Cover Story
Lessons In
Leadership
The Drachler program trains a new generation
ofJewish communal professionals.
`As an undergraduate, I learned how to juggle things."
A graduate of Hillel Day School of Metropolitan
Detroit, Cohn spent eight weeks during summer 2001
as an intern with the JVS-run JOIN (Jewish
Occupational Internship) program, which since 1987
has given college students the opportunity to work
with a specific Jewish social service agency. They also
attend weekly meetings to learn about other agencies
through their program interns.
Cohn worked with Lisa Soble Siegmann, director of
the Agency for Jewish Education's Jewish Experiences
For Families (JEFF) program.
"That's my ideal job, working with families," Cohn
said. "I love teaching Hebrew school, but I feel it does-
n't work without family involvement."
transformative experience later in life. They might have
been on Project Otzma [the Peace Corps-style Israeli
volunteer program], for example, and decided they did-
n't want to be a lawyer after all."
Although her tenure as program director began in
January, Axelrod, a lawyer herself, was hired as program
administrator in 1991. A native of East Lansing,
Axelrod came to the job with a bachelor's degree in
Judaic Studies from U-M and a law degree from
Wayne State University Law School.
At that time, the program was still known as Project
StaR. The name changed in 2000, when U-M and the
metropolitan Detroit Jewish community raised an
endowment to provide permanent funding. In recogni-
tion of this endowment, the program was renamed in
honor of Sol Drachler, former executive director of the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
After four years in the Project STaR office, Axelrod
quit her office job to become a Drachler student her-
self. She was the first Project STaR student to receive a
Leslie and Abigail Wexler Fellowship for excellence in
Jewish communal leadership.
The Drachler program "strengthens a person as an
individual by providing a much greater understanding
of Judaism as well as a top-notch education in social
work," Axelrod said.
Before returning to Drachler as director, she worked
as a consultant for Synagogue 2000, director of the
Detroit-area AJE's JEFF program, program director at
Ann Arbor's Beth Israel Congregation and research
associate in U-M's division of general pediatrics.
She is married to Brad Axelrod, a neuropsychologist.
They live in Ann Arbor and have two sons, Robert, 10,
and Ari, 8.
Taking The Lead
Out In The World
According to Drachler program director Robin
Axelrod, Cohn's high energy and motivation are typical
of the kind of student attracted to the curriculum.
"Because it's such a rigorous master's program, the
people who come to Drachler are highly motivated,"
Axelrod said.
"Some are right from college, or come after a few
years of work. But there are other students who might
have already started in a career and may have had a
Other Drachler program graduates now are working
for Jewish federations, community centers and syna-
gogues; in formal or informal Jewish education; or with
the elderly. Still others are pursuing advanced degrees
or attending rabbinical school.
Drachler graduates are employed in communities
throughout the U.S., Canada and other countries,
including Israel, Argentina and Nicaragua. One in
three graduates works in metro Detroit or Ann Arbor.
Andrew Echt, a 1988 Drachler graduate and
Top: ICari Alterman, David Contorer and Julie Zuckerman,
all Drachler program graduates, work at
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Right: Jenny Cohn of Southfield
looks forward to a career in
Jewish family education.
DIANA LIEBERMAN
Copy Editor/Education Writer
J
enny Cohn of Southfield left New York City
last springwith two bachelor's degrees — a
degree in history from Columbia University
and a degree in modern Jewish Studies from
the Jewish Theologicgl Seminary's List College.
Next week, she heads for Ann Arbor to begin
another joint curriculum. As a student in the Sol
Drachler Program in Jewish Communal Learning,
she'll study at the University of Michigan's School of
Social Work and the Jean and Samuel Frankel Center
for Judaic Studies.
The Drachler program, formerly called Project STaR
(Service, Training and Research in Jewish communal
development), is in its 12th year of providing intensive
training for Jewish communal professionals. Graduates
of the two-year joint curriculum earn a master's degree
in social work as well as a certificate in Judaic Studies
and Jewish communal service.
Among the program requirements is 16 hours a
week of field work in local Jewish agencies. In addition,
Cohn, who taught Hebrew school while in New York,
also will teach at Congregation Shan rey Zedek's
Southfield supplementary school.
"I'm pretty sure I'll be able to handle it," she said.
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2002
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