Advertise on podcast: Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education

If suffering breeds comedy, who should be funnier than the Jewish people after the last 3,000 years?  This week, David Bryfman talks about humor in hard times with Israeli-American comedian, writer, and educator Benji Lovitt.  Having recently returned to the U.S. after living in Israel for nearly two decades, Benji brings a unique perspective on the differences between Israeli and American Jewish humor, particularly in times of crisis. From inspirations like Larry David and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, they unpack why Jews have developed such a strong comedic tradition, the different ways humor shows up across Jewish communities, and why absurdity, exaggeration, and satire can sometimes educate more than dialogue ever could.  Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

As we approach the third anniversary of the October 7th massacre, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath sits down with thought leader Yossi Klein Halevi of the Shalom Hartman Institute for a profound conversation about what it means to be a survivor people and how that identity is changing.  Yossi describes October 7th as a point of rupture in the Jewish story, a moment that returned Jews to a mindset of victimhood even as the Jewish people now possess something generations of Jews did not: power. The result is this tension between self-defense and morality, or being a "Purim Jew" and a "Pesach Jew." The tension is particularly palpable for educators trying to help young people make sense of Jewish identity and Israel in an increasingly polarized world. Together, their conversation poses a series of important questions for educators: How can we move beyond a singular narrative of Jewish powerlessness without losing sight of the history that shaped us? And how can educators provide grounding and guidance as young people navigate this profoundly transformed moment in Jewish life?  Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

At the end of the day, Jewish educators empower their learners to feel like they're in the driver's seat of their own Judaism. This is the hallmark of Jewish thriving.   Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath discusses how Jewish media can create new access points for learning, connection, and belonging with Molly Tolsky, Editorial Director of Culture & Lifestyle at 70 Faces Media and Founding Editor of Hey Alma.  Specifically, they get into what Molly wishes Jewish institutions knew while in this work, how she makes learning accessible with new initiatives like Hey Alma Hebrew School, and what young Jews are seeking as they navigate their own Jewish journeys, especially post-October 7th.  This conversation will offer insights for those working in both online and analogue Jewish education spaces about how we can create communities where people feel empowered to explore, learn, and find their own paths to Jewish thriving.  Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

Joy might sound like the fluffy, easy, and "nice to have" way of exploring Judaism. But what changes when joy is the intentional, critical centerpiece?   From the smell of challah to a grandmother exclaiming, "What is this balagan?", Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath explores the seriousness of Jewish joy with authors Suzy Ultman and Amanda Kingloff.   Their new book, The Art of Jewish Joy, helps children and families make meaning of their identity through the sacred act of creating. The activities in these pages give you permission to leap into your Jewish joy and embrace whimsy, perfect for any Jewish classroom or home!  Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

Around 2,000 years ago, Jews gathered around the Temple to celebrate the festival of Sukkot. They debated, danced, sang, ate challah, and drank wine. That's not escapism; that's Jewish life. David Bryfman kicks off Season 7 of Adapting with a solo episode pondering the question: After everything the Jewish people have endured, how do we create more room for joy in Jewish life? How can educators incorporate more fun and joy into Jewish learning? David makes the argument that Jewish joy isn't something we feel; it's what we create for one another. And educators have the opportunity to create joyful memories for their learners every day. Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

After October 7, educators were asked to guide students while still making sense of their own evolving relationship to Israel and to Jewish peoplehood. What does it mean to teach when the ground beneath the curriculum is still shifting? What has changed in Israel education? What do educators need to hear?  As season of six of Adapting comes to a close, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath interviews David Bryfman on what’s changed in Israel education after October 7, drawing on ideas from his new book, Heroism & Hope: Recharging Israel Education in a Post-October 7 World. Together they reflect on how educators and communal leaders have had to navigate the emotional and ideological terrain since October 7, and how history and memory are being shaped in real time. Sharing personal anecdotes and powerful insights, Bryfman articulates a vision of Jewish learning rooted in pride, inquiry, and student agency, offering language for education that makes space for reflection before it demands answers.  Purchase the book at https://www.amazon.com/Heroism-Hope-Recharging-Education-Post-October/dp/B0GZBH6QLL/ Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

This week on Adapting, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath sits down with Ariela Ronay-Jinich, founder and executive director of Olamim, to explore how education helps people navigate the richness of their identities. Drawing on her experiences as a Mexican Jew, educator, and parent, Ariela reflects on how her identities shaped her understanding of learning as a powerful tool for development, belonging, and community-building.  Ariela shares how Olamim empowers parents, children, and grandparents to create Jewish meaning together through stories, practices, culture, and shared experiences. From Latin-Jewish families to the broader Jewish community, she argues that Jewish learning is not simply about transmitting knowledge but about helping people become more fully themselves while seeing their family's unique story as an essential part of the larger Jewish story. Their conversation examines what happens when we reimagine Jewish education with families—not institutions—at the center.  Learn more about Olamim at olamim.org. Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

