From transformative teen programs like RootOne to life-changing Birthright and Masa  trips, studies have shown that Israel educational travel has been the most essential tool for building a lasting connection to Israel. But October 7th has presented a new set of challenges in the field. 

This week on Adapting, David Bryfman talks with Anna Langer, who oversees the Israel Education Travel Alliance, a collective of over 140 organizations that facilitate Israel trips for North American participants. Their conversation—full of personal anecdotes and frontline insights from southern Israel—doesn’t shy away from how Israel educational travel is adapting to a new reality. This episode is essential listening for anyone who cares about the future of Israel engagement and Jewish identity in uncertain times. 

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 

This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 

If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

This week on Adapting, in honor of Tu BiShvat, Yoni Stadlin of Adamah challenges us to see our connection to the earth through a Jewish lens. 

From his unconventional journey—spending three months living in the canopy of California redwoods—to his belief that Jewish environmentalism should be the default rather than a niche, Yoni reminds us that every breath we take is like receiving CPR from a tree. Tu BiShvat is more than a celebration of trees; it’s a powerful reminder that the earth is our home, and it’s a call to action to care for the planet as we would care for ourselves.  

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 

This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 

If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

Judaism gives us the tools to hold both joy and pain simultaneously. Few understand this better than Rabba Yaffa Epstein, The Jewish Education Project’s Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence, who tragically lost her nephew, Yakir Hexter z”l, while fighting in Gaza one year ago.  

Yakir was much more than a soldier—he was a brilliant Torah student, a talented artist, an athlete, and a bartender with his own signature cocktail. In this week’s episode of Adapting, Rabba Yaffa shares Torah in Yakir’s memory, drawing wisdom from Ben Zoma in Pirkei Avot and from Yakir himself, emphasizing the responsibility we all have as spectators to step in and make a difference. 

Rabba Yaffa juxtaposes her grief with welcoming a beautiful baby girl named in Yakir’s honor within the same week, reminding us that we can find light and inspiration even in the darkest of times. 

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 

This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 

If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

If you’re in a Jewish leadership role, don’t miss this pertinent conversation between David Bryfman and Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, a prominent Jewish leader and author.  

Drawing on insights from Rabbi Cosgrove’s new book, For Such a Time as This: On Being Jewish Today, they delve into relevant topics, like: 

• The generational divides within the Jewish community, as younger generations grapple with complex issues surrounding Israel and antisemitism.
• A vision for Jewish education that balances empathy with protection of Jewish concerns.
• How to navigate these challenges in a post-October 7th world. 

As the news is seemingly changing by the day, Rabbi Cosgrove offers guidance to fellow educators while exploring leadership, identity, and the role of Jewish educators in shaping the future. 

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 
 
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 
 
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

As the largest Jewish community in Europe and the third largest in the world, French Jewry—primarily of Sephardic descent from North Africa—blends a rich, thriving Jewish heritage with modern challenges.

Giving a voice to the French Jewish community on this week’s episode of Adapting, David Bryfman sits down with Devorah Serrao, CEO of Alliance Israélite Universelle, to explore the unique dynamics of Jewish education and identity in France. Devorah shares insights into how young French Jews today balance their French and Jewish identities, as well as lessons for Jewish communities worldwide in navigating identity and finding your inner voice. 

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 
 
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 
 
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

As of this episode’s recording, 461 days have passed since Dalia Cusnir last heard from Yair and Eitan, her brothers-in-law who have been held captive in Gaza by Hamas.  In the most important Adapting episode yet, David Bryfman speaks with Dalia about her personal journey, and the educational and moral imperative of pidyon shvuyim (redeeming the captives).  

At a time when compassion fatigue feels all too common, this episode reminds us of the importance of hope and not giving up. As Jewish educators, we must continue to stress that the freedom of the hostages is a human issue and not just a Jewish issue. When the history of October 7th is written, educators will not be judged by the events of that horrific day and its aftermath. We will be judged on how we respond.

For a more in-depth understanding of why this is the educational imperative of Jewish education today please read David Bryfman's latest article here.

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 
 
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 
 
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

In the final 2024 episode of Adapting, David Bryfman hosts Jonathan Shmidt Chapman—award-winning artist, writer, and Jewish educator—for a lively conversation about bringing Jewish education to life through drama and creativity. Focusing on Chanukah, Chapman emphasizes using multi-sensory experiences, like smell and taste, to make Jewish traditions more immersive and meaningful for children and families. This episode explores how multi-sensory experiences like storytelling and imaginative play can make traditions more meaningful. At a time when we need it most, Chapman shares fresh ideas to illuminate Jewish education this holiday season and beyond. 

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 
 
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 
 
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

In the aftermath of an arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, David Bryfman interviews two Melbourne-based Jewish educators Itzik Sztokman and Marc Light. Together, they explore the emotional and educational ripple effects of this act of antisemitism on their local Jewish community. 

Itzik reflects on the growing sense of unease among Jewish students and families, emphasizing the need for resilience, open dialogue, and proud visibility of Jewish identity in the face of adversity. Marc shares how his school balances heightened security measures with the essential mission of fostering a joyous and meaningful Jewish educational experience. 

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 
 
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 
 
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

Do you, as an educator or parent, wish there was a guidebook for combatting antisemitism? Look no further than Lynne Azarchi and Harlene Lichter Galen’s new curriculum: Countering Anti-Semitism and Hate: A How-to Guide for Youth, Family, and Educators.  

In a conversation with David Bryfman, the authors share insights from three years of research and emphasize the importance of transforming bystanders into upstanders by instilling pride in Jewish identity. 

Together, they explore how stereotypes and tropes have caused generations of harm and why fostering strong Jewish identity is essential for equipping youth to stand up against bias. This guidebook is a resource for parents, educators, and anyone looking to empower the next generation to face hate with knowledge, strength, and dignity.

Purchase the guide here.
Learn more at jewishupstanders.org

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 
 
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 
 
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

What does an inclusive classroom look like if there's no education on antisemitism? Public school teacher Shana Dworken knows and has been a vocal advocate for Jewish students and Jewish education, especially since October 7th.

In this week's conversation with David Bryfman, they explore how to create lasting, systemic change in public schools and discuss why Jews, who have always played a significant role in public education, must be present where our kids and families are. This episode is for educators who may feel like a single, powerless voice in a vast system but who truly can make a profound difference for their students and the Jewish community.

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 
 
This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 
 
If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.