The Jewish Education Project

06/08/2026

Last week, we said goodbye to the school year, as we gathered with educators and David Bryfman for an afternoon of conversation about Israel education.

With the launch of David's book, Heroism and Hope: Recharging Israel Education in a Post-October 7 World, educators heard directly from David in an intimate, informal setting about his vision for the field and the importance of showing up with care, honesty, and placing emphasis on the learner.

Everyone left with a copy of the book, and even more to think about.

06/05/2026

We just wrapped Teaching Israel through Disagreement: A Mahloket Matters Intensive, a powerful two-day gathering in Manhattan with educators that asked one of the hardest questions in the field right now: how do we actually talk about Israel?

Together, we explored what it means to hold real disagreement in our communities, drawing on Jewish tradition, SEL (Social Emotional Learning) tools, and new pedagogies for navigating some of the most complex conversations in Jewish education today.

Grateful for the honesty, curiosity, and courage in the room, and excited to see how these ideas will shape classrooms in the year ahead!

06/04/2026

This week on Adapting, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath sits down with Ariela Ronay-Jinich, founder and executive director of Olamim: Latin Jewish Belonging for Families 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.

Listen here:
Apple: https://apple.co/49JID0e
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4ukYvxE

06/03/2026

How does the Knesset actually differ from Congress? What’s really behind the debates over judicial reform? And what should we be watching for in the next Israeli elections?

Join us for Israel 101: Understanding Israeli Politics, a virtual mini-course led by our Director of Israel Education, Mikhael Kesher, designed to give educators the foundational knowledge and language to engage these questions with clarity and confidence.

📌 Cost: $36
📌 Active participation in all sessions is expected

Register here: https://educator.jewishedproject.org/content/israel-101-understanding-israeli-politics-summer-2026

06/01/2026

Celebrate the end of the year with colleagues and conversation!

Join fellow educators for an afternoon of wine, cheese, and meaningful connection as we celebrate the U.S. launch of David Bryfman's new book, Heroism and Hope: Recharging Israel Education in a Post-October 7 World.

📅 June 3
🕞 3:30–4:30 PM ET
📍 Manhattan - location sent upon registration

📚 Every attendee will receive a free copy of the book.

Come raise a glass, connect with colleagues, and reflect on the opportunities ahead for Israel education.

RSVP: https://educator.jewishedproject.org/content/book-launch-heroism-and-hope

05/29/2026

We went back to camp!

The Jewish Education Project team joined 200+ colleagues representing 40 organizations from across Greater New York for a day of professional development but mostly connection and play, organized by Trybal Gatherings!

From tie dyeing to silent disco to color war, we laughed, learned, recharged, and sparked new ideas in the most joy-filled way.

05/29/2026

We experienced a bit more hope this week with the launch of David Bryfman’s new book, Heroism and Hope, in Israel.

In partnership with The Jewish Agency for Israel and Z3 Project, we came together in community and conversation around Israel education. Moderated by Abi Dauber Sterne of For the Sake of Argument, David inspired the room with his urgent, thoughtful reflections on reimagining the field in a post-October 7 world.

Buy his book on Amazon, ranked #1 in Jewish Social Studies books here: https://a.co/d/0aflr2ul

Photos: Lior Daskal

05/28/2026

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.

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/4nRGZPI
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4dNeSwz

05/26/2026

In a world of infinite choice and growing uncertainty, what does it mean to teach the next generation not just how to be Jewish, but why?

CEO David Bryfman was just on Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove's Common Faith podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation about Shavuot, Jewish identity, Israel education, and the urgent challenges of raising Jewish children in a post-October 7th world.

Listen here!

In a world of infinite choice and growing uncertainty, what does it mean to teach the next generation not just how to be Jewish—but why? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel welcome leading Jewish educator David Bryfman for a wide-ranging conversation about Shavuot, Jewish identity, Israel educat...