Ukeles to lead JTS strategic planning

The Telegraph

By Ben Harris · April 29, 2009

Jacob Ukeles will direct a new strategic planning effort at the Jewish Theological Seminary, according to an announcement today from the school. JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen named the planning process as a key plank of his efforts to steer the school through a challenging economic period, efforts he outlined in a letter earlier this week.

Ukeles, you may remember, was the guy who did a 2004 study for the United Synagogue, the Conservative movement's congregational arm, which critics say the organization promptly shelved. Now he's being brought in to do something similar for JTS.

I reached Eisen yesterday in his Chicago hotel and he described the planning effort as costing a "fair amount" of money, but a necessary amount nonetheless. He also pledged that the final report would be made public -- United Synagogue has been regularly criticized for doing things quietly, without movement-wide buy-in.

Eisen also had warm words for Hayom, the recently launched coalition of clergy and laypeople that is trying to prod the movement forward, calling it a "positive step."

The strategic planning effort at JTS is expected to be completed by the fall.