Bringing Jewish values to American society

Participants in the inaugural cohort of the JUF Civic Leadership Development Program gather during the final session of the four-month initiative. (Photo credit: Matthew Reitman)

In 2018, Emily Briskman and Emily White were faced with a dilemma. They observed that non-Jewish coalitions were enjoying relative success creating alliances while, by comparison, members of the Jewish community often felt isolated from their counterparts in the workplace, on campus, and in their communities. 

“At the time, there were simply not enough people in the room willing to tell their Jewish stories,” said White, JUF’s Associate Vice President of Campus Affairs and Executive Director of the Israel Education Center. Finding a solution would require a renewed focus on civic education to encourage emerging leaders to bring their Jewish selves to outside spaces. 

Within a year, White and Briskman, JUF’s Vice President of Campus Affairs and Executive Director of the Hillels of Illinois, had put their plan in motion, launching a program to teach the basics of civic engagement to students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The initiative eventually expanded to Hillels on five campuses. 

Still, Briskman and White knew that there was more work to be done to cultivate the next generation of Jewish leaders. Working alongside Dan Goldwin, JUF’s Chief Public Affairs Officer, they determined that they should approach individuals who had already embarked on their careers—to take civic and leadership education from the classroom to the boardroom. 

The result is the first-ever JUF Civic Leadership Development Program, which concluded its inaugural cohort this past December. Designed for leaders in mid-career, the initiative brought together 16 individuals selected from more than one hundred nominees representing a cross-section of Chicago’s Jewish community. Sessions took place on Thursday evenings at JUF headquarters, where participants heard from public and private sector experts, clergy members, and JUF leaders on how to advance Jewish principles and traditions within the secular community. 

The objective went beyond providing a response to skyrocketing antisemitism. “Our goal was not simply to protect Jews,” Briskman said, “but also to bring Jewish values to American society in support of the American dream.” 

Modeled after the campus-based programs, the curriculum included lessons in asset-mapping, coalition-building, and effective communications, while giving participants the confidence to maintain their Jewish identities in the face of external challenges. 

Among the speakers were JUF Board Chair Wendy C. Abrams and JUF President Lonnie Nasatir, who helped participants explore what it means to lead from a Jewish perspective.    

JUF Executive Vice Chairman Steven B. Nasatir provided an overview of JUF’s history, detailing JUF’s commitment to serving the wider community. 

Temple Sholom’s Senior Rabbi Shoshanah Conover, and JUF Rabbinic Scholar Rabbi Yehiel E. Poupko discussed Jewish civic traditions from ancient times to the present, while a bipartisan group of elected officials highlighted opportunities for public service across all levels of government. 

To carry out the program, Briskman and White relied on Zoe Lewis Nielsen, JUF’s Civic Engagement Manager, who had taken part in the first campus-based sessions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Inspired by the program, Nielsen was among a slate of candidates who successfully ran for student government on a platform promoting support for Israel and inclusive policies.  

Nancy Kohn, past chair of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, was brought on board as moderator for the sessions. Support from the Jericho Family proved instrumental in making the program a reality. 

Adam Rubenfire, a program participant, called it “one of the most fascinating JUF experiences in just over the decade I’ve spent in Chicago.” “The JUF team did an incredible job finding captivating speakers with meaningful stories,” he added. “I’ve definitely walked away with a desire to be more attuned to what’s going on in our city and be more engaged with my local elected officials.”  

Erin Waitz said that the sessions “reminded me that my story is rooted in Jewish values—values that are thoughtful, justice-oriented, and rooted in responsibility to one another.” 

Goldwin says that the program is quickly making an impact. “From school board meetings and political campaigns to nonprofit boardrooms, our alumni are already ensuring that Jewish perspectives are present, understood, and respected,” he said. 

William Weinberg is JUF’s Director of Communications.