AI & Torah: JEIC's 2026 Innovators Retreat Explores Humanizing Technology in Jewish Education
/JEIC’s 2026 Innovators Retreat convened educators, leaders, and partners from across the Jewish day school landscape for three days of learning, reflection, and forward-thinking conversation. Set against the backdrop of rapid technological change, the retreat focused on one central question: how can Jewish education thoughtfully engage emerging tools like AI while staying rooted in its deepest values?
A Field in Transition
The retreat opened with a dedicated pre-conference day for Atlanta-area Jewish day school educators and administrators, grounding participants in the broader challenges and opportunities facing the field. With AI reshaping classrooms and educational priorities, hands-on workshops explored practical applications in Judaic Studies, strategic integration aligned with core goals, and frameworks for thoughtful collaboration across schools and community stakeholders.
Balancing Innovation and Values
The second day began with a shared vision-setting process, inviting participants to reflect on the evolving purpose of Jewish day school education in an age of accelerating change. Conversations surfaced both excitement and tension, particularly around how AI intersects with core values like morality, human relationships, and the nature of learning itself.
Breakout sessions dug deeper into these themes, emphasizing the importance of preserving human connection, intellectual effort, and God-centered learning. Participants examined how to engage AI’s possibilities while remaining anchored in what makes Jewish education distinct.
Technology in Service of Torah
The final day turned toward implementation, exploring AI’s practical and philosophical intersections with Jewish education through the “Pedagogy of Partnership” approach— technology supporting, not replacing, human relationships. Participants tested AI as a clarity tool in limmud haTorah (Torah study) while safeguarding ameilus (intellectual struggle), applied it to Tanach and Gemara without compromising sacred rigor, and examined strategic uses for lay leaders and funders to streamline operations and refocus on teaching and learning.
Voices from the Field
Shelley Fogelson, Manager of Day School Partnerships for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, shared enthusiastic post-conference feedback, noting she loved this retreat even more than JEIC's memorable Seattle gathering. She praised the exceptional session quality, meaningful opportunities for interaction, and inspiration to support schools in this vital work—offering to follow up with additional resources while thanking JEIC for its impactful contributions.