ISJL Southern & Jewish 2026: Full Schedule

4:00pm EDT

Sunday June 21, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Join Rabbi Robin for an inspirational study of menuchat hanefesh—literally, "calmness of the soul." This session will focus on achieving equanimity: calmness and composure, even in times of stress. Rabbi Robin will help participants engage with menuchat hanefesh through a Jewish spiritual practice called Mussar. This practice can benefit your mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Presenters

Rabbi Robin Foonberg

Executive Director, Jewish Educators Assembly

Rabbi Robin Foonberg began her career in Jewish education in 1994. Since that time, she has accomplished a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago and was ordained from the Academy for Jewish Religion/CA. She has worked at two Reform... Read More →

Sunday June 21, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Graham B

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Education Directors, Lay Leaders, Jewish Professionals

4:00pm EDT

The Art of Sweet Tea & Torah

Sunday June 21, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Graham A

The Art of Sweet Tea and Torah invites participants to slow down, sip something sweet, and be B’yachad: All Together Now in creative practice. We’ll work with text and respond with paint, collage, color, and imagination. No art experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to play. Together we’ll explore how art-making can open new pathways into tradition, personal reflection, and shared meaning.

Presenters

McKenzie Wren

McKenzie Wren is a facilitator who works in multiple arenas to support connection and growth. As Ma’ayan Spiritual Arts, she uses earth-based, embodied art, ritual and spiritual practices to support deeper connection to the Divine Mystery through a Jewish lens. She is the Special... Read More →

Sunday June 21, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Graham A

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Education Directors, Teachers, Lay Leaders, Community Members, Jewish Professionals, Cultural Programmers

10:45am EDT

How We Talk Matters

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Graham A

In strong, caring communities, difficult conversations are part of leadership. In this interactive session, grounded in the MTEI principle How We Talk Matters, we’ll explore practical tools for listening with empathy, speaking with clarity, and navigating differences with care. Together, we’ll practice skills so that even hard conversations can strengthen relationships and deepen our sense of being b’yachad—all together.

Presenters

Seymour Kopelowitz

Program Director, MTEI

Seymour Kopelowitz is the program director of MTEI at the Mandel Foundation. He has served as a day school principal, Director of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, and Executive Director of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland. Seymour has a Ph.D. in educational leadership... Read More →

Deborah Niederman

Leader of Recruitment, Mandel Teacher Educator Institute

Deborah Niederman, RJE is the Leader of Recruitment for the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI) and Director of Education at Temple Shalom in Dallas, TX. With over 30 years in Jewish education, she is passionate about mentoring leaders, fostering innovation, and integrating learning... Read More →

Resource Partners

Mandel Teacher Education Institute

The Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI) is a two-year professional development program in instructional leadership for Jewish educators across diverse settings. Participants share a common goal: to support teachers in growing as reflective, effective Jewish educators.

Through sustained study, practice, and collaboration, MTEI helps leaders deepen their ability to facilitate professional learning, and strengthen educational environments... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Graham A

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Education Directors, Teachers, Lay Leaders, Community Members, Jewish Professionals

10:45am EDT

Living Legacy is not an Oxymoron: The Power of Small Congregations

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Graham B

Small congregations have challenges unique to their size, location, demographics, and pool of volunteers and leaders—but many of these challenges are shared, regardless of denomination or location. This highly interactive session will focus on critical sustainability issues facing congregations: leadership succession; expanding the volunteer base; enhancing membership; engagement in synagogue life; drawing in the unaffiliated; and demonstrating the joys of Judaism and the sacredness of Jewish community. While geared towards small communities, participants from larger congregations are also encouraged to attend.

Presenters

Noah Levine

President and CEO, Jewish Community Legacy Project

Noah Levine is President and CEO of Jewish Community Legacy Project, a nonprofit that provides planning assistance exclusively to small congregations throughout the United States and Canada. He is also a non-profit consultant and individual and family philanthropic advisor.

