Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership | spertus.edu
September 2020—January 2021
News & Events Resilience & Impact in Challenging Times | P5
Who Represents Us?
Andy Warhol’s Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century | P29
Michelle Obama’s speechwriter on her Jewish journey in the White House | P31
Celebrate Jewish Book Month | P27 Spertus students and alumni build bright Jewish futures, even during quarantine | P13
Hear award-winning author Ayelet Gundar-Goshen interviewed online from Israel | P29
Join speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz for a live-streamed discussion of her Jewish journey in the White House | P31
The Jewish year 5781 begins at sundown on Friday, September 18, 2020. Our best wishes to you and yours for a happy and healthy year ahead.
In the Ground Level Arts Lab, Spertus showcases Andy Warhol’s Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century and other collection highlights | P27 On cover and above: Spertus Institute Collection. ©The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / Courtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York.
Learning
Contents News
Arts & Culture
Center for Jewish Leadership Learning to Lead: Degree and Certificate Programs | P15 Jewish Community Networking Night | P23 Fundraisers Forum | Grantwriting & Grantmaking | P25 Ideas Forum | Sarah Hurwitz | A Jewish Journey in the White House | P31 Save the Date | Paths to Power: How Israeli Women Are Breaking Barriers | P31
Center for Jewish Studies
Leadership
Finding Hope in History | P4 Letter from Spertus President and CEO Dr. Dean P. Bell | P5 Dr. Sharon Silverman takes the helm as Chair of Board of Trustees | P6 Spertus welcomes new Trustees Shelley Stern Grach and Dr. Alicia Gejman | P7 Education is an Essential Service | P8 Resilience and Impact in Challenging Times | P9 Spertus Students & Alumni Build Bright Futures (Even During Quarantine) | P13 Introducing Elana G. Kahn, Associate Dean for Outreach | P16 Dynamic Duo in New Spertus Roles | P17 Dr. Keren E. Fraiman awarded Wexner Field Fellowship | P17 Critical Conversations: Recap & Resources | Responding to Climate Change | P21
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News
Programs and Events ViewPoints | Climate Responsibility and Judaism | P21 Exhibition | Andy Warhol’s Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century | P27 Jewish Book Month | Authors Out Loud with Ayelet Gundar-Goshen | P29
Support and Membership
Calendar
Resources
Your Impact Around the World | P19 Leave a Legacy of Learning | P32 Membership | P33 | P35
Events
Connect with Spertus for updates, invites, and discounts 3
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A partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving our community
Finding Hope in History As we respond to COVID-19
Dr. Bell has been providing important context for the ways that outbreaks bring to the forefront underlying political, social, and cultural issues. As much as the challenges we face today are of this moment, they are not new phenomena. From as early as the fourteenth century, officials were advocating social distancing (of approximately six feet!). Outbreaks hit marginalized communities with more force and inflamed existing political fragmentation and conspiracy theories. Yet past pandemics also reveal instances of great strength and resilience, especially as people were able to coordinate efforts, leverage networks, and cultivate community. In fact, history teaches us that, despite very real losses, we will adapt and develop and use this crisis as an opportunity to grow in significant and lasting ways.
Read Dr. Bell’s recent articles and listen to an interview at spertus.edu/news
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One of 24 signs installed around Chicago by artist Matthew Hoffman and the You Are Beautiful project, in partnership with John Supera, Supera Asset Management.
In addition to his role as Spertus President and CEO, Dr. Dean P. Bell holds a Spertus faculty appointment as Professor of Jewish History and is a widely published historian. His most recent book, Plague in the Early Modern World: A Documentary History, was published by Routledge in 2019, and he has been serving as an expert on pandemic history for media during the current crisis.
Learning
Reflections on Resilience
Leadership
Letter from Dr. Dean P. Bell This summer, as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and then intersected with our society’s crisis of racial injustice, I found myself reflecting with friends and colleagues. Two threads emerged over and over.
Arts & Culture
The first is on an experiential level. People report a sense of blurring of time. Days collapse one into the next, with only hazy lines demarcating days of the week and events both small and substantial, personal and professional. The second is more profound. Many people have shared with me their uncertainty about the future. What does the future look like? How will we work, travel, live? How will these changes shape us and our communities? In a very real way, the fall Jewish holidays offer a time-based boundary, an opportunity to recognize both change and continuity. The New Year is a time for reflection, as we plan for new starts—indeed we plan for change—in a way that also recognizes deep connections to familiar traditions and practices.
News
In that spirit, I am inspired by the programs that Spertus has developed and offered in the midst of—and in response to—our current crises. We presented important and bold series that provided new perspectives and skills for communal leaders, educators, and learners. They featured Spertus’ signature concept of applied Jewish learning—applying the rich depth and diversity of Jewish thought, texts, and experiences to contemporary and emerging challenges.
