The theme of this Fellowship was Raising Jewish Consciousness in the 21st Century and focused heavily on addressing the Jewish, ideological, and sociological changes that would shape the lives of the Fellows and their communities in the future. The very robust program covered the multiple facets and challenges of Jewish leadership, and encouraged productive discussions between Fellows, who displayed a deep commitment to their work and an eagerness to learn and connect.

Sessions during the program included:
Jewish Consciousness and the Changing Sociology of Jewish Life
The Jewish People Today: Between Determinism and Freedom
The Impact of the Holocaust on Contemporary Jewish Thought
The Challenges and Responsibilities of Jewish Leadership: A Panel of Distinguished Jewish Leaders

An exceptional Faculty was assembled for NGF 10 that also reflected the diversity of the Fellows and included:

Professor Aharon Appelfeld, Internationally known author and nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature, Jerusalem, Israel
Dr. Steven Bayme, Director of Contemporary Jewish Life at the American Jewish Committee, New York, NY USA
Dr. Benjamin Ish-Shalom, Rector of Beit Morasha, Jerusalem, Israel
Professor Aviezer Ravitzky, 2001 Recipient of Israel Prize in Philosophy, Jerusalem, Israel

Professor Michael Rosenak, Former Mandel Professor of Jewish Education at The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Dr. Rina Rosenberg, Private Psychologist, Jerusalem, Israel
Professor Shalom Rosenberg, Professor at the Department of Jewish Thought, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Professor Anita Shapira, Professor of Jewish History at Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

In addition to the Faculty-led sessions and small group workshops, Fellows had the opportunities to hold evening discussion groups that addressed themes such as: The Future of Our Communities, Community Profiles, and What Can We Learn From Each Other? Fellows were also taken to visit Stockholm for a day to learn more about the Swedish Jewish community.

As part of the educational arc of the Fellowship, there was a screening of the film, ‘The Secret’ by Israeli director Ronit Kertsner, which had been recently shown on Israeli television. The film dealt with the new Jews of Poland whose parents were hidden during WWII by Christians, and subsequently raised by them. One of the children depicted in the movie, Leszek Piszewski, was one of the two Fellows from Poland present at the program.

The Shabbat experience proved once more to be one of connection and renewal with an emotional and meaningful service led by various Fellows, highlighting the Fellowship’s unique way of bridging the wide range of Jewish practice among its participants.