The Latest From The Foundation

Dispatches from the network and updates from the Foundation.

The Wexner Foundation Wishes You a Joyous Passover We can’t help you with your cleaning, your cooking or your family dynamics. Instead, we send you off to your seder tables with blessings for renewed joy and success in your leadership journeys, and some food for thought. Recently, we continued our online interactive video conference series “36 Minutes LIVE” with two rich opportunities to prepare for Passover, one with Dr. Erica

CONGRATULATIONS TO: Ted Blum, WHA (Atlanta 10), and his wife Leah on being honored by The Epstein School: Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta. Rachel Braun Scherl, WHA (MetroWest NJ, 08), on being named one of the 2015 Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ. Marci Glazer, WHA (SF 11), on being named CEO of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. Steven Goldstein, WHA (Phoenix), on being honored by Congregation

Marcia Cohodes, WHP Alum (Minneapolis): I was very happy to see that the GA offered presentations and interactive discussions on the subject of Inclusion and Jewish adults with disabilities.  Also, instead of talking about millennials and how Federations can engage them, there were numerous opportunities to hear directly from this population in breakout sessions and plenaries; resulting in many stereotypes being dispelled. Marcia Cohodes, an alum of the

CONGRATULATIONS TO: Sharon Afek, WSLP Member (Class 1), on his promotion to Brigadier General and Advocate General of the IDF. Anat Barber, WGF Alum (Class 18), on becoming an inaugural fellow of the Ruskay Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership.  Adina Danzig Epelman, WGF Alum (Class 11), on her appointment as VP of Talent Growth of Hillel International. Gail Katz, WHP Alum (Los Angeles 09), on being honored by the Jewish

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED In response to the exciting connections and leadership conversations generated by the Foundation’s 30th Anniversary Celebration last April, The Wexner Foundation is launching a new initiative — Wexner Summits: The Network in Action.  These Summits will offer platforms for select alumni across all four of our programs to engage in deep dialogue, learning, problem-solving and collaborative work.  Each Summit will address major issues facing the Jewish world

The Jewish Federations of North America’s annual General Assembly (GA) gathers together Federation volunteer leaders and professionals and those involved in the business of Jewish philanthropy from across North America and around the world. This year the GA will be held from November 8th through the 10th  in Washington, DC at the Washington Hilton Hotel. The focus will be Jewish philanthropy, Jewish education, Global Jewry and Anti-Semitism, BDS on campus,

  צֶדֶק צֶדֶק, תִּרְדֹּף–לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה וְיָרַשְׁתָּ    אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ    Justice, justice shall you pursue, in order that you may live and inherit the land which Adonai your God has given you. —  Deuteronomy 16:20   “The destiny of the Jewish people is in our hands.  The premise is pretty simple.  The big ‘what,’ our destiny, our purpose, collectively, is Tikun Olam.  We are here because we

In conjunction with Unity Day and in memory of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, we will be holding a videoconference call with Rabbi Shai Held (bio below), to enable our alumni, fellows and members, from Israel to California and beyond, to come together online in the spirit of the day.  The session will be 36 minutes long, so even the busiest people in our network can deepen their learning.

IN MEMORIAM: Our deepest condolences to the Calvo and Michels families on the death of Abby Michels Calvo, WHP Alum (Seattle 12), who was 38 years old.  Abby leaves behind her loving husband Justin and children Jaren (age 6) and Miri (age 3), who was born during Abby’s time in the program. CONGRATULATIONS TO: Mindy Berger, WHP Alum (Washington DC 13), on becoming Partnership Manager at the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project. 

Our popular online series, 36 Minutes LIVE, will offer four compelling opportunities for alumni, members and fellows to learn, discuss and prepare for the High Holidays.  These video conferences are open to all of our constituents — from Israel to Vancouver and beyond — and accessible by internet or phone.  The sessions are truly 36 minutes, so even the busiest people in our network can deepen their learning.  On Rosh Hashanah