There comes a time in life when many people shift from knowing they can change the world to knowing they can’t.
On the other hand, as the Babylonian Talmud so eloquently put it, “He who saves one life saves the world entire.” So, perhaps the idealism of young Jewish activists isn’t so naïve after all. But again on that other hand, food and heat aren’t free, and it’s hard for a young person to make his or her way in the Jewish communal world.
With that in mind, a number of major philanthropists founded the Professional Leaders Project, aiming to keep today’s young Jewish firebrands in the fold before they’re priced out — or bummed out.
Eighty-seven hand-picked 20- and 30-something Jewish leaders are convening in Los Angeles on Friday, March 31 for the three-day LiveNetworks conference. Eleven of the participants hail from the Bay Area, including Iris Rave, the founder of Camp Kesem National.
“The Jewish philosophy of social justice and empowering leaders to take an active role in our community is something I live and breathe every day. I intend to continue to pursue those goals in the Jewish community and beyond for the rest of my life, so being in communication with a bunch of other young Jewish professionals and leaders who want to make a difference is very important to me,” said Rave.
Working out of Walnut Creek, Rave has now established 10 Jewish camps nationwide, all staffed by college-age volunteers. As someone who works with young aspiring leaders in the Jewish community all the time, she’s glad to have someone now working with her.
“One thing I think young Jewish leaders need are strong mentors. They’ve done what I’ve done and what I want to do. They can teach me and help me to network with access I wouldn’t have without their connections.”
The Professional Leader Project — which was created by, among others, Michael Steinhardt, Charles and Lynn Schusterman, Eugene and Marcia Applebaum and Detroit Pistons owner William Davidson — isn’t just a one-and-done conference. Six more times this year the participants hailing from around San Francisco, Washington, D.C., New York and Columbus, Ohio, will gather for smaller events.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the other Jews in their 20s or 30s who, like me, are interested in working within the Jewish community. I think a lot of us are on the same page,” said Abby Levine, founder of the Bay Area office of the Progressive Jewish Alliance and Jews for Equal Rights for Immigrant Communities. “None of us knows what the future will bring but this is something that, for whatever reason, has a hook for us, this idea of working in the Jewish community.”
Along with Rave and Levine, other Bay Area participants include Nancy Ackerman Jare Akchin, Aaron Gilbert, Oren Kroll-Zeldin, Bob Nadjibi, Vanina Sandel, Marianna Roytman Schiffner, Adam Schwartz and Isaac Zones.