FAQs
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce ac aliquet elit, quis cursus neque. Aliquam consectetur est sit amet sem accumsan ultricies. Etiam quis nunc odio. rdum.
General
Information
How does the admissions process work?
A committee drawn from the Mandel Institute’s faculty, staff, advisors, and/or graduates (as well as discipline-specific readers for the Cultural Leadership Program) reviews applications and selects a group of finalists to move forward in the admissions process. Finalists are asked to secure a reference from a supervisor/peer and are invited to interview in person at our Brookline, MA office.
Finalists will be assessed on the quality of their application and in relation to a series of sensibilities, which vary by program. See program-specific FAQ for more details.
What is expected of fellows?
If selected, fellows must be prepared to participate in all program components, including in-person seminars, virtual learning, advising sessions, and small group or full-cohort meetings. The average time commitment between seminars varies between programs, but typically falls between 5 to 12 hours per month. See program-specific FAQ for more details.
How does advising work?
Partway through the program, each fellow is matched with an advisor based on the fellow’s interests and the advisor’s areas of expertise. Advisors are experienced leaders in their fields, as well as skillful mentors. For the final 12 months of the program, fellows meet monthly with their advisors, who serve as thought partners as fellows navigate leadership challenges and pursue professional growth.
What is expected of fellows’ sponsoring organizations, if applicable?
Sponsoring organizations are expected to approve and uphold release time, enabling fellows to step back from day-to-day responsibilities and be fully present in the learning and cohort experience.
Can I use AI to complete my application?
As use of AI tools has become more widespread, we have noticed a flattening of voice in many of the essays we receive: the language feels generic and many essays sound quite similar to one another, both in content and tone. A major purpose of the application essays is for the committee to get to know you as a distinctive human being and leader. Minimizing the use of AI will likely allow your unique voice to shine through, and it is this voice that we want to get to know.
I applied before and was not accepted. Can I apply again?
If you applied in the past, you are welcome to apply again. We do not provide feedback concerning previous admissions rounds, as all deliberations by admissions committees are confidential. A new admissions committee is created for every cohort. Each admissions committee deliberates independently on every application, so repeat applications are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged.
Do I have to identify as Jewish to apply for a Mandel program?
No, you do not have to identify as Jewish to apply for a Mandel program.
How many fellows are accepted to each program?
Cohorts typically include 15 – 20 fellows.
What is the cost of the program?
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation covers travel and program expenses, except for meals during travel.
How do you judge residency in the US and Canada?
If you work full-time for an organization, it must be based in the U.S. or Canada, or you must reside in one of the two countries and work primarily with North American communities. For artists and cultural producers who work in freelance arrangements, we use the “center of life” principle: do applicants spend the majority of their time in the U.S. or Canada? We recognize that some cases are more complicated and encourage candidates to reach out with specific questions about their residency eligibility.
What support do you provide during seminars for fellows who are nursing or caring for babies?
Fellows who are nursing will be provided a private space to pump and offered Milk Stork to ship their milk home (when seminars take place in the U.S.). Fellows who have a newborn under 1 year old may bring their baby with them to seminars regardless of location. Fellows are encouraged to bring a family member or other caregiver to take care of their baby during the seminar. The Institute will cover the cost of the caregiver’s flight, and the caregiver and baby are welcome to join for all meals. If a fellow does not have a caregiver to bring to the seminar, they may hire a local babysitter. The fellow will be responsible for coordinating with and paying the childcare provider and the Institute will reimburse the fellow up to $200 for each day of the seminar for the cost of childcare.
We also provide a private pumping space and Milk Stork services to candidates who travel to Boston for admissions interviews. Finalists who are unable to travel due to pregnancy or care of an infant will be offered the option of a virtual interview.
Executive
Leadership
Program
I’ve heard the program has changed. What’s new?
The Executive Leadership Program has focused on preparing rising Jewish communal executives for C-suite and CEO positions, and it continues to serve leaders on that path. At the same time, the redesigned program reflects our understanding that new ideas and impact are driven by leaders in a wide range of roles and professional trajectories. We seek applicants who have a track record of leadership and are well‑positioned to drive change in their organizations and communities. We also aim to recruit leaders from small and mid‑sized organizations and communities, where cross-sector collaboration and the ability to test new ideas often make innovation possible.
The curriculum has been refreshed to help leaders navigate change with greater skill and clarity, drawing on the authentic leadership framework, futures-thinking methodologies, and entrepreneurial skills. The program will offer more robust learning in Jewish history, text and thought and strengthen fellows’ capacity to draw on these sources in their leadership and work. Finally, we have introduced a project component for fellows to sharpen provisional ideas for change and lay the groundwork to bring their visions for impact to life.
And we continue to cultivate what is uniquely Mandel: direct encounters with diverse communities and compelling sites of inquiry within and beyond Jewish life; an emphasis on vision-guided leadership; and deep investment in a multivalent cohort and learning community.
