Graduation Milestone for Pardes Center for Jewish Educators Amidst Challenging Year

Graduation Milestone for Pardes Center for Jewish Educators Amidst Challenging Year

Jerusalem, May 29, 2024 – This week, the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators (PCJE) proudly celebrated the graduation of its latest cohorts from the Pardes Day School Educators Program (PEP) and the Pardes Experiential Educators Program (PEEP). Despite the challenges faced this year due to the conflict in Gaza, the graduates have emerged as strong, knowledgeable, and passionate Jewish educators ready to make a significant impact in their communities.

Their perseverance and commitment to their education and their future roles as Jewish leaders and educators have been nothing short of inspiring.

“The resilience and dedication demonstrated by our students this year is truly remarkable,” said Aviva Lauer, Gottesman Family Director of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators. “Despite the adversities they faced, they remained focused on their mission to become effective and inspiring Jewish educators. We are incredibly proud of each graduate and confident that they will have a profound, long-term effect on their respective communities.”

The Pardes Day School Educators Program is a comprehensive two-year program that equips participants with the skills necessary to teach Jewish Studies in North American Jewish day schools. This program includes intensive classical Jewish text study, pedagogical training, and mentorship. Similarly, the Pardes Experiential Educators Program is a 10-month initiative designed to prepare educators to inspire a love for Judaism in various settings, including camps, schools, campuses, and communities across North America and Europe.

Additionally, Pardes’ Senior Educator Learning Fellowship also concluded this week with a two-day convening on the East Coast. SELF is a 10-month professional development program for congregational school directors and senior educational leaders. Fellows engage in both online and in-person learning while developing community projects focused on constructive disagreement. The program begins with a two-week, fully-subsidized intensive beit midrash experience in Jerusalem, focusing on how Jewish text can improve civil discourse, and continues with monthly webinars and mentorship. Each fellow receives seed funding of up to $2,000 for their community projects.

One of the PEP graduates, Alec Burroughs, reflected on his experience, stating, “This year has been challenging in ways I never expected. Living in Jerusalem during the conflict was difficult, but it also deepened my connection to the city and to my Jewish identity. The support from PCJE and my peers has been invaluable. I am leaving this program not only as a better educator but as a stronger person.”

Since its inception, PCJE has trained over 300 Jewish educators, with 78% currently working in the field and 38 graduates in leadership roles. The programs have had a lasting impact on more than 200 educational institutions worldwide, fostering a vibrant and knowledgeable Jewish future.

About Pardes Center for Jewish Educators:

The Pardes Center for Jewish Educators (PCJE) is a division of Pardes dedicated to creating, mentoring, and supporting Jewish educators. Through innovative programs and a commitment to excellence, PCJE aims to enhance Jewish learning and teaching worldwide.

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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