fellowship archive
47 Fellows from 25 countries gathered on Pag Island, Croatia for the 22nd International Nahum Goldmann Fellowship. Croatia was chosen to underscore the MFJC’s commitment to supporting smaller Jewish diaspora communities. The Fellows represented diverse Jewish communities, from smaller Eastern and Western European populations to major centers of Jewish life in North America, Israel, and Europe. Participating countries included Belarus, Canada, France, Israel, Macedonia, Panama, and the USA.
program
The theme chosen for this Fellowship was: Trauma and transformation: Reconstructing Jewish culture and communities in the Diaspora in the 21st Century.
Sessions included:
Paradigms for the revitalization of Jewish culture in the post-Holocaust era
The Israel connection: Redefining the Zionist narrative for Israel and the Diaspora
Reconstructing the Jewish community: The role of ideas and ideals
The covenantal community and contemporary Jewish society: Can the relationship be reconfigured
Additional discussion groups included:
How effective has Jewish leadership been in building Jewish communities
The role of Israel in the Diaspora
European and other Diaspora communities: What can we learn from each other
faculty
Dr. Steven Bayme, National Director, Contemporary Jewish Life Department, American Jewish Committee, New York, NY, USA
Professor Saul Berman, Associate Professor of Jewish Studies, Stern College, New York, NY, USA
Professor Moshe Halbertal, Professor of Jewish Thought and Philosophy, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Professor Benjamin Ish-Shalom, Rector, Beit Morasha, Jerusalem, Israel
Professor David Myers, Professor of Jewish History, University of California Los Angeles, CA, USA
Dr. Rina Rosenberg, Private Psychologist, Jerusalem, Israel
Professor Shalom Rosenberg, Professor of Jewish Thought, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Professor Ismar Schorsch, Professor of Jewish History, Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, NY, USA
more about the fellowship
The 22nd NGF highlighted the diversity of political and religious practices that make global Jewish life unique. From community-building through theology and liturgy, to sharing successes and challenges, Fellows explored the complexities of Jewish communal life. Alberto Milkewitz from São Paolo, Brazil, shared insights about working with local lay leaders to successfully reinvent their Federation system and strengthen efforts to promote Jewish education and literacy.
The Shabbat experience was particularly meaningful. One Fellow, originally from Russia and now living in Israel, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah by reading from the Torah, marking a significant milestone. Additionally, two women received their Hebrew names for the first time during Shabbat, adding to the event’s emotional resonance.
A powerful moment during the Fellowship was an unplanned visit to a concentration camp located 30 minutes from the program site. The visit culminated in a moving prayer initiated by the Fellows and a poignant rendition of Hatikvah, elevating the solemnity of the experience.
The 22nd NGF underscored the MFJC’s dedication to fostering spaces where diverse political and religious perspectives are respected. The program encouraged productive discomfort and discourse as essential components of leadership growth.
At the program’s conclusion, Arkady Hasidovich from Israel shared his gratitude for the Fellowship’s unique environment:
“I would like to personally thank the Fellowship and its dedicated staff for providing a safe ground for an in-depth debate on controversial matters of Jewish life, while respecting and honoring each and every opinion”.
