Leadership Lenses with Barry Kislowicz

Leadership Lenses Podcast
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Leadership Lenses is a new podcast designed for Heads of School, Principals, Menahalim, Roshei Yeshiva and anyone who wants to improve Jewish day school and yeshiva education. These podcast episodes will come out in weekly installments designed for busy leaders. Each one will address a dilemma submitted to us by our listeners and provide our thoughts and hopefully some helpful insights.

  1. 6D AGO

    Lessons from 36 Years of Day School Leadership with Rabbi Eli Rubin

    What does it take to lead Jewish day schools successfully across four decades — and what does that experience reveal about where Jewish education needs to go next?In this episode of Leadership Lenses, I speak with Rabbi Eli Rubin, who has served as Rosh Yeshiva and Head of School at Kushner in New Jersey for 18 years, following his 18 years as Dean and Headmaster at Ramaz.We explore the tension between running a school as a community and running it as an organization, and why leaders must be willing to hold both at once.Rabbi Rubin shares how he thinks about financial sustainability, what it really takes to make the case to donors, and why strong governance is the foundation of it all.Then the conversation opens up into something bigger: in a moment of historic disruption for American Jewry, what are we actually preparing our students for?Rabbi Rubin argues that Jewish day schools must cultivate not only strong Jewish identity, but genuine ownership of American civic life — and that we have very little time to get there.This episode moves from the operational to the visionary, and offers a perspective that every Jewish school leader should hear.I can't wait to hear what you take away from this conversation.Reach out to our guest and learn more about his school:🌐 School Website: https://www.jkha.org/Get in touch with us:  Website:⁠ https://kislowiczconsulting.com⁠ Subscribe to my Substack:⁠ https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com⁠ Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/⁠ Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-lenses-with-barry-kislowicz/id1813728680

    29 min

  2. MAR 25

    What It Takes to Lead Schools Over 25 Years: Lessons from Rabbi Dr. Mitch Malkus

    School leadership is demanding and too many heads don’t stay in the role for long. So what does it take to lead schools successfully for 25 years? In this episode of Leadership Lenses, I am speaking with Rabbi Mitch Malkus, Head of Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, about the mindset, relationships, and habits that sustain long-term leadership. We explore the critical role of the head–board chair relationship, why leaders must see themselves as continual learners, and how schools can navigate evolving challenges from student well-being to polarization and parent engagement. It’s a conversation about how leadership actually unfolds over time, and what it takes to stay effective in the role. Reach out to our guest and learn more about his school: 📧 Email: malkus@cesjds.org 🌐 School Website: https://www.cesjds.org Get in touch with us:  Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com Subscribe to my Substack: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-lenses-with-barry-kislowicz/id1813728680

    27 min

  3. MAR 18

    Turning Accreditation into a Leadership Tool with Dr. Amy Platt

    Accreditation often feels like a bureaucratic exercise for school leaders. But what if it could actually become a powerful tool for strategic growth? In this episode of Leadership Lenses, I speak with Dr. Amy Platt, Head of School at the Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School in Toronto, about how accreditation can strengthen governance, philanthropy, and long-term planning in Jewish day schools. Amy shares how her school used the accreditation process to clarify board practices, strengthen fundraising strategy, and deepen its connection to a national network of independent schools. We also explore how peer review and leadership communities can provide critical support during moments of crisis and change. If you’re preparing for accreditation or simply looking for ways to strengthen your school’s strategic direction, this conversation offers a valuable perspective. I can’t wait to hear what you take away from this episode. Learn more about Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School:  Website: https://www.djds.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulpennadjds/ Get in touch with us:  Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com Subscribe to my Substack: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-lenses-with-barry-kislowicz/id1813728680

    29 min

  4. MAR 11

    From Alumna to Head of School: Leading Community Day Schools into the Future with Dr. Casey Weiss

    Jewish day schools today face enormous expectations. They are not only responsible for strong academics, but also for cultivating Jewish identity, building community, and preparing students to engage confidently with the world. In this episode of Leadership Lenses, I’m joined by Dr. Casey Weiss, Head of School at Community Day School in Pittsburgh. A graduate of the school herself, Casey returned to lead the institution with a clear vision: to build a premier Jewish day school that serves both its students and the broader Jewish community. We discuss what it means for a school to pursue excellence across academics, Jewish life, and community engagement. Casey shares how her school is rethinking its role in Jewish communal life, why financial strategy is central to leadership, and how heads of school can approach change while bringing their communities along. This episode explores the intersection of leadership, strategy, and mission in Jewish education. I can’t wait to hear what you take away from this conversation. Learn more about Community Day School: https://www.comday.org Get in touch with us:  Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com Subscribe to my Substack: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-lenses-with-barry-kislowicz/id1813728680

