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Dear Friend,
“In every generation, a person is obligated to see themselves as though they personally went out of Egypt.”
This Passover, that familiar line lands differently. We are in a moment shaped by uncertainty and a heaviness that many of us are carrying. And still, we turn to the Seder table, to a story that does not ignore hardship, but insists on moving through it.
At M², we see this as core to the work of Jewish educators: creating spaces for people to gather, question, and connect, especially when times are hard. This month, we saw it in action through Yamim, where educators shared visions of Israel rooted in complexity and hope, and our Symposium, which opened new pathways into T’fillah and Jewish Peoplehood.
At a time that can feel fractured, these moments of connection, reflection, and shared experience offer a sense of steadiness – and a way to keep showing up for one another.
Wishing you a meaningful and Happy Passover - Chag sameach!
Warmly,
The M² Team
A MILESTONE FOR OUR RESEARCH FELLOWS
This month, 22 M² Research Fellows in Pedagogies of Peoplehood and T’fillah presented in our virtual Symposium, sharing their innovative resources, pedagogies, and reflections for the first time. Over 200 participants from across the field came together to explore new approaches to Jewish Peoplehood and T’fillah.
AND THAT'S A WRAP ON YAMIM 2026!
Thank you to the 250+ participants in Yamim 2026: Visions and Values across four cities, and virtually. We concluded our final training in New York this month, engaging participants in conversation around Israel’s early visionaries. We can't wait to see all the different ways you use these new frameworks and tools in your own communities for the upcoming Yamim.
VALUES IN ACTION TRAINING IN AUSTIN
We were proud to run our final Values in Action training with the JCC Association at Shalom Austin, with over 60 JCC professionals from across Texas. Professionals from 50 JCCs have now been trained in the Values in Action approach, exploring how values can be activated in the day-to-day work of building vibrant Jewish communities.
מועדים חדשים לתוכניות המכון לחינוך חווייתי בישראל
אנשי ונשות חינוך, השנה הזאת לא הייתה כמו שציפינו. לשנה הבאה, נגיע עם הכלים הנכונים. עדכנו את מועדי התכניות שלנו, המוצעות החל מחודש מאי בעלות מסובסדת במיקומים שונים ברחבי הארץ:
מרחב ערכים: בואו לחשוב מחדש על הערכים שמניעים אותנו בעשייה החינוכית בעת הזו.
📆 מעלות תרשיחא, אחוזת אסיינדה ביער, 24-26.5.26 | הרי ירושלים, יד השמונה, 21-23.6.26
יתד: בואו לחקור כיצד נחנך לעתיד טוב יותר, להצטייד בשפה ובכלים מעשיים.
📆 מעלות תרשיחא, אחוזת אסיינדה ביער 24-25.5.26 | שדה בוקר, שרמנ׳ס, 18-19.5.26 | הרי ירושלים, יד השמונה 21-22.6.26
בקרוב! ריטריט קיץ לאנשי ונשות חינוך באמצע הקריירה. פרטים בהמשך
RECLAIMING A JUDAISM OF DOING
"The act of kneading challah, fastening a mezuzah, or chanting Torah aloud does more than symbolize an idea — it anchors that idea in sensory experience, making it retrievable in ways that words alone cannot achieve. When we outsource these acts, we risk turning a lived tradition into an observed one, exchanging participation for consumption."
In the journal SAPIR, M² CEO Shuki Taylor argues Judaism becomes more meaningful when people don’t just learn about it passively but rather build it, make it, wear it, mark it, give through it, and voice it together.
MORE FROM THE M² COMMUNITY:
- M² Chief Program Officer and Deputy CEO Kiva Rabinsky recently co-authored an article in The Algemeiner with Dana Childress of Leading Edge, “Investing in Early Career Professionals Strengthens the Entire Jewish Nonprofit Sector.”
- The M² Hope Study was referenced in a recent piece by Abigail Uhrman, "Rethinking doctoral studies for Jewish communal leadership" in eJewishPhilanthropy.
PASSOVER RESOURCE: FREEDOM
The Passover story invites us to explore freedom as something real, timely, and tangible. Explore our Passover Resource, the Freedom Values Spark, including art, music, poetry, and activities inspired by the value of Freedom.
Want more resources like this? Sign up for the Resource Spotlight to receive timely, curated resources straight to your inbox.
Mazal tov to SEC 8 alum Jonathan Golden, who recently started a new position as Senior Educator at OpenDor Media!
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.
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