The Innovators Retreat, hosted by the Jewish Educators Innovation Challenge (JEIC), generously funded by the Mayberg Foundation and co-sponsored this year by the Zalik Foundation and the Aronov Foundation, is an annual national gathering that brings together leaders, funders, influencers, and stakeholders dedicated to advancing Jewish day school education. Through immersive learning, structured conversation, and relationship-building, participants engage with ideas and practices that support student-centered, God-centered learning and thoughtful school culture change.

The Jewish Education Innovation Challenge is a dynamic movement that unites educators, funders and community leaders. Together, we work to spark excellence in Jewish day schools and produce students who feel deeply and irrevocably connected to Jewish identity, wisdom, purpose and spirituality.

Learn more about JEIC here

The main Innovators Retreat starts on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 11:00 am and ends on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 1:00 pm, and includes the Monday evening gala.

Yes, there are two optional opportunities outside the core retreat: the Pre-Conference and the Optional Monday Morning Discussions.

The Pre-Conference (Sunday, April 26, 2–7 pm) is Atlanta-focused, primarily for members of the Atlanta Jewish day school community. It focuses on local context, relationship-building, and shared learning. Out-of-town attendees already in Atlanta may also join. The pre-conference is not considered part of the main Innovators Retreat program.

On Monday morning, prior to the official start of the retreat, we will host a series of optional, informal discussions. These facilitated conversations will explore big-picture questions about AI and technology in Jewish day schools, including:

1. Students, Childhood, and What We’re Protecting

• What aspects of childhood feel most fragile right now?

• What might the role of technology be in preserving childhood?

2. Jewish Time, Jewish Wisdom, Jewish Difference

• What does Judaism offer that feels especially countercultural in a tech-driven world?

• How do Jewish ideas of time, rest, and rhythm challenge the logic of efficiency?

• What might it mean for a Jewish school to be intentionally out of step with secular/public schools vis-a-vis technology?

Participants are welcome to join if they are already on site, but no one will miss essential content if they are unable to attend.

We are still fine-tuning the full IR26 schedule. We will notify you when the full schedule is available.

The retreat is designed for a wide range of leaders and influencers in the Jewish day school ecosystem, including (but not limited to):

• Heads of school and senior administrators

• Judaic studies educational leaders and department heads

• Judaic Studies teachers and instructional leaders

• Lay leaders and board members

• Professional development providers

• Funders and foundation trustees and professionals

• Organizational partners

• Thought leaders in Jewish education

The diversity of roles is intentional and central to the learning experience.

Lay and professional leaders from Jewish day schools and related organizations are invited. While each retreat is hosted in a specific city, the experience is designed to foster national connections and cross-community learning.

We intentionally keep the retreat relatively small (typically around 100–125 participants) to create an intimate environment that supports deep conversation, meaningful relationship-building, and active participation.

The invitation list is carefully curated to include innovators and leaders in the North American Jewish day school ecosystem. It includes educators, funders, and influencers who strive to be change agents in the field of Jewish education, as well as an important cadre of local Jewish community day schools' educators and funders.

The Innovators Retreat is not a traditional conference. The retreat emphasizes:

• Cohort-based learning

• Facilitated dialogue

• Collaborative sense-making

• Time for reflection and relationship-building

Participants are not passive attendees; they are co-creators of the experience.

This year’s Innovators Retreat explores how Jewish day schools can navigate change with integrity in a moment of rapid technological acceleration – using artificial intelligence as a powerful case study, not an endpoint. Rather than focusing on tools or tactics alone, the retreat asks deeper questions:

• What must remain distinctly human in Jewish education?

• How do student-centered and God-centered learning guide decision-making in uncertain times?

• What responsibilities do educators and leaders carry as technology reshapes learning, authority, and agency?

The retreat is designed to move from values to discernment to responsibility. Participants will not leave with a checklist or a single “right” approach to AI, but with clearer lenses, shared language, and stronger relationships to support thoughtful, values-aligned decisions in their own contexts.

Participants can expect to:

• Engage with a shared vision for excellence in Jewish day school education

• Build relationships across roles, schools, and communities

• Participate in thoughtful, values-driven conversations about teaching, learning, and leadership

• Leave with new insights, language, and questions to bring back to their professional contexts

The retreat prioritizes depth over breadth and reflection over quick fixes.

There is no registration fee to attend the Innovators Retreat, thanks to the generosity of our hosts, the Mayberg Foundation, and our co-sponsors, the Zalik Foundation and the Aronov Foundation.

Participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.

No, Innovators Retreat is a non-solicitation event.

No, Innovators Retreat attendance is by invitation only, and invitations are non-transferable.

The dress code for the Innovators Retreat (including all daytime sessions and the Monday evening gala) is business attire.

We encourage participants to dress in a way that feels professional, comfortable, and authentic, and that allows you to engage fully in learning, conversation, and community-building throughout the retreat.

For the gala, business attire is still appropriate; there is no need for formal or evening wear. Think polished and professional rather than formal.

As always, we want participants to feel at ease and focused on the experience rather than worrying about what to wear.

The retreat is designed to be a catalyst, not a standalone experience. Participants return to their schools and communities with:

• Stronger cross-community relationships

• Shared language and frameworks for change

• Pathways for continued learning and collaboration

In some cases, participants may also be invited into additional professional learning opportunities connected to the themes of the retreat.

Any pre-retreat preparation will be communicated in advance. Preparation is typically light and reflective in nature, intended to help participants arrive ready to engage meaningfully with one another.