He ret... Read More →

Resource Partners

The Jewish Community Legacy Project

The Jewish Community Legacy Project (JCLP) is the only Jewish organization that works exclusively with small Jewish congregations in the US and Canada. JCLP helps congregations plan so that they can successfully address their current challenges as well as prepare responsibly for the... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Graham B

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

10:45am EDT

Mitzvah in the Mud: Disaster Relief as the Ultimate Jewish Engagement

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Noda

Disaster response is more than just boots on the ground; it is a profound expression of Tikkun Olam that bridges the gap between Jewish values and radical action. In this session, discover how NECHAMA - Jewish Response to Disaster, mobilizes volunteers to provide comfort and recovery to communities facing their darkest moments. Drawing on his dual perspectives as a Jewish Army Chaplain and a consultant for NECHAMA, Rabbi Scott Klein will share how we translate ancient ethical mandates into modern-day disaster relief. We will discuss the unique role of Jewish identity in service work and how showing up for our neighbors—regardless of faith—strengthens the fabric of the entire community. Whether you are interested in the logistics of relief or the theology of "showing up," come learn how to turn empathy into impact when the storm passes.

Presenters

Rabbi Scott Klein

Jewish Education and Engagement Consultant, NECHAMA

As the Jewish Army Chaplain at Fort Bragg and the Jewish Education and Engagement Consultant for NECHAMA, Rabbi Scott Klein stands at the intersection of spiritual resilience and communal action. Drawing on years of specialized experience, he provides essential pastoral care and moral... Read More →

Resource Partners

Nechama

NECHAMA: Jewish Response to Disaster is a lean, action-oriented organization that translates the principle of Tikkun Olam into tangible relief for communities reeling from natural catastrophes. Driven by a mission to provide comfort and recovery assistance to all regardless of background... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Noda

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Lay Leaders, Community Members, Jewish Professionals

10:45am EDT

Multigenerational Caretaking: Resilience Through Sharing Stories

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Graham C

Many of us are taking care of children, parents, other family members, or some combination of people we love. Join us to take a look at the challenges of being a Jewish parent (based on the latest BeWell research) and caretaker for others. We’ll learn how storytelling builds resilience and brainstorm ways to support our own wellness.

Presenters

Vickie Shuchart

Communications & Marketing Manager, ISJL

Beth Lipschutz

Wellness Educator, BeWell

Beth Lipschutz is the Director of Education & Training at BeWell, the mental health and wellness initiative of Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) in partnership with the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (The Network). She creates and facilitates different mental wellness... Read More →

Resource Partners

BeWell

BeWell draws on Jewish wisdom and community, together with evidence-based and clinically-informed practices, to promote wellbeing, decrease stigma, and increase resilience. In partnership with the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, BeWell equips and catalyzes the Jewish community... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Graham C

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

10:45am EDT

Rabbi Gamliel: Breaking Walls, Opening Doors

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Tyvola

Join us as we come together to learn through one of the most human, unsettling, and hopeful stories in the Talmud: The Tale of Rabbi Gamliel. Together, we will dig into a classic text and use it as a mirror for our own work—asking hard questions about who feels welcome, who is kept at the margins, and what we gain and lose when access is tightly controlled. This session assumes curiosity, not expertise, bringing together an accessible, text-rooted conversation that connects ancient debate to lived communal reality. Expect thoughtful learning, honest reflection, and practical insight for anyone committed to building vibrant, inclusive Jewish life.

Presenters

Rori Picker Neiss

Senior VP & Rabbi in Residence, Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Rabba Rori Picker Neiss serves as the Senior Vice President and Rabbi in Residence at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). Prior to that she was Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, an organization committed to a vibrant and secure Jewish... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Tyvola

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

10:45am EDT

The Belonging Blueprint

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Midwood

What makes people feel like they belong—and what quietly pushes them away? Let’s use data to go beyond the buzzword of “belonging” and determine what helps people connect, engage, and stay involved. Blending research with real-life experience, we’ll explore key ingredients to shape environments where people feel seen, valued, and essential within a group. Participants will gain practical strategies to create spaces in their local communities where people of all ages don’t just show up—but feel truly vital to communal Jewish life.

