For the 19 who participated in the Jewish Federation of Rockland County's first Leadership Development Institute, the seven-session course was a learning experience that gave them valuable skills, connections to other Jewish organizations and a window onto a broader Jewish communal world.

The last session ended on a high for participants, as Maj. Dr. Avraham Yitzhak, a surgeon in the Israel Defense Forces, delivered a moving account of being on the ground in Haiti, ministering to those injured during the January earthquake that devastated the island.
"After last night, the way I felt every religion, race and ethnic group has their story, their values, their morals, but last night it came together," said Stephen Cohn, who attended the LDI representing Beth Am Temple in Pearl River. "You really see the ideas behind Judaism in action. You grow as a person just hearing that."

The program was organized and run by the Federation as a service to the Jewish organizations in the community. Synagogues and other Jewish organizations such as the Holocaust Museum and Study Center, Reuben Gittelman Hebrew Day School and JCC Rockland nominated participants, for the program, which began in November.
Sessions covered a wide variety of topics, including how to plan a meeting and set an agenda; effective public speaking; planning an event so that people show up and stay engaged afterward; how to solicit and fundraise for an organization; the relationship between the lay leadership and the professional staff in an organization; and how to be an advocate for Israel and a representative in the wider community of the Jewish community.
For Bari Lewart, who will be serving on the Federation's board this coming year, the experience gave her a greater understanding of what was expected of someone working as a volunteer in the Jewish community.

"In Dr. Yitzhak's appearance I saw first hand that Jews working together around the globe can do absolutely anything and that we are united by the common threads of responsibility and righteousness from the local to the global level," Lewart wrote in an email following the end of the program. "LDI certainly demonstrated to me that being a member of Federation today is an opportunity to get some truly important jobs done.  I look forward to joining them in the challenges we face ahead."

Participants found that along with Yitzhak's session, the first session with Deborah Grayson Reigel, a "life coach" who does staff training, volunteer and leadership development, board development and fundraising training in both the public and private sector, was particularly inspiring. She offered an introduction to the course and made them think about what it meant to be Jewish within a broader community.

"We came from different Jewish backgrounds and it was funny to see that a lot of people think they aren't Jewish enough no matter where they are," said Melissa Burke, who represented Temple Beth Torah in Upper Nyack, along with her husband, Ian Lapp.
From the Federation's perspective the program was a success, providing not only the training that can help the participants guide the Jewish organizations they're involved with, but also connecting them to one another, said Stephanie Hausner, the director of the institute and of community outreach for the Federation.

"I feel the group really came together and in years to come, As they continue in their roles in their separate Jewish organizations, they'll be able to count on this experience," Hausner.. They are going to be the leaders in coming years, and they see the need to work together and have built bridges and made the connections that will enable them to do so."

The Federation, in turn, learned what worked and what didn't and will be tweaking the program for next year, according to Hausner. As well, the organization is considering having some sort of additional program or refresher session for the first group, who will graduate at the Federation's annual meeting on Wednesday, June 2 at 7 p.m., 450 West Nyack Rd. West Nyack.

Michael Mendick, who was one of New City Jewish Center's representatives, found the overall experience rewarding. While some sessions didn't really interest him, he found the basics of fundraising worthwhile and participated in the Federation's Super Sunday phone-a-thon as a result. As well, he found the last session with Dr. Yitzhak very moving.
"I'm glad I saw that, it was kind of inspirational," he said. "This is a first function that I've kind of done as far as a Jewish organization is concerned, apart from sitting in synagogue. It was interesting. Yes, overall, it was worthwhile."