Last week, 45 Jewish change-makers united and collaborated in Sutton Hill, NSW to consider how as collective and individual leaders they can address the changing needs  of the Australian Jewish community, and transform ‘talk’ into ‘action’.

For 3 days we explored the potential and possibility of Jewish community, connected across the generations and denominations, were inspired by keynote David Cygielman, Founder and CEO of Moishe House International, learnt from international guest Bradly Caro-Cook, CEO of Career Up Now,  and engaged with the network during peer skill sessions, including “How to speak so people will listen”, “Leading Jewishly” and “The 3 Rs of volunteering.”

The retreat culminated in a You Pitch It! session, where incredible Jewish ideations were pitched to the community. The pitches were attempting to solve the following concerns in the Jewish Community;

Most of these ideas are still in motion so If any of these spark your interest contact Natalie for more information.

Rabbi Yaakov Glasman, St Kilda Hebrew Congregation, reflected on the retreat, writing, “[LaunchPad] Is a brilliant platform for existing and emerging leaders to innovate, create and share ideas and practical solutions to address some of the burning issues facing the modern Jewish community. Meeting so many Jewish leaders from across Australia was an experience I’ll never forget. I learned so much from so many people and feel privileged to have been a part of such an amazing cohort of proud Jews!”

For more information about the retreat, find here the full program booklet and stay tuned for the LaunchPad video coming soon, highlighting the best moments of the retreat!

Members of the AJF network have recently returned from a very inspiring and jam packed study tour exploring social innovation, philanthropy and Jewish life in San Francisco and the Bay Area of California.

Featuring a visit to Urban Adamah, a workshop with Jewish Studio Project and meetings with the Jewish Community Relations Council and Upstart as well as many other innovative organisations provided incredible insights. Dinner at Moishe House Nob Hill and an evening with members of the Schusterman Foundation’s ROI Community expanded our networks and understandings of how young people are engaging in Jewish life.  We met with many game-changing philanthropic leaders including Laura Lauder, Barry Finestone, CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation and Jennifer and Tony Smorgon. Our minds and hearts were open to new ideas and ways of enhancing our giving and community building.

The week culminated in a tour of the Facebook Campus and a visit to the spectacular Stanford University, meeting with the Stanford School of Philanthropy. To view the full Study Tour program, click here.

Following the study tour, members participated in the 2019 Jewish Funders Network International Conferencewhich provided further opportunities to strengthen connections and relationships with US and Israeli donors as well as gain new tools for strategic, effective giving.

The Giving Initiative kicked off the year with a weekend away to get to know each other and start the process of bettering the world.

Through spending Shabbat together, the cohort came together to challenge their thinking, express their values and get to know each other. The teens collaborated to set collective goals, and get motivated to make change.

From many different schools and backgrounds, the group became a close team who are eager to learn more about how they can get involved and make a difference.  The retreat concluded with the participants helping out at the Jewish Care Telethon, where they helped raise over $4000.

It was an inspiring way to end the weekend, and the teens are now ready to pursue their passions and discover their passion causes.