Taub Seminar

(3 Credits)

American Jewish communal life rests on voluntary association: no one has to belong, give, or stay. That has always made Jewish institutions a revealing case study in how civil society earns loyalty, and the last few years have stress-tested them as never before. Rising antisemitism, campus and cultural-sector conflict over Israel, shifting patterns of identity and affiliation, and new models of philanthropy have forced communal organizations to rethink who they serve, how they decide, and what they stand for. This seminar examines the full range of Jewish communal institutions (philanthropic, educational, religious, social service, advocacy, and campus-based) to understand how they define their missions, establish authority, select leaders, make decisions under public pressure, raise and steward resources, and gain or lose the trust of their constituencies. We will wrestle with questions of identity and belonging, the boundaries between core and fringe, and the relationship between Jewish institutions and the broader American and multifaith landscape. Students will engage directly with practitioners and with real cases, including governance decisions, crisis communications, campaign strategy, and community-building, and will develop the analytical and practical tools to lead mission-driven organizations in a contested public square. The seminar is designed for students preparing for leadership in the nonprofit, public, and philanthropic sectors, whatever their background.