The Mandel Institute recently launched the Graduate Microgrant Program, a new initiative designed to invest in the creativity and leadership of our graduates. The program provides graduates with advising support and up to $5,000 in funding to advance innovative projects that strengthen Jewish life, deepen professional practice, and contribute to the fields of Jewish community development, education and culture. We are excited to announce the inaugural cohort of recipients!
Michal Eskenazi Becker (Executive Leadership Program, Cohort IV)
Shoresh Sunday School
Michal will expand Shoresh Sunday School, a lay-led Jewish learning and community initiative serving families in East Nashville who are not engaged in traditional Jewish institutions. Funding will support scholarships, additional educators, and infrastructure needed to grow the program and increase access to meaningful Jewish learning and community.
Rebecca Berger & Yafit Shriki Megidish (Educational Leadership Program, Cohort II)
The Mandel Leadership Lab
Rebecca and Yafit will launch a professional learning community for Mandel Educational Leadership Program graduates focused on leadership development and peer learning. Participants will engage in facilitated cohort experiences, coaching, accountability structures, and collaborative problem-solving around shared professional challenges.
Laura Elkeslassy (Cultural Leadership Program, Cohort I)
Ya Ghorbati: Divas in Exile
Laura will support the final release phase of her acclaimed musical project celebrating the legacy of North African Judeo-Arab women artists. Funding will support music video production, public relations, social media strategy, and audience engagement efforts surrounding the album and vinyl release.
Yael Jaffe (Educational Leadership Program, Cohort II)
Empowering Communities to Strengthen Orthodox Day School Education
Yael will expand a podcast and community engagement initiative that translates educational research, student perspectives, and practitioner insights into accessible conversations for parents and community leaders. Funding will support professional podcast production, website improvements, and audience development efforts.
Antonia Lassar (Cultural Leadership Program, Cohort I )
This Is Judaism: The Pilot
Antonia will create a documentary-comedy pilot that explores the diversity of Jewish life through humor, storytelling, and immersive experiences across different Jewish communities. Centered around the many ways Jews experience Shabbat, the project aims to foster greater understanding, curiosity, and connection across lines of religious practice, ideology, and identity while serving as a proof of concept for a broader series on contemporary Jewish life.
Jacob Leibowitz (Executive Leadership Program, Cohort VI)
The Hillel Leadership Institute Continuum
Jacob will build the next phase of Hillel of San Diego’s leadership development pipeline, creating advanced opportunities for student leaders through mentorship, leadership gatherings, a cross-campus Shabbaton experience, and a capstone project focused on strengthening Jewish campus life.
Daniel Olson (Educational Leadership Program, Cohort II)
Ramah Exchange in Chile
Daniel will lead a cross-cultural leadership experience connecting emerging Ramah leaders with Chilean Jewish camp and youth movement communities. Funding will support a pilot international exchange focused on leadership development, cross-cultural learning, and strengthening connections across the two global Jewish communities.
Anthony Russell (Cultural Leadership Program, Cohort I)
Azazel Magazine Audience Development Initiative
Anthony will strengthen the reach and sustainability of Azazel Magazine, a publication exploring Jewish identity, culture, and music. Funding will support audience research, strategic consulting, branding, and digital marketing efforts to help the publication grow its readership and impact.
Yafit Shriki Megidish (Educational Leadership Program, Cohort II)
Embracing Complexity with Care: A Framework for Israel Education in Early Childhood
Yafit will develop and test a field-facing framework to help early childhood educators approach Israel education with greater confidence, nuance, and care. The project will produce educator resources, professional learning opportunities, and practical tools that can be adapted across educational settings.
Stephanie Tankel (Educational Leadership Program, Cohort I)
Family Engagement Initiative: Ages 0–5
Building on the success of Washington Hebrew Congregation’s New Mom Groups, Stephanie will pilot a new suite of learning and community-building experiences designed to support program alumni as they navigate the early years of family life. Through Jewish learning, facilitated discussion, and relationship-building, the initiative aims to strengthen connections among young families while creating ongoing pathways for Jewish engagement and community.
Frieda Vizel (Cultural Leadership Program, Cohort I)
Fruit Stands of Gotham
Frieda will develop a new documentary storytelling project that explores the lives, cultures, and experiences of communities beyond those she has traditionally covered in her work. The project supports her growth as a cultural creator as she broadens her focus from documenting Hasidic life to engaging with a wider range of communities and perspectives, using storytelling as a tool to foster curiosity, understanding, and connection across difference.
Micol Zimmerman Burkeman (Educational Leadership Program, Cohort I)
Sacred Partnership: A Podcast Series
Micol will produce a podcast series highlighting successful partnerships between educators and organizational leaders across Jewish communities. Through interviews and storytelling, the project will explore how educator-leader collaboration strengthens organizational culture, leadership, and long-term impact.