Mayanot Birthright to Host Staff Seminar

Next week, just after the Kinus Hashluchim, Taglit-Birthright Israel: Mayanot, a division of Jerusalem’s Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies, will be hosting its first ever Staff Engagement Seminar. The seminar, due to incorporate an array of speakers and topics, will take place at Empire Shtiebel on Monday, November 4th.

Taglit-Birthright Israel: Mayanot has brought more than 24,000 young Jewish people to Israel connecting them to the Jewish homeland, Jewish culture and their religion. Mayanot’s hope is for them to return home and more Jewish inclined lives.

Levi Margolin, Marketing & Social Media Strategist, as well as Judaic Trip Staff Coordinator said his goal for the seminar was to “engage Mayanot’s Shluchim staff in conversation and content building.”

“I have led eight trips and still realize there’s much more to learn,” Margolin said, “there’s always an idea, an activity, a lesson, that someone else can teach, whether they’ve led one trip or have yet to lead.”

While Mayanot has had very successful trips the last 14 years, with Shluchim in town and the guest speakers available, the timing was perfect and the mood was right.

Four speakers, coming to Crown Heights to share their expertise, experience and research, will address the expected crowd of nearly 45 Shluchim from across the United States, included a number of young couples from within the Crown Heights community.

Rabbi Eliezer Sneiderman, director of Chabad at the University of Delaware and member of Taglit-Birthright Israel: Mayanot’s educational panel, will address the crowd with his ideas and thoughts regarding the education of the groups via hands-on, experiential education.

Mr. Steven Eisenberg, a professional in the finance industry in Manhattan, and veteran Taglit-Birthright Israel staffer will share his personal stories of successful trips, effective leadership and attractive ideas for trip activities and discussions.

Mr. Richard Skeen, a former marketing specialist for the Wall Street Journal and market research analyst for Mayanot will share the results of his mid-summer research project conducted in conjunction with seven on-the-ground Mayanot groups. Skeen spent nine days with Mayanot groups learning the tricks that work best and determining which methods needed to be perfected.

Following catered lunch, a panel of “Mayanot Expert Trip Leaders” will take to the dias to answer questions and share the experiences they have from a combined 79 Mayanot trips!

Then, in a true first of its kind, the voice will be turned to the audience in an “open-mic” session giving the leaders opportunity to express their thoughts about trips, and their experiences therein. Each will have two-minutes of unprepared chit-chat. “I’m hoping for this session to be fun and spirited and it could very possibly prove to be the most constructive item on the agenda,” Margolin said.

Rounding out the day, Rabbi Dov Oliver of SUNY Rockland Hillel, who coordinates Mayanot’s alumni efforts in the Tri-State Area, will offer his best and most proven to work methods of trip follow up and long term cultivation.

“Follow up is a main focus of Mayanot and thankfully, we have found some great ways to keep that spark alive” Oliver said. “Sure the trip ends after ten days, but at Mayanot, we believe that’s when the journey actually begins!”

Mayanot is offering those who would be interested in leading a trip in the future, from the Shluchim family or not, the opportunity to attend this event. For more information please be in contact with Levi Margolin at levi@mayanotisrael.com.