Partners in Jewish Life

Description

We believe for a pilot the best place to begin is our local synagogues and your respective boards or leadership. To that end, we are asking for a number of things. We are looking to pilot this on January 7, 2026, from 7 PM to 9 PM, with a small but influential group of Jewish leaders. We will share both physical and spiritual nourishment, sharing with one another. If successful, our goal would be to gather the group every two months.
• Your synagogue will be an ‘official sponsor.” What does that mean?
o A member of the clergy team attends the program. They are not teaching and do not need to teach. Like others, they will be paired with others.
o A key professional from your team attends the program, along with three or four people you identify as having leadership potential in your synagogue.
o Reach out to those members you have identified, and send them the following link, which gathers information so we can create small groups of diverse individuals. (We will pair people with those who are local so they can be able to connect personally if they would like.) https://jewishmiami.jotform.com/252824880672061
o Please send us the names, synagogue, phone, and email in the following forms, and we will send them a personal invitation as well, saying they were identified. https://jewishmiami.jotform.com/252824915776065
o There is no financial obligation for the synagogue.
• As for the participants:
o All participants will receive a book by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
o We will offer the opportunity for these pods of learners to take advantage of the Hadar Project Zug Curriculum, which includes over thirty classes that people may choose to learn together. These curricula are generally underwritten through adult Jewish Learning of CAJE.
o Participants will be invited to future evenings of learning together.
o Participants will receive special invitations to join in learning sessions with Hadar Scholars that will be coming to Miami this year.
That is it. We will pair the individuals, according to regions, and if successful we will do mini programs locally to deepen the relationships. Our first session will consider what it means to be a ‘chosen people,’ a concept often misunderstood and in a modern context may even be problematic for some.
At the end of the year, we hope to gather together for a major gathering to celebrate Rabbi Sacks thought, a siyum of sorts.
Thank you for seriously considering a program that we believe will enrich our community, but just as importantly, enrich those who participate.

With Blessing,
Joseph Givner- Chair, Miami Partners In Jewish Learning
Rabbi Eli Wolf- Chair, Synagogue Federation Relations Committee
Stuart Ratzen- Chair, Synagogue Federation Relations Committee

Cc:
Michelle Labgold
Rabbi Frederick Klein
Bella Krieger Tendler