Our staff is available for consultation. Our mission is to empower communities.
2025 Local Leadership Development Initiative
Apply for a grant using this link
Download the budget form for local leadership development initiatives using this link and submit it to seminars@wupj.org.
The Global Center for Education and Leadership Development of the WUPJ serves as a hub for Jewish education and leadership development for people all over the world in all stages of life.
- Global Center for Education and Leadership Development
- Local Leadership Development Initiatives
- Shlichut Hub
- Roundtable Discussions on WUPJ Core Values
It seeks out, connects, and supports educators, clergy, community professionals, and lay leaders who want to broaden their knowledge and take on new responsibilities in sustaining their communities, educational institutions, regions, and our global organization as well as serving as a platform for new initiatives and models of Jewish life. The Center operates through the lens of Progressive Jewish values, principles, and spiritual practice, both steeped in tradition and envisioning the future of Judaism in the world.
The Center works in strategic alliances with other academic organizations and NGOs within and outside the Progressive Movement.
The Center is based in Jerusalem, the spiritual center of the Jewish people and the capital of Israel, the vibrant heart of Jewish culture and identity that both inspires and challenges. That being said, the WUPJ’s network spreads over all populated continents, endowing the Center with the ability to hold activities anywhere in the world.
Local Leadership Development Initiatives
The WUPJ offers support for the leadership development of WUPJ regions, communities, organizations and educational institutions. We define leadership in the widest sense and include all types of leadership – such as governance, education, youth, young adults, families, spiritual, music, activism, community, Israel and the environment. We are especially interested in innovative ideas and collaborative initiatives. Initiatives include an international component of physical or virtual facilitation by WUPJ leadership and staff. Programs can stands alone or be part of a larger program.
Any organization that is a constituent of the WUPJ may apply. Organizations can be but are not limited to the regional organization, affiliated congregations, day schools, Netzer and Tamar sniffim, rabbinic councils, etc. In general, the more collaborators in a program, the better.
We encourage you to contact WUPJ staff for consultation and to request an application.
Shlichut Hub
Shlichut is best translated as emissary or mission. Leadership is a calling, and many of us feel called to the mission of serving communities across the world as part of our global family.
A successful Shlichut is the result of a good match made between the shaliach/shelicha and the community and the rabbi. A good match will consist of the following:
- The shaliach/shelicha’s skills and character match the community’s needs.
- The community’s style and environment match the shaliach/shelicha requirements or expressed needs.
- The shaliach/shelicha and the community discuss their expectations in advance and set times for evaluation of the relationship throughout the
- All parties share reliable and relevant information – open communication.
The WUPJ facilitates matching between shaliach/shelicha and community, preparation of shaliach/shelicha and community for the shlichut, ongoing support during the visit and evaluation of the experience.
Shlichut for Israelis
The WUPJ supports traditional shlichut opportunities in cooperation with the Jewish Agency and the WZO – youth movement, community, education and shin-shin (gap year age) programs sending Israelis to communities in the Diaspora.
Shlichut for Clergy
We work to match rabbis, cantors and other spiritual leaders to communities around the world. We generally match for three types of service:
- Short-term visit for holidays such as the High Holidays and Pesach
- Long-term visit for 3 months to a year (i.e. interim rabbi)
- Long-term placement for 3 years or more with the possibility of permanent residence
- Long-term placement of frequent visits (once a month, once every few months)
Roundtable Discussions on WUPJ Core Values
We call on all Jews who identify with Reform/Progressive values to examine these values and conduct roundtable discussions in your communities – to engage in intellectual discourse, to contribute to shaping Reform/Progressive Judaism, and to meet like-minded leaders. View past presentations here.
Read the WUPJ Mission and Values.