The SLBC International Conference cultivates the next generation of Jewish leaders by equipping them with the practical skills, meaningful relationships, and enduring inspiration they need to strengthen Jewish life in their own communities. SLBC is designed with one primary goal in mind: helping every participant return home with ideas, strategies, resources, and renewed confidence they can immediately put into practice.

Each February over President’s Day weekend, nearly 600 clergy, Jewish educators, religious and day school teachers, family engagement and early childhood specialists, Jewish camping staff, teen and young adult leaders, veteran and emerging songleaders, lay leaders, and Jewish professionals gather in St. Louis for North America’s premier Jewish leadership-training conference. Since its founding in 2010, more than 5,000 Jewish leaders have participated in SLBC, creating a powerful leadership pipeline that continues to strengthen congregations, camps, schools, Hillels, JCCs, nonprofits, and Jewish communities across North America, Europe, Israel, and beyond.

Led by many of the Jewish world’s most respected thought leaders, educators, clergy, and music artists, SLBC offers more than 100 highly interactive workshops, inspiring keynote experiences, soul-stirring communal music, meaningful networking, and transformative all-conference gatherings. Every aspect of the conference is intentionally designed to maximize take-home value, ensuring that participants leave with practical tools, innovative ideas, new relationships, and leadership strategies they can implement immediately to create lasting impact in the communities they serve. While inspirational Jewish music is woven throughout the conference experience, participants do not need to sing or play an instrument—music is simply one of many powerful vehicles for building connection, cultivating community, and inspiring leadership.

Participants experience both the energy of the larger conference and the intimacy of specialized Chavurot (learning communities) and leadership tracks, where they build deeper relationships with peers who share similar passions, professional roles, and leadership journeys. These include the Staenberg Teen Chavurah, Atid Middle & Day School Chavurah, Ramah Chavurah, and dedicated learning tracks for worship leaders, Jewish educators, early childhood educators, and songleaders.

At the heart of SLBC is a deep commitment to ensuring that every participant feels welcomed, valued, and empowered to lead. Through intentional initiatives supporting LGBTQ+ Jews, Jews of Color, Jews with disabilities, Jews by choice, and leaders from every denomination, background, and level of Jewish observance, SLBC reflects the richness, diversity, and complexity of contemporary Jewish life. This unwavering commitment to belonging has become one of SLBC’s defining hallmarks, creating a vibrant community where every voice is celebrated, every leader is supported, and every participant is inspired to help shape the Jewish future.

Strengthening Leadership

Develop the confidence, practical skills, and inspiration to create lasting impact in your community.

• Learn from many of the Jewish world’s leading educators, clergy, thought leaders, innovators, and music artists.
• Choose from 100+ interactive workshops spanning leadership, education, inclusion, Jewish identity, music, prayer, movement and mindfulness, and experiential learning.
• Gain practical leadership strategies, innovative ideas, and ready-to-use resources you can immediately implement in your congregation, school, camp, organization, or community.
• Strengthen your communication, facilitation, relationship-building, and public speaking skills.

Belonging

Experience one of the Jewish world’s most welcoming, diverse, and inspiring leadership communities.

• Learn alongside nearly 600 Jewish leaders representing various ages, professional roles, denominations, and levels of Jewish observance.
• Participate in groundbreaking initiatives supporting LGBTQ+ Jews, Jews of Color, Jews with Disabilities, Jews by Choice, and other underrepresented voices in Jewish life, and discover practical ways to create communities where every person feels seen, heard, and included.
• Experience Jewish music, prayer, storytelling, and shared learning as powerful vehicles for building authentic connection—you don’t need to sing or play an instrument to benefit from SLBC.

Community

Become part of a growing movement transforming Jewish leadership around the world.

• Join more than 5,000 SLBC alumni who are strengthening congregations, camps, schools, JCCs, Hillels, and Jewish communities throughout North America, Europe, Israel, and beyond.
• Build lifelong relationships with clergy, educators, camp professionals, teen leaders, musicians, and Jewish professionals who continue supporting one another long after the conference concludes.
• Collaborate across denominations, generations, and professional roles in ways rarely found elsewhere in Jewish life.
• Experience soul-stirring communal gatherings that inspire, energize, and remind us of the extraordinary power of Jewish community.