The Future of Judaism: What Direction is the Faith Headed?

3092 16th Street,San Francisco CA 94103

02 November, 2021

Description

Membership at churches, synagogues, and mosques are at an eight decade low. What is the a path forward for Judaism in the modern age? Participation across organized religion continues to fall throughout the Western world. Secularism is also on the rise as well as antisemitism. What does all of this mean for Judaism ? What direction is the Jewish faith headed in? What does Judaism mean for those who follow? How are Jewish leaders responding to lower attendance and participation? Intermarriage and assimilation? Why are organized religions losing support and what does the future hold? Join us at Manny’s for a fascinating conversation discussing the future of Judaism with the new CEO of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, Paul Gedduldig, the Executive Director of the Jews of Color Initiative Ilana Kaufman and Rabbi Sydney Mintz, Senior Associate Rabbi of Temple Emmanuel. About Paul Gedduldig: Paul comes to the JCCSF after spending the last six years as the CEO of the Peninsula Jewish Community Center. There he successfully led fundraising efforts, developed a strategic plan, completed major campus renovations, expanded mission critical programs and fostered partnerships with the local community. For the prior 11 years, Paul was the Executive Director of Temple Sinai in Oakland where he oversaw membership, communications, facilities, and a $15M capital campaign and construction project. Paul brings a depth of understanding, connection and commitment to JCCs and the Jewish community at large, and the board is thrilled he will be leading our organization during this critical time. Paul deeply understands the JCC experience, having grown up at a JCC in Atlanta and from five years working at the Marin JCC overseeing programs for teens, families and camps. Earlier in his career, Paul taught high school special education and worked summers as an outdoor adventure guide. The unifying theme throughout his career has been the cultivation of welcoming spaces and outstanding work environments where people can learn, gather and grow. When Paul isn’t working he’s loves travel, enjoys hiking nature trails throughout the Bay Area, listening to music, and spending time with his wife, Laura, and their two teenage sons. About Ilana Kaufman: Ilana’s work sits at the center of Jewish Community, Racial Equity, and Justice is anchored by the voices and experience of Jews of Color and is focused on grantmaking, research and field building, and community education. As a guest on NPR’s All Things Considered and Code Switch, with pieces featured in eJewish Philanthropy and The Foundation Review, and an Eli Talk titled Who Counts, Race and the Jewish Future with 16,000 views, Ilana is passionate about all things at the intersection of Jewish Community/Racial Justice/Jews of Color/Education/Philanthropy. Prior to joining the Jews of Color Initiative Ilana was the Public Affairs and Civic Engagement Director, East Bay for the San Francisco, Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council. Ilana, a Senior Schusterman Fellow who is always searching Jewish Text for discussion of equity and justice received her B.A. in Sociology from California State University-Humboldt and her M.A. in Educational Pedagogy from Mills College. About Rabbi Mintz: Rabbi Sydney Mintz was ordained in 1997 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. She is the founder of the award winning Late Shabbat Young Adult Program at Congregation Emanu-El where she has served as Rabbi since her ordination in 1997. She became a Senior Rabbinic Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem after completing her fellowship in 2004. Sydney currently serves on the National Board of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice and as a Rabbinic Scholar for American Jewish World Service. She is a graduate of Bend the Arc’s Selah Leadership Program and is a member of the US State Department’s Working Group on Religion and Social Justice. She led Team Emanu-El in the AIDS Lifecycle Ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles and is an avid open ocean swimmer. In 2016, Rabbi Mintz became a Resident in the San Francisco Film Society’s Film House Residency program.