Landecker-Hillel Leadership Incubator
Empowering a select cohort of Jewish young adults to activate change within their communities and broader German society
The Landecker-Hillel Leadership Incubator is a new platform for young members of Germany’s Jewish communities to boldly envision the future of their world. The 2023/24 cohort will bring together 10 leaders ages 18-28 over a nine-month period, to dive into deep questions of Jewish values and adaptive leadership. Graduates of the program will emerge with a sense of rootedness, new professional skills, the tools of adaptive leadership, plus personal development and experience to prepare them to change the world.
Why “Incubate” Jewish Leaders?
The challenges facing the Jewish community in Germany today are evolving rapidly. We experience social challenges within our communities, such as gender inequality in leadership, denominational and political differences that pull Jewish people apart. We also experience urgent societal and political challenges, such as the rise of antisemitism, the challenge to effectively participate in our community leadership, and the struggle for better representation in German society. In the past year of ongoing war in Ukraine, we welcomed Jewish and non-Jewish refugees alike with open arms and learned how, overnight, the world we live in can change. We saw firsthand how our communities need to both strengthen their value sets and develop skills of adaptive leadership for the sake of the rapidly changing and challenging circumstances of the 2020s and beyond.
Hillel Deutschland e.V. is partnering with the Alfred Landecker Foundation to create a groundbreaking new fellowship-style program for Jewish young adults to cultivate leadership skills that will serve their Jewish communities. The goal of the program is to provide Jewish young adults with the resources and support they need to become dynamic and effective changemakers within their communities, with the aim of strengthening and enriching Jewish life in Germany for generations to come.
The Landecker-Hillel Leadership Incubator serves as a catalyst for sustainable changemaking within the community. By recommitting to Jewish values and offering new approaches to leadership, we hope to support young adults who want to make their communities more dynamic and adaptive, and better equipped to respond to changing circumstances and emerging challenges.
During the program, the cohort will work to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment, gaining the tools to bring that sense of belonging further to their communities. In this process, the program will offer opportunities for participants to root themselves in their cultural heritage, expand their skill set with professional development, and learn key skills to lead adaptively in challenging environments.
About the Program
Over a nine-month period, 10 young leaders will receive training, mentorship from esteemed coaches and educators via a customized curriculum developed in partnership with M2: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education. They will explore the meaning of “community” within the cohort and maintain close ties to the Hillel Deutschland team beyond the period of their participation.
Three in person seminars will take place in various cities in Germany.
Opening Seminar: Sunday, November 12th to Tuesday, November 14th, 2023
Professional Seminar: Sunday, February 11th to Tuesday, February 13th, 2024
Shabbat Seminar: Friday, May 31st to Sunday, June 2nd, 2024
In addition to the seminars, four learning sessions and five mentorship meetings will be held online. Participants should be able to commit to all sessions.
Upon the conclusion of the full program, participants will receive an official certificate of completion.
Qualifications
We are looking for young Jews ages 18-28 who are based in Germany and have demonstrated leadership experience, either within the Jewish community or in other frameworks serving the public good. Applicants should be passionate about community building and social change, and open to being part of a process that is challenging and growth-oriented. Applicants must be prepared to commit fully to a 9-month experience, with in-person attendance expected at each seminar.
Application Process
Application to the Leadership Incubator is by nomination only. Applications open on 23 May 2023.
Step 1: Nomination
Applications for the program are by nomination only. To gain access to the application, each candidate must first be nominated by a colleague, representative of an official Jewish community, contact at an organization, a mentor or other leader. Please find the nomination form here. Nominations can be written in English or German. The deadline for nominations is 4 July 2023.
Step 2: Application
Once we receive the nomination, we will contact candidates directly to complete the application in full. The application may be completed in English or German. The deadline for applications is 18 July 2023.
Step 3: Individual Interviews
The Hillel Deutschland team will carefully review the applications. Select candidates will be interviewed by a Hillel staff member.
Step 4: Group Interview
Upon a successful individual interview, a candidate may be invited to participate in a group interview, via Zoom, with several other candidates. A group interview is a unique format where multiple candidates are brought together to assess their interactions, teamwork skills, and overall group dynamic. Unlike traditional one-on-one interviews, this type of interview allows employers to evaluate how candidates collaborate, communicate, and contribute within a team setting. The group interview setting provides valuable insights into an individual's ability to work well with others, resolve conflicts, and showcase their potential.
Step 5: Confirmation of Acceptance
Notifications of acceptance to the program will be sent out by 8 August 2023.