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Program topics included leadership in crisis, problem solving, team building, applying the lessons of history, and cultivating resilience. This last topic—resilience—is the organizing theme for our programming in the coming year. It underpins the programs reflected in this News & Events and initiatives that will be presented over the course of the academic year.
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At Spertus we do not use resilience in the sense of an attempt to return to some elusive status quo; rather we seek complex resilience, defined as a call to be open, agile, and adaptive; to take the opportunity to be creative, innovative, and risk tolerant, to learn and grow from the challenges we face. This may be the perfect New Year’s message to help us address the challenges of these uncertain times. Best wishes for a happy and especially healthy New Year.
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Dr. Dean P. Bell President and CEO Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership
Dr. Sharon Silverman takes the helm as Chair of Spertus Institute’s Board of Trustees
Spertus Institute proudly announces the election of Dr. Sharon Silverman as Chairperson of its Board of Trustees. Dr. Sharon Silverman is an educator and scholar with decades of impressive experience. She is a founding partner of the higher education consulting firm TRPP Associates, LLC, where she has worked with colleges and universities to enhance best practices in teaching and learning. A former Loyola University administrator with a passion for travel, she has served as a Fulbright Senior Scholar in South Africa and a Fulbright Specialist in Kazakhstan. A Spertus Trustee since 2013, Dr. Silverman has chaired a number of important committees, including a special Task Force currently working on innovative new program models tied to Spertus Institute’s Strategic Plan. She also has served as a mentor and instructor for Spertus leadership programs. About her appointment, Spertus President and CEO Dr. Dean P. Bell said, “Dr. Silverman is passionate about education and has made significant contributions in the field of student learning. She brings a history of inspiring leadership, enthusiasm for our work, and familiarity with our programs and constituents. Her appointment comes at a time of programmatic and geographic growth for Spertus Institute, which aligns perfectly with her expertise.” Visit spertus.edu/news to read a recent interview with Dr. Sharon Silverman and learn about her “Ten Commandments of Leadership.”
Tributes in honor of Dr. Sharon Silverman’s appointment will support new community-serving educational initiatives. To participate, visit donate.spertus.edu/tribute
The Spertus Institute logo is a flame accompanied by the biblical phrase, yehi or, let there be light. It symbolizes commitment to education, culture, and community, today and for the future. 6
Learning Leadership Arts & Culture
Meet Shelley Stern Grach and Dr. Alicia Gejman Spertus welcomes two accomplished local leaders to its Board of Trustees.
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An alumna of Spertus Institute’s Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies program, she is passionate about the Institute’s work with leaders and communities. “I am inspired by the Spertus symbol ‘Yehi Or—Let there be light,’” she said of the Hebrew tagline in the Institute’s logo. “This expresses the deepest aspirations of Jews to contribute to the betterment of society through educational transformation.”
Events
In addition to her new role as a Trustee, Grach is a Spertus student, studying for her MA in Jewish Studies. “I’m excited to take advantage of the tremendous resources at Spertus and to share my voice and commitment.”
In her impressive career as an educator, Dr. Gejman has held positions as Principal at West Suburban Temple Har Zion in River Forest and Director of the Special Needs Center of the Board of Jewish Education of Metropolitan Chicago.
Resources
Over the years, she has been a board member for Jewish, civic, and arts organizations, including the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, the Women’s Business Development Center, and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. In Michigan, where she now lives in the town of New Buffalo, she is a founding member of the Oakland University Civic Engagement Advisory Council and served on the board of the Acorn Center for the Performing Arts.
Dr. Alicia Gejman (right above) is the Director of Family Education at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, where she also directs the Jack and Mildred Cohen Religious School, the Bernard H. Sokol Hebrew High School, and the Paul S. and Sylvia Steinberg Pre-School.
News
Shelley Stern Grach (left above) is the past Director of Civic Engagement for Microsoft Corporation, where she worked with local and national partners to strengthen metropolitan communities and contribute to local economic growth.
Education is an Essential Service In Times of Crisis and Always Visit spertus.edu/news for a beautiful OpEd by new Spertus Institute Associate Dean for Outreach Elana Kahn, written for eJewishPhilanthropy.com, a leading resource for the professional Jewish community. In it, she shares why she upended her life to move to Chicago during a global pandemic. The answer lies in understanding what is essential.
Learning
Spertus Online Series Equips Leaders with Tools for an Uncertain Future Series Met with Acclaim and Appreciation
Leadership
As cities went into lockdown, the Spertus Institute leadership team recognized a pressing need: the staff and volunteers of Jewish organizations across North America needed new skills to address the complex and rapidly changing challenges their organizations faced. And they needed them immediately.
