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2006: Began working at Moving Traditions

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2006: Began working at Moving Traditions

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And I have been here ever since, evolving in my role and in my educational outlook.

Sarah Fox

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At a time when teens are struggling with persistent sadness and hopelessness, Moving Traditions announced an ambitious goal to double its impact to help twice as many teens by 2025 access the sense of personal wellbeing, connection, and purpose made possible through its programs. Today's youth report feeling disconnection and loneliness at unprecedented levels.

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At a time when teens are struggling with persistent sadness and hopelessness, Moving Traditions announced an ambitious goal to double its impact to help twice as many teens by 2025 access the sense of personal wellbeing, connection, and purpose made possible through its programs. Today's youth report feeling disconnection and loneliness at unprecedented levels.

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1995: First job as a Hebrew School teacher

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1995: First job as a Hebrew School teacher

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Without any teaching experience whatsoever, I was hired to teach in my local Jewish community in Saskatoon by June Avivi (z"l). She and the community put their trust in me and I have been giving back ever since.

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Yellow entries: A selection of Jewish LearningWorks milestones.

White entries: Your entry! Feel free to add your personal connection to Jewish LearningWorks, or a piece of your Jewish education journey.

Purple entries: Entries by former and current Jewish LearningWorks staff and board.

Blue entries (scroll down to see these under the green dateline): Historic milestones to help us put everything in context.

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Liora (left) attended the JCC Preschool in Santa Rosa in 1982, Deborah was her teacher. Sarah is the new director at the new site.

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Serves as the director of the newly re-opened JCC Sonoma County Preschool. Mentored by Deborah Burg-Schnirman, former staff at Jewish LearningWorks 2018-2020.

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"In 2023 I made the heart-wrenching decision to leave the full-time team at Camp Tawonga and join the staff at BBYO."

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"In 1981 I was kicked out of Hebrew school by the cantor who became my mentor and that led directly to becoming a Rabbi and Jewish educator!"

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Worked with Julie Emden of the BJE to form the Sonoma County Teen Co-op.

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Worked at the Marin JCC, my first job and encountered the BJE.

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Began relationship with the BJE in 1992 while teacher at Kol Shofar (1992-2001). Currently working at B'nai Shalom in Walnut Creek.

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Was a Kohn Intern at the BJE.
Joel also joined the JLW board in 2021

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"I got my first 'welcome note' from the staff at BJE/Jewish LearningWorks."

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"I first met with Lisa Langer at the 14th Avenue office. We discussed the possibility to work as a consultant!"

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Marla entered the Bay Area scene in 1997 and has had multiple roles throughout the community. Including:

Teaching every grade in Hebrew/religious school even while working another job full time

Became the Ed Director of a family school

Started 2 more family schools while teaching.

Currently in Rabbinical school

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Worked with Heidi Winig as a teen consultant to the "Israel (Teen) Experience"

"Teen consultant Liora Brosbe of Santa Rosa spent last summer in Israel after attending last year's Israel After Dark. At this year's event she hopes to 'demonstrate her passion for Israel in an interactive way.' "

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Sixteen-year-old Molly Kirk of San Francisco is going through Israel withdrawal. She fell in love with the country after spending last summer there.

For Jeremy Katz, 17, of Palo Alto, Israel was just one of those "distant places in the news"- until he experienced its intensity and warmth during a summer there.

Kirk and Katz are set to share their memories and enthusiasm with their peers next month at "Israel After Dark," where Israel's best-loved teen scenes and activities are recreated.

Held at the S.F.-based Jewish Community Center on California Street and sponsored by the Israel Experience of the S.F.-based Israel Center and the Teen Initiative of the Bureau of Jewish Education, the event will transform rooms at the JCC into Bedouin camps, nightclubs and the busy cafes of Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda Street.

At last year's gathering, more than 250 teens from around the Bay Area danced and munched falafel. Heidi Winig, coordinator of the Israel Experience, is hoping this year will bring an even bigger turnout.

"What makes this event so unique is that it is for teens only," says Winig.

"Teens come to dance and see their friends, but they walk away with the knowledge of how they, too, can have a life-transforming experience in Israel."

All teens from ninth to twelfth grade are welcome to attend. The event will run from 8-11 p.m. on Saturday, March 8.

Participants arriving at the JCC will check in at the El Al desk and receive a "passport."

The next stop will be the "travel agency," where Israel travel providers will offer information about trips including special interests such as art and archaeology.

In the various rooms redecorated to represent Israeli locations and activities, they can get the passports stamped.

In a room lit by disco lights and filled with music by the high school band Ska Rasta, teens will find themselves immersed in a typical Israeli nightclub, with screens showing music videos and scenes of youth culture in Israel.

With rugs on the floor and tapestries on the walls, a Bedouin tent will capture the feeling of the Negev Desert. Eastern music will play in the background while visitors sit on pillows on the floor, sipping tea and eating the pastry baklava.

