Leaders Strengthen Ties Between San Diego and Sha’ar HaNegev

The latest Gesher delegation visit brought together professionals committed to building stronger communities and deeper understanding

A partnership is more than a place on a map. It’s built through people, shared experiences, and a vision for what can be achieved together.

The recent Gesher (“Bridge”) delegation visit offered a clear example of that vision in action, as leaders from San Diego’s sister region of Sha’ar HaNegev spent more than a week exploring local Jewish organizations, exchanging ideas with their counterparts, and strengthening connections built over the program’s five-year history.

When Gesher launched five years ago, its goal was to connect professionals in San Diego and Sha’ar HaNegev and create opportunities for collaboration between the two communities. Since then, both communities have evolved, bringing new leaders, new organizations, and new opportunities to learn from one another and strengthen the relationship. A key part of that exchange is giving participants the opportunity to experience one another’s communities firsthand. The recent visit to San Diego followed a September delegation to Sha’ar HaNegev, where local leaders gained insight into the work being done to restore trust, strengthen resilience, and rebuild community in the wake of October 7. During their time in San Diego, Israeli participants explored what it means to be Jewish in America today and how local organizations are working to ensure Jewish life remains vibrant, secure, and connected.

Throughout the week, delegation members visited organizations including the Leichtag Foundation, Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Community Foundation, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center | Jacobs Family Campus, Hillel at UC San Diego, and the San Diego Jewish Academy. Conversations focused on resilience, accessibility, leadership, innovation, and community building, offering opportunities to exchange ideas and explore approaches that could strengthen work in both communities.

“We feel like we’ve been seen by so many partners that care about us,” said Uri Pinto, CEO of the Sha’ar HaNegev Municipality. “We also saw such a strong community that can collaborate, and I think we’ve mostly been inspired. Inspired by the things we saw, the people we met, and how they react and act in this world and in their mission.”

While professional collaboration remains at the heart of Gesher, some of the most memorable moments took place outside of formal meetings. Shared meals, Shabbat celebrations, and time with host families created opportunities to connect beyond professional roles. Several delegates reflected on how the program has evolved from a professional exchange into a network of trusted colleagues and friends, while conversations with members of the Giborim program highlighted how those connections are expanding to include younger generations.

“I feel outside of the professional relationships we have, that I have new friends, really good friends, people that I love,” said Sivan Cohen, Director of the Sha’ar HaNegev Community Center. “I see them outside of their role and have met their spouses and children, and learning more about their lives was as important as all the other organizations we visited this week.”

The visit also offered participants a broader understanding of Jewish life beyond their own experiences. Alongside conversations about resilience and recovery in Sha’ar HaNegev, delegates discussed antisemitism, security, and the realities facing Jewish communities in North America today.

“To really understand the conflict and the situation that the Jewish community outside of Israel is dealing with has been very enlightening for me,” said Cohen. “I knew what they were going through, but not as deeply. It’s something that I feel like I must bring back home so that people in Israel think about the Jewish community outside of Israel; to have responsibility and the same sense of care that the Jewish community outside of Israel has for us.”

Before returning home, delegation members spent time considering how to broaden opportunities for connection between San Diego and Sha’ar HaNegev. A central focus of the program is not only strengthening relationships between participating leaders, but also exploring new ways for both communities to learn from one another and build meaningful programs together. It was a fitting conclusion to a week centered on learning from one another and investing in a relationship that continues to evolve.

Learn more about Federation’s work connecting San Diego with Israel and Global Jewry here.