Avi Posen, who graduated from the University of Winnipeg in December 2009 with a BA in Psychology begins his new full time position as the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Engagement Co-ordinator.
Posen, who is the son of Shayla Fink and Kinsey Posen, will be tasked with implementing Jewish engagement strategies that came out of a two year strategic review of our community. Posen’s role will be to coordinate community wide events partnering with a variety of other organizations in order to " connect more Jews to more of Jewish life."
A graduate of Gray Academy of Jewish Education, Posen has lived and studied at Hebrew University of Jerusalem for a year in 2008/2009, has taught bar and bat mitzvah lessons and torah reading, and was a co-assistant Director at Camp Massad this summer.
When asked by the Winnipeg Jewish Review what he thinks is the most imoratant way to get young people Jewishly engaged, Posen responded, that programming "needs to be relevant – you need to make the programming connect to what interests them Jewishly in life, such as Jewish summer camp, youth groups like BBYO and Israel."
Posen says he is working on programs such as " Teen Shabbat Activities, the Global Day of Jewish Learning, Limmud Winnipeg, PJ Library programming, Shabbat Across Winnipeg, Passover in the Matza Aisle, and working with Dubi Shlenger on Machon Madrichim."
Prior to commencing his new position, Posen was director of Machon Madrichim and a planning associate to Faye Rosenberg Cohen on Jewish engagement programs. As director of Machon Madrichim, Posen told the Winnipeg Jewish Review that "planned and led the LOL (Leadership on the lake) retreat / Shabbaton for 50 kids in Gimli in May of 2010 under Machon Madrichim."
When asked what he thinks will be the most challenging part of his job, Posen replied, " People always want to be involved but everyone always needs that extra push to get them to actually do it. People are very busy with their own lives but it’s very important that they look at the big picture and make time for their community, nation and homeland."
