference -- and how healthy disagreements can broaden our perspective in a way that is not otherwise possible.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Every person has a story to be told, and today’s episode of Adapting tells one individual’s unlikely journey to become a Jewish educator.
David Bryfman met Elyssa Hurwitz of Moishe House at a recent conference for Jewish educators when she volunteered from the audience to partake in David's interactive keynote presentation, to explore what it means, in philosopher Martin Buber's language, to strive to create I-Thou relationships. This experience had an unintended but profound impact on both Elyssa and David.
What transpires in this episode is a powerful conversation about the consequences of our interactions as educators and humans, and the changing dynamics of the Jewish educator landscape today.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In a time of shortage of Jewish educators, today’s episode of Adapting focuses specifically on why one would even consider becoming a Jewish educator today, asking such challenging questions as: how has the role of educator become more difficult than it once was? And how can we, as a culture, better champion the profession?
This week's guest is Aviva Lauer, Director of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators in Jerusalem. Aviva speaks with David Bryfman about equipping educators with the Jewish knowledge, pedagogical skills, and supportive onboarding needed to succeed – and avoid burnout.
Aviva shares her pitch for why a career in Jewish education is the most meaningful career one can have.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Your Shavuot is about to be elevated by this special episode of Adapting, where you will experience the profound wisdom of Rabba Yaffa Epstein, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence.
Rabba Epstein and David Bryfman's discussion, brimming with intellectual insights and ideas around the holiday, practically becomes a midrash in the making as they touch on two key components of Shavuot: receiving the Torah and the delivering of the first fruits. Once you hear how Rabba Yaffa explains what these incredible physical and spiritual gifts mean to the Jewish people, you'll feel an overwhelming sensation of gratitude for the holiday and its deep themes.
This week in particular, we express gratitude to Jewish educators everywhere who work tirelessly to impart the invaluable gifts of knowledge and learning to their students.
Chag Shavuot Sameach!
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Gender, feminism, and power are all salient features of adolescent development today. Jewish youth is certainly no exception, and Jewish education must tackle some of these challenging issues today if it is to be relevant and meaningful for today’s learners.
This week's Adapting guest, Shuli Karkowsky, is incorporating these themes into Jewish education through her own work as CEO of Moving Traditions, an organization that merges Jewish learning with social and emotional learning to serve the needs of teens today.
Don't miss Shuli's profound discussion with David Bryfman about insights from her non-traditional career path, the Jewish value ofhakarat hatov, or expressing gratitude, and why teens engaged in their Jewish community are happier teens.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
May is Jewish American Heritage Month, and what is more Jewish American than teens spending the summer at camp exploring their culture?
Since the postwar era, summer camps have been driven by intentional and ideological education (think Zionism, Yiddish and Ashkenazi culture, etc.). No one understands this history better than this week's Adapting guest, Sandra Fox, author of the book, The Jews of Summer: Summer Camp and Jewish Culture in Postwar America.
Her book serves as a wakeup call for anyone who might have thought that summer camp was all about fun and socialization. This discussion teaches us how the historical understanding of postwar America can inform our thinking about many issues in Jewish education today.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
According to this week's Adapting guest, Liron Lipinsky, when it comes to youth programming, teens come for the social component and stay for the educational experiences. Is this tactic a bait and switch? No. In fact, it's the secret sauce to teen engagement.
In this episode, BBYO's VP of Enrichment discusses with David Bryfman how to leverage informal social experiences to empower youth, instill Jewish pride, and build engagement and education around Israel. If you are a teen educator or someone who cares about Jewish life at such a critical age, you will not want to miss this episode!
There is much at stake for the future of Jewish education in these rapidly changing times. Last week, The Jewish Education Project released a comprehensive report, From Census to Possibilities: Designing Pathways for Jewish Learners, on the current state of Jewish supplementary schools in North America, the first of its kind since 2008.
On this week's episode of Adapting, David Bryfman delves into the report's findings, but more importantly potential pathways forward, with Jewish educator Marisa Kaiser, who not only is immersed in the religious school environment daily, but has a broader perspective on the field as well. Marisa shares possibilities of how to enhance supplementary Jewish education so that children can grow into lifelong learners of Judaism.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Data can be used as an effective and important tool for measuring success of Jewish engagement. But what are the data points we are looking for? And once we have that data, how can we use it to the best of our ability to better understand our audiences and the factors that motivate them to live a more Jewish life?
On this week's episode of Adapting, Jennifer Zwilling draws from her experiences at Hillel International and the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC, and how she successfully collected data to measure the impact of Jewish engagement and further connect audiences to Jewish experiences. This work shows how when you ask the right questions, you can gain insight that gets you closer to achieving your organizational goals.
This week's Adapting includes a frank conversation with David Bryfman and Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath, Senior Director of Knowledge, Ideas, and Learning at The Jewish Education Project, as they review key takeaways from discussions about AI at the Jewish Futures Conference on March 23, 2023.
Tune in to this episode of Adapting to explore: as educators, should we be wary this new technology, or can we embrace these platforms as our teaching partners? Listen to find out!
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Today we can interact with machine learning in new, unprecedented ways. Educators can ask a chatbot to write lesson plans at the click of a button. Students can incorporate their selfies into the Exodus story.
Artificial Intelligence has the potential to revolutionize Jewish education, and this emerging technology is also raising ethical concerns amongst educators.
This week's Adapting includes a frank conversation with David Bryfman and Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath, Senior Director of Knowledge, Ideas, and Learning at The Jewish Education Project, as they review key takeaways from discussions about AI at the Jewish Futures Conference on March 23, 2023.
Tune in to this episode of Adapting to explore: as educators, should we be wary this new technology, or can we embrace these platforms as our teaching partners? Listen to find out!
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
The way educators talk about identity has direct impact on how learners see themselves reflected in Jewish tradition. That is why LGBTQ+ advocacy and embracing gender identity work is imperative for Jewish education.
Talking to David Bryfman this week on Adapting is Dubbs Weinblatt (they/them), Founder and CEO of Thank You for Coming Out, who advocates for creating a more just and inclusive world. Bravely sharing their story as a genderqueer trans Jew, Dubbs teaches us this work is inherently Jewish, intertwined with the values of B'tzelem Elohim ("In God's Image") and Shmirat Halashon ("Guarding one's use of language"), and that we shouldn't have to sacrifice one identity for another in Jewish spaces.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
There are almost one million Israelis living in the United States today. This includes immigrants who came to America as Israelis and discovered their Jewishness in different and exciting ways, and their children who have grown up pretty much like other Jewish Americans... just with Israeli parents. Now these families as Israeli American Jews and their children face a unique set of challenges as they balance maintaining their Israeli with their American Jewish experience.
Joining David Bryfman on this week's episode of Adapting is Dr. Yakir Englander of the Israeli American Council to discuss what it means to build a vibrant Israeli-American Jewish community, one where, the relationship is mutual: Israelis learn from their American peers and Americans learn about Israeli culture, demonstrating an education of Klal Yisrael (all of the Jewish people).