Presenters

Julie Zupan

URJ

Rabbi Julie Zupan (pronouns: she/her) serves on the staff of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), where she leads initiatives that create meaningful and accessible pathways for individuals to explore Judaism and engage with Jewish community. Her work is grounded in a commitment to... Read More →

Resource Partners

Union for Reform Judaism

The Union for Reform Judaism provides vision and voice to build vibrant and creative communities that, together, transform the way people connect to Judaism and change the world. Our legacy, reach, leadership, and vision ensure we can unite thousands of years of tradition with modern... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Midwood

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

1:30pm EDT

Death Over Donuts: Jewish Edition

Monday June 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:45pm EDT

Graham A

Talking about death not only better prepares us to approach life’s most challenging moments, but also helps us articulate and affirm who we are and what we ultimately care about. Created by rabbis, theologians, wellness, and palliative care experts, Death Over Dinner (or Donuts): Jewish Edition provides a unique lens through which to build and strengthen our personal beliefs about life and death. Join this brave, healing space to talk about how we choose to live our lives, recognizing that they are finite. This structured conversation will be facilitated in small groups with plenty of opportunity for reflection and conversation. We’ll also provide an overview of how to lead such conversations yourself, along with the tools needed for you to host a future gathering of your own.

Presenters

Melanie Levav

Executive Director, Shomer Collective

Rabbi Melanie Levav is passionate about helping to improve end-of-life care and conversations and brings this commitment to Shomer Collective as the Executive Director. Prior to Shomer Collective, Rabbi Levav served as the Director of PJ Library in New York, a program of the Harold... Read More →

Resource Partners

Shomer Collective

Shomer Collective leverages Jewish wisdom to transform communal culture around death and dying, fostering proactive planning and robust support systems for end-of-life moments.We envision a world where end-of-life matters are spoken about openly, thoughtfully, and frequently, creating... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
Graham A

Learning Block, A Deep Dive B'yachad

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

1:30pm EDT

Facilitating Challenging Conversations in Jewish and Not-So-Jewish Spaces

Monday June 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:45pm EDT

Tyvola

This session is designed to provide participants with an introduction to a set of core facilitation skills, empowering those working in Jewish spaces and with inter-religious groups to engage more effectively as conveners and conversation guides. The session offers practical applications and techniques which can be applied across virtual and in-person contexts—from board and staff meetings, to classrooms, to larger community dialogues with a range of stakeholders. The techniques offered are not exclusive to application in Jewish spaces; however when possible, a Jewish lens is applied.

Presenters

Liora Norwich

Hornstein Program for Jewish Professional Leadership

With two decades of nonprofit experience, Dr. Liora Norwich is the Director of the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis University. Previously she spent five years as the Executive Director of the Network for Social Justice, a nonprofit based in Winchester... Read More →

Resource Partners

Hornstein Program for Jewish Professional Leadership

The Hornstein Program for Jewish Professional Leadership was founded in 1969 as the world’s first professional program for Jewish communal leaders. Hornstein's mission is to support the development of Jewish leaders who are forward-thinking, deeply compassionate, can understand... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
Tyvola

Learning Block, A Deep Dive B'yachad

Audience Clergy, Education Directors, Lay Leaders, Teachers, Jewish Professionals, Community Members

1:30pm EDT

Nurturing B'yachad in a Small Community

Monday June 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:45pm EDT

Graham B

Hear stories of small communities that create a sense of togetherness where everyone matters. Share your own stories. Learn about proven paths to nurturing connection in your home community. We will workshop practical ideas that you can bring back home to try. This will involve design thinking, network mapping, and other processes designed to elevate your natural creativity. And, of course, we will have lots of fun as we imagine, explore, and create together.

