Meet CJP's 2012
PresenTense Boston Fellows!
Adina Davies
All Aboard
For six years Adina developed and delivered a wide variety of programming to Jewish communities in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Israel. She holds an MA in Jewish Communal Service from Gratz College and has served as the Program Director at the Union for Reform Judaism and the Director of Network Activities at InterfaithFamily.com. Her goal is to share the depth of Jewish experience with those exploring the complexities of faith, family and interfaith relationships.
In Boston about 44 percent of all marriages involving a Jewish adult are intermarriages, yet nationally about one-tenth of one percent of Jewish community funding goes to outreach programs to support interfaith couples. My venture offers a unique avenue for interfaith couples in their 20s and 30s to connect to Judaism and Israel. This experience is designed to solidify Jewish relationships by strengthening the community of interfaith couples choosing Judaism.
In Boston about 44 percent of all marriages involving a Jewish adult are intermarriages, yet nationally about one-tenth of one percent of Jewish community funding goes to outreach programs to support interfaith couples. My venture offers a unique avenue for interfaith couples in their 20s and 30s to connect to Judaism and Israel. This experience is designed to solidify Jewish relationships by strengthening the community of interfaith couples choosing Judaism.
Alma Gadot-Perez
Working Insight
Gadot-Perez, a “super-trailing spouse,” lived in Montreal, Belgium, LA and Boston over the past 5 years. She joined the Milken Institute where she uses her vast experience in public policy, project management, international team building, teaching, research and strategic planning skills as the Israel Center’s Director. Gadot-Perez earned her master's in public policy from the excellence program at the Federmann School of Public Policy and Government at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Working Insight is a support system for highly skilled Israelis who followed their partners to the Boston area. We provide Israeli “trailing spouses,” who are mostly women, with tools for learning, adjusting, and career-building within the American job market. Working Insight is a launching pad for Israeli talent and human capital development, helping people reach economic security, connect and contribute to their new community, and gain valuable international experience. Visit us at: www.workinginsight.org
Working Insight is a support system for highly skilled Israelis who followed their partners to the Boston area. We provide Israeli “trailing spouses,” who are mostly women, with tools for learning, adjusting, and career-building within the American job market. Working Insight is a launching pad for Israeli talent and human capital development, helping people reach economic security, connect and contribute to their new community, and gain valuable international experience. Visit us at: www.workinginsight.org
Lila Kagedan
Sulam
Lila is a consultant, practitioner and educator in ethics, Jewish studies, religion and education and is an educator and curriculum writer as well as an ethicist and consultant for NGOs and academic institutions. She has lectured extensively and has taught students of all ages in formal and non-formal settings. Lila studies at Harvard University, Yeshivat Maharat and is studying for private Orthodox ordination. Lila holds degrees from University of Toronto and Harvard University.
Sulam is a new model of K-5th Jewish education, which partners with community resources to provide a high quality experience at an affordable cost. By utilizing the strength of Brookline’s public schools, families can focus resources on an intensive, rigorous Jewish education of day-school caliber in a fun, and nurturing after-school setting. The program aims to prepare its graduates with the knowledge, and cultural comfort to succeed in 6th grade in Jewish day school.
Sulam is a new model of K-5th Jewish education, which partners with community resources to provide a high quality experience at an affordable cost. By utilizing the strength of Brookline’s public schools, families can focus resources on an intensive, rigorous Jewish education of day-school caliber in a fun, and nurturing after-school setting. The program aims to prepare its graduates with the knowledge, and cultural comfort to succeed in 6th grade in Jewish day school.
Matti Kovler
Jewish Music Theater Initiative
Matti Kovler is an Israeli composer whose music has been praised for its “emotive potency” (New York Times), and described as “part mystical, part comical” (Grade A Entrepreneurs). Recent projects included commissions from Carnegie Hall and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Presently, Matti lives in Boston, studying at the New England Conservatory and teaching at the Northeastern University. His recent works aim to bring young audiences to experience contemporary expressions of Jewish music and theater.
The creation of an independent Jewish music theater company, which will trigger educational programming within other institutions in Boston. Throughout the year a series of lectures/presentations at the partnering institutions will take place in parallel with the work of a creative team, culminating in an annual music theater project. The idea is to focus on a single topic from the broad Jewish Cultural narrative, addressing it from the artistic and the educational perspectives.
The creation of an independent Jewish music theater company, which will trigger educational programming within other institutions in Boston. Throughout the year a series of lectures/presentations at the partnering institutions will take place in parallel with the work of a creative team, culminating in an annual music theater project. The idea is to focus on a single topic from the broad Jewish Cultural narrative, addressing it from the artistic and the educational perspectives.
Meggan Levene
GVNGTogether
Meggan Levene is the Senior Manager of Business Development for City Year, where she builds innovative partnerships between the private and voluntary sectors. Meggan is a member of Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ Commission for Caring and Social Justice and Young Leadership Board, a co-founder of Gin & Jews--Boston’s biggest monthly "Jewish" bar night and a past participant of the ROI Summit. She’s passionate about philanthropy, big ideas and Russ & Daughters’ raspberry rugelach.
