Leading 2gether: A Journey in Leadership, Identity, and Belonging

By Robyn Feinberg

Between January and May 2025, Jewish Federation of San Diego brought together four couples for Leading 2gether, a program designed to explore what it means to lead, communicate, and build a shared life with intention. Open to interfaith couples and those in committed relationships, the experience asked a powerful question: what role can a couple play in shaping community? Through meaningful conversations and immersive learning, participants built connections, developed a deeper understanding of their partner’s leadership style, and joined a network of peers engaging in Jewish life together.

The five-session experience took place across a range of Jewish institutions throughout San Diego. At the Lawrence Family JCC, CFO John Lefter spoke about the JCC’s work to create welcoming spaces for all. Another session featured Federation President and CEO Heidi Gantwerk, who led a thoughtful conversation about Federation’s work on belonging and listened as participants shared their lived experiences.

“I was drawn to the networking aspect, but it was also a good way to introduce my partner to Jewish life without overwhelming him,” said Lauren Reznik, program participant. “At the end of the first session, he loved it and was excited to come back. We got the little things out of this program—things we’ve talked about but thought of in a new way.”

Couples also took part in workshops on shared values, Myers-Briggs personality insights, and reflections on Jewish identity and family life. Through these sessions, participants engaged with themes of identity, leadership, and connection across both personal and communal contexts.

The final experience brought the program full circle. Participants met with Darren Schwartz, Federation’s Chief Planning & Strategy Officer, and Henri Migala, Federation’s Director of Research, Evaluation, and Innovation, for a deeper dive into the meaning of belonging.

“I don’t feel safe a lot being Jewish, so being around other Jewish people and having these conversations in a safe place is important to me,” said Rachel Hommel, program participant. “This type of program allows you to feel like you belong to something bigger, and we all had a lot of similarities.”

Leading 2gether offered more than leadership development. It created space to grow as individuals and as partners, while strengthening bonds across San Diego’s Jewish community.