Raising new leaders at YU’s ChampionsGate

By Mayer Fertig

Issue of August 20, 2010/ 10 Elul 5770

In communal organizations dominated by the senior set it can be difficult for members of the younger generation to get a word in edgewise. And for those who don't also have a seven-or-eight-figure bank account, being heard can seem all but impossible. As it turns out, the all-but-impossible is an annual occurrence now, five years running, at the ChampionsGate conference at the Orlando resort of that name, organized by Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future.

The conference was held several weeks ago. The theme of the 2010 conference was "From Best Practices to Next Practices: Tomorrow Begins Today."

ChampionsGate was the brainchild of Ira Mitzner, a Houston philanthropist and YU trustee who grew up in Brooklyn and owns the resort. He and his wife Mindy, a Far Rockaway native, were sponsors of the three-day event. Mitzner's concept was an Orthodox "general assembly" where leaders of all types could exchange ideas. It has grown from 40 leaders from a handful of communities to over 300 people representing 80 Orthodox communities around the world.

"ChampionsGate is not just for philanthropists and big names," said Rabbi Ari Rockoff, the conference organizer, via e-mail. He is the director of community partnership at the Center for the Jewish Future. "We had leadership ranging from the mid-20's, with newborn babies, all the way to the 70's, meaning we had leadership who built our communal infrastructure sitting side by side with young, emerging leaders who must now take on the role of leadership in the years to come."

Rockoff, a West Hempstead resident, called ChampionsGate "an ongoing conversation" that keeps a network of leaders connected through monthly conference calls.

"The focus was on what could be done to make the entire Jewish community better," said Phil Rosen of Lawrence, and a member of the Yeshiva College Board of Overseers. "We talked and listened to each other - amazing for a Jewish conference."

Other major Jewish organizations hold conferences with similar goals but ChampionsGate "really could not be more different than Agudah and [the Torah Umesorah Convention] both of which I have attended. It is much less about Hisorerus than it is about dealing with issues," said a participant who asked to not be named.

"Though the individuals YU brought together had diverse personalities with diverse thoughts," such as noted Charedi thinker Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, "what resulted was the single message that together we can develop solutions that will carry the Torah community forward to even greater, successful growth," said Dr. Asher Mansdorf, a trustee of the Lawrence School Board, and a member of the Young Israel of Woodmere, who traveled to Orlando to attend the conference.

"Most of the participants in the conference represent smaller Jewish communities than ours here in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway," said Michael Fragin of Lawrence. In a down economy many of the challenges facing the Orthodox community, such as the ever-rising cost of yeshiva tuition, are "existential," but "the conference presented a methodology of problem solving" and "YU also openly confronted some of the problems within the Orthodox community, and many of the participants were willing to be self-critical and introspective."

Participants of all types were free to voice their opinions.

"There was no hierarchy noticeable there. Everyone was equal and everyone's input counted, from rabbonim to educators to administrators to lay people," said Malki Rosen of Lawrence.

She found the conference eye opening not only for the issues that were raised but also for who brought all the parties to the table.

"What I found truly amazing was the awareness it woke in me about the role that Yeshiva University plays in the Jewish world," Rosen said. "It is not only a college that deals with the goal of educating our children but it is a Jewish institution that cares about every aspect of our children's future, and the future of our community.

The conference theme was broken down into four forums: Funds, facilitated by Dr. Craig Dreilinger; Family, facilitated by Mrs. Suzy Schwartz and Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz; Faith, facilitated by Dr. Scott Goldberg; and Future, facilitated by Rabbi Josh Joseph. Lectures covered topics such as gratitude, promoting philanthropy in this economy, finding meaning in davening, women's communal leadership, a Torah perspective on natural disasters, including the BP oil spill, terrorism, dating and stem cell research. A panel discussion entitled "Orthodoxy's Big Tent: Where Do We Put The Stakes?" featured YU President Richard Joel, Rabbi Yona Reiss, Dean of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), Dr. Karen Bacon, Dean of Stern College for Women, Rabbi David Stav, co-founder and chairman of Tzohar, Gary Rosenblatt, editor of The Jewish Week, Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, C.B. Neugroschl, newly appointed head of Yeshiva University High School for Girls, and Barry Shrage, president of Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Brooklyn.

Participants also got to enjoy athletics, shiurim, the 2nd annual ChampionsGate Cholent Competition, Chazan Shimon Craimer of the Riverdale Jewish Center, and Yeshiva's own a cappella group, The Maccabeats.

"We are aiming to create an environment where people can discuss the Jewish future - how to advance family values, how to inspire faith, how to train our future leadership and how to address the issues of philanthropy in our current economic climate," said Evelyn Stavsky, vice chair of the Stern College Board of Overseers. "There is a lot of talk about tikun olam, but the Center for Jewish Future is actually doing it."

- Additional reporting by Sandy Eller