Strengthening Those Who Strengthen: Olami Hosts First National Women’s Learning Event

Now, more than ever, these educators require strength and support from one another. The event offered attendees the tools, encouragement, and community needed to keep guiding students through complex conversations and personal journeys. The event follows two other successful educator gatherings for Olami rabbis earlier this year in Far Rockaway and Lakewood.

 By:  Kayla Glickman

 Last week, Olami, an organization focused on building Jewish identity and continuity, held a National Women’s Learning and Networking event in Lawrence, New York. The two-day gathering brought together female educators working on campuses and within communities of young professionals, providing a space to connect, recharge, and grow in their shared mission to inspire Jewish young adults.

 The event comes as educators are seeing more Jewish students attending programming and asking questions following October 7th and the rise in antisemitism that followed. With being Jewish a topic of frequent discussion, the role of educators has become both vital and more demanding. Now, more than ever, these educators require strength and support from one another. The event offered attendees the tools, encouragement, and community needed to keep guiding students through complex conversations and personal journeys. The event follows two other successful educator gatherings for Olami rabbis earlier this year in Far Rockaway and Lakewood.

 Mrs. Matti Blackman, an Olami Toronto educator, reflected on the event’s impact: “I just spent the last two days learning and immersing myself with amazing women. It gave me the opportunity to spiritually, emotionally, and physically recharge.” Blackman emphasized the value of the network Olami provides, adding, “Being part of Olami means that I’m part of this massive network of like-minded, driven people from all over the globe. It really gives me a lot of chizuk and tools to continue growing and giving.”

 Notable workshops and presentations included top-level speakers, such as Rabbi Moshe Weinberger of Aish Kodesh, Woodmere, and Mrs. Miriam Kosman, Olami scholar-in-residence and director of the Olami Women’s Learning Chabura. Charlie Harary led workshops on professional development topics such as effective teaching and speaking, as well as motivating others to grow. Peer-led roundtable discussions included topics such as women’s leadership, fundraising, administration, and vision for organizational leaders. Each session aimed to equip attendees with new insights and tools to enhance their impact on students and young professionals.

 Rabbi Avi Cassel, Lakewood resident and Executive Vice President of Olami, emphasized the need for these gatherings: “Creating learning gatherings for our educators in the field is essential to our mission. Emotionally and intellectually engaged and inspired rabbis and rebbetzins create a contagious environment of growth for students. Especially at this time, when so many Jews are searching and so many want to add to the zechus of the Jewish people for protection in Israel and around the world, we were driven to create days of Torah and Tefillah for our women in the field.”

 The event also gathered attendees for a dinner hosted by the Olami House Woodmere, a mentorship and learning space for young professional women, which facilitated connections with local community members and provided a special Q&A with Mrs. Miriam Kosman about women in kiruv.

 Mrs. Nalini Ibragimov, Director of Olami House Woodmere, highlighted the personal impact of the event: “The Olami conference was an incredibly enriching experience where we were able to learn from esteemed educators and rabbis while connecting with each other on a meaningful and engaging platform. Olami’s investment of these past two days in our continuing education filled me and nourished me in a manner in which I truly feel that I can give more to my students. I am deeply grateful.”

 This first National Women’s Learning and Networking Event exemplified Olami’s commitment to supporting Jewish female educators through opportunities for professional development and community building. Many attendees expressed hope that this gathering would become an annual tradition, bringing renewed energy and insights to their work and the wider Jewish community.