Arts & Culture
Spertus had the resources to help—and quickly went to work, bringing together faculty from our Center for Jewish Leadership to share their expertise in crisis-leadership, change-management, and organizational resilience. The resulting free online livestreamed series, Rallying in Challenging Times, drew more than 700 participants to four sessions focused on confronting, responding to, and moving forward from crisis.
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Through the guided sessions and interactive chats designed to build a leadership toolkit, participants learned to effectively mobilize teams, make better decisions, and lead with compassion. Looking back at history and forward to address changing circumstances, they considered whether times of crisis can also become times of renewal and transformation.
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“This was a great series. Each of the sessions was worthwhile and well executed. Thank you!”
“This series by Spertus created a sense of community, which is so important during these times.”
Events
“Uplifting!” “A great series! Thank you!”
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“This series made me more prepared to develop solutions.”
We were so touched by this message from Doctoral student (and MA in Jewish Studies alumna) Sherry Knazan that we had to share it with you.
Sherry Knazan
“ I began taking classes in the MAJS program almost twenty years ago because I had received a summer stipend from a program I was involved in, and the requirement was that it had to be used for some educational endeavor. That decision changed my life. Since then, my yearly schedule revolves around when the Spertus seminars are offered. I have met so many people in the classes, and many remain cherished colleagues and friends to this day. I have had the opportunity to learn from committed and exceptional professors who have stretched my brain and taught me new ways of thinking. After receiving my MAJS in 2008, it took a few years of auditing classes to make the huge decision to enroll in the Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies program. As I make my way through the required courses, I use the valuable materials and connections in my own teaching. Knowing how enriching the in-person seminars, classes, and connections have been, it was hard to imagine how the required shift to online learning would measure up. Yet the experience was exceptional. While I hope that in the near future we will come back to Chicago for seminars, this experience was a resounding success.”
—SHERRY KNAZAN
Learning
Jewish Studies At Spertus, we believe passionately that the wisdom of Jewish thought and the richness of Jewish history provide invaluable lessons for Judaism and Jewish society today.
Leadership
Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary academic specialty that combines history, religious studies, sociology, and political science. In pursuit of knowledge about Judaism and Jewish life, students explore Jewish texts, cultures, languages, and experiences. At Spertus, Jewish Studies is foundational; we have been a leader in this arena for more than nine decades. Our faculty and alumni have influenced the field around the world.
Arts & Culture
Our Jewish Studies students—pursuing Master’s and Doctoral degrees—grapple with Jewish ideas in the service of their personal and professional advancement.
Degree Types Spertus Institute offers the following Jewish Studies degrees
News
Master of Arts in Jewish Studies (MAJS) Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies (DSJS) Doctor of Hebrew Letters (DHL) Courses take place at twice-yearly seminars and through a variety of online formats. Programs are offered on a quarter-term system with flexible start dates.
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spertus.edu/learn
The Asher Library will remain closed until it is determined that visitors can be safely accommodated in the reading room.
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Until that time the librarians are online at resources@spertus.edu to assist you with information and resources, and in the Library to retrieve books and copy articles. Borrowed items will be made available to students and Spertus members by mail or curbside pickup, and may be returned the same way. For information, visit spertus.edu/online-resources
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Photo by Jill Peltzman.
Chris Harrison (Certificate in Jewish Leadership) has been regularly writing meaningful articles on supporting Jews of Color during these changing times. In a recent piece about Juneteenth for ReformJudaism.org, he wrote: “Like the Black heroes who fought and died for my right to live out their wildest dreams, I will not stop fighting for what’s right… I will continue to lock hands with my Black siblings, both Jewish and of other backgrounds, in this righteous, sacred fight.”
Photo by Eric Revels
Jamie Fox (MAJPS) was appointed Women’s Philanthropy Manager at the Jewish Federation of San Diego County.
Sarah van Loon (MAJPS) started a new job as Director of Advancement and Engagement at the Chicago Regional Office of AJC.
Caleb Bromberg (MAJPS), recently featured as ChiTribe’s “Person of the Week” in recognition of his contributions to Chicago-area Jewish education, will be kicking the already substantive ways he contributes to the community up a notch. He has begun Rabbinical School at Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York.
Spertus students and alumni: Do you have news you’d like to share? Contact Jessica Leving at jleving@spertus.edu to let us know!
Learning
Spertus Students and Alums Build Bright Jewish Futures
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop (Even During Quarantine)
Leadership
It would take more than a global pandemic to keep our devoted, resilient Spertus students and alumni from changing the world. The inspiring leaders below—and many more—have continued to use their Spertus training to push forward, even through these dark times, working to adapt to changing circumstances and build a better world.
