Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Dalton Room

Russ Sabia For all the talk about the importance of teamwork by leaders, it is largely untapped and unrealized in most organizations. Many organizations - filled with talented, committed people - struggle to fulfill their full promise and find themselves bogged down by excessive interpersonal politics and confusion about what is really important. As a […]

Prepping for Placement: What to do Before You Go into Placement

Jefferson Room

Alan Henkin In this informal session we will talk about the preparatory steps rabbis can take before they enter placement. We will take up rabbinic resume writing, as well as crafting a personal statement. We will discuss interviewing techniques, especially internet video-conferencing techniques, and we will review the kinds of questions search committees typically ask, […]

Consensus Decision-Making: Pursuing Peace in Our Leadership & Governance

Berkeley Room

Larry Dressler and Sam Joseph As leaders, tired of the meeting after the meeting in the parking lot? Frustrated by the ‘after-meeting’ in the hallway? The primary goal of the session is how to use consensus decision-making, a cooperative, non-coercive form of decision-making in the setting of Jewish institutions and organizations. This session with be […]

Rabbinic Fundraising Success: Strategies, Tactics and Practice

Beacon D Room

David Altshuler and Steven Fox Setting goals and timetables, understanding philanthropic pyramids, making the case for support, prospect research, choreographing engagement and teamwork--a discussion of some issues and theories, as well as hands-on, "tachlitic" exercises.

The Yom Kippur Afternoon Experience: More Than Waiting to Eat

Hampton Room

Leon Morris and Eddie Goldberg with Janet Marder, Shelly Marder, Elaine Zecher and Peter Berg Through the years, many congregations have taken the opportunity to use creative endeavors at this point in the day, such as healing services, poetry readings, and musical interludes. Other congregations have chosen to harken back to the Avodah service, which […]

Ahad Ha’Am and the Reform Movement: On the Prospects for Modern Judaism (Taught in Hebrew)

Gardner Room

Michael Marmur In this session, to be taught in Hebrew, we will consider some aspects of Ahad Ha'am's complex relationship with Reform Judaism, focusing in particular on a fascinating and little-known exchange between the father of cultural Zionism, Ahad Ha'am (Asher Ginsberg, 1856-1927) and David Neumark (1866-1924), a professor of philosophy at the Hebrew Union […]

Beyond Laughter Through Tears: The Spiritual Power of Jewish Humor

Fairfax Room

Moshe Waldoks Study with Moshe Waldoks, one of Boston’s acclaimed rabbinic leaders and the co-editor of the Big Book of Jewish Humor. The session will examine the uses of Jewish humor to open both the heart and the mind to advance Spiritual growth.

Judaism Confronting Science

Clarendon Room

Dr. Phil Cohen. Dr. Jonathan Crane, Geoffery Mitelman For centuries Judaism understood science to be a partner. Jewish thinkers did not see a contradiction between science and Torah. It is Norbert Samuelson’s contention in his book Jewish Faith and Modern Science that, for various historical and philosophical reasons, that synthesis has been left behind. He […]