2025 Recap

Over 300 Jewish education professionals from ECE-RJ (Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism) and ARJE (Association of Reform Jewish Educators) gathered at the Hilton Orrington/Evanston in Evanston, IL for a dynamic 3.5-day professional learning experience. This year’s conference, titled Yom Chadash—“A New Day”—centered on the theme “Imagine the Possibilities.”

Pre-Conference Day: A Culture of Belonging

 

The conference began with a dedicated Pre-Conference Day of Learning for early childhood educators. 55 participants from across North America explored the concept of creating a Culture of Belonging through the lenses of environment, sensory engagement, and relationship-building. This immersive experience left participants with a shared vision, common language, and actionable strategies to spark meaningful change in their communities.

 

A New Model for Learning

YC2025 introduced a new conference format combining Intensive Tracks with Breakout Sessions. Attendees chose from three intensives, offering deeper engagement in small group settings. Each track met for four hours across the three days and included an off-site visit that brought the learning to life.

Intensive Tracks and Site Visits Included:

• “As If You Were There:” Bringing Jewish Stories to Life Through Immersive Theater and Imaginative Play
  – Led by Jonathan Shmidt Chapman, with a visit to the Chicago Children’s Theater

   

   

• Building With, Not For: Creating a Culture of Collaboration to Meet Careholder Needs
  – Led by Mindy Gold, including a visit to the Ryan Education Center at the Art Institute of Chicago
• North American Jewish Identity in a Post-October 7th World
  – Led by Lesley Litman. Participants chose between visiting Hillel at Northwestern University or remaining onsite for an extended session on Israel education.

We were also honored by the presence of Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the URJ, who offered a blessing for educators and Miriam Heller Stern who shared an opening innovation.

Mapping the Journey

The conference opened with “Mapping the Possibilities,” led by co-chairs Rabbi Eve Rudin, Mihaela Schwartz, and Sara Losch, alongside Shira Kline and Cantor Robbins. Participants were invited to orient themselves with shared metaphors—maps, rest stops, journeys, and destinations.

This thematic framework unfolded through spiritual mapping touchpoints that guided the rhythm of the days:

• OPEN: Welcome In
• ASK: Kabbalat Hayom – Rise and Shine (Thursday)
• DREAM: Kabbalat Hayom – Rise and Shine (Friday)
• ILLUMINATE: Kabbalat Shabbat – Receive Peace
• PLAY: Sabbath Queen’s After Party – A Shabbos Song Session
• BE: Kabbalat Shalom – Expressions of Shabbat
• THANK: Closing Circle

Shabbat morning brought a service of wonder, gratitude, and intention, filled with uplifting melodies, imaginative Torah, and a chorus of guiding voices. Participants were invited to journey through the seven spiritual rest stops during an extended Amidah, with opportunities to move, connect, express gratitude, study, bless, and play—each moment deepening the experience of Shabbat and community.

We closed the week with blessings and gratitude to support our ongoing journey of imagining the possibilities—together, as educators, leaders, and seekers of a new day.

In addition to core learning sessions, Yom Chadash offered a rich array of experiences that deepened connection, inspiration, and community. Educators explored a variety of meaningful topics in engaging breakout sessions and received personalized guidance through the Coaches’ Corner, which provided mentoring and coaching opportunities with experienced professionals. The Sponsor and Vendor Marketplace created space for attendees to connect with mission-aligned partners and discover valuable resources. First-time participants were welcomed at a special First Timer Lunch, fostering connections and offering insight into the Yom Chadash experience. Daily Reflection Groups gave space for processing, sharing, and integrating learning. Social programming added joy and connection, with dine-arounds, dessert receptions, a lively comedy night with Improv Playhouse, and a spirited Shabbat song session. A highlight of the gathering was the ECE-RJ 25th Anniversary Celebration, which honored the organization’s history, dedication to Jewish early childhood education, and decades of growth—with storytelling, heartfelt reflections, and a celebratory drum circle. The conference also marked a moment of renewal and leadership with the installation of the ARJE Board, affirming a shared commitment to the future of Reform Jewish education.

What participants had to say:

The post-conference survey reflected the energy and impact of Yom Chadash, with attendees sharing how the experience deepened connections, sparked new ideas, and left them inspired to bring their learning back to their communities. 

Here are just a few reflections:

• I loved the intensive track. It left me wanting more!!
• I feel more connected to the people in my own community with whom I didn’t realize I had so much in common. Now that I have had a chance to meet them and work together, I will feel more comfortable reaching out to ECE-RJ colleagues from other communities.
• Spending time with colleagues is always a highlight. It’s a chance to collaborate, vent and share ideas.
• Meeting mentors, friends and colleagues was invaluable.
• I thought the intensive learning was fabulous. Learning with Mindy Gold really made me think about building a collaborative culture among the temple staff as a whole community.
• I gained so much from the intensive with Jonathan Shmidt Chapman was so exciting to have something so hands-on and interactive…which will make it even easier to use.  The shabbat morning experience was so unique. I especially like the amidah breakouts. What a great way to invite people to experience tefillah in the way in which we were called to ‘in the moment’.
• It was a very welcoming group. Though I’ve been a Religious School Director and Preschool  Director for a long time, this was my first ECE-RJ conference and everyone made me feel very welcome. Fun to be around ‘my people’.
• I liked the supplementary breakout sessions on the Friday after the intensive ended. It allows us to have a taste of other concepts outside of our track and that was a nice balance to go deep in one area.