Facing Challenges: Communal Professionals Gather in DC By Brenda Gevertz, Executive Director, JCSA

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1 Jewish Communal Service Association of North America JCSA Connecting & Enhancing Professional Leadership Facing Challenges: Communal Professionals Gather in DC By Brenda Gevertz, Executive Director, JCSA June 2009 Volume 6, Issue 10 Two hundred Jewish Communal Professionals gathered in Washington, DC, in early June for JCSA's Day of Learning. Among the many highlights of the day's programming were a morning plenary with Dr. Erica Brown, a Keynote presentation by Rabbi David Saperstein and a closing plenary moderated by William Daroff with Mara Liasson and Ron Kampeas. The theme for the conference "If I Am Not for Myself / If I Am Only for Myself: Implications of Political and Economic Changes for Jewish Communal Professionals," addressed the many issues confronting colleagues, including changes in philanthropic support, political differences in Washington and Jerusalem, and the impact of technology in the ways we communicate. The day opened with a full spectrum of skills-building sessions and consultations including resume review, fearless public speaking and coaching. The conference was held at Adas Israel Congregation and received support from the Greater Washington Federation and local philanthropists. Washington's local professional association, J-PRO DC, actively participated in the day's activities, which attracted Inside this issue: Bert Gold, z l 3 JCP Graduates 4 Events, Announcements, & Rotenberg Center Mazel Tovs & Employment Opportunities Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships, & Save the Dates JCSA Benefit Plan participants from St. Louis, Palm Beach, Ann Arbor and many East Coast communities. Rabbi Saperstein received J- Pro's prestigious Shulamith Elster Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of dedicated service for the Jewish community. As head of the Religious Action Center of the Union of Reform Continued on page Steve Rod, JCCA, & Erica Brown in discussion By Erica Brown, Director of Adult Education at The Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning Within the framework of my title Jewish Values for Communal Leadership, I want to highlight four values that are critical for our work today: I ntegrity: Integrity is a blend of transparency, honesty and thoughtfulness that should be the hallmark of every Jewish communal professional, especially in these post-madoff times. Suspicion of Jewish organizations is high and financial support is low. Our credibility has been tarnished by someone few of us know. It is imperative that we become a force for transparency and sensitivity in our dealings with lay leaders and the community at large and reinstate our reputation for high ethical standards. C ivility: There is hardly a Jewish communal professional who has not been in an inappropriate, offensive or downright hostile encounter with lay leaders, donors, volunteers or fellow professionals. By over-accommodation to people who are entitled, we have implicitly given permission for other people to treat us disrespectfully. This has created a culture of incivility that we cannot afford. It is time for us to stop this behavior by letting people know that in order Continued on page 2.

2 Continued from page 1. Judaism, Rabbi Saperstein has been named by Newsweek as America's #1 rabbi because of his active engagement in lobbying and legislative initiatives. Dr. Brown, recently selected as one of Covenant Foundation's 2009 Award winners for excellence as a Jewish educator, inspired the assembly to examine the values which should guide us as Jewish communal professionals (see text box). More than a dozen different workshops considered issues that are challenging our field and practitioners, such as funding for Jewish education, strategic planning, building a career in the current economic environment, and fundraising in difficult times. As daunting as some of the challenges are, the mood of the day was upbeat and vibrant as participants connected with long-time friends and networked with colleagues they were just meeting. "The Politics of Change" was addressed in a stimulating panel discussion with Mara Liasson, NPR National Political Correspondent, and Ron Kampeas, JTA Washington Bureau Chief. They noted changes in the relationship between Washington and Jerusalem and speculated on the impact of the Democrats' majority in Congress and potential impact on the agenda of the Jewish community. Hillel Hirshbein of JBFCS in New York and Robin Levenston of JAFI- NA in Washington, co-chaired the event with ample support from William Daroff, UJC,Washington; Roberta Greenstein, DFI, Baltimore; Audra Berg, JUF, Chicago; Sara Reif and Jeana Rivkin, JCSA, New York; Josh Krakoff, JCC of Rockland County; and JCSA President, Glenn Easton, Adas Israel, Washington. As the day concluded with networking and a snack of warm-from-theoven cookies, a participant exclaimed that the day's events were "an Erica s Speaking Points Continued from page 1 for us to do our jobs with excellence, we need to be treated and we need to treat other people with dignity. We need to use language and demand language from others that is polite, thoughtful and respectful at all times. No exceptions. W armth: Civility is a basic requirement for creating a community that we can live in. But warmth is necessary for communities in which we can flourish. We are notorious for not being friendly. The first-line receptionists in synagogues, social service agencies and schools so often alienate before they welcome, distance before they bring others to a sense of belonging. And it s not only receptionists. It s often our own CEOs. We need to model warm and friendly behavior and expect it from everyone within our institutions. We are the cheerleaders of the Jewish people, and anyone walking within our walls should feel comfortable and happy to be there. If they don t, we all bear the responsibility. L iteracy: Not every Jewish communal professional can tell the difference between Maimonides and a Mishna. Few think it s a requirement for the job. Yet we would expect anyone running for office in America to know basics about the Constitution and to recognize major figures and events in American history. Jewish knowledge adds depth and meaning to what we do and helps inspire us to do more, know more and give more. And we know from philanthropic research that the more people identify with Jewish values, the more charity they give. It s hard for us to promote Jewish values if we feel only a passing acquaintance. Make this year the year that you promise yourself a great Jewish education. You ll enjoy it, and it will enrich your professional life. That s a money-back guarantee.

