Israel is an integral part of Jewish identity, peoplehood, education, and Jewish communal leadership today.

At the same time, engaging with the topic of Israel is increasingly complex and emotionally charged, both inside and outside the Jewish community. That is why Spertus Institute is bringing its transformative cohort-based approach – honed through decades of teaching graduate-level classes – to train teams of professionals and lay leaders together, enabling them to lead their institutions with greater depth, balance, and vision on Israel.  

What sets Spertus’ Certificate in Israel Leadership apart is its unique theory of change – ensuring buy-in at the highest levels of lay and executive leadership while also training educators and professionals to navigate today’s complex landscape of issues. This approach prepares institutions to transform challenging moments into opportunities for growth and identity formation.  

The Certificate in Israel Leadership aims to: 

• Deepen professionals’ and lay leaders’ understanding of Israel through a values-driven, multi-narrative lens
• Enhance skills for navigating difficult topics and conversations with constituencies 
• Prepare participants to navigate the complex emotional landscape of our relationship with Israel  
• Support institutions to build a mission-aligned, resilient, and reflective culture around Israel education 

Why Spertus?

In her award-winning research, “Barriers to Entry: Exploring Educator Reticence for Engaging with the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” Dr. Keren Fraiman, Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Spertus Institute, identifies four major challenges facing Israel education today: 1) limited content knowledge, 2) facilitating difficult conversations, 3) addressing the emotions of the Israel conversation, and 4) lack of systemic support.  

Spertus is uniquely positioned to address these barriers head-on through our cohort-based learning experiences grounded in values-based education and real-world application. Spertus Institute is perceived as a trusted, relevant, and academic voice that attracts Jewish educators, professionals, and leaders with diverse views looking for a space to learn, experiment, grow, and be vulnerable. With over one hundred years of experience bringing cohorts together for learning and an entrepreneurial spirit to tackle the most challenging issues of our day, Spertus Institute offers guidance to leaders from different sectors of the Jewish community to navigate this complex time we are in.