Curiosity, Community, and a Calling: A Decade at CAJE
Posted on 07/25/2025 @ 06:00 AM
By Dr. Carly A. Orshan, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and Teen Department
When people ask how I ended up at CAJE, I usually say, “It was the right fit at the right time.” But the truth is, this journey started long before I had a title or a team.
I grew up in Miami (South Dade) in a home grounded in Reform Jewish life, where Friday night Shabbat dinners were non-negotiable and Jewish learning was something that happened both at the dinner table and in the world around me.
Each week, my family would go around and share the most memorable parts of our week — a simple ritual that made time slow down and brought us closer to each other.
We still do this today (virtually) with my immediate and extended family each week.
My Jewish identity was nurtured at Temple Beth Am Day School (now called the Rambam School).
Jewish life was seamlessly woven into the everyday — so much so that I never thought to separate it from who I was.
That changed just before I started public middle school. A friend’s parent mentioned that school forms would ask for my ethnicity. I said without hesitation, “Jewish.” There was a pause, then laughter — and they told me I should put “White.”
I laughed along, but that moment stuck with me. It was the first time I realized that how I understood myself might not always align with how the world sees me.
As I moved into my teen years, I discovered the power of pluralism and leadership through BBYO, where summer intensives, service projects, and seminars introduced me to the full spectrum of Jewish thought and practice.
These experiences helped me understand that Jewish community is something we build intentionally.
As an adult, my path to Jewish professional life was anything but linear.
I taught English Literature, Writing, and Film at Miami Dade College, Barry University, and FIU — always with an eye toward adolescent literature, Jewish texts, and Holocaust narratives.
Outside the classroom, I founded a kids yoga company, where I taught mindfulness and spirituality to children and educators.
My workshops blended movement, reflection, and Jewish values and reinforced my belief that learning is most powerful when it speaks to the whole person.
On the March with Jon Warech of Hillel FIU
In 2015, a friend sent me a job posting from CAJE with a note that said, “This is so you.” And it was! Today, I lead a dedicated team of four professionals.
As Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and the Teen Department, I oversee the Leo Martin March of the Living, Diller Teen Fellows, IsraelNow, JTEENMiami.org, and a range of community-wide initiatives.
In addition, I guide congregational education and support professionals working with teens across Miami.
Curriculum design and educational strategy are often at the heart of my work these days.
I develop and evaluate programs focused on Israel education, antisemitism, and Jewish identity, always through a lens of nuance, pluralism, and resilience.
Whether unpacking current events or supporting teens as they explore identity, my goal is to help them grow into reflective, courageous leaders.
I also serve as a strategic thought partner across departments and institutions, helping teams reflect, adapt, and lead with intention.
One of our most innovative initiatives in CAJE’s Teen Department was Kavanah Coaching, a Jewish life coaching program funded by a Covenant Foundation grant in 2019.
The program provided teen educators with tools rooted in Jewish wisdom and reflective practice, enhancing their capacity to support teens with greater clarity and compassion.
My doctoral research reflects this same integration of weaving Jewish wisdom into the lives of our teens.
It explored how mindfulness can support Jewish teen well-being, identity formation, and emotional resilience.
Some of the most powerful moments I have experienced in this work is hearing Holocaust Survivors speak about their experiences on our Miami March of the Living program.
During our most recent 2025 March, one of our survivors, Allan Hall, stood in the very place he had once been hidden as a child. At the end of his testimony, he pulled me aside and said words I will never forget, “You are making a difference every day — in these kids’ lives and in mine.”
And from that moment on, I knew I would carry his message with me always.
I remain in this work because I believe in what is possible. I am driven by the potential for growth, change, and meaningful impact.
I believe deeply in the need to equip our community, especially teens and educators, with the tools, language, and confidence to respond to antisemitism, engage with complexity, and navigate today’s world with clarity and courage.
I find purpose in building for the future and collaborating with others to bring bold ideas to life.
When I’m not working, I am usually chasing my preschooler around the playground, with our mellow nine-year-old dog trailing loyally behind.
It is deeply meaningful to watch my child experience Jewish life with the same spark of curiosity and pride that has guided my own journey in the same community that has nurtured me.
Ten years in, I still feel just as curious, committed, and energized as I did on day one.
I feel fortunate to do this work at CAJE while also being part of a community that believes in Jewish education. And I’m looking forward to building what comes next in our community!
To send a message to Carly at carlyorshan@caje-miami.org
