The events of October 7 have changed our world here in San Diego, in Israel, and for the entire global Jewry. The enormous challenges we face require courageous leadership anchored in the values and principles of the Jewish people. While we have seen greater unity in Israel and across North America during Israel’s war with Hamas, antisemitism continues to rise to new heights and threatens our community daily.   

Jewish Federation of San Diego is proud to launch the new Courageous Leadership Initiative, developed in partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute, with nearly 60 of San Diego’s most influential Jewish professionals and lay leaders participating in one of three prestigious Leadership Cohorts: Executive Leaders, Board Leaders, and Communal Leaders.

The program is designed to strengthen relationships among the individuals who influence and help shape our San Diego Jewish community, while empowering participants to address the challenges that face us all at this once-in-a-generation moment. Our cohorts will also explore opportunities for partnership and collaboration around a shared vision of an enduring, vibrant Jewish life in San Diego.

Over the next six months, participants will engage in an exploration of key themes essential for building and strengthening the foundations of a healthy, resilient, and diverse Jewish community. Through dynamic frameworks focused on polarization, democracy, homeland, and belonging, our goal is to provide a platform for these leaders to foster open discourse and navigate the ever-increasing challenges facing our community. 

Together, we will delve into the complexities of Jewish identity, community, and peoplehood, and seek answers to important questions about tribalism, collective vision, and the principles of pluralism that best enable our unique communities to flourish. 

Our program kicked off with an All Cohorts meeting on Thursday, January 25. See photos from the gathering here, and read about each of our Courageous Leaders here.