Becky Adelberg (Certificate in Jewish Leadership) was featured on the Bridging Connections podcast, which showcases leaders who are reinventing and reinvigorating Jewish life.
Brittany Begun (MAJPS) started a new position as Associate Director of Hillel of Metro Detroit.
Anita Denes-Meador (Certificate in Jewish Leadership) was promoted to Chief Program Officer at JCC Chicago.
Shalom Klein (MAJPS, Certificate in Jewish Leadership) was appointed to the ten-member Skokie Economic Recovery Task Force. Naomi Looper was named to Chicago’s Jewish 36 Under 36 List, presented by Oy!Chicago and the Young Leadership Division of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. What’s more, in her profile, she names Spertus alumna Beth Rodin the “Jew who inspires her”! Aaron Midler (MAJPS) recently wrote a compelling piece in eJewishPhilanthropy (a leading resource for the professional Jewish community) arguing for the value of virtual spaces as a continuing part of Jewish life.
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Two Spertus alumna, Marlene Copeland Dodinval of the Jewish National Fund in Chicago and Rabbi Betsy Forester of Beth Israel Center in Madison, WI were selected for the Hadar Institute’s Jewish Wisdom Fellowship.
Steven Greenwood (EMAJPS) was named Executive Director of StandWithUs Canada.
Resources
Rabbi David Bauman (Doctor of Hebrew Letters) was appointed the new Head of Judaic Studies and Community Engagement at AkibaSchechter Jewish Day School.
Jack Fuchsman (MAJPS) started a new job as Young Leadership Division Associate at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, OH.
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Micky Baer and Stacey Flint (both Certificate in Jewish Leadership) each started new positions as synagogue Executive Directors; Baer at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC) in Evanston, IL and Flint at Bonai Shalom in Boulder, CO.
Brad Finkel (MAJPS alum and now a mentor for the program) was promoted to Chief Operating Officer at JCC Chicago.
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We couldn’t be prouder of their successes and invite you to join us in celebrating them. See pages 11 and 15 to learn more about the Spertus degree and certificate programs in which they have participated.
Find more successes to celebrate at spertus.edu/news 13
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Wendy Falchuk (Certificate in Jewish Leadership) was promoted to Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management and Student Success, Gann Academy in Waltham, MA.
Supported in part by a generous grant from the Crown Family
Acquire real world skills and be ready to take the lead Fellowships cover up to 60% of costs for qualified applicants.
spertus.edu/center
Learning
MA in Jewish Professional Studies For Jewish communal professionals with 5+ years of post-college work experience. More than 75% of students report a promotion or higher-level job change within one year of graduation.
Leadership
December 1, 2020 —Preferred admission deadline April 18, 2021 —Courses begin
Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies
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For Jewish communal executives with 12+ years of professional experience. Can be completed in just one year because your experience can count toward graduate credit.
May 3, 2021 —Preferred admission deadline October 17, 2021 —Courses begin
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Certificate in Jewish Leadership for Educators For senior-level Jewish educators, presented by Spertus Institute in partnership with Northwestern University with funding from the Perlman family.
Resources
September 1, 2020 Preferred admission deadline January 10, 2021 —Courses begin
Certificate in Jewish Leadership
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For the staff and lay leaders of Jewish organizations, presented by Spertus Institute in partnership with Northwestern University.
May 3, 2021—Preferred admission deadline October 17, 2021 —Courses begin
Instruction takes place during seminars (2x/year) online or at Spertus Institute’s Chicago campus. 15
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All programs serve participants from across North America.
Introducing Elana G. Kahn Spertus Institute’s New Associate Dean for Outreach Spertus Institute is honored to announce the appointment of Elana G. Kahn to the new position of Associate Dean for Outreach. Working with community leaders, alumni, and prospective students, Kahn will identify needs, advance strategic outreach, and help Spertus grow. “Elana brings professional experience, expertise, and outstanding communitybuilding skills,” said Dr. Keren E. Fraiman, Spertus Dean and Chief Academic Officer. “Her talents will be indispensable as Spertus puts its exciting new Strategic Plan into practice, building increased opportunities for Jewish learners and leaders around the world. She will help us innovate and create, expand geographic reach, and extend the ways we leverage Jewish thought, history, and experiences to address the issues our communities face.” Before taking on this new position, Kahn served as the Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and editor of the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle. A Spertus alumna, she is thrilled to join the Spertus professional team. “I can’t think of another Jewish educational institution that does everything Spertus does, from outside the denominational movements. I had been looking for the next step in my professional path, and this position ticked all the boxes—building on my skills, oriented around relationship-building, and focused on strengthening Jewish life.” 16
Learning
Dynamic Duo in New Spertus Roles
Arts & Culture
As newly appointed Assistant Director of Public Programming (Brown) and Assistant Director of Mentoring and Programs (Herszage), the pair has been assessing Spertus Institute’s public programming offerings and audience needs, brainstorming and researching new ideas, and creating plans for new programs. Both Brown and Herszage are Spertus alumnae, Brown of Spertus Institute’s MA in Jewish Studies program and Herszage of the Certificate in Jewish Leadership, presented in partnership with Northwestern University.
