Passover 2019 By Maya Bernstein Is there a recipe for change? A pinch of this, a cup of that, a dash of this, a spoon of that, bake at this temperature for that amount of time and, voila, a successful change process? Alas, we know it is much more complex. Yet the well-known but deceptively simple "Mah Nishtanah" text, traditionally chanted by a young child at the beginning of the Seder, might actually be as close to a recipe as we can get. … [Read more...] about Four Elements of Successful Change
Mah Nishtana? Will Anything Change?
By Maya Bernstein Passover, 2018 In my family, at the Passover Seder, if you ask a good question, my mother or father throws a rubber frog at you. As kids, we’d compete to see who could get the most frogs by the end of the Seder. The more creative and provocative the question, the better (and bigger) the frog. As we know, so much of the Seder is designed to encourage us to ask questions, to engage in the story, to participate. Warren … [Read more...] about Mah Nishtana? Will Anything Change?
Disruptive Collaboration
By Maya Bernstein In 2008, Sarah Lefton realized that the majority of the hip, young, Bay Area Jews she knew sorely lacked a basic knowledge of Jewish stories, characters, and practices. She also realized that they turned to their devices, rather than to books or classes, to get information. So, she decided to put out edgy, educational, easily digestible Jewish content for young adults online. Her product was so successful that not only did it … [Read more...] about Disruptive Collaboration
Seeing the Sounds: Internalizing Innovation
By Maya Bernstein We are approaching the holiday of Shavuot, a time of re-commitment to keeping the Torah meaningful and relevant to our lives. There is a curious phrase in Exodus 20:14, which we read on the holiday to commemorate the Israelite’s experience of receiving the Torah at Sinai. The Torah sets the scene: the people stand trembling at the foot of the mountain; Moses is at the top with God, the elders are partway up the mountain, and … [Read more...] about Seeing the Sounds: Internalizing Innovation
“Let’s ‘Verb’ Leadership”
By Maya Bernstein Given the myriad of complex challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish community today, what actions are necessary, and who should take responsibility? We often think of leadership as a role - the president is the leader of our nation; the team captain is the leader of the team; the CEO is the leader of the organization. What, though, if we were to think of leadership as a verb? What if we jettisoned the notion of “a … [Read more...] about “Let’s ‘Verb’ Leadership”
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