CAJE Blog
Aug 30, 2024
There was an oversized banner of Karina Ariev, a 19-year-old hostage, hanging on the street outside my apartment in Baka. It read, “Karina, we are waiting for you, and for all the hostages, at home.”
The poster was not unusual. Most of the wall space in Jerusalem, not to mention, the billboards and street signs, were plastered with images of the abducted Israelis. But this poster was very large and, hanging at a busy pedestrian intersection I passed several times daily, made a particular impression on me.
Aug 23, 2024
The March of the Living has always been a cornerstone for strengthening Jewish and Zionist identity, which is extremely important to me. The Leo Martin Miami March is our insurance policy that prepares the next generation of leaders to strengthen their Jewish identity, remember the Holocaust, act as witnesses, connect with Israel, and respond to intolerance and antisemitism.
Aug 16, 2024
“When children are young, their ideas of being Jewish are formed through songs and art, so if they have a Jewish education that is authentic and not just glorified babysitting, then they will actually build those core memories early on. Those songs and Jewish memories from their early years become so deeply embedded and woven into the fabric of their identities that they know nothing other than how to be tall and proud Jews.”
Aug 9, 2024
My grandparents grew up on the Lower East Side in a time when Jewish schools did not exist. My grandmother painstakingly taught herself to read Hebrew and though she could follow the Torah reading in shul, she always wished she could truly understand the words. When I graduated from my Jewish elementary school, my parents gave me a choice between a public high school and a Jewish one. I could hear my grandmother’s voice as I visited the public school in eighth grade. “Education is the most important gift you will ever receive. The world can take a lot from you, but they can never take away what you have learned.”
Aug 2, 2024
CAJE is thrilled to announce our participation in ElevatEd, the groundbreaking initiative to transform the field of early childhood Jewish education by addressing the critical shortage of early childcare teachers.
Jul 26, 2024
This year, CAJE’s Diller Teen Fellows demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation by transforming its traditional three-week Israel Summer Seminar (ISS) into an impactful one-week seminar in Spain. This shift, necessitated by the situation in Israel, did not diminish the profound experience our Fellows had. Instead, it opened new avenues for exploring Jewish pride, global networking, and maintaining a strong connection to Israel and our partnership community in Yerucham.
Jul 19, 2024
Zionism, the ideological cornerstone of the modern state of Israel, encompasses a rich tapestry of beliefs, visions, and historical contexts. By exploring the diverse ideologies that have shaped Zionist thought — from political pragmatism to cultural revivalism — individuals can gain more appreciation for Israel’s complexities and foster a deeper understanding of its significance within Jewish collective consciousness.
Jul 12, 2024
This past month, Carly Orshan, CAJE’s Director of Teen Engagement and Education, was privileged to join a group of exceptional national educators on a trip to Israel. Here is the second part of her reflections. At CAJE we are continually seeking ways to enhance our educational frameworks and support Miami youth in their connection to Israel and their Jewish identity.
Jul 5, 2024
This past month, Carly Orshan, CAJE’s Director of Teen Engagement and Education, was privileged to join a group of exceptional national educators on a trip to Israel organized by The Jewish Education Project (TJEP) and The iCenter, in collaboration with The Jewish Agency. This trip, known as Mishlachot Areyvut, stood to bear witness to the events of October 7th and its aftermath.
Jun 28, 2024
One of the cornerstones of CAJE’s philosophy is the importance of professional development in Jewish education. Every school year, CAJE through its staff invests deeply in professional development opportunities for educators in the Jewish early childhood centers, day schools, and congregational programs across Miami-Dade. But investment in professional development doesn’t stop at our work with others.
