Topic: Changing the Landscape of Women in Orthodoxy

Jewish Philanthropy Podcast

Topic: Changing the Landscape of Women in Orthodoxy

Guest: Ann Pava

Ann Pava, President of Micah Philanthropies, is an activist, philanthropist, and thought leader. A natural community builder, Ann strives to embody the core Jewish values that animate her work, as expressed by the prophet Micah - “Only to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.”

As a philanthropist, Ann takes the lead in innovative giving while making all who participate feel counted, and treats all those they support as valued partners. As an activist, she has the unique ability to bring all types of people together, analyze challenges, and devise solutions. Ann believes that one of the strongest avenues to success for any organization is a strong lay and professional partnership. She is an articulate and passionate ambassador for the organizations and leaders she supports. A hallmark of her success over her career is her ability to inspire, mentor, and empower others, especially women, to lead and to make the world a better place.

Ann is the immediate past chair of Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools and a past chair of National Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). She is Founding Chair of the Hebrew High School of New England, and past chair of the Jewish Federation of Western MA. She currently serves on the boards of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance,(JOFA) Yeshivat Maharat, Prizmah, JFNA, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. She serves as Committee Chair for the Graduate Program for Advanced Talmud Studies for Women (GPATS) at Yeshiva University.

Ann is a past recipient of the JFNA Kipnes-Wilson Friedland Award for outstanding women philanthropists. She also received the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Lay Leadership Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. She and Jeremy received the Connecticut ADL Torch of Liberty Award.

Ann enjoys spending time with her husband Jeremy and their beautiful family including their three married children and three grandchildren and has become the world’s best babysitter. She is a new and determined runner, an avid reader of any type of fiction, and loves to cook for company.

In this new episode, we cover:

1. Kindness as a guiding light

2. Loving the Underdog

3. The Beauty of Giving

4. The influence & inspiration of Harold Grinspoon

5. How to Ask for & How to Give Money

6. Big Tent Approach

7. A Different ball game in Jewish Life

8. Impacting Schools & Shuls

And a whole lot more!