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

Alix Caplan Headshot

Alixandra Liiv Caplan

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Brauna-Doidge

Brauna Doidge

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Lindsay-Hirsch

Lindsay Hirsch

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Juliana-Kalish

Juliana Kalish

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Lindsay-Kopecky

Lindsay Kopecky

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Jacob-Leibowitz

Jacob Leibowitz

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Sonia-Leikman

Sonia Marie Leikam

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Aaron-Levitt

Aaron Levitt

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Ariel-Moritz

Ariel Moritz

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Deirdre-Munley

Deirdre Munley

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Rob-Nagus

Rob Nagus

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Jesse-Paikin

Jesse Paikin

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Ashley-Pressman

Ashley Pressman

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

William-Recht

Willie Recht

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Margo-Hughes-Robinson

Margo Hughes-Robinson

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Naomi-Shapiro

Naomi Shapiro

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Karen-Silverman

Karen Silverman

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Katy-Strulson

Katy Strulson

Executive Cohort VI 2025-2026

Maayan_Blum

Maayan Blum

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Allie_Conn_Kanter

Allie Conn Kanter

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Brandon_Fish

Brandon Fish

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Rebecca_Gerbert

Rebecca Gerbert

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Leah_Greenblum

Leah Greenblum

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Evan_Hochberg

Evan Hochberg

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Dena_Klein

Dena Klein

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Rachel_Lappen

Rachel Lappen

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Luba_Palant

Luba Palant

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Leah_Palestrant

Leah Palestrant

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Josh_Pernick

Josh Pernick

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Anna_Saul

Anna Saul

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Nadav_Shachmon

Nadav Shachmon

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Laura_Shaw_Frank

Laura Shaw Frank

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Cynthia_Weinger

Cynthia Weinger

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Shani_Winton

Shani Winton

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Ari_Witkin,jpg

Ari Witkin

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Holly_Wolfson

Holly Wolfson

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Mark-Young

Mark S. Young

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Jackie_Zais

Jackie Zais

Executive Cohort V 2024-2025

Sam Aboudara Headshot

Sam Aboudara

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

MAG

Matt Abrams Gerber

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Marni Allen Headshot

Marni Allen

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Steven Baker Headshot

Steven Baker

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Michal Eskenazi Becker Headshot

Michal E. Becker

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

David Cohen Headshot

David L. Cohen

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Isabel de Koninck Headshot USE

Isabel de Koninck

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Stacey Aviva Flint Submitted Headshot

Stacey Aviva Flint

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Derek Gale Headshot

Derek Gale

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Evan Goldman Headshot

Evan Goldman

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Adam Kolett Headshot

Adam Kolett

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Naomi Lamb Headshot

Naomi Lamb

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Lisa Long Headshot

Lisa Long

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Amy Marks Headshot

Amy Marks

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Judith Moses Dworkin Headshot

Judith Moses Dworkin

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Rori Picker Neiss Submitted Headshot

Rori Picker Neiss

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Betsy Polk Joseph Headshot USE

Betsy Polk Joseph

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Alex Roth-Kahn Headshot

Alexandra Roth-Kahn

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Rich Walter Headshot

Richard Walter

Executive Cohort IV 2022-2024

Judy Alperin Headshot

Judy Alperin

CEO of the Jewish Federation, Foundation & JCC of Greater New Haven

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Lisa Armony Headshot

Lisa Armony

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Ronnie Conn Headshot

Ronnie Conn

Chief Operating Officer of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Abbey Feinberg Headshot

Abbey Feinberg

Annual Campaign Director at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Brad Finkel Headshot

Brad Finkel

Chief Operating Officer for JCC Chicago

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Abbey Frank 2

Abbey Frank

Former Senior Director for Program Operations and Planning at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Meggie Fredman Headshot

Meggie Fredman

AJC’s Director of the Alexander Young Leadership Department

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Dan Goldwin Headshot

Dan Goldwin

Executive Director for Public Affairs for the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Chicago (JUF)

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Stephanie Hausner Headshot

Stephanie Hausner

Chief Program Officer of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Matt-Kernkraut-Headshot

Matt Kernkraut

Chief Development Officer for Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Naomi Knopf Headshot

Naomi Knopf

Chief of Staff at Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Ashley Lasher Headshot

Ashley Lasher

Executive Director of the Asheville Jewish Community Center

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Allie Lipner Rosenblum Headshot

Allie Lipner Rosenblum

Director of Development Operations at AJC

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Liv Mendelsohn Headshot

Liv Mendelsohn

Director of Accessibility and Inclusion at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre and Artistic Director of the ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Max Patashnik

Maxima Patashnik

Director of the JCRC and Government Affairs at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle where

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Shelley Rood Wernick Headshot

Shelley Rood Wernick

Managing Director of the Center on Aging and Trauma at The Jewish Federations of North America

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Darren Schwartz Headshot

Darren Schwartz

Chief Planning and Strategy Officer for the Jewish Federation of San Diego

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Karen Sher Headshot

Karen Sher

Vice President of Community Leadership and Engagement for Jewish Federation of St. Louis

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Stefanie Tuzman Headshot

Stefanie Tuzman

President & CEO of Jewish Nevada

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Martin Yafe Headshot

Martín Yafé

Executive Cohort III 2021-2023

Zach-Briton

Zach Briton

Chief Development Officer of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

Executive Cohort II 2020-2022

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Faculty & Advisors

Naomi-Adler-Headshot-cropped

Naomi Adler

CEO, Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America

Advisor

Theodore-Sasson-e1671562804155-pzgd136fjeb9zl0ofqg6w4jv3s9pjqg960wfhchd1g

Theodore Sasson

Director of Jewish Studies at Middlebury College and Ruderman Scholar in Residence at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University

Faculty

Deborah-Ancona-Headshot

Deborah Ancona

Seley Distinguished Professor of Management, a Professor of Organization Studies, and the Founder of the MIT Leadership Center at the MIT Sloan School of Management

Faculty

benjamin

Mara Benjamin

Irene Kaplan Leiwant Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at Mt. Holyoke College

Faculty

Robin-Bernstein-Headshot-cropped

Robin Bernstein

Former President & Chief Executive Officer, The Educational Alliance

Advisor

Jeremy Burton

Jeremy Burton

Advisor

Cindy-Chazan-Headshot-cropped

Cindy Chazan

Senior Advisor The Wexner Foundation (Retired)

Advisor

Serena Eisenberg Headshot

Serena Eisenberg

Advisor

Allan-Finkelstein-Headshot-cropped

Allan Finkelstein

President and CEO of the Jewish Community Centers (Retired)

Advisor

Alan Gill Headshot 2023

Alan Gill

Executive Vice President Emeritus of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)

Advisor

Stephen-Hoffman-color-cropped

Stephen H. Hoffman

President Emeritus of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland

Advisor

judson

Dan Judson

Dean of the Hebrew College Rabbinical School

Faculty

lopatin

Asher Lopatin

Executive Director of Detroit’s JCRC/AJC: A Partnership for Community Relations and Jewish advocacy

Advisor

John-Ruskay-Heashot-cropped

John Ruskay

Executive Vice President Emeritus of UJA-Federation of New York and a Senior Fellow at the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute in Jerusalem

Advisor

Devora-Steinmetz

Devora Steinmetz

Faculty, Mandel Institute for Nonprofit Leadership and Hebrew College Rabbinical School

Faculty

stolow

David Stolow

Co-Faculty Director of the Social Impact MBA Program at Boston University Questrom School of Business

Faculty

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Eligibility & FAQ

Applications for Cohort VI are now closed.