What is expected of fellows?
If selected, fellows must be prepared to participate in all program components, including in-person seminars, virtual learning, advising sessions, and small group or full-cohort meetings. The average time commitment between seminars varies between programs, but typically falls between 5 to 12 hours per month. See program-specific FAQ for more details.
How does advising work?
Partway through the program, each fellow is matched with an advisor based on the fellow’s interests and the advisor’s areas of expertise. Advisors are experienced leaders in their fields, as well as skillful mentors. For the final 12 months of the program, fellows meet monthly with their advisors, who serve as thought partners as fellows navigate leadership challenges and pursue professional growth.
What is expected of fellows’ sponsoring organizations, if applicable?
Sponsoring organizations are expected to approve and uphold release time, enabling fellows to step back from day-to-day responsibilities and be fully present in the learning and cohort experience.
Can I use AI to complete my application?
As use of AI tools has become more widespread, we have noticed a flattening of voice in many of the essays we receive: the language feels generic and many essays sound quite similar to one another, both in content and tone. A major purpose of the application essays is for the committee to get to know you as a distinctive human being and leader. Minimizing the use of AI will likely allow your unique voice to shine through, and it is this voice that we want to get to know.
I applied before and was not accepted. Can I apply again?
If you applied in the past, you are welcome to apply again. We do not provide feedback concerning previous admissions rounds, as all deliberations by admissions committees are confidential. A new admissions committee is created for every cohort. Each admissions committee deliberates independently on every application, so repeat applications are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged.
Do I have to identify as Jewish to apply for a Mandel program?
No, you do not have to identify as Jewish to apply for a Mandel program.
How many fellows are accepted to each program?
Cohorts typically include 15 – 20 fellows.
What is the cost of the program?
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation covers travel and program expenses, except for meals during travel.
How do you judge residency in the US and Canada?
If you work full-time for an organization, it must be based in the U.S. or Canada, or you must reside in one of the two countries and work primarily with North American communities. For artists and cultural producers who work in freelance arrangements, we use the “center of life” principle: do applicants spend the majority of their time in the U.S. or Canada? We recognize that some cases are more complicated and encourage candidates to reach out with specific questions about their residency eligibility.
What support do you provide during seminars for fellows who are nursing or caring for babies?
Fellows who are nursing will be provided a private space to pump and offered Milk Stork to ship their milk home (when seminars take place in the U.S.). Fellows who have a newborn under 1 year old may bring their baby with them to seminars regardless of location. Fellows are encouraged to bring a family member or other caregiver to take care of their baby during the seminar. The Institute will cover the cost of the caregiver’s flight, and the caregiver and baby are welcome to join for all meals. If a fellow does not have a caregiver to bring to the seminar, they may hire a local babysitter. The fellow will be responsible for coordinating with and paying the childcare provider and the Institute will reimburse the fellow up to $200 for each day of the seminar for the cost of childcare.
We also provide a private pumping space and Milk Stork services to candidates who travel to Boston for admissions interviews. Finalists who are unable to travel due to pregnancy or care of an infant will be offered the option of a virtual interview.
Cultural
Leadership
Program
I’ve heard the program has changed. What’s new?
The Executive Leadership Program has focused on preparing rising Jewish communal executives for C-suite and CEO positions, and it continues to serve leaders on that path. At the same time, the redesigned program reflects our understanding that new ideas and impact are driven by leaders in a wide range of roles and professional trajectories. We seek applicants who have a track record of leadership and are well‑positioned to drive change in their organizations and communities. We also aim to recruit leaders from small and mid‑sized organizations and communities, where cross-sector collaboration and the ability to test new ideas often make innovation possible.
The curriculum has been refreshed to help leaders navigate change with greater skill and clarity, drawing on the authentic leadership framework, futures-thinking methodologies, and entrepreneurial skills. The program will offer more robust learning in Jewish history, text and thought and strengthen fellows’ capacity to draw on these sources in their leadership and work. Finally, we have introduced a project component for fellows to sharpen provisional ideas for change and lay the groundwork to bring their visions for impact to life.
And we continue to cultivate what is uniquely Mandel: direct encounters with diverse communities and compelling sites of inquiry within and beyond Jewish life; an emphasis on vision-guided leadership; and deep investment in a multivalent cohort and learning community.
What is the time commitment for the fellowship?
If selected, fellows must be prepared to participate in all program components, including in-person seminars, virtual learning, advising sessions, and practice group or full-cohort meetings. The average time commitment between seminars is 6 hours per month for practice group meetings, advising sessions, and virtual learning.
What are the program’s goals?
The Mandel Executive Leadership Program aims to:
- Develop a network of leaders who think deeply about the future of Jewish life and guide evolution in their organizations and communities.
- Cultivate an ecosystem mindset in the field, where more leaders are guided by a broad understanding of the ideas and practices that animate diverse Jewish communities and an openness to collaboration across organizational and communal contexts.
