Jim Joseph Foundation

10/12/2026

In his latest piece in eJewish Philanthropy, the Foundation's Barry Finestone shares the rationale, strategy, and early impact of the Jim Joseph Foundation's R&D Initiative, Common Era.

Learn more: https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/the-emergent-strategy-turning-innovation-into-a-discipline/

10/06/2026

What activities do Jewish young adults turn to for purpose in life, and how might Jewish experiences and community play a larger role?

The new Project Prism study on Jewish young adults reveals important insights. Learn mroe: https://jimjosephfoundation.org/learning-resources/project-prism-a-new-map-of-young-adult-jewish-life/

10/01/2026

"In fact, a new academic framework, Reimagining Israel Education, argues that effective Israel education should be cumulative, learner-centered, relational and full of meaning. It challenges Jewish educators to cultivate learners who continue engaging with Israel long after a seminar, class or trip has ended." - RabbiMelissa Simon, Hillel International

Texts offer a particular kind of invitation, asking us to slow down and sustain attention.

09/23/2026

"Our goal is not to push the use of AI, but rather to help our grantee-partners understand what AI is and the different ways it can be leveraged. Then they can decide if and when it’s right for them."

👉 With AI in the news every day, learn how the Foundation's David Goodman helps organizations make sense of it all so they can build their technology capacity, do their best work, and achieve their outcomes.

I joined the Jim Joseph Foundation as Program Director, Technology Strategy because I believe our sector is at a pivotal moment.

09/17/2026

Foundation for Jewish Camp's new initiative, “Bringing Shared Society to Camp," embodies the core principles of the new Reimagining Israel Education framework.

"If we want young American Jews to learn about the diversity of Israeli society and hold hope for a peaceful future, we need to introduce them to people and organizations trying to build that future and give them examples of people who continue to engage despite their disagreements."

This summer, a group of 32 17-year-old counselors-in-training (CITs) packed the theater at URJ Camp Harlam in Kunkletown, Pa., to hear from two 18-year-olds: Yali, a Jewish Israeli currently serving in the IDF, and Sami, an Arab citizen of Israel. Both Yali and Sami are graduates of “Through the O...

09/14/2026

"The network is more than the sum of its institutions. It is also the relationships among those people, the connections Prizmah helps cultivate, and the opportunities we create for learning, collaboration, and support...A network mindset means recognizing that the field becomes stronger when people share knowledge, experience, and resources across the differences among schools and communities." - Debra Shaffer Seeman, Prizmah's Senior Director of Network

As Prizmah marks its tenth anniversary, the organization is celebrating Jewish day schools and the leaders and educators who power the field. In our latest featured partner, we highlight some of the lessons they've learned about building a network—and the impact they've had on the field.

👉Check it out here:

09/11/2026

As we head toward a new year, we're deeply grateful to the leaders, educators, and other partners who make Jewish engagement and learning meaningful to so many youth, young adults, and entire communities.

This is a moment to reflect on the positive outcomes you help make possible—and to express our appreciation for all you do. We hope you have a 5787 filled with purpose, health, and happiness.

Shana tovah!

09/11/2026

A wonderful partnership between Hillel International and Repair the World to help students engage, reflect, and remember on 9/11.

Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a generation of Jewish college students is honoring the memories of those killed.

09/10/2026

"In a moment when young Americans increasingly see Israel as ideologically fraught, Honeymoon Israel has rebuilt its entire trip architecture through honest engagement with complexity, with the contradictions, the beauty and the pain, the ideals and where they fall short. The trip gave these couples a shared understanding, built on lived experience rather than filtered through screens and headlines."

Avi Rubel shares how HoneymoonIsrael's approach to engaging Jewish young adults aligns with key findings from the recent Project Prism study of this demographic. Learn more below.

From the blog of Avi Rubel at The Times of Israel

09/08/2026

"In this complex climate, our grantee-partners (and all nonprofits) deserve a technology infrastructure that matches the ambition of their missions: engaging young people, strengthening communities, training educators, providing meaningful learning, and preserving and reimagining tradition."

The Foundation's Program Director, Technology Strategy, David Goodman, works alongside our grantee-partners to understand their unique needs and support them in building their technology capacity to achieve their outcomes.

👉Learn more below about David and his approach to the work in his first blog.

I joined the Jim Joseph Foundation as Program Director, Technology Strategy because I believe our sector is at a pivotal moment.