The Latest From The Foundation

Together with the global Jewish community, The Wexner Foundation mourns the death of Edgar Bronfman, zichrono livracha, of blessed memory. Edgar was a rare and wise leader, a giant in the field of Jewish philanthropy as he was in business. He was a treasured colleague and friend to our chairmen, Abigail and Leslie Wexner. Find his full obituary here. Edgar and Les shared a long-time and enduring commitment to Jewish

Some days it feels like modern orthodoxy is disappearing, like the contours that once defined a vision for a compassionate and worldly traditional Jewish life are fading into a mass of religious extremism. Or perhaps it’s just been a bad month.  A few weeks ago, a group of Orthodox rabbis, including many who have been identified with modern Orthodoxy for most of their careers, came out with a scathing public

The Denver/Boulder community is so pleased that the Wexner Heritage Program is returning to our area.  The program is made possible through a partnership between JewishColorado (formerly known as the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado) and the Rose Community Foundation.   Several Denver/Boulder Wexner alumni, and other alums who have made the wise decision to relocate to Denver, gathered this past week at the home of Irit and Art Waldbaum

The Wexner Foundation convened a conference call yesterday, October 9, to discuss implications of the recent Pew Study for Jewish leaders. The call was chaired by The Wexner Foundation President, Rabbi B. Elka Abrahamson, and featured Dr. Sarah Bunin Benor (WGFA, Class 11) and sociologist Dr. Steven M. Cohen, who were all members of the Advisory Panel for the Pew Trust. Close to 200 Wexner members, fellows, and alumni participated. 

(Pictured) Rabbi Asher Lopatin (Orthodox) with Rabbi Michael Siegel (Conservative) and Rabbi Richard Jacobs (Reform) at Milt’s BBQ for the Perplexed, a local kosher restaurant in Chicago. As an avowed pluralistic Orthodox Jew, I have long appreciated the different movements in Judaism who have contributed so much to the Judaism we observe and celebrate today.  Recently, non-denominational Judaism has begun to come into its own, with creative services on Friday

When I was growing up, it was a truism: apartheid would end, but not in our lifetime. And when it did end, it would be bloody, a civil war. I heard about the African National Congress and the Afrikaaners, learned about Stephen Biko, and listened to the music of Miriam Makeba. But I honestly don’t remember when I first heard the name Nelson Mandela. My parents had moved to the

As Pesach approached this year, I prepared to view myself, as Jewish tradition demands, as though I had been delivered from Egypt.  This year in particular, I tried to imagine my freedom as a bundle of different rights, all immediately restored to me in one moment of miraculous liberation.  Of all of them, which would I run to exercise first?  Which right, once I asserted it, would instantiate my freedom? 

Wexner Heritage San Francisco 11 marked the completion of our two year Wexner Heritage seminar experience with a raucous, joyous celebration.  Our parting offerings to each other, our “otot” (letters or signs, as in “signs and wonders”) included thoughtfully crafted blessings, inspiring teachings, and, of course, headlamps.  The headlamps symbolize our hope that we will create paths for those who choose to follow, that we continue to recognize the divine

I joined the board of the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) in 2004 and am now in my third year as president. For more than 90 years, the JTA has been the definitive supplier of national and international news to Jewish print publications (as the AP is to local newspapers). Today, however, our main growth is online, as we reach far more people directly via JTA.org, our daily e-newsletter and social

This past weekend, nearly 80 percent of our Wexner Heritage SF ’08 group came together for the third year in a row to learn, celebrate and enjoy Shabbat together with spouses, significant others and families. On location at the beautiful Mayacamas Ranch retreat center in Sonoma, CA, our Shabbaton has evolved into annual tradition rooted in our group’s desire to stay connected despite hectic lives and considerable geographic distance between