We need to move beyond offering just a gateway to the Jewish community and Judaism 101 experiences but also a way for young adults to continue growing Jewishly. by Yasha Moz Ten years ago I was a university student in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Studying international relations was good, but as a local Hillel activist at the time, my most memorable education came from my involvement in Jewish life. Working at Jewish camps, going on Birthright, learning about Judaism at Hillel seminars and then sharing it with my peers and the larger community made for a very busy but also incredibly rewarding time. Still to this day, the connections I made all over the FSU form the core of my social and professional networks. … [Read more...]
Reflections: 20 Years of Hillel in the FSU
Posted on May 14, 2013 Written by
by Sanford R. Cardin In 1994, in the wake of the collapse of the former Soviet Union, Charles and Lynn Schusterman seized upon what they determined was a window of opportunity to begin rebuilding a sense of community among those whose Jewish identities had been repressed by the twin forces of the Holocaust and state-supported persecution. The Schustermans had traveled to the region several times in the 1980’s to meet refuseniks, and they knew there was a generation of young adults, embracing new identities in the post-Soviet era, who wanted to learn about their Jewish heritage and reclaim the traditions that had been too far out of reach for far too long. … [Read more...]
My Years with Hillel
Posted on May 10, 2013 Written by
Where are the Jewish models, best practices, and inspiring stories of social change? by Tzvi Raviv Recently, I found myself reading the works of two very different managers, Alfred Sloan and Rick Warren. Alfred Sloan was the head of General Motors from 1937 to 1956. Towards the end of his career, Mr. Sloan published a memoir, My Years with General Motors. In his memoir Sloan presents his views on management and the corporate structure. Even today My Years with General Motors is considered one of the best business books ever written. The other book I read doesn’t immediately seem like a fit for someone working at a Jewish communal organization. The book is The Purpose Driven Church by Pastor Rick Warren. Mr. Warren is the head of a megachurch in southern California. The book is a how-to … [Read more...]
400 Emerging Jewish Leaders Gather in Jerusalem for Masa Israel Leadership Summit
Posted on March 12, 2013 Written by
This week, nearly 400 students, interns, volunteers and gap year participants from all over the world have gathered in Jerusalem for an intensive week of social activism and community organizing training at the Masa Israel Leadership Summit. Now in its third year, the Masa Israel Leadership Summit provides training, tools and networking opportunities to young adults who are in Israel for five months to a year on gap year and post college programs and have demonstrated a commitment to leadership. By partnering with renowned educational organizations such as Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life and PresenTense, Masa Israel is providing cutting-edge programming for summit attendees, and valuable contacts for them when they return to campuses and Jewish communities in their home countries … [Read more...]
Kindle Your Judaism: Growing Jewish Literacy Through New Technology
Posted on March 11, 2013 Written by
by Rabbi Jason Miller Ask most rabbis what their number one recommendation is for "saving" the Jewish future and they will point to Jewish literacy. Helping young Jews become more literate about Jewish history, culture and religion is a top priority for Jewish leaders on college campuses. The way to do this is by getting them to read books about a whole host of Jewish themes and topics. Rather than telling college students to read a history of the Jewish people and having them feel like they have one more 4-credit course to take, innovative Jewish educators are envisioning new ways to encourage Jewish literacy. I was impressed when I learned of a new program being implemented at Brown University to get college students excited about reading books with Jewish themes. … [Read more...]
Growing New Saplings of Jewish Life
Posted on January 25, 2013 Written by
by Renee Rubin Ross This weekend, as we celebrate Tu B’shvat, the “birthday of the trees,” we would do well to look to the world of trees to think about how the Jewish world is growing and changing. An individual tree follows a cycle of birth, growth, and eventual decay. Each tree continuously sends out small shoots nearby that eventually replace the older tree. The survival of a forest depends on each tree’s individual growth, and its ability to send out seeds that will create a new set of trees that survive and thrive in the current conditions. … [Read more...]