GVNGTogether develops the next generation of Jewish philanthropists by involving them directly in charitable giving. Members of GVNGTogether pool their dollars, decide where to donate their collective contributions, and learn about philanthropy together.
GVNGTogether develops the next generation of Jewish philanthropists by involving them directly in charitable giving. Members of GVNGTogether pool their dollars, decide where to donate their collective contributions, and learn about philanthropy together.
David Micley
Cousins of Faith Screening Series
David Micley is starting his first year as the Director of Recruitment and Admissions at Prozdor. He recently graduated from Emory University with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture. After spending much of the past five years traveling throughout Africa, Europe, and Israel, David, a Newton native, is excited to return to his hometown and work in the Jewish community.
I want to improve understanding and increase cooperation between Muslims and Jews in Greater Boston through organizing screenings of a documentary I produced called Cousins of Faith. Cousins of Faith is a film that juxtaposes the lives of a religious Jew and a religious Muslim living in America, revealing similarities through exploring how identity, family, and religion play out in the American context. The film will serve as a springboard for relationship building discussion.
I want to improve understanding and increase cooperation between Muslims and Jews in Greater Boston through organizing screenings of a documentary I produced called Cousins of Faith. Cousins of Faith is a film that juxtaposes the lives of a religious Jew and a religious Muslim living in America, revealing similarities through exploring how identity, family, and religion play out in the American context. The film will serve as a springboard for relationship building discussion.
Ben Vainer
Good Question Ink
As a native to the Boston area, Ben Vainer is loving being back in the city after spending four years traveling, learning and adventuring around the country. These four years helped inspire his venture. Ben graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a self designed major, Social Change and Community Engagement.
Good Question Ink celebrates questions and their importance in the world by placing them on a canvas seen everyday...the t-shirt. Questions have, and always will be, the foundation of change. Every shirt we sell challenges people to think differently, talk openly all while raising funds for share in our belief in individuals and their potential to make a positive difference in the world.
Good Question Ink celebrates questions and their importance in the world by placing them on a canvas seen everyday...the t-shirt. Questions have, and always will be, the foundation of change. Every shirt we sell challenges people to think differently, talk openly all while raising funds for share in our belief in individuals and their potential to make a positive difference in the world.
Georgi Vogel Rosen
Jewish-Muslim Interfaith Network
Georgi Vogel Rosen has been volunteering on issues related to civil rights advocacy, improving Jewish-Muslim relations, and supporting survivors of war and genocide for years. She recently was appointed to the Town of Brookline’s Human Relations-Youth Resources Commission. Georgi received her undergraduate degree from Smith College and her Master’s from George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management. She is the Assistant Director of Evaluation at a local non-profit serving severely at-risk children and families.
The Jewish-Muslim Interfaith Network (JMIN) will connect Jews and Muslims working to counter Islamophobia and anti-Semitism respectively in their communities, as well as those interested in interfaith work. JMIN will assist in regional, national and worldwide rapid response efforts and provide a clearinghouse of information for interfaith activists and organizations around the world. Its website will include a searchable database of interfaith organizations, member-written articles on best practices, and calendars of events.
The Jewish-Muslim Interfaith Network (JMIN) will connect Jews and Muslims working to counter Islamophobia and anti-Semitism respectively in their communities, as well as those interested in interfaith work. JMIN will assist in regional, national and worldwide rapid response efforts and provide a clearinghouse of information for interfaith activists and organizations around the world. Its website will include a searchable database of interfaith organizations, member-written articles on best practices, and calendars of events.
Jill Yanofsky
Smile and Dial
As a sales professional and volunteer fundraiser, Jill Yanofsky has developed cold-calling skills and techniques which have proven to be invaluable in growing businesses and raising funds for non-profits. She has perfected and utilized these skills as a professional financial adviser, financial services recruiter, and business development representative at high technology companies. Through networking, she has learned that cold-calling is a highly desired skill that both businesses and professionals ask her for expert advice on.
Non-profits, start-ups and small businesses all need professionals with basic cold-calling skills. “Smile and Dial” will teach the next generation, unemployed, and professionals in their fifties how to cold-call to help businesses increase pipeline and grow revenue, and non-profits fund-raise, through a series of lessons that teach cold-calling and basic sales skills. There will also be a networking piece which will connect participants to businesses and non-profits that need professionals with “Smile and Dial” skills.
Non-profits, start-ups and small businesses all need professionals with basic cold-calling skills. “Smile and Dial” will teach the next generation, unemployed, and professionals in their fifties how to cold-call to help businesses increase pipeline and grow revenue, and non-profits fund-raise, through a series of lessons that teach cold-calling and basic sales skills. There will also be a networking piece which will connect participants to businesses and non-profits that need professionals with “Smile and Dial” skills.