3 Bert Gold, z l By Dr. Steven Bayme, National Director of Contemporary Jewish Life Department, American Jewish Committee Bert Gold, Executive Vice-President Emeritus of the American Jewish Committee and Founding Director of its Koppelman Institute on American Jewish-Israeli Relations, passed away on June 13, Born in Toronto in 1916, and raised with a strong Yiddishist cultural orientation, Bert attended the Workmen s Circle School. Subsequently he obtained a Bachelor s degree from the University of Toronto and a Master s in Social Work degree from Case Western Reserve University. He taught social work at the University of Pittsburgh and at Columbia University. Following World War II, he became Director of the Newark YM-YWHA and later rose in the Jewish Center movement to become Director of the Jewish Centers Association of Greater Los Angeles overseeing an extensive network of area institutions. In 1967 he accepted a position as Executive Vice President of the American Jewish Committee, where he remained as Chief Executive Officer until 1982, and again, in , and as Founding Director of the Institute on American Jewish-Israeli Relations, As AJC s executive director, Bert brought the AJC into the mainstream of Jewish life. His concern for Israel was passionate and deeply held, and he positioned AJC as a strong advocate on behalf of Israel s concerns before the American public and the U.S. Government. Concerned with potential long-term distancing between American Jewry and Israel, the world s two largest Jewish communities, he established the Koppelman Institute on American Jewish-Israeli Relations as a bridge-building program, sponsoring studies and exchange visits to strengthen ties and alleviate tensions between these two pillars of the Jewish people. Professor Jerry Bubis, Founding Director of the Hebrew Union College School of Social Work, and a long-term friend and colleague, commented that Bert always maintained a broad outlook, seeking to strengthen the Jewish people beyond the silos of any one Jewish communal institution. For example, he was influential in the growth of the HUC School and while at AJC loaned staff members to it to serve as faculty. An exemplary professional, Bert was active in his professional association and was elected President of the Conference of Jewish Communal Service in A professional s professional, Bert served as a mentor for many AJC staff currently in senior positions within the agency and for numerous colleagues within the community. All who were privileged to know him benefitted immensely from his wise counsel, good humor, and, perhaps above all, his fundamental decency. He modeled what it meant to be a dedicated Jewish communal leader incorporating professional expertise, intellectual brilliance, and humane mentschlichkeit. He is survived by his beloved family, Judy and Larry Rubin, past Jewish communal professionals with the Foundation for Jewish Culture and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs respectively, Dan and Ann Gold, Arna Shaw and Ron Chase, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. May his memory be a blessing. Don t miss the latest issue of the Journal of Jewish Communal Service. A limited number of copies are available. For information on how to receive a copy, contact info@jcsana.org or order online. Page 3

4 Congratulations & Welcome, Class of 2009 Jewish Communal Professionals! Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work - JCS Program Gabrielle Abramson Nitzan Cohen Tara Corn Andrey Davydov Matthew Dunn Aliza Graber Yehezkel Jesin Jessica Katz Karen Lander Samantha Leapman Eliezer Perlman (not in picture) Suzanne Popkin Matthew Saunders Diane Scherer Chana Topek Brandeis University Hornstein Dual Masters Graduates Front row from left to right: Shira Zeliger, Shira Brown, Aliza Goodman and Jennifer Kibrit. Back row from left to right: Yishai Ashkenazi, Adam Kolett, Joshua Sternburg and Isaac Rothbart HUC-JIR, Los Angeles, Dual Degree Graduates Back row from left: HUC President David Ellenson, David Harris (MAJCS/MPA), Matthew Kahn (MAJCS/MAJE), Ben Bloom (MAJCS), HUC-LA Dean Steven Windmueller. Middle row: SJCS Assistant Director Lori Klein, Jessica Ingram (MAJCS), Missy Bell (MAJCS/MAJE), Laura Siegel (MAJCS/MAJE), Emily Walsh (MAJCS/MAJE), Rena Fraade (MAJCS), SJCS Interim Director Richard Siegel. Front row: Anna Schwarz (MAJCS/MPA), Louisa Moss (MAJCS/MAJE), SJCS Founding Director Jerry Bubis, Laurel Klein (MAJCS), Shira LiffGrief (MAJCS/MACM). Photo credit: Marvin Steinder Page 4

