Jevruta
ON ONE FOOT
The Jevruta program connected Jewish professionals with similar interests across Latin America and created a space for them to come together in online affinity groups.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH
The program Jevruta – meaning “study partner” in Hebrew – was developed by NGF Network members Yael Fleichman and Ariel Jenik, in conjunction with the Jewish Professionals Network, to engage Jewish Professionals across Latin America through online gatherings.
Each affinity group consisted of around ten Jewish leaders with a shared professional interest, including sustainable leadership, data-based decision-making, and mindset and methodologies. The groups were led by a facilitator who helped develop a specific theme and learning trajectory for their six virtual gatherings. Facilitators also helped curate faculty to join the sessions to provide insights and guidance for the groups of peers.
Jevruta engaged 43 participants from 6 different countries during its four-month inaugural run. Through its virtual platform, Jevruta created continent-spanning connections – both personal and professional – and set the groundwork for future programming within the network. In fact, two Talking Circles were created as a result of this program, which gathered Yiddish speakers and learners from different levels and backgrounds.
“Jevruta creates a better and stronger community by linking Jewish Communal Professionals from different countries to enhance local impact,” said Ariel. His collaborator, Yael, added, “By thinking and doing together, our communities are going to be much better.”
ABOUT THE GRANTEES
Yael Fleichman
Paraguay
Yael Fleichman has been Principal at the Colegio Estado de Israel in Asunción Paraguay since 2007. She has worked in many countries in Latin America, including as a representative of the JDC in the Hebrew Community of Cuba and at the Colegio Moral y Luces in Caracas, Venezuela. She is an alumna of NGF 26 in Uruguay in 2014.
After receiving a degree in Social Communication at the University of Buenos Aires, and a Professor of Jewish Education at Mijlelet Shazar, Yael carried out Postgraduate studies in various institutions, highlighting the Specialization in Education and New Technologies at FLACSO. She has participated in the Morei Morim Leorahat Hashoa Holocaust Trainer of Trainers program at the Yad Vashem Museum. She is currently finishing the “International Master in Education” at the Melton Center of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Yael is married to Mariano Mirelman and is the mother of Lior and Tali.
Ariel Jenik
Argentina
Ariel Jenik is the CEO of Hacoaj JCC, the largest community center in Argentina. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Ariel got a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from the Hebrew Union College and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
After working at the Jewish Federations of Los Angeles and Washington DC, Ariel returned to Buenos Aires to lead Hacoaj. He has also worked as CEO of Ieladeinu – a Chabad program created to serve and protect Jewish children victims of violence and abuse. Ariel has collaborated with the Maccabi World Union and JCC Global in several international programs and recently helped create the Latin American Jewish Professionals Network. He participated in NGF 20 which took place in Uruguay in 2008.
Ariel is married to Judith and is the father of Matias, Lara, and Milena.
PROGRAM GOALS
- To provide a space for training and networking among Jewish professionals who share professional and communal interests
- To create working groups based on specific themes, giving the participants the opportunity to design their own training content
- To create continent-crossing connections, both professional and personal
HIGHLIGHTS
- 43 participants – 35 contributors to the program
- The rich diversity in the groups
- The outstanding quality of the faculty
WHAT'S NEXT
In a comprehensive evaluation of the program, there was consensus on the importance of carrying out the program again at another time of the year.
