Introducing Shirah Rosin

Schechter is delighted to announce the creation of a new position focused on both grassroots and high-level engagement throughout our entire Schechter community.

As a parent of three current students and a longtime professional and volunteer in Jewish communal work, this D.C. native brings a deep love of Schechter and rich experience in community organizing to her new role. Shirah’s background touches on many aspects of the enhanced focus that Schechter is placing on alumni and communal engagement. She recently shared some of the philosophies, planning and big dreams that will inform this reimagined position.

What are some of the highlights of your work prior to this?

My first job out of college was as a Hillel Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow at the University of Washington. There I worked on community engagement and program development to create dynamic Jewish experiences for undergraduate students. After two years in Seattle, I studied at Pardes and volunteered with troubled teens and homeless youth in Jerusalem. Next, I did a stint at Nesiya, an Israel summer educational experience that brings together American and Israeli teens from across different economic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

What is your philosophy of community engagement? How do you see community as critical to a thriving school?

I see engagement as the core of building a strong and dynamic community, and I believe the foundation of that is having people who are invested. The Schechter orbit is so rich.

Both the people at school every day and those who are beyond our walls have an impact on Schechter. This engagement work is very much in line with our goal to continue to be inspired by Jewish life and learning; to make meaningful connections; to tap into the creativity of the community in creating opportunities; and to know what people want, in general, and from Schechter.

How does Schechter fit into people’s lives beyond the school day?

There is this idea of a “third place.” You have your home, your work, and you have this third place. For a lot of people, Schechter is a third place, a center for community. I want to think about how Schechter can continue to be a third place for people even after graduation, throughout their lives.

Our goal is to keep people plugged in. For example, Schechter can be a resource for alumni settling into college or returning to Boston. There are grandparents who are relocating to the area and are looking to build community on the local level, and we have grandparents all over the world. They need opportunities to connect so that when they talk about their grandchildren’s experiences, they are able to feel as if they are part of the school themselves.

We are at an exciting point in the development of this idea and working towards making this goal a reality. Schechter is a place and a community, but it is also this really important educational moment. It’s a feeling that stays with people as they move on through life. As people continue to move beyond the Schechter years, they can use the school to access other educational or social opportunities.

How has community engagement changed and where do you see new potential for growth?

Engagement is not just about programs. It might be phone calls or volunteering or getting together. Some people want professional opportunities. Other people have this warm, fuzzy feeling about Schechter and might want to connect with people who remember the building or had the same teachers even if they’re in another city across the country. We want to help people expand their Schechter network.

There are several grandparents who recently started hanging out with each other and going to museums together. They did not even know each other before, but their mutual connection to Schechter laid the groundwork for a new friendship. Another example is that the library space is available on Mondays and Fridays at the Lower School. Could there be a Mah Jongg group that meets there? We can offer the space—in other words, be the third place—for people to come and get to know each other.

This January, we are kicking off a partnership with OneTable, a great platform that helps people find Shabbat dinners in their area. The idea is bringing people together around the table to have a shared experience. Scehchter is the baseline connector that everyone shares. We hope these dinners will become an annual event paving the way for local connections.

How do you envision partnering with other groups as thought partners around Jewish life and culture?

My dream is that Schechter partners with other institutions in the area for opportunities in which we are opening ourselves up as a service to the entire Boston Jewish community. It might be a talk or panel discussion that is really intriguing. It would be fantastic if one of the speakers has some affiliation with Schechter, but it doesn’t have to be the case, and the content does not have to be Schechter-based. When people see us in partnership with another organization, our goal is for them to feel as if it is high quality and something that they want to participate in.

What are the goals for this school year?

This is a learning year to find out what people want and how we can be a resource to them, no matter where they are on their Schechter journey. Current students, alumni who are college age, alumni who are 21+ but do not have kids, prospective parents, young parents, those who are older and want to connect if they do not fit into those other buckets. If people are looking for something in their lives, how can Schechter be there for them? We were committed to people when they were here, and we are still invested. We want them to know they are valued members of the community for a lifetime.

How about a coffee, a phone call or a meet-up over Zoom with Shirah! Have an idea for a program? Want to host a get-together in your city? Interested in being a thought partner?

Please email her at shirah.rosin@ssdsboston.org