    42 min

  5. FEB 25

    Leading for the Long Game: The Future of Jewish Day Schools with Dr. David Bryfman

    Jewish day schools are carrying real responsibility in a fast changing world. In this episode of Leadership Lenses, I’m joined by Dr. David Bryfman, CEO of The Jewish Education Project, for a future focused conversation about where Jewish education is heading and what school leaders can do now to prepare for what comes next. We talk about thinking beyond today’s pressures, how demographic and cultural shifts will shape schools over the next decade, and why building strong school communities includes supporting students and families together. We also explore what it means to prepare students to step into the broader world with confidence, pride, and optimism.  I can’t wait to hear what you take away from this conversation. Get in touch with Dr. David Bryfman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-bryfman-74a2b25 The Jewish Education Project: https://www .jewishedproject.org/ The Jewish Education Project on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jewished/ The Jewish Education Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JewishEd The Jewish Education Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JewishEd Educator resources & portal: https://educator.jewishedproject.org/ Get in touch with us:  Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com Subscribe to my Substack: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/

    29 min

  6. FEB 18

    Fundraising as Leadership: Building Real Partnership Between Heads and Boards with Amy Schiffman

    Fundraising is (still) one of the most challenging parts of school leadership. In this episode of Leadership Lenses, I sit down with Amy Schiffman, Founder and CEO of Evolve Giving Group, to explore what makes fundraising work in Jewish day schools over time. We explore the head of school’s role in donor relationships, how boards and leadership teams can partner more effectively, and why clarity and shared responsibility are essential for sustainable fundraising. If fundraising has felt overwhelming, unclear, or disconnected from your leadership role, this conversation offers a grounded, practical perspective. I can’t wait to hear what you take away from this conversation. Get in touch with Amy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyschiffman Learn more about Evolve Giving Group:   Website: https://evolvegg.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-giving-group Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvolveGG Email:  info@evolvegg.com Get in touch with us:  Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com Weekly Blog: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/

    31 min

  7. FEB 11

    Leadership, Learning, and Jewish Education Around the World with Amihai Bannett

    In this episode of Leadership Lenses, I sat down with Amihai Bannett, Director of Herzog Global, to explore how Jewish educators and school leaders can benefit from learning across borders. Herzog Global works with teachers and heads of school in more than 18 countries, offering professional development, advanced degrees, and customized school-based programs that connect Israeli educational expertise with Jewish communities around the world. We talk about: ✅ Why global perspective matters for local school leadership ✅ How professional development can strengthen Jewish identity and pedagogy ✅ What schools gain when educators learn from peers in different countries ✅ How Herzog Global partners with schools to offer accessible, high-quality training This episode focuses on how school leaders can leverage global partnerships to support their schools! 🎧 Join the conversation. Learn more about Herzog Global: https://global.herzog.ac.il Get in touch with us: Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com Weekly Blog: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/

    27 min

  8. FEB 4

    How to Turn Donations Into Donors with Rabbi Ben Gonsher

    In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Rabbi Ben Gonsher, a veteran fundraiser with more than 25 years of experience helping Jewish schools and nonprofits build sustainable philanthropic support. Rabbi Gonsher digs into why fundraising feels so uncomfortable and how the work gets easier when you stop treating fundraising like a necessary distraction, and start treating donors like partners. We talk about relationship-based fundraising, moves management, and simple systems that help leaders stay consistent, follow through, and build trust over time. If fundraising has always felt awkward, stressful, or unclear, this conversation will help you reframe it and walk away with practical ways to start building stronger donor relationships. Get in touch with Rabbi Gonsher: Email: ben@CICIsrael.org Get in touch with us: Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com Weekly Blog: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/

    31 min
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About

Leadership Lenses is a new podcast designed for Heads of School, Principals, Menahalim, Roshei Yeshiva and anyone who wants to improve Jewish day school and yeshiva education. These podcast episodes will come out in weekly installments designed for busy leaders. Each one will address a dilemma submitted to us by our listeners and provide our thoughts and hopefully some helpful insights.

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