WDF Spring Institute: Full Schedule

3:00pm EDT

Refreshments & Registration

Sunday May 11, 2025 3:00pm - 4:45pm EDT

Lake Level Foyer

Sunday May 11, 2025 3:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Lake Level Foyer

Optional

5:00pm EDT

Opening Program

Sunday May 11, 2025 5:00pm - 5:45pm EDT

Rotunda

Faculty and Speakers

Alyssa Bogdanow Arens

Alyssa Bogdanow Arens is a Portfolio Manager at the One8 Foundation, where she works on its Jewish Life and Israel grantmaking team. She previously worked for the American Jewish Committee’s Washington Regional Office, Israel Outdoors, and the Union for Reform Judaism. She received... Read More →

Carly Rosenstein

Carly Rosenstein grew up as an active member of LA Hebrew High School, USY, and Jewish day camps. She holds a BA in Psychology and minor in Applied Developmental Psychology from UCLA and an MA in Education Policy and Administration from Loyola Marymount University. Carly currently... Read More →

Jess Reback

Director, Wexner Davidson Fellowship, The Wexner Foundation

Jess is a creative program leader and dynamic facilitator with more than 12 years of experience in educational leadership. Jess joins The Wexner Foundation from JewishColumbus where she oversaw all aspects of culture and staff development as the Senior Director of Talent and Culture... Read More →

Sunday May 11, 2025 5:00pm - 5:45pm EDT
Rotunda

Main Gathering

6:00pm EDT

Self-Discovery, Healing, and Balance - An Introduction to Mussar

Sunday May 11, 2025 6:00pm - 7:15pm EDT

Rotunda

What is mussar? We will explore this question and encounter Jewish texts that invite us to engage in change work that leads to healing, balance, and growth. With an eye on the middot (character traits) of joy and hitchadshut (renewal), we will orient away from negative obsession toward a path of positive growth.

Faculty and Speakers

Effy Unterman

Sunday May 11, 2025 6:00pm - 7:15pm EDT
Rotunda

Mussar

7:15pm EDT

Dinner

Sunday May 11, 2025 7:15pm - 8:15pm EDT

Willow

Sunday May 11, 2025 7:15pm - 8:15pm EDT
Willow

Break

8:30pm EDT

Improv Skills for Work and Life

Sunday May 11, 2025 8:30pm - 9:15pm EDT

Poplar

Faculty and Speakers

Ariel Halpern

Raised in the Detroit area in a Modern Orthodox community, Ariel attended K-12 Jewish Day School. After graduating, he attended the University of Michigan, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Film Studies. After working in Television in LA and Jewish non-profit in Chicago... Read More →

Sunday May 11, 2025 8:30pm - 9:15pm EDT
Poplar

Main Gathering

8:00am EDT

Breakfast

Monday May 12, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Willow

Dvar Torah:

Faculty and Speakers

Mikah Silverstone

Mikah Silverstone is the Director of the Lese Center for Living Judaism, the supplemental religious school program at Central Synagogue in Manhattan, which currently serves approximately 750 children in PreK-12th grade and their families and aims to create Jewish learning opportunities... Read More →

Monday May 12, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Willow

Break

9:15am EDT

Looking Back, Looking Deeper, Looking Ahead: Reflecting on your leadership progression through the lens of somatic awareness

Monday May 12, 2025 9:15am - 10:45am EDT

Rotunda

By introducing somatic awareness, Fellows will be able to deepen the peer coaching skills they’ve been practicing (also useful for peer consultations) and have a clearer understanding of the leadership challenge they’ll want to address in their 1:1 coaching.

