This December, Unpacked for Educators convened a powerful two-day Israel Education Conference in Chicago in partnership with JUF and the iCenter, welcoming educators eager to engage deeply with Israel and Zionism education.
Over the course of the conference, our team worked with close to 100 middle and high school educators, equipping them with essential theoretical frameworks and practical tools to bring Israel and Zionism to life in their classrooms.
Educators representing 57 schools and organizations from across the Chicagoland area came together for two days of learning, conversation, and collaboration — creating a dynamic space for professional growth and shared reflection.
Meaningful Learning, Measurable Impact
Throughout the conference, participants explored new approaches, discussed real classroom challenges, and engaged in hands-on sessions designed to build confidence and clarity. The focus was not just on content, but on helping educators feel empowered to navigate complexity with nuance and care.
Post-conference surveys reflected the impact of the experience:
- 90% of participants felt the content was very relevant to their educational setting.
- 100% reported learning new information they plan to bring to their students in the future.
These results underscore what we witnessed throughout the conference — a community of educators committed to thoughtful, engaging, and meaningful Israel education.
Thank you to the Chicago Jewish Community
We are deeply grateful to the educators and partner institutions who joined us in Chicago and helped make this conference such a success, including JUF and the iCenter. We are also grateful to our other partners including the Maimonides Fund and the Natan Fund. Their dedication continues to inspire our work as we support educators across North America and beyond.
