Jewish Education Change Network

JEA59 Continued Conversation

Friends,

Thank you so much for your time this evening and for what will continue at brunch tomorrow.

As we discussed, we (Caren, David and I) would like for you to think about the following questions and continue the discussion here on the Ning, invite others to respond, raise your own questions, etc.

What risk are you willing to take to make systemic cultural change?
What risks are your organizations willing to take?
What are the barriers to taking these risks?
What resources could help you meet and bypass those challenges more effectively?
What are the activities, programs, and models you see in Jewish education today that excite and inspire you?
What changes are you implementing currently in your work that are making Jewish education more engaging and impacting?
What specialty/expertise do you believe you/your organization could offer a community change initiative?
What could the Jewish Education Change Network do for you?

Remember, that in addition to the change dialogue and initiative, the Ning can offer you access to collaboration, networking, resource sharing, crowdsourcing, information on innovation, and a calendar of events of professional development. This is only successful when YOU contribute and encourage others to contribute!

Looking forward to the ongoing conversation!

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Permalink Reply by Peter Eckstein on January 28, 2011 at 3:45pm

I've been thinking about the first 3 questions - about risks. I'm trying to figure what it is that would be risked. Is it merely a job? Is it the continued viability of organized institutional life? Maybe the loss of relevance to the community that we find ourselves in? All of these? Maybe they are all the same thing. The risk is not in the making of systemic cultural and organizational change.The risk is in NOT taking the risk. We can place before ourselves a myriad of barriers: financial; demographic; or just down right stubbornness or fear of change. Ultimately, though, if we, as professionals don't step out of our comfort zones, and if our organizations don't start doing things differently, then...we all will be out of a job and our organized institutions will be rendered irrelevant and non-existent. I don't think the question is about what we would be risking. I think the issue is what type of change do we need to make and how do we get there - wherever there is.

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Permalink Reply by Andrea RC Kasper on January 31, 2011 at 8:09am

I too am interested in this question of risk and although I tend to be quite attracted to risk in terms of change I have come to truly understand the fear involved in it. Furthermore, I think that when it comes to traditions we hold dear the reluctance to change and take risks grows even deeper. So in light of this great fear, I wonder what those of us who want to make these changes can do to help others feel more secure with our various proposals? How do we lead people through this fear? we cannot always assure them that what they hold dear will be here in perpetuity, but since we will have to face this part of the population, how do we do it well?

Also I would like to add that change and risks means not always knowing where we are going. I do not mean to imply that we should change something for the sake of change...although there are compelling arguments for this at times...but I am saying that sometimes we need to embark on the road unsure of where it will lead. This is what makes this exciting, we are in a time of dynamic movement and no one has the answer to what our Jewish institutions will be.