Organizational Structure

The Jewish Farm School began with a shared vision among several people to create a land-based school for Jewish students.  Over the years we have developed from a loose affiliation of numerous individuals to a more formal organization. 

In 2008 we established the JFS Council in an effort to honor our collective, circular origins.  Currently, five members sit on the Council, each of whom comes to the organization with a breadth of experience in education, farming, and community organizing.  As a newly forming non-profit in the midst of both developing its own internal structure as well as responding to the increasing demand for Jewish-based ecological programs within the community, the Council plays a critical and necessary role in driving the organization forward into new programmatic territory.

Once a month, the Council meets via conference call to discuss both current and future programming, approve significant changes to the budget, and discuss new partnerships.  We use the consensus model as the main mechanism for decision making, wherein each member’s concerns and opinions are heard and valued and motions that are put forth only pass when each member agrees with the terms.

As an expression of commitment to the on-going evolution of the organization, Council members are required to contribute 36 hours of work to JFS annually.  In the past, Council members have channeled their work into areas such as conducting research on other farm based educational organizations, developing the organization’s publicity materials, creating an annual JFS calendar, and contributing to the JFS Resource Manual which has now become the educational backbone upon which we facilitate many of our programs in the Jewish community. 

Find out more about the people who make up the Council.