Zschool Edge
Professional Practice
At the Zelikow School, Students have the opportunity to expand their skills To support this, we offer two distinct pathways. Each student may choose the option that best aligns with their goals and professional context.
Below are some examples of organizations in which students have completed their Professional Practice over the last several years.
Employment-Based Option
Students who are already employed in a Jewish nonprofit may fulfill this requirement by dedicating 2–5 hours per week to a special project or initiative outside of their existing job portfolio. This pathway allows students to stretch beyond their current role, acquire new skills, and explore areas of professional growth.
Internship Option
The internship program provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working 16–20 hours per week in a Jewish nonprofit organization. Each student is placed in a setting where they are supervised by experienced professionals and integrated into the daily life of the organization. This structure ensures that students not only contribute meaningfully to the nonprofit’s mission but also receive mentorship and guidance as they navigate real-world challenges and develop as emerging Jewish professionals.
HUC concurrent students enrolled in the Zelikow School may fulfill this requirement through a year-long internship at a site approved by the Zelikow School Associate Director, Student Life and Professional Development.
Capstone Experience: Nonprofit Accelerator
The Zschool Capstone Course, titled “Lean Launchpad for the Jewish Nonprofit” replicates the experience of a high-tech business accelerator in order to develop leaders who can innovate within existing organizations or launch their own startup.
Global Seminar in Innovation
Windmueller Israel Seminar
Global Seminar in Innovation
The Windmueller Israel Seminar is an opportunity for Zschool masters’ students to explore some of the major social challenges in Israel through nonprofits that have developed effective and innovative solutions. A requirement for MAJNM students, the itinerary is designed to provide leadership insights on how creative problem solving and business principles are implemented to effectively support the mission and business models of nonprofits as they strive to create a more just society. The seminar allows students to understand Israeli society through the lens of its NGO sector.
Learning from Start-Up Nation
Students engaged in a discussion with Jon Medved, serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, and founder and CEO of OurCrowd onCustomer Discovery and Value Proposition. These skills of customer-centric design are crucial for our students’ understanding of how to approach problem-solving in their current and future professional roles. Our belief is that if more nonprofit professionals approach the work in this way, the Jewish nonprofit sector will be more agile and relevant.
Understanding the Funder Landscape
Students had the opportunity to meet with Sigal Yaniv Feller, Executive Director, JFN-Israel, along with Allan Chanoch Barkat, founder of the Dualis Social Investment Fund. Dualis works to promote Israeli society by investing and accompanying social businesses – for-profit businesses that train and employ disadvantaged populations. Furthering this experience was a discussion on the role of philanthropy in building an ecosystem for change in Kfar Kassem. Students had the chance to meet with the Mayor or his deputy for a roundtable discussion with representatives of the Glazer Foundation, Marty Karp, and the Portland trust, Yishai Sorek, and their various grantees: Tovanot B’Hinuch, AJEED, Tsofen, and INJAZ.
