Interview with Jillian Manko: Bringing Relationship-Based Engagement to Synagogue Communities

Jillian Manko, the Director of Engagement at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, is participating in the new NYU Certificate Program in Relationship-Based Community Building. In this interview, she shares why this cohort experience is meaningful to her, the skills she hopes to develop, and how she plans to bring these insights to strengthen Baltimore Hebrew Congregation while enhancing her own leadership journey.
Why I Chose to Be Part of This Cohort
Being part of this cohort has been an incredible opportunity to grow and learn alongside other professionals. There’s always something powerful about sharing a learning space with others who bring diverse perspectives and experiences. It’s exciting to have an entire course focused on relationship-based engagement methodology resonated with me because it aligns perfectly with my work and the areas I aim to develop further.
How I Want My Learning to Impact Baltimore Hebrew
At Baltimore Hebrew, I envision my learning contributing to a culture where staff and congregants build deep, meaningful relationships. My goal is to help our team foster connections that go beyond the surface, so people feel genuinely included and seen. This practice of relationship-building has the potential to infuse everything we do, creating a stronger sense of belonging and community. Ultimately, this approach will not only grow our congregation in numbers but also deepen the connections and sense of purpose among our members.
My Growth as a Professional Leader
This experience has already started shaping my leadership style. I’ve begun incorporating user design principles into my programs and working closely with our communications team to improve targeted and personalized messaging. From our workshops, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the importance of making people feel seen and understood. By speaking their language and addressing their unique needs, we can create more accessible and welcoming pathways into the synagogue. This learning has reinforced my commitment to building an inclusive, relationship-centered community.
Goals for My Capstone Project
Through my Capstone Project, I hope to create opportunities for parents of young children to deepen their connections to each other and to their Judaism. I also aim to establish smaller, more intimate communities within our larger congregation, ensuring everyone feels cared for and valued. These efforts will help individuals find their place within our synagogue while exploring new ways to express and celebrate their Jewish identities.
How the Seven Practices Relate to My Work
Na’aleh’s seven core practices are deeply intertwined with this cohort.
Manhigut: Practice Leadership with your whole self
This program encourages me to bring my whole self to the table, which is natural for me because I’m passionate about engagement and understanding people. When I discovered that building meaningful relationships could be a career, it felt like finding my true calling.
K’dushah: Align yourself and others to sacred purpose
This is sacred work. In a time when so many people are craving connection, my role in fostering relationships and community feels more critical than ever.
Yotzer: Co-design creative solutions to respond to shared challenges
Learning about user design and finding creative ways to incorporate sensory experiences into my programs has been transformative. These tools have allowed me to connect deeply with my work and bring fresh, innovative ideas to life, ensuring that the programs and experiences I create resonate with and uplift our community.
Hit’orerut: Awaken yourself and others to the complex and evolving systems in which you are embedded
I’m awakened not by how many people are participating in programs but by people’s passions and desire to build community with each other.
Chavruta: Nurture relationships of mutual respect, constructive self-reflection and shared discovery
Working alongside fellow Jewish professionals and sharing experiences that allow us to support and learn from one another has made this cohort deeply meaningful and has created a community within our large group of Baltimore Jewish Professionals.