Posted on September 07, 2016
The Conservative Yeshiva (CY), a project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), announced today that Rabbi Andy Shapiro Katz joined on September 1 as Director of North American Engagement. Rabbi Shapiro Katz, an alumni of the CY, is based at the Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center in Israel.
“This position is critical to recruiting students and raising awareness of the Conservative Yeshiva and its opportunities for transformational Jewish learning,” said Rabbi Steve Wernick, USCJ CEO. “Andy will play a vital part in inspiring Jewish scholars from all over the world to engage in spiritual and passionate vision of Conservative Judaism, as well as the betterment of the Jewish people, humanity and the world in which we live.”
In this newly created position, Rabbi Shapiro Katz will seek to build comprehensive relationships with North American college campuses, kehillot (Jewish communities inside and outside the walls of a synagogue) and metropolitan communities focusing on increasing the number of students in the programs of the CY. He will also help develop kehillot-based Batei Midrash (learning groups) and scholar-in-residence programs, as well as engage the more than 3,000 CY alumni in North America.
An educator, administrator, and community-builder with extensive knowledge of the North American Jewish community, Rabbi Shapiro Katz has wide-ranging experience in project management, fundraising, strategic planning, resource allocation, employee development, program evaluation, and marketing.
Most recently, he served as Director of Resource Development at Atid Bamidbar, an organization that works to strengthen social solidarity and Jewish peoplehood. Previous positions include Director of General Studies, Negev campus at Alexander Muss High School in Israel and Assistant Head of School at Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco. He also worked at a Jewish community high school in Atlanta and United Jewish Communities in New York.
Rabbi Shapiro Katz can be reached at [email protected].
About The Conservative Yeshiva
A project of USCJ, The Conservative Yeshiva, located at the Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center in Israel, is an institution for Torah lishma (study for its own sake) teaching Jewish wisdom and sensibilities through text study, ritual practice, social justice, community, spirituality and prayer, and experiencing Israel. Founded in 1995, the CY aims to give students the ability and desire to continue Jewish learning and practice throughout their lives. To learn more, visit www.conservativeyeshiva.org.
About USCJ
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is a network of North American kehillot committed to a dynamic Judaism that is learned and passionate, authentic and pluralistic, joyful and accessible. USCJ creates the spiritual, intellectual, and managerial network that empowers its kehillot to fulfill their sacred mission and connects them with a common sense of community, shared mission and purpose. To learn more, visit www.uscj.org.