The Legacy of ACHARAI: Preparing and Guiding Organization Presidents

Continuing the legacy of ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin Jewish Leadership Institute, Na’aleh’s ACHARAI Fellows Program prepares and guides “rising” Presidents and Chairs to lead our communal institutions and work together to build a vibrant and vital community.

The 10th cohort of this premiere lay leadership development program – to begin in September 2024 – is open to those assuming the role this July (2024), July 2025, or July 2026. 

The ACHARAI Fellows Program empowers Jewish leaders to be more informed, thoughtful, and effective leaders of their Jewish organizations (and community) by developing leadership competencies through a Jewish lens. ACHARAI supports Fellows in leading Baltimore Jewish organizations – that play a critical role in building a thriving community – and helps them develop a clear, shared vision of what success looks like for each one.

For ten months, approximately 20 Fellows learn leadership theory, discover inspiring Jewish texts, participate in transformative leadership coaching, network with top leaders in our Jewish community, and discuss the diverse challenges of today’s Jewish leaders. Fellows hone their leadership skills and develop a cohort of supportive colleagues as they take on leadership of our community’s organizations.

Joel Fink, who became President of Jewish Community Services this past July (just months after completing the program), reflected that “the nice thing about participating in the ACHARAI Fellows Program before becoming President was the ability to plan…I got to think about what my goals are and what I want to get out of this leadership experience – both visioning it and, then, speaking it out loud.”

“It really helped me think about the role of being President. It’s different when the spotlight is on you. At the end of the day, you are the public face of this organization and being a part of this program prepared me for the weight of that responsibility,” said Fink.  

Now that he is in the top leadership seat, Joel participates in Na’aleh’s Presidents’ Circle for Agency/Organization leadership. 10 current Presidents and Chairs meet monthly and receive the ongoing support and the wisdom of the group, as they navigate the opportunities – and inevitable challenges – of Jewish nonprofit Board leadership. 

To find out more about the ACHARAI Fellows Program or Presidents’ Circles, feel free to reach out to Andrea Hender at ahendler@naalehbaltimore.org.