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Dispatches from the network and updates from the Foundation.
Jul 2016
During his time at Harvard Kennedy School, Gil Avriel, WIF Alum (Class 26) and Legal Adviser to the Israeli National Security Council at the Office of the Prime Minister, published an innovative theory in the Harvard National Security Journal that hopes to change the way we understand ISIS and terrorism. A year after his graduation, Gil’s Civilitary Theory is cited and commended by world experts, discussed at leading national security conferences
Sue Fendrick, WGF Alum (Class 2) — Newton, MA I’ve always found it funny when people have said they no longer see the purpose of mourning on Tisha B’Av, arguing that the Jewish diaspora is now entirely a voluntary one and not the result of tragedy or lack of power; and even that the destruction of the ancient Temple and the end of the sacrificial cult was the best thing
With the passing of Elie Wiesel this week, I lost a dear teacher and mentor of over 30 years. I will always be his student. From the first time I heard him speak when I was a teenager until our last meeting just two years ago, he asked me questions that I needed to ask myself, supervised my graduate theses, taught me how to teach and lived and sang and
Jun 2016
The following words of torah were shared this week in Utah as we gathered 182 Heritage members and their spouses for their Summer Institute, MADREGOT: Stepping Up Your Leadership. In this week’s parsha, Shelach, Moshe sends scouts to bring back reports of Canaan — the nature of the land, its strengths and limitations and samples of its produce. Most of the scouts bring back reports that the land is magnificent,
Jun 2016
At first glance, many of the women who completed the Wexner Graduate Fellowship (WGF) seem to be at the top of their game. They are running organizations, teaching at the highest levels and represented in professional Jewish life in powerful ways. Anyone might guess that these women are “leaning in” to their careers; who would have thought that they would be so eager to share and glean support from one
I entered the Wexner Heritage program as a passionate lay leader, thirsty for knowledge and innovative thinking. By the end of the program, I was ready to take my leadership experience to the next level and I began to explore the impact I could have as a Jewish professional. It was no surprise to learn that Jewish professionals spend a lot of time worrying about the fate of the
Jun 2016
Designed to inspire and unite Jewish teens in the Columbus area to engage in service learning, the Wexner Service Corps selects rising 10th and 11th grade students to participate in the Wexner Service Corps (WSC), beginning with a 5-day service trip, followed by year-round service in Columbus. I was lucky enough to travel again with the Wexner Service Corps to Philadelphia with a group of 40 other Jewish Columbus
Jun 2016
Photo: Wexner Israel Fellows (Class 27) during graduation weekend On the morning of May 25th, the day before HKS graduation, Wexner Israel Fellows Class 27 gathered with their families to mark the end of their year at Harvard. During the ceremony, they received certificates from the Foundation for having completed their year of seminars, institutes and learning. The fellows shared reflections on the year and made public declarations about the
Jun 2016
Our nation and our communities continue to grieve over the senseless loss of 49 precious souls from the devastating tragedy that unfolded in Orlando on Sunday. As Jews around the world were reaffirming the Covenant on the holiday of Shavuot, recommitting to a tradition and a Torah which sanctify life — a murderer was unleashing his fury on innocent revelers. Our hearts are anguished and we share in the pain