Miami Jewish Schools Launch Leadership Initiative to Strengthen Israel Education

A new multi‑phase program, the Certificate in Israel Leadership, has begun in Miami to help Jewish day schools develop a more nuanced approach to teaching about Israel. The initiative, a partnership between the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) and the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, started with a leadership‑focused Phase 1 that brought together senior administrators, rabbis and board members from seven local schools.

The program was created in response to growing concerns among Jewish educators about how to address the complex and often contentious topic of Israel in a post‑October 7 environment. CAJE, which has long worked to improve Jewish education in North America, said the initiative is designed to give school leaders the tools and confidence needed to guide teachers and students through difficult conversations.

Phase 1, held in early 2026, included 23 participants from the Innovative School of Temple Beth Sholom, Lehrman Community Day School, Pardes Day School, Posnack Day School, Scheck Hillel Community School, Rambam Day School and Yeshiva Elementary School. The schools vary in denomination, size and educational philosophy, a diversity that the organizers said was intentional. According to the program’s website, the goal was to build a shared foundation that would respect each school’s unique mission while creating common capacity.

Research cited by the initiative’s leaders indicates that the main barrier to effective Israel education is not a lack of curriculum but educators’ fear of backlash from parents, students or administrators. Keren Fraiman, vice‑president and chief academic officer at Spertus, explained that starting with leadership helps schools establish aligned policies and supportive governance before teachers enter the classroom. The program’s in‑person sessions covered leadership frameworks, stakeholder communication, conflict navigation and approaches to teaching complexity.

Participants reported gaining practical tools for engaging diverse stakeholders and for creating space for multiple perspectives while maintaining a clear educational vision. Many highlighted the value of learning alongside lay leaders, noting that joint reflection strengthened relationships and fostered greater alignment around school goals. Several leaders also expressed a deeper appreciation for conflict education as a means of developing perspective‑taking, critical thinking and problem‑solving.

The next phase of the program, scheduled for later in 2026, will focus on teachers in the same schools. According to CAJE, the goal is to translate the leadership foundation into classroom practice, providing educators with training, resources and support to deliver age‑appropriate, mission‑aligned Israel education.

The initiative is being promoted as a model that could be replicated in other Jewish communities. CAJE officials say that investing in leadership development and cross‑school collaboration can create multiplier effects: a single cohort can influence hundreds of teachers and thousands of students. The program’s leaders argue that such investment is essential for preparing students to engage with Israel in a knowledgeable, resilient and confident manner.

The launch of the Certificate in Israel Leadership comes amid heightened attention to how Jewish schools address Israel in the wake of recent events. By prioritizing leadership alignment before classroom instruction, the initiative seeks to equip schools with the capacity to handle complex discussions without resorting to avoidance or advocacy alone.

The program’s first cohort is expected to begin Phase 2 in the fall, with the aim of embedding nuanced Israel education across the participating schools’ curricula. The broader goal, according to CAJE, is to strengthen Jewish identity and connection while fostering critical engagement with Israel’s history, politics and culture.