Judaism Unpacked Day of Learning: Bringing Big Jewish Ideas into the Classroom
Nov 16 • Downtown Chicago
Location will be shared upon registration
Rabba Yaffa Epstein
Tamar
Cytryn
Dr. Ezra Kopelowitz
Dr. Jonathan Golden
Alex Harris
Jewish education is the cornerstone of Jewish identity. This is especially true during uncertain times such as these.
Unpacked for Educators is coming to Chicago to gather middle and high school educators for an enriching day of learning and professional development. Educators will engage with thought leaders and expert practitioners to bring essential theoretical and practical tools back to their schools.
Participants will learn specific ways to deepen the teaching of Judaism and Jewish practice into their curricula as well as how to address the big questions surrounding Judaism, Jewish thought, and Jewish identity.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Jewish United Fund,
The Maimonides Fund, and The Jim Joseph Foundation we are able to bring this day of learning to you free of charge.
Apply today!
Complete the short form below and we’ll be in touch.
For questions, email aharris@unpacked.education
Speakers
Tamar Cytryn
Tamar Cytryn currently serves as the Director of Judaic Studies at the Chicago Jewish Day School , a JK-8 multi-denominational institution in Chicago. In this capacity, Tamar oversees curriculum development, professional development for Judaic Studies and Hebrew faculty, tefillah, and holiday celebrations. Tamar also serves as a Pedagogy of Partnership (PoP) school lead and uses this approach in teacher professional development, parent learning and in her own classroom in order to bring Torah to life and deepen learner engagement. Tamar lives in Lakeview, Chicago, with her husband Jacob and three mostly great sons, Sam, Micha, and Hillel.
Rabba Yaffa Epstein
Rabba Yaffa Epstein is the Senior Scholar and Educator-in-Residence at the Jewish Education Project. Previously, she served as the Director of the Wexner Heritage Program at the Wexner Foundation, as well as the Director of Education for North America at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, where she was also a long-time member of the faculty and staff. Yaffa is currently an Associate Faculty Fellow for Pardes North America.
In 2024, Yaffa was honored as a recipient of the prestigious Covenant Foundation Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to Jewish education. Yaffa received Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshivat Maharat, an additional private Ordination from Rabbi Daniel Landes, and holds a Law Degree from Bar-Ilan University. She has also studied at the Pardes Kollel, the Advanced Talmud Institute at Matan, and the Talmud Department at Hebrew University.
Yaffa has taught Talmud, Jewish Law, and Liturgy for over a decade, educating rabbis, educators, and lay leaders across the spectrum of Jewish denominations. She has been the Director of the Beit Midrash at the Dorot Fellowship in Israel and has taught at Yeshivat Maharat, the Drisha Institute, The Wexner Heritage New Members Institute, Kayam Farm Kollel, and Young Judaea. Passionate about making Jewish learning accessible and inclusive, Yaffa has lectured at Limmud events worldwide, written curricula for the Global Day of Jewish Learning, and created innovative educational programming for Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.
Alise Gold
Alise Gold holds a B.A. in Judaic Studies from Stern College for Women and an M.S. in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education. She serves as the Assistant Dean for Student Life, Mechanechet, and Tanach teacher at Ida Crown Jewish Academy. Together with Menachem Rosenbaum, he serves as one of the primary facilitators of Lifnai V’Lifnim at ICJA, helping students connect Torah learning to their personal lives, deepen their self-awareness, and develop meaningful relationships with themselves, others, and Hashem.
Dr. Jonathan Golden
Dr. Jonathan Golden is the Founder of HeartStance Education Consulting, and a skilled teacher coach with expertise in guiding schools to integrate Israel education holistically across multiple grades and subject areas. He teaches at Hebrew College in Boston and for the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. Previously, he served as Israel Curriculum Coordinator and a history teacher at Gann Academy in Waltham, MA, from 1999 to 2023.
At Unpacked for Educators, Jonathan leads our professional development course offerings for educators and schools, drives UED’s growing work with Jewish camps, and presents regularly at conferences for both Unpacked for Educators and ConnectED. A graduate of Princeton University, he holds an M.J.Ed. from Hebrew College and a Ph.D. from Brandeis University, where he studied American Jewish history under Professor Jonathan Sarna.
Alex Harris
Alex Harris brings years of experience in Judaic studies, curriculum design, and student engagement. Before joining Unpacked for Educators, he worked on conflict education at The iCenter for Israel Education. Alex holds a Master’s in Education and Human Development from George Washington University, a Bachelor’s in Judaic Studies and International Studies from the University of Michigan, and received semicha from Rabbi Brovender. He is a member of Ohr Torah Interfaith Center’s International Interfaith Diplomacy Fellowship where he learns and meets with religious leaders around the world. Alex was recognized by Jewish Chicago—JUF and YLD’s “36 Under 36” for his leadership and volunteerism. He has also been published in Tradition Magazine, The Tel Aviv Review of Books, and The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
At Unpacked for Educators, Alex leads major projects, initiatives, and partnerships with federations and educational organizations, develops Judaism Unpacked content, and supports schools and educators, especially in Chicago.
Dr. Ezra Kopelowitz
Dr. Ezra Kopelowitz is a sociologist whose expertise is in Jewish education, community, and issues of collective Jewish identity. He is the CEO of Research Success Technologies, a company that specializes in research and evaluation for Jewish organizations, and has published widely in areas that touch on Jewish identity, education, and peoplehood.
Dr. Kopelowitz lives in Kibbutz Hannaton, Israel.
Rabbi Jessica Minnen Berkowitz
Before coming to Momentum, Jessica was a part of the founding team of OneTable where she served as Director of Jewish Learning for seven years. She is a sought-after educator who has taught for Hillel International, Jewish Federations of North America, the JCC Association of North America, Foundation for Jewish Camp, and Birthright Israel, among others. Originally from Paducah, Kentucky, she is an alumna of Washington University in St. Louis, the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Paideia: The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden, Baltimore Hebrew University, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. She is a past fellow of Reboot, the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Women’s Leadership Mission, and the Ruskay Institute for Professional Leadership. Jessica and her family live in Denver, Colorado.
Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum
Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum teaches Gemara and Chumash at Ida Crown and is also one of the Mechanchim. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Yeshiva University and received Smicha from RIETS. Prior to joining Ida Crown, he was a member of the YU Torah Mitzion Kollel. In addition to his role at ICJA, he teaches Torah throughout the community. Together with Alise Gold, he serves as one of the primary facilitators of Lifnai V’Lifnim at ICJA, helping students connect Torah learning to their personal lives, deepen their self-awareness, and develop meaningful relationships with themselves, others, and Hashem.