Tag: leadership development

Big news: Sarah Klein, our Senior Director of FRD (Financial Resource Development), has been selected for Cohort III of JFNA’s Executive Accelerator, a national leadership program for the Federation system’s most promising senior professionals.

If you’ve worked with Sarah, you already know what makes her extraordinary. She builds relationships with heart and hustle. She leads with integrity, warmth, and a clear sense of purpose. And she brings deep experience and fresh thinking to everything she does.

This next step for Sarah is about all of us. Through this yearlong program, she’ll gain new tools, fresh perspectives, and a powerful peer network that will help move our work—and our community—forward. And with Federation supervisors and leaders actively engaged in the learning process too, we’re making sure that growth gets embedded across our team.

We’re super-proud to see Sarah recognized, and excited about what this opportunity makes possible for our Federation and our collective future.

Many have asked how they can celebrate this milestone. If you’d like to honor Sarah’s leadership, you can make a tribute gift in her name.

As Adam Levner shared when we introduced the Jewish Talent Project (JTP), the vision is bold: to make Greater Washington one of the best places in the country to work in Jewish communal life. Behind every meaningful connection or impactful program are professionals making it happen—and they deserve workplaces where they can thrive.

Since launching this fall, the Jewish Talent Project has begun building the tools and support Jewish organizations need to strengthen workplace culture, leadership, and staff retention across the region.

Now, JTP is rolling out The Leading Edge Employee Experience Survey.

This free, confidential survey offers Jewish organizations valuable insight into how staff experience their workplace—what’s working, where there’s room to grow, and how they compare to peers. It also opens the door to future JTP offerings and support.

Eligible organizations (3+ years old, 6+ employees) must register by December 12 to take part. Because when Jewish professionals thrive, the impact reaches every corner of our community.

Photo: leadingedge.org

I stepped off the bus in Framingham, Massachusetts, hoping to find what I spend every day trying to build: real, meaningful Jewish community.

That’s what drew me to the M²: Institute for Experiential Jewish Education’s Kehillot Fellowship, which brings together Jewish professionals from Boston, Toronto, and Greater Washington to explore what it means to activate Jewish values in our work. As someone deeply rooted in relationship building and community outreach, I was excited for four days of learning, listening, and connection. And I left with exactly that, plus a deeper understanding of how shared values can transcend geography.

Through my role at The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, I’ve come to know the people, rhythms, and nuances of Jewish life in Northern Virginia. But this fellowship pushed me to zoom out. I met peers from Boston and Toronto, learned about their successes and challenges, and saw my own community reflected in theirs. It reminded me that while each Jewish community is distinct, we’re all asking similar questions about belonging, resilience, and what Jewish life can look like in the future.

We also had the chance to explore “Jewish Boston”—from historic landmarks to Lehrhaus, a Jewish tavern and house of learning. We heard from visionary local leaders, each imagining bold, diverse futures for their community. Their ideas differed, but their goal was shared: vibrant, inclusive Jewish life.

That collective vision fuels my own work in Northern Virginia. This experience reminded me that leadership isn’t just about what we build locally—it’s about learning from others, asking big questions, and grounding our work in enduring values.

Federation’s investment in my participation was intentional: developing leaders who can strengthen Jewish life today and reimagine it for tomorrow. I’m grateful for the opportunity—and even more energized to bring what I’ve learned back home.

What I learned in Boston is already helping build something special in Northern Virginia.

In a year marked by rising antisemitism, contested narratives in classrooms, and growing pressures on civic spaces, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington has been a steady force—speaking up, showing up, and strengthening the public voice of Jewish Greater Washington.

Across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, the JCRC represents more than 100 synagogues, agencies, and organizations. They advocate for a strong U.S.–Israel relationship, protect the safety and rights of Jewish institutions, challenge misinformation in schools, and build meaningful partnerships across faith and civic lines.

As Federation drives long-term investment in Jewish life across Greater Washington, the JCRC leads our community’s advocacy in the public sphere. Together, we’re advancing a shared commitment to safety, resilience, and the values that sustain Jewish life—through distinct roles, and with deeply aligned purpose.

On Wednesday, October 29 at 6:00 PM in Rockville, the JCRC will host its Annual Gala, honoring:

• Eva Davis (Distinguished Service Award)
• June and David Trone (Breslau–Goldman Award)
• Behn Dayanim (Sara and Samuel Lessans Community Leadership Award)

Co-chaired by Eilleen Filler‑Corn and Bambi Kramer, the evening will spotlight leaders who model what it means to act with courage, clarity, and commitment, especially in moments that demand all three.

This is a moment for all of us to show up for the people and partnerships strengthening Jewish life and a chance to recognize the leadership guiding us through challenge and change. We’re honored to stand with the JCRC in this work, and to celebrate the impact we’re making together toward a shared vision of Jewish Greater Washington that is strong, secure, and deeply connected.

Kibbutz Nir Oz was little-known outside certain circles before October 7, including within our local Jewish community. Now its name is a reminder of both unimaginable loss and extraordinary resilience.

