Celebrating Amir and Maya Zinkow

Pardes alumni are making an incredible impact on our world.

They are leading and creating organizations and businesses of all kinds, responding to humanitarian crises, writing novels, educating at all levels, creating works of art, and so much more! In celebration of Pardes’s 50th, we are highlighting 50 standout alumni whose accomplishments exemplify the rich texture of the Pardes community worldwide. 

MEET AMIR AND MAYA

This week, we celebrate a brother and sister alumni pair, Rabbis Amir and Maya Zinkow.

Amir is currently the chair of the Mishnah/Gemara department at the Leffell Middle School in Westchester, New York. Amir feels energized by being in the classroom and thinking about Torah Sheba’a’l Peh curriculum in Day Schools.

Maya is the Senior Jewish Educator at the UC Berkeley Hillel. She oversees the Jewish calendar and Shabbat, offers pastoral care and guidance to students, and teaches lots of Torah.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR WORK?

Amir: I am most proud of the changes to Jewish life and learning that have transpired since I started at the Leffell school. Along with my colleagues, we were able to create a shift in attitude towards limmudei kodesh classes, as students began to take them more seriously and be more engaged in the subject. I have also had a role in creating an atmosphere in which Judaism is not limited to the classroom but exists in many aspects of students’ lives.

Maya: Every single day I get to teach Jews how to do Jewish, formally and informally. I get to escort young Jews to the doorway of their inheritance, give them the keys, and show them how to unlock the door. When I see the look of recognition on their faces that this profound, messy, rich, gorgeous tradition is theirs to build a relationship with, I am incredibly humbled. I am proud to get to teach the fundamentals of Judaism as well as teach students how to be engaged learners of this incredible thing that is ours.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT PARDES?

Amir: My favorite class at Pardes was Rav Meir Schweiger’s halakha class. It was a small cohort, maybe 6 people, in a twice a week afternoon class. It was also a simple concept: He gave us se’ifim to read in the Shulchan Aruch, along with certain Mishnah Berurahs, which we would study in chevruta and then review with Rav Meir in shiur. He managed to make this an engaging, thought-provoking class even while being an unvarying course of study. This class made me think critically about my relationship to halakha. Sure, I loved learning Gemara, but it is not a halakhically driven text. The Shulchan Aruch is purely halakha. What does the love of learning this text mean if it did not have any practical connection to my life? Could it even be called learning if it remained purely theoretical? These challenges and questions led to many changes in my relationship to Jewish practice and customs, which in term have added significant meaning to my life.

Maya: Sexuality and Sanctity with Rahel Berkovits and Nechama Goldman Barash. Our class was the pilot class, and it felt so holy to be building a community of learning grounded in the sacred reality of our bodies, genders, and sexualities. For many, I know it was the first time questions would be answered instead of hushed. For me, Rahel and Nechama offered a powerful model of expanding the bounds of the Beit Midrash; they set the foundation for me to continue learning and teaching Torah through the lens of my own experiences and alongside the voices of others who have historically been excluded from sacred communities of learning.

WHAT DID YOU DO FOR THE FIRST TIME AT PARDES?

Amir: So many things! I’ll highlight the one item that I think had the biggest effect on me: learning Torah seriously full time.

Maya: Learned gemara from the daf, led Hallel, organized a minyan, leyned Megilla, sang at a tisch, lead a tisch, tasted organ meats. Truly, I had so many sacred firsts at Pardes!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT IN JERUSALEM?

Amir: I love Shuk Machaneh Yehudah, and even more so since the night life and great restaurants have increased.

Maya: Is the Pardes Beit Midrash too on the nose? That, or Tachanat Cafe. Or Beer Bazaar. Or Bardak. Or anywhere there’s hummus and ma’arav yerushalmi (don’t knock it til you’ve tried it). Give me good Torah and good food, and that’s a perfect day in Jerusalem.

HOW DOES PARDES CONTINUE TO AFFECT YOU TODAY?

Amir: Studying at Pardes convinced me of the importance of textual knowledge in Jewish life. I continue to hold this belief, and as a teacher of text I try to impart the importance of learning onto my students. We have a deep and rich tradition that gives us what are often considered Jewish values. Discovering those values in the text adds a depth of understanding and appreciation for what it means to live a Jewish life, beyond the halakha. This allows for simultaneously living with more empathy and caring while increasing a sense of purpose.

Maya: Each of my Pardes teachers made me feel like I had a voice in Torah. That is the kind of teacher I strive to be.

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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