Avi Chai

This article is cross-posted from the eJewish Philanthropy Blog. This article is part of a series focusing on new ideas emerging from the day school field with relevance for Jewish professionals in Jewish education and beyond. The post contributes to the conversation on the topic of Leadership. Interview: Jonathan Cannon and Mitch Malkus The topic of leadership transitions – when they should happen, how they should be carried out, and their implications – is a … Read More »

This article is cross-posted from the eJewish Philanthropy Blog. This article is part of a series on day schools focusing on new ideas emerging from the day school field with relevance for Jewish professionals in Jewish education and beyond. The post contributes to the conversation on the topic of Leadership. What are the challenges for Jewish leaders in assuming this responsibility, and how can training better prepare them for it? Cheryl Finkel has a unique … Read More »

The results of MATCH 4[1] are in and the numbers are impressive. Consider the following statistics: 119 Jewish day schools have received $9.7 million of gifts, including approximately $2.8 million of matching funds from the AVI CHAI and Kohelet foundations. The 235 schools that submitted a MATCH application came from a wide range of denominations and geographies. Cumulatively, these schools have a $1.4 billion annual operating budget and serve over 72,000 students. This suggests an … Read More »

This article is cross-posted from the eJewish Philanthropy Blog. This article is part of a series on day schools focusing on new ideas emerging from the day school field with relevance for Jewish professionals in Jewish education and beyond. The post contributes to the conversation on the topic of Leadership. We must commit ourselves to taking very seriously the challenges of day school leadership now and into the future. The challenges encompass not only professional … Read More »

This article is cross-posted from the eJewish Philanthropy Blog. In February 2013, more than 900 day school professional and lay leaders gathered at the annual North American Jewish Day School Conference to network and explore new ideas around 21st century education and leadership. It was, as always, a chance to look at the day school field’s challenges and opportunities through a lens of shared optimism, excitement and innovation. Three months later, as we continue to … Read More »

By: Yossi Prager This article is cross-posted on eJewishPhilanthropy. Drawing of brick-making from Tomb of Rekhmire. Click for a presentation with more images relevant to the Exodus. At its heart, the seder is a vehicle for telling our children and grandchildren the story of the Jews’ enslavement in and miraculous Exodus from Egypt.  For all the importance of Jewish schooling, the Torah views parents as the most important educators in their children’s lives – every day … Read More »

This article is cross-posted from the eJewish Philanthropy Blog. by Sarah Blattner In the 1983 film WarGames, Matthew Broderick stars as David, a precocious teen, who has computer skills beyond most of his contemporaries and adults in his life. David hacks into a military computer system named Joshua, where he is challenged to play a nuclear war game. America and Russia go head-to-head as the real military system begins to launch a countdown to start World … Read More »

This article is cross-posted from the Jim Joseph Foundation blog. By Jordan Magidson, Nadiv Educator at URJ Camp Kalsman in Arlington, WA and Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle, WA. [Editor’s Note: In 2010, the Foundation for Jewish Camp, The AVI CHAI Foundation, and the Jim Joseph Foundation began working collaboratively on Nadiv, a ground-breaking initiative that created six new positions for Jewish experiential educators that are each shared by a Jewish summer camp and a Jewish … Read More »

By Josh Miller, Steven Green, Leah Nadich Meir and Joel Einleger Collaboration and partnership have become the buzzwords of our time. The business world as well as the nonprofit sector heralds the advantages of collaboration: sharing resources, bringing multiple perspectives to address difficult issues, eliminating duplication, learning from one another and pooling assets. The Jim Joseph and AVI CHAI Foundations, as funders interacting with multiple organizations across sectors, have a bird’s-eye view of what can … Read More »

Yossi Prager presented this dvar torah to the North American Jewish Day School Conference (NAJDS) on February 6, 2013 (see photo, left). By: Yossi Prager Thank you all very much. I wish you could see what I see here: a room full of people, all of whom are committed to day school education. It’s truly an inspired sight. Maybe you all could come up to the podium when there’s no program and see what this … Read More »