In an era defined by rapid change and the rise of the hyper-empowered individual, how do Jewish communities preserve tradition while embracing transformation? Join us as we dive into Andrés Spokoiny’s Tradition and Transition, a groundbreaking exploration of the forces reshaping Judaism and Jewish identity in the 21st century. Through interactive discussion and case studies, we’ll confront pressing questions:
What does belonging mean in a world that prizes individual autonomy?
Can Jewish tradition adapt to the demands of modernity without losing its essence?
How do we build communities that balance personal empowerment with collective responsibility?
Whether you’re a leader, a seeker, or simply curious about how communities evolve, this class will challenge you to rethink the foundations of identity, belonging, and the future of Judaism. Let’s explore how we can not just survive but thrive in this tumultuous age.
Andrés Spokoiny is a longtime Jewish communal leader with a history of leading successful organizational transformations. He served as the CEO of Federation CJA in Montreal and, prior to that, Andrés worked for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Community (JDC) in Paris. As Regional Director for Northeast Europe, he was responsible for a number of pan-European projects.
While at JDC, Andrés also served as the Director of Leatid Europe, a leadership training institute for Jewish lay and professional leaders, and directed the International Center for Community Development, a partnership of JDC and Oxford University to produce applied research and knowledge management for community development practitioners.
Before his Jewish communal work, Andres worked for IBM and was responsible for training, development, hiring, and recruitment for IBM's Latin America Southern Region during a period of major restructuring. Originally from Argentina, Andres has a multidisciplinary academic background including business, education, and rabbinical studies in different institutions around the world. He is fluent in Hebrew, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Yiddish, and is proficient in Russian and German.