Faculty and Speakers

Maya Doglin

Maya guides individuals and groups as they grapple with existential questions about their leadership identities and communication skills. She also facilitates offsites and retreats that deepen trust among the participants and accelerate planning and decision making.Maya spent a decade... Read More →

Monday May 12, 2025 9:15am - 10:45am EDT
Rotunda

Main Gathering

10:45am EDT

Coffee Break

Monday May 12, 2025 10:45am - 11:15am EDT

Pre-Function 5

Monday May 12, 2025 10:45am - 11:15am EDT
Pre-Function 5

Break

11:15am EDT

Small Group Coaching Wrap Up

Monday May 12, 2025 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT

Rotunda

Faculty and Speakers

Maya Doglin

Monday May 12, 2025 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Rotunda

Main Gathering

12:45pm EDT

Lunch

Monday May 12, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT

Willow

Monday May 12, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT
Willow

Break

1:30pm EDT

Free Time

Monday May 12, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Break

3:00pm EDT

Coffee Break

Monday May 12, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Pre-Function 5

Monday May 12, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Pre-Function 5

Break

3:30pm EDT

The Heat of Challenges: Recognizing the Pressure to Fix and Solve

Monday May 12, 2025 3:30pm - 5:30pm EDT

Rotunda

Faculty and Speakers

Joshua Albert

Associate Partner, KONU

Josh is passionate about supporting mission-driven individuals and teams to make real progress on the things that matter by applying adaptive and developmental practices in their work. Josh worked for eight years with a health justice non-profit, Last Mile Health. He joined the organization... Read More →

Emily Wyner

Engagement Manager, KONU

Emily is a skilled facilitator and communicator who finds joy and meaning in building capacity with and within mission-driven leaders and organizations. She spent her early professional years in women’s and public health, leading change initiatives across 200+ community-facing programs... Read More →

Monday May 12, 2025 3:30pm - 5:30pm EDT
Rotunda

Adaptive Leadership

5:45pm EDT

Stepping Forward vs. Centering In - Two Approaches to Turmoil

Monday May 12, 2025 5:45pm - 7:00pm EDT

Rotunda

This session explores two spiritual responses to turmoil: one that encourages us to face challenges with resilience, and another that invites us to anchor ourselves and let go. We’ll explore how these approaches rely on the middot (character traits) of resilience and equanimity, which can complement each other and build a mussar practice to help face life’s challenges.

Faculty and Speakers

Effy Unterman

Monday May 12, 2025 5:45pm - 7:00pm EDT
Rotunda

Mussar

7:00pm EDT

Dinner

Monday May 12, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

Willow

Monday May 12, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Willow

Break

8:15pm EDT

Fireside Chat with Rabbi Elka Abrahamson

Monday May 12, 2025 8:15pm - 9:15pm EDT

Poplar

Faculty and Speakers

Rabbi Elka Abrahamson

President, The Wexner Foundation

Rabbi B. Elka Abrahamson is President of The Wexner Foundation. She oversees the Foundation’s full range of activities and, in partnership with Foundation chairmen and her mentors, Abigail and Leslie Wexner, imagines how the Foundation might further strengthen and educate Jewish... Read More →

Monday May 12, 2025 8:15pm - 9:15pm EDT
Poplar

Main Gathering

8:00am EDT

Breakfast

Tuesday May 13, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am EDT

Willow

Dvar Torah:

Faculty and Speakers

David Korenthal

David Korenthal is excited to join the Foundation for Jewish Camp team as the Midwest Director. He joins FJC from Hillel International, where he was the Director of Talent Acquisition. There, he worked with mid-career professionals and Jewish educators and Rabbis to bring the best... Read More →

Tuesday May 13, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am EDT
Willow

Break

9:00am EDT

Authority and Leadership: Making Progress from Any Position

Tuesday May 13, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am EDT

Rotunda

Faculty and Speakers

Joshua Albert

Associate Partner, KONU

Emily Wyner

Engagement Manager, KONU

Tuesday May 13, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Rotunda

Adaptive Leadership

11:00am EDT

Coffee Break

Tuesday May 13, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am EDT

Pre-Function 5

Tuesday May 13, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am EDT
Pre-Function 5

Break

11:45am EDT

*Fellow-Led Electives

Tuesday May 13, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT

Fellow-Led Elective

11:45am EDT

Contemporary Antisemitism

Tuesday May 13, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT

Poplar

Faculty and Speakers

Jordanna Gessler

Jordanna Gessler, granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, is Chief Impact Officer at Holocaust Museum LA where she oversees Education, Archives, Exhibits, and Visitor Services. With over 15 years of experience, Jordanna is a visionary leader with a proven track record in leading programs... Read More →

