The Community Foundation for Jewish Education of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago has hired Richard S. Moline to serve as Director of Israel Education.

Moline is a Jewish educator with an outstanding track record in developing and managing youth initiatives and engagement programs in North America and Israel. Highly experienced in all facets of Jewish communal life and a lifelong Chicagoan, he has earned a reputation as a trusted and respected leader in Jewish and Israel education.

“Rich brings a breadth and depth of experience in almost every Jewish educational setting,” said CFJE Executive Director Rabbi Scott Aaron. “His mission is to plan and implement a strategic and sophisticated program of support for Israel education across the entire spectrum of our Chicagoland Jewish community.”

As CFJE’s Director of Israel Education, Moline will oversee all aspects of Israel education and strategy including curriculum development; oversight and leadership of the Ta’am Yisrael trip and its professional team as well as its pre- and post-trip components; and teacher training, including work with pre-K through 12 educators across the spectrum to support their Israel education efforts.

“Richard will make a significant contribution to increasing the quality and quantity of Israel education in every part of our community, including supplementary education. We are thrilled to welcome him aboard,” said Debbie Berman, chair of the CJFE Board.

Moline, of Chicago, is a graduate in Psychology and Jewish Studies from the University of Illinois. He has held a variety of major positions in the areas of Jewish and Israel education and youth engagement with the United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism. A fellow of the Wexner Heritage Foundation, he received the Exemplar of Excellence Award from Hillel International and the Or Zarua Award from the Jewish Educators Assembly. He has served as President of Solomon Schechter Day School of Chicago and National President of the Jewish Youth Directors Association.

“After my family, my number one passion is Israel,” Moline said. “I’m thrilled to share my passion with students, educators and members of the community by helping them develop their own personal relationship with the people and the land.

“I’m excited to join the CFJE team as we explore Israel, strengthen curriculum at every grade level, and connect with Israelis. We will give our students and educators the tools to explore Israel’s complexities by examining real accomplishments and real challenges. It doesn’t get much more exciting,” he said.