Presenters

Bill Robinson

Director, National Leadership Initiatives, Center for Small Town Jewish Life

Bill Robinson is a recognized scholar-practitioner with over 30 years of experience building impactful nonprofit organizations and writing about the future of Jewish life and learning in America. Bill has studied and worked with professionals and lay leaders across all denominations... Read More →

Resource Partners

Center for Small Town Jewish Life

The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College cultivates locally rooted, socially equitable learning communities steeped in the Jewish tradition and intertwined with the broader Jewish world. We bring this vision to life in Maine, and we empower professional and lay leaders... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
Graham B

Learning Block, A Deep Dive B'yachad

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

1:30pm EDT

Shalom Y'all in Focus: A Contemporary Lens on Southern Jewish Snapshots

Monday June 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:45pm EDT

Graham C

Whether it is at summer camp, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, or in our coffee table books, southern Jews recognize the iconic images from the Shalom Y’all collection. Join the ISJL Culture division as we revisit this defining series, now several decades later. We’ll hear from the project’s award-winning photographer, Bill Aron, and lead curator, Vicki Reikes Fox, about the original project, then reflect on the evolution of the southern Jewish landscape and consider what snapshots of life we might add or recreate today. You can expect to walk away from this engaging double session with fresh programming ideas and resources for exploring southern Jewish identity through image.

Presenters

Shira Muroff

Director of Programs, ISJL

Shira Muroff is the ISJL's Director of Programs. She is a California native and a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with a degree in Human Development. A Jacksonian since 2016, Shira first joined the ISJL as an Education Fellow from 2016-2018. After the fellowship... Read More →

Ana Berman

Programs & Education Coordinator, ISJL

Ana Berman is the ISJL's Programs & Education Coordinator. Originally from New York, she graduated from Macalester College with a degree in History and Religious Studies. Ana joined the ISJL in 2023 as a public history intern and then as the 2023-2024 Education and Culture Program... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
Graham C

Learning Block, A Deep Dive B'yachad

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

1:30pm EDT

The Real Tea: Talmud for Tumultuous Times

Monday June 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:45pm EDT

Noda

In a fractured world, how do we build a community big enough for all of us? Join SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva for an immersive dive into the "Real Tea" of the Talmud.
We’ll explore the famous sugya (Talmudic discussion) of the stolen beam—a story about a house built on a dishonest foundation and the heated debate over what "justice" looks like when the truth is messy. Using the SVARA method, we’ll unpack how our Sages navigated deep disagreement as a feature of a resilient community. In the spirit of b’yachad (togetherness), we’ll discover that true togetherness isn’t about total agreement; it’s about the radical act of staying at the table. Activate your svara (moral intuition) and uncover how ancient wisdom helps us hold the tension of our own tumultuous times. To learn with SVARA, all you need is your Hebrew alef-bet; if you can recognize the letters, you can learn Talmud in the original.

This session is open to all, however, some knowledge of the Hebrew alef-bet is needed

Presenters

Rabbi/Cantor Bronwen Mullin

SVARA

Rabbi/Cantor Bronwen Mullin (she/her) is a national faculty member of SVARA: a traditionally radical yeshiva. She is also the co-founder of The Rabbinic Arts Company with Rabbi Nicole Fix and serves as the cantor of Congregation Beth Shalom in Wilmington, Delaware. Rabbinic Ordination... Read More →

James Evans

Development Associate, SVARA

James Evans has called Central Florida home since 2022. In 2016, he fell head over heels for the SVARA community as a learner, so much so that he jumped at the chance to join the team in 2018. As an Eagle Scout, he strives to live by the Scouting motto “Always be prepared!” When... Read More →

Resource Partners

Svara

Monday June 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
Noda

Learning Block, A Deep Dive B'yachad

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

4:15pm EDT

Addressing Antisemitism: Supporting our Students, Listening to our Communities

Monday June 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT

Graham B

Antisemitism is impacting our communities in deeply personal ways. This session is designed first and foremost as a space to listen to one another’s experiences, challenges, and questions. What are you seeing in your community? How are your students encountering antisemitism? What feels hard right now?

Grounded in learning from the Spertus Institute’s Certificate in Combating Antisemitism, we will reflect on how we are talking with young people about antisemitism, how we are supporting them as they grow into new spaces like college campuses, and what resources or support would make a difference. This is also a chance for ISJL to hear directly from you so we can better understand how to show up for you and your students in meaningful, responsive ways. Come ready to share, to listen, and to be in community.

