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Jewish Life

JEWISH INNOVATION FELLOWSHIP

“Because every tradition began as an innovation.”

Mission

Embrace the American Jewish future. Develop creative and innovative thinking skills. Learn from groundbreaking leaders in the Jewish world and social good sector.

92Y’s Jewish Innovation Fellowship offers a select group of Fellows—all current rabbinical students in or near New York City—a free, semester-long curriculum focused on design thinking, innovation and leadership to prepare them for the opportunities of a changing Jewish landscape.

Taking advantage of 92Y’s resources and network, Fellows will learn from and work with professionals across a number of sectors. They will discover how to creatively develop and lead sustainable value and faith-driven programs and organizations. Through this Fellowship, rabbinical students will acquire the skills necessary in a world where past assumptions can no longer be taken for granted, and will become a strengthening and enlivening force in the Jewish world.

This one-of-a-kind program includes three key components:

  1. Monthly workshops or sessions with top industry leaders and Rabbis in New York City. Sessions will include a diverse range of topics that are often not built into the traditional rabbinical curriculum, such as social media, personal and organizational branding, the intersection of technology and religion, fundraising, and design thinking.
  2. Opportunities to shadow and meet one-on-one with leaders in some of the country’s most innovative synagogues and spiritual communities.
  3. Meetings with major innovators at 92Y and the chance to go behind the scenes and learn how 92Y programs are executed.

How to Apply

92Y’s Jewish Innovation Fellowship is open to current rabbinical students in New York City. To be considered for the Fellowship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Currently be enrolled at one of the rabbinical schools in the New York City area, or be willing to commute to New York by car or train for sessions
  • Open to exploring new ideas and perspectives
  • Uncompromising in his/her professional advancement
  • Eager to learn new strategies to succeed
  • Willing to share his/her experiences and insights with the wider community of Fellows
  • Committed to participating in regular Fellowship events, workshops, and activities and to completing the project associated with the Fellowship

**No prior experience is required for this Fellowship. It is our hope that each member of the cohort will bring diverse experiences and knowledge to the group, but a background in innovation or entrepreneurship is not necessary for acceptance.

Applications for the 5780 class are now open! (Deadline for all application is Thursday, August 15)

Apply Now

In the meantime, please feel free to email us with any questions.

Learn more about the 5779 fellows, mentors and curriculum below.

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5779 Fellows

Phoebe Ana Rabinowitsch

Yeshivat Maharat

Phoebe Ana Rabinowitsch is a student at Yeshivat Maharat. She earned her B.A. from American University, …

Phoebe Ana Rabinowitsch

Yeshivat Maharat

Phoebe Ana Rabinowitsch is a student at Yeshivat Maharat. She earned her B.A. from American University, and spent time studying at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and at Middlebury College Language Schools, as well as at Drisha, Hadar and Pardes. She has experience teaching English as a Second Language to adult learners and Hebrew and Judaic studies at various religious schools in New York City. Phoebe Ana is committed to exploring how beliefs and practices can help create supportive, nourishing environments and is interested in building community and further exploring the field of chaplaincy and pastoral education.

David Schwartz

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

David Schwartz is a third-year rabbinical student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (YCT) …

David Schwartz

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

David Schwartz is a third-year rabbinical student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (YCT). Before attending YCT, David worked as an antitrust lawyer, representing major corporations before antitrust authorities in the United States and elsewhere. Upon graduating from YCT, David hopes to help Jewish communities address the challenges that they are facing.

Moshe Kurtz

Yeshiva University - RIETS

Moshe Kurtz is a Rabbinical Student at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) …

Moshe Kurtz

Yeshiva University - RIETS

Moshe Kurtz is a Rabbinical Student at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) and is completing his Master of Science at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. Moshe currently serves as the Rabbinic Intern at the Young Israel of Plainview and is a Talmud Faculty member at Ramaz Upper School. In addition to his passion for Talmudic analysis, Moshe enjoys discussing Lord of the Rings fan theories and listening to the ever-so-tranquil music of Metallica and Iron Maiden.

Jonah Winer

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Jonah Winer was born and raised in Toronto. He felt inspired to pursue the rabbinate while at McGill University, …

Jonah Winer

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Jonah Winer was born and raised in Toronto. He felt inspired to pursue the rabbinate while at McGill University, where he studied religion and served as one of the leaders for the Ghetto Shul, a student-led inclusive orthodox community in downtown Montreal. He hopes to help Jews cultivate their own Torah to share with the world. He lives in Riverdale with his wife, Emily, a student at Yeshivat Maharat.