Leadership
Neither Brooke Herszage nor Camille Brown expected to become moms to twins (six years ago for Herszage, eight for Brown). Nor could either have guessed that being a “Twin Mom” would prepare them to be the perfect team, working together in new roles at Spertus Institute. But now, together they are spearheading an initiative to propel the institution’s public programming forward.
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Read more about how these two work together as one at spertus.edu/news
Resources
Dr. Keren E. Fraiman awarded Wexner Field Fellowship Dr. Keren E. Fraiman, Spertus Institute’s Dean and Chief Academic Officer, has been awarded a prestigious Wexner Field Fellowship, presented by the Wexner Foundation in partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation.
“I am excited to participate and to bring the learning back to Spertus, especially at this complex and important time,” said Fraiman. 17
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Through the three-year-long program, Wexner Field Fellows will be exposed to Jewish educational and professional growth opportunities to further the goals of their respective organizations. They will develop new strengths in adaptive leadership along with a nuanced appreciation for the diversity of the North American Jewish community.
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Dr. Fraiman is one of fifteen professionals selected through a highly competitive process that looks at accomplishments, motivation, and the attributes candidates bring to the Jewish community.
CHIL E SPA IN ISR A EL F R A NCE ME X ICO C A N A DA AUS T R A L I A V ENE ZUEL A NE T HERL A NDS SOU T H A F RIC A UNIT ED S TAT E S
Learning Arts & Culture News
The impacts of COVID-19 have reverberated throughout the Jewish communal world. Since then, more than 1,000 professionals and lay leaders have relied on Spertus to provide connection, education, and critical skill building when they needed it most. These leaders represent more than 91 U.S. cities and 11 countries. Because of Spertus, they are navigating this unprecedented crisis together.
Leadership
Education is essential. So is your support.
They rely on Spertus. Spertus relies on you.
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Give today at donate.spertus.edu
Resources
Every Spertus program, course, and workshop is made possible by donations from generous individuals like you. Your gift allows our community to learn, grow, and build resilience together. In these challenging times, we need your support more than ever.
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Responding to Climate Change Find resources and readings from our Critical Conversations panelists at spertus.edu/climate Critical Conversations is an annual Spertus Institute program inspired by Judaism’s embrace of civil discourse. Every year, Spertus brings together high-profile speakers with different points of view to address a critical issue of the day. The series is generously funded by the late Eric Joss. Thank you to our LEED Sponsor Krueck + Sexton Architects and generous sponsors Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, Shure, Inc., Oppenheimer | The Gilchrist Group, AB Bernstein, and Administrative and Consulting Solutions, Inc.
VewPoints speaker Dr. Rachel Havrelock
ViewPoint Speaker Rabbi Dr. Rachel Mikva
Learning
Critical Conversations In the final days before COVID-19 disrupted our lives, nearly 400 people came together at Spertus Institute for Critical Conversations: Responses to Climate Change, the 2020 installment of our acclaimed Critical Conversations series.
Leadership
Moderated by bestselling author David Wallace Wells (The Uninhabitable Earth), the panel included author and activist Bill McKibben, Karenna Gore of the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, Kevin Green of Rare’s Center for Behavior & the Environment, environmental psychologist Mirele B. Goldsmith, and behavioral economist Katherine Milkman. The event raised important issues that merited deeper consideration, so Spertus Institute launched a think tank on religion and the environment, bringing together a group of committed thought leaders. Their conversations will lay the groundwork for additional programs and initiatives.
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Because the urgency of climate change continues—even as lives and headlines are dominated by the pandemic—the first of these programs, ViewPoints, takes place September 10.
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ViewPoints Online: Climate Responsibility and Judaism Thursday, September 10 at 7 pm central
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$18 | $10 for Spertus members | $8 for Spertus students and alumni Reserve online at spertus.edu ViewPoints is a Spertus Institute program series in which you are invited to join topic experts and passionate fellow participants to discuss issues that make a difference in today’s world.
