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Dispatches from the network and updates from the Foundation.
Jul 2010
Naomi Gefen is an alumna of the Wexner Israel Fellowship Program (Class 19). Naomi is the Director of External Affairs and Project Development for ALYN Hospital in Jerusalem. She can be reached at nogefen@gmail.com. We all take for granted, whether in Israel on in the US, our access to water, food, electricity, education and more. For Haitians, these have never been a given. Since January 12th’s earthquake, they have none.
Jul 2010
Deena Aranoff is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program and an assistant professor of medieval Jewish studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Deena is also a community educator and teaches Bible, Rabbinics and Jewish mysticism in a variety of adult education programs. She can be reached at daranoff@gmail.com. Over the past few months I have begun to work on a book manuscript: an introduction to Judaism.
Jul 2010
Marion Lev-Cohen is an alumna of the Wexner Heritage Program. Marion received her rabbinic ordination from HUC/JIR this May. She will become the Director of Adult Education and Engagement at Central Synagogue in August. She can be reached at marion693@aol.com. Rabbi Michael Paley stood behind the student and crouched until their eyes were at the same level. Michael explained to our transfixed class, that God would not let Moses look
Jul 2010
Rabbi Joanna Samuels is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program. Joanna serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community www.advancingwomen.org. She can be reached at joanna@joannasamuels.com Recently, the small and busy staff of three at Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community participated in an online course organized by the Sloan School of Management at MIT. One of the sessions was
Jul 2010
Yael Bendat Appell is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program. Yael currently runs the Hebrew and Judaic Studies Resource Program at the Sager Solomon Schechter Middle School in Northbrook, IL, and is passionate about making Jewish education accessible to all students. Yael can be reached at ybendat@gmail.com. In this very space, Jonathan Woocher recently wrote about the future of Jewish education and asked this essential question: “How do
Jun 2010
Daniel Aronson is a Wexner Graduate Fellowship alumnus and director of congregational learning at Ohev Shalom of Bucks County in Richboro, PA. He can be reached at daronson@ohev.org In February 2008, well into my fourth year as director of annual giving at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, I found myself at a crossroads. I had been feeling unsatisfied in my position for some time when, quite unexpectedly, an opportunity appeared, like
Jun 2010
Margaret Lewis is an alumnus of the Houston Wexner Heritage class of 2006. Margaret is a psychology professor and Board President of the Initiative for Jewish Women, which is currently developing a sexuality-education app for iPhones. She can be reached at msjlewis@alumni.rice.edu The impact of the Wexner Heritage Program on me has been wonderful, but typical: I have a more serious approach to my observance and practice; I have greater
Rick Kornfeld is a Wexner Heritage Denver 08 alumnus. He is a lawyer in private practice, and specializes in white collar criminal defense, government compliance and internal investigations. Rick’s non-profit work is centered on Jewish education and strengthening the relationship between American Jews and Israelis. Rick can be reached at rick@rechtkornfeld.com. One month before we sat down at the Seder table at our home in Denver, my 14-year-old daughter, Izzi,
Jun 2010
The precept of Ahavas Yisrael, love of fellow Jews, has been a hallmark of my rabbinate from the beginning of my career. I have learned this principle from the Torah, commentaries, and the great scholars of our tradition. However, I believe that a personal experience has lent a powerful emotional coloring to my practical implementation of this idea. My Uncle Bob, my mother’s oldest sibling, was a wonderful man, full
Jun 2010
Cheston Mizel is a member of the Los Angeles 09 Wexner Heritage Program. In addition to being a practicing attorney, he is the Founder and Chairman of Jconnect (www.jconnectla.com), a 501(c)3 non-profit devoted to creating Jewish connectivity, continuity, and unity in Southern California and beyond. Cheston can be reached at Cheston@JConnectla.com In a recent Wexner seminar, somebody brought in an advertisement from dontfundterror.org. This group has diverse organizational backing that