Open Position: Program Officer – Policy Initiatives
We seek to hire a Program Officer to play a central role in developing our new Policy Initiatives portfolio, becoming an expert in grantmaking, nonprofit finance, and changemaking, while working with MF staff, philanthropic partners, field experts, practitioners, and thought leaders to identify innovative ideas and interventions to advance this work.
Israel and the Haredi conundrum, by Mark Charendoff (eJewish Philanthropy)
“Maimonides Fund, along with others, began engaging with the Haredi community about 10 years ago. Our focus was primarily economic: Israel would not be able to sustain a rapidly growing Haredi population if large numbers of men did not enter the workforce…..We worked with the Haredi community, not against it, strengthening the efforts of those who wanted change — who wanted a brighter future for their children while maintaining a commitment to Torah and a Haredi way of life. But after the war began, it became clear that education alone was not enough. Israel needs Haredi men to serve.”
Don’t overlook the denominator in the Jewish talent pipeline crisis, by Doron Kenter (eJewish Philanthropy)
“Every fraction includes both a numerator and a denominator. If we only focus on the numerator (i.e., the number of professionals entering and staying in those roles) we are leaving out half of the equation. When viewed from this perspective, we can look at the pipeline crisis as what it is: a serious assessment of, and reflection on, the human capital needs of the Jewish community….”
Jewish Writers’ Initiative Rebrands as Jewish Writers Institute, Launches New Cohorts for Screenwriters and Digital Storytellers
Maimonides Fund is proud to announce the rebranding of its flagship program for creatives, formerly known as the Jewish Writers’ Initiative, to the Jewish Writers Institute. This new name reflects the program’s evolution into a leading institutional home for Jewish storytelling across media platforms, and its commitment to nurturing a vibrant ecosystem of Jewish creative talent.
‘Tatami’ Review: A Bitter Fight, Both On and Off the Mat, by Beatrice Loayza (The New York Times)
“Directed by Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir (a rare collaboration between an Israeli and an Iranian filmmaker), ‘Tatami’ draws inspiration from the real-life experiences of Iranian athletes who were punished or forced to seek asylum abroad after refusing to wear a hijab during their international sporting events. We see Leila defiantly release her black mane […]
Israel’s science teams conclude olympiad season with record 26 medals (Jerusalem Post)
“Israel’s national science teams have concluded the international Olympiad season with an unprecedented haul of 26 medals, including 8 gold, 13 silver, and 5 bronze, along with one honorable mention…. The Education Ministry and the Maimonides Fund’s Future Scientists Center, which lead the training of these national teams, proudly announced the final tally as the […]
Prayer for the Government, by Mark Charendoff (eJewish Philanthropy)
“As Jews throughout history prayed for their government, they did so with full understanding that their government was never going to get things quite right. While they had confidence that one day a redeemer would come to Zion, this was not that day. This was another stop along the way to redemption. So we pray […]
Applications Open for Expanded Jewish Writers’ Initiative: Screenwriters and Digital Storytellers
Maimonides Fund has announced its call for applications for the third cohorts of the Jewish Writers’ Initiative Screenwriters and Digital Storytellers Labs. These year-long fellowships offer substantial support for US-based creative talent developing Jewish-themed projects. Applications are open through May 23, 2025.
The Black-Jewish Convergence, by Darius Jones (SAPIR)
“In almost any discussion on black-Jewish relations today, the elephant in the room is diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). For years, DEI served as a lifeline for black professionals, opening doors in elite institutions and corporate spaces that had long been shut. Yet even black people are beginning to argue that DEI has outlived its […]
Turning Critical Theory on Its Head, by Shaul Kelner (SAPIR)
“Our failure as faculty to challenge our protesting students, opting instead to shrink the complicated history of youth activism to a single, unrepresentative (but well-soundtracked) moment of it several decades ago, is symptomatic of a profound intellectual failure on our part. Put in academic terms, we, faculty particularly in the humanities and social sciences, have failed to […]