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Schlep, klutz, shvigger... Yiddish is more than a few kitschy words. The language embodies and celebrates Jewish culture and daily life that is often lost to a younger generation, and can be used as a tool to get learners excited about connecting to Jewish life.
This week on Adapting, David Bryfman speaks with Susan Bronson, Executive Director of the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA, who advocates for studying Yiddish as a way to create a generation of Jewishly literate youths. With themes of activism, persecution, and modernity, reading seemingly "dying" Jewish languages like Yiddish and Ladino is, in fact, critical for engaging others while bridging communities across the Jewish spectrum.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
A rabbi walks into a bar... and opens a Jewish house of learning.
Imagine a tavern playing Israeli music, the walls lined with old books written in Hebrew or even Aramaic, and patrons coming together to discuss those texts and other Jewish ideas while sharing food and drink inspired by cuisine of the diaspora. You don't have to imagine a communal Jewish house of learning because it exists, and it is called Lehrhaus.
This week on Adapting with David Bryfman, Rabbi Charlie Schwartz discusses his innovative concept of Lehrhaus, a Boston-based nonprofit designed to increase the prevalence of Jewish learning by making it accessible and fun regardless of Jewish backgaround. With a single mission in making Jewish education meaningful and relevant over delicious food and engaging conversation, Lehrhaus is a great example of what can be achieved when we mix innovation and Jewish education.
Click here to watch Charlie's video, "A Vision in 4 Parts," winner of the first Jewish Futures Competition in 2010.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Since the pandemic, the Jewish nonprofit sector has faced the same changes and challenges as the rest of the working world: the Great Resignation, shifted expectations of work, and Gen Z entering the workforce, to name a few. Joining this week’s episode of Adapting is Amy Born, Chief Strategy & Impact Officer from Leading Edge, an organization that supports Jewish nonprofits on their quests to become even better places to work.
Together, David Bryfman and Amy Born explore the themes that, as Jewish nonprofit leaders – from CEO’s to directors and beyond – are on our minds: work-life balance and setting boundaries, recruitment and retention of Jewish educators, and the role lay leaders play in ensuring the Jewish workforce is as strong as it can be. Lastly, Amy shares advice for Jewish leaders based on her expertise and Leading Edge data to ensure they are doing all they can to run a healthy and successful work environment today and for the future.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Empowerment. Ownership of your own destiny. Social engines of change. These were factors that spurred on the Zionist youth movement phenomenon and established their prominence in the 20th century. As historian Walter Laqueur once said, "[The youth movement] won't be merely a footnote in the story of the Jewish people, but a whole chapter." But can Zionist youth movements succeed in the 21st century? Are they equipped to fight the powerful forces at work today?
David Bryfman waxes nostalgic on Zionist youth movements with this week’s Adapting guest, Jonny Ariel, an “Education Connoisseur” with 35 years of experience in Jewish education, and a one-time "Jewish Youth Leader of the Year" in the movement for Soviet Jewry. The two also debate the future of Zionist youth movements, if they must still be built on counterculture, or will require a whole new paradigm to flourish in a very different world.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Summer camp creates a unique environment that resembles a Jewish utopia inside a bubble. It's a culture built on kindness and connection without outside academic or societal pressure, and in many cases, access to technology, that enhances cherished face time with friends as well as young staff members who serve as mentors. Plus, campers enjoy aspects of Jewish life they may not experience at home.
This week’s episode of Adapting takes you inside the bubble of summer camp with Debby Shriber, the Executive Director of the URJ Northeast Camps. David Bryfman and Debby explore the secrets of summer camp success, the crucial role of Camp Directors, and how well-meaning parents can let the air out of the bubble. They probe the question: can we spread these joyful Jewish experiences in campers' lives throughout the rest of the year, or does the bubble, by its very nature, only exist during summer in a camp setting?
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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🎙️The Ruach Behind the Rhythm featuring Naomi Less
🎙️The impact of summer day camps all year round featuring Rabbi Ami Hersh
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
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🎙️The Resilience of Jewish Day Schools featuring Paul Bernstein
🎙️Is the Writing on the Wall for Jewish Day Schools? featuring Dr. Chaim Botwinick
From the classroom to camp, at the top and the bottom of an institution, anybody can be a great leader. As we look at what makes an adaptive leader, we see that what matters is learners feeling "implicated and activated" to create an expanded identity within a collective framework, the ultimate purpose of Jewish education.
In this week's inspirational episode of Adapting, David Bryfman talks to Sarah Mali, former Vice President of Masa Israel Journey's Leadership & Impact Center and current Director General at Jewish Federations Canada UIA, about how we embrace a new type of leadership beyond the pandemic and utilize the organic connections that were there all the time to motivate learners.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Think of a time from your childhood when song helped you learn, whether it was memorizing all 50 states in the U.S., Jewish prayers, or the ABC's. How effective was learning that topic through song? How did it feel to recall this? Music not only helps us learn, but also builds connection, boosts happiness, and holistically embodies learners, well into adulthood.
We’re excited to kick off Adapting in the new year on an upbeat note - pun intended! - with the talented Naomi Less, an internationally celebrated singer/songwriter, ritualist, and educator. David Bryfman and Naomi talk about the power of and intention behind using music as a tool in experiential education, the influence of Christian rock, and “Storah Telling,” which brings Jewish ritual to life through music and active participation in the stories of the Torah.
This episode contains sensitive subject material (youth suicide) and may not be suitable for some listeners.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
When the world went into lockdown in 2020, there was a lot of uncertainty, but there was also a great deal of innovation and adaptability, especially in education.
This week's episode of Adapting is a re-release on this very topic, with a fresh and reflective introduction by David Bryfman. On May 13, 2020, just six weeks into the pandemic, David Bryfman kicked off the first episode of Adapting with Maya Bernstein about adaptive leadership in the thick of such a tumultuous time. Their discussion so early on during the pandemic is eerily relevant today, as they unpack the characteristics of adaptive leadership - grief management, perspective, pivoting, to name a few - and what has changed and what has stayed the same in Jewish education since then.
This re-cast highlights the amazing work and necessary skills of adaptive Jewish educators, reminding us of how far we've come the last few years, and what we need to do to get closer to achieving an ideal future for Jewish education.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Connecting with Jewish teens has always been a challenge, but today it brings more questions than ever, as teens have exponentially more demands on their time and attention than in decades prior. The work of engaging Jewish teens is deeply personal, with youth-serving professionals being called upon to tap into the emotional as much as the practical in order to meaningfully and effectively work with young people at pivot points along their lifelong Jewish journeys.
On this week's episode of Adapting, David Bryfman interviews Ira Miller, who is recognized in the field of synagogue youth education, having worked in this space for decades. Ira shares personal stories from his experience with "adults waiting to happen," delving into his triumphs, challenges, and life lessons from tragedy. Through authenticity, communication, and compassion, educators still have the power to connect and engage with our young leaders of today.
