Mazel Tov to our Leaders!
Certificate in Jewish Leadership – Cohort 19
Spertus Institute wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to our most recent cohort of the Certificate in Jewish Leadership (CJL), a partnership between Spertus Institute and Northwestern University on completing their learning.
Meet the Leaders of Cohort 19
Spanning North America, the leaders of Cohort 19 reflect the geographic and organizational diversity of Jewish leadership today. Participants represent a range of communities and institutions, underscoring the program’s far-reaching impact.
Their contributions to their organizations and the broader Jewish community exemplify the program’s mission to inspire and support effective, dynamic leadership.
Andrea Alfi of Irvine, CA
Director, Leadership Engagement and Community Relations, Jewish Federation of Orange County
Sarah Balagey of San Francisco, CA
Program Manager, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco
Laura Chekow of Rochester, NY
Board Member, Temple Sinai, Penfield New York
Erin Evans of Chicago, IL
Sales Associate, Venue SIX10, Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership
Avram Pachter of Chicago, IL
Director of Business Operations, United Synagogue Youth
Danielle Ross of Brooklyn, NY
Director of Development and Marketing, American Friends of Meir Panim
Jessica Tobacman of Naperville, IL (Not Pictured)
Cantorial Soloist, Joliet Jewish Congregation
Danielle Upbin of Clearwater, FL
Rabbi/Director of Lifelong Learning, Congregation Beth Shalom
We are proud to add Cohort 19 to the Spertus community of changemakers and look forward to their continued contributions.
Transformative Learning
Throughout their three-month journey, these professionals adopted new leadership practices and built lasting relationships with peers from across North America. Cohort 19 was offered entirely online, enabling greater access to Spertus learning for interested students who can’t travel. The CJL coursework included Jewish leadership models, communication strategies, leading through change, and collaboration and power sharing. In addition, they learned from their personalized leadership assessments for self-reflection and goal setting. As they advance in their careers, they bring with them an invaluable network of peer leaders and supportive faculty.
From the very first session, the Certificate in Jewish Leadership strengthened my leadership practice and offered insights I immediately put to use by sharing resources and ideas across my community.
– Andrea Alfi, Director, Leadership Engagement and Community Relations, Jewish Federation of Orange County, Irvine, CA
Learn More
Applications for Cohort 20 are now open! Discover how the Certificate in Jewish Leadership program can shape your leadership journey! The upcoming cohort will be hybrid, with sessions both online and in-person at Spertus.
Click the button below to make an appointment to talk to Amie Barrish, Associate Director for Recruitment, to find out if the Certificate in Jewish Leadership is right for you.