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending a powerful event at the Bender JCC featuring three remarkable individuals with deep, personal ties to Kibbutz Nir Oz:

• Gadi Moses, the oldest living hostage to return from captivity, spoke about his experience of 482 days in captivity.
• Nir Metzger, whose father was murdered in captivity and whose mother was taken hostage and later released, spoke about the idyllic life on the kibbutz and how it was shattered in an instant on October 7.
• Emi Palmor, former Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Justice and now leading Nir Oz’s rehabilitation efforts, spoke about the challenging yet hopeful process of rebuilding the kibbutz, describing it as “the most important Zionist act of our time.”

Their stories were different, but the message was clear: after unbearable loss, the focus is on moving forward and rebuilding. The clearest example came with Gadi’s release from captivity, when his first message was simple and powerful: ‘I will do everything I can to rebuild Nir Oz.’ I left thinking not only about the horror of that day, but about the resilience it takes to rebuild trust, community, and a true sense of belonging from the ground up.

This conversation was part of Kesher Nir Oz, a grassroots partnership between members of our community and the survivors and leaders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, launched by lay leaders from Congregation Beth El, B’nai Israel, and Ohr Kodesh. It is heartwarming to see such busy people dedicate so much time and energy to sustaining this relationship.

Through Federation’s Local Israel Engagement work, we aim to help nurture such efforts alongside community leaders, recognizing just how powerful these people-to-people ties can be. These relationships don’t just show support—they help stitch our people back together. And that work is far from over.

We were honored to help bring a delegation from Nir Oz to visit our community last year, and now our conversations with Kesher Nir Oz continues. The potential is tremendous, and the need for healing, presence, and partnership is urgent.

If you know of (or are part of) a similar initiative between a DMV-area congregation or organization and a community or project in Israel, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at udi.eitan@www.shalomdc.org.

When Women’s Philanthropy set out to create a signature gathering for the Lions of Judah community, the goal was simple but ambitious: to build something that felt both celebratory and essential. A space to honor stories. A moment to deepen connections. A tradition worth beginning.

Held at the Four Seasons in Georgetown, this inaugural event on Monday, September 15, brought together more than 150 women for a morning of inspiration, reflection, and connection. More than a brunch, L’Chaim was a powerful reminder of what happens when women gather with intention. When leadership meets legacy. When stories are shared freely, and futures are shaped collectively.

From Welcome to Why

You could feel it immediately. It was a celebration of shared values, lived leadership, and the power of women’s philanthropy to shape our community.

Co-Chairs Yvonne Schlafstein Distenfeld and Irene Sherman set the tone: this wasn’t a day to sit back—it was a day to reflect, to honor, to energize.

Yvonne shared:

“There’s something truly powerful about bringing so many women together in one room—it’s inspiring every time. I’m in awe of the energy, strength, and spirit of being surrounded by such extraordinary women!”

Stories That Moved Us

Wendy Sachs, our guest speaker, took the stage with a lens into her world and her work as director and producer of the documentary, October 8, and her view of what it means to be a woman showing up in today’s world. Her stories didn’t just highlight antisemitism, they challenged us to consider how we use our voices, our resources, our courage.

Her message resonated deeply with the room. One Lion said:

“Wendy Sachs was so eloquent and inspiring and I loved hearing her speak. I was impressed how she talked about her audience being a global one (which we certainly need).”

Another Lion added:

“Wasn’t Wendy Sachs amazing? She was just as engaging and interesting as she could be.”

A Story Close to Home

Among the most moving moments of the morning came when Marianna Ashin, Lion of Judah Chair, stood to share her personal journey—from a young refugee arriving in the U.S. to a proud Jewish leader helping others write their own Federation stories.

Marianna spoke of leaving everything behind in 1989; her home, her extended family, and her familiar world in Kyiv. She recalled standing on a train platform with her parents and brother, holding only a pair of suitcases and an unwavering sense of Jewish identity.

“While we may have made a leap of faith by getting on that plane,” she said, “Federation was there to catch us when we landed at JFK.”

The room was quiet as she described how Federation gave her family not just resources, but dignity: language classes, job support, school supplies, summer camp. A kitchen full of groceries. A Jewish home in a new land.

“The Jewish Federation didn’t just help us get by. You helped us imagine what could come next, and gave us the tools to pursue.”

Her story reminded everyone in the room exactly why their giving matters.

“Without Jewish Federation. Without you. I am not here—standing in front of you. Sharing my story.”

The Strength in the Room

What made the morning unforgettable wasn’t just the speakers or the setting; it was the women who filled the room. Each one carrying a legacy of giving, each one committed to community.

“It was fun to connect with old friends and also meet new ones,” said one Lion. “What a spectacular event!”

Another reflected on what made the gathering so meaningful:

“I am so glad I came today! It was a beautiful event, and I learned so much from the stories that the women told.”

A Moment, A Movement

L’Chaim was about the quiet confidence that comes from standing shoulder to shoulder with women who believe in tikkun olam, repairing the world, and who act on that belief every day.

“This event was a huge success,” one Lion shared. “It has all the markings of a program to have every year before the holidays.”

Thank You

To all who joined us, thank you. Your stories enriched the fabric of our community. And your leadership, quiet or bold, helps move Jewish Greater Washington forward.

We are grateful to our host committee, our Women’s Philanthropy leaders, our Co-Chairs, and all who brought their time, energy, and commitment to this celebration.

If you’d like to learn more about the Lions of Judah giving society, please contact Becca Ginns at becca.ginns@www.shalomdc.org or (301) 230-7236.