This episode contains sensitive subject material (youth suicide) and may not be suitable for some listeners.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
It is both an exciting and perhaps terrifying era for Jewish educators when digital technology is empowering learners in their own learning. Rather than being seen as a fountain of knowledge that learners turn to for information, 21st century educators must adopt a different set of skills – including flipping their classrooms, utilizing principles of gaming, and enabling people to learn in ways that work best for them. On the latest episode of Adapting, David Bryfman discusses with Barry Joseph how digital technology can help model what these cutting-edge, engaging methods look like.
With 25+ years of experience in digital learning and design, Barry brings a fresh perspective to the field and an optimistic future, as he discusses the value of implementing digital technology both inside and outside the classroom, and why we should not be afraid to explore it with our learners.
Mentioned in this episode is the book, "The Rules We Break" by Eric Zimmerman.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Death and dying are topics that are often avoided, both in the world at large and in the realm of Jewish education. Rabbi Melanie Levav—award-winning educator, chaplain, and certified social worker—not only makes these topics easier to discuss, but suggests that Jewish educators cannot and should not avoid the topic. In this week’s episode of Adapting, Rabbi Melanie and David Bryfman discuss her work and how she brings ancient Jewish wisdom into this emotional space. Their discussion pushes Jewish educators to consider how we can normalize conversations about death and dying, and in doing so reduce fear, promote greater connections, and paradoxically even bring Torah to life at moments of death.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Antisemitism is often referred to as the world’s oldest hatred, and perhaps it is not surprising that it's rearing its ugly head again in popular and sporting culture today. Now, with Ye, Kyrie, and Dave Chappelle at the forefront of educators' minds, it is as important as ever to analyze and discuss these issues with their learners – and the broader Jewish community must support and empower them to do so.
Joining David Bryfman on this week’s episode is Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath, Gen Z expert and author of #antisemitism: Coming of Age during the Resurgence of Hate. They discuss her groundbreaking research on how antisemitism is affecting the younger generation through social media and celebrities, and how educators can embolden the next generation to respond to hate and instill Jewish pride.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Jewish Day Schools are having a celebrated moment, but will they be viable in 20 years? Are the trends and challenges that may impact day schools in the future...leadership turnover, a quality educator pipeline, and affordability, being sufficiently acknowledged and addressed? In this week's episode of Adapting, David Bryfman explores these topics and more with Dr. Chaim Botwinick, an executive coach, consultant, and day school executive director who is bravely challenging the status quo. His frank assessment of the strengths and deficiencies in the Jewish Day School landscape is both illuminating and disquieting, but ultimately leaves listeners with a newfound sense of optimism on how we can sustain a thriving Jewish Day School system.
Read Chaim's article in the Times of Israel here.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.
The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Abi Dauber Sterne and Robbie Gringras want society to argue more. Really! The two veteran educators believe that arguments can be a constructive force in Israel education. Robbie and Abi, authors of the book Stories For The Sake of Argument, explain why argument does not always have to end in divisiveness, and how a healthy argument can bring people of opposing view points closer together. This conversation takes on added importance this week, in the aftermath of the Israeli election and as Israelis and Jews around the world prepare to observe and reflect on the 28th anniversary of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, a time when the space for healthy arguments was missing in Israeli society.
To learn more about Yom Rabin, check out For The Sake of Argument's free resources about what the day means to different groups in Israeli society.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In this episode of Adapting David Bryfman speaks with Noam Weissman of OpenDor Media, an experienced Israel educator and podcaster in his own right. They discuss how Jewish educators can use the upcoming Israeli elections as a teaching tool to further engage students with Israel and the complexities of Israeli society. Noam shares his affection for Israeli political ads, which OpenDor Media has translated and captioned for non-Hebrew speakers to access. In this discussion Noam is forthright in his views about Jewish education and that in today’s day and age, it’s not possible "to have a healthy relationship with one’s Jewish identity without including Israel in that.”
Interested in learning more about Israel's upcoming elections?
Check out Unpacked's translated and captioned political ads here.
Unpacked's guide to the 2022 Israeli elections.
Unpacked video: Inside Israel's Knesset.
Noam's podcast, Unpacking Israeli History.
The ecosystem of Jewish education depends on the contributions of various stakeholders and philanthropy is playing an increasing role in this landscape. This episode of Adapting explores some of the passion, concerns, and challenges that funders think about when making their contributions to Jewish causes. In conversation with Shawna Goodman Sone, raised in Montreal and now living in Israel, David discusses why Shawna cares so deeply about the issues and the various causes that motivate her philanthropy. "It starts with the kishkes," Shawna says, "and everything else goes from there." The wisdom and learning from this episode clearly speaks to both funders and practitioners, and emphasizes the need for further conversations like these that bridge the seeming gap between the two.
Loved the episode and looking for more insight into philanthropic decision making? Listen to Shawna and her brother Jonathan Goodman on the Jewish Funders Network's podcast, What Gives?
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
For what was once regarded as fluffy education, experiential Jewish education has grown exponentially in recent decades. It’s dramatic rise has also surfaced many challenges for Jewish educators, academics, and those who support them. Does experiential Jewish education need a set of formal standards for educators and learners? And if so, who should be responsible for crafting these standards in a way that captures the breadth and diversity of everything that falls under the banner of experiential Jewish education. In this conversation the contrasting viewpoints, of friends and close colleagues, Shuki Taylor and David Bryfman, might surprise you.
Check out Shuki's article, "Jewish Education Should Have 'Shoulds' " co-authored with Benjamin M. Jacobs.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
According to Rabbi Ben Spratt, if you look around the American Jewish landscape, some organizations and institutions seem stuck, petrified of making big and needed changes. On the horizon, he views an American Jewish future that is able to break this stagnation as he places Jewish educators and Jewish education at the center of this seismic and necessary shift. What led Rabbi Spratt to this revelation? Why are Jewish educators uniquely suited for this moment? Listen to find out.
Check out Rabbi Spratt's new book, Awakenings: American Jewish Transformations in Identity, Leadership, and Belonging, co-authored with Rabbi Joshua Stanton.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Imagine a job where you are expected to know every detail about a 5,000-year-old tradition and its sacred texts. Sounds difficult, right? Welcome to the world of Jewish educators.
These unique challenges are one of the reasons that some Jewish educators struggle with impostor syndrome. It's something that concerns Rabba Yaffa Epstein, who has worked as a Jewish educator around the world for decades. On the first episode of season 3 of Adapting, Rabba Epstein and David Bryfman, The Jewish Education Project's CEO, ask: What do we need to do to help educators overcome this challenge?
