Cover Story
Shaping the Future of Federation
BY ELISSA EINHORN
While Jewish Federation of
San Diego County ’ s newest trio of lay leadership brings a diverse set of skills and decades of community and organizational involvement to their positions , on this they are united : Federation is about bringing the community together for good .
“ Federation is the power of the collective ,” explains Jack Maizel , who took on the role of Board Chair in July , with Silvana Christy and Seth Krosner joining him as Vice Co-Chairs who will lead the Annual Campaign . “ We are able to react to the needs of today and identify opportunities for tomorrow – issues that cannot be fixed from night
Heidi Gantwerk , Federation ’ s Interim President & CEO
to morning . We have the foresight and team in place so by the time we get to the bridge , we can cross it safely .”
Adds Christy , “ This is an exciting moment in our Federation history because we have a clear path outlined for the next few years .”
Federation designed the path to help address the most important issues – from COVID to the high rate of Jewish poverty to a rise in anti-Semitic activity . This led to a strategic focus within their mission , specifically a focus on addressing local Jewish poverty , ensuring an enduring Jewish community through higher levels of security and leadership development , and fostering global relationships in Israel and overseas .
Working in close partnership with Maizel , Christy , and Krosner is Federation ’ s Interim President & CEO , Heidi Gantwerk , who laid out the impetus for the priorities .
“ We were involved in a study that showed poverty among Jews in San Diego was a more significant issue than any of us realized ,” Gantwerk shared with GB Magazine , noting that between 9,000 - 12,000 Jews are living in poverty in the San Diego area . This includes seniors , Holocaust Survivors and those dealing with mental health issues .
OCTOBER 2021 | GBSAN . COM 17