In the tent, teens can craft jewelry using Middle Eastern beads, or use henna to make temporary tattoos.

Meanwhile, a simulated gadna (army) training program will be offered.

A facsimile of a cafe on the lively Jerusalem promenade known as Ben Yehuda will serve Middle Eastern cuisine, ice cream and Israeli chocolates.

"There will be a ton of Israeli food," Winig promises.

Throughout the evening, slide shows featuring Israeli teen activities will be displayed on numerous screens. Raffle prizes will be given out, including a grand prize: one round-trip airfare to Israel. Smaller prizes will include water bottles and other travel supplies.

Winig says the Israel Experience is an initiative intended to increase teen travel to Israel. Funded by the Charles R. Bronfman Foundation and the JCF's Endowment Fund as well as by other local philanthropies, it offers information and financial aid to young people traveling to Israel.

"We help teens find the program that's the right fit for them," says Winig.

Israel After Dark is being organized by Winig, the BJE's Yael Lazar-Paley and a group of about 20 teenage "consultants," including Kirk and Katz . At the event, the consultants, dressed in Israeli army uniforms, will stroll around sharing their adventures and encouraging others to visit Israel.

"These kids had amazing experiences in Israel and they want to share them with other teens," says Winig.

Teen consultant Liora Brosbe of Santa Rosa spent last summer in Israel after attending last year's Israel After Dark. At this year's event she hopes to "demonstrate her passion for Israel in an interactive way."

Israel After Dark should shed light on the Holy Land for area teens. "A lot of teens want to go to Israel and just don't know how to go about getting information," Brosbe said.

Katz, who spent six weeks in Israel last summer, says his goal is to get people interested in Israel and to give them an authentic sense of what Israel is like.

"Before I went to Israel I thought everyone wore black hats and said, `Oy vey,'" the teen recalls.

Kirk adds, "High school students consider traveling to Spain, Italy and a lot of other countries, but they need to know Israel offers something everyone can relate to."

For more information about Israel travel or teen programs, contact Winig at (415) 751-6983, ext. 117.

J. covers our community better than any other source and provides news you can't find elsewhere. Support local Jewish journalism and give to J. today. Your donation will help J. survive and thrive!

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Israel After Dark offers teens a glimpse of Holy Land

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Sixteen-year-old Molly Kirk of San Francisco is going through Israel withdrawal. She fell in love with the country after spending last summer there...

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Ellen Brosbe worked on the Jewish Family Education Project from 1997-2002 and was the Early Childhood Director 2002-2015.

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Jonathan holds the group photo of the Ti-ke-a fellowship cohort. 

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"I was in the 2st ti-ke-a Cohort!"

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Received coaching with Dana Sheanin.

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January 18, 2018, Brianna Sommer started at the JCC East Bay as the Club J. Assistant Director.

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"I met Jenni [Mangel] at the CJM and she started doing PD for our staff at Gan Mah Tov preschool."

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Dana Sheanin is Jewish LearningWorks’ first female Chief Executive Officer, rising to that position in 2020. From 2016-2020 Dana was the Chief Strategy Officer and founded Voices for Good, an initiative focused on amplifying the voices of women professional leaders.

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Adeena joined Jewish LearningWorks and immediately started making our programs a success. When Covid-19 moved most of our programming virtual, Adeena pivoted to help us manage our Zoom workshops, keep Salesforce updated and our educators able to register for learning opportunities.

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Liora joined the Jewish LearningWorks team as a Senior Educator to address the needs of students with disabilities as part of the Inclusion work done by Dr. David Neufeld and Flor Kupferman. Liora manages the Leadership Coaching program and supports educators to utilize resources around Social Emotional and Spiritual Learning.

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(tĭ·kē·ä) fellows Stuart Brotman and Lom Friedman at the retreat in 2002.

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Kathy joined the Jewish LearningWorks team from where she lives in Colorado, making her the first fully remote employee!

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Sacha began working in Midrasha (Berkeley, Oakland and Contra Costa) in 1991. In addition to being an educator throughout the community, Sacha was in the first cohort of the Ti-ke-a fellowship in 2001. Sacha also staffed the Israel and Poland trip, Shalhevet in 2008 and 2012.

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2017: Jenni Mangel, Director of Educational Leadership

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2017: Jenni Mangel, Director of Educational Leadership

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Jenni Mangel worked at the BJE from 2006-2008 and returned in 2017. Currently, Jenni works with our internal metrics and evaluation projects as well as managing mentoring, professional development projects and directing the Voices for Good Fellowship.

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Lisa worked as the Project Coordinator with Jewish Family Education Project & Experiment in Congregational Education. She worked closely with Rachel Brodie z"l and Vicky Kelman.

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Educators Council Member

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Youth Professionals at a Teen Initiative Retreat, 2021

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2017: Debra Sagan Massey, Senior Educator

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2017: Debra Sagan Massey, Senior Educator

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Deb joined Jewish LearningWorks in 2017 and lead the Teen Initiative until her departure in 2023. The Teen Initiative ran from 2018-2023 and supported youth professionals through retreats, trainings, networking, and celebrating professional excellence.

