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On Shabbat (May 23), a day in which we strive for peace and wholeness, our community was shattered by an unimaginable tragedy. As we mourn the loss of all those killed in the recent shooting in Isla Vista, we struggle to make sense of a senseless act. Santa Barbara, which is often seen as a picture-perfect oasis, has now been added to a list of cities that include Columbine, Aurora,
Pictured: Netaly Ophir-Flint, an alumna from Class 24, charged the new WIFP Class 26: "I have a final piece of advice for you. During the Wexner Fellowship year at the Kennedy School, decide to sleep one hour less every night. Take advantage of every learning opportunity during this transformative year!" Some of the New Wexner Israel Fellows Weigh in on Their Orientation and Year Ahead "Taking off from the
Jun 2014
No one ever described high school as the ‘best four years of your life.’ The pressure to fit in is tremendous, and gearing up for college can be overwhelming. This is also when Jewish involvement plummets among non-orthodox teenagers, following the bar/bat mitzvah. BBYO is working (and succeeding) at reversing this trend. What’s our ‘secret sauce’? We draw teens in through social experiences. They then develop authentic relationships which become
May 2014
In honor of Shavuot, when you may have some extra time to study, here is a Dvar Torah by WGFA Rabbi Shai Held (Class 7) about something most of us do: bless people. It was originally sent out by Mechon Hadar, an organization founded by three Wexner Graduate Fellowship Alumni, as a weekly email. To download a recording, click here. To subscribe to Shai's weekly dvar, click here. Pictured above:
The following address was given last night at the Class 27 Graduate Fellowship Orientation by WGFA Shaul Kelner (Class 8, and Chairman of The Wexner Graduate Fellowship and Davidson Scholars Selection Committee): This Shabbat we begin reading B'midbar, the sociologists’ parashah -- when my colleagues and I all get a special aliyah, and we claim Biblical mandate for our work: “On the first day of the second month, in the second
This week Ukraine happens to be off the front pages, but the Jewish communities continue to be concerned about provocations, particularly from pro-Russian militants or secret agents ahead of the elections scheduled for May 25. Accordingly, they are forming teams of "shomrim" - quick response units, which are dedicated to ensure the safety of Jews and Jewish sites in Kiev. If you would like to learn more about their efforts
I wanted to let the Wexner network know about something special we are hosting at the Shalom Hartman Institute on June 12, 2014. We’ll be holding a one-day iEngage conference for rabbis, educators, board chairs, and Jewish communal professionals. Faculty from diverse disciplines including Wexner alumni Jill Jacobs (Class 11), Ethan Tucker (Class 11), and Yehuda Kurtzer (Class 15), President of SHI North America, will address such questions as: How does the
May 2014
Throughout my life, I have listened to the stories my grandmother has shared of her Jewish life in New York City growing up in the 1930s. I have listened to the tales my mother has told about growing up in Brooklyn in the 1950s. I’ve reflected on how their experiences were similar to and different from my own Jewish life growing up on Long Island in the 1990s. Three generations
May 2014
WHA’s from East Bay 10: Lisa Sadikman, Nicki Gilbert, Julie Matlof Kennedy, Michael Sosebee , Mark Hoffman WHA's from East Bay...
May 2014
Reprinted with permission from Sh’ma: A Journal of Jewish Ideas (www.shma.com) May 2014 issue, as part of a larger conversation about self and community. How can it be that the most narcissistic, self-absorbed, self-indulgent, materialistic generation that the world has ever known is also capable of causing social revolutions in any number of countries and mobilizing the masses in countless political campaigns — perhaps even saving the planet from environmental