Section archive - Conferences & Events

Now in its fourth year, the Yiddish Book Center's Great Jewish Books Summer Program gives teens a life-changing introduction to the great works of modern Jewish literature. During one great summer week (August 2-9, 2015), young people from across North America—and from diverse religious denominations and family backgrounds—come together at the Yiddish Book Center to study literary works by seminal authors like Sholem Aleichem, Philip Roth, Grace Paley, and Isaac Babel. Participants study with college professors, meet contemporary writers, and make lasting friendships with other teens.

The Yiddish Book Center’s Steiner Summer Yiddish Program offers college students a spirited exploration of Yiddish language and culture. In seven weeks of concentrated study, from June 7-July 24, 2015, Steiner students not only gain Yiddish language literacy and substantive knowledge of Central and Eastern European Jewish history and culture – they also participate in the lively world of Yiddish culture at the Yiddish Book Center and beyond.

Recently, Rabbi Dr. Aaron Ross of Yavneh Academy wrote a blogpost telling about the new type of Jewish Education Unconference for Jewish educators as it has evolved since its inception in late 2012 until today. ' Back in late 2012, a number of educators in South Florida organized the first ever Jedcamp, or Jewish Edcamp. Playing off of the still-young-but-gaining-steam 'unconference' model of Edcamp, these educators decided that a similar model could be employed for Jewish educators. The rationale was simple and twofold: First, almost all Edcamps took place on Saturday, thus precluding observant Jews from attending, and, second, that there are many issues unique to the Jewish educational community that rarely get discussed among educators from different schools and different branches of that community (day schools, supplementary schools, community schools, federations, etc.).'

The Matan Institute aims to provide educators with the tools they need to create inclusive Jewish communities for students with special learning needs. The Matan Institute for Congregational School Teachers, to be held on August 10, 2014 in New York City, is an intensive day of professional development focused on working with diverse learners within the congregational school classroom. The Institute will include interactive workshops on differentiated instruction, multi-modal learning and behavior management, among other topics.