Joy Levitt
Manhattan JCC
Joy Levitt is Executive Director of the JCC in Manhattan. A graduate of Barnard College and New York University, she was ordained at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and has served congregations in New Jersey and New York. She is the co-author of “A Night of Questions: a Passover Haggadah.” She serves on the boards of Avodah: The Jewish Corps for Service, Americans for Peace Now, and the Columbia/Barnard Hillel. She is married to Michael Strassfeld, a rabbi. Together they are the parents of five children.
The Jew in the Lotus
Where We Were Then, Where We Are Today
Joy Levitt,
Alan Morinis,
Heather Altman,
Goldie Milgram
The 1990 travelogue about the Dalai Lama's request to learn the secrets of Jewish survival in exile appeared while many Jews were on alternative spiritual paths. So it came as news that the Buddhist leader wanted to learn about our people's ways. Today, Jews returning from studies in other faith traditions, as well as those recovering traditional Jewish spiritual practices, are bringing methods that restore and advance the vitality and meaning of being Jewish. Our panelists will discuss the personal and professional impact of the diverse spiritual tools they have uncovered, live, and teach.
Getting It Done and Getting It Right
Employer–Employee Rights in the Tradition and Today
Joy Levitt,
Ruth Messinger
Text and Thought
Through an examination of both Jewish texts and the modern workplace, we will explore the ways that thoughtful employers and employees create work environments that reflect the values of the institutions they serve.
It’s January: Passover is Around the Corner
A Journey through the Haggadah
Joy Levitt,
Michael Strassfeld
Ritual and Prayer,
Text and Thought
The mitzvah of Passover is to tell the story of the exodus from Egypt. Through an examination of the texts of both traditional and modern haggadot, we will explore ways to make our sederim meaningful and engaging for everyone around the table.
A Day in the Life
Bringing Vision and Values to Practice
Text and Thought
Every day, non-profit institutions make thousands of seemingly innocuous decisions about programs, staffing, and money. Behind those decisions are a complex set of processes that involve goals, viability, definition, re-definition, power, constituency, allegiance and values. Through an analysis of real cases faced by real organizations, we will explore the “ethics” of decision making for a diverse community. Who wins? Who loses? Who cares?
