Our Vision

Teacher by teacher, CAJE is working towards transforming Jewish life through Jewish learning. The goal is for every Jewish child and adult to embrace a life-long commitment to Jewish values, Jewish identity and a meaningful Jewish life.

Our Mission

The Mission of CAJE is to empower Jewish educators to reach for excellence in Jewish education through:

• Professional Development
  Advancing the skills and knowledge of Jewish educators with continuous training.
• Advocacy
  Championing the needs of Jewish educators so communities can attract and retain the best and the brightest.
• Collaboration
  Increasing the resources available to Jewish educators by building partnerships with local and national organizations.

Core Areas

CAJE’s current work includes a focus on Jewish educators working in:

• Congregational education.
• Early childhood settings.

In particular, CAJE seeks to increase the engagement of young professionals working in these two settings.

The Work of The Coalition

The work of the Coalition is multi-faceted. In addition to sponsoring the annual August Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education, attracting about 2,500 attendees from Jewish communities all across North America and abroad, the organization also offers publications, online professional development, curriculum services via print and online materials, an Early Childhood Department, educator advocacy, web links, and a variety of other programs. Its members, which number about 4000 annually, span the religious and ideological spectrum and encompass a wide range of professional designations (teachers, principals, rabbis, informal educators, communal professionals, and lay leaders.)

More about CAJE
Highlights of CAJE's Program
Who participates?
How do you become a member?

More about CAJE

By enhancing the dignity and professional development of the Jewish teacher, CAJE works to elevate the status of Jewish education on the Jewish communal agenda.

CAJE is unique in that:

• It brings together individuals who work at all levels of Jewish education.
• It brings together Jews of every segment of K'lal Yisrael.
• At the annual CAJE Conference its members study, share, discuss, argue, dream and try to create the best possible Jewish educations.
• Teachers comprise the core of the Coalition.

CAJE is a catalyst for:

• Forming a chevra - a network of nurturing and enriching relationships-to assure the Jewish teacher, "You are not alone."
• Fostering dialogue within our diverse Jewish community.
• Creating and sharing alternative models, methods and solutions to the concerns of Jewish education.
• Encouraging members to further their own Jewish learning
• Inspiring others to join the profession and calling of Jewish education.

Highlights of CAJE's Program

In addition to the annual Conference CAJE also continually seeks to provide services that will facilitate its members’ personal and professional development. Throughout the year, CAJE members can:

• Access material in the updated Curriculum Bank, offering CAJE's entire bank of lesson plans that can be downloaded or sent through the mail to members.
• Link to timely on-line holiday material on the seasonal "hotsheet" sent via broadcast e-mail, and or accessed through a link on the CyberCAJE homepage.
• Order CAJE's curricular publications and Jewish Education News via the mail or on-line at www.caje.org/publications.
• Create ongoing connections in person or on-line to members with similar interests via the CAJEnet.
• Learn with master teachers via streaming on-line audio on the website.
• Mentor students in the CAJE College Program.
• Benefit from CAJE's Project Kavod, which is working to improve the culture of employment in Jewish education and from CAJE's other efforts and research to promote the appreciation of Jewish educators and raise their status.
• Browse through to the website's CyberExpo, which lists all Conference exhibitors alphabetically and by subject area and also provides contact information and links to their websites.
• Find new professional opportunities at the reorganized Job Board on the CyberCAJE website.

CAJE is governed by an elected Board of Directors that sets policy and enacts its annual program. The CAJE office and professional staff are located in New York City.

Who Participates?

We are classroom teachers, principals, rabbis, cantors, camp and youth work personnel, academicians, writers, artists, students and lay leaders-are included within the CAJE rubric. CAJE brings together K'lal Yisrael-Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and secular humanist Jews. Educators with similar interests, such as music, storytelling, Holocaust, adult education, or family life education, share ideas and resources through CAJE programs.

How do you become a member?

You may join CAJE by becoming an annual member or a life member. A discounted membership orice is available to those affiliated with CAJE Partners. High school students may join for $18 and full-time college or graduate students may join for $36. Full membership information is available online. For more information, email yschwell@caje.org.

CAJE's new Partner Program allows schools, central agencies, congregations, and organizations to support CAJE and the pursuit of excellence in Jewish education while saving money. An institution can become a CAJE Partner by completing the online form available here and paying the $360 annual fee. This fee will help subsidize CAJE's year-round efforts to achieve Excellence in Jewish Education.

Educators, clergy, and staff working directly with CAJE Partners and lay leaders affiliated with CAJE Partners can each realize significant savings on their individual membership by paying the $60 discounted fee.