Strengthening Connection, Deepening Purpose: Mayberg Foundation 2026 Staff Retreat

The Mayberg Foundation gathered for a professional development retreat centered on the theme Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh—all of Israel is responsible for one another—exploring what shared responsibility looks like in the daily work of a foundation dedicated to proliferating authentic, foundational Judaism in the contemporary world. Held in Atlanta immediately following JEIC's 2026 Innovators Retreat, this gathering brought together Mayberg Foundation staff—including newly hired Senior Program Officer Naftali Ejdelman—and colleagues from our preferred partners: MyZuzah, JEIC, and IEJI. The group was also joined by foundation friends and advisors Walt and Arnee Winshall and consultant Richard Friedman. This time of internal growth and reflection was further enriched by a collaborative session with colleagues from the Zalik Foundation, deepening connections between organizations working toward similar goals in a shared field.

An Evening of Tribute and Connection

The retreat opened with an evening of reflection and camaraderie, including a dvar Torah from Sharon Freundel that unpacked the deeper meaning of *areivut* through the Hebrew root ע-ר-ב, revealing responsibility not just as obligation, but as being intertwined, blended, and inseparable from one another. The dinner also included activities honoring Sharon, where staff shared memories from her time at JEIC along with insightful and humorous reflections about her as a colleague and a friend. The evening continued at Truist Park, where the full group enjoyed time together watching the Atlanta Braves defeat the Detroit Tigers 5–2.

Translating Our Mission into Practice

The following morning focused on translating this idea of interconnectedness into practice. Through a team-based program mapping exercise, staff physically mapped the Foundation’s areas of responsibility across key domains—including individuals, institutions, content, partners, and future opportunities—highlighting how each role contributes to a broader ecosystem of impact. The session invited both big-picture thinking and practical insight, reinforcing the sense that each piece of work is part of a larger, shared whole.

During the retreat, staff also engaged in joint programming with the Zalik Foundation, designed to build relationships across the two organizations. Through a dynamic “hot/cold” exercise and small group conversations, participants explored which aspects of their work feel most energizing and which feel more distant or administrative. The session created space for honest reflection, practical exchange, and deeper understanding of how each team navigates similar challenges. Staff left with tangible ideas, new cross-foundation connections, and a stronger sense of shared purpose.

The retreat concluded with a candid internal conversation about the limits of responsibility—what can and cannot be fixed—and how to move forward with clarity and intention.