Jewish identity and Israel educator Charlotte Korchak will be a featured speaker in Edmonton on Nov. 22

By Jay Cairns, Friends of JNF Canada

(AJNews) – Friends of JNF Canada is bringing back world-class Jewish identity and Israel educator Charlotte Korchak to Edmonton in November. She is one of the best speakers you will ever hear, which is why we decided to bring her back for an opportunity to engage, learn and ask questions on Saturday night and/or Sunday afternoon, Nov. 21–22, 2026.

Charlotte is on the front lines, tabling, educating and interacting with students on campus and online. She is a well-known keynote speaker at international Jewish and Israel conferences, famous for her ability to connect with and educate youth and university-age students. She has a global pulse on what Jewish students are dealing with on campus, which is often a precursor or indicator of what is to come in general society.

I had the opportunity to table with Charlotte and SSI (Students Supporting Israel) in Calgary in February, during the last school year, and it was a serious eye-opener. University campuses are a different scene. I spent about three hours at the table that day, watching and listening to the conversations taking place, and the imprint of that experience has stuck with me.

The anti-Israel movement is well versed in a narrative designed to corner you and force you to capitulate to whatever demand is being made. That’s their style. It can be aggressive and intimidating. What I learned from watching Charlotte is that the best reaction is often no reaction. Stay calm. Listen. Know what you know, but also understand that you don’t need to have an answer for everything. “It’s complicated” is a shirt Charlotte can often be seen wearing in Jerusalem Education Institute’s Instagram reels, and there is something important in those two words. Israel, Zionism and the Middle East are complicated. We don’t help ourselves by pretending otherwise. Charlotte doesn’t teach people to memorize talking points. She gives them the knowledge and confidence to have much more honest conversations.

Over the weekend, Charlotte will explore Zionism through both its history and its modern context – where it came from, what it actually means, the different forms it has taken, and some of the common myths surrounding it. She’ll also talk about how we reclaim the Zionist narrative and communicate Israel’s story with honesty, nuance and confidence, rather than feeling like we constantly have to defend ourselves.

Just as importantly, she will get into the difference between debate and dialogue. How do you have these conversations with family, friends, colleagues or people in the broader community who may see things very differently than you do? How do you build bridges without abandoning your values? And how do you recognize when someone actually wants a conversation versus when they simply want an argument?

These conversations are particularly important in a world shaped by social media. Charlotte will look at how social media distorts reality, rewards outrage and amplifies the most extreme voices. She’ll talk about building confidence in responding to misinformation, but also about something I think is equally important: knowing where to put your energy. Not every comment requires a response. Not every argument is ours to have. Part of being effective is knowing when to engage, who has a responsibility to respond, and when it is okay to step back and protect our own sanity. That balance – being informed and confident without feeling like you need to fight every battle – is a big part of what makes Charlotte so effective. You leave her sessions knowing more, but also feeling better equipped to actually use what you’ve learned. Come with questions and grill the expert!

Special thank you to the following family sponsors:  Joan Goldstein, Cristine & Barry Slawsky, Schayer/Scholl Families in memory of Hanna Schayer z”l, Christina & Joel Reboh, Tanya & Tony Ghermezian, Romanovsky Families, Teddy Braun & Lisa Davidson, and Colin & Jenn Muscat.

Jay Cairns is the Alberta Executive Director of Friends of JNF Canada.