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Dispatches from the network and updates from the Foundation.
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;
Rockets were falling in Israel. Missiles were landing in Gaza. It was the fall of 2012, and I was Skyping with my Israeli friend Rivki. “Was the country rallying behind Netanyahu or frustrated by his actions?” I asked. Rivki answered, “Yes, everyone is behind him, total support. The left is furious because he attacked Gaza and the right is irate that he isn’t sending in troops.” I was not privy
Dec 2013
Dr. Tina Seelig, from the Stanford Design School, taught Wexner Heritage and Graduate Fellowship Alumni about creativity at the San Francisco Regional Networking Day. At the open space brain storm session during the San Francisco alumni gathering, I led a spontaneous discussion for whomever wanted to come talk. 20 alumni were encouraged to come up to an open mike and declare to the packed house what issue most impassioned them.
I recently fielded an inquiry from a reporter at a Jewish newspaper asking if I knew how many Israel Studies centers and programs there are in the entire United States. While there is no official catalogue, the answer by my count is seventeen, which is in some ways impressive and in others disappointing. When I was an undergraduate at Brandeis a decade and a half ago, this university known for
Wexner Heritage Program nominations are now open for its upcoming cohorts in Northern New Jersey, Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Nominate a Jewish lay leader today!