Personal Growth. Professional Purpose.
M² Aleh Summit for Jewish Federation Professionals 2026
In Partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)
Pearl River, NY
Jewish Federation Early Career Professionals
October 20-22, 2026
Application Deadline: August 17
Aleh, a Hebrew word that means Uplift, gives organizations 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 communal work. Strengthen your ability to communicate, foster relationships, and lead with impact.
GATHERING HIGHLIGHTS
Consider Applying If You…
- Work in a Jewish Federation with 2-5 years overall of professional work experience.
- 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 the Jewish communal field.
Encourage your employee to apply if you...
- Have a highly motivated employee who is committed to Jewish communal work and eager to grow.
- Want to strengthen their connection to Jewish values and their role in the Federation 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.
M² and JFNA: A Strategic Partnership
Aleh, a Hebrew word that means Uplift, is developed in partnership with Jewish Federations of North America, ensuring that every session, discussion, and experience is directly applicable to your role and challenges.
Featured Presenters
FACULTY AND STAFF
MEET ALEH ALUMNI
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, participant tuition is set at $150.
Location: Pearl River, NY
Dates: October 20-22, 2026
Experience: Work in a Jewish Federation with 2-5 years overall of professional work experience.
Commitment: Full participation in the three-day summit and all learning experiences.
Supervisor Endorsement: Organizations are encouraged to provide time and support for participation.
GET INSPIRED
FAQ
Aleh is an initiative of M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education, developed in partnership with Jewish Federations of North America. The summit is designed exclusively for Federation professionals, ensuring that every session, discussion, and experience is directly applicable to your role and challenges.
Information on presenters, schedules, and sessions are forthcoming.
The gathering is designed for those who:
- Are Federation professionals across North America with 2-5 years overall of professional experience
- Want to sharpen their skills, expand their 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 their work
- Want to return with new tools that enhance their impact in the Jewish communal field
If you have any questions as to whether Aleh is a good fit for you, please contact Becca Shimshak at Rebecca.Shimshak@JewishFederations.org.
Aleh is valued $3,300 per participant. Thanks to the generosity of our funders, 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
- Upload a headshot
- Attach your resume
- Share your LinkedIn profile
We recommend preparing these materials before beginning your application. If you need assistance preparing any of these pieces (such as creating a LinkedIn profile), please contact Becca Shimshak at Rebecca.Shimshak@
Please note that the application deadline is August 17.
If you know a Jewish Federation professional who is eligible for Aleh, you can nominate them using this form.
Eligibility criteria can be found above. Thank you in advance for spreading the word about Aleh!
October 20-22, 2026. The gathering begins at 12:30 pm Tuesday, October 20 with an optional lunch offering starting at 11:00 am. Programming will conclude by 3:00 pm on Thursday, October 22.
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 October 20 and 21 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 Becca Shimshak at Rebecca.Shimshak@JewishFederations.org.
Please contact Becca Shimshak at Rebecca.Shimshak@JewishFederations.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.