Originally published on JewishBoston.com.

Elyse Rast is the founder and CEO of G.I.R.L.S., a Jewish education program for young women. She has Master’s Degrees from BU and Wheelock College, and has 15 years of teaching experience in the Boston area. She taught at six local synagogues and created four youth groups and ten Jewish girls’ groups. Currently, Elyse is the Holocaust Educator for JCRC and the NE Holocaust Memorial. She also teaches Holocaust history and runs girls’ groups at Prozdor Hebrew High School. Elyse plans to begin a PhD program at Lesley University next fall.

One glimpse at your biography makes it clear that you are a seasoned professional with deep connections in the Jewish community of Boston. What’s the appeal of CJP’s PresenTense Boston Fellowship for you?

Several years ago, I started my own company… and failed miserably. Sure, starting a venture has something to do with connections, but you also need to know how to run a business. I’ve been telling people that the PresenTense Fellowship is like getting a business degree in five months. We’ve learned how to create budgerts, how to make pitches, how to compile our ideas into something that’s going to work and be relevant to our audience… how to create change and make our dreams a reality.  Continue reading →