JESNA (Jewish Education Service of North America), the Jewish federation system’s educational coordinating, planning and development agency, has announced that the agency will cease operations as of July 1, 2013. A national, nonprofit agency, it was created in 1981.

JESNA works closely with the central agencies for Jewish education that operate in more than 60 communities and the Jewish federations in more than 150 communities throughout North America.

In making this announcement, Cass Gottlieb, Chair of JESNA’s Board of Directors, noted the dramatic changes that have taken place in the communal and educational landscapes in recent years:

“Jewish education today is in a period of dynamic change, with new actors at every level and a growing focus on innovation and collaboration as keys to enhancing its impact in the 21st century. I know that our leadership remains committed to advancing Jewish education’s growth and transformation and will remain involved in this work on many levels.”

As JESNA winds down its operations over the next few weeks, it will be speaking with a wide range of institutions, organizations, and funders to identify how best to ensure the continued operation of its most successful programs and to make its intellectual resources available to the field.