One objective of this study addresses opportunities for connection, as connection is central to combatting asocial society and promoting belonging. This includes knowledge mobilization through a series of promising practices papers to inform policy and practice.
Creating Communities of Collective Care: The Well Circle Model by At The Well
http://www.atthewellproject.com
Presented by Samia Mansour, Program Director, At the Well
Samia is passionate about building sustainable communities and uplifting the voices and experiences of those who have been historically and systemically underrepresented. She has spent over a decade working in the Jewish professional world advocating for intentional and thoughtful representation of diverse Jewish identities and experiences. Before At The Well, Samia worked as the Community Development Strategist for jHUB Cleveland, an organization whose mission is to support interfaith couples and families in exploring Jewish customs and values. Prior to that, Samia worked at Oberlin College Hillel. Samia earned a B.A. in Religion with a concentration in Islam from Oberlin College and a Master’s in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University. In her free time, Samia enjoys traveling to new places, reading, going on runs through Cleveland’s many parks, and playing her ukulele.
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18Doors’ Promising Practices for Responses to the Loneliness of Interfaith Couples and Families in the Jewish Community
Rabbi Robyn Frisch, Director of the 18Doors Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship
Presented by Rabbi Robyn Frisch, Director of the Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship, 18Doors
As Director of the Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship, Rabbi Frisch is proud to work with a select group of rabbis throughout the US and Canada who provide programs, workshops and other services for interfaith couples and families within their communities. Rabbi Frisch believes strongly that diversity and inclusion are good for the Jewish people and she is committed to helping individuals, couples and families of all kinds to feel comfortable doing Jewish and engaging with the Jewish community. Rabbi Frisch is married to Rabbi Seth Frisch, with whom she has three children: Benji, Noah and Tali. She enjoys taking her dog Bo for walks and traveling with her family.
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Jewish Responses to the Loneliness Epidemic
Hillel International Promising Practice
Jewish Responses to the Loneliness Epidemic
Hillel International Promising Practice – Appendix
Presented by Leah Siskin Moz, MSW, Senior Director, Wellness at Hillel International
Leah Siskin Moz is a nonprofit professional with expertise in scaling positive youth development initiatives, evaluation, training design, small & large group facilitation, grant writing and grant management. Passionate about empowering youth to develop their strengths, talents and confidence to become the leaders their peers need today and we need in the future.
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Gather Groups as a Response to the Loneliness Epidemic
Rabbi Shena Potter Jaffee, Rockwern Academy
Presented by Rabbi Shena Potter Jaffee, Jewish Life & Learning Consultant, Rockwern Academy
Rabbi Shena Potter Jaffee is Rockwern Academy’s Jewish Life & Learning Consultant. She also serves as the Rabbi of Temple B’nai Israel in Monroe, Michigan. Before joining the staff of Rockwern, Rabbi Jaffee served as Rockdale Temple’s Rabbi in Residence and as the Director of Jewish Life at the Mayerson JCC. During the past several years, she piloted and created a number of educational, community building, and social justice projects that helped people of all backgrounds connect to Judaism.
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Promising Practices
Joyous Justice, LLC
Presented by April N. Baskin, Founder & CEO, Joyous Justice, and Tracie Guy-Decker, Senior Partner, Joyous Justice
April N. Baskin is an award-winning Black & Cherokee Jewish woman who has been a dedicated organizer and movement leader within the Jewish community for nearly 20 years. She’s helped shift institutions toward more equitable outcomes within and outside of the Jewish world and is a faithful advocate of building just, diverse, and inclusive spaces that cultivate belonging and empowerment.
Tracie Guy-Decker is a writer and consultant based in Baltimore, Maryland. Until November 2020, she was the Deputy Director at the Jewish Museum of Maryland (JMM). In that role, she oversaw all of the operations for a museum that aims to be a convener and connector for all of its communities: the Jewish community, the city of Baltimore, and the national Museum community. She is a leader for Jewish social justice efforts in her roles as chair of the social justice committee at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation and as co-chair of the Baltimore leadership council of Jews United for Justice.
