Kivunim Schedule
Sunday, February 1, 2026
11:15 a.m.
Meet in Hotel Lobby to Travel to Marcus JCC Hotel Lobby 12–1 p.m.
Opening Session and Lunch Brill 1
Lynn Wittels, EMD Consulting Group 1–1:45 p.m.
Tour of Marcus JCC 1:45–3:15 p.m.
Dilemma Protocol Brill 2
Leah Garber, JCC Association of North America 3:15–3:30 p.m.
Break 3:30–5 p.m.
How Your Values Inform Your Leadership Brill 1
Carrie Darsky, JCC Association of North America 5–5:15 p.m.
Break 5:15–6:30 p.m.
A Conversation with Barak Brill 1
Facilitated by Sue Gelsey, Kaplen JCC on the Palisades 6:30–8 p.m.
Dinner, Schmooze, and Lessons From the Field Main Street
Jared Powers (Marcus JCC, Atlanta), Sara Klein Wagner (Trager Family JCC, Louisville), and Jason Kunzman (JCC of Greater Pittsburgh)Monday, February 2, 2026
7:25 a.m.
Meet in Hotel Lobby to Travel to Marcus JCC Hotel Lobby 8–9 a.m.
Breakfast and Introductions of JCC Association Staff Brill 1 9–10 a.m.
A Conversation with Why Do Jewish? Brill 2
Zack Bodner, Oshman Family JCC 10–10:15 a.m.
Break 10:15–11:30 a.m.
Jewish Peoplehood Exercise Brill 2
Rabbi Daniel Septimus, Shalom Austin and JCC Association 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Lunch and Closing Conversation Brill 1
Lynn Wittels 12:30–1 p.m.
Break 1 p.m.
Mifgash 2026 Conference Opening Morris & Rae Frank Theatre
Mifgash Schedule
Monday, February 2, 2026 |
Breakfast on Your Own |
| 9–10:15 a.m. Meet-Ups and Learning Discussions (hotel) SAVOR Bar and Kitchen These optional, pre-conference sessions will complement the Workshops, some of which will be offered in multiple time slots.
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| 10:15 a.m. Meet in Hotel Lobby to Travel to Marcus JCC Buses will depart promptly at 10:30 a.m. |
| 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Welcome to the Marcus JCC: Arrival, Registration, and Tours |
| 12:15–1 p.m. Snack and Schmooze Main Street Full lunch available for purchase at Marcus JCC Cafe |
| 1–2:15 p.m. Conference Opening and Movement Moment #1: Morris & Rae Frank Theatre Leaning Into This Moment |
| 2:15–2:45 p.m. Break |
| 2:45–4:05 p.m. Workshop Block #1 These interactive, content-rich sessions, some of which repeat in multiple timeslots, have been curated specifically by, for, and with JCC executives. They will be led by outstanding faculty, and each fits squarely in the domain of a newly launched Center of Excellence. Center for Talent Development
Center for Jewish Peoplehood
Center for Innovation and Impact
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| 4:05–4:20 p.m. Break |
| 4:20–5:40 p.m. Peer Communities Brill Family Activity Room 1 - 5, Sophie Hirsh Srochi Discovery Center, ORT Technology Lab These purposefully designed affinity groups will offer unparalleled opportunities to learn, bond, and converse with your peers. To see all Peer Community rosters, click here. Your Peer Community will also be written on the back of your name badge. Room assignments are on the digital schedule. |
| 5:45–6:30 p.m. Intentional Networking Choose your own networking experiences on the campus of the Marcus JCC, and you’ll find relationship-building can be engaging, energizing, and fun!
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| 6:30–9 p.m. Conference-Wide Dinner and Celebration Main Street Hosted by the team at the Marcus JCC, sponsored by Daxko, this dinner will bring us together to celebrate the joy, connection, and community we share as JCC Movement leaders. |
| 7 p.m. Ma'ariv Minyan Sophie Hirsh Discovery Center |
| 9 p.m. Buses Depart for the Hotel Main Lobby |
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 |
7:30 a.m. Breakfast Opens Ballroom Prefunction, Concourse Level This breakfast is kindly sponsored by Traction Rec. |
| 8–9 a.m. Meet-Ups and Learning Discussions (Bring your breakfast!) These optional sessions will complement the Workshops, some of which will be offered in multiple time slots. Check the digital schedule for locations.
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| 9:05–9:50 a.m. Intentional Networking Participate in peer-facilitated, focused conversations that happen best in-person with people who truly understand the work, and there’s room to acknowledge vulnerability, challenges, and problems to be solved.
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| 9:50–10 a.m. Break |
| 10–11:20 a.m. Workshop Block #2 These interactive, content-rich sessions, some of which repeat in multiple timeslots, have been curated specifically by, for, and with JCC executives. They will be led by outstanding faculty, and each fits squarely in the domain of a newly launched Center of Excellence. Center for Talent Development
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| 11:35 a.m.–12:55 p.m. Workshop Block #3 These interactive, content-rich sessions, some of which repeat in multiple timeslots, have been curated specifically by, for, and with JCC executives. They will be led by outstanding faculty, and each fits squarely in the domain of a newly launched Center of Excellence. Center for Talent Development
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| 1–2:15 p.m. Lunch Bernstein Ballroom, Lobby Level This lunch is kindly sponsored by Amilia. |
| 2:15–3:30 p.m. Movement Moment #2: Leveraging This Moment Bernstein Ballroom, Lobby Level |
| 3:30–5 p.m. Open Space Peer Community Discussions Bernstein Ballroom, Lobby Level This participant-driven approach to learning and problem-solving on topics requested and driven by you uses the rules of Open Space, including the Law of Two Feet, which empowers you to enter and exit conversations to maximize your own time. To see all Peer Community rosters, click here. Your Peer Community will also be written on the back of your name badge |
| 5 p.m. Mincha Minyan Mercer |
| 5–6 p.m. Intentional Networking Women’s Leadership: A return of a much-requested sacred space for women-identifying leaders across the JCC Movement. Hotel Suite, pending |
| 5–5:30 p.m. Break |
| 5:30 p.m. Dinner on Your Own —Everyone Gets An Invite Various Make the evening your own by spending time with friends or colleagues, enjoy some quiet, or welcome new faces to the table. The choice is yours. |
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 |
7:30 a.m. Breakfast Opens Bernstein Ballroom, Lobby Level |
| 8:30–9:30 a.m. Meet-Ups and Learning Discussions (Bring your breakfast!) Bernstein Ballroom, Lobby Level These optional sessions will complement the Workshops, some of which will be offered in multiple time slots. All sessions will be held in the Main Ballroom.
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| 9:45 a.m.–12 p.m. Movement Moment #3: Leading at This Moment and Conference Closing Bernstein Ballroom, Lobby Level |
| 12–1:30 p.m. Lunch in Peer Communities Bernstein Ballroom, Lobby Level These purposefully designed affinity groups will offer unparalleled opportunities to learn, bond, and converse with your peers. To see all Peer Community rosters, click here. Peer communities will sit by table in the main ballroom. |
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QUESTIONS? Check out the FAQ. Still have questions? Email mifgash@jcca.org and we'll get back to you soon. |
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