What does it mean to do Jewish in 2025?
It’s a question that resonates deeply across the country, and it’s no different here in Detroit. It’s also the question that was the driving force behind Visions for Our Jewish Future, the annual retreat held last month by The Collective. Over 115 Jewish education and engagement professionals from more than 30 local agencies gathered at M1 Concourse in Pontiac for a day of learning, collaboration and connection. The result was an energizing, community-wide commitment to reimagining how we build meaningful Jewish experiences together.
The retreat, hosted by Federation’s Planning and Agency Relations Department, is part of The Collective, an initiative designed to support and elevate the professionals who shape Jewish life in Metro Detroit. Their goal is simple but powerful: to convene, energize and empower those who lead in Jewish education and engagement, so they can continue to inspire others, drive innovation and build a more connected, vibrant Jewish future.
The day kicked off with a keynote by Zack Bodner, author of Why Do Jewish?, who introduced the TACHLIS framework—Tikkun Olam, Art & Culture, Community, Holidays & Rituals, Learning, Israel and Shabbat & Spirituality. This framework helped participants think differently about what it means to engage with Jewish life, offering a lens to design programs and experiences that are both relevant and rooted in tradition.
From there, professionals selected from a diverse menu of workshops and panels, ranging from relational engagement and adaptive leadership to the role of artificial intelligence in Jewish education. There were also sessions on Israel 101, inclusion practices and the sacred art of disagreement—many led by local and national thought leaders. Throughout the day, professionals had the opportunity not only to learn but to connect with peers across sectors they rarely get to collaborate with.
But The Collective is more than just a one day gathering. It’s a year-round investment in the people behind Jewish Detroit’s programs, classes, camps, synagogues and community spaces. The initiative brings together early childhood educators, youth professionals, clergy, agency staff and others who make up the fabric of Jewish Detroit. Through workshops, professional cohorts, mentorship and strategic partnerships with national organizations like the Jewish Learning Collaborative and The iCenter, The Collective is building a support system that helps these leaders grow, reflect and innovate in their work.
A cross-agency leadership committee—comprised of professionals from a wide range of institutions, denominations and roles—helps shape The Collective’s work and ensures it remains responsive to real, on-the-ground needs. Their creativity, collaboration and willingness to dream big have led to meaningful learning experiences that are already making a tangible impact across our community.
At its core, The Collective is an embodiment of what Federation does best: supporting people. By investing in our community’s professionals, it strengthens the agencies and institutions they serve. And by strengthening those agencies, we amplify the impact of every dollar raised—ensuring that our fundraising efforts lead not just to more programs, but to meaningful experiences for the individuals and families who engage in Jewish life across Metro Detroit.
As we look to the future, the need to support our professionals has never been clearer. The ways people connect to Jewish life continue to evolve, particularly in a post-COVID, post-October 7th world. Professionals are navigating complex challenges and opportunities and they’re doing it with tremendous heart, creativity and care. It’s our responsibility, and our privilege, to ensure they have the resources, networks and inspiration to keep going.
The Collective is a reminder that the future of Jewish life in Detroit isn’t something we’ll arrive at alone—it’s something we build together. And when we invest in the people leading the way, we all benefit from a stronger, more resilient and more connected Jewish community.