Presenters

Molly Levy

Director of Education, ISJL

Molly Levy is the Director of Education for the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL). She's excited to be leading the ISJL team into its next evolution. Molly's institutional and communal roots are deep; she was an ISJL Education Fellow from 2009-2011, and... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
Graham B

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

4:15pm EDT

New Tools for a New Moment: Reimagining Israel Education

Monday June 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT

Graham A

Israel shows up in our communities in complicated ways: as love, longing, discomfort, pride, grief, questions, and conflict. In this interactive workshop, we will engage with new findings from Reimagining Israel Education, a groundbreaking initiative led by The Jewish Education Project with the support of The Jim Joseph Foundation and Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. We will explore what Israel education can look like when it is designed for today’s realities in congregational life, including diverse relationships to Israel, big questions, and a deep desire for belonging and meaning.

Participants will:

Explore fresh approaches to Israel education that can work in your setting.
Share challenges and bright spots with colleagues and leave with ideas you can adapt right away.
Engage with new resources to enhance your approach to Israel education.
Come for honest conversation; leave with practical next steps for your community.

Presenters

Dena Klein

Chief Jewish Education Officer, Jewish Education Project

Rabbi Dena Klein is the Chief Jewish Education Officer at The Jewish Education Project, assisting educators in creating ground-breaking approaches to offer relevant, meaningful Jewish learning. Rabbi Klein is a sought-after change consultant for congregations and other institutions... Read More →

Resource Partners

Jewish Education Project

The Jewish Education Project is a leading national destination for educators across disciplines and denominations, Jewish and secular spaces, seeking best-in-class professional development and resources, with a mission to empower them to create transformative Jewish experiences. Positioned... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
Graham A

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

4:15pm EDT

Tell Me a Story!

Monday June 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT

Midwood

A skilled teller and teacher, Marilyn Price will help you tell incredible stories to all audiences, of all ages, in your own way and with your own style. In this session, Marilyn will give beginner storytellers some basic skills, ideas, and a heap of encouragement as they start their storytelling journeys. Marilyn’s approach can also help experienced storytellers level up their abilities. Your words are important, and with Marilyn’s help, the way you share them can be magical and memorable.

Presenters

Marilyn Price

TriBraining, Inc.

Marilyn Price, is a principal of TriBraining, Inc. and a professional storyteller/puppeteer , President of Marilyn Price Puppets, and author with an internationally recognized reputation for her work in secular and Jewish organizations. For over 50 years, she has shared her knowledge... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
Midwood

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Cultural Programmers, Community Members, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

4:15pm EDT

The Art of Gathering Jewishly: Building and Sustaining Grassroots Community Groups in the South

Monday June 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT

Tyvola

So much of our work in Jewish communal life involves hosting events and gatherings—but how do we do that in a way that feels natural, welcomes all aspects of peoples' identities, and lasts beyond when the chairs are stacked and the trash is taken out? Informed by our decades of work building queer and Jewish communities in the South, SOJOURN will host an interactive workshop all about the art of hosting big-tent events in service of building meaningful community.

Presenters

Rose Kantorczyk

Communications and Legislative Affairs Coordinator, SOJOURN

Rose Kantorczyk (they/them) is the Communications and Legislative Affairs Coordinator at SOJOURN: the Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender & Sexual Diversity. In this role, they spread the word about SOJOURN's programs, partnerships, and resources, mobilize Southern Jewish... Read More →

McKenzie Wren

Resource Partners

SOJOURN

SVARA is a traditionally radical yeshiva building a community of people who believe that the future needs them. By centering queer, trans, disabled, and otherwise marginalized voices, SVARA is creating a Jewish future where tradition serves as a tool for radical change and communal... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
Tyvola

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Lay Leaders, Community Members, Jewish Professionals, Cultural Programmers

5:30pm EDT

Local & Global: Exploring the Southern Jewish Experience Through the Carolinas

Monday June 22, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm EDT

Tyvola

For the first time ever, the ISJL’s annual conference is taking place outside of Mississippi, our longtime home in the heart of the Deep South. To help explore our new location, the ISJL Culture division welcomes North Carolina-based historians Dr. Leonard Rogoff, Dr. Marcie Cohen Ferris, and Mimi Wooten for a panel discussion on how Jewish histories of the Carolinas reinforce and challenge enduring notions of the southern Jewish experience. Participants will gain new insights into the ever-evolving role of race, religion, and region in southern Jewish stories from colonial-era Charleston to the present-day Research Triangle.

