Tag: Teen Education & Engagement

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.

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.

We invite you to watch a video from two outstanding students who recently returned from the transformational journey to Poland on CAJE’s Leo Martin March of the Living. Joining the over 2,500 Miami alumni of the program, these students embarked on a profound experience that deeply shaped their perspectives.

This reflection from a Miami March of the Living (MOTL) participant encapsulates the profound impact of the program on the 12th graders from Miami-Dade who recently returned from their transformative journey through Poland… this annual pilgrimage has left an indelible mark on young minds, enhancing their connection to their Jewish roots and commitment to global Jewish advocacy and Israel.

Just before Passover, CAJE’s Diller Teen Fellows held a weeklong cultural exchange with their counterparts, the Diller Teens from our partnership community of Yerucham, Israel. While our Miami Fellows attended school during the day, the Yerucham Fellows explored Miami, gaining insights into how Judaism is expressed in the Diaspora. They visited synagogues across Miami and engaged in dynamic conversations with Rabbis and other clergy members.

On May 1, 2024, a group of motivated teens from Miami-Dade, along with exceptional volunteers and two remarkable Holocaust survivors, Allan Hall and Laszlo Selly, are preparing to participate in the global March of the Living. This important event honors the memory of those lost in the Holocaust and celebrates the resilience and vibrancy of Jewish life. It’s a powerful expression of unity, bringing together participants from around the world to share in this moment of collective remembrance.

How can an experience in California in just five days achieve the goals of helping 8th graders explore their Jewish identity, deepen their connection to Israel, and build relationships with Jewish peers from across the country? IsraelNow has proven it's possible! One major objective of IsraelNow is to nurture and maintain a long-lasting connection and commitment to Jewish life among our community’s youth.

Recently, Diller Miami Cohort 11 spent the weekend learning and growing as leaders and Jews during their “Leadership Shabbaton,” which the Fellows planned almost entirely by themselves. Diller Fellows are all in 10th or 11th grade and commit to a year-long exploration of leadership skills, Jewish values, tikkun olam, and connection to Israel. The weekend included pluralistic Shabbat experiences, team building, and text study.

Originating in Chicago, IsraelNow offers a transformative and enriching experience for Jewish 8th graders in Miami-Dade public schools or non-Jewish private schools over Spring Break. It serves as an immersive and guided journey, imparting knowledge about both themselves and their heritage. The primary goals for the program include developing Ahavat Yisrael, a connection to the land, state, and people of Israel, strengthening the teen Jewish peer social networks, and building their Jewish self-confidence.

Miami’s Leo Martin March of the Living is at the heart of CAJE’s enduring commitment to Jewish education and has served as a beacon of learning for Miami Jewish teens since 1988. Throughout the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the March has remained dedicated to educating high school students.

This past weekend, our CAJE Miami Diller Teen Fellows participated in their opening Jewish Identity Shabbaton where they engaged in activities designed to guide them in exploring the different aspects of their Judaism and bond as a group. Diller Teen Fellows is Miami’s premier leadership development program for a select group of 20 Jewish teens entering grades 10 and 11.

Over a month ago, an extraordinary event took place that brought together the past and the future of Jewish leadership -- the graduation of Diller Teen Fellows Cohort 10 and the exciting kickoff of Diller Cohort 11. These young leaders, handpicked for their dedication and passion, represent a dynamic force for positive change in the Jewish community, guided by the timeless values and teachings of Judaism.

In the midst of what is transpiring in our homeland of Israel, CAJE’s many departments are working diligently to help our schools and constituencies with resources to help support Israel, find comfort, talk with children and students, and take action.

Miami’s Diller Teen Fellows concluded their inspiring and life-changing program with a three-week trip to Israel, joining hundreds of Jewish teens from 32 communities in seven countries. Immersed in the rich history and culture of our Jewish homeland, this emotional and powerful journey marked the culmination of their year-long programming.

"My journey with CAJE and Miami’s Leo Martin March of the Living began after joining the MOTL committee under the leadership of Morrie Siegel. As I delved deeper into the program and its mission, my oldest child was about to participate in the March and I eagerly joined as a staff member to support their experience. "

Diller Teen Fellows is a pluralistic and immersive leadership program that invites a select group of 20 Jewish teens in Miami to step up, lead their communities, and repair the world along with Diller Fellows from around the world.

This past Sunday, 64 students in 12th grade from throughout Miami-Dade returned from a transformational journey to Poland and Israel on the March of the Living. Miami’s Leo Martin March of the Living program shaped many of the participant's worldviews, perceptions and connection to their Judaism and Israel.

You’ve just been told you are an adult according to Judaism, but honestly, you know that you aren’t an adult, because you’re still in middle school. That’s why 8th grade is such an important time to ensure Jewish teens build a long-lasting connection to their heritage.