Pictured (back row, left to right) among this year’s cohort of the JFS/Rashi Leadership Council are Manager of Annual Campaign/Philanthropy Abygail Frankel, Senior Director of Innovation and Community Engagement Adam Smith, former President of CJP and current Professor of the Practice in the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis University Barry Shrage, Senior Director of Philanthropy Jayne Lampert, and Rashi Middle School Dean of Students Joni Fishman.
Last week marked the final session of this year’s student JFS/Rashi Learning and Leadership Council, a meaningful collaboration between Jewish Family Service of Metrowest (JFS) and The Rashi School. The program is designed to cultivate leadership skills among middle school students while engaging them in thoughtful action around real-world challenges.
Over the course of the year, students participated in a series of interactive workshops, beginning with a deep dive into the rise of antisemitism and how to respond with courage and understanding. The second session focused on mental health & well being, encouraging students to consider how they can support their peers and broader community. The third session brought learning into action with a hands-on volunteer project at the JFS resource room, that directly supported vulnerable individuals and families in our region.
For our final gathering, we were honored to welcome Barry Shrage, former President of CJP and current Professor of the Practice in the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis University. Barry spoke candidly about his own leadership journey and challenged our student leaders to reflect on the values that matter most to them. His central question: What do you care about, and how can you be a part of making a difference?
The session was an inspiring close to a year of exploration, learning, and growth. As the students head into summer, and into the next stages of their academic and personal lives, we hope the experiences from this Council will continue to shape how they lead with empathy, conviction, and action.
We’re grateful to our partners at The Rashi School and to Barry Shrage for helping us celebrate and launch the next generation of Jewish leaders.