ACHARAI Fellows Program
The goal of the ACHARAI Fellows Program is to empower Jewish leaders to be more informed, thoughtful and effective leaders of their Jewish organizations and community by developing leadership competencies through a Jewish lens.
We hope that our Fellows will lead Baltimore Jewish organizations that play a critical role in a thriving community and develop a clear, shared vision of what success looks like for each one.
ACHARAI Fellows Program Desired Outcomes
1. Confident leaders who can share their struggles, illuminate strengths, and embrace vulnerabilities.
2. Proud members of a kehila kedosha – a sacred community of diverse peers to connect, forge bonds, and learn from one another.
3. Understanding of personal values, aspirations, beliefs, and fears that drive behavior and how they inform leadership style.
4. Self-awareness and social awareness to sensitively address interpersonal and group dynamics.
5. Increased knowledge/comfort with Jewish literacy, text learning, and ability to deliver a D’var Torah.
6. Deep knowledge of the Baltimore Jewish community and its history, and respect the diversity and richness of that community.
7. Insight to articulate his/her Jewish story through exploration of their future as a Jewish leader and potential to be a change agent.
“ACHARAI has completely changed the way I see my leadership, starting with the concept of leader, not a role but a series of behaviors that can be practiced from any chair at the table.”
MELISSA CORDISH, Class V, The Associated
“ACHARAI gives you the opportunity to bounce ideas off each other, share current challenges and offer advice to one another. This experience continues to be both enlightening to me and meaningful support as well.”
AVI GREENLINGER, Class I, Shomrei Emunah Congregation
“The lessons we have learned from our instructors and one another at ACHARAI have impacted my leadership, infiltrated my personal and professional relationships, and transformed my outlook and attitude. I have learned so much from powerful and intense coaching sessions, the thought-provoking and supportive peer groups, and the oral acrobats of giving a D’var Torah and organization presentation.”
LIZ MINKIN FRIEDMAN, Class V, DFI
“Through ACHARAI’s leadership, case study, and peer-to-peer relationship, it has given me the tools and confidence to turn challenges into opportunities and to understand and appreciate the importance of collective thought and dialogue in reaching the organization’s goals.”
FRED HEYMAN, Class V, Capital Camps
“The ACHARAI program has touched Jewish Volunteer Connection (JVC) in so many meaningful ways. Karen M. Singer, past chair of JVC and participant in ACHARAI Cohort VI noted, “I so enjoyed meeting other Jewish leaders who are serving Associated agencies and programs, synagogues and other community initiatives. ACHARAI helped me to quickly form a robust network of committed civic leaders (and new friends) to brainstorm initiatives, communication techniques and best practices—trusted confidants who are traveling similar paths, aspiring to assure that each of their respective organizations are meeting and exceeding their Jewish missions and visions.”
ASHLEY PRESSMAN, Executive Director, Jewish Volunteer Connection (JVC)
“The core premise of Acharai is that Jewish leadership is based on Jewish learning. Learning that begins with a focus on self-growth within the framework of a community mindset. Learning that nurtures participants to explore who they are as they self-craft their leadership story and journey ahead. Learning that is built upon the beauty of our rich heritage; translating ancient texts into modern tools that are both practical and meaningful.”
Ari Israel, ACHARAI Faculty
Immersive Leadership Experience for Top Leaders
IF YOU ARE IN LINE AS A TOP LEADER of a synagogue, Jewish agency, day school or other Jewish organization in our community, the ACHARAI Fellows Program will serve you and your organization well.
FELLOWS COME TOGETHER over a 10-month period for interactive classes to grow their understanding of leadership theory through a Jewish lens.
Every other year, a new cohort begins. Highly qualified leaders are selected (maximum of 22) via a competitive application process. Each applicant needs to submit an application, along with being nominated by their sponsoring organization. The tuition of the Fellows Program is $1,800 – organizations may choose to share the obligation with the nominee. Scholarships are available. For more information contact Beth H. Gansky, Executive Director.