Dr. Rachel Havrelock is the founder and director of the UIC Freshwater Lab, a humanities-based initiative focused on research, teaching, and public awareness about the Great Lakes. She is a University of Illinois Chicago and Spertus Institute faculty member.
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Rabbi Dr. Rachel Mikva is the Herman E. Schaalman Chair & Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and Senior Faculty Fellow of the InterReligious Institute at Chicago Theological Seminary. Her work focuses on biblical interpretations across time and place, and how they shape and reflect the societies in which they unfold.
Events
For this ViewPoints, join two experts in the field of religion and the environment— Dr. Rachel Havrelock and Rabbi Dr. Rachel Mikva. Their conversation will be moderated by Spertus President and CEO Dr. Dean P. Bell.
Supported in part by a generous grant from the Crown Family
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Community Partners!
Program Partner
Learning
Join us online!
Leadership
Jewish Community Networking Night Monday, September 14 from 4 pm to 5:30 pm central Virtual doors open at 3:45 pm Make this your happy hour!
Arts & Culture
Jewish Community Networking Night is an annual Spertus signature event, connecting Jewish community volunteers, trustees, consultants, and professionals. This year we’re taking the event online with a workshop that hones participants’ virtual networking skills. Sign up, it’s free! Register at spertus.edu/networking
Tap into a new network! Opt-in to the event directory.
Open your inbox! Find pre-event tips to maximize your experience. Raffle! Sign up for prizes exclusive to participants. You’re all set! See you there.
News
Check online to find out about the presentation of this year’s Innovation Award!
Craft Your Five-Word Story Resources Events
Discover the stories that you want to share. Tell Me A Story founder Hillary Rea will guide us through her company’s signature Five-Word Life Story exercise. Five words can say so much and can connect the dots between the experiences that shape who you are— personally and professionally. It’s about finding your story’s beginning, middle, and end. Learn new ways to connect with others and build professional relationships.
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Tell Me A Story is a communication consulting business that trains entrepreneurs and change-makers. An award-winning storyteller, Hillary Rae hosts the long-running Tell Me A Story live shows and works with leaders on using narrative to communicate and connect.
Fundraisers Forum Fundraisers Forum is a professional development and network-building series for everyone involved in securing philanthropic support for Jewish organizations.
Josh Donner
Rebecca Garrett
Rella Kaplowitz
Jon Marker
Supported in part by a generous grant from the Crown Family
Learning
Join us online! Each Session | $18 | $10 for Spertus members $8 for Spertus students & alumni. Reserve online at spertus.edu
Leadership
Session 1
Grantwriting Thursday, October 15 from 9 am to 10:30 am central
News
Rebecca Garrett is Spertus Institute’s Director of Development. Prior to joining the Spertus team, she served as Lincoln Park Zoo’s Director of Foundation and Special Gifts, where she raised more than $2 million in annual support. She holds a BA in international relations from Tufts University and recently completed Spertus Institute’s Certificate in Jewish Leadership program, presented in partnership with Northwestern University.
Arts & Culture
Have you ever wondered: “Can I get a grant for that?” If yes, then this session is for you! Join fundraising pro Rebecca Garrett for an interactive workshop to demystify the grantwriting process. Discover how to identify the types of programs that make great grant candidates, learn to structure the essential components of your proposal, and gain key tips to make your proposal stand out from the crowd. Participants are encouraged to come prepared with a previous grant proposal or proposal idea for the workshop portion of the session.
Session 2 Resources
Grantmaking Wednesday, November 11 from 9 am to 10:30 am central
Events
Join us for a rare conversation with executives from some of the Jewish community’s most impactful foundations. Hear their insights about fund-raising and grantmaking in this time of challenge and change. Find out what they look for from grant seekers and what they see coming in the years ahead. This important panel will be moderated by Rebecca Garrett.
Panelists Josh Donner is the Executive Director of the David S. and Karen A. Shapira Foundation. He is an alumn of Spertus Institute’s MA in Jewish Professional Studies program.
Jon Marker is a Senior Program Office for the Jim Joseph Foundation. 25
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Rella Kaplowitz is the Senior Program Officer, Evaluation and Learning, for the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.
Learning
Today, as we think about Jewish identity through today’s multi-cultural lens, do these Jews represent us? Who does?
Who Represents Us? Ground Level Arts Lab Exhibition October 12, 2020 to September 5, 2021
Leadership
Andy Warhol’s Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century and other highlights from the Spertus collection
Arts & Culture
In this once-controversial series, Andy Warhol memorialized luminaries of modern Jewish culture: Sarah Bernhardt, Louis Brandeis, Martin Buber, Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, George Gershwin, Franz Kafka, the Marx Brothers, Golda Meir, and Gertrude Stein.
