With more than 250,000 Jews living in the Bay Area, our community faces many challenges that require dynamic leadership. The Leadership Development department enhances and ensures a life-long commitment to the Jewish community by expanding and helping sustain lay leadership for the Federation and its beneficiary agencies, as well as synagogues and other Jewish organizations. We do this by:

• Identifying members of our community who have the desire and the potential for leadership
• Recruiting community members for available leadership positions
• Educating new and prospective leaders of all ages to support their future leadership aspirations
• Recognizing and placing volunteers in various positions within the Jewish Community Federation and its constituent agencies

There are various ways to become more involved in the Jewish community, and the Leadership Development department matches your skills and interest with the right opportunity. For more information on how to get involved, please email leadership@sfjcf.org.

Get involved in one of our leadership programs

Wexner Heritage Program

The Bay Area has been host to the Wexner Heritage Program, which has already trained ten cohorts of fellows. The fellows engage in a two-year program that educates them, as lay leaders of their community, in the history, traditions, ideology and present-day challenges of Jewish people. The next class begins in fall 2006.

Wexner Alumni Program

The Federation offers programming to alumni of the Wexner Heritage Program. An upcoming weekend retreat in Snowbird, Utah September 8-12, 2006 is currently being organized. It will feature panels, workshops, distinguished faculty and discussions aimed at reinvigorating and engaging former participants.

Learning and leadership

Lehrhaus Judaica and the Federation offer the Learning and Leadership program, which is made possible by the Jewish Community Endowment Fund. The Learning and Leadership program offers a special opportunity to Federation donors to study with dynamic Jewish scholars from throughout the Bay Area. Meetings will be held in private homes and promise to be unique, as we share the pleasures of Jewish study and build community. Potential topics include:

• Ethics of Jewish Leadership
• Core Texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• Modern Israel, 1948-2006
• History of Bay Area Jews
• 350 Years of American Jewish History
• Turning Points in Jewish History

Sessions are currently being held in Marin, Sonoma and the South Peninsula. There is a minimum annual Campaign gift required.

For more information on any of these programs, please email leadership@sfjcf.org.

Get involved with your community through leadership development

Young Adults Division (YAD)

We are looking to identify and train the next generation of Federation, agency and synagogue leaders through a variety of local and national programs:

• Club Fed
• TelAvivOne National Young Leadership Conference
• UJC Washington

Russian Division

• Jewish Community Federation Institute (JCFI)

Awards

Each year, the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund honor members of our community with a wide array of leadership awards.