About Rabbi Mike Uram
Rabbi Mike Uram is the first ever Chief Jewish Learning Officer for Jewish Federations of North America. Previously, he served as the Chief Vision and Education Officer for Pardes North America building a new platform for Jewish education in North America for the past two years. Before that, Mike led Penn Hillel as the Executive Director and Campus Rabbi for over 16 years. He is the author of the best-selling book entitled, Next Generation Judaism: How College Students and Hillel Can Help Reinvent Jewish Organizations, which won a National Jewish Book Award. He is a sought-after speaker and consultant on the changing nature of the American Jewish community, Jewish innovation, cutting-edge engagement and how legacy organizations can reinvent themselves in the age of millennials. Check out these articles about how his book is changing the way Jewish organizations work: Putting Mike Uram’s Next Generation Judaism To The Test, From San Francisco to Synagogue: Can Startup Culture Invigorate Jewish Organizations?
Mike has worked with dozens of Jewish organizations including Jewish Federations of North America, The Wexner Foundation, United Synagogue, The Rabbinical Assembly, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Hillel International and many local federations, synagogues and JCCs. For three years, Mike served as lead faculty and Jewish coach for the Schusterman Fellowship, a prestigious leadership development program for the most promising talent in the Jewish professional sector. Mike also served as part of a small working group that developed a new educational framework for Birthright Israel.
He has spent time in all of the different denominations and is most passionate about breaking down the personal, spiritual and intellectual boundaries that prevent people from having full self-actualized Jewish identities.
Mike holds a BA in History and Religious Studies from Washington University and Rabbinic Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He lives outside Philadelphia with his wife Leora and their three children.
Awards and Honors
Selected Publications and Media
Board and Community Leadership
Mike has worked with dozens of Jewish organizations including Jewish Federations of North America, The Wexner Foundation, United Synagogue, The Rabbinical Assembly, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Hillel International and many local federations, synagogues and JCCs. For three years, Mike served as lead faculty and Jewish coach for the Schusterman Fellowship, a prestigious leadership development program for the most promising talent in the Jewish professional sector. Mike also served as part of a small working group that developed a new educational framework for Birthright Israel.
He has spent time in all of the different denominations and is most passionate about breaking down the personal, spiritual and intellectual boundaries that prevent people from having full self-actualized Jewish identities.
Mike holds a BA in History and Religious Studies from Washington University and Rabbinic Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He lives outside Philadelphia with his wife Leora and their three children.
Awards and Honors
- Edgar M Bronfman award for outstanding leadership in the Hillel movement
- National Jewish Book Award winner
- Forward 50 List of most influential Jews of 2012
- Israel Ally of the Year for his campus work during the Penn BDS Conference
- Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence
- Slingshot Guide of the most inspiring and innovative Jewish organizations in North America.
Selected Publications and Media
- Chapter from a new Book Warm and Welcoming - A New Model of Jewish Institutions
- New Educational Framework for Taglit Birthright Israel
- GA Session on Compassion Fatigue
- Limmud NA learning session on Healing our Broken Discourse
- Campus as a Place for Pluralism – Penn Gazette
- Exit Interview After Nearly 17 Years in Hillel - Jewish Exponent
- Building a New Operating System for Jewish Life in the 21st Century – HUC College Commons Podcast
- Park Ave Synagogue Scholar-in-residence weekend: The Truth about BDS and Anti-Israel on Campus and How We Can Respond
- WABC Religion on the Line – How Relationship Based Engagement Can Transform Jewish Organizations
- The Relational Judaism Handbook by Ron Wolfson – Case Study about Relational Engagement
- D’var Torah at JFNA GA in 2015
- There’s No Such Thing as The Jewish Community! R. Shmuly Yanklowitz interview
- Seeding Change from Within – Katz Innovation Summit
- Millennial Panel at the 2018 GA
- Valentine’s Day and Judaism: To Send or Not to Send–Is that the Question?
- Essay about navigating a BDS Crisis at Penn Hillel - Finding Meaning in the Midst of Crisis
- Pluralism Panel for Academy of Jewish Religion from Shalom TV
Board and Community Leadership
- Judge for National Jewish Book Award (2018-present)
- Birthright International Education Committee
- JNF Adult Education Committee
- Jewish Future Pledge Advisory Board
- JTS Chancellor’s Rabbinic Cabinet
- Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy Board of Directors
- Hillel International Board of Directors
- Rabbinical Assembly Executive Council
- Rabbinical Assembly Strategic Planning Leadership Team
- Hillel U International Advisory Board
- Ezra Fellowship Advisory Board
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