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Is the current state of Jewish education half full or half empty? You could say that the answer is somewhere in between, that both are true, at least to some extent. Or you could say that it really does depend on who you ask.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
This season of Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education will tackle some of the more challenging issues facing Jewish education today. You’ll be hearing from some of the most influential voices, discussing some of the more controversial issues – the ones that are more frequently spoken about behind closed doors than they are in public spaces. Adapting is hosted by David Bryfman, The Jewish Education Project's CEO. Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What happens when you reimagine an ancient ritual like immersing in the mikveh? What is it that makes the mikveh’s restorative waters a powerful spiritual and educational experience? On this episode of Our Jewish Futures, Rabbi Amalia Mark of Mayyim Hayyim discusses her deep connection with the ritual of mikveh and how Mayyim Hayyim helps people from around the country and world connect with this ancient practice.
This episode was hosted and produced by Dr. Samantha Vinokor Meinrath, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Director, Knowledge, Ideas and Learning. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What will the history classroom of the future look like? Through what lens should educators teach about Judaism and other world religions? On this episode of Our Jewish Futures, historian and educator Rebecca Brenner Graham shares her ideas about the role of the “3 B’s”- Behavior, Belief, and Belonging- in history education and why she believes it is important to have her students question existing historical narratives.
This episode was hosted and produced by Dr. Samantha Vinokor Meinrath, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Director, Knowledge, Ideas and Learning. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What are the core elements needed for a quality Jewish EdTech product? Russel Neiss’s answer will surprise you. Russel, a Jewish educator fluent in both Yiddish and Javascript, is a Senior Product Software Engineer at Sefaria. A longtime developer of Jewish EdTech products, Russel explains why quality educational design – and not fancy technology- is at the heart of successful technology initiatives.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
For Rabbi Adina Allen, the word “creativity” is a code word for God. Rabbi Allen believes that everyone, despite what your art teacher may have told you, has inherent creative abilities. As the co-founder and creative director of the Jewish Studio Project, Rabbi Allen helps Jewish communal professionals and lay leaders harness their creative powers and enhance their connection with the divine.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Why does Daniel Olson get frustrated when he hears the phrase “special needs” used to describe a child? Why does he believe that learners with disabilities receive only a “partial invitation to citizenship” in some Jewish educational settings? Daniel, the Director of Strategic Initiatives & Research at the National Ramah Commission, is a scholar who researches the experience of people with developmental disabilities in Jewish Education. In this episode he challenges listeners to reconsider what people with disabilities are capable of. He also reflects on his childhood in the tight knit Jewish community of St. Paul, Minnesota, and how his love of the performing arts shaped his career as a Jewish educator.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
In a single moment, an educator can dramatically change a person’s life, even if they didn’t know it. It’s a lesson K.M. DiColandrea, aka DiCo, a 2021 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award recipient and director and founder of the Brooklyn Debate League, learned in the most unexpected way. DiCo shares his journey, and struggles, to follow his life’s calling – empowering under-privileged students through skillful debate, to amplify their voices and replace self-doubt with self-confidence. DiCo’s life, and mission, was catapulted into the stratosphere after a grateful student got him featured on the Humans of New York Facebook account, raising over $1.3 million to help close the wide gap in Speech and Debate programs across New York City. Hear about his incredible journey, and which biblical story best reflects his own.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What can be done to improve Hebrew language teaching and learning?
T'helah Ben-Dan, a long time teacher and student of Hebrew, has a few ideas. On the third episode of Our Jewish Futures with Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath, T’helah speaks about Hebrew and Jewish identity, second language acquisition, empowering educators, and how Hebrew can serve as a connector for the global Jewish community.
This episode was hosted and produced by Dr. Samantha Vinokor Meinrath, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Director, Knowledge, Ideas and Learning. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Community. Love of Torah. Stronger social bonds. These are just a few of the benefits Rabbi Dr. Dan Smokler and Erica Frankel of the Office Of Innovation see in adults who participate in regular Torah study with peers. Dan and Erica discuss their unique backgrounds in labor organizing and dance, respectively, their small-town upbringings, OOI's new cohort based Jewish learning series, IYUN, and how they are harnessing this cultural moment when adults have a thirst for learning.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What goes into a successful relationship between a board president and a CEO? Martine Fleishman, The Jewish Education Project’s Board President, shares insights and stories from her board presidency and her communal volunteer work. She reflects on what has made her extraordinary partnership with David Brfyman, The Jewish Education Project’s CEO, so powerful and transformative, and what other board members and executives can learn from it. Martine also reflects on her passion for Jewish education, starting with her childhood in South Africa, her trips to Israel as a child, and her involvement with the Jewish education of her three children in the United States. This is a must-listen-to episode for anyone in a leadership role.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
How do Amram Altzman, Jessica Cohen, and Megan Sass approach the most pressing issues facing Jewish educators today? Amram, the Associate Director of Youth Programs at Keshet, discusses how he reimagined his approach to LGBTQ Jewish teen engagement because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jessica, Associate Director of Religious Education at Congregation Rodeph Sholom, shares her approach to building a curriculum that supports the social and emotional needs of students. Megan, the Tefilah Specialist/Young Families Songleader at SAJ-Judaism That Stands for All, analyzes how the arts help children and families forge strong connections with Jewish culture and each other.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What motivates and inspires Francie Goldberg and Emily Hausman, two of the recipients of The Jewish Education Project's 2022 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award? Francie, the Director of Admissions and Marketing and School Librarian at HANC Plainview, discusses her unique approach to family education and the importance of making libraries places where children feel creatively empowered. Emily, Director of Early Childhood Education at the Riverdale Y, shares her passion for working with young children and what it's like working at a school that is part of New York City's universal early childhood education program.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What gives Liz Kleinrock hope for the future? The students in her classroom. In the second episode of Our Jewish Futures, Liz joins The Jewish Education Project’s Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath for a fascinating conversation on antiracist and antibias education in Jewish spaces and beyond. They discuss her social media activism, the importance of education about Antisemitism, and her work as an antibias and antiracist facilitator.
This episode was hosted and produced by Dr. Samantha Vinokor Meinrath, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Director, Knowledge, Ideas and Learning. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Rabbi Leor Sinai, Senior Director of Israel Education at RootOne ,joins David Bryfman this week to suggest that Yom Hazikaron and Yom HaAtzma’ut represent two of the "modern days of awe." Rabbi Sinai’s passion for Israel education and his students shines throughout this episode, and he discusses how educators can transmit the significance of these days to learners, wherever they are in the world. Learn more about the Lone Soldier Center and Michael Levin z"l, mentioned at the end of the episode, at lonesoldiercenter.com.
This episode was originally released on Yom HaZikaron 2022.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Rabbi Yehudah Potok, Director of Jewish Education at Facing History and Ourselves joins David Bryfman for a meaningful episode focused on Holocaust education for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences. Rabbi Potok shares how he understands the phrase "Never Again", why it’s important to balance the universal and the particular in Holocaust education, and how he’s responding to questions from students about the violence in Ukraine. Rabbi Potok also reflects on what his family history, a love of summer camp, and personal experiences staffing teen travel excursions taught him about the role of experiential education in perpetuating living memories of Jewish history.
