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THE TWO YEAR PROGRAM consists of 18 seminars per year in northern New Jersey and three out-of-town Institutes—a New Member Institute, an Israel Institute and a Commencement Institute:
YEAR ONE begins in the summer with a four-day New Member Institute followed by a year-long exploration of the Jewish people’s Master Story. We examine the sacred texts, historical experiences, philosophies and traditions that have shaped the Jewish people and ultimately underlie an active and committed Jewish life. The Israel Institute, at the end of the first year, provides intensive immersion in the issues facing contemporary Israel and explores its relationship with the Diaspora community.
YEAR TWO begins with an in-depth exploration of the concept of community because that is the setting where Jewish leaders affect the Jewish future. As a Jewish community, we act together, in our synagogues and organizations, in our federated community or as part of the larger scope of Am Yisrael, the Jewish people worldwide. How has the Jewish community reacted to challenges throughout history? How is the agenda for the community’s actions set? What values are reflected in this agenda? What role do leaders play in setting the agenda and initiating action?

The second half of Year Two focuses on three areas: leadership skills, an overview of the history and current challenges facing the northern New Jersey Jewish community, and, finally, exposure to leading philanthropists.

The program ends with a Commencement Institute in the summer after Year Two during which the Fellows complete the development of their personal paths to leadership. Click Here to download brochure.

For more information, please contact Stuart Himmelfarb
at 201-488-6800 x. 214 or e-mail StuartH@ujannj.org

Two other innovative components of the Berrie Fellows Leadership Program are its one-to-one mentoring sessions and an Alumni Network. Both are essential to the commitment to work with each Fellow during and after the program to identify their paths to leadership, both individually and as part of the group.

In the one-to-one mentoring sessions, each Fellow meets with an expert in leadership in the Jewish community to review the content and personal impact of the program to date, and to chart a course for the future. The goal of the Alumni Network is to provide a forum for the Fellows to continue to meet, to study, to network and to collaborate on projects to meet pressing needs in the community and beyond.

A key to the Berrie Fellows Leadership Program’s success is the quality of the faculty, which includes world renowned Jewish thinkers and academics from the U.S. and Israel. Faculty members include Rabbi Donniel Hartman, Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, Rabbi David Ellenson, Rabbi Reuven Kimelman, Rabbi David Hartman, Rabbi Saul Berman, Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, Dr. Bethamie Horowitz, Gary Rosenblatt, Dr. Jonathan Sarna, Dr. Arnold Eisen, Dr. Sylvia Barack Fishman, and Dr. David Harris. Local seminars meet once every two weeks from September through June at a corporate site in the community on a weekday evening. The three Summer Institutes are held in conference centers in the New York area and in Israel. The program commences with the New Member Institute, which is held in early August.

Upon completion, the Berrie Fellows—as Jewishly knowledgeable graduates—are expected to intensify their commitment to Jewish life and to assume significant leadership positions in the community and beyond. They are also expected to play an active role in the Alumni Network and to assist in the furtherance of the program.

WHO SHOULD BE NOMINATED?
Each cohort of Berrie Fellows includes individuals approximately 35-49 years of age. Key considerations for nomination include:

  • Men and women nominated and selected as Fellows must have a track record of personal and communal accomplishments that reflects a level of past leadership and deep commitment to the Jewish people.
  • Fellows must have the potential to hold major leadership positions in the community. They must possess the vision, character, talent and motivation to lead and to act—all prerequisites for effective leadership.
  • Fellows must commit to attend all sessions, Institutes and other activities.
    Berrie Fellows need not have prior Jewish education. There are preparatory readings for each session and an emphasis on active discussion and exchange of views in each session.
  • Berrie Fellows must reside in the northern New Jersey community and commit to active leadership in northern New Jersey after graduation.

HOW ARE BERRIE FELLOWS CHOSEN?
Berrie Fellows are selected through a three-part, community-wide process involving nominations, application screening and in-depth personal interviews:

  • Confidential nominations are solicited from volunteer and professional leaders in the community. Candidates do not apply on their own initiative.
  • After the nominations are reviewed by the Selection Committee, a limited number of candidates will be notified of their nomination and invited to submit a formal application to the program.
  • From these applicants, a group of candidates will be invited to a personal interview.
  • Upon completion of the interviews, 20 Fellows will be selected.
  • The Berrie Fellows Leadership Program is rooted in religious pluralism. The program is multi-denominational in its curriculum, faculty, staff and membership.
  • Gender and denominational affiliation are not relevant to nomination or selection.

Each incoming group of Fellows is limited to 20 participants. As a result, the selection process is rigorous. Unfortunately, not all nominees can be selected for personal interviews or for participation in the program.

WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM COST?
The entire cost of the Berrie Fellows Leadership Program is provided through the
generosity of the Russell Berrie Foundation. There are no costs to the Fellows. Staffing,
planning and administrative oversight are provided by UJA Federation of Northern
New Jersey.

For more information, please contact Stuart Himmelfarb
at 201-488-6800 x. 214 or e-mail StuartH@ujannj.org

The Krewe Returns

Twenty-two people from northern New Jersey recently spent three days on a rebuild-and-repair mission in the city of New Orleans. It was the fourth in a series of missions, begun in 2005. All were sponsored and “manned” by alumni of the Berrie Fellows Leadership Program. The city is still in need of extensive rehab from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. story

The Russell Berrie Foundation Israel at 60 Civic Leaders Mission
August 5-9, 2008

Click on these links to see mission's photos.
photo galleryI by Esther Goodhart  
photo gallery II by Esther Goodhart
photo gallery III by Esther Goodhart
photo gallery IV by Esther Goodhart

Angelica Berrie led a mission to Israel in August 2008 which included a cross-section of civic from New Jersey.
 
These pictures capture the group's experience of the State of Israel, from Jerusalem to the Nahariya on the northern border and the Bedouin Village Hura , from the Old City to the most modern, high-tech facilities.
 
UJA of Northern New Jersey was proud to work in partnership with the Berrie Foundation on this trip and to help build an even stronger connection between our community and Israel.

RUSSELL BERRIE was a true visionary who was committed to action.

He envisioned a strong Jewish community led by informed, passionate leaders willing to reach beyond any limits to achieve greatness. He also saw amazing potential in the younger generation to step up and lead. Inspiring all who knew him, Russ was confident that when vision is grounded in knowledge, commitment and experience, action—and results—would follow.

In his memory, the Russell Berrie Foundation, led by Angelica Berrie, created a high-level Jewish leadership initiative—the Berrie Fellows Leadership Program—that infuses intensive Jewish learning and preparation for leadership with a firm commitment to action.

The inaugural group of twenty-four Berrie Fellows began the two year program in August 2004 after a community-wide nomination and interview process. This first program has been an unqualified success. The Fellows have described it as “a gift”, “inspirational”, “life changing”, “an honor” and an “exceptional opportunity.” One Fellow reflected on the impact of the program in this way: “I am inspired by the young leaders around the table. I am developing as a leader.”

The Berrie Fellows curriculum—which was designed expressly for this program—focuses on the Master Story of the Jewish people including its history, thought, traditions and contemporary challenges. In this way, the program provides both the inspiration for greater  commitment to Jewish life and the content to insure that the message and vision of Jewish history will help guide each leader’s actions and decisions.