Ariel Burger is a veteran Jewish communal professional and a gifted visual artist. As director of the Commission on Jewish Life and Learning at Combined Jewish Philanthropies from 2008-2014, he was immersed in strategic planning, communications, and building effective community partnerships to create educational and organizational change. During that time, he created a series of nationally recognized initiatives, including systemic approaches to improving synagogue education, teen leadership programs, and new adult learning programs to significantly increase Jewish literacy in Boston. Prior to his time at CJP, he studied for ordination in Israel, and then served as Elie Wiesel’s Teaching Fellow at Boston University, where he completed a doctorate in Jewish Studies and Conflict Resolution. Ariel lives in Sharon, Massachusetts, with his family.