SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 | 25

with the Jewish Community 
Center’s Jteen initiative (jfamily.
jccdet.org/teens), the Hermelin 
Davidson Center established 
a three-year salary match pro-
gram to support teen director 
staff positions in congregations. 
These directors, working in 
Conservative, Orthodox and 
Reform spaces, will work to 
build relationships with teens 
through enriching programs. 
The Hermelin Davidson Center 
designated a grant of $155,000 
for teen director salaries this year 
across 12 participating congre-
gations.

THOUGHTFUL JUDAISM 
JLEARN COURSE
The Shalom Hartman Institute 
of North America (hartman.
org.il) has developed a new 
Jewish studies curriculum titled 
Thoughtful Judaism, which is 
offered this fall through the 
Jewish Community Center’s 
JLearn program (jccdet.org/

jfmd/jlearn) in coordination 
with local congregations. The 
Hermelin Davidson Center 
awarded $80,000 over two years 
to support this program.

SUMMER PROFESSIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT
Given the uncertainty surround-
ing the COVID-19 pandemic, 
congregational school directors 
and educators have limited 
opportunities to engage in 
in-person professional devel-
opment. However, there are 
an array of virtual professional 
development experiences avail-
able for educators online. The 
Hermelin Davidson Center 
designated $28,000 for matching 
scholarships to enable congre-
gational school educators and 
directors to participate in mean-
ingful learning opportunities 
over the summer as they prepare 
for the new school year, includ-
ing Pardes Institute of Jewish 
Studies and NewCAJE courses.

THE WELL
’S SPIRITUAL 
ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
The Hermelin Davidson Center 
awarded a grant of $25,000 to 
The Well to subsidize a year-
long cohort program for young 
adults in their 20s and 30s who 
are looking for a deeper way to 
engage their spiritual awareness, 
professional and personal devel-
opment. The Well (meetyouat-
thewell.org) is an inclusive 
Jewish community-building, 
education and spirituality out-
reach initiative. 

MUSICAL & 
PROGRAMMATIC 
ENRICHMENT AT THE 
DOWNTOWN SYNAGOGUE
To expand its reach and engage 
Jews that work and live in 
the city of Detroit, the Isaac 
Agree Downtown Synagogue 
(downtownsynagogue.org) is 
enhancing its musical program-
matic offerings. The Hermelin 
Davidson Center awarded 

a grant of $10,000 to the 
Downtown Synagogue to offer 
opportunities for young Jews 
and families for spiritual singing 
and a musical worship program. 
The program is led by the syn-
agogue’s newly hired musician 
in residence, Gavri Yares, a 
multi-instrumental music educa-
tor and performer.

UPCOMING GRANT CYCLE
The Hermelin Davidson Center 
for Congregation Excellence 
is proud to support these 
programs. A new Hermelin 
Davidson Center grant cycle will 
begin this fall for the 2022-23 
grant year. For information and 
to join the email distribution 
list, congregations and other 
organizations are encouraged to 
email grants@jfmd.org. The next 
Request for Proposals (RFP), 
planned for November, will 
include details about eligibility 
and how to apply. 

Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation.

 
 
 
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