Aspire to Inspire: Isralight Leadership Training Institute (LTI) Update:

During the past six years, more than 150 rabbis and educators have
participated in the various programs of Isralight’s Leadership Training
Institute (LTI). Our many LTI alumni are graduates of the finest Yeshivot in
Israel and the Diaspora, and annually impact many hundreds of individuals
through their work in pulpits, schools, college campuses, youth
organizations, and adult educational institutes on five continents. 

It is our pleasure to share the latest developments of this important
Isralight initiative with you. 

Summer 2011 Isralight Rabbinic Institute:

This past summer, sixteen promising young rabbinical students and recently ordained rabbis joined us in Jerusalem for our week-long Summer Rabbinic Institute. The institute program featured in-depth study of many of the fundamental texts of Jewish philosophy and effective ways to communicate these profound ideas with diverse audiences. 

Sessions were presented by Isralight’s senior lecturers including Rabbi David Aaron, Rav Binny Freedman, Rabbi Sam Shor, Rabbi Mottle Wolfe, and Rabbi Moshe Kornblum.  Participants engaged in classes and seminars discussing pedagogy and methodology, intensive study in chavruta and lecture format, several think tank and round table discussions, and a wonderful week of kindred learning and growth. 

The Summer Rabbinic Institute is a core initiative of the Avraham HaLevi Isralight Rabbinic Enrichment Fellowship. The Avraham HaLevi Isralight Rabbinic Enrichment Fellowship provides continuing education, mentoring, annual professional conferences and Yimei Iyun in Israel and North America, and resources to select young rabbinic leadership. Each summer, a new cadre of rabbinic talent is invited to Jerusalem to participate in our Summer Rabbinic Institute. 

In the words of one of our participants: 

“…It was very special to be able to learn from and interact with such
incredible, charismatic and passionate role models who truly care about Am
Yisrael and about Torah education…
…Isralight is one of the only institutions that truly understand the
‘education’ that so many Jews need today – relevant, deep, philosophical,
esoteric and inspirational…
Not only did I learn about some of the deepest concepts of Judaism that I
will be able to teach, but I feel that it has really impacted me as a person
and that’s probably the most important thing because when we are deeply
impacted by ideas and concepts, it becomes part of who we are, part of the
way we teach and act…” 

 Isralight Educators’ Fellowship at Yeshivat Orayta

“The Isralight rebbeim are, as far as I can tell the only individuals in the
modern Orthodox world who deal seriously and systematically with the notion
of faith in God and all that that entails….” 

This assessment, by a well respected teacher in a prominent American day school, speaks to a critical need in the Modern Orthodox educational system. Rabbis and teachers must become knowledgeable and conversant in the fundamental texts of Jewish belief in addition to proficiency in Talmud and legal codes. Our next generation of rabbinic leaders must have the tools, passion and compassion to address the queries and inspire Jews of all backgrounds and perspectives. 

The Isralight-Orayta Fellowship is a unique year of professional training for newly ordained rabbis, as well as those in their final year of semicha studies. A typical Isralight / Orayta Fellow plans to pursue a career in Jewish education, intent on making a real difference for the Jewish people in the field of Jewish education, outreach or community rabbinate. 

Our third class of twelve talented young leaders spends five afternoons each week studying in our Old City Beit Midrash. Classes and seminars offer intensive analysis of the writings of the masters of Jewish thought including, Maimonides, the Arizal, Rav Kook, Ramchal, and the Chasidic Masters. Training is offered in outreach techniques, leadership skills and interpersonal dynamics and addressing many of today’s most challenging issues and questions. Fellows will become adept at the art of informal educational programming and discover the tools and methodology for making Jewish textual study inspirational and relevant. 

Fellows hone their teaching and counseling ability with guidance from Isralight’s senior rabbinical staff, as they serve as a mentor and instructor of optional classes for our first year Yeshivat Orayta students. 

“This program made me a better educator, as it made me a better person…” 

Rabbi Yitzchak Motzen, Faculty Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi, Jerusalem 

For more information about Isralight’s Leadership Training Institute,
including many sponsorship and dedication opportunities, please contact: 

Rabbi Sam Shor
Director of Leadership Development
ISRALIGHT
02-627-4890
sam@isralight.org 

Download Fellowship Application

Follow what’s happening at “The Lead”