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With close to 35 years in Jewish education and educational leadership, Jason Ablin has served as a teacher, principal and head of school. He holds national certification in leadership coaching and mentoring from the National Association of School Principals and has been supporting and mentoring new leaders throughout the country for over 15 years. At American Jewish University, Jasin also runs AJU's Mentor Teacher Training Certification Program. Jason Ablin lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters, both of whom are proud graduates of Jewish day schools.
From 1998-2018, Stuart Zweiter served as the director of the Lookstein Center for Jewish Education at Bar Ilan University, a leading resource center and think tank for Jewish education throughout the world. In Israel, he also served as an instructor in Talmud at Bar-Ilan University and as a Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute. Before making Aliya, he served as a principal at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School and at the Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey. He has served as an educational consultant to communities throughout the world.
Michael Doppelt is a graduate of the Frisch school in New Jersey and has been an active member of Lincoln Square Synagogue since the late 1990s where he now co-chairs the executive board. He has spent his career in finance. He was an investment banker for over a decade and has worked for nearly 20 years in the private equity industry, primarily raising capital from institutional investors and leading business development efforts. As a lifelong Jewish activist, Michael has been involved in numerous communal initiatives. He is also a 16-time marathon runner, an avid reader and a major Bruce Springsteen fan.
Evelyn co-founded The Shul of Bal Harbour with her husband, Dr. Shmuel Katz. Her passion for Jewish education and Israel led her to the RASG Hebrew Academy, where she served as President in the late 1990’s. Evelyn also served as President of the Greater Miami FIDF Chapter and she serves on the boards of the Friends of the IDF, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, CAJE, NCSY, Bar Ilan University, Hebrew at the Center and Nishmat Board of Governors. Evelyn was awarded “Doctorate Honoris Causa” by Bar Ilan University in 2018. She holds a degree in Education and Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Evelyn was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. Her parents were European Immigrants and her mother was a survivor of the holocaust.
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Josh is a private-equity attorney at Honigman LLP, where he is a member of the executive committee and the director of Honigman’s Israel office. He also represents families in connection with their philanthropy and business succession. As the father of two Farber Hebrew Day School students in Metropolitan Detroit, Josh has been deeply engaged in the governance of Farber, a Modern Orthodox yeshiva, for nearly fifteen years. He and his wife Rachel have long been involved in Detroit’s Jewish ecosystem, including its Federation.
Lori is a Professor of Pathology & Cell Biology at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where her laboratory studies neural circuits regulating metabolism. She is also the Co-Director of the Nutritional and Metabolic Biology Ph.D. program. After graduating from the Hebrew Academy of Greater Washington, Lori received an A.B. in Molecular Biology from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and her Ph.D. from The Rockefeller University. Lori and her husband Len Berman have three sons who attended the Abraham Joshua Heschel School and Ramaz School. Lori is a past board member of the Ramaz School.
The Jewish School Leadership Enterprise (JSLE) is a new initiative created by a group of highly accomplished heads of Jewish day schools who believe the future of Jewish education depends on strong, sustainable leadership. Rather than being another standalone program, JSLE is designed as a systemic ecosystem that develops, supports, and sustains leaders throughout their careers in Jewish education. By drawing on the lived wisdom of veteran school heads, JSLE seeks to create an enduring pipeline of capable and well-prepared Jewish school leaders across North America.
For many years, Jewish day schools have faced a shortage of talented leaders and educators. Although significant resources have been invested in leadership programs, results have been fragmented, leaving schools struggling to fill vital Jewish education jobs. This gap has only widened since the pandemic, which exposed how vulnerable schools can be without a strong leadership pipeline. JSLE was born from the recognition that a new, holistic approach was required: one that strengthens both the profession of Jewish school leadership and the cultural support structures surrounding it.
JSLE distinguishes itself by grounding its work in the real-world experience of successful heads of Jewish schools. This practitioner-driven perspective ensures solutions are not theoretical but rooted in the realities of leading Jewish day schools. At the same time, JSLE takes a systemic view, weaving together training, governance, and communal partnerships into a coordinated strategy. Importantly, JSLE elevates leadership as a prestigious and meaningful career path in Jewish education—one that deserves recognition, fair compensation, and professional respect.
