Celebrating Rachel Barenbaum and Adam Kleinbaum

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 RACHEL AND ADAM

This week, we are celebrating a couple who attended Pardes together, Rachel Barenbaum and Adam Kleinbaum!

Rachel Barenbaum is a critically acclaimed and award-winning writer based in Boston. Her novels include A BEND IN THE STARS and ATOMIC ANNA. They focus on Jewish characters navigating immigration, language, and assimilation among other themes.

Learn more about Rachel and her writing here.

Adam Kleinbaum is a professor at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, where he teaches leadership and organizational behavior.

 

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT PARDES?

Rachel: My favorite class wasn’t really a class. It was the trips we took with Meir, and I loved them because he taught me to truly see the layers that make Israel the incredible place it is. They are messy layers but they are also beautiful and his passion for them truly inspires me.

Adam: Through my Talmud class with Aryeh Ben David, I went from seeing the Talmud as something magical that was not accessible to me to seeing it as magical and accessible.

CAN YOU SHARE A PARDES MEMORY?

Rachel: In 1998, I was part of a class discussion on the moment Eve offered Adam the apple. The teacher asked something approximating: “Why do so many people think it was bad to leave Eden?” As a class we then talked through how to think about and reframe the story, to think of it as the best thing that ever happened; that Eve was the one who had the courage to recognize that she and Adam needed to grow up and change. She was the leader. Adam needed help. The moment I heard that, my understanding of Torah, of text, and of religion changed.

Adam: The Pardes tiyyulim were a huge highlight for me. Meir Schweiger was an amazing madrich.

He showed us incredible things, and, most of all, his love for the land of Israel.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU DID FOR THE FIRST TIME AT PARDES?

Rachel:  The first time I studied Jewish text was at Pardes.

Adam: Serious havruta learning.

WHAT DOES THE JEWISH WORLD NEED MOST RIGHT NOW?

Rachel: Jewish communities need to be discussing the rise of anti-Semitism and what that means for our children, our futures, and for Israel.

Adam: Pluralism. And not only the Jewish world needs it!

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SHABBAT GUEST, WHO WOULD IT BE?

Rachel: Hannah Arendt, Gertrude Stein, and Gloria Steinem.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR WORK?

Adam: Through a travel course that I pioneered, I’ve brought nearly 200 MBA students from all over the world to visit Israel for the first time. They’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly (including the massive pro-democracy / anti-government protests during our last visit in March,) but invariably came away seeing Israel as more than the headlines they were familiar with in the international newspapers.

HOW DOES PARDES CONTINUE TO AFFECT YOU TODAY?

Rachel: My year at Pardes really taught me to love big, loud Shabbat dinners and they have become my favorite part of the week.

Adam: My time at Pardes helped me figure out how to incorporate Shabbat observance into my life in a serious, meaningful way. I think about that and appreciate it literally every week.

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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