JESNA to Shut its Doors

The Jewish Education Service of North America will end its operations in July after 31 years.

Established in 1982, JESNA has been downsizing for the past four years, in part due to declining allocations from the Jewish Federation system.

Cass Gottlieb, chair of JESNA’s board of directors, attributed the agency’s closing to dramatic changes that have taken place in the education sector.

“Jewish education today is in a period of dynamic change, with new actors at every level and a growing focus on innovation and collaboration as keys to enhancing its impact in the 21st century,” Gottlieb said in a statement issued Friday. “I know that our leadership remains committed to advancing Jewish education’s growth and transformation and will remain involved in this work on many levels,”

JESNA works closely with the central agencies for Jewish education in 150 communities throughout North America and in more than 60 communities internationally.