Former Soviet Union
Rebuilding for a brighter future
For decades, the Jewish communities of the Former Soviet Union were repressed—but they never disappeared. Today, these Jewish communities are experiencing an astonishing revival, and the Kaplan Leadership Initiative fellows from the region are leading the charge.
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Two cohorts of the Kaplan FSU fellows completed the program. Each fellow added value providing Jewish perspectives from the home community and became a member of large international network of Jewish professionals. In between seminars, our FSU fellows took part in valuable coaching and professional guidance training, helping to bring the Initiative’s concepts into action in every represented community.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who operates the Kaplan Leadership Initiative in the Former Soviet Union?The Kaplan Leadership Initiative in the Former Soviet Union is collaboratively led by JDC-FSU and JDC Israel Institute for Leadership and Governance.
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What are the qualifications to join the Kaplan Leadership Initiative?Kaplan Leadership Initiative Fellows fulfill the following requirements: Between 27-40 years old. Hold an academic degree Currently employed in a professional, full time position within the Jewish community in the FSU, Europe or Latin America. At least 5 years of professional experience in Jewish communal/educational frameworks. Speak and understand English at a sufficient level.
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How much does the Kaplan Leadership Initiative cost for participants—and what is included in that cost?The Kaplan Leadership Initiative is funded almost entirely by Ed and Carol Kaplan, excluding visa fees, travel insurance, transportation to local airports, and additional travel expences which may occur due to Covid-19. For more information about participation fee, please, contact us at kaplanleadership@jdc.org or use Contact Us page.
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How are fellows selected from the pool of applicants?The candidates should fill out the application form and submit it together with 2 letters of recommendation. Applications will be short listed for the interview. Selected candidates will be contacted if they have made it to the next stage of the recruitment process and later will be interviewed by the Kaplan Leadership staff and relevant experts. All unsuccessful applications will be notified in writing.
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What kind of time commitment is required from Kaplan Leadership Initiative fellows?Each cadre of fellows participates in the initiative for 18 months. This period includes three regional seminar, one global conference, and webinars. The seminars generally last 5 days and include intensive skills training, collaboration and, of course, time to get to know each other. Global conference is a one-week long experience. Location - TDB. In order to take part in the program, the candidate should be able to attend 100% of seminars and 80% of webinars.
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Where are the fellows from?Kaplan Leadership Initiative fellows all live in one of three regions: the Former Soviet Union, Latin America or Europe. Applicants must apply to participate in the fellowship in the geographic region in which they live. If you live in Moscow, for example, please apply through the FSU page of this website.
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What type of certification or degree is issued to fellows upon completing the Kaplan Leadership Initiative?Fellows who participate in all 4 seminars and complete all program tasks will be awarded with the certificate of completion and relevant certificates from partner educational institutions.
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I am not fully fluent in English. Can I still apply?Yes. But please note that most of the content provided during the seminars and training is in English, and the global conference is conducted solely in English. You must be proficient enough in English to understand and absorb the content of the training, and to communicate with other peers. The participants are asked to improve their English once they join the program as. They may apply for additional training to improve their skills.
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What are the dates for seminars?#1 seminar –Regional seminar in Israel September 11-15, 2022 #2 seminar – Regional seminar in the FSU/Eastern Europe - TBD, January 15-19, 2023 #3 seminar– Global conference, location TBD, May 16-22 2023 #4 seminar – Regional seminar in Georgia, September 3-7 2023
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If I am unable to attend one of the seminars, am I still eligible to join the Initiative?"No, each Kaplan fellows should complete 100% of seminars.
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I applied to the Kaplan Leadership Initiative in the past, but was not accepted. May I apply again?"Yes! If you meet all the criteria, we encourage you to re-apply.
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Got a question not covered here? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to find out anything you need to know.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
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Decisions about the format of the event and its location will be taken based on the COVID-19 situation.
The candidates who will be selected for the program will be informed on all travel requirements and procedures in a timely manner.
Before applying, make sure you meet the criteria for international travels and public events participation.
For more information, please email us at kaplanleadership@jdc.org