Welcome to the October 2026 edition of “Points of Pride,” an exclusive update for you!
Thank you for helping us make an impact as we seek to strengthen our San Diego Jewish community for generations to come. Below you will find highlights of how your support is creating lasting impact.
If you would like to know more about any of the programs or updates below, we invite you to contact Michael Rabkin, Chief Development Officer.
Ninety Years Strong: Federation at 90 Begins
In 1936, Judge Jacob Weinberger gathered a scattered, divided Jewish community from every synagogue and faction. He asked them to do something radical: to become responsible for one another. This month, Federation opened its 90th anniversary year, and that promise still holds, renewed every year by supporters like you. Federation at 90, our 90th anniversary campaign, celebrates what generations have built. It also invests in the four pillars that carry our mission forward: caring for Jews in need, building a vibrant Jewish future, connecting with Israel and global Jewry, and creating a secure and resilient Jewish community. In the coming months, watch for stories, people, and gatherings from 90 years of Jewish San Diego. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook here.
A New Way to Belong: Mosaic Launches
In August, more than 200 Jewish young adults from across San Diego County gathered to launch Mosaic, Federation's new community of communities for Jewish San Diegans ages 25 to 40, created by young adults for young adults. Within days, members were connecting on the Mosaic app and forming groups around shared interests and experiences, including Outdoorsy Jews, Pickleball Crew, Artists and Crafters, and Jewish Learners. Soon, the calendar was filling with Shabbat potlucks, Jewish meditation, game nights, and a pre-Yom Kippur camping retreat. Every group is led by volunteers, giving the next generation of Jewish San Diego's leaders the opportunity to shape the community they want to be part of. Know someone who belongs in Mosaic? Learn more and share it with them.
Leading with Purpose: Celebrating Our Newest Graduates
This summer, two cohorts of community leaders completed Federation programs designed to strengthen Jewish San Diego through leadership and community. In June, this year's LEADS cohort graduated after months exploring leadership through a Jewish lens, learning about the people, organizations, and values that shape our community, and building a network of peers committed to Jewish life in San Diego. Meanwhile, 14 leaders from nine organizations also graduated from the Jewish Community Security Institute (JCSI), gaining practical training to help strengthen security at their institutions. Each participating organization received a security grant upon completing the program, directing a total of $90,000 toward safety and preparedness across our community. Congratulations to our JCSI graduates from Shevet Galim-Tzofim, Israeli-American Council, Coastal Roots Farm, Kindness Initiative, The KEN Jewish Community, House of Israel, FIDF, StandWithUs, and Dor Hadash. To learn more about LEADS, click here. To learn more about JCSI, click here.
Doubling Our Impact: Assif and the Rady Challenge Match
In Sha'ar HaNegev, our partner region for 28 years, a new chapter in recovery and rebuilding is taking shape. Assif, meaning "gathering," will bring mental health and trauma care, community, culture, and emergency preparedness together on one welcoming campus, creating a shared resource for a region deeply affected by October 7. Nearly 20,000 people are expected to use its facilities each year. Thanks to the $5 million Rady Challenge Match from Ernest and Evelyn Rady, which supports Sha’ar HaNegev’s broader recovery and rebuilding efforts, gifts to Assif can be doubled. Since October 7, our community has directed $9.3 million to Sha'ar HaNegev for relief, recovery, and rebuilding. With the Rady Match, that commitment has grown to $11.4 million. To learn how your gift can be doubled, click here.
Building the Bridge: Gesher Brings Sha'ar HaNegev to San Diego
In June, agency leaders from Sha'ar HaNegev, our longtime partner region, visited San Diego as part of Gesher ("Bridge"), a five-year partnership that brings professionals from both communities together to learn from one another and deepen relationships. During their visit, the delegation met with partners across Jewish San Diego, including Jewish Family Services, Leichtag Foundation, San Diego Jewish Academy, Hillel at UC San Diego, Jewish Community Foundation, and more. Some of the most meaningful moments happened outside formal meetings, around Shabbat tables and in the homes of host families who welcomed participants into their lives. "We feel like we've been seen by so many partners that care about us," shared Uri Pinto, CEO of the Sha'ar HaNegev Municipality. Read more about the Gesher visit here.
Welcome Home: Meet Our 2026 to 2027 Shinshinim
Nine young Israeli leaders have arrived in San Diego to begin their year of service as our 2026 to 2027 Shinshinim. They introduced themselves to Federation staff with a dance, offering a small preview of the energy and personality they will bring to our community. Throughout the year, they will partner with schools, synagogues, and organizations across the county, sharing their stories, culture, and perspectives while strengthening the living connection between San Diego and Israel. Watch for the Shinshinim at a school, synagogue, or community event near you, and follow us on our social media as we introduce each member of the group.
One People, Two Cities: San Diego in Budapest
This month, a delegation of San Diego lay leaders and Federation staff traveled to Budapest to deepen our growing partnership with JCC Budapest, Bálint Ház. Over the week, they met with community leaders, educators, young adults, and organizations across the city. They also reconnected with students from this year's Global Ambassador Program exchange, celebrated Shabbat together, and explored Budapest's rich Jewish history. "There was a deep sense of belonging that transcended geography," one participant reflected. The visit concluded at Judafest, Hungary's largest Jewish community festival, where San Diego hosted a tent for the first time. Delegation members baked challah with friends from Budapest and celebrated the relationships growing between our two communities. Next May, more San Diegans will have the opportunity to experience that connection firsthand through The Community Trip's optional Budapest extension. Read more about their visit here.
Back to School: Spark Interactive Hits the Road
Spark Interactive is heading into its first year in San Diego schools with a 2026-2027 calendar that is booking up quickly! The flagship program of Legacy of Light Goldberg Institute for Holocaust Education, powered by Jewish Federation of San Diego, brings Holocaust education directly to students through immersive learning designed to strengthen critical thinking, empathy, and historical understanding. This summer, educators and school leaders across the county had the chance to experience that approach firsthand. More than 500 San Diego Unified principals and district leaders explored Spark during a districtwide administrator day at Patrick Henry High School, and in August, San Dieguito Union High School District brought Spark and the Anne Frank: A History for Today exhibit to its in-service day at Torrey Pines High School. As fewer Holocaust survivors are able to share their stories firsthand, experiences like these help prepare educators to carry their voices and lessons forward to a new generation of students. Want to help bring Spark to a school near you? Become a volunteer here.
Be Part of the Journey: The Community Trip to Israel, May 2027
In 2023, more than 220 San Diegans traveled to Israel together on Federation's inaugural CommUNITY Trip. Participants returned with deeper connections to Israel, Jewish life, and one another, and friendships that began on the trip have become some of the strongest in our community. Now we are doing it again, and the momentum is building! The Community Trip returns May 18-25, 2027, with an optional post-trip extension to Budapest. The itinerary spans Israel's most meaningful sites, dedicated time in Sha'ar HaNegev, San Diego's partner region, and experiences designed to bring our community closer together in ways only a shared journey can. This is not just a trip to Israel. It is a chance to stand with your San Diego community in the place that connects us all. Whether it is your first visit or a long-awaited return, this is the one to be on. Space is filling up. Reserve your place today and invite someone you think should be there.
