Samis Foundation

At the Unpacked for Educators Israel conference, 19 Washington State Jewish educators from 11 organizations — spanning day schools, synagogues, camps and youth programs — came together with colleagues across North America around a shared challenge: how do we help Jewish young people navigate complexity, hold identity with confidence, and engage thoughtfully with Israel and the story of Jewish self-determination as the Jewish homeland and state while staying connected to peoplehood in a noisy, emotionally charged world?

Students don’t just need information — they need trusted teachers who help them build identity resilience, hold moral complexity, and see people behind headlines.

As Abraham Joshua Heschel z"l taught, the personality of the teacher is the text students never forget. This is where real field leadership lives, and it will shape how the next generation understands themselves, their community, and Israel. Grateful to Unpacked for Educators for creating space for this level of learning and conversation. SJCS MMSC Day SchoolCamp Solomon Schechter Herzl-Ner Tamid Temple De Hirsch Sinai Congregation Beth Shalom Seattle JDS Northwest Yeshiva High School - NYHS Seattle Hebrew Academy Evergreen Region BBYO BBYO C-Teen Camp Temple B'nai Torah Prizmah