THE JEWISH LENS HIRES RABBI LEOR SINAI AS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Jewish Lens announced today the hiring of Rabbi Leor J. Sinai as its first Executive Director. The Jewish Lens is a non-profit educational organization that uses the photography of Zion Ozeri as a stimulus for exploring Jewish values, identity, and tradition. The ground-breaking curriculum program has been taught in more than 100 educational institutions throughout the U.S. and Israel.
Sinai, who received his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in May 2009, will work on developing and strengthening the educational non-profit by attracting new school partners and communal contributors.
“The Jewish Lens is committed to increasing the organization’s visibility and influence in supporting arts-based Jewish learning for teens across the country,” said Board Chair Alisa Doctoroff. “By hiring Leor, we are taking a significant step forward in our efforts to grow the organization and bring our meaningful educational program to more day schools and congregational schools, as well as other informal learning venues.”
Rabbi Sinai is a seasoned Jewish communal professional with expertise in informal education, program leadership and organizational fundraising. From 2007-2009, he was the Chair of Young Leadership Initiatives for the American Zionist Movement, where he continues to serve as a Cabinet member. Since 2002, Rabbi Sinai has been a Birthright Israel trip leader and educator with Shorashim, the acclaimed trip provider. From 2000-2003, he was a Program Director for the Jewish National Fund, where he devised fundraising campaigns, created college campus programs, and led Israel advocacy trips.
A 1999 graduate of Hunter College, Rabbi Sinai lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children. He is a volunteer facilitator with the Jewish Dialogue Group, serves as a seminar fellow for the Jewish Funds for Justice, and is co-chair of ViZion, a network of young Jewish professionals. Rabbi Sinai is a founding member of the East Side Minyan in Manhattan.
“We’re pleased that we have been able to bring on an Executive Director whose own Jewish journey will enable him to mesh a broad landscape of communal experience with the world of Jewish education,” said program founder Zion Ozeri. “Leor will bring new energy, new life experience and a fresh perspective that can only help him lead the organization to new heights.”
The Executive Director position was created after The Jewish Lens enjoyed a four-year curriculum partnership with Avoda Arts, pioneers in arts-based Jewish learning and professional training dissemination. In conjunction with Avoda Arts, the Jewish Lens has risen to its current status as a leader in providing substantive arts-based learning for youth and young adults.
