Since launching in Boston last fall, a new fellowship for Jewish educators continues to bring together professionals from some of the nation’s largest organizations. The Kehillot Community Fellowship, an 18-month initiative developed by M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education (M²) in partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), includes 24 local Boston-area Jewish community professionals, working alongside 45 professionals from Toronto and Washington, D.C., to strengthen leadership, deepen professional practice, and foster collaboration across communities.
The fellowship seeks to equip and inspire educators to strengthen their communities and shape the future of Jewish life. It combines group learning and experiential activities at seminars in Boston, Toronto, and Washington, where participants also gather at these cities’ Jewish and cultural spaces, from historic sites to contemporary hubs.
At its launch in October, the full cohort came together in Boston for a four-day seminar. Participants, representing organizations including Hillel, JCCs, day schools, synagogues, and other Jewish institutions, engaged in a mix of text-based learning, workshops, and immersive experiences. The seminar focused on the values underlying Jewish communal life today, including how to teach about Israel with nuance and integrity, the role of relationships in community-building, and how to navigate and leverage conflict within communities.
In addition to group learning and breakout sessions, the Boston program included immersive activities that highlighted the city’s rich Jewish heritage, from Yiddish dancing at the historic Vilna Shul, to a scavenger hunt through Beacon Hill and Cambridge, to uncovering the stories of Jewish life across the city.
The experience culminated at Jewish cultural hub Lehrhaus with a panel of prominent members of Boston’s Jewish community, including Rabbi Marc Baker, president and CEO of CJP, and Josh Foer, co-founder of Lehrhaus, who shared their visions for vibrant Jewish life in Boston.
“As a Bostonian, I enjoyed seeing the city through a different Jewish lens based on values,” said Betsy Kachel, director of education at Temple Emanuel of Andover, a member of the Boston cohort. “I especially enjoyed experiencing the incredible Lehrhaus and hearing from esteemed Boston-based Jewish professionals.”
Since the launch event in Boston, the fellowship has continued across all three cities, with participants meeting at local cohort convenings and participating in individual workplace coaching.
“In such a short amount of time, I find myself learning so much, making deep connections, and finding ways to apply new learning as soon as I get back to work,” said fellow Emily Kesentbaum, Jewish educator and curriculum coach at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham. “I am excited to deepen my learning, grow, and build deeper connections.”
In June, the full cohort will reconvene in Toronto for a multi-day seminar. The gathering will build on the foundation established in Boston, enabling fellows to strengthen cross-community relationships, and to continue developing their work and a shared approach to leadership and community-building. In early 2027, they will meet again in Washington, where they will focus on how to create inspiring learning environments and educational experiences.
“Boston captured what Kehillot set out to be,” said Kiva Rabinsky, deputy CEO and chief program officer at M², a global nonprofit organization that trains and supports educators to create experiential learning experiences that unlock meaning and purpose in Jewish life. “Bringing together educators from different communities created a real sense of shared purpose. We’re looking forward to continuing that in Toronto, strengthening the local community while deepening the connections across all three cities.”
Kehillot’s Boston community cohort is supported by Combined Jewish Philanthropies, The Beker Foundation, Maimonides Fund, and the Mandel Foundation.
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