- Support leaders in fostering organizational cultures of trust, ethical decision-making, and collective responsibility.
What is the admissions committee looking for in a fellow?
The committee is looking for outstanding leaders who are eager to expand their impact. Successful candidates will demonstrate a track record of leadership, clear purpose and thoughtful analysis in their project description, and an ecosystem orientation through their interest in the wider field and the communities they engage.
Leadership Sensibilities
The committee also thinks deeply about the dispositions that shape how fellows learn, collaborate, and lead. We seek fellows who:
- Bring intellectual curiosity, openness, and a desire to interrogate and expand their assumptions.
- Engage across lines of difference with humility, curiosity, and respect.
- Value collaboration and are invested in learning alongside peers to envision and enact change.
- Demonstrate an ethos of care and responsibility in their work with colleagues and communities.
Cohort Composition
We aim to build a cohort that reflects the breadth and diversity of the Jewish communal field—across organizational types, roles, geographies, identities, and lived experiences. By bringing together leaders from communities and organizations of all sizes across the U.S. and Canada, we create a community of practice where fellows learn from multiple perspectives and deepen their understanding of the ecosystem. We believe a cohort with a range of vantage points enriches dialogue, sharpens inquiry, and strengthens the program’s impact.
I am a CEO or Executive Director. Can I apply?
Yes. Applicants may hold executive positions, senior roles, or other positions of significant influence within their organizations.
What is the fellowship project?
As part of the Executive Leadership Program, each fellow will develop a project over the course of the fellowship. This project will serve as a laboratory for fellows to test new ideas, apply learning, and strengthen their capacity to lead change. Projects may be large or small in scope, new or already underway, within fellows’ organizations or beyond, and should offer meaningful opportunities for experimentation and leadership growth.
Educational
Leadership
Program
How does the admissions process work?
Applications are reviewed by a committee drawn from the Mandel Institute’s faculty, staff, advisors, and graduates, which selects a group of finalists to move forward in the admissions process. Finalists are asked to secure a reference from their supervisor (including time release for full participation) and are invited to interview in person at our Brookline, MA office.
Finalists will be assessed in relation to the following criteria:
- Demonstrated capacity for educational leadership
- Emotional intelligence, curiosity, intellect, and reflectiveness
- Interest in and capacity for engaging with big ideas about the purposes and practice of Jewish education
- Openness to and capacity for learning from settings, educational approaches, and perspectives different from their own
- Enthusiasm and capacity for forging connections within the wider Jewish educational ecosystem and thinking broadly about the field
With these criteria in mind, the admissions committee seeks to create a cohort that represents the diversity of the Jewish community.
What is the time commitment for the fellowship?
Fellows must commit to attending all four seminars in their entirety. Between seminars, fellows continue their learning through virtual courses, peer consultations, meetings with an advisor, and assignments. The typical time commitment for online sessions between seminars is 4-6 hours per month.
What is the focus of the Israel seminar?
The Israel seminar is premised on the belief that leaders in Jewish education should be familiar with contemporary Israeli society in all its complexity. Thus, the Israel seminar explores the diversity of Israeli society through visits to schools and educational programs. A typical seminar includes visits to secular, Haredi, Arab/Palestinian, and national religious schools, along with other educational models, such as youth villages. These site visits include classroom observations, conversations with school leadership and teachers, and conversations with students.
The visits also give fellows the opportunity to encounter a range of educational visions and models of leadership. Fellows also meet and exchange ideas with their counterparts in the Mandel School for Educational Leadership in Israel.
Early
Career
Educators
Program
What is the role of fellows’ supervisors?
We believe that fellows’ growth will be best supported if faculty understand the fellows’ work contexts and supervisors understand the program curriculum. Thus, supervisors are invited to a group zoom meeting with other supervisors to learn about the program, and to a one-on-one meeting with the program director to discuss how to best support the fellows’ growth.
What is the time commitment for the fellowship?
Fellows must attend all four seminars in their entirety. Between seminars, fellows continue their learning through virtual courses, peer consultations, meetings with an adviser, and assignments. The typical time commitment for online sessions and readings between seminars is three hours per week, or twelve hours per month.
What is the focus of the Israel seminar?
A baseline understanding of Israeli society is helpful in grappling with the challenges of Jewish education today, no matter one’s political views. The Israel Seminar explores the complexity of Israeli society through engagement with a variety of educational institutions and leaders. including classroom observations, conversations with school leadership and teachers, and often, conversations with students. While it is impossible to be comprehensive, we try to plan touch points with a wide range of societal sectors, including hiloni (secular), haredi (ultra-Orthodox), Arab/Palestinian, dati leumi (national religious), Ethiopian, Mizrahi (Jews from the Middle East and North Africa and their descendants) and foreign workers/refugees.
The site visits to Israeli schools also give fellows the opportunity to encounter a range of educational visions, and during the seminar we devote time to analyzing our experiences and reflecting on how they might enrich our own educational visions.
