Six JTS Alumni Awarded Seeds of Innovation Grants

The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is pleased to announce the 2015 recipients of Seeds of Innovation Project grants, which provide funding for groundbreaking new initiatives developed by JTS alumni. The Project supports JTS alumni who are pioneering new ideas that foster fresh and innovative forms of Jewish engagement. With this initiative, JTS continues to lead the vital religious center of American Judaism by nurturing leaders who serve and impact their local communities throughout North America and beyond.

Up to $20,000 per project in multiyear grants have been awarded to the following JTS alumni: 

Rabbi Justin David (RS ’99)
Come and Eat: A Jewish Food Justice Initiative
Northampton, Massachusetts
 
Rabbi Megan Goldman (RS ’14, GS ’14)
Building progressive traditional and egalitarian Jewish communities on college campuses
New York City 

Rabbi Jill Jacobs (RS ’03, GS ’03)
The T’ruah Liturgy Project (Connecting prayer with social justice)
New York City

Rabbi Avi Olitzky (LC ’03, RS ’08, GS ’08)
Leveraging Family Camp (Lowering the cost barrier for engaging young families)
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

Rabbi Brent Spodek (RS ’07, GS ’07)
Masa Initiative (Reimagining congregational education for youth and adults)
Beacon, New York

Ms. Annie Glickman (DS ’97)
Priya: A New Fund for Jewish Reproduction
Overland Park, Kansas

“For more than a century, JTS alumni have been at the vanguard of Jewish life in North America, reshaping their communities through innovative initiatives and unconventional approaches to new challenges,” said Marc Gary, executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer at JTS. “That tradition continues with the present generation of JTS graduates, as evidenced by the remarkable projects undertaken by our six Seeds of Innovation grantees for 2015. JTS is proud to support their efforts to bring Torah to their diverse communities in new and exciting ways.” 

Recipients are determined by a selection committee, which includes JTS alumni, chaired by the executive vice chancellor. Eligible programs may be synagogue-based, organization-based, or independent; must be intended to have a significant impact on the Jewish community; and have clear-cut leadership and goals. Over $100,000 has been awarded in grants since the program’s inception in 2014. To learn how to submit a project for consideration, visit www.jtsa.edu/seeds-of-innovation.