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The series was warmly received by Jewish audiences despite some critics who considered the works exploitative. Hilton Kramer of The New York Times wrote, “The way it exploits its Jewish subjects without showing the slightest grasp of their significance is offensive—or would be if the artist had not already treated so many non-Jewish subjects in the same tawdry manner.”
See this series and other highlights from the Spertus collection as we explore Jews in art. Resources
Visit spertus.edu/warhol to find: Exhibition-related resources Program information Hours and access as we navigate the Coronavirus pandemic
Events
Exhibitions at Spertus Institute are made possible in part by the Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation.
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At left: Andy Warhol’s Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century, Spertus Institute Collection. ©The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / Courtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York.
I believe it’s the writer’s job to force the reader to look where he usually avoids looking. When I was working as a news editor, the main question was: how much reality can people take while drinking their coffee in the morning? I hope literature is more than that. I hope it makes people spill their coffee on the table. — AYELET GUNDAR-GOSHEN
Learning Leadership Arts & Culture
Join us online!
Jewish Book Month A Conversation with Internationally Celebrated, Prize-Winning Author Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
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Sunday, December 6 from 10 am to 11 am central $18 | $10 for Spertus members | $8 for Spertus students and alumni Reserve online at spertus.edu
Resources
Although only 38 years old, Ayelet Gundar-Goshen has amassed a diverse and impressive array of achievements. She is an award-winning novelist whose books have been translated into 14 languages. She’s a clinical psychologist, screenwriter, and international correspondent who has worked for the Israeli civil rights movement. Her first book, One Night, Markovitch, won Israel’s prestigious Sapir Prize for best debut and was recognized with Italy’s Adei-Wizo Prize, which she shared with Etgar Keret. Her second title, Waking Lions, won the Jewish Quarterly-Wingate Prize and was named an Editor’s Choice by The New York Times. Liar is her new book.
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Ayelet Gundar-Goshen will be interviewed by our own Spertus Dean and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Keren E. Fraiman. Visit the Spertus Bookshop affiliate page at bookshop.org/shop/spertus to purchase Ayelet Gundar-Goshen’s books. This program is part of the Solomon Goldman Lecture Series, generously endowed by the late Rose and Sidney Shure.
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For this year’s Ideas Forum, hear Sarah Hurwitz on why Judaism matters Sarah Hurwitz was Michelle Obama’s head speechwriter… with this book she becomes Judaism’s speechwriter. — Adam Grant
We have a voice – let it be heard. The most important arena to work on, in order to effect true change in women’s equal representation, is the political arena. We need to be equally represented as elected officials in our governments. To promote this goal, we need to help capable women arrive at the decision to present their candidacy and we must give them the tools to succeed. 28
— Dr. Mazal Shaul
Learning
Join us online!
Here All Along A Jewish Journey in the White House
Leadership
Monday, January 11, 2021 from 6 pm to 8 pm central $18 | $10 for Spertus members $8 for students, Spertus alumni, and employees of Jewish organizations. Advance reservations required.
Arts & Culture
Purchase tickets online at spertus.edu Visit the Spertus Bookshop affiliate page at bookshop.org/shop/spertus to purchase Sarah Hurwitz’s book. Sarah Hurwitz was a White House speechwriter from 2009 to 2017, first for President Barack Obama and then as chief speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. She worked with Mrs. Obama to craft widely-acclaimed addresses—including her 2016 Democratic National Convention speech— and traveled with the First Lady around the world.
News
A graduate of Harvard Law School, Hurwitz also worked on policy issues as a senior advisor to the White House Council on Women and Girls. This is the 2020 Alex and Klara Tulsky Presentation on the Jewish Future.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Resources
Coming This Spring Paths to Power: How Israeli Women Are Breaking Barriers
Events
Dr. Mazal Shaul knows a few things about breaking barriers. After earning her PhD in Supramolecular Chemistry, she served as an executive at major Israeli companies. Propelled to increase women’s roles in the public and political spheres, she became an advisor/facilitator to organizations and institutions on issues of leadership for women. Today she is Executive Director of WePower—the organization for the Advancement of Women’s Leadership, and head of the new National Israeli Women’s Party, Voice of Women.
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Second Century Circle
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Leave a Legacy of Jewish Learning Remember Spertus in your will or estate plan In 2024, Spertus Institute will reach a key milestone: 100 years. The start of our second century. Our Second Century Circle ensures that Spertus will continue to strengthen Jewish communities, organizations, and leaders for generations to come. L’dor v’dor.
