David Cygielman and Eva Stern were named the 2010 winners of the Young Professional Award of the Jewish Communal Service Association. The Award, the most prestigious honor for young professionals in Jewish community service, will be presented at the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), meeting Nov. 7 through 9 in New Orleans. Cygielman and Stern were chosen by a distinguished panel from a large and varied group of candidates nominated by their colleagues from scores of organizations throughout North America. The Award recognizes integrity, commitment, creativity, and the importance and impact of their exemplary work. The JCSA Award, which includes a $1,000 honorarium, is underwritten by the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, the Mandel Foundation and … Continue Reading
It’s Camp Time!
Despite the continuing financial struggles of many families, nonprofit Jewish overnight camps are filling up. As in 2009, camps are projecting a flat or increased enrollment over last year. Yet, over the next two months, tens of thousands of kids will be attending 160 Jewish camps across North America. Camps are also doing all they can to ensure that every parent is able to send their child to camp. This includes providing an increased number of scholarships, payment plans, discounts for siblings sent to camp together, and “early bird specials.” These camps continue to present a premium product at a great value. The Foundation for Jewish Camp will shortly be releasing preliminary findings of a major new research initiative which serves to advance the understanding of nonprofit Jewish … Continue Reading
Jewish Identity in The 21st Century
The Journal of Jewish Communal Service has a long, distinguished history. Among their many goals is to be "the journal of record and authority for Jewish communal leaders" that "documents the development of new trends and methodologies...". They do this extraordinarily well. The upcoming issue is titled, Strengthening the Jewish Community: The Role of Federation. A Case Study in New York (1999-2009) and celebrates the 10th anniversary of UJAFederation New York's executive vice president and CEO, John Ruskay with the organization. Here is one of the articles. by Jonathan Woocher Strengthening Jewish identity has been part of the agenda of federations since their inception more than a century ago. In the early years, when helping recent immigrants “adjust” to their new surroundings … Continue Reading
The Imperative of Collaboration
An excerpt from the Summer/Fall 2009 issue of the Journal of Jewish Communal Service, published by the Jewish Communal Service Association of North America: The Imperative of Collaboration: Partnering Together in Tough Times by Sally Weber and Michelle Krotinger Wolf Working in close collaboration with other Jewish agencies and organizations to achieve mutual programmatic goals has taken on new urgency with increased client demand and reduced financial resources. This trend is expected to continue, and ongoing economic pressures may require many Jewish nonprofits, synagogues, and schools to scale back their social services offerings unless they can successfully work together with other existing organizations. Many new and innovative programs that require adding staff with specific … Continue Reading
Celebrating our Past, Shaping the Future
The Summer/Fall 2009 issue of the Journal of Jewish Communal Service is now available. Published by the Jewish Communal Service Association of North America and titled, The HUC-JIR School of Jewish Communal Service: Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future, the issue celebrates the 40th anniversary of the School and is filled with timely submissions of interest to all working in our community. Here is an excerpt from the first of several articles we will be bringing to you. You can also subscribe to The Journal and help support its continued growth. The Contribution of Prof. Daniel J. Elazar and Jewish Political Studies to the Training and Practice of the Jewish Communal Professional by Howard M. Weisband Whether for pragmatic reasons or institutional turf concerns, often there is little … Continue Reading
Maintaining the Gold Standard
The October issue of the JCSA Newsletter carries an exchange of letters between Dr. Misha Galperin, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and a long-time career professional that arose from the new icount study on Jewish communal professionals. Here's an excerpt: career professional: “As Federation funding is further reduced, the new government contracts will force agencies to increasingly tack on responsibilities to those remaining staff members who are supported by Federation dollars. The reason is that Federation dollars are not audited as closely as government funding and government funding is always insufficient to meet the contract requirements. Therefore, staff from other departments where “Jewish money pays” will be quietly co-opted to work on the government grants. … Continue Reading
A Day of Personal and Professional Development
Implications of Political and Economic Changes for Jewish Community Professionals in the 21st Century The annual meeting of the Jewish Communal Service Association of North America (JCSA) will be held Wednesday, June 3 at the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C., bringing together hundreds of leaders from the United States and Canada for a day of personal and professional development. Two plenary sessions and 28 targeted discussion groups will examine the implications of political and economic changes for Jewish Community Professionals in the 21st Century. Rabbi David Saperstein, who represents the national Reform Jewish Movement to Congress and the Administration as the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, will be the keynote speaker at lunch. Dr. Erica … Continue Reading
The Changing Paradigm of Jewish Philanthropy
As we have written previously, the most recent Journal of Jewish Communal Service - with the focus on Jewish philanthropy - is now available. Published by the Jewish Communal Service Association in partnership with the Jewish Funders Network, the latter has graciously made three of the articles available for download. from the cover: "At a time when old paradigms are falling by the wayside, the new philanthropic environment can enable, indeed may force, the Jewish people to rethink, reinvent, and create new strategies for changing priorities. Are we up to the task? Let this Journal issue serve as the beginning of a long-awaited public discussion on the myriad of issues that emerge from the challenge of philanthropic change". The Gift as a New Paradigm (Joanna S. Ballantine - in … Continue Reading
Do You Consider Your Work a Calling?
The Jewish Communal Service Association of North America is pleased to provide this personal reflection on Jewish communal leadership by Richard A. Siegel, Interim Director, School of Jewish Communal Service, HUC-JIR Los Angeles. Thoughts on Jewish Communal Service as a Calling What is Jewish communal service? A career? A profession? A field? A setting? I have been struggling with this question for the past year as Interim Director of the School of Jewish Communal Service at HUC-JIR in LA with the primary responsibility to develop a new strategic plan for the school. What exactly is “Jewish communal service” and how do you educate someone to excel in its practice? I come to a response out of my own experience which may well be idiosyncratic. Although I received an MA in Contemporary Jewish … Continue Reading
English