Celebrating Ilene Prusher

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 ILENE

Ilene is a journalism professor at Florida Atlantic University. She teaches courses in International Reporting, Coverage of Public Affairs, and Feature Writing. She also teaches community creative writing workshops, and writes for various outlets such as The Forward, Moment, and NBC News Think.

Follow Ilene on Twitter.

SHARE A PARDES MEMORY.

I attended the 2003 Summer Program and studied part-time as a Dorot Fellow in 2004-05. At a Shabbaton, we sat around telling inspiring stories at seudah shlishit. I spoke about spending Pesach in Iraq during the war in 2003 as a foreign correspondent. I had jumped through hoops to access a base that the US army had just taken in Kirkuk. I had seder with Jewish soldiers and another adventurous Jewish female journalist. We had some Haggadot and matzot from the Chaplain’s religious items box. There was no electricity, so we read with soldiers’ penlights. This took place in the shadow of statues of Saddam Hussein, who had just disappeared into hiding.

As I told the story at seudah shlishit, I realized that I’d had the adventure of a lifetime; the privilege of a front-row seat to history, but I was ready for a change and hungry to learn. As for Pesach, I didn’t want next year in Baghdad. I wanted next year in Baka.

That was my entry into the Pardes community, as a journalist and story-teller. Rather than students and faculty members judging my rather unorthodox professional path for a “nice Jewish girl,” I felt accepted and appreciated. I wasn’t just-out-of-college. I was closer in age to the teachers than other students, but it all felt perfectly fine…and some teachers became dear friends. Shabbatonim like that one turned Pardes into my second home.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT PARDES?

The Tanach course I did with Rabbi Daniel Roth. After teaching the various sources, he sent us to the beit midrash to look for the “3rd dimension” of the text by writing creative new readings and identifying voices missing from the text to perhaps better understand the dilemmas of ancestral characters. I started writing modern midrashim, taking a classic stories and casting them in a modern setting with contemporary dialogue, etc. It elicited an amazing response, and I suggeeted a Pardes creative writing workshop. Once I was no longer a student, I began teaching it as an elective. We had many public readings at the Tmol Shilshom Literary Cafe and many students published their work. I still feel inspired by Rabbi Roth’s class and his creative approach to textual analysis. He said that by engaging in writing on these texts, we make it a true “Torat Haim.” That really spoke to me.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT IN JERUSALEM?

I love to walk on the tayelet. I think it’s pretty special when the call to prayer sounds, sometimes overlapping with the Shabbat siren or the sounds of shofars blowing and church bells ringing. That blend of holy sounds can be magical!

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR WORK?

Getting my students to write, whether they be college students learning journalism or kids learning creative writing, gives me joy. I’m pretty proud when I see those kids succeed after learning with me. I’m also proud of the book I wrote, Baghdad Fixer, which was an attempt to get readers to better understand the complexities of the Middle East by walking in the shoes of an Iraqi character of mixed Sunni-Shiite heritage.

HOW DOES PARDES CONTINUE TO AFFECT YOU TODAY?

I am very involved in our synagogue. I often serve as a gabbait, and sometimes gabbai sheini. I layn as well, and I’m often asked to teach at our tikkun leil on Shavuot. I love being able to play those roles and I don’t think I’d have these skills were it not for Pardes. Pardes gave me the ability to step up and really be a leader in the community. My time at Pardes also played a key role in the kind of education we have chosen for our children.

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE?

Many of my most treasured friends are people I met at Pardes. Nearly 20 years later, they are still in my life, including some of my teachers. Most importantly, I met the love of my life at Pardes. My husband, Nachshon David Carmi (Year ‘07-’08) formerly Nachshon David Mahanymi) is an incredible human being, spiritual leader, father, counselor, and Jewish educator. He is due to be ordained as Reb Nachshon in the Jewish Renewal Movement in January 2023. He is also currently a cancer patient and we appreciate him being added to Mishebeirach lists. His name is Nachshon David ben Yael veh Yoram.

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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