This episode was originally released on Yom Hashoah 2022.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Jewish or not, teens are teens. As Jewish educators, if we want to be serious about the future of teen Jewish education, we should be actively engaging with our colleagues from other faith traditions doing this same work. For the first episode of Our Jewish Futures, Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath speaks with Kenda Creasy Dean, an ordained United Methodist pastor and the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. Kenda shares her journey as a teen educator, and what inspires her passion for what she calls the privilege of connecting with young people at critical junctions in their life’s journey.
This episode was hosted and produced by Dr. Samantha Vinokor Meinrath, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Director, Knowledge, Ideas and Learning. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Welcome to Our Jewish Futures, a new series within Adapting hosted by The Jewish Education Project's Dr. Samantha Vinokor- Meinrath! In this series, Samantha speaks with educators and thought leaders from in and outside the world of Jewish education to envision the Jewish Future. Join us for this exciting new journey! New episodes will be released about once a month in the Adapting podcast feed.
Our Jewish Futures is hosted and produced by Dr. Samantha Vinokor Meinrath, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Director, Knowledge, Ideas and Learning. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Can you imagine if your congregation had 100% participation for every Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat service? According to Rabbi Matt Dreffin of the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, that's typically the case in some small Jewish communities he works with. Rabbi Dreffin speaks with David Bryfman about the vitality of Jewish life in the South and what can we all learn from what’s taking place in small Southern communities, how he designs an intensely detailed curriculum with the intention that anyone--even people with no Jewish knowledge--could teach Hebrew school, and what it feels like to be the first Jewish person someone meets. He even plays a bit of a famous Southern song!
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Who owns the Torah? What does it mean for Jewish education now that we have free universal access to the Torah, Talmud, and other Jewish texts? Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld, Chief Learning Officer at Sefaria, a free virtual library of Jewish texts, speaks with David Bryfman about her passion for Jewish text, how gender affected her own access to Jewish texts, and what drives her work building a new digital infrastructure for Jewish text.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
"As my colleague Allison Cook says, 'It feels like magic, but it doesn’t take magic to make it happen, it takes pedagogy.'" Rabbi Avi Killip, Executive Vice President of Hadar Institute, joins David Bryfman to discuss what it takes to make Jewish learning- family engagement, adult education, and everything in between- magical and meaningful. She also reflects on how her struggles with dyslexia impact how she teaches today.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
"Would I open that?” Carine Warsawski, often asks herself when she and her team are creating email blasts and other marketing materials for Trybal Gatherings, a national nonprofit that reimagines Jewish gatherings for adults in their 20s and 30s. Carine, the founder and CEO of Trybal, delves into the social media strategies that have helped Trybal rise above “the noise” to truly engage with Jewish adults in a hyper-busy world. Grab your color war gear, fill up your water bottle, and get ready to head to camp!
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What has changed and what needs to stay the same in Jewish teen engagement? Michelle Shapiro Abraham, an award-winning Jewish educator with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), spends her days pondering these questions. Michelle reflects on how her educational and professional journey - starting as a full-scholarship camper at Camp Swig in the 1980s - has impacted the way she strives to empower Jewish teens participating in camp, Israel, and immersive educational programs.
What should Jewish educators be teaching students and families about Ukraine and its complex Jewish past during this time of war? Leonard Petlakh, Executive Director of the Kings Bay Y and JCC Brooklyn, speaks with David Bryfman about how educators can navigate the complex contours of this conflict. Hear about Leonard’s trip to Kyiv in October 2021 and his vision for a time when we can start proactively educating about Jewish life in Ukraine and the former Soviet Union and the vibrancy of Russian Jewish culture. Check out pictures from Leonard's trip at bit.ly/adaptingukrainewarjewisheducation
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
What is the magic of 21st century Jewish day schools? Rabbi Joshua Lookstein, Head of School at Westchester Day School, speaks with David Bryfman about the unique opportunities Jewish day schools provide. Rabbi Lookstein, who hails from a rabbinic dynasty, offers reflections on his family’s legacy and what he learned at his parents’ Shabbat table. Hear how #opernationshabbatshalom has brought a new sense of community and connection to his Shabbat preparations.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Amidst rising anti-Semitism, Holocaust education recently made nationwide headlines after a school board in Tennessee voted to remove the Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel Maus from its curriculum. In this episode, Professor Ben Jacobs of George Washington University breaks down why this change sparked such controversy. Together, he and David Bryfman explore the state of Holocaust education in secular and Jewish schools, historically and today, and why the medium of a graphic novel is so conducive to transmitting the horrors of the Shoah to a new, digitally minded generation.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
The impact of Jewish Day Camps in North America is significant. Rabbi Ami Hersh - the director of Ramah Nyack- knows this well as someone who has spent more than half his life working in the field. Rabbi Hersh and David Bryfman explore some of the magic of Jewish day camps, expose a few secrets behind these experiences, and challenge us all to think about how such a successful model of Jewish education can be spread to other settings and experienced all year-round.
Additional Resources:
Vision at the Heart: Lessons from Camp Ramah On The Power of Ideas In Shaping Educational Institutions - Seymour Fox with William Novak
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
For decades Dr. Barry Chazan has sought to answer a humble question, what is it about informal Jewish education, like camp and travel, that is so powerful? David Bryfman reflects with Dr. Chazan, founding international director of education at Taglit-Birthright Israel, about his quest to understand informal Jewish education, and his new book, Principles and Pedagogies in Jewish Education. The book summarizes insights and unanswered questions from Dr. Chazan’s career. He reads aloud his charge for 21st century educators, a reminder of the impact educators can have on students, like the one Dr. Chazan had on his student, David Bryfman.
Additional Resources:
Principles and Pedagogies in Jewish Education Free Kindle
The Philosophy of Informal Jewish Education by Dr. Barry Chazan — 2003
The Subject Of Israel Education Is Not Israel
A response to Barry Chazan: the philosophy of informal Jewish education by Dr. Joe Reimer
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
When Rachel Weinstein White’s children were young, she and her “Jewish adjacent” husband committed to raising a Jewish family, but couldn’t find a Jewish community with other families of color. So Rachel left behind her successful business career to build Fig Tree, an independent Jewish education program that aims to provide a rich and accessible Jewish education to kids from interfaith, interracial and/ or secular backgrounds. In this episode she speaks with David Bryfman about the importance of meeting families where they are, and her belief that while families may come for “just Jewish education,” they stay for Jewish community.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit
jewishedproject.org
where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
The Jewish community experienced another traumatic event this weekend as we watched in horror the incident at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. Dr. Rachel Fish helps us process this event and gives us strategies for standing up to Antisemitism.
