8000 Walton Parkway, Suite 110
New Albany, Ohio 43054
614 939-6060
Dispatches from the network and updates from the Foundation.
Sep 2017
I was privileged to serve under Shimon Peres as his Diplomatic Advisor where I gained remarkable insight into his creativity and political astuteness as a leader. He significantly influenced my perception of the world, teaching me the value of hope over impasse, win-win over zero-sum and optimism in the face of challenges. The book, No Room for Small Dreams, written in his penultimate year, perfectly captures these values while chronicling
Sep 2017
Reposted with thanks to The Aspen Times When it comes to messianic visions, I prefer a smaller scale. Being raptured into the blinding glow of God’s heavenly presence sounds uncomfortable and, frankly, unsustainable. What happens the morning after the rapture? Brunch? The biblical prophets gave us a grand image of a glorious day when all the kingdoms of the earth will gather to march up Jerusalem’s holy mount, praising God
Teachers cannot create and sustain the conditions for the productive development of children if those conditions do not exist for teachers,” wrote Seymour B. Sarason, Yale professor and psychologist. Sarason points out a truth that is self-evident to most teachers and, upon reflection, applicable to all of us: We cannot teach something in which we are not actively engaged. If we wish to develop our students with a curiosity, inquiry
Sep 2017
CONGRATULATIONS TO: Cheryl Brownstein, WHP Alum (Montreal), for being named “Chair of the Women’s Philanthropy Campaign” in the 100th Federation CJA campaign in Montreal. Daniel Doctoroff, WHP Alum (New York 3), on publishing his book Greater Than Ever: New York’s Big Comeback. David Gutin, WHP Alum (Philadelphia 2), on becoming the Jewish Senior Housing and Healthcare Services President of Southern New Jersey. Shai Held, WGF Alum (Class 7), on publishing his
Aug 2017
Imagine a world in which all Jewish professionals took time to enhance their own Jewish learning. A world in which Jewish learning didn’t stop after formal graduate training, and where retirement was not the next opportunity for intensive Jewish study. Today Jewish professionals — no matter the level of their learning background — rarely take time for intensive Jewish study once they are in the field. The work is demanding
Aug 2017
The Wexner Israel Fellows Class 29 have had an exciting summer so far. They arrived along with their families in July and quickly helped each other settle into their homes in Brookline and Cambridge, sharing picnics and weekend explorations. The five-week HKS Mid Career summer program was book ended first by a welcome day, where they lunched with leaders from the Jewish Community and later had a session on approaching
Aug 2017
Note from the Editor: While it is normally the policy of The Wexner Foundation to refrain from publicizing requests for donations, humanitarian disasters are a unique circumstance that require a different response, a stance validated by the feedback from our alumni across the world wanting to help. With that in mind, we share with you several eyewitness accounts from Houston, as well as a sampling of organizations connected to our
Aug 2017
One of the most puzzling aspects of the book of Jonah is the prophet’s fear of success. It’s easy to relate to a failing leader, to a man who runs away from responsibility and, ultimately, destiny. We’ve all been there. Like Jonah, most of us have faced inadequacy, imposter syndrome, insecurity and the desire to hide when we’re needed most. And that was just yesterday. But when Jonah was spat
Aug 2017
My Wexner certificate came in the mail, marking the formal end of my time in the Wexner Heritage Program. Wexner changed my life, in more ways that one. Wexner gave me the knowledge and tools I need to lead my community into a brighter future, but more importantly, it gave me myself. I prepared for the panel interview for what seemed like months. During that interview, I hoped they could
Aug 2017
Let every valley be raised Every hill and mount made low Let the rugged ground become level And the ridges become a plain Isaiah 40:4 I have always struggled with this passage from the Prophet Isaiah, but never more so than standing amongst the mountains of Aspen. Hearing this passage in isolation, it always feels to me more like a threat than the consolation it is intended to be. In