The Latest From The Foundation

At The Wexner Foundation,  we assess and adapt our work constantly so that we continue to excel in training you, our leaders, who strengthen communities in North America and Israel.  Part of our formula requires us to stay at the front of fast-breaking technological developments so that members of our network can use an optimal set of tools to “change the world for the better” — to quote Les. Toward

I recently published a CD called, “May the Angels Carry You: Jewish Songs of Comfort for Death, Burial and Mourning”, designed as a companion to my husband Simcha Raphael’s book of deathbed prayers – “May the Angels Carry You: Jewish Prayers and Meditations for the Deathbed.”  The Wexner community might want to know about this collection of traditional and newly created end-of-life prayer resources.  Here is an example of the title

I have been a TV producer for nearly 40 years.  When my career began there were three networks: ABC, CBS and NBC. The only way to watch them was on a TV set, in your house, and if you missed a show you were out of luck.  Those days are long gone. Today, TV arrives how you like it, when you like it and on any device you want to

Our Inaugural Summit “Stronger Together: Imagining the Israel-North American Jewish Community Relationship” concluded today. This Summit was book ended by two gatherings: the first, a year ago in Princeton, NJ, with close to 100 alumni from all of our programs; and the second one, April 25 – 27th in Zichron Yaakov, Israel.  This Wexner Summit empowered and mobilized a cadre of change agents who worked in teams over the

Bnai Bayit (“Bet Bet” for short) connects Israelis studying for advanced degrees in North America with members of the local Jewish community to create lasting friendships, foster mutual understanding and strengthen the bonds between Israelis and North American Jews.  Check out the website. When challenged to dream about and take action on a new project through the Wexner Foundation’s inaugural Summit: Stronger Together: (Re-) Imagining the North American Jewish and

Throughout so many classes, sessions and discussions, Wexner Heritage members and alumni spend a lot of time brainstorming ways to increase inclusion, affiliation and other vital issues relating to Jewish identity.   One of my dearest friends has come up with an idea that I believe is brilliant in both design and execution.  While my friend prefers to remain anonymous — we are both fans of the Rambam’s eight levels of

Photo courtesy of the St. Louis Jewish Light Every Memorial Day weekend the Greater St Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America honors our Jewish veterans by planting flags at over 6,500 grave sites in seven St Louis Community Jewish cemeteries.  This program has been in place for many years, with my family participating over the last five years. The recent cemetery vandalism at Chased Shel Emeth has

The sages taught: Never again. Rav Fear said: Let us stockpile every advantage and every power for ourselves so none can use it against us in the future. Rav Emmunah said: Let us help societies share powers and advantages more equally, so no individual or group will use its brute strength to intimidate, dominate, exploit or otherwise lord themselves over others. And the law is with Emmunah. For of the

Reposted with permission from The Jerusalem Post. Just as tax day is an audit of our financials and Rosh Hashana is an audit of our souls, Tu Bishvat is the time in the Jewish calendar when we take stock of the glory of nature.  Across the 510 million square kilometers that blanket the third planet from our Sun, about 7.7 million species fly, swim and roam; about 300,000 species sprout,

Top row from left to right: Rabbi Steve Greenberg. Rabbi Rahel Bat-Or, Shep Rosenman, WHP Alum (Los Angeles 1), Noey Jacobson; Bottom row from left to right: Miryam Kabakov, Rena Selya Cohen, Julie Gruenbaum Fax, WHP Alum (Los Angeles 1), Rachel Fried How do you change a communal conversation?  How do you create an environment where sensitivity can flourish, where language is minded, where the implications of throwaway comments are