Berrie Fellows Leadership Program/ UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey

Inspiring a New Generation of Jewish Leaders

Berrie Fellows at the Shalom Hartman in Israel, part of their study program

In August 2004, the Russell Berrie Foundation, in partnership with the UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey, launched the Berrie Fellows Leadership Program, which is designed to develop the next generation of Jewish leaders in the community. Through building the leadership skills of participants and deepening their Jewish knowledge and values, the program hopes to expand their vision of Judaism so that they view their lives and make decisions through a Jewish lens.

“If we can light a spark in the 26 Berrie Fellows, they, in turn, can ignite others in the community to lead by example,” said Angelica Berrie, president of the Russell Berrie Foundation.

A two-year program, the Berrie Fellows Leadership Program consists of 18 seminars each year that are held in the local community and three out-of-town summer institutes. The curriculum concentrates on the history, thought, traditions and contemporary challenges of the Jewish people.

Admission to the program is highly selective. In 2004, 26 fellows were selected from a pool of over 90 nominees between the ages of 36-49. The Fellows' inaugural class is composed of men and women from throughout northern New Jersey with various Jewish backgrounds. They are physicians, accountants and lawyers, have PhDs and MBAs, run major companies and real estate firms, and are leaders in the educational and non-profit fields.

"All 26 fellows have begun a journey I know will transform their lives,” Ms. Berrie said. “We have selected teachers who will be intellectually and spiritually stimulating. This is a stellar cast of educators."

http://www.ujannj.org/nnjabout/berriejourney.shtml