by Daniel E. Levenson, ALM A significant challenge facing the senior leadership at major Jewish organizations is the question of how to connect with the next generation of up and coming Jewish leaders in a substantive way. I believe that there is an awareness of this lack of connection at organizations such as the Jewish Agency for Israel and within the American Federation system, and in some cases, a sense that it represents a long-term problem for the Jewish community. Yet despite this awareness, it often seems that the present cohort of senior leaders is either unable or unwilling to take the crucial steps necessary to ensure that there will be an unbroken chain of leadership from one generation to the next. The root cause of this problem, in my opinion, lies in the history of these … Continue Reading
Visionary Jewish Leaders Selected to be Mandel Jerusalem Fellows
The Mandel Leadership Institute is pleased to announce the 28th class of Mandel Jerusalem Fellows (MJF), 2010-2011: Rabbi Daniel Greyber - Executive Director of Camp Ramah California, Los Angeles. Dr. Daniel Moses - Director of Delegation of Leaders program, Seeds of Peace, Jerusalem and Maine. Tanya Podolnaya - Head of the Informal Education Center and Deputy Director for Strategic Planning at the Education Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel, St. Petersburg. Ruthie Rotenberg - Executive Director of LimmudLA, Los Angeles. Rabbi Ofer Sabbath-Beit Halachmi - Rabbi and Executive Director of the Tzur Hadassh Congregation; Co-founder, ‘Aspaklaria Center’, Jerusalem. Madel also congratulates the graduating MJF Fellows on the completion of their individual projects: Rabbi … Continue Reading
Leadership Emerges Through Relationships
from Stanford Social Innovation Review: The Future of Leadership Development: Groups, Networks and Partnerships The heroic model of leadership blinds us to the fact that untapped leadership potential exists everywhere. The dominant leadership model assumes that training individuals will better prepare them to lead strong organizations; and in turn strong organizations will produce better community-level results, but this model falls well short. Reaching the scale and scope of leadership needed to address complex issues requires new approaches to leadership development. Our focus should be on finding, cultivating, and connecting leadership everywhere it exists; across all generations, races, communities, and organizational levels. … Continue Reading
The New Generation of Nonprofit Leaders
from The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Are nonprofit groups doing enough to engage and sustain young workers who are ready to assume leadership roles? Members of the Washington chapter of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network say opportunities are expanding, but they also have concerns about their futures in the nonprofit world. … Continue Reading
The PresenTense Summer Fellowship, Take 4
For seventeen aspiring entrepreneurs, a new journey is about to begin. In just four short weeks, the 4th cohort of fellows in PresenTense's flagship fellowship program will gather in Jerusalem to begin an intensive six-week boot-camp. Through hands-on sessions the participants will learn the practical skills of social start-up development - so necessary to launch their ventures into the world. The selection process for this summer's cohort was rigorous and the competition fierce; a testament to all PresenTense has accomplished in only a few short years. Beginning with a magazine, and expanding to the Summer Fellowship program in 2007, PresenTense has just successfully completed their first Jerusalem Winter Fellowship. In Boston, the participants in that city's Social Entrepreneur Fellowship - … Continue Reading
If They Build It, Will it Last?
A Federation professional asks, "... who is really doing anything about developing leaders, and what if anything, will the impact be on the future of Jewish lay leadership?" Let Them Build It and They Will Come ... There are plenty other regional and national organizations working to engage young Jews at different ages and stages. Overall, though, NEXT is doing the most comprehensive job of strategically engaging young Jewish adults. Only time will tell if this engagement, while fostering and strengthening young Jews’ connection to Israel, will eventually lead to BRI alumni involvement in traditional Jewish institutions. What does this mean for existing Jewish organizations seeking to engage young adults? Traditional groups would be well advised to provide young adults the opportunity to … Continue Reading
Retaining the Next Generation
A new generation entering the field of philanthropy brings new blood, new energy and new ideas. While it may feel hard to make room at the table for leaders with fewer years of experience, members of Generations X and Y have a greater understanding of today’s global and connected world; their know-how and skills can benefit a foundation’s grantmaking and communications. from The Huffington Post: Who's in Charge Here? Retaining the Next Generation in Philanthropy Baby boomers are hanging on, and next generation leaders are waiting - and waiting - their turn. According to Trading Power, produced in partnership with the Council on Foundations, Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies' 21/64, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy and Resource Generation, this is the first time in … Continue Reading
Leadership Development As a Best Peoplehood Practice
by Ezra Kopelowitz I participated in a research project in late 2008 on Jewish leadership programs in Israel. The research found 22 organizations which run 43 programs. 69% of the programs were founded within the last 10 years. In total they claim 7239 alumni as of 2009. All the programs covered by the research are pluralistic in orientation and almost all include intensive Jewish study as part of the curriculum. Since completing the leadership research project I've come to realize that many of the best organizations who are working to build a connection to Jewish community and the global Jewish People have a focus on leadership development. I'd like to share some of these insights here. The concept of “leadership development” denotes an expectation that an organization has a … Continue Reading
Center for Leadership Initiatives Honored by Ivy Alumni
At the annual gala dinner this evening for members of the Harvard Club of Israel, the Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Israel (HBSAAI), the Penn Club of Israel and the Wharton Club of Israel, the Center for Leadership Initiatives (CLI) was named the 2009 Leadership Formation Award recipient. The award is given annually to individuals and organizations that are nurturing a critical mass of young leaders likely to positively impact the well-being of Israel and the Jewish people. With a global reach that has thus far involved more than 2,000 participants from over 30 countries, CLI takes a multi-faceted approach to leadership development and professional growth; one that includes crafted gatherings, professional peer networks, fellowships and a host of online resources. All of these … Continue Reading
Manning and Silverman on Leadership and the Now Generation
[part 2 of a conversation with Jerry Silverman and Kathy Manning] Change is in the air at 25 Broadway and across the landscape of The Jewish Federations of North America. In every conversation with senior leadership, you can sense an organization in motion. It's as if someone yelled "fire" in a crowded theater. The recognition that you not only need to move, but time is not on your side. As this GA opens, many challenges exist. While it appears the U.S. is emerging from the recent recession, the road upwards will have many pitfalls and the journey will not happen overnight. But just like with the economy, JFNA appears to be positioning itself to not only move forward, but to occupy the mantle of the pre-eminent Jewish organization on the North American landscape. One of those challenges is … Continue Reading
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