Presenters

Shira Muroff

Director of Programs, ISJL

Ana Berman

Programs & Education Coordinator, ISJL

Leonard W. Rogoff

Leonard Rogoff holds a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Former president of the Southern Jewish Historical Society and recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, he is currently historian and president of Jewish Heritage North Carolina. He is a frequent... Read More →

Marcie Ferris

Emeritus Professor, UNC Chapel Hill

Marcie Cohen Ferris is an emeritus professor in the Department of American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she serves as an editor for Southern Cultures, a quarterly journal of the history and cultures of the U.S. South. Ferris is the author of T... Read More →

Mimi Wooten

Mimi Wooten is a PhD candidate in the department of History at the University of Michigan anda Todd M. Endelman Fellow at the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies. Her dissertation is amicrohistory of the Ottoman Sephardi migrants who settled in Atlanta, Georgia andMontgomery, Alabama... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm EDT
Tyvola

All Attendees

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

9:00am EDT

7 Jewish Values for Taking Action

Tuesday June 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Graham C

Rachel Gollay - Keshet
How do our Jewish texts, teachings, and traditions motivate our work for justice in the world? What do we mean when we talk about “Jewish social justice,” and what’s our role in faith-based advocacy as Jews in the South? In this hands-on session, we will dive into Keshet's 7 Jewish Values for Taking Action, with LGBTQ+ rights as our focus. We will workshop ways to incorporate and communicate the values that resonate most with us so we can bring them back home to our communities. At the end of the session, we will share an opportunity to put our Jewish values into practice by crafting and sending impactful messages to our elected representatives in support of equality and safety for all.

Note: Keshet's work is 501c3-friendly and nonpartisan.

Presenters

Rachel Gollay

Southwest Community Mobilization Manager, Keshet

Resource Partners

Keshet

Keshet envisions a world in which all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity. By strengthening Jewish communities and equipping Jewish organizations with the skills and knowledge they need to make all LGBTQ+ Jews feel welcome, we work to ensure... Read More →

Tuesday June 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Graham C

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

9:00am EDT

Jewish Merchant Princes of Dallas: Exploring Your Local Historical Society

Tuesday June 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Graham B

Drawing from the archives of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society (DJHS), we will examine how Jewish merchants built thriving businesses, contributed to community development, and navigated the challenges of identity, assimilation, and social change. Through personal stories, photographs, and historical documents, the conversation brings to life the entrepreneurial spirit and civic leadership of Dallas’s Jewish “merchant princes.” You will leave this session understanding how to engage with your local historical societies and bring primary source-based programming to your communities.

Presenters

Beri Schwitzer

Executive Director, Dallas Jewish Historical Society

A native Las Vegan who never aspired to be a showgirl, Beri Kaplan Schwitzer devoted her energy to education. After earning a Journalism degree from the University of Nevada, she built a career spanning Jewish education, nonprofit management, and corporate training. Her passion for... Read More →

Tuesday June 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Graham B

Learning Block

Audience Clergy, Community Members, Cultural Programmers, Education Directors, Jewish Professionals, Lay Leaders, Teachers

9:00am EDT

Make It Musical: Tools for Engaging Young Children & Families

Tuesday June 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Noda

Music is one of the most powerful tools for engaging young children and their families. In this session, we’ll explore how intention, music, movement, stories, and simple props can create experiences that are engaging, welcoming, and adaptable across a wide range of settings and skill levels. Whether you’re a musician or not, you’ll leave with practical tools for keeping attention, supporting transitions, and creating meaningful moments of connection. Tkiya’s approach to programming flows with attention span and provides access points for different learning styles. We’ll model how these techniques can be applied in multiple settings.

Presenters

Carla Friend

Founder & Executive Director, Tkiya Music

Carla Friend is the Founder & Executive Director of Tkiya, an organization with the mission of creating joyful Jewish connection through participatory music experiences. Through Tkiya, Carla reaches 15,000 people per year with her unique methodology of Jewish education and engagement... Read More →

Tuesday June 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Noda

Learning Block