Acharai Fellows Program

ACHARAI Fellows Program

The ACHARAI Fellows Program is an independent, community-wide 14- month program created to cultivate and nurture the highest caliber of our community’s volunteer leadership. The two-year program combines contemporary leadership training with exploration of rich Jewish resources about leadership and the ethics of leadership.  ACHARAI was developed as a result of the needs identified by THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federationof Baltimore’s 2000 Community Study.

Class I (2006-2007)

• Aimee Adashek, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Day School
• Sandy Bernheim, Beth Israel Congregation
• Susan Dubin, Temple Emanuel
• Gary B. Eidelman, Beth Tfiloh Congregation
• Denise Franz, Beth El Congregation
• Avi Greenlinger, Shomrei Emunah
• Edward J. Gutman, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
• Linda Hurwitz, Center for Jewish Education
• Nancy Kohn Rabin, Jewish Family Services
• Caren Lichter, Jewish Volunteer Connection
• Allison Magat, Beth Tfiloh Community Day School
• Aaron Max, CHAI
• Alyson Meister, The ASSOCIATED
• Howard Miller, Congregation Beth Shalom
• Jodi Moskowitz, Hadassah
• Elissa Ness, Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations
• Eric Nislow, Jewish Community Center
• Pamela Platt, Hillel of Greater Baltimore
• Herb Sweren, Jewish Big Brother/Big Sister League
• William Yerman, Israel Bond Office

Class II (2008-2009)

• Leland Aiken, Temple Oheb Shalom
• Ted Busch, DFI
• Paul Cooper, CHAI
• Mitch Gold, Baltimore Zionist District
• Ricky Gratz, Chizuk Amuno Congregation
• Jonathan Lasson, Congregation Shomrei Emunah
• Michele Lax, The Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center
• Marc Lichtenberg, Jewish Recovery Houses
• David Liebman, Jewish Museum of Maryland
• Shelly Malis, Jewish Volunteer Connection
• Debra Plant, Beth Tfiloh Dahan School
• Moshe Roth, Yeshivat Rambam
• Sanford “Sandy” Shapiro, The ASSOCIATED
• Ellen Taylor, The Shoshana S. Cardin School
• David Warschawski, AIPAC
• Martha Weiman, Baltimore Jewish Council
• Lynda Weinstein, Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations
• Stanley Weintraub, Beth Tfiloh Congregation
• Ellen Kahan Zager, American Jewish Committee, Baltimore Chapter

Class III (2010-2011)

• Phil Abraham, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
• Sheryl Cooper, Towson University Hillel
• Yaakov Feinstein, Bikur Cholim
• Susan Gewirtz, Kol Halev Synagogue
• Ellen Gillette, UMBC Hillel
• Ronald Ginsberg, Temple Oheb Shalom
• Beth Goldsmith, The Associated
• Jen Grossman, Jewish Volunteer Connection
• Pearl D. Laufer, Jewish Federation/JCC of Howard County
• Josh Mauer, Friends of the IDF
• Harriet L. Meier, Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of MD
• William Minkin, JCC
• Anne Neuberger, Sister to Sister
• Stewart Sachs, Har Sinai Congregation
• Meyer Shields, Yeshivat Rambam
• Patti Taylor, Columbia Jewish Congregation
• Cindi Topolski, Temple Emanuel of Baltimore
   

Quotes from Participants

Each session has provided me with ideas and strategies to better prepare myself for my new role…Much of what I’ve attempted to do and plan to implement have come directly from our teachings through this program. -Aaron Max, President, CHAI

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I am using what I have learned in the ACHARAI Fellows Program now that I have taken on the presidency of [my synagogue].  In general, I feel that I have much more confidence in making decisions, and am less worried when a problem arises because of all that I have learned these past 14 months. -Sandy Bernheim, Immediate Past President, Beth Israel Congregation

What a treasure to acquire friends through the ACHARAI Fellows Program at a time when we all crave it in our various positions...to respect, listen and learn from each other denotes the spirit of an ACHARAI graduate. -Linda Hurwitz , former Annual Campaign Chair, The ASSOCIATED

I think we need the ACHARAI Fellows Program more than ever these days!! Aviva Weisbord, Executive Director, SHEMESH (sponsor)

A significant turning point in [my President’s] leadership development was his ACHARAI Fellows Program experience. In addition to honing his skills, it helped put his passion to "make a difference" in a new perspective. Now, [my President] and I have begun studying with Rabbi Moshe Hauer.  - Buddy Sapolsky, JCC Executive Director (sponsor)

ACHARAI was a very valuable tool. I learned how to listen better and show appreciation in my role as President. - Phil Abraham, President, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation

You have fulfilled my deepest dream- to bring together today's and tomorrow's leaders  - Shoshana S. Cardin, Founder