Tag: women’s leadership

“We sang, we laughed, we cried, we dug deep, and we unplugged. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect weekend or a more inspiring group of women.”

Baltimore, MD — They arrived carrying snacks, tote bags, and just a little hesitation. For many, it was their first time stepping away—from routines, from responsibilities, from the noise of the everyday—to join a retreat they weren’t quite sure how to describe.

By the end of the WOW (Women of Wisdom) Shabbat Experience, they were finishing each other’s sentences.

Held in a quiet, wooded corner of Maryland, the retreat brought together a multigenerational group of Jewish women from across the region for a weekend of reflection, connection, and leadership-building. The agenda wasn’t just about workshops or wellness—it was about making space. Space to show up, speak up, and let go of everything else for just long enough to feel present.

Thunderstorms rolled in. Laughter broke out. Tears were shared, and so were shoes. Somewhere between the circle discussions and late-night conversations, something shifted. Uncertainty gave way to something steadier: community.

The presence of seasoned professionals like Federation President Robin Hettleman Weinberg, Kerry Iris, and Wendy Feldman Block added a deeper layer to the experience. Their openness and wisdom underscored what many participants felt: that the power of WOW came not just from the setting, but from who was in the room—and how willing they were to show up for one another.

Guided by the grounded, thoughtful leadership of Rabbi Sarah Krinsky of Adas Israel Congregation and co-chairs Danielle Traub and Mollie Bowman, the retreat struck a rare balance: structured and spiritual, intentional and inclusive, and filled with Jewish learning! These leaders didn’t just organize the weekend—they joined it. Fully.

As the women packed up their bags and returned to their homes, they carried more than just takeaways. They carried new relationships. New perspective. And a shared sense that something meaningful had started—and no one wanted it to end.

The buzz is already building— email ilana.matheson@www.shalomdc.org to learn how to be part of what’s next.

As Chief Development Officer, Keren will build and drive Federation’s financial resource development, and elevate fundraising strategy, systems, and relationships. Keren’s work will focus on advancing and diversifying resource development and fostering a culture of philanthropy across Federation’s professional and lay leadership. This new role marks Keren’s return to Federation, where she first began her career in development, cultivating current and potential donors and partnering with lay leadership to further engage the Greater Washington community

“We are excited to welcome Keren back to the Federation team,” said Gil Preuss, CEO of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. “Keren is a dynamic and experienced nonprofit leader, and we look forward to having her expertise as we continue to focus on fundraising and philanthropy in our community through a strategic and engaging approach.”

Keren most recently served as the Chief Development Officer for Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU), where she spent 17 years of her career. At A4BGU, Keren managed a $45M- $50M+ annual campaign, a national team of up to 24 development professionals, and built and implemented a strategic approach to development across the organization. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies and Religion/Judaic Studies from Emory University and her Master of Arts in International Affairs/U.S. Foreign Policy from George Washington University’s Elliott School.

Keren has worked in diverse areas of the Jewish community, both in the United States and abroad. After completing her university in 1996-7, Keren spent a year in Donetsk, Ukraine as part of AMITIM (“friends” in Hebrew), an international service project initiated by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta that aimed to build bridges between the North American, Israeli and former Soviet Jewish communities.

“With increasing tension within the global Jewish community and alarming antisemitism on the rise in Washington and beyond, the need for Federation has only increased,” said Keren M. Waranch. “Jewish Federations are the ultimate convener every part of the community needs right now. The stronger the Federation, the stronger our community. That is why I am so proud and excited to take on this position.”

“Keren will be a tremendous asset to the Federation team, and we are thrilled to have her insights and leadership,” said Robin Hettleman Weinberg, Federation President. “Keren played a critical role in developing Federation’s Next Gen and Women’s Philanthropy groups, and we know that her experience will allow us to better reach diverse groups across our Greater Washington Jewish community.”

The Jewish Women’s Collective Response Fund, a new effort led by the Hadassah Foundation and Elluminate, is awarding grants of $25,000 each to support, elevate and empower Israeli women in the aftermath of October 7th.

The Fund — representing the commitment of a total 11 Jewish women’s organizations throughout the country — was created by The Hadassah Foundation and Elluminate to support Israeli nonprofits actively and effectively working to give voice to women and advance equality in government and civil society as Israelis reprioritize and rebuild during and after wartime.

The five Israeli organizations receiving grants, each for $25,000, are:

• The Adva Center, based in Tel Aviv, advances equality, social justice and gender-responsive policies in Israel, including giving voice in the Israeli government to women at a time when they are often excluded from decision-making.
• Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, based in Jerusalem, raises awareness within Israeli communities and government of gender-based sexual violence and harassment; provides support, resources and advocacy for survivors; and leads calls internationally for accountability for the sexual terrorism committed against Israeli women on Oct. 7.
• Itach Ma’aki – Women Lawyers for Social Justice, based in Tel Aviv, empowers and gives voice to Israeli women facing social, geographic, national, ethnic and economic discrimination by providing legal aid, engaging with activist groups and other allies, and identifying and promoting changes in national policy and legislation.
• The Ruth and Emanuel Rackman Center, based at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, promotes the status and rights of women in matters of family law and works to end gender discrimination and inequality in Israel through advocacy and legislative change.
• WePower, based in Azor, works to elevate women to influential and decision-making positions in Israel, focusing on erasing the gender gap in public and political arenas by identifying potential female leaders and training them for leadership positions, promoting gender-aware legislation to remove barriers, and advancing gender equality as a societal foundation.

All five are current or recent grant recipients of the Hadassah Foundation.

“We believe that women have and are bearing the brunt of this war, in multiple respects, revealing both specific and broad inequalities and challenges in familial, social, economic and civic spheres,” said Audrey Weiner, Chair of The Hadassah Foundation.

“These five grantee organizations have been and will continue to be on the forefront of changing the status quo for women and girls in Israel at a time when their voices and place in government and society are no less than crucial to the country’s reemergence from October 7th.”

In addition to Elluminate and The Hadassah Foundation contributing partners include the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago; the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh; the Women’s Amutot Initiative of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation; National Council of Jewish Women; Propel – The Jewish Women’s Fund (San Francisco); The Fund for Women and Girls at the Jewish Community Foundation of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington; The Miriam Fund (Boston); Women of Vision of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia; and Women of Reform Judaism.

The collaborative fund represents the second time the Hadassah Foundation has convened Jewish women’s funds to provide emergency support for Israeli women’s needs. In 2020, in response to the Covid pandemic and resulting increase in domestic violence, it brought together four other women’s funds to provide financial resources to three Israeli nonprofit organizations that support survivors of domestic violence.

“Out of the darkness of October 7th came a real opportunity for leading Jewish women’s organizations to come together in the moment and to meet the moment,” said Stephanie Garry, President of Elluminate.

“We saw not only an opportunity to step out of our individual silos, but most importantly the imperative to do so, and create a collaborative paradigm of what women’s leadership can and should be to meet outstanding needs, work for permanent change, and unleash the visionary and philanthropic power of our collective community.”