Michael J. Lawrence, at The Blogs

Michael J. Lawrence

Nonprofit Parasha - Leadership, Philanthropy & Community

Oct 30, 2026, 3:46 PM

Post-Election: Lot’s Mistake Is Israel’s Warning

As we might expect, the Parasha this week arrives right on time during instability and unpredictability after the Israeli Elections. Vayeira comes with a message – if you stir trouble in the family, or you seek to separate from your...

Oct 23, 2026, 2:26 PM

The Impact of Aliyah, Then Like Now

My great-great-grandparents Yehoshua and Esther Zabludovsky made Aliyah from Zabludow (now in Poland) to Jerusalem in 1889. My great-grandfather Yosef Kaluzna came from Zhmerynka (now Ukraine) via Manchester, England in 1913 and settled in the Galilee. There, Yosef met Mina Zabludovsky...

May 18, 2023, 3:12 PM

When we count and discount people

At an early morning meeting this week in Los Angeles, one woman among a small group at the table, opened by apologizing for her tardiness. She had been frazzled and frantic for some days now, having been the victim...

Apr 28, 2023, 12:57 AM

Herzog and Holiness

This past Monday night President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief Herzi Halevi were among national leaders and families of fallen soldiers who gathered at the Western Wall official ceremony marking Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day). Among...

May 31, 2021, 5:17 PM

United behind extraordinary abilities

Daniel in the Beit Issie Shapiro hydrotherapy pool

Daniel has never said a word in his life. He has always found walking very challenging. Autism and epilepsy are part and parcel of his reality. Non-verbal since birth, yet still deeply expressive. His Mom and water give him strength and...

Oct 7, 2020, 8:56 PM

Herd Mentality

During these days of real strife, risk and disillusionment, we must dig deep and find it within us to draw red lines that we will not cross even if others do.

Sep 30, 2020, 7:05 PM

Our Succah of Solidarity

Succah expansion and renovations are on hold this year.

Sep 24, 2020, 12:56 AM

We, Us, Our – The Yom Kippur Litmus Test

What a special tribute it would be to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, what a wondrous new path we would pave, if we understood the communal nature of Yom Kippur

Sep 11, 2020, 9:21 AM

This Rosh Hashanah: Paving the Entryways to Judaism and Israel

Challenges include the responsibility to one another and the imperative for rich Jewish experience, access to Jewish education, and staying connected to each other and Israel

Sep 3, 2020, 9:36 AM

The Philanthropist’s Story

Philanthropic families who share their extraordinary values and sacred stories set a most treasured personal example for the future

About Me

Michael Lawrence is Chief Partnerships Officer at Beit Issie Shapiro in Ra'anana, Israel and a coach and advisor for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers globally. Michael is the author of "Nonprofit Parasha" on Leadership, Philanthropy & Community in the weekly Torah portion.

Contact Me