For the first time, the Minnesota JCC will be welcoming an Israeli shlicha – emissary – to the community later this summer.
“The Minnesota JCC is committed to expanding our Israel engagement and impact in the community, and we are excited to be doing that through a full-time shlicha who can be here to help us bring Israeli culture and an Israeli perspective to our programming to the community,” said Andrea Golden, the senior director of Jewish life and learning at the Minnesota JCC. “From the very beginning [of our conversations], it was clear that she brings warmth, passion, and a deep commitment to building meaningful connections between our community and Israel.”
Elinor, the shlicha, will be joining the Minnesota JCC in August. She accepted the position following an interview process that included conversations with JCC staff, community partners, and Leah Garber, JCC Association’s senior vice president of Israel engagement and the director general of the Center for Israel Engagement in Jerusalem.
“Elinor is amazing, and I’m excited for everyone to be able to meet her and to see that,” Golden said. “She has a lot of wonderful experience with children, and we were looking for someone who has passion about making connections between Israel and our community.”
Elinor will be in the new Ulpanon Hebrew Language Preschool classroom at HaLev Early Childhood at the JCC. She’ll also be involved in other engagement, learning, and Israel programs at the Minnesota JCC.
“It’s a JCC position, but we’re excited at opportunities to partner, and the shlicha will be involved in community programs,” Golden said. The role will complement existing Israel engagement efforts, which include the JCC’s ongoing partnership with the St. Paul Jewish Federation’s longstanding shlichut program. ”We are fortunate to have the St. Paul Shaliach as a valued partner in our Israel programming, and Elinor’s role will add to our current Israel engagement opportunities.”
The Jewish Agency for Israel places shlichim with organizations all over the world. They say that more than 10,000 Israelis apply to be shlichim each year.
“JAFI is the organization that helps identify and place shlichim in our programs,” Golden said. “So it could be a year-long program, or it could be summer shlichim that we’ll have at Camp Butwin and Camp Olami. That’s another way we’re bringing Israel directly to our programming.
“We were looking for someone with certain specific qualifications. We were really excited to find someone who wanted to bring her background in youth and [also] be extremely excited about what that looks like for additional engagement outside of the classroom as well.”