Webinar Panelists

For our Jewish Education in a Scary World Webinar (January 21, 2015):

Dr. David Bryfman
David is the Chief Innovation Officer at The Jewish Education Project. David completed his Ph.D. Education and Jewish Studies at NYU focusing on Jewish adolescent identity development and experiential Jewish Education. He is also a graduate of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program. Prior to moving to New York, David worked in formal and informal Jewish educational institutions in Australia, Israel, and North America. David’s current work focuses on bringing innovative strategies and creative thinking to Jewish education.

Simon Klarfeld
Simon is an expert in the fields of experiential Jewish learning and informal Israel education, and has served as vice president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, executive director of Columbia/Barnard Hillel, and as founding director of the Genesis program at Brandeis University. Simon is currently Executive Director of Young Judaea. Early in his career, he was director of both the British and California Soviet Jewry movements, including serving “hard time” in the Soviet Union. Simon has consulted with organizations including iCenter, the Joint Distribution Committee and birthright Israel in communities ranging from Australia to Ukraine on best practices in youth engagement, informal education, Jewish peoplehood, and leadership. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Keele in England and his Master’s degree in Jewish Communal Service from Brandeis University. 

Peter Nelson
Peter has been the Director of the New York Office of Facing History and Ourselves for over 20 years. Previous to that, he taught in NYC public high schools for 13 years. He has a BA in psychology from SUNY Binghamton and an MA in philosophy from the Graduate School of CUNY. Facing History and Ourselves is an international educational and professional development organization whose mission is to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry.

Dr. Brigitte Sion
Brigitte is an adjunct researcher with the Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University, and the former executive director of the Committee Against Anti-Semitism and Defamation in Geneva, Switzerland where she was born and raised. She is an expert on the history of anti-Semitism and Holocaust memory, and writes extensively for the Jewish media in French.

Dr. Emily Amie Witty
Emily earned her Ed.D. from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University. She is a published author and has presented on the pedagogy of teaching the Holocaust to international audiences in Israel, Canada, as well as the United States. In addition to holding a Master’s degree in Jewish Studies, Dr. Witty also holds a Master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and has consulted internationally on the pedagogy of teaching diverse groups of learners. She works in the Day School department at The Jewish Education Project and is an adjunct professor in the education department at Stern College for Women, where she teaches course in Language and Literacy.

Rabbi Elizabeth Wood 
Elizabeth received her B.A. in Jewish Studies and Political Science from Indiana University in 2004. She received her M.A.H.L and Ordination from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in 2009. Rabbi Wood has been the Associate Rabbi Educator at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills for the past 5 years, working directly with the religious school, and youth groups, with a focus on young family engagement and outreach. Rabbi Wood serves as faculty at the URJ summer camps Eisner and Crane Lake. She also serves on the board of the Women's Rabbinic Network and co-chairs the Executive board of Faith in New York, an interfaith community organizing forum.