An Interview with Mark S. Cohen, Campaign for the Generations Contributor

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Mark S. Cohen is an attorney who splits his time between West Hempstead, NY and Jerusalem. Mark is a frequent participant in Pardes’s Community Education Program and is also an alumnus of the Pardes Summer Program (1991, 2016 and 2018).

You recently endowed Pardes’s Rosh Chodesh Community Breakfast Program, which brings Pardes students together to celebrate the new Hebrew month. What inspired you to make an endowed gift to the Campaign for the Generations?

I was inspired to support Pardes’ capital campaign because I appreciate the valuable work that Pardes does and support it wholeheartedly. Being the “first coed yeshiva” is meaningful to me as I am a strong supporter of advanced learning for both men and women. I particularly appreciate the Pardes approach of teaching from the traditional perspective, yet respecting everyone wherever they presently hold on the observance and learning spectrums.

Rosh Hodesh has been a very meaningful day to me for many years. My Bar Mitzvah was on a Rosh Hodesh; my son led a Rosh Hodesh service at the Kotel to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah and, especially relevant with respect to a donation in his memory, my father passed away on a Rosh Hodesh. Thus, sponsorship of the Rosh Hodesh breakfast program resonates strongly with me.

What are your personal hopes for Pardes in the coming years?

My personal hopes for Pardes in the coming years is that it should be zocheh (merited) to build its new building and expand its footprint in the Talpiot/Baka area. I would like to see continued expansion of the Community Education program, which is one of my favorite activities during the months that I live in Yerushalayim. I hope to deepen my connections with Pardes, and look forward to more personally enriching learning opportunities with Pardes and its faculty.

I also hope that Pardes continues to encourage “generationally diverse” learning opportunities, since I believe that learning crosses all boundaries, including that of age, and each generation should inspire those who are both younger and older.

Are there specific Pardes experiences that have strongly impacted you? 

My participation in the Summer Programs, twice during the past few years and once during the 1990’s, was extremely meaningful to me. And I greatly appreciate being able to participate in the Community Education program, which is one of the reasons why I purchased a home just a couple of blocks from Pardes!

Are there teachers who you feel particularly fond of – and why?

I have enjoyed almost all of the teachers that I have been privileged to learn from at Pardes. I do need to point out that although the Summer Program, in which I participated during 1992, was very meaningful, it was my association with Rabbi Danny Landes, who was one of my favorite teachers in the Wexner Heritage Foundation program, that kept me “in the Pardes loop” for many years. Danny met with me regularly, updating me on Pardes, and urging me to sit in on a class from time to time when I was in Israel, that ultimately led me to participate in more Summer Programs and the Community Education program.

Although he has now moved on, Pardes should maintain a position of hakarat hatov (gratitude) with Rabbi Landes for all that he accomplished for many years. My favorite teachers include, but this is not to exclude anyone that I am just not remembering at the moment, Rav Shai Finkelstein (who is now my Rav in Israel), Michael Feuer, Alex Israel, Michael Hattin, Dena Freundlich, Marty Lockshin, Rahel Berkovitz, Leah Rosenthal and Meir Schweiger.

Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation

Start date: ASAP

We are seeking a charismatic, creative, and action-oriented Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation to lead this initiative. This individual will play a key role in bridging the gap between the immersive Jerusalem-based Pardes experience and the ongoing life-long learning opportunities we offer in North America.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Implement and Iterate Alumni Engagement Strategies:
    • Enhance the current “menu” of opportunities for Pardes alumni to both “give” to
      and “receive” from, Pardes.
      • Give: Empower alumni to take action, create initiatives, and leverage
        Pardes as a platform for leadership and innovation.
      • Receive: Encourage alumni to engage in continued learning through
        classes, retreats, Shabbatonim, cohorts, and other programs.
    •  Ongoing internal evaluation of efficacy of strategies and implementing iterative
      updates to enhance outcomes.
  • Program Development and Management:
    • In collaboration with the wider team, develop and implement ideas for online and in person classes, including holiday programs, one-off shiurim, and limited series.
    • Oversee the execution of programs including but not limited to: email
      correspondence and registration, coordinating with marketing, Zoom production,
      and post-program evaluation.
    • Ensuring cross-departmental collaboration specifically with the engagement and
      development teams
    •  Serve as the project manager for select alumni cohort learning programs,
      ensuring smooth operations and successful outcomes.
  • Community Building and Leadership:
    • Foster strong, relational connections with alumni, encouraging their active
      involvement in the Pardes community.
    • Identify and cultivate connections with key alumni leaders. Lead efforts to inspire alumni to take on leadership roles within their communities, promoting Pardes’ values and educational mission.
    • Cultivate and steward and existing external partnerships with organizations and
      initiatives as it relates to our Pardesnik engagement and activation work
  • Alumni Coaching and Mentorship:
    • Provide coaching and mentorship to alumni interested in developing initiatives, such as micro-grants or local events, and support them in realizing their ideas. This may include group coaching within cohorts.
  • Targeted Recruitment and Outreach:
    • Engage in focused recruitment and outreach efforts to involve specific alumni in relevant Pardes offerings.
    • Collaborate with the wider team to manage recruitment for various programs,
      including necessary follow-up and evaluation.

Qualifications:

  •  Proven experience in alumni relations, community engagement, or a related field.
  • Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a talent for building and maintaining relationships.
  • Creativity and initiative in developing new programs and strategies to engage alumni.
  • Passion for Jewish learning and a deep connection to the mission of Pardes.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
  • Willingness to travel as needed to engage with alumni across North America.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Pardes alumna
  • Experience working in Jewish education or community leadership.
  • Familiarity with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and its programs.
  • Based in New York City

Benefits:

  • Competitive salary commensurate with experience: $70,000-$85,000
    100% health insurance coverage for the employee (dependent coverage available)
  • 403b retirement plan with Nationwide with up to 5% contribution by employer
  • Paid time off & Paid holidays (Jewish and secular)
  • FSA
  • Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Remote and hybrid working option and flexible hours
  • Opportunities to travel domestically and to Israel to collaborate across the team
  • Opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and growing organization with a meaningful mission.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their qualifications and passion for this role. All applications should be sent to Assistant Director of Programs at Monica at monica@pardes.org.

Cover letters should answer the following questions

  • What makes you passionate about this role and work?
  • What concrete professional or personal experiences have prepared you best for this role?
  • What is one project, strategy or initiative that this job description stimulates in you?
  • How do you ensure great teamwork and successful collaboration?
    PLEASE NOTE:

Applications are due by October 8th and interviews will be the week of October 28th. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Pardes North America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants in all organizational facilities without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, (or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to lactation), physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

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