Emily Goldberg Winer

Yeshivat Maharat

Emily Goldberg Winer is a student at Yeshivat Maharat in Riverdale …

Emily Goldberg Winer

Yeshivat Maharat

Emily Goldberg Winer is a student at Yeshivat Maharat in Riverdale. She moved from Montreal after a year of Bnei Mitzvah teaching and youth programming. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Muhlenberg College, she is passionate about building Jewish communities, leading interfaith dialogue, and creating safe and intentional spaces for the most vulnerable in our neighborhoods and beyond.

Rachel Posner

Academy for Jewish Religion

Rachel Posner, a 2nd year rabbinical student at The Academy for Jewish Religion, …

Rachel Posner

Academy for Jewish Religion

Rachel Posner, a 2nd year rabbinical student at The Academy for Jewish Religion, is a licensed psychologist and a Jewish Spiritual Director. As a cognitive behavioral therapist, Rachel has worked in a variety of settings, including schools, college counseling centers, and hospitals. Currently, she maintains a private practice in White Plains, NY. Rachel is deeply interested in the intersection between spirituality and behaviorism.

Shmuli Novogroder

YCT

Shmuli worked in environmental advocacy and technical support before choosing to pursue a future in rabbinics …

Shmuli Novogroder

YCT

Shmuli worked in environmental advocacy and technical support before choosing to pursue a future in rabbinics. He hopes to cultivate diverse Jewish community that is deeply rooted in tradition and connected to the natural world. Shmuli enjoys hiking, cooking, listening to podcasts, and talking to strangers. He is a proud and active member of the Beis Community in Washington Heights.

Shayna Golkow

JTS

Shayna is a fifth and final year rabbinical student at JTS …

Shayna Golkow

JTS

Shayna is a fifth and final year rabbinical student at JTS. She currently serves as the rabbinic intern at Park Avenue Synagogue. Originally from Cherry Hill, NJ, Shayna enjoys spending her summers at Camp Ramah in the Poconos, creating innovative rituals and prayers, cooking with hot sauce, and baking with chocolate.

Collin “Chaim Eliezer” Davis

JTS

Collin “Chaim Eliezer” Davis has a deep love for Judaism, teaching, and the Great Outdoors …

Collin “Chaim Eliezer” Davis

JTS

Collin “Chaim Eliezer” Davis has a deep love for Judaism, teaching, and the Great Outdoors. Chaim Eliezer developed his love for outdoor adventure as a youth in the Boy Scouts of America and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem before pursuing the rabbinate at JTS. He is dedicated to working with individuals and communities to connect fellow Jews to nature, halacha, Jewish spirituality, and to bringing innovative methods to teaching and learning classic texts.

Dan Slipakoff

HUC

Dan Slipakoff is in his final year of rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. …

Dan Slipakoff

HUC

Dan Slipakoff is in his final year of rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. Dan graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Religious Studies and has since earned a Master of Social Work from Temple University. During his time at HUC-JIR he has served across the spectrum of Jewish life including small congregations, large congregations, Hillels, hospitals, and online communities.

Rena Singer

HUC

Rena Singer is a 4th year rabbinical student from Seattle, WA …

Rena Singer

HUC

Rena Singer is a 4th year rabbinical student from Seattle, WA. She loves Torah, feminism, and pasta. Rena is an intern at Central synagogue and a co-founder of the instagram and community, Modern Ritual.

Samantha Frank

HUC

Samantha Frank is a fifth-year rabbinical student, originally from Silver Spring, MD …

Samantha Frank

HUC

Samantha Frank is a fifth-year rabbinical student, originally from Silver Spring, MD. She graduated from Tufts University in 2011, where she studied community health and French. Past internships include Temple Beth Am (PA), the Slifka Center at Yale University Hillel (CT), and Temple Micah (DC). Samantha is a mikveh guide with ImmerseNYC and co-creator of Modern Ritual, which models passionate, resonant Jewish life, reaching Jews worldwide on Instagram and on the web.

Zevi Lowenberg

JTS

Zevi Lowenberg, a 4th year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary …

Zevi Lowenberg

JTS

Zevi Lowenberg, a 4th year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary and 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, is originally from Baltimore, MD. After completing his BA in Criminology and Political Science at West Virginia University, he moved to NYC to begin rabbinical school and the chaplain candidate program. He has served on active duty tours in the US and overseas, with the ultimate goal of serving a full career as an active duty Air Force chaplain.

5778 Fellows and Mentors