Cornerstone Seminar 2017: Full Schedule

8:00pm EDT

'Wrestling' With Israel

Many Jews (including professional Jewish educators) have complicated relationships with Israel. Join us to build better skills for engaging in real conversation about varying opinions of and connections to Israel, and we'll become better equipped to bring that range and perspective into how we learn and teach. In this session, you'll be able to share your own perspective, hear from others, consider other approaches to key questions, and work on how to best make space for a variety of points of view.

Educators

Sarra Alpert

Sarra Alpert is the National Program Director for Avodah, an organization that works to strengthen the Jewish community's fight against poverty by building powerful networks of early-career Jewish activist leaders. Sarra spent many of her summers at Camp Ramah in California; first... Read More →

Noam Katz

Rabbi Noam Katz, MAJE, got hooked on Jewish music during his many wonderful summers growing up at URJ Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. A native of Rochester, NY, Noam is a lifelong Jewish educator, songleader and storyteller. Along the way, he has performed at camps... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBD

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

Best. Program. Ever.

Stop reading off the program plan! Your content is rich and important, but if you don't present it well - no one will know. In this workshop you'll learn tricks and tools for getting the message across, facilitating great discussions, and keeping your group engaged and excited.

Educators

Erica Goldman

Erica Goldman grew up in New York and Florida and was a camper at Cejwin Camps for its last two years in existence. After receiving her BA in Linguistics and Cognitive Science from Brandeis University, Erica went on to work in software development in the Boston area until the summer... Read More →

Advisors

Brett Gurwitz

Brett has over fifteen years of youth development experience as a supervisor, mentor, trainer, and therapist. Prior to his work as a trainer, Brett served as a Program Manager at Harlem RBI, a unique program that uses teamwork to teach and inspire low-income youth to reach their potential... Read More →

Briana Holtzman

Briana started her work in the Jewish professional world in 2007 as the founding Associate Director for URJ Camp Kalsman, outside of Seattle, WA. Briana is an alumna of the first cohort of the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Yitro Leadership Program, a FJC Bildner Graduate Fellow... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBD

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

C’mon Baby, Light Our Fire

This session will teach you how to enrich your bonfire repertoire with powerful content and experiences. Together you will learn how to build your bonfire, both physically and spiritually, celebrate a bonfire experience through Jewish story, song and meditation, and share your bonfire culture with the group and take back new embers.

Educators

Meir Balofsky

Meir’s claims to fame include the rewriting of lyrics to famous songs and performing them with unbridled enthusiasm despite his debatable singing talent. His arms are certified selfie-sticks, he coordinated a 29 person 30 legged 100 meter dash, and he recently broke his own personal... Read More →

Josh Lake

Josh is a Wilderness First Responder, an avid outdoorsman and a member of the Oregon Mycological Society. Josh’s passion is turning nature/wilderness into a Jewish classroom where people can fully experience Creation. His style of education is heavily influenced by nature as learners... Read More →

Event Staff

Sidney Usem

Sidney has been a lifetime camper and staff member at Herzl Camp in Webster, WI. He starting going to Herzl at back in 2001 and has now been there for 15 summers. During this time, Sidney has attended and staffed just about every program in camp! Sidney recently started working Herzl... Read More →

Advisors

Natalie Goldfein

Natalie Goldfein is an accomplished teacher, consultant, coach and mentor, with more than 30 years’ experience helping people learn how to do things better and interact more effectively with others. Her work with organizations such as Crate & Barrel, Growing Home, Inc., and the... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBD

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

How Do We Disagree?

Can we change the world through better conversation? At Ask Big Questions, we believe we can. In this interactive evening workshop, we will explore Big Questions that matter to everyone and that everyone can answer such as “How Do We Disagree”, “Who Is In Our Community”, “For Whom Are We Responsible” and learn to apply Ask Big Questions’ core ideas in a variety of settings in your own life. (Presented by Ask Big Questions)

Other Presenters

Oren Persing

Hillel International

Oren Persing is the Director of Entrepreneurship at Hillel International where he works with staff and students across the country to create, share, and scale innovative Jewish practice. His current focus is supporting teens as they make the transition from high school to college... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBA

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

I Swear to God I Don't Believe in God!

There are many exciting ideas about what God is or whether God is – and you have an important place in this ongoing conversation! Using games, discussion, and texts from many perspectives, join us to explore how you can and do live an authentic and engaged Jewish life with your evolving conceptions of God.