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Addressing Loneliness in Synagogue Life
Rabbi Marc Katz
Presented by Rabbi Marc Katz, Temple Ner Tamid
Rabbi Marc Katz came to Temple Ner Tamid in 2018. Since coming he has concentrated on a host of initiatives including expanding the Israel discourse, enriching adult education, engaging empty nesters, re-imagining parent engagement in Religious School, pursing social justice, and opening up spiritual avenues during prayer. This is all in addition to his regular clergy duties (leading services, conducting funerals, visiting sick congregants, officiating at weddings, and working with b’nei mitzvah students).
Rabbi Katz is the author of the book, The Heart of Loneliness: How Jewish Wisdom Can Help You Cope and Find Comfort (Jewish lights), which was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award.
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Colloquium on Judaism and Loneliness
OneTable Promising Practices
Presented by Julia Logan Labow, Director, Research & Field Operations, OneTable
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Combating@Loneli.ness
Lex Rofeberg, Senior Jewish Educator, Judaism Unbound
Presented by Lex Rofeberg, Senior Jewish Educator, Judaism Unbound, and Dan Libenson, Founder & Executive Director, Judaism Unbound
Dan Libenson (he/him) serves as co-host of the Judaism Unbound Podcast and The Oral Talmud videocast. Dan was Executive Director of the University of Chicago Hillel for six years and Director of New Initiatives at Harvard Hillel for three years. Dan has published articles in Ha’aretz, The New York Jewish Week, Zeek, eJewishPhilanthropy, and elsewhere, and he is the translator of The Orchard by Israeli novelist Yochi Brandes and the translation editor of The Secret Book of Kings by the same author. Dan spent five years as a law professor after clerking for Judge Michael Boudin on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Lex Rofeberg (he/him) serves as co-host of Judaism Unbound’s podcast, facilitates many of its live digital events, and is thrilled to be one of the first teachers for the UnYeshiva. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in Judaic Studies, and was ordained as a rabbi in 2021 by ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. As an educator, he has taught students of all ages in synagogues, at Limmud gatherings, at IHOP, in 30-hours-straight Zoom events, and anywhere else he gets the chance. His first course for the UnYeshiva was titled “Jewish Discontinuity,” and explored Judaism’s oldest tradition: upending the tradition. Lex teaches new UnYeshiva courses throughout the year.
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Jewish Communities of Meaning: An Emerging Trend
Rabbi Sid Schwarz
Presented by Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Kenissa Communities of Meaning Network
Rabbi Sid Schwarz is the project director of the Kenissa Network. Rabbi Sid is a rabbi, educator and social entrepreneur who has successfully founded and led several Jewish organizations and national projects. As the founder/president of PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values for 21 years, Rabbi Sid pioneered a methodology that integrated Jewish learning, Jewish values and social responsibility. Using his experience as the founding rabbi of Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation in Bethesda, MD, he has played a leadership role in the synagogue transformation movement for close to 20 years. He is currently a Senior Fellow at Hazon and he blogs regularly at rabbisid.org.
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Queer & Trans Inclusion in the Jewish Community: JQT Vancouver Promising Practices
Carmel Tanaka and Ari Fremder
Presented by Carmel Tanaka, JQT Founder & Executive Director, Queering Jewish/Jewifying Queer Space
Carmel Tanaka is a queer neurodivergent Jewpanese woman of colour from Vancouver on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. She is a community engagement professional and her leadership initiatives include: JQT Vancouver, Genocide Prevention BC and Cross Cultural Walking Tours. She was named one of Be’chol Lashon’s 7 LGBTQ+ Jews of Color you should know. http://www.carmeltanaka.ca http://www.jqtvancouver.ca http://www.genocidepreventionbc.com http://www.crossculturaltours.ca
jewish responses to loneliness 