First leadership initiative offers food for thought

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Leaders of more than a dozen agencies and congregations of the Rhode Island Jewish community met June 15 in the renovated Victor and Gussie Baxt Social Hall as part of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island’s renewed Leadership Initiative. Speaking to the more than 80 people at the evening program, Mark Feinstein, head of the organizing committee, announced that this is the first of a series for current community leaders, and that a Yesod (foundation) course will be offered to upcoming leaders in the fall.

Rabbi Sid Schwarz, author of “Jewish Megatrends: Charting the Course of the American Jewish Future,” spoke about the differences in the generations as influenced by events in America and Israel, and the implications for the future of the community. Each agency and synagogue group then met to explore how they should plan their futures in light of the four megatrends Schwarz proposed.