Ten years ago this month, I sent an email announcing the establishment of M², an organization that would “provide training and research to advance the field of experiential Jewish education” and would “invest in the growth of its educators and practitioners.”
The name M², I explained, held two meanings. Machshava and Ma’aseh—intention and action—are “two values whose interplay is at the core of Jewish life.” And Melechet Machshevet—deliberate craft—evoke the building of the Mishkan, “one of Judaism’s greatest creative educational expressions.”
When I read those words today, I am moved by how much of the future was already present in them.
Being a Jewish educator is one of the most noble professions. It carries the profound responsibility of helping people encounter Judaism as a living source of meaning, wisdom, and purpose. Every generation experiences Jewish life through those who interpret its traditions, embody its values, create transformative experiences, and help others find their place within the Jewish story.
At the heart of M² is a simple conviction: Jewish life will never be stronger than the people who convey it. That belief has guided us from the very beginning—to celebrate this profession, invest in its practitioners, elevate its standing, and honor the extraordinary role Jewish educators play in shaping the future of Jewish life.
M² did not grow because of a major campaign or an established institutional platform. It grew because educators came to our programs, experienced something that honored the seriousness of their work, and told others to come too. Again and again, participants returned to their communities with the same message for their friends and colleagues:
You owe this to yourself.
That pattern of growth means a great deal to me. It reflects educators’ hunger to deepen their craft, strengthen their purpose, and belong to a community that recognizes the importance of their work.
Today, thousands of educators have learned with M² and carried that learning into camps, campuses, schools, synagogues, federations, community centers, and organizations across the Jewish world. I am deeply proud of that reach, and even more proud of what it represents: a growing recognition that Jewish education is central to Jewish life and that Jewish educators are among the most important builders, interpreters, and leaders of the Jewish people.
The world of September 2026 is dramatically different from the world in which M² was launched. Over the past decade, Jewish educators have led through a pandemic, wars, political upheaval, institutional change, and profound shifts in the ways people understand identity, community, belonging, and Jewish life.
M² has grown and adapted in response to these realities. What began as an investment in experiential Jewish educators has evolved into a mission of expanding the creativity and capacity of educators, professionals, leaders, and organizations across the Jewish world, in North America, Israel, Europe, and South America.
At every stage, extraordinary staff members, faculty, board members, funders, partners, alumni, and educators have shaped M². They have brought wisdom, trust, creativity, generosity, and conviction to the work. Many saw possibilities I could not yet see and helped M² become more ambitious, more responsive, and more consequential.
Throughout the next year, we will mark our milestone 10th anniversary together, celebrating the people, partnerships, ideas, and moments that have shaped M² and continue to do so. We will share stories from our community, reflect on what we’ve learned, and ask what the next decade requires of us.
The questions facing Jewish life will continue to change. The need for wise, imaginative, purposeful Jewish educators will not. Our task is to honor them, strengthen them, and equip them to help Jewish life flourish.
We owe it to them—and to the learners and communities they serve.
Shuki Taylor is the CEO and Founder of M².
Share your memories, photos, and videos from M² programs and events with our community, or explore all of our 10th-anniversary features.