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Jewish Innovation Fellowship

Mission

Explore the complexity of the American Jewish world in the 21st Century with an eye toward developing creative thinking and leadership in future rabbinic leaders.

92Y’s Jewish Innovation Fellowship will offer a select group of Fellows — all current rabbinical students in New York City — a free semester-long curriculum focused on design thinking, innovation, and leadership to prepare them for the challenges of a changing Jewish landscape. Fellows will learn from a diverse range of speakers and community leaders — from within and outside the rabbinate — to foster their ability to engage communities in innovative and compelling ways. Taking advantage of 92Y’s resources and network, students will learn from and work with professionals across a number of sectors. They will discover how they can successfully think creatively to develop and lead sustainable value and faith-driven programs and organizations. Through this Fellowship, students will acquire the skills necessary in a world where past assumptions can no longer be taken for granted; fellows will be a strengthening and enlivening force in the Jewish world.

This one-of-a-kind program will include 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. Exclusive mentorship with leaders from some of the country’s most innovative synagogues who will provide one-on-one advice, guidance and support.
  3. A group project that Fellows will work on throughout the duration of the Fellowship. Fellows are expected to incorporate learnings from workshops and programs and will be asked to present their projects at the end of the year.

Fellows

Sam Blustin

JTS - 3rd Year

Sam Blustin is a third year Rabbinical Student at the Jewish Theological Seminary …

Sam Blustin

JTS - 3rd Year

Sam Blustin is a third year Rabbinical Student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. His rabbinic passions include young adult and family education, focusing on empowering home observance, as well as creating meaningful, musical, egalitarian prayer communities. He is also a songleader, both in the camping and synagogue worlds. Sam was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN.

Kyle Savitch

YCT 2021

Kyle Savitch is a first year student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester …

Kyle Savitch

YCT 2021

Kyle Savitch is a first year student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester where he majored in Judaism in America and minored in Chemical Engineering. He currently lives in New York City but has called Florida, North Carolina and Delaware home at different points. While not studying, he enjoys hiking, especially in Israel where he tries to travel once per year.

Jonathan L. Posner

The Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Jonathan Posner hails from Chicago, and is in the middle of his rabbinical training at The Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan …

Jonathan L. Posner

The Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Jonathan Posner hails from Chicago, and is in the middle of his rabbinical training at The Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan. He is the founder of Wandering Foods Productions, a culinary events company dedicated to breathing youth and life back into Jewish cuisine. His work primarily focuses on bridging his love for Jewish text and tradition with cooking so as to open more doors and create more avenues into Jewish life.

Sam Yolen

Academy for Jewish Religion, Senior, Ordination Spring 2018

Sam Yolen is a senior rabbinical student at the Academy for Jewish Religion …

Sam Yolen

Academy for Jewish Religion, Senior, Ordination Spring 2018

Sam Yolen is a senior rabbinical student at the Academy for Jewish Religion. He is dedicated to repairing the generation gap, making music and the art of storytelling. He counts his blessings every day and sometimes makes it to 100!

Elli Cohn

JTS year 5 (ordination May 2018)

Elli Cohn is a 5th year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary …

Elli Cohn

JTS year 5 (ordination May 2018)

Elli Cohn is a 5th year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary where she is also earning a Master's degree in Talmud and rabbinics. She deeply believes in the transformative power of Jewish texts to facilitate profound connections with Judaism and its traditions. In her free time, Elli enjoys drinking coffee, cooking and going for long walks.

Elyssa Cherney

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College expected graduate 2018

Elyssa Cherney is a rabbinical student studying at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College …

Elyssa Cherney

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College expected graduate 2018

Elyssa Cherney is a rabbinical student studying at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She has previously served Jewish communities at several synagogues and Jewish organizations in PA, NYC and MA including working for LGBTQA Jewish communities in MA and NYC. Elyssa is a graduate of Brandeis University. She is currently thinking deeply about marking time through rituals big, small, and in new ways and has created the website tacklingtorah.com to help others connect with Jewish texts and note holiness at transitional moments in their lives. She is grateful to be supported in doing this work by her husband Alan, daughter Ava and pup Scout.

Preston "Pesach" Neimeiser

HUC-JIR, 5th year

Preston Neimeiser, from Tallahassee, Florida, is a second year Rabbinical student student at HUC-JIR in New York, New York …

Preston "Pesach" Neimeiser

HUC-JIR, 5th year

Preston Neimeiser, from Tallahassee, Florida, is a second year Rabbinical student student at HUC-JIR in New York, New York. In addition to his studies he serves as a teacher and youth advisor at synagogues in Manhattan and Long Island. He is dedicated to the pursuit of justice, knowledge, and acts of loving-kindness.

