North American Jewish Day School Conference Opens Today

Over 600 educators and lay leaders will convene today for the third annual North American Jewish Day School Conference taking place in Atlanta, GA. Jointly planned by RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network; the Institute for University-School Partnership at Yeshiva University; the Schechter Day School Network; PARDeS: The Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools; and PEJE, the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education, the conference advances the field of Jewish education through collaboration and by convening people and networks with a shared purpose.

This year’s conference theme, “Current Landscapes – Changing Horizons,” will focus on key issues affecting institutions across the denominational spectrum. Workshops and conversations will address topics such as 21st century skills, the Jewish day school value proposition, re-imagining and sustaining day schools, and innovations in Jewish education. One-on-one consultations will help participants with individual dilemmas while network-specific portions of the conference will tackle challenges unique to each group.

The conference will also feature the launch of the inaugural ELI Talks: Inspired Jewish Ideas.

A detailed schedule along with presenter biographies can be found at jewishdayschoolconference.org.

About ELI Talks: A TED Talk-like format to illuminate the ideals and commitments we share – Jewish literacy, Jewish religious engagement, Jewish Peoplehood and love of Israel – to adopt or debate a common language to express them, and to celebrate and replicate expressions or enactments of these commitments. ELI Talks will be grounded in real data or in real personal or professional experiences and will highlight new ways of thinking about problems and possible solutions.

Eli Talks is an initiative of the Avi Chai Foundation.