In June 2021, parents and Jewish professionals from throughout the country gathered virtually for a conversation focused on supporting teens as they navigate antisemitism in their communities and on social media. Powered by TribeTalk, the conversation featured Dr. Rachel Fish and Brett Lubarsky, director of the Jewish Teen Initiative at Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston.
Dr. Rachel Fish is a celebrated academic with 20 years of experience in the fields of Israeli history, Zionist thought and Middle Eastern studies. Recognized for her teaching prowess and pedagogical approaches, Dr. Fish has published extensively and is frequently called upon to advise on community interventions to reclaim an Israel discourse that is nuanced and complex while remaining accessible to a broad audience. Most recently, Dr. Fish was the founding executive director of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, which was established to catalyze dynamic new solutions to stop the age-old hatred advanced by those who seek the elimination of Judaism and the Jewish people and the modern movement to destroy the world’s only Jewish state. Dr. Fish was previously senior advisor and resident scholar of Jewish/Israel philanthropy at the Paul E. Singer Foundation in New York City. She worked closely with grantees to support them and provided framing around their educational content and programming. Dr. Fish served as the executive director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University, where she trained the next generation of scholars and Jewish communal professionals in Israel studies. Dr. Fish completed her doctoral degree in the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies department at Brandeis University. Her dissertation, “Configurations of Bi-nationalism: The Transformation of Bi-nationalism in Palestine/Israel 1920’s-Present,” examines the history of the idea of bi-nationalism and alternative visions for constructing the State of Israel. In 2015, Dr. Fish held the Rohr Visiting Professorship at Harvard University, where she lectured on modern Israel and received the Derek Bok Certificate of Teaching Excellence. She is co-editor, with Ilan Troen, of the book “Essential Israel: Essays for the Twenty-First Century.”
Brett Lubarsky is the director of the Jewish Teen Initiative at Combined Jewish Philanthropies, a national model for Jewish teen engagement helping to connect, empower and inspire teens and professionals throughout the Greater Boston community. Prior to joining CJP, Lubarsky was associate director of Jewish Teen Initiative of Greater Boston, where he directed the Peer Leadership Fellows program, a relationship-driven peer engagement model that has been adapted around the country. He has been creating moments, spaces and systems of meaning and connection for Jewish youth, emerging adults and professionals for more than 18 years, working extensively with congregations, summer camps, day schools and organizations throughout the country. Lubarsky is a graduate of the M² Senior Educators Cohort with M²: the Institute for Experiential Jewish Education, the Generation Now Fellowship with The Jewish Education Project and Jim Joseph Foundation, and is a Birthright Israel Fellow.
Contact TribeTalk with any questions.
This program was powered by TribeTalk with support from a CJP Teen Community Impact Grant and in partnership with Jewish Teen Initiative at CJP, Anti-Defamation League, Jewish National Fund, The Lappin Foundation and Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston.
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