Apply To This Program
ACHARAI Alumni
Class VII
Katie Applefeld, The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
Ken Bell, Har Sinai Congregation
Maureen David, Macks Center for Jewish Education (CJE)
Mindy Dickler, JPride Baltimore
Barbara Fink, Hadassah of Greater Baltimore
Jonathan Fishman, Beth Am Congregation
Ned Himmelrich, ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin Jewish Leadership Institute
Heidi Hoffman, Beth Israel Congregation
Emily Honick, Goucher Hillel
Jennifer Kaplan, Shemesh
David Kramer, Hebrew Free Loan Association
Gary Perolman, Temple Isaiah
Elaine Richman, Bolton Street Synagogue
Jeff Rubin, CHANA
Calla Samuels, Israel Bonds
Larry Seegull, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School
Lee Sheller, Hopkins Hillel
Rachael Simon, Jewish Federation of Howard County
Vicki Spira, Temple Oheb Shalom
Neil Sweren, Beth Tfiloh Congregation
Marty Taylor, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF)
Class VI
Thomas Dudley, UMBC Hillel
Gary Applebaum, Friends of the Israel Defense Force
Sam Dansicker, Har Sinai Congregation
Morris Garten, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Joanne Gold, The Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center
Donna Kasoff, Temple Isaiah – Howard County
Joy Michele Katzenberg, CHANA
Craig Lestner, Towson University Hillel
Beth Millstein, Jewish Federation of Howard County
Dov Ocken, Congregation Shomrei Emunah
Melissa Peters, Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc. (CHAI)
Eli Robbins, JobLink
Terri Rosen, Ohr Chadash Academy
Richard Rosenblatt, Bet Aviv- Howard County
Laury Scharff, The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore-JWGF
Orly Shalem, Jewish National Fund
Karen M. Singer, Jewish Volunteer Connection
Alex Wertenteil, Talmudical Academy
Class V
Larraine Bernstein, UMBC Hillel
Jason Blavatt, Chizuk Amuno Congregation
Nate Braverman, Macks Center for Jewish Education (CJE)
Randi Buergenthal, Beth Israel Congregation
Melissa Cordish, The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
Sally Davis, Goucher College Hillel
Linda S. Elman, Women’s Institute of Torah
Michael Elman, NCSY
Liz Minkin Friedman, The Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center
Larry Gordon, Temple Isaiah
Julie Gottlieb, Beth Am Congregation
Doni Greenwald, JTAP
Fred Heyman, Capital Camps
Esther Jacobson, Levindale Auxiliary Inc.
Stephen Kossman, SHEMESH
Fran Pruce, Beth Tfiloh Congregation
Jeffrey Rosen, Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc. (CHAI)
Erika Schon, ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin Jewish Leadership Institute
Sheila Stern, Hadassah of Greater Baltimore
Helene Waranch, The Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Maryland
Mina Wender, Temple Oheb Shalom
Michael Zeitlin, B’nai Israel Synagogue
Class IV
Harry Baumohl, Beth Israel Congregation
Rob Cahn, Jewish Federation of Howard County
Joseph DeMattos Jr., Har Sinai Congregation
Sheila Derman, The Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Maryland
Ron Eisenberg, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF)
Lara Franks, SHEMESH
Howard Goodman, Hebrew Free Loan Association
Rina Janet, The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
Clara Klein, Israel Bonds
Karen Kurland, Towson University Hillel
Charlene Levine, Columbia Jewish Congregation
P.J. Pearlstone, Pearlstone Center
Isaac Pretter, B’nai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation
Jill Sapperstein, Hadassah of Greater Baltimore
Annette Saxon, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Louis Schwartz, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School
Michael Sontag, Jewish Recovery Houses
Todd Tilson, Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc. (CHAI)
Andrew Wohlberg, Jews for Judaism
Class III
Phil Abraham, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Sheryl Cooper, Towson University Hillel
Yaakov Feinstein, Bikur Cholim
Susan Gewirtz, Kol Halev Synagogue
Ellen Gillette, UMBC Hillel
Ronald Ginsberg, Temple Oheb Shalom
Beth Goldsmith, The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
Jen Grossman, Jewish Volunteer Connection
Pearl D. Laufer, Jewish Federation of Howard County
Josh Mauer, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
Harriet L. Meier, The Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Maryland Greater Baltimore
William Minkin, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Anne Neuberger, Sister to Sister
Stewart Sachs, Har Sinai Congregation
Meyer Shields, Yeshivat Rambam
Patti Taylor, Columbia Jewish Congregation
Cindi Topolski, Temple Emanuel
Class II
Leland Aiken, Temple Oheb Shalom
Ted Busch, The Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center
Paul Cooper, Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc. (CHAI)
Mitch Gold, Baltimore Zionist District
Ricky Gratz, Chizuk Amuno Congregation
Debra Hettleman, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School
Jonathan Lasson, Congregation Shomrei Emunah
Michele Lax, Pearlstone Center
Marc Lichtenberg, Jewish Recovery Houses
David Liebman, Jewish Museum of Maryland
Shelly Malis, Jewish Volunteer Connection
Moshe Roth, Yeshivat Rambam
Sanford “Sandy” Shapiro, The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
Ellen Taylor, The Shoshana S. Cardin School
Martha Weiman, Baltimore Jewish Council
Lynda Weinstein, The Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Maryland
Stanley Weintraub, Beth Tfiloh Congregation
Ellen Kahan Zager, American Jewish Committee Baltimore Chapter
Class I
Aimee Adashek, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Day School
Sandy Bernheim, Beth Israel Congregation
Susan Dubin, Temple Emanuel
Gary B. Eidelman, Beth Tfiloh Congregation
Denise Franz, Beth El Congregation
Alyson Friedman, The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
Avi Greenlinger, Congregation Shomrei Emunah
Edward J. Gutman, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Linda A. Hurwitz, Macks Center for Jewish Education (CJE)
Caren Lichter, Jewish Volunteer Connection
Allison Magat, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School
Aaron Max, Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc. (CHAI)
Howard Miller, Congregation Beth Shalom
Jodi Moskowitz, Hadassah of Greater Baltimore
Elissa Ness, The Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Maryland
Eric Nislow, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Pamela Platt, Hillel of Greater Baltimore
Nancy Kohn Rabin, Jewish Community Services
Herb Sweren, Jewish Big Brother/Big Sister League
William Yerman, Israel Bonds
