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Aug 2015
Reposted with thanks to Craig Taubman and Jewels of Elul I was young and earnest with a dream summer internship at the Justice Department, living in dorms crowded with college kids from around the country. My roommate was coming a week late and I anxiously awaited her arrival, certain we’d be best friends forever. Way too early one morning, there was a knock on my door. “Hi. I’m your roommate”
Aug 2015
My husband Bill and I graduated from the Wexner program in Pittsburgh in 1988. Nearly thirty years, nine children and many grandchildren later, well, let's just say, I care a lot about G-d and Torah. I will always be grateful to the Wexner Foundation for the pivotal role it played in my life! In response to 2013's Pew Study detailing Jewish America's distancing from religious observance, I began to write a
Working as a Jewish Chaplain at Rikers Island Correctional Facility comes with a unique set of challenges. For instance, something as simple as sitting down to write this piece involved going through eight metal gates, waiting for an “inmate altercation” to clear and securing one of the few computers in the facility. When I clicked on an old WexnerLEADS article for inspiration, I received the following message: “Content blocked by
Aug 2015
In 2013, the Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA) voted to close down after 32 years. JESNA Board Chair and Wexner Heritage alum Cass Gottlieb (Baltimore) and Jonathan Woocher (former President and Chief Ideas Officer) thought it would be helpful to the Jewish Community at large to be transparent about how they shut down their organization. Reposted with thanks to ejewishphilanthropy.com. The JESNA Board held its final meeting a
Have you ever “meltzed” (waited/bussed) a table? Gotten a band-aid at the “marp” (infirmary)? Or selected an elective for “Shabboptions” (Shabbat options) or “t’floptions” (tefilliah options)? Then you most likely attended or worked at a North American Jewish overnight summer camp. These words stem from Hebrew (and English) but have developed uniquely in the rustic settings of Jewish camp. Over the past two summers, along with our colleague Sharon Avni,
Aug 2015
During my trip to Israel with the Wexner Heritage Program in 2013, I extended my travels so I could attend the LGBT March in Jerusalem. I was moved to see the diversity of that event. Religious, secular and transgender people marching under a sea of rainbow flags, hand-in-hand, through the ancient city of faith. It was a beautiful experience. I felt safe with the security surrounding us despite knowing that
Aug 2015
I became Executive Director of Hillel at Drexel University by accident. Sometimes you look for captivating leadership opportunities - sometimes they find you. I graduated from rabbinical school in June of 2010 poised to spend a year treading water while I waited for my wife to graduate. I would work for Hillel of Greater Philadelphia, where I had interned, in a one-year position created for me, coordinating regional programming.
Jul 2015
"We can't solve our problems using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein This quote was posted throughout The Wexner Foundation’s 30th Anniversary celebration in April. While it’s easily accessible on the surface, the truth within this statement is quite profound, and deeply complex. It is worth our attention as leaders to understand its implications for our leadership. As leaders in the Jewish community
Jul 2015
Perhaps I’ve been living among the redwoods and Patchouli oil in Santa Cruz for too long, but I’ve discovered an easy way and happy way to help Israel. I’ve found that where I live, most people have one of three perspectives of Israel – either they 1. Don’t like it, or 2. Don’t really know about it, or 3. Both. It’s a mystery to me why this incredible "Start-Up Nation,"
From her first WGF Institute at Ocean Edge in 1997, Jenny (Solomon, Class 10) was asked if she knew WGFA Michelle Lynn-Sachs (Class 6). After all, we both hailed from Dallas, Texas. Each of us attended college at Brown University. Raised in actively engaged Reform Jewish homes, we both began our graduate education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. And, if that wasn’t enough, we even share a physical