Elevating educators. Strengthening Jewish life.
Kehillot: M²’s Community Fellowships
Kehillot is a new initiative empowering mid-level Jewish educators to strengthen their communities and shape the future of Jewish life.
Launching in 2025 in Boston, Toronto, and the Greater D.C. area, Kehillot selects 25 leading educators and engagement professionals in each community to build a local Jewish ecosystem.
INVEST IN YOUR PASSION
Kehillot helps you grow as a Jewish educator by giving you the tools, vision, and network to expand your leadership and deepen your impact. It’s an investment in your passion, in your community, and in the future of Jewish life.
EXPLORE AND EXPERIMENT
Through three immersive seminars, local Community of Practice gatherings, and support from M² faculty, you’ll explore new ideas, apply them in real time, and grow professionally, while connecting with peers and strengthening your work in your own community.
BUILD YOUR COMMUNITY
Join educators and engagement professionals from Boston, Toronto, and Greater D.C. who are committed to strengthening Jewish life through shared learning, collaboration, and support, building meaningful relationships within your city and across a growing network of peers.
AN 18-MONTH JOURNEY
From August/September 2025 to March 2027, three seminars will introduce you to new ideas, methods, and models of community. Seminars are held in Boston, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.
VALUES IN ACTION
Why are Jewish values central to our work, and how can they guide us in building vibrant local ecosystems? This seminar explores how values-based leadership can inspire purpose, navigate complexity, and strengthen the relationships that shape meaningful Jewish life in your community.
DIMENSIONS OF JEWISH LIFE
How can we better understand the Jewish lives of those we serve and design experiences that reflect their full potential? This seminar will introduce you to M²’s 18x18 Framework, helping you map your community, surface needs and aspirations, and design deeper, more expansive Jewish experiences.
DESIGN OF EXPERIENCES
How can we design educational experiences that deeply resonate with participants and leave a lasting impact? In this seminar, you will explore tools and frameworks for creating transformative learning moments that engage participants and empower them to make personal meaning from their experiences.
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
As the “glue” between seminars, local Community of Practice meetings offer you a space to reflect, apply new ideas, share experiences, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Local Gatherings will take place on the following dates*:
**Final times will be announced prior to Seminar 1.
Boston |
|---|
Tues, Sept 9, 2025 |
Wed, Jan 14, 2026 |
Thurs, March 12, 2026 |
Wed, Sept 2, 2026 |
Mon, Dec 14, 2026 |
Thurs, March 11, 2027 |
Toronto |
|---|
Mon, Aug 11, 2025 |
Thurs, Jan 8, 2026 |
Wed, March 11, 2026 |
April 27 / May 1, 2026 |
Thurs, Aug 13, 2026 |
Oct 14 / Nov 3, 2026 |
Tues, Dec 8, 2026 |
Thurs, March 4, 2027 |
Washington D.C. |
|---|
Wed, Aug 20, 2025 |
Thurs, Jan 22, 2026 |
Tues, March 10, 2026 |
Thurs, Aug 20, 2026 |
Wed, Dec 10, 2026 |
Thurs, March 18, 2027 |
*These dates are subject to change.
IF YOU WANT TO…
Be part of a pioneering initiative that strengthens Jewish communities across Boston, Toronto, and Greater D.C.
Enhance your leadership skills and make a lasting impact on your community
Collaborate with like-minded professionals who share your commitment to Jewish communal life
Integrate Jewish values into your leadership and educational practices
AND IF YOU ARE…
A mid-level professional with 5-10 years of experience living in Boston, Toronto or Greater D.C.
A Program Director, Assistant Director, Community Manager, or similar role
Eager to enhance your skills in Jewish educational leadership and communal engagement
Ready to make a courageous commitment to building a stronger Jewish community
...then you belong with us!
Meet past fellows
Faculty
Mollie
Andron
VP of Programs, M²
Mollie has over 10 years experience teaching in a variety of Jewish educational settings – from formal classroom teaching to nature education, theatre education to collaborative philanthropy education. She enjoys being in the field, as well as building programs and trainings to support others. Mollie holds a double Masters in Midrash and Jewish Experiential Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary, a BA in Religion from Bard College, and is a graduate of M²’s Senior Educators Cohort.
She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and children.
Debbi
Cooper
VP of Partnerships, M²
Debbi Cooper is the VP of Partnerships at M². Previously Debbi served as the Director of Engagement for PJ Library and Associate Vice President, Community Outreach & Engagement of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. She is the immediate past Chair of the Board for Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, a pluralistic Jewish Day School in Chicago. She is a graduate of M²’s Senior Educators Cohort and a current 18×18 fellow.