Tuesday May 13, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT
Poplar

Fellow-Led Elective

11:45am EDT

Fundraising 101

Tuesday May 13, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT

Rotunda

Faculty and Speakers

Rebecca Zimilover

Rebecca Zimilover creates opportunities for donors to embrace Israel, the global Jewish community, and tikkun olam. A Senior Development Officer for JDC, Rebecca facilitates values-driven philanthropy and is particularly interested in developing intergenerational channels of support... Read More →

Tuesday May 13, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT
Rotunda

Fellow-Led Elective

12:45pm EDT

Lunch

Tuesday May 13, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT

Willow

Tuesday May 13, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT
Willow

Break

1:30pm EDT

Free Time

Tuesday May 13, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Break

3:00pm EDT

Coffee Break

Tuesday May 13, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Pre-Function 5

Tuesday May 13, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Pre-Function 5

Break

3:30pm EDT

Seeing the System: What’s Really Going On With All These Stakeholders?

Tuesday May 13, 2025 3:30pm - 5:30pm EDT

Rotunda

Faculty and Speakers

Joshua Albert

Associate Partner, KONU

Emily Wyner

Engagement Manager, KONU

Tuesday May 13, 2025 3:30pm - 5:30pm EDT
Rotunda

Adaptive Leadership

5:45pm EDT

Faith and Character - Building a Personal Mussar Practice

Tuesday May 13, 2025 5:45pm - 7:00pm EDT

Rotunda

In our final session together, we will begin to explore new middot (character traits) and lay the foundation for an ongoing personal mussar practice. This work will be grounded in hopefulness and faith - in the future and in ourselves.

Faculty and Speakers

Effy Unterman

Tuesday May 13, 2025 5:45pm - 7:00pm EDT
Rotunda

Mussar

7:00pm EDT

Dinner

Tuesday May 13, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

Willow

Tuesday May 13, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Willow

Break

8:15pm EDT

Class Meeting

Tuesday May 13, 2025 8:15pm - 9:15pm EDT

Poplar

Faculty and Speakers

Eliana Fischel

Rabbi Eliana Fischel believes that Judaism can and should elevate every aspect of our lives, from how we pray to how we relate to others. As an Associate Rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation (WHC), Rabbi Fischel leads 2239, one of the largest Reform 20/30s communities in the country... Read More →

Tuesday May 13, 2025 8:15pm - 9:15pm EDT
Poplar

Class Meeting

8:00am EDT

Breakfast

Wednesday May 14, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am EDT

Willow

Dvar Torah:

Faculty and Speakers

Julie Katz

Julie Katz is passionate about empowering advocates for the Jewish community. Katz is currently serving a one-year appointment in the U.S. State Department’s Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism under Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt. Before transitioning to... Read More →

Wednesday May 14, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am EDT
Willow

Break

9:00am EDT

Getting on the Balcony: A Peer Case Consultation Practice

Wednesday May 14, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am EDT

Rotunda

Faculty and Speakers

Joshua Albert

Associate Partner, KONU

Emily Wyner

Engagement Manager, KONU

Wednesday May 14, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Rotunda

Adaptive Leadership

11:00am EDT

Coffee Break

Wednesday May 14, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am EDT

Pre-Function 5

Wednesday May 14, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am EDT
Pre-Function 5

Break

11:45am EDT

*Fellow-Led Electives

Wednesday May 14, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT

Fellow-Led Elective

11:45am EDT

Hitbodedut – Our Responsibility to Connect with Nature

Wednesday May 14, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT

Poplar

Faculty and Speakers

Ely Benhamo

Ely Benhamo (she/her) is a seasoned leader in Jewish communal service, boasting a wealth of experience in driving impactful change and fostering meaningful connections within the community. As Senior Director of Major Gifts at OneTable, Ely plays a pivotal role in developing and overseeing... Read More →

Wednesday May 14, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT
Poplar

Fellow-Led Elective

11:45am EDT

Kavod/Honor

Wednesday May 14, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT

Poplar

An exploration of the theme of Kavod. How to honor a leader’s presence without diminishing your own

