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Dispatches from the network and updates from the Foundation.
Dec 2013
Wexner alumni from around the world write in a few words on how they plan to bring in the New Year “In Israel, New Year’s Eve is hardly felt. Some go out and party, but for most it’s just another day in the office or at home. Luckily, it somehow happened that two of my sons, Daniel and Ziv, were born on the 24th and on the 31st of December.
Dec 2013
While the American Studies Association (ASA) was deciding to help put Israel into an academic ghetto, something was happening behind our backs – something by no means insidious, but, rather, redemptive. The academic world did not stay silent. Quite the contrary. To date, twenty-five American universities have refused to join the ASA boycott. In many cases, they have also issued strongly worded protests against the Association’s actions. (Editor’s Note: this
Philanthropic work can be tremendously rewarding if done right. As lay and pro-leaders, we are trying to figure out how to maximize the meaningfulness — the joy of giving — for others. We’d love to have a conversation with Wexner fellows and alumni about positive (and negative) experiences and what you are hoping for when you get involved in philanthropy. It’s so important that we get this right! Here are
Dec 2013
Together with the global Jewish community, The Wexner Foundation mourns the death of Edgar Bronfman, zichrono livracha, of blessed memory. Edgar was a rare and wise leader, a giant in the field of Jewish philanthropy as he was in business. He was a treasured colleague and friend to our chairmen, Abigail and Leslie Wexner. Find his full obituary here. Edgar and Les shared a long-time and enduring commitment to Jewish
Ten years ago, not even college admissions officers knew the term “gap year”. Now, everyone’s doing it, especially Jews. And there is a gap, a real lack, of substantive, authentic, well organized, and safe Jewish programming for these teens, so many go off and do service programs or other gap year programs in a non-Jewish context. Now they don’t have to. Do you know (or know people who know…) high
Dec 2013
This piece was originally published on Learning About Learning, the blog of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University. In the blizzard of articles, reactions, and blog posts about the Pew Research Center study of American Jews, the most unexpected came from the prominent public intellectual Noah Feldman. Writing in Bloomberg, Feldman’s column jumps from the Pew study to some observations about,
Pictured: Repair the World Philadelphia Fellows In one of the climactic scenes from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Queen Amidala (played by the oh-so-Jewish actress Natalie Portman) exasperatedly argues for help and presses her colleagues to immediate action: “I’ve come before you to resolve this attack on our sovereignty now!” she declares. “I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this
Dec 2013
Pictured from Left to Right: Top: Ken Carr (WGFA, Class 3); Ruben Posner (WGFA, Class 23); Lauren Berkun (WGFA, Class 8); Ken Chasen (WGFA, Class 6); Andy Koren (WGFA Class 1); Elka Abrahamson, (President, The Wexner Foundation); Jason Rodich (WGFA, Class 22); Rachel Joseph (WGFA, Class 20); Michael Latz (WGFA, Class 8); Aaron Panken (WGFA, Class 8). Bottom: Josh Fixler (WGF, Class 25); Miriam Wajnberg (WGF, Class 23); Rachel Sabath
As always, the recent Wexner Alumni Network Gathering — in San Francisco on December 8, “Unleashing Creativity, Fostering Motivation” — was spectacular. And, in between thought-provoking presentations in the morning and the afternoon, we had the opportunity to split up into small groups to discuss our particular Jewish interests and issues. Since completing a recent stint as synagogue president, I have been looking for my next Jewish gig – and
I keep thinking about the meeting I attended several weeks ago sponsored by the Wexner Foundation during the GA in Israel. Wexner alumni from all 3 programs (Heritage, Israel and Graduate Fellowships) gathered for an exclusive Wexner program led by Colonel (ret.) Miri Eisen, the Israeli Prime Minister’s international media advisor; Gordon Hecker, Wexner Heritage alumnus (Columbus ‘00) and recently elected President and CEO of The Jewish Federation of Columbus;