The Brandeis-Genesis Institute for Russian Jewry, in partnership with the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis University, has announced the launch of a professional development program for Russian-speaking Jewish communal professionals.

With support from the Genesis Philanthropy Group and the Jim Joseph Foundation, the Brandeis Jewish Leadership Incubator (BJLI) will host a 12-month fellowship for Russian-speaking professionals who work at Jewish communal organizations in the United States and Canada. The program, designed for individuals with one to five years of professional experience, will help to develop the skill-set, knowledge, and strong network of peers that is critical for professional advancement within the North American Jewish community.

“To date, Russian speakers remain underrepresented in the organized American Jewish community – especially its leadership,” said Victor Vitkin, executive director of the Brandeis-Genesis Institute for Russian Jewry. “The disproportionately low number of Russian-speaking communal professionals deprives Jewish organizations of engaging an exceptional pool of talent. By advancing Russian speakers in the professional Jewish world, the leadership training program will create important opportunities for mutual understanding and enrichment for all segments of the American Jewish community.”

The fellowship will encompass intensive professional seminars, overseas educational travel and a year-long cycle of online instruction. BJLI curriculum will emphasize core management and leadership skills in the context of Jewish teaching, as well as American and Russian Jewish history. Faculty from Brandeis University, leaders from major Jewish organizations, and leading practitioners in a variety of relevant fields will teach the BJLI courses and modules.

The program is scheduled to begin in January 2015. Up to 15 candidates will be accepted into the first cohort, with the goal of representing organizations from the range of Jewish communal institutions across North America.

Brandeis University is a national leader in recruiting and training Russian-speaking students for leadership positions in the U.S. and globally. Under the aegis of the Brandeis-Genesis Institute for Russian Jewry, Russian-speaking college students and young adults develop their leadership potential and enrich their knowledge of Russian Jewish heritage and the Jewish community. The Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program provides residential graduate leadership training in a dual-degree program combining intensive academics, field-based experiences, and international travel to prepare visionary leaders for the 21st century Jewish community.

For more information on the Leadership Incubator, please visit www.brandeis.edu/bgi or email at bgi@brandeis.edu