Elizabeth Shayne

Yeshivat Maharat, Year 1

Elizabeth Shayne is a first year student at Yeshivat Maharat with a strong academic background in …

Elizabeth Shayne

Yeshivat Maharat, Year 1

Elizabeth Shayne is a first year student at Yeshivat Maharat with a strong academic background in the interplay between technology, reading and learning. Liz received her undergraduate degrees in English and Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and her Doctorate in English from the University of California Santa Barbara. She has lectured and presented on topics as diverse as science fiction, networks of Jewish literature and e-readers. She views her studies at Yeshivat Maharat as a way to combine her doctoral work with her passion for Jewish education.

Thalia Halpert Rodis

HUC-JIR 3rd year

Thalia Halpert Rodis is a third year rabbinic & education student at HUC-JIR …

Thalia Halpert Rodis

HUC-JIR 3rd year

Thalia Halpert Rodis is a third year rabbinic & education student at HUC-JIR. She is the community organizing rabbinic intern at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn and at the Religious Action Center in NY. Thalia is passionate about bringing people together to create holy communities that effect positive change. Thalia was a ’15-’16 Shalom Hartman Institute Rabbinical Fellow, an intern on the American Values Religious Voices campaign, and is proud to serve on the board of Jews in ALL Hues

Tobias Divack Moss

HUC-JIR, 4th year

Tobias Divack Moss is a fourth-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion …

Tobias Divack Moss

HUC-JIR, 4th year

Tobias Divack Moss is a fourth-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, and later graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in economics and history. After graduating, Tobias worked in business analytics in Thailand and New York, and studied at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. During rabbinical school he has worked as a chaplain intern at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and rabbinic intern at the North Fork Reform Synagogue. He currently manages his social media enterprise Rabbi T, and serves as rabbinic fellow at B’nai Jeshurun of NYC.

Daniel Kertzner

Academy for Jewish Religion - 1st year

Daniel, a first year rabbinical student at the Academy for Jewish Religion, has an extensive background in philanthropy and the arts …

Daniel Kertzner

Academy for Jewish Religion - 1st year

Daniel, a first year rabbinical student at the Academy for Jewish Religion, has an extensive background in philanthropy and the arts. Tikkun olam has been central to his work and his practice of Judaism. Daniel serves as the spiritual leader of the United Brothers' synagogue in Bristol, RI. Using his background in storytelling and passion for singing, he strives to reinforce the synagogue’s communal connections and make our ancient traditions and teachings relevant for people’s day-to-day lives.

Nicole Berne

HUC-JIR, 5th

Nicole Berne is in her final year of rabbinical school at HUC-JIR …

Nicole Berne

HUC-JIR, 5th

Nicole Berne is in her final year of rabbinical school at HUC-JIR. She is currently the rabbinical intern at Central Synagogue. She has a BA from Indiana University in English and history and an MA in Jewish Education from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education, HUC-JIR. She is excited to be participating in the inaugural cohort of fellows!

Steven Goldstein

Academy for Jewish Religion, first year

Steven Goldstein is a civil rights lawyer and professor who led the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect and Garden State Equality …

Steven Goldstein

Academy for Jewish Religion, first year

Steven Goldstein is a civil rights lawyer and professor who led the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect and Garden State Equality. A former staffer in the U.S. House and Senate and former television news producer, he is the subject of two motion pictures and a first year student at Academy for Jewish Religion.

Mentors

  • Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann, Mishkan Chicago (Chicago, IL)
  • Rabbi Dan Horwitz, The Well (Detroit, MI)
  • Rabbi Scott Perlo, Sixth & I (Washington D.C.)
  • Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Central Synagogue (New York, NY)
  • Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, Valley Beit Midrash (Scottsdale, AZ)
  • Rabbi Elan Babchuck, CLAL (New York, NY)
  • Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, Ohev Sholom - The National Synagogue (Washington, D.C.)
  • Rabbi Steven Leder, Wilshire Boulevard Temple (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Maharat Rachel Kohl Finegold, Congregation Shaar Hashomayim (Montreal)
  • Rabbi Peter Berg, The Temple (Atlanta, GA)
  • Rabbi Sara Luria, Beloved (Brooklyn, NY)
  • Rabbi Billy Dreskin, Woodlands Community Temple (White Plains, NY)
  • Rabbi David Ingber, Romemu (New York, NY)

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
  • 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 are open until November 17. Sessions will begin in January 2018.

Apply now