Personal Growth. Professional Purpose.
M² Aleh Summit for JCC Movement Professionals 2026
In partnership with JCC Association of North America
Pearl River, NY
JCC and JCC Camp Professionals
November 10-12, 2026
Aleh, a Hebrew word that means Uplift, gives JCCs the opportunity to invest in their rising professionals, ensuring they are supported, inspired, and prepared to strengthen Jewish communal life.
At the heart of Aleh are three value-centered goals:
MOTIVATE
Motivate your work with a sense of calling and a deep connection to your mission, seeing it as a meaningful and noble pursuit. Fueled by passion, you will recognize your essential role in shaping the Jewish community.
NAVIGATE
Navigate complex conversations on Israel, antisemitism, and communal divides by applying Jewish values as a guiding framework. Gain the clarity and confidence to engage thoughtfully and effectively in your work.
CULTIVATE
Cultivate the skills, tools, and networks needed to excel in Jewish community work. Strengthen your ability to communicate, foster relationships, and lead with impact.
GATHERING HIGHLIGHTS
Consider Applying If You…
- Work in a JCC or JCC camp with 2-5 years of professional work experience in total (including previously held positions within or outside of the JCC Movement)
- Want to sharpen your skills, expand your knowledge, and grow professionally
- Seek a like-minded cohort to learn with and build lasting connections
- Are ready to engage, reflect, and gain fresh perspectives on your work
- Want to return with new tools that enhance your impact in your JCC or Jewish community
Encourage your employee to apply if you...
- Have a highly motivated employee who is committed to JCC or Jewish community work and eager to grow.
- Want to strengthen their connection to Jewish values and their role in the JCC system.
- See their potential for advancement and want to equip them with practical skills for donor engagement, community programming, and stakeholder relationships.
- Know that investing in their development will enhance their impact and strengthen your organization’s long-term success.
Note that Aleh is open to all JCC and JCC Camp professionals, regardless of role, faith, Jewish knowledge, or background.
JCC Association of North America and M²: A Strategic Partnership
Aleh, the Hebrew word for “uplift,” is a partnership between JCC Association of North America and M², developed as part of JCC Association’s strategic framework and its three Centers of Excellence: the Center for Talent Development, the Center for Jewish Peoplehood, and the Center for Innovation and Impact. The Aleh curriculum is framed by the focus of each center, ensuring that every session, discussion, and experience is directly relevant to your role and the challenges you face.
Featured Presenters
FACULTY AND STAFF
Eligibility
To request more information for the upcoming program, please submit your email address below. We’ll be in touch shortly.
Eligibility
Tuition & Funding: Aleh is valued at $3,300 per person. Thanks to our funders and partnership with JCC Association, participant tuition is set at $150. Those accepted to Aleh are required to cover transportation to and from the summit.
Aleh is available to Ambassador and Partner level JCCs and JCC Camps. Those from Affiliate level JCCs may apply and will be added if a spot becomes available.
Location: Pearl River, NY
Dates: November 10-12, 2026
Experience: Work in a JCC or JCC Camp with 2-5 years of professional work experience in total
Commitment: Full participation in the three-day summit and all learning experiences
CEO Endorsement: Applicants will only be considered for Aleh with the endorsement of their CEO
GET INSPIRED
FAQ
Aleh is an initiative of M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education, developed in partnership with JCC Association of North America. The summit is designed exclusively for JCC and JCC camp professionals, ensuring that every session, discussion, and experience is directly applicable to your role and challenges.
Information on presenters, schedules, and sessions are forthcoming.
Aleh is open to JCC and JCC Camp professionals, regardless of role, faith, Jewish knowledge, or background.
The summit is designed for those who have a total of 2-5 years of full-time professional work experience (including previously held positions within or outside of the JCC Movement).
Aleh is available to Ambassador and Partner level JCCs and JCC Camps. Those from Affiliate level JCCs may apply and will be added if a spot becomes available.
If you have any questions as to whether Aleh is a good fit for you, please contact Rabbi David Kessel at d.kessel@jcca.org.
Aleh is valued $3,300 per participant. Thanks to the generosity of our funders and the JCC movement, who are committed to investing in your growth, participant tuition is set at $150. Attendees will be responsible for flights and ground transportation to/from the summit, but will not have additional housing expenses.
To complete the application, you will be asked to:
- Respond to a few short-answer questions
- Share your bio
We recommend preparing these materials before beginning your application. If you need assistance preparing any of these pieces, please contact Rabbi David Kessel at d.kessel@jcca.org.
If you know a JCC professional who is eligible for Aleh, you can simply forward them a link to this page, encouraging them to apply! You can copy and paste this link: https://ieje.org/events/aleh-jcca-2026/
Eligibility criteria can be found above. Thank you in advance for spreading the word about Aleh!
November 10-12, 2026. The gathering begins at 12:30 pm Tuesday, November 10 with an optional lunch offering starting at 11:00 am. Programming will conclude by 3:00 pm on Thursday, November 12.
The gathering will be held in Pearl River, NY. As the dates approach, registered participants will receive detailed information.
Hotel rooms are booked for you for the nights of November 10 and 11 once you register for the program. All rooms are single occupancy (no roommate). In an effort to participate in the full experience and contribute to the community building, all participants should plan to stay overnight at the hotel, even if they live nearby.
All food included in the registration cost is strictly kosher.
It is important that all participants make their very best effort to attend the gathering once you have registered so that we are able to accurately monitor our attendee numbers for meals, space, and other key components of our convening. If you need to cancel, we ask that you please inform us as soon as possible with an email to Rabbi David Kessel at d.kessel@jcca.org.
Please contact Rabbi David Kessel at d.kessel@jcca.org.
Aleh is part of the M² Values in Action initiative supported by the Jim Joseph Foundation, Maimonides Fund, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and The Paul E. Singer Foundation.
The Aleh Summit is generously funded by the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation and The Marcus Foundation.
For more information, contact M² Senior Program Director Abby Mintz at abby@ieje.org.