Every few years, Jewish education declares the Hebrew school model overdue for reinvention, yet the same structures persist. That tension sits at the center of this conversation.   In this episode, David Bryfman speaks with Jonathan Krasner, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Chair of Jewish Education Research at Brandeis University, about the history and possible innovation in Jewish education. Together they examine the role of B-Mitzvah, and why many families remain satisfied with a model educators often criticize. For educators, funders, and communal leaders wrestling with institutional change and the future of Jewish learning, this conversation offers both historical perspective and a more honest framework for thinking about what comes next.  Read Jonathan Krasner's piece: https://www.sourcesjournal.org/articles/when-jewish-educational-innovation-reinforces-the-status-quo  Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

Being a man is not about how tall you are or how much money you make, despite what some voices in the manosphere may claim. It’s about overcoming impulses, taking responsibility, and learning how to show up for others with dignity and care. But in a culture where many boys encounter masculinity first through algorithms, educators and parents are left asking a difficult question: How do we teach young men what healthy manhood actually looks like?  In this episode, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath speaks with Adam Teitelbaum about the growing crises facing boys and men, from loneliness and lack of belonging to the absence of visible male role models in Jewish communal life. Together, they explore how Jewish ritual, obligation, and community can offer an alternative framework for raising confident, emotionally healthy Jewish young men without diminishing anyone else’s humanity in the process.  Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

When Israel was created on this exact day 78 years ago, she didn’t come with an instruction manual called “How to Build a Jewish State.” If she had, Jewish educators wouldn’t be grappling today with the tensions between Israel’s Jewish and democratic values, or needing conversations like this week’s episode. This relevant conversation between David Bryfman and Rabbi Josh Weinberg confronts one of the most pressing questions facing Jewish educators today: How do we teach Israel at a moment when love, values, politics, and identity often feel out of sync?  As students wrestle with headlines, moral complexity, and their own sense of belonging, the two discuss what it means to cultivate an informed, morally serious relationship with Israel. At a time when many educators feel uncertain about how to lead these conversations, this discussion offers a vision for what meaningful Israel education can look like now.  Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

In this exclusive, uncensored conversation, David Bryfman interviews Alex Sinclair, the Israel educator at the center of a recent controversy. His kippah, embroidered with both Israeli and Palestinian flags, sparked outrage, led to his arrest, and was ultimately returned to him with the Palestinian flag removed.  David and Alex go beyond the incident to explore the deeper, harder questions: How can you be a proud, public Zionist while openly criticizing Israel? Can you hold complexity without losing connection?   Alex pushes the boundaries of what it means to love a country authentically, reminding us that there’s no such thing as apolitical Israel education, and that the work is personal. A raw and honest must-listen for anyone having these conversations with their students or children.  Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

The B-Mitzvah is a defining milestone in American Jewish life, and offers a powerful lens into how Jewish communal spaces can foster inclusion and belonging. In light of their new book, A Different Spirit: Creating Meaningful B’nai Mitzvah for Children With Disabilities, Howard Blas and Ilana Trachtman join Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath in conversation about what it means to build truly inclusive Jewish experiences. Together, they explore how clergy and families can create meaningful B-Mitzvah celebrations for children with disabilities, and more broadly, what it takes to ensure that every individual feels a sense of belonging in Jewish spaces, from synagogue life to summer camp to Israel experiences with peers.  Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

This episode features Omri Rose, author of Echoes of October, a graphic novel exploring events leading up to October 7th through four young people from different backgrounds.  In conversation with Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath around the themes of memory and Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, Omri reflects on how the events of October 7th reshaped his understanding of the world, and how we remember loss. Designed with education in mind, the novel serves as a meaningful tool for educators and families to spark thoughtful conversation around grief, empathy, and human stories beyond headlines. Their dialogue invites us to reflect on both absence and presence, asking whose stories we tell and how we carry the legacy of those we’ve lost.   Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

Yom HaShoah begins this evening. As we remember and honor the legacy of the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath sits down with Dave Reckess, a third-generation survivor and executive director of 3GNY.  3GNY empowers grandchildren of survivors to share their family’s Holocaust stories with students to educate and inspire future generations. Samantha and Dave discuss Holocaust education as an effective tool to address antisemitism, and how it shouldn’t be the only antidote to hate, but as an entry point into the richness and nuance of Jewish culture and the obligations we have in building a more just world. They also reflect on how the Holocaust isn’t just history and serves as a reminder for how hate manifests today.   We owe this education not only to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, but also to the generations who will carry these lessons forward.   Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail

What does it actually look like to live Judaism in today’s world?   And what does it mean to be part of a collective when we have so many different worldviews, orientations, and perspectives?  In this episode, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath and Cantor Laura Stein explore this question through the lens of practical theology, or looking at how religion is lived, especially when paired with modern reality.  As a Ph.D. candidate in practical theology at Boston University, Cantor Stein and Samantha discuss her research in the psychology of religion, burnout for educators and clergy, turning struggle into growth, and moving through the world with our Jewish values. This episode is perfect for anyone who has ever felt both deeply connected to their Jewish community and at odds with it, and is searching for a more authentic way to belong.  Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Send us Fan Mail