THE JEWISH LENS HIRES RABBI LEOR SINAI AS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Jewish Lens announced today the hiring of Rabbi Leor J. Sinai as its first Executive Director. The Jewish Lens is a non-profit educational organization that uses the photography of Zion Ozeri as a stimulus for exploring Jewish values, identity, and tradition. The ground-breaking curriculum program has been taught in more than 100 educational institutions throughout the U.S. and Israel.

Sinai, who received his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in May 2009, will work on developing and strengthening the educational non-profit by attracting new school partners and communal contributors.

“The Jewish Lens is committed to increasing the organization’s visibility and influence in supporting arts-based Jewish learning for teens across the country,” said Board Chair Alisa Doctoroff. “By hiring Leor, we are taking a significant step forward in our efforts to grow the organization and bring our meaningful educational program to more day schools and congregational schools, as well as other informal learning venues.”

Rabbi Sinai is a seasoned Jewish communal professional with expertise in informal education, program leadership and organizational fundraising. From 2007-2009, he was the Chair of Young Leadership Initiatives for the American Zionist Movement, where he continues to serve as a Cabinet member. Since 2002, Rabbi Sinai has been a Birthright Israel trip leader and educator with Shorashim, the acclaimed trip provider. From 2000-2003, he was a Program Director for the Jewish National Fund, where he devised fundraising campaigns, created college campus programs, and led Israel advocacy trips.

A 1999 graduate of Hunter College, Rabbi Sinai lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children. He is a volunteer facilitator with the Jewish Dialogue Group, serves as a seminar fellow for the Jewish Funds for Justice, and is co-chair of ViZion, a network of young Jewish professionals. Rabbi Sinai is a founding member of the East Side Minyan in Manhattan.

“We’re pleased that we have been able to bring on an Executive Director whose own Jewish journey will enable him to mesh a broad landscape of communal experience with the world of Jewish education,” said program founder Zion Ozeri. “Leor will bring new energy, new life experience and a fresh perspective that can only help him lead the organization to new heights.”

The Executive Director position was created after The Jewish Lens enjoyed a four-year curriculum partnership with Avoda Arts, pioneers in arts-based Jewish learning and professional training dissemination. In conjunction with Avoda Arts, the Jewish Lens has risen to its current status as a leader in providing substantive arts-based learning for youth and young adults.

tough decisions...

Tradition teaches us that Moses ascended onto Mount Sinai on the first of Elul, forty days later the People of Israel received the Torah. Throughout these forty days the Israelites' faith was tested, their level of spiritual connectivity and faith weakened by their unanswered cries to Moses and to God - in a way mirroring God's unanswered cries to God's People.

It has been a while since I have seen, spoken, or corresponded with many of you - and yet friendship is magnificent in its ability to pick up and continue from where it left off...

The past few months have been somewhat challenging; upon graduating and receiving smicha (ordination) from the Jewish Theological Seminary, we spent the better part of our summer trying to figure out where our next chapter begins. We interviewed for jobs and researched communities in Israel and in NYC – and made some tough decisions.

It’s not easy making tough decisions; life is complex, the consequences of our actions out-of-reach and often unexpected. And so our desire for security, comfort, and routine takes precedence - we fill in this void with meaningless distractions and objects. But why not take a moment to live within that tension - the tension that often accompanies tough decisions? I believe that these specific points in our lives find us most engaged with what is important and meaningful, we cry out in joy and sorrow to the power beyond our reach - for some guidance.

I pray that during these days leading to Rosh HaShanna & Yom Kippur we all take this period of time that has been set for us, and like the Shofar's cry we too cry out to God, awaken our souls and take on all the complexities and tough decisions life has to offer. Through this tension driven struggle, it is the Source of Life, God that dwells within each one of us that answers our call.

My family’s next chapter begins where the last ended, in NYC.

in peace and blessings -