The Gesher Leadership Institute nurtures and trains Israeli leaders to forge connections and unity between different sectors of the Jewish people in Israel and the Diaspora.. The Institute’s fellows are “change agents” who are influential in their field in Israeli society. Following their participation in the course, the leaders promote inter-sectoral discussion and partnership between the ultra-Orthodox, religious, traditional and secular sectors.
In addition, our work strengthens the relationship between Israel and Jewish communities in the Diaspora. We bring together a representation of Israeli society, including politics/government, religious life, the military, and the media, and engage in a series of professionally facilitated courses that address pressing social issues in Israeli society as well as Israel’s rift with Diaspora Jewry in an open and respectful
In 2014, we established the Gesher Leadership Institute, which brings together, in groups of 15-20 at a time, political, media and social leaders from across the spectrum of Israeli society (religious, secular, Haredi) on a course that includes time together in Israel and culminates in a one-week delegation to a Jewish community outside of Israel. This engenders not only a sense of solidarity amongst Israelis with world Jewry, but also increases the knowledge among the Israeli leaders that the story of the Jewish people is greater and larger than just the confines of the borders of Israel – it spans brothers and sisters around the world.
In partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Education, Gesher recruits senior educational leaders in Israel who delve deeper into the educational leadership in Israel and thus create concrete and measurable changes in the way the next generation consumes knowledge about the greater Jewish people.
Senior Israeli leaders who set the public agenda in written, electronic, and social media are candidates for the Gsharim course. Journalists from varying media outlets and personal backgrounds will come together and meet the “others” – those who share the same professional standards but have different ideologies and are products of different sectors in Israeli society.
This fascinating meeting of minds serves as the springboard for promoting respectful dialogue, which will delve deeply into the fundamental issues in the public agenda.
In 2014, we established the Gesher Leadership Institute where we bring together, in groups of 15-20 at a time, political, media and social leaders from across the spectrum of Israeli society (religious, secular, Haredi) on a course that includes time together in Israel and culminates in a one-week delegation to a Jewish community outside of Israel. This engenders not only a sense of solidarity amongst Israelis with world Jewry, but also increases the knowledge among the Israeli leaders that the story of the Jewish people is greater and larger than just the confines of the borders of Israel – it spans brothers and sisters around the world.