FJC Staff

Teri McGuire

Teri joined the FJC team as a Program Assistant. The granddaughter of two Holocaust survivors, Teri was raised to take pride in her Judaism and contribute strongly to the community around her. She strengthened her Jewish identity through her involvement in United Synagogue Youth... Read More →

Kate O'Brien

Kate is excited to join the FJC team as the Director of Education, where she will provide Jewish educational insight, direction, and coaching for the breadth of FJC’s programs. Before FJC, Kate served as the Director of Education, Innovation, and Organizing at The Workmen’s Circle... Read More →

Advisors

Seth Braunstein

Rabbi Seth grew up going to Jewish summer camp. With his passion for informal Jewish education, he has traveled extensively working for many Jewish communities around the world. For the last ten years he has directed The Szarvas Fellowships program in Hungary bringing pluralistic... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBD

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

Jewish Ninja Warriors!

You’re a camp legend: it's your winning goal during the staff/camper soccer game, your crowd-pleasing shtick the last night of camp when you were 12, and that time you led an impromptu Ziben Ziben when it hadn’t stopped raining in days. All these show your dedication in body, heart, and mind. You're a Jewish Ninja Warrior: ready for all the physical challenges laced with the mysteries of Kabbalah, the Torah, and, of course, a brilliant Horah. For this program you will need a swimsuit and a brave heart because you're going in the pool. Mayim, mayim b'sasson! (Note: this is a co-ed activity.)

Educators

Sara Beth Berman

Sara Beth Berman has been working as a Jewish Educator since a few weeks after her bat mitzvah. Sara Beth, who is proud to have two first names, spent her summers working at URJ Camp Coleman, Camp Interlaken JCC, Camp Ramah Darom, and with USY on Wheels. Sara Beth enjoys teaching... Read More →

Jon Adam Ross

As a highly sought-after artist in residence, Jon leads workshops and facilitates the creation of theater using physical and emotional exploration of stories from ancient Jewish narratives. During his time as an artist in residence, he has both taught and created at Lookingglass Theater... Read More →

Event Staff

Julia Laibstain

Julia is thrilled to be a part of the Cornerstone 2017 Event Team. Cornerstone holds a very special place in her heart; serving as a Cornerstone Fellow in 2015 with the rest of the Capital Camps cohort ranks at the top of her fondest camp memories. She is now paying it forward by... Read More →

Advisors

Becca Sykes

Any time Rebecca strayed from blazing a new path as an artist who also wants to live a Jewish life, it never took more than a few weeks at Camp Ramah set things back on fire. That's over 30 summers of informal experiential education right at your fingertips. She is proud to say that... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBD

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

Religion and Politics: A Conversation amongst Friends

You are invited to join a conversation about showing up Jewishly in this moment. In this program, three of Cornerstone’s faculty will share diverse perspectives on how their Jewish lens informs their sense of responsibility as agents of change in the world today. You will be invited into the conversation as well, through your own stories and passions. This will be a space where we model and practice disagreement that reflects mutual respect and support.

Educators

Ariella Rosen

Rabbi Ariella Rosen is currently serving Temple Adath Israel in Merion Station, PA, where she oversees educational programming for people of all ages and abilities. She was ordained in 2015 by the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Ariella was born in Baltimore, MD, grew... Read More →

Advisors

Jonah Canner

Jonah works with schools, summer camps and community organization to develop curriculum, train and coach staff, build community, and institute change initiatives. Jonah specializes in responding to conflict, group development, restorative practices, building rituals, and supporting... Read More →

Shalom Orzach

Shalom is a senior educator and consultant for the iCenter, the national hub and catalyst for building, shaping, and supporting the field of Israel education. He has also served as the AVI CHAI Project Director and Director of Education in the Shlichut and Israel Fellows unit for... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBD

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

Sex and Conversations About Consent

Conversations about our bodies and about sexual pressures are staples for campers and staff, but we rarely have these conversations at the same time. In this session, we’ll explore the possibilities of consent in a positive framework and you leave with tools to help create a foundation for safer behavior amongst campers and peers at camp, on campus, and in your communities.

