Director of Conflict Education and Israel Initiatives

Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership is pleased to partner with DRG to conduct this search.

Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership is a century-old institution of higher Jewish learning dedicated to advancing Jewish scholarship, developing leaders, and strengthening Jewish communities. Through graduate education, professional development, public programs, and applied research, Spertus brings together rigorous academic inquiry and practical leadership development to address the most pressing issues facing Jewish life today.

As a national center for Jewish learning and leadership, Spertus is committed to intellectual excellence, community building, and fostering meaningful engagement across difference.

Building on the important research of Spertus Vice President Dr. Keren Fraiman, which highlights the struggle to engage with the conflict in Jewish educational spaces and the need for a systems and multi‑stakeholder approach to developing and providing nuanced Israel education, Spertus has piloted several Israel education and leadership initiatives. In addition, and central to this role, Spertus will be expanding the Conflicts of Interest program (originally developed at the iCenter).

Israel is perhaps the most central—and most contested—dimension of Jewish identity and Jewish communal life in the twenty‑first century. It evokes profound emotional attachment, diverse political perspectives, and difficult questions that touch on history, religion, ethics, peoplehood, and power. Since October 7, 2023, these conversations have become even more urgent, transforming longstanding educational challenges into pressing communal realities.

Recent research consistently demonstrates that while many Jews care deeply about Israel, their understanding of the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict and related issues often lacks nuance, historical depth, and confidence. At the same time, Jewish educators, communal professionals, rabbis, and lay leaders increasingly find themselves navigating difficult conversations about Israel without sufficient preparation, support, or educational frameworks.

The Conflicts of Interest Program was created to address this challenge. Developed at the iCenter, the program has become a leading model for helping educators engage the complexity of Israel and the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict with intellectual rigor, emotional intelligence, and pedagogical excellence.

As the program transitions to Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, it enters an exciting new phase of growth and innovation. Building on the program's strong foundation, Spertus seeks to expand its reach, deepen its impact, and explore new applications of conflict education within Jewish and civic contexts. Through ongoing evaluation, thought leadership, research, and strategic partnerships, the program will continue to prepare educators and leaders to engage on difficult issues thoughtfully and constructively.

Spertus Institute seeks an exceptional Director to provide intellectual, educational, and strategic leadership for the Conflicts of Interest Program as well as additional development and growth of related and other Israel education and leadership programs and initiatives.

The Director will be a recognized thought leader in Israel education, conflict education, Jewish learning, or a related field, with a demonstrated commitment to educational excellence and educator development. The successful candidate will possess both deep knowledge of Israel and the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict and a sophisticated understanding of how adults learn, how educators are trained, and how complex and emotionally charged subjects can be taught effectively.

Working closely with the Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, faculty facilitators, and administrative leadership, the Director will oversee the program's curriculum, faculty, evaluation, strategic growth, and public presence while helping shape the next generation of educational initiatives related to Israel, conflict engagement, and civic discourse.