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2014: Magna Elmendorf, Director of Operations

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2014: Magna Elmendorf, Director of Operations

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Magna started at Jewish LearningWorks in 2014 and is currently the Director of Operations. While pretty much everything about Jewish LearningWorks is influenced by Magna's attention, she helped oversee 2 moves from the historic 14th Avenue office to Page Street to our current offices in Rockridge.

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"I can't remember a time that you weren't in my life, from retreats to trainings!"

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Erica was the Program Coordinator for the Diller Teen Fellows from 2006-2010.

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Liora Brosbe received "smicha" as a formally trained "Maggidah" from Yitzhak Buxbaum

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Worked as a "temp" at the BJE

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Worked on and developed "Jewish Family Education Casebook."

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Joined the Teen Network

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Came to my first class for youth professionals...a YA lit class taught by Diane Frankenstein

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Co-led the 1st Special Needs Family retreat with Flora Kupferman

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Common Ground with Rachel Brodie, Lisa Langer and Vicky Kelman

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2023: The Jewish Community Library becomes independent

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2023: The Jewish Community Library becomes independent

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2020: The Ruby Award for excellence in Jewish youth education and engagement was launched

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2020: The Ruby Award for excellence in Jewish youth education and engagement was launched

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2020: Elevate summit devoted to convening Jewish educators, leaders and innovators from across the country

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2020: Elevate summit devoted to convening Jewish educators, leaders and innovators from across the country

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2017: The Voices for Good Initiative and Fellowship for women leaders were created

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2017: The Voices for Good Initiative and Fellowship for women leaders were created

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2003: Jewish Community Library moves to the Jewish Community High School 

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2003: Jewish Community Library moves to the Jewish Community High School 

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1995: The Feast of Jewish Learning was created

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1995: The Feast of Jewish Learning was created

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1988: Support for special needs learners begin

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1988: Support for special needs learners begin

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The library started growing in the director's office, as a resource collection for Jewish educators. Over the past 62 years the library has exponentially grown to include a collection of almost 40,000 items.

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Liliana is Jewish LearningWorks Director of Marketing and works to promote the work and initiatives of the organization.

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Landmark case of the Supreme Court of the United States which ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples.

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Sally J. Priesand is ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, becoming the first American woman rabbi.

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Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani female education activist, is the youngest recipient of Nobel Peace Prize at age 17.

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World population reaches 7 billion.

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Netflix is launched.

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The 19th amendment legally guarantees White American women the right to vote.
Passed by Congress June 1919 and ratified on August 1920.

Voting Rights Act passed in 1965 making it possible for Black women to vote in the U.S.

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Civil Rights Act abolishes segregation in the USA.

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Schindler's List is released in 1993 and in 1994 is nominated for 12 awards and won 7 including:

Art Direction, Cinematography, Music (Original Score), Film Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Steven Spielberg won for Best Director and Best Picture.

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Fall of the Berlin Wall.

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Halley's Comet is visible from Earth. (It returns every 75–79 years...next time is estimated 2061)

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The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States.

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The first episode of American Idol airs on Fox.

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End of apartheid in South Africa and election of Nelson Mandela.

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in 1999 Ellen Lefkowitz receives her MAJE and MAJNM from HUC. Ellen started at Jewish LearningWorks as a Senior Educator in 2023

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Invention of the Rubik's Cube.

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Beach Boys song released "Wouldn't It Be Nice" / "God Only Knows" on Pet Sounds album.

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Coronation of Elizabeth II as Queen of England

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United Nations establishes Israeli Independence and the formation of the official State of Israel.

Israeli Declaration of Independence

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Major earthquake in San Francisco with an estimated magnitude of 7.9.

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Captain Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason, triggering what was known as "The Dreyfus Affair" what was resolved in 1906

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Opened a dedicated Jewish Community Library building at 601 14th Avenue, formed Friends of the Jewish Community Library

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2012: Re-branded as Jewish LearningWorks

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2012: Re-branded as Jewish LearningWorks

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In 2012, we re-branded as Jewish LearningWorks, but our mission remains constant — to advance the kind of Jewish learning that changes lives.

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1898-2023  Celebrating 125 years of supporting Jewish Education

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1898-2023  Celebrating 125 years of supporting Jewish Education

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1958: the Jewish Educational Society became the Bureau of Jewish Education

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1958: the Jewish Educational Society became the Bureau of Jewish Education

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The Bureau of Jewish Education, designed to serve as the central sponsoring, coordinating, facilitating, and consulting agency for the educating institutions and programs operating within the SF-based Jewish Community Federation area.

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1898: Founded as the Jewish Education Society

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1898: Founded as the Jewish Education Society

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2022: Jewish LearningWorks moves to Rockridge

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2022: Jewish LearningWorks moves to Rockridge