Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Launches Innovative Partnership with SHI NA
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and Shalom Hartman Institute of North America (SHI NA) are pleased to announce a new partnership. Developed as a strategic response to the current challenges facing American and Jewish civic societies within the unique dynamic of Greater Washington, the partnership will operate at the intersection of connection, change, and leadership.
Convening leaders from across Greater Washington’s diverse regions, the programming will bridge ideological, political, denominational, and geographic gaps.
The partnership will include a hybrid of programs that bring together Jewish leadership across varied sectors, including nonprofit, political, and business organizations.
“The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is well-positioned to take the lead in this communal approach to change,” said Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. “As conveners, strategic leaders, and facilitators of partnerships, the Jewish Federation and Shalom Hartman Institute of North America will leverage our shared expertise and relationships to create meaningful change in communal discourse.”
The success of this initiative will be demonstrated by measurable growth in the capacity of individual Jewish leaders and our collective capacity to speak and lead on major issues of concern facing our Jewish community in more nuanced and integrated ways.
“A critical component of this partnership will be a focus on civic engagement through a Jewish lens. We are eager to integrate Jewish traditions, debates, and ideas to help contextualize and shape our current societal discussions for thought-leaders from various fields, creating connections between the Jewish content and the civic discourse so many Washingtonians are already involved in,” said Gil Preuss, CEO of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. “This partnership seeks to elevate and reshape the Jewish communal conversation on its most pressing issues, and we look forward to partnering with the outstanding Shalom Hartman Institute in this important work.”
The initiative will officially launch in fall 2018, and will include public lectures, institutional seminars, and forums, with the focus of establishing ongoing cohorts of leaders learning about and developing strategies to strengthen Jewish life and American civil society through a Jewish lens.
This project promises not only great value for the immediate Greater Washington community, but has potential impact as a model for communal discourse for Jewish communities around the United States.
Jennifer Raskas has been named Washington, D.C. Manager for SHI NA. She was Director of the Israel Action Center at Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington.
In this new position, Jennifer will be responsible for overseeing program development, management and administration in Washington and the surrounding communities.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is a mission-driven non-profit organization dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive Jewish community for all. Federation identifies and meets community needs to create a strong local Jewish community and strengthen our connection with Jews in Israel and around the world. Federation partners with more than 70 local, national and international agencies to offer innovative programs and services to all who need and want them. We deliver measurable impact with immeasurable heart. ^
eJewishPhilanthropy: Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Launches Innovative Partnership with Shalom Hartman Institute of North America
Washington Jewish Week: Federation partnership to ask big questions ^
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