By Joel Magalnick, JTNews Correspondent
Even lunch will be educational at this year’s Mini-CAJE workshop. The lunchtime lesson for this local conference of the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education, titled “The Knowing is in the Eating: The Jewish Foods We Teach, ” will be taught by Carol Starin, director of the Jewish Education Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. It is but one of the dozens of courses available at the 35th annual two-day teaching conference, to be held at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle, Sun. and Mon., Feb. 15 and 16. This year’s theme is “A Festival of Learning.”
In addition to the food, says Rivy Poupko Kletenik, Director of Jewish Education Services at the JEC, “we’re having a klezmer blast at the end of the day, with klezmer music and dance.”
Rabbi Ed Feinstein of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, Calif. will kick off the educators’ conference with his keynote address, “The Questions that Won’t Go Away,” which will discuss the deeper aspects of Judaism.
The conference has one overall goal, Kletenik says: “To bring educators together from the Pacific Northwest area, and yes, study together but also create some camaraderie, and inspire teachers midwinter.”
Workshops throughout the conference will span the spectrum of topics such as Jewish history, which includes “Discovering Women in Jewish History” led by Dr. Judith Baskin, a professor of humanities and Judaic studies at the University of Oregon, to practical and applied teaching, such as “Teaching Jewish Liturgy” by Rabbi Fern Feldman of Kadima Congregation.
Other workshops include lessons in using Compassionate Listening in classroom settings by Andrea Cohen, co-director of the German-Jewish Reconciliation Project, discussions of ancient text by Rabbi Seth Goldstein of Temple Beth Hatfiloh in Olympia, and learning about ancient Israelite clothing by local author Marian Broida.
Though its focus is on educators, Kletenik says Mini-CAJE “is open to everybody.” Many of the offerings “don’t necessarily have a pedagogic angle,” she adds, “but are just Jewish learning.”
Fees for Mini-CAJE are $20 for student teachers and madrichim; $45 for Sunday sessions only; $60 for CAJE members (both days); $70 for nonmembers (both days); and $80 for education directors, which includes the Sunday program, a directors’ dinner, and a Monday intensive program. Registration for the conference and further information can be obtained by contacting [email protected] or 206-448-1202.