Dr. Fish helps us understand why a terrorist thought a rabbi in Texas had the power to free a political prisoner. Dr. Fish emphasizes the importance of educating people she calls "Don't Know's, Don't Care's" about the impact of these incidents. She explains how Jewish educators can prepare their communities to remain proud and strong in the face of Antisemitism.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
Looking for more support in response to Colleyville? We hosted a webinar with Dr. Betsy Stone of HUC-JIR and Rabbi Elizabeth Zeller of Temple Chaverim in Plainview, N.Y. discussing how educators can cope with the trauma of last Shabbat's events. Watch the webinar here and access other resources about responding to antisemitism here.
Success creates a model for others to follow, and in recent decades Chabad has arguably been one of the most successful organizations at connecting with Jewish communities around the world. So what lessons, if any, can Jewish educators take from Chabad’s success? Rabbi Efraim Mintz, Executive Director of Chabad’s Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, speaks with David Bryfman about the Hasidic philosophy that drives the Chabad movement, as taught by the Rebbe — Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. They discuss Chabad’s innovative adoption of technology, Chabad’s work in mental health spaces, and what it means to live a life in service of Am Yisrael.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Additional Resources:
The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute
Chabad.org
TorahCafe.com
Chabad Mental Health Resources
What is Jewish spirituality? For that matter, what is spirituality, and why is it an important, even necessary part of life? Rabbi Josh Feigelson and Michal Smart Fox of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality join David Bryfman to discuss what it means to have a Jewish spiritual practice, and why understanding spirituality is critical for Jewish educators. They look at how COVID has changed our collective quest for spirituality, and the growing body of research that points to the benefits a regular spiritual practice can have. Be sure to look out for when Peloton sneaks into the conversation!
If you’ve never experienced Jewish spirituality, be sure to stick around until the end of the episode for a short Jewish spiritual practice led by Rabbi Feigelson.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Additional Resources:
Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Free Daily Meditation from Institute for Jewish Sprirituality
U.S. Teens Take After Their Parents Religiously, Attend Services Together and Enjoy Family Rituals from Pew Research Center
The Pew study cheat sheet: 10 key conclusions from the new survey of American Jews
Navigating Uncertainty: The State of Religion & Young People 2021 by Springtide Research
National survey on youth and religion raises concern about Gen-Z Jews — and questions about how to understand them by Rabbi Josh Feigelson on JTA
‘The ways of Torah are peaceful’: Why football presents a dilemma for American Jews by Rabbi Josh Feigelson on JTA
Is the pandemic the perfect opportunity for faith leaders to reach Gen Z? by Mya Jaradat
What is the purpose of Jewish education? Is it to teach skills? To inspire? To build Jewish community? Rabbi Benay Lappe, President & Rosh Yeshiva at SVARA, a self-described traditionally radical yeshiva, joins David Bryfman to discuss what we can learn from the story of Chanukah, how that story has been reinvented, and the purpose of Jewish education. Together, they explore how SVARA is responding to a “crash” in Jewish life by using the Talmud as a blueprint to reimagine Jewish tradition so Judaism can continue to do what Rabbi Lappe says was always the point— to create good people.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Additional Resources:
SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva
Learn with SVARA
The Crash Talk
Too Late for Pluralism—or Too Early? By Rabbi Lappe in Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas
Rabbi Lappe on Judaism Unbound Podcast
Rabbi Lappe's ELI Talk - An Unrecognizable Jewish Future: A Queer Talmudic Take
How to Read the Talmud by Rabbi Lappe on MyJewishLearning.com
Collected Essays by Rabbi Lappe
The Oral Talmud Weekly Livestream with Rabbi Lappe and Dan Libenson
“This moment in history calls on us to think about what is our relationship with the natural world, which is G-d’s creation.” Jakir Manela, CEO of Hazon and Pearlstone, joins David Bryfman to share his views on Jewish environmentalism, the growing JOFEE (Jewish Outdoor Food Farming & Environmental Education) movement, and the fundamentally deep ties between Jewish tradition and the natural world. They discuss how to cultivate deep authentic Jewishness and universalism simultaneously, how Gen Z is driving sustainability conversations in the Jewish community and beyond, and how Jewish educators can help students embrace a sense of “holy wow.”
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Additional Resources:
Hazon Website
Teva Learning Center
JOFEE Seeds of Opportunity Study
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Pearlstone
Hazon: The Podcast
The Shmita Project
Farm and Forest School at Pearlstone
This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation on Amazon
We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast on Amazon
Join David Bryfman and Rabbi Nicki Greninger of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, California for an animated conversation on what Rabbi Greninger insists we shouldn’t call "Hebrew School." Rabbi Greninger shares what makes today’s programs different from yesterday’s, what she’s doing to change the way students learn Hebrew, and how JQuest—Temple Isaiah’s education program for children 2 years old through 7th grade—is building Jewish identity, knowledge, and community through Jewish education.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Additional Resources:
JQuest @ Temple Isaiah
JQuest on YouTube
“Let’s Stop Calling it Hebrew School” on eJewishPhilanthropy
Let's Stop Calling it "Hebrew School": Rationales, Goals, and Practices of Hebrew Education in Part-time Jewish Schools — CASJE Study
2021 Part-Time School Census by The Jewish Education Project
How the Creation of “Tracks” Re-invigorated our Religious School on eJewishPhilanthropy
Technology has become an integral part of every Jewish educator’s toolbox. Online classrooms, video tours, and web conferencing to name a few, have changed the ways students and educators engage with each other and their sacred content. The Jewish Education Project recently launched a pair of online platforms—Truvie and The Jewish Educators Portal— that curate resources for educators and empower students to curate their own online Jewish education. In this bonus episode, David speaks with Jonathan Fass, Managing Director, Educational Technology and Strategy, about the intention behind these platforms, and how he sees technology transforming the field of Jewish education.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Additional Resources:
The Jewish Educator Portal
Truvie.org
The Jewish world often finds itself divided on issues related to Israel, Jewish practice, and intermarriage. At times, our divisions seem to threaten the very idea of global Jewish peoplehood. On this episode Zack Bodner speaks about the imperative to “do Jewish,” what motivated him to write his new book Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood, and the way Bodner, CEO of the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, California, thinks West Coast Judaism is redefining American Jewish culture for the 21st century.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Additional Resources:
Zack Bodner’s Website
Pre-order Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood
Tiffany Shlain — 24/6 The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week
Oshman Family JCC Website
Z3 Project
This week Jewish people around the world from Jerusalem to New York are commemorating the festival of Sigd, a Biblical tradition commonly associated with the Ethiopian Jewish community that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Avezu Fanta, Jewish Agency Israel Fellow at Hillel at Temple University, and a member of the Ethiopian Jewish community, joins David Bryfman, CEO of The Jewish Education Project for a discussion on Sigd and much more.
