The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has launched the Kaplan Leadership Initiative, a new Jewish community professional training program focusing on overseas Jewish communities. The new initiative - created through a founding gift from Carol Kaplan, a JDC board member and President of the Kaplan Foundation, together with her husband Ed - will provide the crucial tools and support needed to cultivate leadership among Jewish community professionals in Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Latin America. … [Read more...]
EdTech Training: Up, Up and Away
[This article is part 4 of the series Continuing Conversations on Leveraging Educational Technology to Advance Jewish Learning. The series is a project of Jewish Funders Network, the Jim Joseph Foundation, and the William Davidson Foundation. For an in-depth look at opportunities in Jewish Ed Tech and digital engagement, read Smart Money: Recommendations for an Educational Technology and Digital Engagement Investment Strategy. Later this year, Jewish Funders Network will launch a new website to help advance the field of Jewish educational technology.] By Smadar Goldstein with Stan Peerless There are many professions that require practitioners to participate in ongoing professional development, and rightfully so. After all, for example, we would not want a patient to be treated by an oncologist … [Read more...]
The Power of FJC’s Cornerstone
By Mark Kachuck “Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze Bazeh,” translates to “all of Israel is responsible for one another.” This spoke to the theme of Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Cornerstone Fellowship 2017: “Get Invested,” which had a big impact on me. It resonated with my feelings towards the global Jewish community; together, we have the power to achieve great strength. This year was my fourth Cornerstone Seminar, where I've had the opportunity of being both a Fellow and Liaison for my camps cohort of attendees. Each year I find myself more inspired by the love and passion for Jewish programming at Jewish camp. I cannot think of another opportunity in which I would get to spend 5 days learning with and from young adults and professionals from all over North America, all with different camping … [Read more...]
The Power of Coaching Skills
By Marci Mayer Eisen When Deborah Grayson Riegel first brought her Jewish Coaching Academy™ to the Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Millstone Institute in November, 2014, we were seeking to sponsor leadership training and to maximize a shared learning experience between professionals and volunteer lay leaders. I knew Deborah was a dynamic presenter and I anticipated that coaching skills were a proven methodology that aligned with Jewish values to explore deeper listening, use of inquiry and impact on the culture of staff teams and boards. What I didn’t realize at that time is that coaching skills would have major influence on many, including myself. Now planning our 4th year of multiple cohorts, engaging nearly 180 professionals, volunteer leaders and community partners, coaching training has … [Read more...]
Training Israeli Shlichim and Day Camp Directors – Together
Israel Up Close offers preparation and connection prior to camp By Aaron Greenberg With camp season underway, many Jewish campers will experience Israeli culture in a meaningful way for the first time, introduced to them by one of the many Israeli shlichim, or emissaries, placed in day camps across North America. Shlichim have long been a part of Jewish day and overnight camps, offering an authentic introduction to the culture of the Jewish homeland. These young women and men attend a four-day training seminar run annually each spring in Israel by The Jewish Agency (JAFI). Nonetheless, they come to camp sight unseen, not necessarily prepared for what to expect despite emails, phone calls and facetime with their supervisors. In order to the address the discrepancy between expectation … [Read more...]
The Case for Executive Director as Lay Leader in the Jewish Community
By Stefan Teodosic I was recently nominated to apply to a prestigious Jewish lay leadership development program. I was honored to be nominated and then a bit surprised, when told I was not able to apply due to the fact that I am a Jewish Communal Professional. I was informed that they had outstanding programs for Jewish professionals (which is absolutely true) and that this program was specifically for lay leaders in the community. Truthfully, it never occurred to me not to apply based on my role as an Executive Director of a Jewish not-for-profit. I was applying to the program based on my current board service in the Jewish community (Moishe House, Community Foundation for Jewish Education - JUF Chicago and AIJC - The Association of Independent Jewish Camps) and my desire to commit even more … [Read more...]
Four Surprises from the JPRO Poll
By Ilana Aisen JPRO Network asked professionals how we can best add value to their networking and career development. The response was phenomenal and we are eager to share what we learned. How can an organization re-envision how to best meet the needs of a large and diverse audience? By asking! JPRO Network is in the early stages of reimagining our work with and for the thousands of people who work in Jewish organizations in North America. JPRO connects professionals who work in North American Jewish organizations to one another, advances careers, and builds the field. As we began exploring how to open our next chapter, we had many exciting ideas to choose from. But where to start? We did not have the resources for a strategic planning process. Instead, through over 200 conversations, we … [Read more...]
The Value of the CEO Onboarding Program
By Dov Ben-Shimon and Stefanie Rhodes Once you accept the role of CEO at a major American Jewish organization, there’s no road map for how to become a leader. In theory, our past experiences had prepared us for new positions. No one prepared us, or our colleagues in Cohort One of the CEO Onboarding Program, for that first day walking through the door into our new roles. We came in with so many questions. What are the obvious missteps to avoid? What are the quick victories that could set us up for success? Who’s rooting for us to succeed? What questions do we not even know to ask? The North American Jewish communal “system” has an array of programs for new hires and mid-level managers. Until now, we’ve not had a framework that takes new CEOs of American Jewish organizations and gives them … [Read more...]
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