The profession faces major challenges: a shortage of qualified Jewish school principals and heads, high turnover, and inconsistent mentorship. Many leaders experience professional isolation, while some boards and leadership teams lack alignment. In addition, Jewish education careers are sometimes undervalued compared to other nonprofit or professional fields, discouraging talented candidates from entering. This cycle of scarcity threatens the long-term vitality of Jewish schools and Jewish communities.
The mission of JSLE is to ensure Jewish schools have the strong, stable leadership they need to thrive. By cultivating new leaders, supporting those already in the role, and reframing headship as a respected profession, JSLE seeks to make careers in Jewish education sustainable, rewarding, and attractive to the next generation.
JSLE’s goals include elevating the status of Jewish school leadership, identifying and training new leaders, and professionalizing the role through fair standards and compensation. Its ultimate aim is to make serving as a Jewish head of school or school principal a viable and appealing career choice for talented professionals across North America.
JSLE is building interconnected programs to form a career pathway in Jewish education. Highlights include:
- A Career Advisor Network that connects aspiring leaders with experienced mentors to help them navigate Jewish education careers.
- Centers of Excellence, offering residency-style training inside high-performing Jewish day schools.
- A “Leadership Playbook” with case studies and governance tools.
- Peer networks and professional support for current heads of Jewish schools.
- A referral program to further the training of future school leaders through existing programs of proven success.
Together, these programs create a clear entry point for those exploring jobs in Jewish education and ensure ongoing support once they enter the field.
JSLE was envisioned by twelve accomplished heads of Jewish day schools from across North America. Their collective wisdom, diverse backgrounds, and shared passion for strengthening Jewish education make JSLE the first practitioner-led initiative of its kind.
Potential candidates include:
- Teachers and administrators in Jewish day schools ready to advance into leadership.
- Mid-career Jewish nonprofit professionals exploring Jewish community leadership careers.
- Career-changers from law, business, or nonprofits looking for meaningful jobs in Jewish education.
- Emerging leaders from Jewish camps, Hillels, or synagogues seeking long-term careers in Jewish education.
By engaging this diverse pool, JSLE expands the pipeline of future Jewish school leaders.
If you want to explore a career as a Jewish head of school, JSLE offers resources, mentors, and hands-on experiences. You’ll gain both preparation and support for the demanding but deeply meaningful path of Jewish school leadership.
No. JSLE welcomes not only current educators but also professionals from outside fields who want to transition into Jewish education careers. Whether you are a lawyer, nonprofit manager, or business leader, JSLE helps you adapt your skills for Jewish school leadership jobs.
JSLE offers exploratory opportunities such as fellowships and school visits. These let you “test drive” Jewish school leadership before committing –perfect for those considering but not yet certain about a long-term career in Jewish education.
A major goal of JSLE is to promote headship as a prestigious and rewarding profession. By elevating Jewish education careers through fair compensation, contracts, and public recognition, JSLE ensures that heads of Jewish day schools are seen as vital community leaders.
You can explore Jewish education jobs through networks like JSLE, which connects aspiring leaders to Jewish day school leadership opportunities across North America.
Most Jewish school principals and heads of school have experience in education, nonprofit leadership, or Jewish communal work. JSLE helps candidates gain the skills and mentorship needed for leadership in Jewish education careers.
A career in Jewish education can begin as a teacher, administrator, or community professional. JSLE offers pathways, training, and mentorship to help you step into Jewish day school leadership roles.
Yes. Many Jewish education careers welcome professionals from law, business, or nonprofit management. JSLE supports career changers in transitioning into Jewish day school leadership jobs.
A Jewish head of school leads academics, community engagement, and school vision. It’s one of the most impactful careers in Jewish education, shaping both schools and the broader Jewish community.
Working in Jewish day schools allows you to make a lasting impact on students, families, and Jewish life. Jewish education careers are meaningful, mission-driven, and supported by initiatives like JSLE.
Compensation for Jewish school principals and heads varies by location and school size. JSLE is working to ensure Jewish education jobs are fairly compensated and sustainable as long-term careers.
Common paths include teaching, administration, or nonprofit leadership within the Jewish community. JSLE provides structured programs that prepare professionals for Jewish school leadership careers.
Yes. Many Jewish education jobs value transferable skills from other sectors. JSLE helps professionals adapt their expertise for Jewish day school leadership roles.
Jewish school leadership combines community service, education, and Jewish values. As a head of school or principal, you help shape the future of Jewish life while building a meaningful career.