Avezu shares her personal experiences in the Israeli army and on Temple University's campus, her family's aliyah to Israel, and her hopes for today's modern, globally diverse Jewish world.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Additional Resources:
Resources for teaching Sigd and Exploring Ethiopian Jewry on The Jewish Educator Portal
Every Jewish educator finds themself, at some point, offering the type of support this week’s guest calls “mental first aid.” Educator, comedian and activist Pamela Schuller speaks with The Jewish Education Project’s CEO David Bryfman about the need to offer teens and teen educators broader resources to support mental health in teen Jewish communities. Pamela leads HereNow, a program through The Jewish Board which is proudly funded by UJA-Federation of New York. HereNow offers teens space to write and speak about their own mental health, and inspire others on similar journeys. Pamela shares her perspective on how COVID-19 has impacted teen Jewish communities, and what she hopes to see in the near future.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Additional Resources:
Project Here Now Blog
Download Project Here Now App on Apple Store | Google Play
Mental Health in Young Adult Literature — Resources from Project Here Now
Top Questions About Teen Mental Health, Answered by Pamela Schuller
Dealing With College Rejection By Joanna Valente for Project Here Now
Generation Now: Understanding and Engaging Jewish Teens Today — from The Jewish Education Project
Opening Remarks at Jewish Community’s First Fail Forward Conference by David Bryfman
Our School Of Education “Covid-Keepers:” Evergreen Lessons That Will Shape The Future by Dr. Betsy Stone
The Jewish Education Project’s Jewish Educators Portal
The Jewish Board
Does Jewish early childhood education have the potential to radically transform the Jewish community? What impact would federally funded early childhood education have on Jewish early childhood centers in the United States? What exactly is Jewish early childhood education? This week’s guest is Anna Hartman, recipient of the 2021 Covenant Award for her pioneering work in the field of Jewish early childhood education. Anna shares the story of how she first found herself in a classroom, what that means for the field, and what she’s doing to empower Jewish educators in her hometown, Chicago, and across the country.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Thanks for listening.
Additional Resources:
The Paradigm Project
Anna Hartman Covenant Award Profile
Anna Hartman at Jewish United Fund
“Early Childhood Compensation Can Change” by Anna Hartman on eJewishPhilanthropy
“Marking One Year of COVID in Jewish Education” by Anna Hartman on eJewishPhilanthropy
CASJE Study — “Exploring the Associations between Jewish Early Care and Education and Jewish Engagement: Research to Inform Practice”
CASJE Study — “Promising Practices for Engaging Jewish Families through Jewish Early Care and Education Programs: Lessons Learned”
”What Jewish Engagement Means for Families with Young Children” Infographic
Explore The Jewish Education Project’s Work with Early Childhood & Family Engagement
What does the future hold for Jewish day schools? Is growth seen during the pandemic sustainable? Join us for this critical discussion featuring The Jewish Education Project’s CEO David Bryfman, Paul Bernstein, CEO of Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools, and Nicole Nash, Head of School at Hannah Senesh Community Day School. Together, they discuss what day schools have learned from the pandemic, the unique role schools play in building and sustaining Jewish community, and what that means for the future of Jewish education.
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Thanks for listening.
Additional Resources:
Seizing The Moment: Transferring to Jewish Day School During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Growing Jewish Day School Enrollment – a Blip or the Start of a Trend?
A Year In Review: Data & Reflections On Jewish Day Schools & Yeshivas 2021
Teacher Wellness: Relaxation and Recovery
Hannah Senesh Community Day School Website
Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools
Explore The Jewish Education Project’s Work with Day Schools and Yeshivot
Dr. Ruth Westheimer learned from her late father that "education is the one thing that can't be taken away from you." On this episode of Adapting, Dr. Ruth discusses her amazing life and the power of education to transform lives with The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfman and Chief Advancement Officer Nessa Liben.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on June 23, 2021.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
The Pew Research Center released its "Jewish Americans in 2020" report on May 11. What are implications for Jewish education and engagement? How will day schools, yeshivot, early childhood centers, synagogues, camps, youth groups, and teen travel programs, amongst other educational settings, respond?The Jewish Education Project's CEO Dr. David Bryfman, Dr. Arielle Levites of CASJE, Dr. Moshe Krakowski of Yeshiva University, and Dr. Analucía Lopezrevoredo of Jewtina y Co. discuss the Pew Research Center's "Jewish Americans in 2020" report.
This special LIVEcast was presented in conjunction with CASJE.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on May 26, 2021.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
What is the true purpose of Jewish education? The Jewish Education Project's CEO Dr. David Bryfman and Dr. Bruce Powell, Dr. Erica Rothblum, and Dr. Ron Wolfson explore how to create A+ human beings. They discuss why Jewish education is best suited for this audacious responsibility, and what parents and grandparents need to know to support their children in becoming the best versions of themselves. Check out Dr. Powell and Dr. Wolfson's new book Raising A+ Human Beings.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on May 5, 2021.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
As we look toward the future, how are innovative Jewish educators shining a light beyond the pandemic? 2021 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Awardees DiCo DiColandrea, Melissa Hume, Dammara Kovnats Hall, Pamela Schuller, and Avi Siegel,join The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfmanfor a conversation on how they are helping their communities build for a brighter tomorrow.
Watch the video recording of the episode here.
This episode was recorded on March 11, 2021.
Learn more about the 2021 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Awardees. Register for The Jewish Education Project's Virtual Benefit on March 22 and make a donation today.
Dr. Erica Brown of The George Washington University discusses Esther and Vashti, dual heroines of the Purim story, and what we can learn about honoring the heroism of Jewish educators today with The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfman and Chief Advancement Officer Nessa Liben.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on February 24, 2021.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
This is the final episode of our seven bonus episodes. These episodes were recorded in the spring of 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfman chats with Daniel Held, Executive Director of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Education, in a wide ranging conversation on Jewish life in Canada, the importance of multiple high impact Jewish experiences, day school affordability, and the future of Jewish education after Coronavirus.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on May 4, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
This is the sixth of our seven bonus episodes. These episodes were recorded in the spring of 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this episode, The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfman chats with Gabe Miner, a veteran Jewish educator. They discuss the influence camp has had on Gabe's career, his experience living and working as a Jewish educator in Poland, his Virtual Seder Project, and the future of Yiddish.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on April 30, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
This is the fifth of our seven bonus episodes. These episodes were recorded in the spring of 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfman chats with Carly Orshan, Director of the Teen Department at the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education in Miami. Carly discusses how programming has shifted – and will continue to evolve – based on the needs of teens and our current climate.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on April 28, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
This is the fourth of our seven bonus episodes. These episodes were recorded in the spring of 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfman chats with Rabbi Elizabeth Zeller of Temple Chaverim in Plainview, N.Y. about self-identity and intellectual growth, and how her job as a congregational rabbi has changed because of coronavirus.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on April 24, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
This is the third of our seven bonus episodes. These episodes were recorded in the spring of 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this episode, The Jewish Educaton Project's CEO David Bryfman (virtually) crosses the Atlantic Ocean to meet up with Robin Moss, Director of Strategy at UJIA in the United Kingdom, for a conversation about Jewish life outside the United States, Jewish life in the UK, and Israel diaspora relations.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on April 23, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
This is the second of our seven bonus episodes. These episodes were recorded in the spring of 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfman chats with Yoni Colman, Director of Leadership Development for NCSY, about his work with NCSY all over North America, and what we can learn as we begin to emerge from coronavirus.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on April 20, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
This is the first of our seven bonus episodes. These episodes were recorded in the spring of 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfman chats with Micol Zimmerman Burkeman, Recruitment and Leadership Development Associate at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, about the importance of creating and sustaining relationships in Jewish education and Jewish education as a way to promote thriving.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.
