Tag: Teen Education & Engagement
Aug 1, 2025
What was originally intended to be a transformative summer journey to Israel became something entirely unexpected, but still very meaningful for CAJE’s Diller Teen Fellows. Due to several factors, including the ongoing war in Gaza and the Iranian missile attacks in June, the Helen Diller Foundation, a San Francisco-based Foundation that provides funding and overall vision for the program, decided to cancel the Diller Program’s International Summer Seminar in Israel this year… Rather than letting disappointment define the moment, the teens embraced a new opportunity for growth, connection, and community during a powerful four-day seminar in Chicago.
Jul 25, 2025
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… Jewish life was seamlessly woven into the everyday — so much so that I never thought to separate it from who I was.
Jul 11, 2025
At CAJE, we believe education is one of the strongest responses to injustice. Through programs like the Leo Martin March of the Living, we teach teens how hatred and dehumanization evolve over time, how vital it is to bear witness, and steps to becoming upstanders. When our students stand at Auschwitz or Majdanek, they hear firsthand from survivors. They return with newfound purpose and motivation to speak truth, to commit deeply to their Judaism, and to stand up for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The same forces that shaped the Shoah — silence, distortion, and hatred — still persist. That is why CAJE remains committed to educating about misinformation and equipping our youth to respond with courage and clarity.
Jun 27, 2025
CAJE is excited to introduce our newest staff member to you! Stephanie Dargoltz Arazi is a Miami-based mental health professional, educator, and multicultural advocate with deep roots in the South Florida Jewish community. Born in Colombia and raised in Miami’s vibrant cultural landscape, she brings a rich, bilingual perspective to her work with teens and families.
May 23, 2025
At the end of April, more than 55 participants from Miami, including high school seniors and staff, traveled to Poland for CAJE’s Leo Martin March of the Living. Although this year’s journey did not continue to Israel, the connection to Israel was present throughout-- woven into the educational framing, the reflective moments, and many of the sites that were visited in Poland. In Kraków, we walked through once-vibrant Jewish neighborhoods. At Majdanek, Auschwitz, and Birkenau, we bore witness to the horrors of the Holocaust.
May 9, 2025
The new Netflix miniseries Adolescence is haunting. It pulls no punches as it unpacks what it means to grow up today, where the line between online and offline is increasingly invisible, and increasingly dangerous. As the show follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who is accused of a horrific act, it forces viewers to confront the social and emotional weight our kids carry. As a parent, educator, and someone who works closely with hundreds of teens each year, it stuck with me. But what stayed with me even more than the plot was the silence. The missed conversations.
Apr 18, 2025
At the beginning of April, Miami’s Diller Teen Fellows rolled out the red carpet (or should we say, beach towel!) to welcome their Israeli counterparts from our partnership community of Yerucham, Israel, for an unforgettable week of cultural exchange, deep conversations, and plenty of Miami vibes known as Jewish Community Mifgash (JCM). While our Miami Fellows were in school during the day, the Yerucham Fellows had their own immersive adventures across the city...
Mar 28, 2025
Last week, CAJE’s Miami Leo Martin March of the Living hosted An Evening of Legacy — a gathering created with one powerful goal: to raise the necessary funds to bring Holocaust Survivors to Poland so they can share their testimonies directly with community teens. More than just a fundraiser, the event highlighted the power of memory, testimony, and generational responsibility, reminding us all why this mission matters now more than ever. Central to the evening was a stunning visual exhibition by Laszlo Selly, both a Holocaust Survivor and photographer, who captured intimate portraits of fellow Survivors.
Mar 21, 2025
This past Sunday, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s BeWell Miami Initiative, in proud partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) and Jewish Community Services (JCS), hosted its Second Annual BeWell Youth Mental Health Summit, bringing together parents, caregivers, professionals, and community members for a powerful day centered on adolescent mental health and well-being. Attendees engaged in meaningful discussions, practical workshops, and hands-on sessions designed to equip them with the tools, language, and strategies needed to better support the youth in their lives — at home, in schools, and across the broader Jewish community.
Mar 14, 2025
The above was the title of the interactive workshop offered two weeks ago by Dara Horn at the Holocaust Teacher’s Institute of the University of Miami School of Education and Human Development. Most of the attendees were public school teachers from all across Miami-Dade. This was a full-day workshop, so I divided my description of what we learned into two parts. Part one explored how Dara Horn laid out the seminal foundations of Jewish civilization and what made its ideas so radical. Part two laid out the Dynamics of Antisemitism.
Mar 7, 2025
The above was the title of the interactive workshop offered this week by Dara Horn at the Holocaust Teacher’s Institute of the University of Miami School of Education and Human Development. Carly Orshan, CAJE’s Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and Teen Education, and I were invited by Dr. Kassenoff to attend from CAJE.
Feb 14, 2025
For decades, CAJE’s Leo Martin March of the Living (often referred to as "the Miami March") has shaped the next generation of Jewish leaders by strengthening their identity, educating about the Holocaust, and equipping them to confront antisemitism and advocate for Israel. At the heart of this journey is the presence of Holocaust Survivors, whose testimonies turn history into lived memory. But we need your support too enable them to come with the teens to Poland by providing them with upgraded flights, single rooms, and personalized care so they travel in dignity.
Jan 24, 2025
Miami’s Diller Teen Fellows recently visited the Nova Music Festival Exhibition in Miami, a powerful and moving memorial tribute to the tragic events of October 7, 2023. Through multimedia displays, artifacts, photographs, and personal stories, the exhibit educates visitors about the terror attacks that devastated Israel and the global Jewish community, while highlighting the importance of resilience and remembrance. The Fellows were deeply impacted by the exhibit’s ability to bring these events to life and underscore the dangers of hatred and intolerance.
Dec 13, 2024
Imagine 19 teens from diverse schools and backgrounds coming together for a weekend of connection, reflection, and growth! That’s what Miami’s Diller Teen Fellows did recently by embarking on their first Shabbaton of the year focused on Jewish identity, which sets the stage for their year of leadership and self-discovery. The Diller Teen Fellows program is Miami’s premier leadership development initiative for Jewish teens entering grades 10 and 11.
Nov 15, 2024
The March is a profound and transformative program that allows participants to bear witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust and the beauty as well as complexities of Israel, while celebrating Jewish identity and resilience. Among the many dedicated individuals who have contributed to the success and sustainability of this program, one figure stands out as a true visionary - Leo Martin z”l, a Holocaust Survivor from Lodz, Poland.
Nov 1, 2024
During this tense and fraught time before the US elections and in Israel, it’s always uplifting to focus on good news— our teenagers in the Diller Teen Fellows program who spent year learning leadership skills, forming bonds with each other across denominational divides, connecting with their peers in Yerucham and strengthening their Jewish and Zionist identities. CAJE is honored to be part of their Jewish journey…
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.
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 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.
