(Courtesy of Bnei Akiva) Bnei Akiva of the US & Canada, the leading North American religious Zionist youth movement, announced the addition of Rabbi Dr. Noam Weinberg to the executive team as chief growth officer. With over 25 years of leadership and high-level involvement in Jewish education, Rabbi Weinberg brings a wealth of knowledge to the executive team. He served as the principal of the North Shore Hebrew Academy High School for 13 years, and most recently was a founding director of JOLT Israel for the past eight years. He has vast experience in formal and informal education as an educator, principal and director, in addition to his laudable list of multiple master’s degrees, certificates and a doctorate. His main mission is to drive growth and innovation and streamline programming success for Bnei Akiva of the US & Canada, increasing the fast-growing participant membership and community programming across the continent.
Rabbi Weinberg’s appointment comes on the heels of a five year-long roadmap of an internal restructure, administrative and professional development, and an integrated marketing and communications strategy developed for Bnei Akiva after a year-long strategic audit by A.J. O’Connor Associates. With the growth of the movement, having opened six new day camps, expanded the Mach Hach BaAretz teen summer Israel tour, opened new community chapters and heading into the 10th year of Bnei Akiva’s Midreshet and Yeshivat Torah V’Avodah with a high-level kollel and newly approved hesder program, a chief growth officer was an essential component to propel the future and continued success of Bnei Akiva summer and year-round programs.
“Rabbi Weinberg is not only a distinguished educator with close to three decades of experience leading growth-focused schools and organizations in both the informal and formal education sectors, but he is a leader who exudes warmth and authenticity,” shared Rabbi Shaul Feldman, executive director of Bnei Akiva of the US & Canada. “This role is essential to driving the movement forward, and a role we’ve wanted to fill for some time. We were waiting on the perfect candidate, and Rabbi Weinberg fits the bill both in respect to his extensive skill set and experience, as well as his mission-driven focus.”
Rabbi Weinberg’s focus will be multifaceted, including: bringing Bnei Akiva year-round programming to new communities with strong Bnei Akiva summer presence, supporting the entire shlichut process, and youth leadership training. Additionally, he will be charged with culture building and inspiring the next generation in all aspects of religious Zionism and a love for Am, Eretz and Torat Israel—through innovative, out-of-the-box programming. Rabbi Weinberg’s varied background with a master’s in family therapy, as a certified coach in adolescent religious development, as well as holding a graduate certification in not-for-profit management from Columbia University Business School, will no doubt support his long-term goals for Bnei Akiva.
“Bnei Akiva is at the forefront of the revolutionary change in how today’s North American youth interact with Israel, leadership opportunities, and informal education. I’m delighted to be a member of such an innovative and community-focused team.” said Rabbi Weinberg. “Bnei Akiva has ambitious plans for the year ahead. I’m excited to make an impact and help achieve those goals, especially within a movement that was integral in laying the foundation to help me realize my own dream of making aliyah and living in Israel.” Rabbi Weinberg is a boger (alumnus) of Moshava IO, where he went on Machal and then worked for two years. He was also part of the 1993-1994 cohort of Bnei Akiva’s Midrash U’maaseh.
