About Us

Thought Leaders

In advance of its October 2012 Board meeting, the Jim Joseph Foundation Board of Directors invited a small group of community thought leaders to submit a madrich narrative addressing the following question:

What “big idea” for supporting Jewish education would you propose the Jim Joseph Foundation fund? These papers were presented by their authors at the Board meeting and were the basis for a forward looking, thought-provoking conversation among the Board, the Madrichim (guides), and a select group of Jewish community lay leaders. The Board first conducted this activity as part of its August 2006 Retreat, shortly after the Foundation’s inception. Just as those madrich narratives continue to inform the Foundation’s strategy, so too do these these ideas help guide the Board’s grantmaking decisions.

Rabbi Marc Baker

Head of School, Gann Academy

Rabbi Sharon Brous

Co-founder, IKAR

Charles "Chip" Edelsberg

Executive Director, Jim Joseph Foundation

Arnold M. Eisen

Chancellor, Jewish Theological Seminary

Lisa Eisen

Vice President, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

Ari Y. Kelman

Jim Joseph Professor of Education and Jewish Studies Stanford University

Rachel Levin

Executive Director, Righteous Persons Foundation

Larry Moses

Senior Philanthropic Advisor and President Emeritus, The Wexner Foundation

Lee S. Shulman

Senior Philanthropic Advisor and President Emeritus, The Wexner Foundation

Dr. Jeffrey Solomon

President, The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies

2006 Thought Leaders

At our August 2006 Retreat, the Foundation welcomed significant leaders in the Jewish world to offer their expertise to the Foundation's Board and professional staff. These madrichim (guides) helped us to become better informed about opportunities for strategic grant making in support of education of Jewish youth in the United States. The conversation was candid and thought provoking. Below, we proudly share the papers each of the madrichim shared with us in advance of the Retreat.

Arnold M. Eisen

Chancellor Jewish Theological Seminary

Richard M. Joel

President Yeshiva University

Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D.

President Hebrew Union College

Rachel Levin

Associate Director Righteous Persons Foundation

Arthur Fried

Chairman of the Board Avi Chai Foundation

Ruth Messinger

President American Jewish World Service

Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg

Founding President Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation

Jehuda Reinharz

President Mandel Foundation

Alan Hoffmann

Director General Jewish Agency for Israel

Dr. Jeffrey Solomon

President, The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies