NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Makom Board have named Abi Dauber Sterne as the new director of Makom — the Israel Education Lab. Makom educates leaders and creates content to embrace the vibrant complexity of Israel: the people, the place and the promise.
Sterne comes to Makom from Hillel International, where she has served as vice president for Jewish education for the past seven years. She has significant experience building Jewish education projects and organizations, including Limmud NY, the Mandel Jerusalem Fellows, and the Center for Jewish and Israel Education of Hillel U. She will begin her work at Makom in September after she moves to Israel.
“Makom is at a critical turning point, as the Jewish relationship with Israel has become more complex and important than ever,” said Stephen Pincus, chair of the Makom Board. “We are very fortunate to have attracted a professional of Abi’s caliber and delighted to welcome her to the team. With Abi’s added leadership and expertise, we are well-positioned for Makom’s next phase of growth.”
Jonny Ariel, who served for 12 years as the visionary founding executive director of Makom, will continue his work with Makom part-time as a thought leader and educator. Robbie Gringras, Makom’s long-time creative director, will transition to working as lead educator on a number of Makom projects in a consulting role.
“Jonny Ariel and his team have done a great job creating new language and paradigms for Israel education,” said Alan Hoffmann, CEO of The Jewish Agency. “It is exciting to expand further Makom’s powerful ideas under Abi, who has rich experience in large national projects.”
Makom has shaped the field of Israel education by pioneering innovative ways to deepen Israel engagement. This work has included:
• Introducing a specialized vocabulary for the Israel engagement sector that has been widely adopted.
• Honing trailblazing practices such as the use of arts in educational and community settings.
• Promoting key values in Israel education, such as the need to embrace the challenge of “hugging and wrestling” with Israel.
• Articulating a method of teaching which is rooted in the understanding that the most effective form of learning occurs in the context of complexity and nuance.
• Developing the “Four Hatikvah Questions” as a signature mechanism that enables all Jews, of any or no level of religious commitment, to explore Israel in a robust way.
Makom is a recipient of a Jim Joseph Foundation grant that provides professional development in education to Moishe House and has a partnership with the Jewish Education Project in New York.
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Preceding provided by the Jewish Agency for Israel