Now in its second year, the conference has become a central gathering for Jewish educators in Brazil and is the only Zionist education conference in the world conducted entirely in Portuguese. Around 120 educators from ten Jewish schools across the country participated, representing both secular and religious streams and forming a national platform for collaboration and shared learning.
Over three days, participants engaged in a program of lectures and workshops built around three pillars: belonging, change, and inspiration. The sessions addressed Jewish identity and antisemitism in the Diaspora, the integration of artificial intelligence and new technologies into Jewish education, and inspiration drawn from Jewish and Zionist educational models worldwide.
Photograph: Vitor Foto
The conference was hosted across four Jewish schools in Rio de Janeiro and was led by KKL Brazil and KKL-JNF, in partnership with the Jewish Agency, UnitED, and the Golden Tree Foundation.
Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing war in Israel, the decision to proceed with the conference, even without the Israeli delegations that were originally expected to attend, emphasized the need for continuity and resilience in Jewish education in the Diaspora, especially during these challenging times.
Photograph: Vitor Foto
The conference was made possible through funding approved by the KKL-JNF Board of Directors as part of a broader effort to strengthen Jewish education in the Diaspora, with a particular focus on Latin American Jewry. Underscoring that even in times of uncertainty, Jewish and Zionist education continues to build, connect, and strengthen Jewish communities across the world.
Rudi Solon, President of KKL Brazil said: "KKL strengthens Jewish education across Brazil because strong education is essential for building connected resilience and thriving communities from north to south."
Sar Shalom-Gerbi, Director of the Education and Community Division at KKL-JNF, said: "Holding this conference reflects the resilience of the People of Israel and the strength of KKL-JNF. Especially today, it is vital to continue professional training and to strengthen resilience and Zionist identity—even in times of war. I commend KKL Brazil for its leadership and the success of the conference, and President Rudi Solon and Education Director Simone Benzinsky for their meaningful educational work.”