By David Werdiger In the southern hemisphere, the academic year roughly corresponds to the calendar year, which means September/October is when we consider applications for our family’s Jewish school education grant scheme. Last year, our family meeting to review all applications was scheduled for the day after Yom Kippur, and as I read the words of the Unetanneh Tokef, my mind drifted to the task that awaited me the very next day. … [Read more...] about The Grantmaker’s Prayer – Mindful Giving
Archives for September 2014
Why We Made It: Successful Incubation
By Will Schneider Slingshot was launched ten years ago as an annual resource guide for funders in their 20s and 30s to explore innovative Jewish life, and has since become an important center of gravity for the Jewish innovation space. Originally, Slingshot existed as a core project of 21/64, the nonprofit next generation and multigenerational consulting practice incubated at the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies’ (ACBP). ACBP planned … [Read more...] about Why We Made It: Successful Incubation
Why is this Degree Different?
By Aaron B. Cohen [This article is the forth in Advancing Jewish Leadership: A Series on Jewish Context and Professional Practices. Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership is currently marking its 90th anniversary with the launch of the Center for Jewish Leadership. In this series, faculty, mentors, graduates, and staff of Spertus Institute’s graduate degree, certificate, and professional programs share valuable insights relevant … [Read more...] about Why is this Degree Different?
The ‘Secret Sauce’ to Teen Engagement
By David M. Kessel and Estee R. Portnoy No one ever described high school as the ‘best four years of your life.’ The pressure to fit in is tremendous, and gearing up for college can be overwhelming. This is also when Jewish involvement plummets among non-orthodox teenagers, following the bar/bat mitzvah. BBYO is working (and succeeding) at reversing this trend. What’s our ‘secret sauce’? We draw teens in through social experiences. They then … [Read more...] about The ‘Secret Sauce’ to Teen Engagement
Kesher Hadash: Bringing it Home
By Hannah Grossman The recent semester I spent on the Davidson School’s semester program in Israel, Kesher Hadash, was not only one of the most intellectually stimulating experiences of my student career but one of the most impactful on my work as an educator. Throughout the semester the eight other students and I explored various conflicts affecting Israeli society. While much of our learning occurred in a classroom, we had the privilege … [Read more...] about Kesher Hadash: Bringing it Home