Community Cohorts
Transformative Cohort Experiences
Equipping educators with academic, innovative, and applicable approaches to values exploration, experiential design and identity development.
“M² is the destination for soulful, intellectual, and personal advancement… Through its rigor, ingenuity, and innovative training, M² has lifted the role of Jewish educators. If you’re looking for a community of practice and training in experiential education, M² will be catalytic to your personal and professional growth.”
Andy Kastner
Relational Engagement Circle 1 (2018-2019)
“To work closely with the M² team has allowed me to start to develop the foundations of my organization’s Jewish educational philosophy, which we can build upon for years to come. To be able to focus on this work in a cohort of people who are doing so as well is exactly what sets M² apart.”
Jessy Dressin
18x18 (2021-2022)
“M² created a program that was high-level, methodical, relevant, and that pushed us forward… I had to articulate my goals and my path as a Jewish educator– and it changed my entire trajectory.”
Liron Lipinsky
Senior Educators Cohort 2 (2017-2018) & 18x18 (2021-2022)
“M² provided my team with a beautiful balance of theory and practice… They do an excellent job of balancing different modalities of learning, including interactive learning, chevruta learning, and time for reflection. The learning is serious and sophisticated – and worthy of educators’ time.”
Jason Leivenberg
Power in 2020 (2020)
“I appreciated the rich opportunity to be with wise Jewish educators from all over North America, and to be taught by educators who used many media and modes to teach us. I feel like everyone from teachers, staff to participants, went the ‘extra mile’ to be engaged, to work hard, to be conscientious and diligent.”
Shelly Barnathan
Relational Engagement Circle 2
“From the teachers to the design of the workshops, from the cohort to the flow of the seminars, each flowed into each other with ease and intentionality. I've gained new understandings, values, and the skills to apply them in a playful way.”
Chanie Chein
Relational Engagement Circle 2
“Thank you to M² for allowing me to be present in an environment that is not my norm. The activities for exploring values were top-notch and I am excited to utilize some of the activities with my staff and to think about how to use them with our participants as well.”
Julie Brodsky
Senior Educators Cohort 4
“M² helped me unearth a process that demands an in-depth exploration and articulation of values. This process that I am still learning is now integrated into my professional and personal practice. It is beyond impactful. In addition, I now have a sense of my vision for the Jewish world. What a gift.”
Rabbi Tova Leibovic-Douglas
Senior Educators Cohort 4
“I feel that I identify more strongly than ever before as a Jewish educator, and certainly have a language and tools to apply therein.”
Noach Pawliger
Senior Educators Cohort 4
Meet our Fellows
Joelle
Kelenson
Director of Recreation
Keshet
Chicago Educators Cohort
Genna
Kahn
Program Director of Teen Volunteering and Philanthropy
Jewish United Fund
Chicago Educators Cohort
Jaclyn
Rassner
Senior Program Associate, JUF Young Families
JUF
Chicago Educators Cohort
Alissa
Zuchman
Director
JTeach Board of Jewish Education
Chicago Educators Cohort
Nicole
Berne
Assistant director
Metro Chicago Hillel
Chicago Educators Cohort
Rachel
Margolis
Associate Director Congregational Innovation and Education
Union for Reform Judaism
Chicago Educators Cohort
Jonathan
Posner
Base Rabbi @ Base Logan Square
Metro Chicago Hillel/Base
Chicago Educators Cohort
Mashi
Polstein
Director
Jewish Family Experience (NCSY)
Chicago Educators Cohort
Educational Resources
Crossroads Cards: Israel Edition
REAL DILEMMAS. REAL CHOICES. REAL CONVERSATION. Brought to you by M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education, Crossroads: Israel Edition places you inside real moments connected to Israel and Jewish life, where identity, responsibility, belonging, and values pull in different directions. Each card ends at a true crossroads, inviting reflection and conversation when there is...