5 Events The Wiener Educational Center invites you to join its learning community, in which high standards of excellence, affordability, and applicability provide diverse and valuable learning experiences. Workshops cover a wide variety of topics necessary for professionals to be successful, including presentation skills, effective business writing, supervisory skills, and strategic planning, such as Train the Trainer: Effective Training and Facilitation Skills & When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Marketing. To learn more about these workshops, visit On July 19th, the Jewish Board of Family & Child Services will be hosting their first annual Hudson Valley Bike Ride. Over the years, JBFCS has helped many people through the provision of services, support and resources. Though everyone is experiencing new economic challenges both personally and professionally, those who rely on service agencies to help them are being severely impacted by the reduction in services. Join Community Connections Riders at by riding with JBFCS, volunteering, or sponsoring. Announcements American Jewish World Service (AJWS) has officially launched a searchable online database of Jewish social justice texts designed to support rabbis and Jewish educators who want to teach about Judaism and social justice. The database, called On1Foot, is an educational resource that allows users to search and browse hundreds of biblical, rabbinic and contemporary Jewish texts about social justice, upload new texts, and create custom source sheets using the texts and suggested discussion questions. The Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center (DFI) has a new logo and tagline - Empowering Professionals Serving the Jewish community. This is part of the branding launch that was unveiled at the Siyyum and Celebration on May 14. During the Celebration the new Friedman Fellowship program was unveiled, an incentive for professionals to come to work in Baltimore. These funds will be used for the new professional and their supervisor to create a personalized professional development program. This will be accomplished by giving as many as 10 recipients $5,000 over a two-year period to further their Jewish and professional skills. These dollars must be used to enhance, not replace, dollars an agency would give to training professionals. Moving into the new year, DFI will continue to expand the workshops and seminars for all levels of professionals as well as add training for lay leaders. Some of this training will be lay/pro together, and some training will be separate. Visit to see DFI s new look and upcoming programs. The Rotenberg Center for Jewish Psychology in association with the Baerwald School of Social Work, Hebrew University, will present a four day seminar this summer Kabalistic and Hassidic Paradigms for the Clinical Practice: a seminar for psycho-therapists, August at the Dan Panorama Hotel, Jersualem. The seminar will be led by Professor Mordechai Rotenberg, the recipient of the State of Israel's 2009 Israel Prize for Social Work, former Chair of the Department of Social Work at Hebrew University and author of more than 11 volumes in the field. For more information and to register visit the seminar website at To view the website in English, there is a tab on the upper left hand side. Page 5

6 Mazel Tovs Mazal Tov to Diane Sherer, Chair of NYC's local group, on her appointment as Planning Associate for UJA- Federation's Caring Commission. Congratulations, as well, on her graduation from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Mazal Tov to new Tri-State Local Group Leadership: Abby Gilbert, President; Jamie Hartman Herring, Vice President; and Beth Razin, Treasurer! Welcome new JCSA Local Group - Pittsburgh with President, Emily Farkas, UJF Pittsburgh. Employment Opportunities Repair the World is a new national nonprofit organization dedicated to building the field of Jewish service learning, and to inspiring a movement to make service to others a defining element of American Jewish life, learning and leadership. The organization, which is headquartered in New York City, is in a fast-paced and exciting start-up phase. They are building a small team of highly talented individuals to help shape the future of the organization and ensure the success of its mission. There are currently two positions open, Vice President of Programs and Director of Development. For more information on these two positions, please contact jon@werepair.org. Hadassah The Women s Zionist Organization of America, is searching to hire Major Gift Officers. The Major Gifts Officer will educate, guide and support targeted chapters and volunteers in major gifts fundraising ($5,000 or more), identify prospective major donors, and participate in developing goals and strategies for their assigned region. Beyond this leadership role, they will also carry and develop their own portfolio of Major Gift Donors. Hadassah is currently seeking Major Gift Officers in: Boca Raton, Florida; Houston, Texas; Washington, DC Metro. Area; Nassau County Long Island, New York; Westchester County, New York; and Northern New Jersey. , tdamewood@mrmhv.com, for more information. Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation is seeking a Communications and Program Associate. CLSFF seeks a dynamic and skilled program associate responsible for communications and media, grant management, special projects and other activities to advance its efforts to strengthen Jewish identity and community in North America and beyond. The position is located in their D.C. office. Interested applicants should send resume, cover letter and two writing samples to Adam Simon at jobs@schusterman.org. The Israel on Campus Coalition seeks a dynamic Executive Director to be based in Washington, D.C. to lead its efforts to promote Israel education and advocacy on campuses across the country. For more information or to apply, please submit resume, cover letter and list of three references online at Jewish Family Service of Seattle is seeking a Family Life Educator. This position is responsible for developing, publicizing and implementing psycho-educational programs on a variety of issues related to family changes and challenges. Programs are intended to be preventative and supportive and to strengthen individuals, families and the community. The Family Life Educator will work in a highly collaborative manner within the agency and with both the Jewish and broader community. To apply, send resumes to resumes@jfsseattle.org Don t Forget; as a JCSA member organization, you receive 10% off your listing on For job listings, visit For jobs in the Federation system, visit Page 6