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Thank You to Our Treasured Second Century Circle! Anonymous (3) Donna E. Barrows Dr. Dean & Juli Bell Peter B. Bensinger, Jr. & Heidi Wagman Roger O. Brown Reaha Corwin Sherman Corwin Bruce Crane & Laura Cooper Deanna Drucker Rebecca & Zach Garrett Ethel & William Gofen Norma & Phillip Gordon Joyce & Avrum Gray and Family Ellen & Jon Hattenbach Family Ambassador Bruce Heyman & Vicki Heyman Gene & Adele Hoffman Harold & Holly Israel Jessica & Mats Lederhausen
Anne & Elliot Lefkovitz Sheryl & Michael Markman Mark & Barbara Mehlman Dr. Victor & Rose-Miriam Mirelman Odette G. Olson Tal M. Rosen & Anna Levin Rosen Dr. Sharon Silverman Priscilla Shirk & Andreas Sosnowski Michael Spertus Sylvia & Philip Spertus In loving memory of David J. Spira Luis & Fortuna Spitz Caryn & Laurence Straus Sara Vegh & Ken Ziejewski Ettie & Melvin Weinberg Bruce D. Werner Family Brenda & Marc Wilkow Stephen Wolff & Dr. Marla Mendelson
Join the Circle Join the Second Century Circle and ignite our future by including Spertus Institute in your estate plan. To get started, visit donate.spertus.edu/second-century-circle or contact Director of Development Rebecca Garrett at rgarrett@spertus.edu or 312.322.1759. We look forward to welcoming you!
Spertus Institute is proud to be a part of the Jewish Federation’s Create a Jewish Legacy program, designed to train and support Chicago’s Jewish schools, agencies, and synagogues in the area of legacy giving.
Learning
Become a Member
Arts & Culture
Member Benefits
Adv oca te $ 1o0 Hou seh old Sen $75 ior 65+ Ind $50 ivid ual $60 Spe r tus Net $50
Leadership
Your membership supports everything we do—from extraordinary programs and exhibitions to world-class academics and scholarly resources. Thank you!
News
Library borrowing privileges, with online access to the Feinberg eCollection and Kanopy film streaming Discounts on tickets to Spertus programs, performances, workshops, and more, in person and online!
Resources
Discounts from Spertus partners, including Moment magazine, JUDAICA.com, and Zelda’s Kosher Gourmet Second membership card Thank you gift (*U.S. members only) Recognition on Spertus Institute’s online Donor Wall
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To join or renew today, or for more information about Spertus membership, visit donate.spertus.edu/membership or call 312.322.1777.
Events
Advocate was formerly the Associate level membership.
Photo courtesy of Juancho SC Photography.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING YOUR CELEBRATION! LARGE OR SMALL, WITH YOUR GUESTS IN THE ROOM OR JOINING YOU VIRTUALLY FROM AROUND THE WORLD. WE ARE RESERVING DATES FOR 2020, 2021, AND 2022. Events at Spertus are managed by VenueSIX10, named one of Chicago’s best by Crain’s Chicago Business. Have your event in an architectural gem! Choice of select caterers, including kosher options. Visit VenueSIX10.com to find out more.
VENUESIX10.COM | 312.322.1725 610 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE | CHICAGO
Discount Parking Discount parking is available for $9 at Grant Park South Garage, 325 S. Michigan Avenue. The discount is good for 12 hours with Spertus validation.
Accessibility Spertus welcomes all visitors and is committed to making its facilities and programs accessible. Elevator access is available to all areas of the building. Please let us know of any special needs or requests when you purchase program tickets, or call 312.322.1773.
Learning
Calendar November 2020
7 | Monday
11 | Wednesday Fundraisers Forum Grantmaking P25
Spertus closed for Labor Day Thursday ViewPoints: Climate Responsibility and Judaism P21
14 |
Monday Jewish Community Networking Night Virtual Edition P23
26– 27 |
19–20 | Saturday–Sunday Spertus closed for Rosh Hashanah
27– 28 | Sunday–Monday
October 2020
4 | Sunday Spertus closed for Sukkot Spertus closed for Simchat Torah
12 | Monday
15 |
Jewish Book Month Authors Out Loud P29
10 |
Thursday Hanukkah begins at sundown
25 |
Friday Spertus closed for Christmas Day
January 2021
1 | Friday Spertus closed for New Year’s Day
10 | Sunday Certificate in Jewish Leadership for Educators cohort begins P15
11 | Monday Ideas Forum White House Speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz P31
Thursday Fundraisers Forum Grantwriting P25
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Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper.
Events
Exhibition Opens Who Represents Us? Andy Warhol’s Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century P27
6 | Sunday
Resources
11 | Sunday
December 2020
News
Spertus closed for Yom Kippur
Thursday–Friday Spertus closed for Thanksgiving
Arts & Culture
10 |
Leadership
September 2020
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