Educators

Caroline Rothstein

Caroline Rothstein is a New York City-based award-winning writer, performer, activist, and educator. She has been performing spoken word poetry, public speaking, and facilitating workshops at colleges, schools, organizations and performance venues worldwide for over a decade. Caroline’s... Read More →

Event Staff

Adina Alpert

Adina is a resident of Brooklyn, NY and currently works for Bend the Arc: a Jewish Partnership for Justice. Prior to joining Bend the Arc, Adina served as Director of Youth Programming at Congregation Beth Am in San Diego. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she graduated from UC San... Read More →

Jake Wassermann

Jake is excited to return for his second year working as Event Staff for Cornerstone. Originally from Lansdale, PA, Jake is a lifetime camper/counselor at Camp Ramah in the Poconos. He is currently in his Junior year at the Joint Program between Columbia University and the Jewish... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBD

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

Stand Out in Any Resume Pile: Putting Camp Experience to Work

The average hiring manager only looks at a resume for 6 seconds (!) before they decide whether to continue reading it. In this interactive session, you’ll learn how to make the most of those 6 seconds so you can be sure to get an interview. You’ll also walk away with some bullet points on how to translate your camp experience onto a resume that will no doubt have people excited to hire you!

Other Presenters

Hilary Jampel

Hilary Jampel is the Assistant Director for Early Career Talent at Hillel International where she helps connect recent college graduates with meaningful careers. Originally from New Jersey, she attended the University of Delaware (go Blue Hens!) before moving to DC nearly 8 years... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBA

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

Story Slam: Personal Investments

We are the stories we tell. In this session, you will get a chance to bear witness to the stories of others and maybe even tell your own story. The theme is investment, and we will be telling our own personal accounts of the investments we have made and the ones that have been made in us.

Educators

Aki Yonekawa

Aki fell in love with Jewish camp at nine years old on top of a hill in Malibu and has been involved in Jewish camp in one way or another for the last three decades. She was a camper at Gindling Hilltop Camp, worked at Camp Hess Kramer, Camp JCA Shalom and then finally settled at... Read More →

Event Staff

Leo Henkin

Leo Henkin is a third year college student at Tulane University and Songleader at URJ Six Points Sci-Tech Academy. He is a Jewish Studies and Jazz Studies double major, studying the relationship between worship and sound. He spends my year counting down until camp starts, and is... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBD

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

Text in Tension:Interactive Debate Midrash

Together in this evening experience we will explore some hot button issues in creating a pluralistic community. We will experience and reflect on the role of machloket, the appreciation of opposition, in creating and preserving civil discourse.

FJC Staff

Avi Katz Orlow

Before joining the Foundation for Jewish Camp in 2008, Avi was the Campus Rabbi and Assistant Director of the St. Louis Hillel at Washington University and has held numerous positions as rabbi, educator, and youth leader. He spent 17 years as a camper and then educator at Ramah... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBD

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

The Happy Lab: Engineering Joyful Moments

Put on your lab coats and goggles! Prepare to test different hypotheses about the diverse formulas for inventing joyful moments. We'll experiment with laughter, mindfulness, and silliness. Who knew neuroscience could be so much fun?

Educators

Dan Abramson

As an artist and educator, Daniel Abramson is passionate about using the arts as a vehicle for teaching about identity and as a tool for self-reflection. He has led creative workshops for children and adults using a wide range of art media. When he isn't getting his hands dirty in... Read More →

Asya Gribov

Asya is a community organizer, family program curator, experiential educator, art lover, and world traveler. Following her passions, Asya can be found splitting her time between working with PJ Library on Russian-speaking Jewish family engagement initiatives, leading children’s... Read More →

Tomer Moked

Tomer is a certified life and career coach (MCI) for performing arts professionals and is thrilled to return to the Cornerstone faculty team this year. Tomer has spent the last 17 summers at Jewish summer camps, starting as a Shaliach in 1999 at Surprise Lake Camp in NY, and since... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBD

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow, Liaison

8:00pm EDT

Year-Round Professionals’ Roundtable with Marina Lewin, COO of Foundation for Jewish Camp

This opportunity is for year-round camp professionals to get to know the new Chief Operating Officer of Foundation for Jewish Camp and share what makes you passionate about Jewish camping. We'll discuss the future of our field and talk about ways FJC can support professional growth for individuals like you!

FJC Staff

Marina Lewin

Marina joined Foundation for Jewish Camp as Chief Operating Officer in January, 2017, following a 30+ year high-profile career in banking. She served most recently as the Global Head of New Business Development for BNY Mellon, where she successfully managed large teams in complex... Read More →

Tuesday May 23, 2017 8:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
TBA

Evening Experience 2

Recommended for Fellow