Jewish Organizations

“For far too long, we have…[been] underinvesting in the ongoing professional development of the individuals that work in the field full time”

11 March 2019 Drew KaplanJewish Community

For far too long, we have overly praised volunteers for bringing outside expertise to our organizations, while underinvesting in the ongoing professional development of the individuals that work in the field full time. While some[…]

“One of the greatest paradoxes of ‘the American Jewish establishment’ is that it is only believed to really exist by those who fear or despise it”

7 March 20197 March 2019 Drew KaplanJewish Community

One of the greatest paradoxes of “the American Jewish establishment” is that it is only believed to really exist by those who fear or despise it, to whom it is a rhetorically helpful bogeyman. Inside[…]

There is a “political phenomenon in the Jewish community…on the disincentivizing of all forms of ‘courageous leadership’ by relatively small numbers of individuals who can drive a community agenda”

27 February 2019 Drew KaplanJewish Community

…a larger political phenomenon in the Jewish community…on the disincentivizing of all forms of “courageous leadership” by relatively small numbers of individuals who can drive a community agenda because of the flattening of power structures,[…]

“…the great divides are about how or whether American Jews feel essentially safe and at home or eternally vulnerable and vigilant…”

8 February 20197 February 2019 Drew KaplanJewish Community

The basic political theory behind organized Jewish communal (read: establishment) politics in America since World War II has been to applaud and appreciate public gestures of support for gestures that are seen in the collective[…]

“At the core of the problem with synagogues is how the life of the synagogue is oriented”

2 May 20182 May 2018 Drew KaplanJewish Community

I have witnessed firsthand the benefits and challenges that synagogues face today. I have seen the ability of community to help those who are suffering, and the struggle of even large synagogues to meet the[…]

“Our criminal justice system punishes only the clearly guilty, and our media absolves only the clearly innocent — but that does not tell us whom our schools, synagogues and other institutions should employ”

26 March 201822 March 2018 Drew KaplanJewish Community

We have to think long and hard as a community as to how we want to handle cases where abuse is alleged but no charges are brought, despite the fact that many people think that[…]

“The legacy rabbinate and top-heavy institutions are not sustainable in the long term”

20 March 201813 March 2018 Drew KaplanJewish Community

Religious leaders have no right to complain about intermarriage rates in the US when the religion is being priced out of affordability. And don’t even get me started on the shidduch crisis, although if you[…]

“Do moms and dads of 7-year-olds know whether they want their kids to lead the Jewish community?”

11 September 20176 September 2017 Drew KaplanJewish schools

…do the soul-searching and idea-wrestling that lead you to a concept. Use that concept and develop a universal benefit. Consistency is important. Create programs and educational tools that support your brand. Dismiss ideas that conflict.[…]

“…if the theme of sorts for Jewish organizational life over the past 10-12 years was “innovation”, the next big theme should be “mergers and acquisition”

7 September 20176 September 2017 Drew KaplanJewish Community

I strongly believe that, if the theme of sorts for Jewish organizational life over the past 10-12 years was “innovation”, the next big theme should be “mergers and acquisition.” … …I hope that the folks[…]

“The reasons that the federated and legacy systems have been teetering are not simply size, but about capacity to pivot into trends, a weakness that innovative organizations have exploited effectively”

31 August 201729 August 2017 Drew KaplanJewish Federations

As we are all aware, the good processes of innovation – which changed communal priorities, shone light on the marketplace that Jewish organizations are meant to serve, and promoted a wide array of new voices[…]

Excerpted

Excerpts of Interest

Category: Jewish Organizations

“For far too long, we have…[been] underinvesting in the ongoing professional development of the individuals that work in the field full time”

“One of the greatest paradoxes of ‘the American Jewish establishment’ is that it is only believed to really exist by those who fear or despise it”

There is a “political phenomenon in the Jewish community…on the disincentivizing of all forms of ‘courageous leadership’ by relatively small numbers of individuals who can drive a community agenda”

“…the great divides are about how or whether American Jews feel essentially safe and at home or eternally vulnerable and vigilant…”

“At the core of the problem with synagogues is how the life of the synagogue is oriented”

“Our criminal justice system punishes only the clearly guilty, and our media absolves only the clearly innocent — but that does not tell us whom our schools, synagogues and other institutions should employ”

“The legacy rabbinate and top-heavy institutions are not sustainable in the long term”

“Do moms and dads of 7-year-olds know whether they want their kids to lead the Jewish community?”

“…if the theme of sorts for Jewish organizational life over the past 10-12 years was “innovation”, the next big theme should be “mergers and acquisition”

“The reasons that the federated and legacy systems have been teetering are not simply size, but about capacity to pivot into trends, a weakness that innovative organizations have exploited effectively”