THE M² EXPERIENCE
J U L Y 2 0 2 6
In these days following Tisha B'Av, as we start looking ahead to the renewal of Rosh Hashanah, M² CEO Shuki Taylor invites us to hold both conviction and humility: to stand firmly with what we believe in, while remaining capable of questioning ourselves.
Shuki’s recent op-ed for The Algemeiner reflects on the importance of looking inward to consider how we can build Jewish communities more capable of listening, learning, and growing.
What's Next
M² Aleh Summits For Early-Career Professionals
Now Accepting Applications
Aleh is a three-day summit equipping early-career professionals at Jewish communal organizations with the skills, insights, and networks to thrive in their work. With four upcoming Summits, Aleh is heavily subsidized and open to all professionals at Jewish organizations, no matter their role or Jewish background.
Talking Torah: How to Use Shabbat Crossroads Cards
Crossroads Cards: Shabbat Discussions are centered around real-life dilemmas that young people can relate to – a fight with a sibling, a group chat that went too far, a rule that feels unfair. With 54 cards, each card connects the dilemma with that week's parsha, the weekly Torah portion, relating everyday life to a larger question that Jewish tradition has been wrestling with for generations.
Join our upcoming free virtual workshop on September 2 to learn how to bring the cards into your own classroom, youth group, or Shabbat dinner table and spark thoughtful, lively discussions.
📆 Wednesday, September 2 | 9am PT / 12pm ET / 7pm Israel time | Zoom
M² in Action
A Much Needed Pause
The inaugural M² Summer Retreat for Israeli Educators took place this month just outside Jerusalem, with 15 veteran educators from across the field. Packed full of self-reflective activities – including hands-on workshops like baking, qigong, and building self-portraits, as well as havruta study, creative writing, professional development models, and storytelling. Click below for photos from the retreat.
Ideas & Insights
The Stories We Carry
Senior Program Director Rachel Hillman shared an essay on M²’s blog that beautifully connects her lifelong love of Jewish books with M²’s approach to experiential Jewish education: ideas become meaningful when they are not only read, but lived.
Investing in the Infrastructure to Respond to Climate Change
In an op-ed for eJewishPhilanthropy, SEC 5 alum Rabbi Laura Bellows, Director of Spiritual Activism and Education at Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, writes about the urgency for communities to invest in the physical and spiritual infrastructure needed to respond to climate change.
The Day After Graduation
M² alumni Rabbi Peretz Chein and Chanie Chein, co-founders of Chabad at Brandeis and M54: The Institute for Insourcing, reflect on how to instill a strong Jewish identity for students after they've graduated college, in an op-ed for eJewishPhilanthropy.
Israeli Emissaries and the Power of Connection
Mabat 1 alum Gal Atia, Head of Delegation and Chief Program Officer for North America at the Jewish Agency for Israel, was featured on the Israeli Bond Podcast.
Community Spotlight
Welcome to the M² Family!
The entire M² team wishes a huge Mazal Tov to our Systems and Operations Manager Rena Bessner, who welcomed a baby boy this month!
Rachel Harris joined the M² team in Jerusalem as our Operations Coordinator, taking over Rena's responsibilities. Rachel is a Pardes alum who made Aliyah from London in 2024, and we're so glad her path has brought her to M².
Mazal Tov to Our Alumni
Mabat 1 alum Haggai Kimmelman joined Mosaic United as
its Vice President of Informal Education.
Have you started a new position? Published a thought leadership piece? Received an award?
Please let us know so we can congratulate you and update our community and our records.
M²: THE INSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENTIAL JEWISH EDUCATION