Debbi graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and has a Master’s in Public Administration/Non-profit management from George Mason University. Debbi lives in Chicago with her husband, Aaron, and their three children: Gabe, Judah, and Noah. She schleps her family on hikes and bikes, makes big dinners upon their return and can often be found hiding out with a good book.
Clare
Goldwater
Chief Strategy Officer, M²
Clare Goldwater is a Jewish educator and leadership coach with expertise in professional and organizational development and experiential education. Working in close partnership with a wide range of organizations, Clare oversees the development, dissemination of M²’s approach and ideas about experiential Jewish education, through consulting projects to Jewish organizations, publications, curricula materials, and more. Clare has a BA in English Literature from Oxford University, an MA in Jewish Education from Hebrew University, and a Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University. She also holds passports from those three countries and lives in Jerusalem with her family.
Rachel
Hillman
Program Lead
Rachel Hillman is a Jewish educator and leader with nearly two decades of experience in engagement, innovation, and leadership development. She is passionate about helping individuals and communities thrive.
Rachel can be reached at rachel@ieje.org.
Andrea
Lieber
Kehillot Greater DC ’25 Community Convener
Andrea Lieber is Professor of Religion at Dickinson College and for the past 15 summers has served as educational director at Camp Ramah in the Poconos. She specializes in mysticism, gender studies, and environmentalism in Judaism, and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, technology, and religion.
Andrea can be reached at alieber@ieje.org.
Abby
Mintz
Senior Program Director, M²
Abby joined M² in 2022 as Program Director of the Center for Values in Action and spent her career prior to that working in a variety of settings including Jewish camping, academia, and as a clinical therapist. Abby is a graduate of M²’s Camp Educator’s Cohort and the current community coordinator for M²’s Chicago Educator’s Cohort. Abby lives in Evanston with her partner Zach, her 3 adorable kiddos Max, Ayla, and Asa, as well as her mini shih-tzu Badger.
Eligibility
TUITION:
$1,500 USD / $2,200 CAD for double occupancy
(with an optional $1,200 USD / $1,700 CAD supplement for single occupancy)
Kehillot is valued at $17,500 USD for each participant. Thanks to national and local funders tuition is set at $1,500 USD / $2,200 CAD.
There are limited scholarships available.
FAQ
Every two years, M² partners with three communities to launch an 18-month fellowship for mid-level Jewish educators and engagement professionals. The program includes three immersive seminars (one in each community), ongoing local gatherings, and personalized support to help fellows deepen their leadership and impact.
In addition to participation in the program itself, tuition covers all flights to seminars, lodging and meals, and any additional seminar-related expenses. All seminars will be double occupancy, with the option for upgrading to single occupancy for an additional fee.
Kehillot is designed for mid-level Jewish professionals (5-10 years of experience) in the fields of Jewish education, community leadership, or engagement. Ideal candidates will hold positions such as Program Director, Assistant Director, or Community Manager.
The program includes three immersive seminars—one in Boston, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.—bringing all fellows together; local Community of Practice gatherings for each city’s cohort, held both in person and virtually; and ongoing support from M² faculty and a local Community Convener.
Kehillot is an 18-month fellowship that runs from August/September 2025 to March 2027. Fellows will attend seminars and participate in local gatherings during this period.
Fellows are expected to attend all three in-person seminars and local Community of Practice gatherings in their community. You will also work closely with your Community Convener throughout the program.
Typically, fellows’ organizations sponsor their tuition. However, if this is not the case and you need additional assistance, please reach out to us.
Applications for the program open on April 22, 2025, and close on May 29, 2025. Interviews will take place in June 2025, and participants will be notified of their acceptance by July 1, 2025. The program officially begins with local Community of Practice gatherings in August/September 2025.
Kehillot will enhance your leadership skills and provide you with tools and methodologies that you can apply directly to your work in Jewish education, community leadership, and engagement. Through seminars, local gatherings, and ongoing support, you’ll gain new perspectives on integrating Jewish values into your leadership and strengthen your ability to create meaningful, impactful educational experiences within your community.
If you feel passionate about the program but don’t meet all the qualifications, we encourage you to apply. We will review applications on a case-by-case basis and will be in touch if you need further discussion about your application.
Each Kehillot cohort is co-funded by a national philanthropic partner and the local community, with each contributing equally to support the program. Local contributions often come from federations, foundations, and individual philanthropists. Tuition offsets a small portion of the total cost.
Communities interested in hosting a future Kehillot cohort should begin conversations with M² early. We work closely with each community to build a funding partnership and ensure strong local alignment. For more information contact Rachel Hillman at rachel@ieje.org.
Kehillot: M² Community Fellowships are generously funded by The Beker Foundation; The Bennett Family Philanthropic Fund; Combined Jewish Philanthropies; The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington; Maimonides Fund; The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
Questions? Please reach out to Rachel Hillman at rachel@ieje.org.