7 Grants, Fellowships & Scholarships The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation seeks an outstanding recent college graduate for a one-year Fellowship in its Washington, D.C. office. The Fellow will assist the national program team in implementing various projects and strategic initiatives the board of CLSFF decides to pursue in its efforts to help children, teens and young adults strengthen their Jewish identities. Specific responsibilities will include: Assist Program Officers on CLSFF s Initiatives/Grantmaking, Research, Communication, Plan and Initiate Internal D.C. Office Programs, Represent CLSFF in the Broader Community, and Administrative Support. To apply or for more information, please submit a resume and cover letter to jkraus@schusterman.org. JCCs of NORTH AMERICA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. The scholarship programs are designed to deepen and enhance the professional knowledge of qualified recipients. Incorporating classroom study, internships, networking opportunities, professional development conferences and seminars, JCC Association Graduate Scholars are on the fast track to become effective and successful JCC professionals. Over 350 JCC, YM-YWHA, and summer camp sites located in 150 Jewish communities throughout North America belong to the JCC Movement. For more information, visit and click on the 'scholarships' link. Hornstein: The Jewish Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis University offers full tuition scholarships for its renowned 21-month dual-degree graduate program in Jewish professional leadership. More than ever, in challenging times, the Jewish community needs knowledgeable, visionary professionals armed with the best in business, management, and leadership skills.. Visit their website for full information regarding these possible scholarships. Save the Date West Coast Professionals Conference Thursday, November 5, 2009 Shalom Institute, CA JCSA Young Professional Award Recognizing the Achievements of outstanding Young Professionals in the Jewish Community Description: This prestigious award is presented to outstanding young professionals who have demonstrated exemplary service and commitment. To Qualify, one must be 35 or younger and have three to ten years experience as a Jewish Communal Professional. The Award includes $1000 for educational enhancements, as well as subsidy for travel to the UJC General Assembly where the awards are presented. For more information, contact info@jcsana.org or call You can find a nomination form online at Page 7

8 If you have news you would like to share in the August 2009 issue of the JCSA Newsletter please send it to by Tuesday, July 28th. JCSA Benefit Plans Notes from Bert Goldberg, JCSA Insurance Committee Chair ARE CD RATES TOO LOW FOR YOU? Do you want your money protected from stock market fluctuations? Funds in FIXED Annuities grow steadily, and are not subject to a volatile stock market Very competitive Multi-Year guaranteed interest rates are available These competitive rates are available for Rollover IRAs, Rollover TSAs as well as private funds. Access to your money: You can withdraw up to 10% of your funds each year With no penalty charge. (IRS penalty prior to age 59 ½) Automatic calculation of your Required Minimum Distribution is available (Age 70 ½ & older) All funds available at no charge, after interest guarantee period. Call for further information! Contact our administrators for JCSA Benefit Plans, Brian and Irving Silberberg at: Telephone: New! bsilberberg@multifin.com Website: JCSA Benefit Plans offers the following plans and services to our members on an individual and agency basis: Long Term Disability Fixed Annuities Long Term Care Plans Tax Sheltered Annuities Fixed Index Annuities 24 Hour Accident Plan Retirement Disability Plan 529 College Fund Plan Agency Pension Planning Life Insurance Plan IRA Plans Mutual Funds Jewish Communal Service Association of North America JCSA Connecting & Enhancing Professional Leadership Mission The Jewish Communal Service Association of North America supports the enhancement of professional Jewish communal leadership, uniting a broad spectrum of individuals, entities and disciplines sharing a commitment to advancing their communities guided by Jewish values. June 2009 Volume 6, Issue Eighth Avenue 4th Floor New York, NY Phone: Fax: info@jcsana.org We re on the web: Newsletter Staff Sara Reif, NYC, Editor. Jeana Rivkin, NYC, Intern Glenn Easton, President Brenda Gevertz, Executive Director To subscribe directly to this newsletter simply go to enter your address in the space provided and click go. Your will be automatically added to our listserv through Constant Contact. It is free, fast and easy! Page 8