Reflections on a Night of Courageous Leadership and Community

On June 12, leaders from across San Diego’s Jewish professional and lay communities gathered for a powerful and meaningful evening, marking the second year of the Courageous Leadership Initiative (CLI). The event was a culmination of shared learning, trust-building, and dialogue, as well as a reflection of the values-based leadership that CLI aspires to cultivate in our community.

Developed in partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute, CLI was launched in 2024 in response to October 7—a day that reshaped Jewish life in Israel, around the world, and here in San Diego. The Initiative was created to meet a moment of crisis through Jewish values and courageous response, and it continues to prove essential as our community faces complex times.

An Evening of Connection and Insight

The evening brought together CLI’s three cohorts: Executives, Clergy, and Board Members. Each cohort was composed of individuals committed to the flourishing of Jewish communal life. The evening included:

• Informal networking among participants
• Small and medium-sized group conversations
• Large group reflections
• A teaching that highlighted core themes and learning from the year

Participants had the opportunity to reflect not only on what they had learned but also on how to bring that learning into the work ahead.

A Commitment to Courageous Leadership

CLI is built on the belief that strong leadership begins with strong relationships across institutions, perspectives, and roles. Through Jewish learning, reflection, and dialogue, the Initiative equips participants to lead through complexity and difference.

Throughout the program, participants explored some of the most urgent questions facing Jewish leadership today:

• What shared identities, beliefs, and heritages make up our community, and how does that inform my leadership?
• How can I hold more than one narrative about Israel, and what would it mean to support my organization in doing the same?
• How does tribalism show up in our institutions, and how can we foster healthier discourse?

These questions don’t have simple answers, but CLI provides a space for leaders to explore them with humility, courage, and care.

Looking Ahead

CLI is an ongoing investment in San Diego’s Jewish future. The relationships built, the insights gained, and the trust developed among participants are already shaping a stronger, more connected community.

We are deeply grateful to our partners at the Shalom Hartman Institute, and to every CLI participant who continues to lead with courage, clarity, and heart.

A special thank-you goes to CLI co-chairs Theresa Dupuis and Ray Fink, along with advisory council members Ann Jaffe, Emily Einhorn, Todd Kobernick, Rabbi Phil Graubart, Jerry Goldberg, Rabbi Yael Ridberg, Alexis Larky, and Rabbi Adam Simon, whose leadership and vision continue to inspire.

This work continues, and it matters more than ever.

Recognizing Our Cohorts

We are proud to honor the exceptional individuals who made up this year’s CLI cohorts:

Board Member Cohort

Clifford Boro

Deborah Bucksbaum

Theresa Dupuis

Kira Finkenberg

Graeme Gabriel

Laurie Greenberg

Daniela Jinich

David Kamper

Alexis Larky

John Lefter

Corey Meitchik

Jeff Schindler

Clergy Cohort

Rabbi Matthew Earne

Rabbi Elia Eilfort

Rabbi Dov Fradkin

Rabbi Susan Freeman

Rabbi Benj Fried

Rabbi Ally Jacobson

Rabbi Avi Libman

Rabbi Devorah Marcus

Rabbi Yael Ridberg

Rabbi Eddie Rosenberg

Rabbi Ron Shulman

Executive Cohort

Rabbi Moshe Adatto

Sara Brown

Rabbi Josef Fradkin

Mindi Frankel

Heidi Gantwerk

Rabbi Benjamin Geiger

Javier Guerrero

Michael Hopkins

Oz Laniado

Betzy Lynch

Carl Measer

Elliott Nahmias

Noy Nehardea

Karen Parry

Jeremy Pearl

Fabienne Perlov

Suzy Sostrin

Dana Toppel

Rabbi Simcha Weiser

Zvi Weiss

Yael Yaffe

If you have any questions about the Courageous Leadership Initiative, please email Darren Schwartz, Chief Planning & Strategy Officer.