At a time when Jewish communities around the world are confronting rising antisemitism, polarisation, and profound questions of identity and belonging, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem convened leading international scholars, educators, and community leaders for the first-ever International Conference on Jewish Education in Israel and the Diaspora.
Held on May 24–25 at the University’s Melton Centre for Jewish Education, the conference brought together experts from Israel, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Australia to examine the future of Jewish education in an era shaped by crisis, resilience, and transformation.
The gathering took place against the backdrop of growing international concern over antisemitism on university campuses and within educational systems worldwide. Recent reports from Europe and North America have documented a sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents affecting Jewish students and educators since October 7, including harassment, exclusion, and intimidation on campuses.
Conference organisers said the event was designed not only as an academic forum, but also as a response to the urgent educational and communal challenges facing Jewish communities globally.
“Jewish education today stands at a historic crossroads,” said Dr. Noga Bing, Director of the Melton Centre for Jewish Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “Around the world, educators are grappling with how to strengthen identity, cultivate belonging, and respond to rising antisemitism and social fragmentation. This conference created a vital international space for dialogue, innovation, and collective responsibility.”
Under the theme “Identity and Belonging in Contemporary Jewish Education,” participants explored issues including antisemitism and political polarization, Jewish peoplehood, Israel–Diaspora relations, educational resilience after October 7, Hebrew language instruction, AI and technology in education, and new pedagogical approaches for teaching Jewish identity and history.
Reflecting the rapidly evolving educational landscape worldwide, the conference also addressed the role of artificial intelligence in Jewish learning. Dr. Marcelo I. Dorfsman of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem presented research on the impact of generative AI on Jewish education, exploring both the opportunities and challenges posed by emerging technologies for educators and communities.
More than 100 presenters participated in dozens of panels, keynote lectures, and interdisciplinary discussions. Sessions addressed topics ranging from Jewish education in times of crisis and trauma to educational responses to antisemitism, community rebuilding, and the future of Israel education in the Diaspora.
Among the featured speakers were internationally recognized figures in Jewish education and thought, including Alex Pomson, Ezra Kopelowitz, David Bryfman, Barry Chazan, Eli Holzer, Helena Miller, Adam Ferziger, and others. A highlight of the conference was the closing plenary lecture by acclaimed Israeli thinker Micah Goodman, titled “The Future of Human Intelligence in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.”
Several sessions focused specifically on the changing experiences of Jewish students and educators worldwide following October 7 and the subsequent increase in anti-Semitic incidents across campuses and public discourse. Discussions examined how Jewish education can help foster resilience, ethical leadership, and stronger global Jewish connections in a time of uncertainty.
The conference was organised by the Seymour Fox School of Education’s Melton Centre for Jewish Education at the Hebrew University and supported by partners including the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, UnitEd, the Pincus Fund for Jewish Education, the International Association for the Study of Judaism, and the Koret Foundation.
Organisers said the conference highlighted the growing importance of international collaboration in addressing the educational and communal challenges facing Jewish communities worldwide.