Turn It and Turn It: Encounters with Jewish Wisdom

Monday Deep Dive Sessions

Connecting Through Stories [Kent]

Story District

In this workshop, we will share stories with one another, making connections between Jewish texts and your own life experiences. Participants will come away with new insights into themselves, each other, and Jewish wisdom while building skills and knowledge in the art of storytelling.

Story District teaches and showcases the art of autobiographical storytelling to inspire, connect, and build a community of diverse voices within the Washington, DC region and beyond.

Through the love of storytelling, Story District creates opportunities for people to deepen a sense of meaning, belonging, and connection to our common humanity.

Named the "gold standard" in storytelling by the Washington Post, Story District reaches an audience of more than 12,000 patrons, 200 aspiring storytellers, and 300 adult learners every year through our performances, classes, free coaching, consulting, and a podcast.

At the Intersection of Judaism and Social Justice [Laurel]

Rabbi Jessy Dressin

In this session we will explore what it means to care about both social impact and Jewish education as holy chevruta. We will explore the model of Jewish service learning, participate in a service project that is easy to replicate in various settings and consider the needs, frameworks and foundational values that are important when thinking about how to engage learners and the intersection of social justice and Judaism.

Turn It! Block One
Monday, 3:00-4:30pm)

Chaver Society Presents:
How to Publish a Book [Kent]

Rafael Chaiken, CCAR Press

Have you ever thought about publishing a book? What does it take to go from manuscript to finished product? Join Rafael Chaiken, the director of CCAR Press, for an inside look at the world of Jewish book publishing, including tips for writing a book proposal and finding a publisher. Rafael will also discuss the educational resources offered by CCAR Press.

The Wisdom of the Breath:
Jewish Meditation for the Busy Mind [Essex A]

Rabbi Ben Shalva

From the Creation story in Genesis to the prayers and songs that fill our services, Judaism has always been a breath-based religion. Join Rabbi Benjamin Shalva for a come-as-you-are, experiential introduction to Jewish breath-based meditation and mindfulness. Together with Rabbi Shalva, a teacher of meditation and mindfulness for over twenty years, participants will explore a number of Jewish meditation techniques and learn how they might be utilized in and out of the classroom.

Attitude of Gratitude:
Studying Text through Music [Essex BC]

Jay Rapoport, RJE

How does music help us to dig into text? Jay has spent over a decade composing Religious School theme songs to make our texts accessible and imprint Jewish wisdom on the hearts of students. Join us to sing and study together as we explore the power of music to bring fresh eyes to words we know so well.

Chaver Society Presents:
"Don't Let the Light Go Out":
The Imperative of Fusing Jewish Identity with Israel [Laurel]

Sarah Weiss-Poland, IsraelLINK

This past May, parents and administrators reached out to IsraelLINK from all over the country asking for help as their Middle School children faced antisemitic torment from both their peers as well as their teachers. Their children lacked foundational knowledge of Israel and how it is integrated into Jewish identity. Parents confessed that they lacked the broader understanding enabling them to have complex and nuanced conversations with their children. Standing up for yourself begins with Jewish Identity and its irrevocable connection to Israel-the Land that makes us a Nation. Come and be a part of our open discussion while exploring IsraelLINK, the leading innovator for digitally interactive Middle School Israel Education.

Tuesday Deep Dive Sessions

Jewsicals: Bringing our Sacred Texts to Life [Essex]

Eliana Rubin

Jewsicals (Jewish musicals) are short musical numbers crafted around our sacred texts (e.g., the Torah portion of the week; midrash; our Prophets; etc). We'll join together as we explore how to write Jewsicals and put them up on their feet. No previous musical theater acting/writing experience required!

Forest Judaism:
Discovering and Sharing the Jewish Forest [Kent]

Josh Lake

In this session we explore forests. What benefits does the forest gift us? How can we grow with and in a forest? Does the forest have lessons we can learn as humans and as Jewish Educators? From trees and roots to the animals that live in the canopy, the forest becomes a place of education, connection, communication and spirit!

Make, Create, Celebrate! Using the Arts to Build Community and Find Meaning in Jewish Spaces [Laurel]

Julie Wohl

During this presentation participants will engage with big ideas and concrete ways to incorporate the arts into various Jewish settings. This will be a hands on session in which we will think, discuss, create and reflect. We will look at Jewish sources and play with easily accessible materials. No previous art making experience required.

Turn It! Block Two
(Tuesday, 2:15-3:30pm)

Mahloket Matters:
How to Disagree Constructively - An Introduction [Kent AB]

Lisa Langer, RJE

In an age when civil discourse is on the decline and demonization of the other has become common practice, it is crucially important that we find the courage and practice the skills to productively engage people with whom we disagree. This introductory session of Pardes' Mahloket Matters series will offer time to explore two key Rabbinic concepts at the heart of constructive disagreement.

Supporting our Singers:
Relationship and Mentoring Songleaders for Schools [Essex A]

Cantor Rosalie Will

We will focus on two areas. The first will focus on building a program of music and prayer that fits in your goals, and how to help your songleader bring that to life, and the second is building strategies to help your songleaders succeed around shared language, expectations and a culture of support and growth.

Exploring Creation through Story and Games [Laurel AB]

Josh Lake

Animals learn about their world by playing. Humans are no different. We will spend our time playing games and learning about our world through a Jewish lens. The games we play and stories we hear can be applied to your educational venue, or just play with wild abandon for personal edification! Through having fun together, we can transmit our values of caring for the world and helping grow our Jewish communities and students. This will be an active session.

Chaver Society Presents:
Where Our Words can Take Us: Examining Diversity and Inclusion through Text-Based Conversation [Essex BC]

Nina Fondiller Woldin, Chai Mitzvah

If Moses, who had a speech defect, were to come into our temple and want to read from the Torah that he gave us, could we handle it without becoming embarrassed if he were to stutter? Chai Mitzvah and Shutaf are working together to create a curriculum for teens about diversity and inclusion. Share in one of Chai Mitzvah’s signature text-based discussions about this important issue, supplemented with videos and music. You will also receive a sample of the materials.

Chaver Society Presents:
B-Mitzvah Family Education -
Why Am I Doing This? [Kent C]

Eve Berger, Moving Traditions

What do you want your families to be talking about as they approach this life cycle moment? How can you engage parents and teens in meaningful conversations about what it means to become a teen and the parent of a teen? How can you help your families think about what happens beyond the B-mitzvah moment? The Moving Traditions B–Mitzvah Family Education Program enables clergy and Jewish educators to help families navigate this life stage by addressing the joys and challenges of becoming a teen and parenting a teen. Learn about our flexible “plug and play” materials that are powerful for families, easy for you to use, and help everyone involved feel supported by the Jewish community at this pivotal time. And beyond B-Mitzvah, we offer Kulam, our new, all gender pilot program that encourages Jewish teens to ask big questions about where, why and how they belong while exploring issues of identity, equity, and justice. Join Eve Berger to experience activities from these programs so you can see for yourselves what they are all about and have a little fun!

LGBTQ+ Education 101 in the Classroom [Laurel CD]

Eliana Rubin

As educators, it is imperative we continue to foster safe and brave spaces for our students to learn. Join together to learn about LGBTQ+ terminology, history and best diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices, all through a Jewish lens. This is a judgement-free zone; all levels of understanding are welcome!