The Latest From The Foundation

Last week, The Wexner Foundation held a day of activities at the Knesset to welcome the seven new Wexner Israel Fellows who will begin their studies this fall in Cambridge, MA at Harvard’s Kennedy School (HKS).  Prior to the public ceremony, Deborah Housen-Couriel, Director of the Wexner Israel Fellowship Program (WIFP), held a leadership learning session. The fellows reflected on their definitions of leadership and shared their hopes and aspirations

It is nearly six years since we came to Efrat for “the Summer”… It looks like we’re staying. Our oldest daughter, who married two years ago at age 18, is expecting her first child in July. She and her husband live across from us. Our son, who was eagerly anticipating his States-side bar mitzvah when we came here – and was justifiably outraged when we decided to stay on at

Elan Ezrachi is an independent consultant to international Jewish organizations, is a community activist in Jerusalem and a founding fellow at the Center for Jewish Peoplehood Education. Elan can be reached at ezrachi19@yahoo.com. I live in the heart of Jerusalem.  I mostly work as a professional with international Jewish organizations.  This means that I am destined to meet many Jews from around the world, as they come to Jerusalem to

Rabbi Avraham (Avi) Weiss, a long time Wexner Heritage Faculty Member, is Founder and President of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School and Senior Rabbi at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. He is also National President of AMCHA – the Coalition for Jewish Concerns. Gilad Shalit has come home.  Is this a time for euphoria or upset? The head tells us that this is a terrible deal. The lopsided exchange may

Misha Zinkow is the senior rabbi of Temple Israel, Columbus, Ohio.  He can be reached at rabbizinkow@templeisrael.org. Our friend Ezra said, “of course I’ll help you find his grave, I love cemeteries.”  That’s when Elka and my visit to the Mount of Olives cemetery began 2 weeks ago. The grave we were determined to find is that of my father-in-law Alvin Abrahamson’s grandfather. Born in Jaffa around the time that

Gordon Hecker is an alumnus of the Wexner Heritage Program in Columbus 2000.  He currently serves as Campaign Chair for Columbus Jewish Federation and is on the Executive Committee of Jewish Federations of North America. When not engrossed in Jewish lay leadership, he is the Sr. VP of Corporate Marketing at Nationwide Insurance.  Gordon can be reached at:ghecker@columbus.rr.com The flight lasted just four and a half hours and, for me,

Melissa is an alumna of Wexner Heritage Chicago 1 and a Los Angeles Endeavor member.  She can be reached at Melissa_Patack@mpaa.org As part of the Los Angeles-Tel Aviv Partnership, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, my children’s school, the Rabbi Jacob Pressman Academy of Temple Beth Am, has a 6th grade exchange program with the Magen School in Maoz Aviv.  The Pressman-Magen exchange has flourished for 13

Don Seeman is an Alumnus of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program, Class IV and  Associate Professor in the Department of Religion and the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory University. He is both a rabbi and an anthropologist and author of One People, One Blood: Ethiopian-Israelis and the Return to Judaism. He can be reached at dseeman@emory.edu.  This column was originally published on March 31 in the online edition

Bill Lipsey is an alumnus of Wexner Heritage MetroWest .  Bill and his family moved to Israel for a “year of adventure” last August.  He can be reached at lipsey@pzena.com. Arik Einstein, a beloved Israeli performer, sang these words some 20 years ago…  They apply today as much as ever.  After six months of living and being immersed in Israel and her culture, life and rhythms, I am intensely motivated

Greg Russo is an alumnus of the Wexner Heritage Program, Metrowest, NJ 08 and a Human Resource Executive in Northern New Jersey. He serves on the Board of UJC Metrowest and as a Vice President at the Hebrew Academy of Morris County. Gregg can be reached at greggrusso@gmail.com. During Shabbat services, when the rabbi first mentioned a protest at Rutgers that night I was lukewarm about attending. I had plans