This episode was recorded on April 14, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
What will Jewish education and communal life look like after COVID-19? What role could and should Jewish philanthropy play in influencing the future of Jewish education? Lisa Eisen, co-president of Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and Yoni Kaiser-Blueth, Program Director of the Jewish Portfolio at The Marcus Foundation, join The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfman for a conversation on Jewish education, engagement, and philanthropy.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on January 13, 2021.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
In these challenging times, what lessons can we learn from the light and miracles of Chanukah? Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove, PhD, Rabbi at Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan and Eliana Light, Jewish educator and musician, speak with The Jewish Education Project's CEO David Bryfman about finding and spreading light, and the role Jewish education plays in restoring the spark to our communities.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on December 16, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
Rabbi Menachem Creditor, the Pearl and Ira Meyer Scholar in Residence at UJA-Federation New York, and Heather Wolfson, CEO and Lead Strategist of Maven Coaching and Consulting, discuss with The Jewish Education Project CEO David Bryfman the central role that Jewish education plays in cultivating gratitude in challenging times.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on November 18, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
What role should Jewish education play in civic engagement today? Aaron Dorfman, President of Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah, and Dr. Tamara Mann Tweel, Director of Civic Initiatives of The Teagle Foundation, discuss Jewish Education and Civic Education.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on October 28, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
How do Jewish educators create the magic of youth and family services in a digital world? What lessons from the High Holiday season will Jewish educators be applying for the rest of the school year? Rabbi Deborah Bravo of MakomNY and Rabbi Charles Savenor of Park Avenue Synagogue discuss with David Bryfman how they and other Jewish educational leaders are creating engaging Jewish educational experiences during this unique period in Jewish history.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on September 30, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
In this behind the scenes conversation with The Jewish Education Project professionals, David Bryfman, Rabbi Jennifer Goldsmith, Sasha Kopp, and Rebecca Ruberg, discuss how Jewish education has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss lessons learned and how they impact the field, including early childhood, teens, and congregational learning. Whether you're a practitioner in the field or a parent or grandparent with children returning to school, watch and listen as they unpack the past few months and share predictions about the future of Jewish education.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on August 19, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
With the school year quickly approaching, and coronavirus cases still surging in parts of the country, how are Jewish day schools preparing for what will be a school year like no other? What are the short and long term economic impacts of COVID-19? What are the opportunities and challenges provided by blended learning in Jewish day schools? Paul Bernstein, CEO of Prizmah, and Amanda Pogany, Head of School at Luria Academy of Brooklyn, discuss these questions with David Bryfman.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on July 29, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
What do teens do when a pandemic interrupts plans for prom, graduation, or college? Is discussing social issues and Jewish texts the same over Zoom as a classroom? Abe Baker-Butler, Alyx Bernstein, Sydney Greene, and Julie Levey discuss their social and emotional lives, their visions for Jewish life, and the actions they are taking to create a better future with The Jewish Education Project's Jodie Goldberg and David Bryfman.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.This episode was recorded on July 15, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
Dr. Rachel Fish is a historian and educator of Zionist thought and Israeli history and society. Robbie Gringras is a British-born Israeli living in the Galilee, working in education, performance, and writing. Anne Lanski is the Founding CEO of The iCenter, an organization that supports and advances the professional field of Israel education across North America. They explore some of the complicated issues that Israel raises for educators today with David Bryfman.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.This episode was recorded on July 1, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
Lauren Belferder, Carly Namdar, Dina Newman and Phreddy Nosanwisch were recipients of the 2020 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award. Lauren Belferder is the Director of Youth Engagement at Temple Sinai of Roslyn on Long Island. Carly Namdar is the Director of Middle School Guidance at Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB). Dina Newman is the Associate Director for Youth and Teen Engagement at Congregation Rodeph Sholom on the Upper West Side. Phreddy Nosanwisch teaches spiritual technologies and Hebrew School at CSAIR in The Bronx. They discuss their work, how they have adjusted their educational practices because of Coronavirus, and share their philosophies of Jewish Education.
Learn more about Lauren, Carly, Dina, Phreddy, and Jonathan Shmidt Chapman, who was unable to join the show, here.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on June 24, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
Saul Kaiserman is Director of Lifelong Learning for Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York, and a Board Member of The Jewish Education Project. He joins David Bryfman for a conversation about how Hebrew Schools and Jewish Supplementary schools will look different after the Coronavirus pandemic, digital learning, the roles of synagogues in religious education, and more.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on June 17, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
Chava Shervington is a current board member and past president of the Jewish Multiracial Network, where she became a recognized voice on issues of racial equity and inclusion in the Jewish community. Yoshi Silverstein is the founder and executive director of Mitsui Collective, Cleveland community organizer for Edot HaMidwest: The Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity Collaborative, and director emeritus of the JOFEE Fellowship at Hazon.
Chava and Yoshi join David Bryfman for a conversation on race and racism in Jewish Education, creating inclusive environments for Jews of Color in Jewish Education, and discuss what it means to be a good ally.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on June 10, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
Dr. Miriam Heller Stern is National Director of the School of Education and Associate Professor at HUC-JIR, based at the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at HUC-JIR's Skirball Campus in Los Angeles. She joins David Bryfman for a conversation about the role of education, the value of Hebrew schools, and more.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here.This episode was recorded on June 3, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
David Bryfman is joined by Julie Finkelstein, Director of Leadership Development at Foundation for Jewish Camp, for a conversation about how Jewish camps are preparing for the summer during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discussed leadership and the culture of camps.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on May 27, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
David Bryfman is joined by Meredith Lewis, Director of Content, Education, and Family Experience for PJ Library in North America for a conversation about the history and mission of PJ Library and how PJ Library supports young families on their journeys of Jewish learning.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on May 20, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.
On the debut episode of Adapting, host David Bryfman is joined by Maya Bernstein, co-founder of UpStart and co-director of Georgetown University's Institute for Transformational Leadership's Certificate in Facilitation, for a conversation about adaptive leadership and Jewish Education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Access the shownotes for this episode and watch the LIVEcast recording here. This episode was recorded on May 13, 2020.
Adapting is produced in partnership with jewishLIVE.
Learn more about The Jewish Education Project.