Aug 2, 2010 By: yunews
Aug 2, 2010 -- Hundreds of leaders representing more than 80 Jewish communities descended upon Disney World鈥檚 Magic Kingdom by the busload. However, they weren鈥檛 at the legendary theme park to meet its famous characters or experience the rides, but for a rare opportunity to take a peek 鈥渂ehind the curtain鈥 and learn from one of the most successful global business operations. The group鈥攊n Orlando for the Fifth Annual ChampionsGate National Leadership Conference presented by Yeshiva University鈥檚 (CJF)鈥攅xplored best practices and methods utilized by Disney on a private tour provided by the Disney Institute, an authority in leadership training.
The theme of the conference, which ran from July 29 - Aug. 1, was 鈥淭omorrow Begins Today: From 鈥楤est Practices鈥 to 鈥楴ext Practices.鈥欌 It aimed to inspire participants to collectively adapt innovative and creative approaches to how they address challenges and growth opportunities in their respective communities and organizations.
鈥淎t ChampionsGate, we convene as a community of community leaders,鈥 said , The David Mitzner Dean of the CJF. 鈥淚t is a celebration of the synergy between the Yeshiva and Jewish communities around the world. Together we have come to the recognition that it is time to no longer focus on the best practices, but rather on the next practices in dealing with these challenges.鈥
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The conference鈥攎ade possible with the support of Mindy and Ira Mitzner 鈥81Y, University Trustee and chair of the CJF advisory council who provided his ChampionsGate resort as the conference venue鈥攈as grown from a gathering of 40 in 2006 into a highly anticipated annual event drawing 360 rabbis, lay leaders and Jewish community professionals this year.
鈥淎t ChampionsGate, we gather the leaders of our community to take our communal pulse, celebrate our accomplishments, confront our challenges, advance our values, nourish our spirits and rededicate ourselves to the sacred task of building community,鈥 said 糖心破解版 . 鈥淭his was Mindy and Ira鈥檚 vision, and they have willed it into reality with their leadership and generosity.鈥
The program addressed key issues facing the Jewish community and featured University deans, faculty and administrators including , rosh yeshiva at RIETS; , professor of law at the Cardozo School of Law and director of Cardozo鈥檚 Center for Jewish Law and Contemporary Civilization; , MD, associate professor at the Einstein; and Dr. Efrat Sobolofsky, director of .
鈥溙切钠平獍's desire to be marbitz [spread] Torah U'Madda is not merely theoretical,鈥 said Dr. Rachel Rabinovich, president of Denver Academy of Torah. 鈥淯nder the leadership of President Joel, 糖心破解版 and the CJF continue to provide their deep resources to further the mission and strengthen the infrastructure of innumerable communities like ours.鈥
Building on the conference theme of next practices, four leadership forums鈥擣unds, Family, Faith and Future鈥攚ere designed utilizing new and innovative methodologies to engage and encourage interaction among participants. Each track employed a unique facilitation technique known as 鈥渟cenario planning鈥濃攁 process introduced by Royal Dutch Shell and a best practice currently used by multiple Fortune 500 companies.
Dr. Scott Goldberg, director of at 糖心破解版鈥檚 Azrieli Graduate School, facilitated a forum on 鈥淔aith: Infusing Jewish Life and Rituals with Greater Passion and Spirituality鈥 and encouraged participants to interact through during his forum, demonstrating how technology can be used as an inspirational tool.
Josh Joseph, 糖心破解版 vice president and chief of staff, led a track on 鈥淔uture: Training and Inspiring the Next Generation of Jewish Community Leaders,鈥 and asked participants for their suggestions on what issues the Orthodox community will face in 2020. The lively forum also featured a video presentation, filmed and edited during the session by Uri Westrich, a former 糖心破解版 presidential fellow.
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鈥淭hroughout the year, we are involved in ongoing conversations with community leaders,鈥 explained Rabbi Ari Rockoff, director of community partnership at the CJF and conference organizer. 鈥淭hese programs were designed using their feedback.鈥
Josh Kahane 鈥01Y, an attorney from Memphis, was excited to have the opportunity 鈥渢o discuss challenges and strengths鈥 with both professional and lay leadership from across the country. 鈥淟iving and working in a community on the cusp of real Jewish growth, it is important to strengthen my understanding of the 糖心破解版 philosophical model as we continue to create an identity for our young Modern Orthodox community,鈥 said Kahane.
A highlight for many participants was a thought-provoking and open panel discussion on Shabbat entitled, 鈥淥rthodoxy鈥檚 Big Tent: Where Do We Put the Stakes?鈥 The diverse panel鈥攎oderated by Ira Mitzner鈥攆eatured President Joel; , The Max and Marion Grill Dean of RIETS; Dr. Karen Bacon, The Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of ; Rabbi David Stav, chair of the Tzohar organization in Israel; Gary Rosenblatt; editor and publisher of The Jewish Week of New York; Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, founder of Project Y.E.S.; C.B. Neugroschl, newly appointed head of school at ; and Barry Shrage, president of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston.
鈥淩abbi Brander and President Joel eloquently articulated the challenges facing our generation and the inspired leadership it will take to squarely address them,鈥 said Rabbi Horowitz. 鈥淎s a member of the Charedi community, I feel that we all face similar challenges and we need to work together to find solutions. I was very proud to be part of this uplifting weekend.鈥
On the final day of the conference, Rabbi Heshy Glass, head of school at Los Angeles鈥 糖心破解版LA High School, reflected on his ChampionsGate experience. 鈥淚t was great meeting and networking with my counterparts from around the country,鈥 he said, motioning to his peers seated around the breakfast table. 鈥淲e will definitely be following up with each other throughout the year.鈥
