Rivy Poupko Kletenik is Head of School at the Seattle Hebrew Academy. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, descended from a long line of Rabbinic families, she graduated from Touro College for Women and studied at Yeshiva University Revel Graduate School of Judaic Studies, and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Religious Studies. In 2002 Rivy won the prestigious Covenant Foundation Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators. She lectures throughout the world and writes prodigiously for Jewish magazines and newspapers.

Educators’ Forum Keynote*: “What’s Jewish About Jewish Genealogy?” (Sun-144), 9-10:15 A.M.

Jewish genealogy is about so much more than names, dates, places and family trees. Jewish genealogy is history, values, identity, meaning,Torah. Last summer Rivy traveled to Russia and Belarus on a search for family roots. Her article, “Following in My Father’s Footsteps,” unpacked the emotional nature of the experience and uncovered unexpected yicchus (lineage).

Topics: Jewish history and culture 

*The combined fee for attendance at the full conference and the Educators’ Forum is just $365 during early on-line registration through April 30. If one wishes to attend the Educator’s Forum only,  registration fee is $50 per person.  See http://www.iajgs2016.org/educators/