The Latest From The Foundation

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

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

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

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

Maurit Beeri is an alumnus of the Wexner Israel Fellowship Program.  She is the Deputy Director of the Alyn Hospital Children and Adolescents Rehabilitation Center.  Maurit can be reached at Maurit@gmail.com A Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital, such as Alyn Jerusalem, brings together strangers during their most trying times. Jews and Muslims, veteran Israelis and Olim, Haredi and secular share the facility. Differences between the families, the therapists and doctors often cause

Brian Shirken is a Wexner Heritage LA alumnus, the current co-chair of the Leadership Pillar of the Los Angeles Jewish Federation, and former Real Estate Division Chair. Brian can be reached at brian@columbuspacific.com. So here is something to think about! What responsibility have our Jewish communities assumed for identifying, training and placing Jewish leaders? Based on what is going on in the majority of our communities, the answer is clearly

Jonathan Woocher is Chief Ideas Officer at JESNA and directs its Lippman Kanfer Institute, an action-oriented think tank for innovation in Jewish learning and engagement. Jon served on the original Wexner Foundation Advisory Committee and on its Institutional Grants and Graduate Fellowship committees. Jon can be reached at: jwoocher@jesna.org. Several months ago JESNA published a “best of the decade” list of notable achievements and developments in Jewish education (http://www.jesna.org/component/k2/item/626). It

Elena Weinstein is a Wexner Heritage alumna from Westchester, NY.  Elena is a board certified rheumatologist in private practice in Littleton, Colorado.  She has served in a variety of Jewish leadership positions, including those dedicated to furthering the cause of affordable Jewish day school education and is currently on the development committee at Herzl/Rmha in Denver, Colorado.  Elena can be reached at elenajonw@hotmail.com One evening in November of 2008, my

Nir Buchler is a Wexner Graduate Fellow/Davidson Scholar  (Class 22) and graduate student at Brandeis University. He is a candidate for a dual degree in Jewish Professional Leadership and Public Policy. Nir is currently doing field placement at the Combined Jewish Philanthropies working on the Boston-Haifa Connection. He can be reached at nirbuchler@gmail.com. Last month, at the African-American History Museum of Boston we were twenty-nine individuals, all coming from different

Steven H. Klinghoffer is  a Wexner Heritage Program alumnus from MetroWest, NJ. Steve is President of WPI Communications, Inc., a marketing communications firm located in Springfield, NJ. He has served in a wide range of Jewish communal leadership positions including President of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest. Steve can be reached at sklinghoffer@wpicommunications.com I look back at my thirty plus years of involvement in the organized Jewish community and marvel