Executive Leadership Program

In this section:

About the Program

Organizations that serve the Jewish community operate in a rapidly changing social, cultural and political landscape. The Executive Leadership Program is an 18-month fellowship designed to prepare outstanding mid-career professionals for senior leadership roles. Fellows analyze the changing communal landscape, sharpen their guiding visions of Jewish life, and expand their leadership and management skills.

Program Overview

The program includes four in-person seminars, skills-focused short courses and peer-led practice groups. Three seminars are taught by the program’s multidisciplinary faculty and held at the Mandel Institute’s space in Brookline, MA. One seminar is held in Israel and features joint learning with fellows of Mandel’s Israel-based programs. All program costs and most travel expenses are covered by the Mandel Institute. The curriculum is organized around three strands:

Social Analysis

Fellows analyze trends in North American Jewish communities and Israeli society, and deliberate together about salient opportunities and challenges.

Ideas and Contexts

Fellows examine ideas that animate contemporary Jewish life in diverse settings, and sharpen their own visions of the Jewish future.

Nonprofit Management

Fellows develop their leadership signatures and stories, and learn ways to catalyze organizations to achieve vision-guided change.

Alongside cohort-based learning, fellows meet monthly with an advisor . All program advisors are current or past leaders of Jewish organizations. The advising program is tailored to each fellow’s current workplace challenges, unique leadership profile and future career pathways.

Seminar Dates

Cohort V (2024-2025)

Seminar One: Boston – January 7-11, 2024

Seminar Two: Israel – May 28-June 4, 2024

Seminar Three: Boston – October 27-31, 2024

Seminar Four: Boston – June 8-12, 2025

Cohort VI (2025-2026)

Seminar One: Boston – January 12-16, 2025

Seminar Two: Israel – May 20-May 27, 2025

Seminar Three: Boston – November 9-13, 2025

Seminar Four: Boston – May 3-7, 2026

About the Fellows

Fellows of the program are mid-career Jewish communal professionals who aspire to and are on track for executive leadership positions. Executive leadership positions include CEO roles in organizations of any size and senior leadership (C-Suite) roles in large organizations.

The Executive Leadership Program is coordinated with Jewish Federations of North America and Jewish Community Centers Association of North America. Cohort VI will include a mix of federation and JCC professionals, alongside professionals who work in other Jewish nonprofit settings. We strive to recruit cohorts that reflect the diversity of the Jewish community.

Fellows & Graduates

Faculty & Advisors

Eligibility & FAQ

Applications for Cohort VI are now closed.