Faculty and Speakers

Rob Gleisser

Rabbi Rob Gleisser is the Rabbi and Senior Jewish Educator at Penn State Hillel. Rabbi Rob was ordained at HUC in May of 2020. He served as the Student Rabbi in New Iberia, Louisiana, Flint, Michigan, and Columbus, Ohio. Rob graduated from Ohio State University in 2014 with bachelor... Read More →

Wednesday May 14, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT
Poplar

Fellow-Led Elective

12:45pm EDT

Lunch

Wednesday May 14, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT

Willow

Wednesday May 14, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT
Willow

Break

1:30pm EDT

Free Time

Wednesday May 14, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Break

3:00pm EDT

Coffee Break

Wednesday May 14, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Pre-Function 5

Wednesday May 14, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Pre-Function 5

Break

3:30pm EDT

Mobilizing Learning: Designing Creative Leadership Interventions

Wednesday May 14, 2025 3:30pm - 5:30pm EDT

Rotunda

Faculty and Speakers

Emily Wyner

Engagement Manager, KONU

Joshua Albert

Associate Partner, KONU

Wednesday May 14, 2025 3:30pm - 5:30pm EDT
Rotunda

Adaptive Leadership

5:45pm EDT

Live Into Leadership: Addressing Imposter Syndrome and Finding Freedom from the Inner Critic

Wednesday May 14, 2025 5:45pm - 7:15pm EDT

Rotunda

Leadership, especially brave, visionary community leadership, can bring on a lot of self-doubt and imposter syndrome. What's more, being a founding member in your role can be tricky, and it's easy to feel like you just don't belong as you work to create the space for your work. You're not alone! In this empowering workshop, Rosi Greenberg leads participants toward shifting their relationship with self-doubt to one of self-acceptance and appreciation, while also highlighting the deep systemic origins of imposter syndrome. Participants experience firsthand how gathering in community to address the inner critic can set in motion a ripple effect, allowing us to not only meet ourselves with greater love and acceptance, but reshape the confidence-eroding systems that surround us as well. Participants leave with new perspectives and practices for relating to their inner critics, and additional steps to take to move forward in their leadership.

Faculty and Speakers

Rosi Greenberg

Artist of Leadership Development, Founder & CEO, Drawn to Lead

Rosi Greenberg, an Artist of Leadership Development, has spent 15 years fostering more connected, humane, and creative organizational landscapes. Rosi is the founder and CEO of Drawn to Lead, through which she offers bespoke workshops and retreats that have empowered thousands of... Read More →

Wednesday May 14, 2025 5:45pm - 7:15pm EDT
Rotunda

Main Gathering

7:15pm EDT

Dinner

Wednesday May 14, 2025 7:15pm - 8:15pm EDT

Willow

Wednesday May 14, 2025 7:15pm - 8:15pm EDT
Willow

Break

8:30pm EDT

Drinks, Desserts, and Games!

Wednesday May 14, 2025 8:30pm - 9:15pm EDT

Backyard Patio

Join us for an informal evening of connection, conversation, and sweet treats! We will be outside on the patio (weather permitting), so bring a sweater just in case it is chilly!

Faculty and Speakers

Jess Reback

Director, Wexner Davidson Fellowship, The Wexner Foundation

Or Mars

Vice President, The Wexner Foundation

Or (he/him) is a Vice President of The Wexner Foundation where he focuses on the development of Jewish professional and volunteer leaders in North America, and public leaders in Israel. Or has worked in many different Jewish organizations throughout his career including JCCs, North... Read More →

Dan Held

Chair, The Wexner Davidson Fellowship, WGF/DS 22

Daniel Held serves as the Chief Program Officer of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, overseeing the organization's strategies to strengthen the local Jewish community. Daniel has a wide range of experience in strategic philanthropy, conducting research and evaluation to maximize... Read More →

Wednesday May 14, 2025 8:30pm - 9:15pm EDT
Backyard Patio The Lodge at Ballantyne

8:00am EDT

Breakfast

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am EDT

Willow

Dvar Torah:

Faculty and Speakers

Dana Bornstein

Dana Bornstein is the Senior Director of Leadership at The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Her work focuses on lay leadership development, governance and board engagement, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives. Dana believes the key to communal growth... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am EDT
Willow

Break