These thoughts, coupled with an intimate and inspirational look into Jewish leadership and its impact on our lives and the vitality of the community in which we live, will be covered in a dynamic seven-part program for Jews 21-45 years old hosted by the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay.

If you want to make a difference – this program is for you.

Over the course of the program we will explore topics that resonate within the Jewish community from both a personal and communal point of view. At the close of the program, participants will have the opportunity to be placed in a leadership capacity within the Federation or in one of its partner agencies. In addition, those who are selected for the program will be guaranteed a subsidized spot on both NOLA- the National Young Leadership Conference (March 15 - 17, 2008) and the National Young Leadership Summer In Israel Mission (June 28- July 7, 2009).

Most importantly, the course is designed to give emerging leaders the tools to work successfully with others, to develop confidence as a leader and to explore the opportunities available in the local and global Jewish Community.

For further information and to nominate leaders, please email YLD Director Adam Roberts at 510.839.2900 ext. 275 or email adam@jfed.org.

Moses Benny
Considering all of the negative news in the press about Israel and Bernie Madoff, I thought YLI is a great opportunity to make a positive contribution to the Jewish community. My professional background is in business. I have spent most of my post collegiate career working on real estate development and investment Recently I started working in market intelligence with an institutional equity broker dealer.

Susan Gordon
Originally form from Minneapolis, MN and now lives in San Francisco, CA. She currently works as the Senior Nonprofit Coordinator for Causes on Facebook, an application which allows individuals and nonprofits to use Facebook for activism and fundraising. After graduating from Dartmouth, she worked as a political organizer before joining Causes.

I chose to be a part of this program to connect with the Jewish community where I live and meet other young, smart, motivated Jews in the area. I am also looking forward to discussing how the Jewish community can be utilized to make positive social change in today's world. I grew up in a Jewish household and was very involved in NFTY throughout high school. Since then, however, I have gone on a bit of a hiatus from the Jewish community and am looking forward to reconnecting with that part of my life.

Steve Kronenberg
I am interested in the leadership program, because I am trying to get more involved in the Jewish community and volunteer my time to help others.

Professionally, I am a litigation attorney who works in San Francisco. I moved to the Bay Area in 2001 after completing law school in Philadelphia.

Aviva Nan-Tabachnik
After returning from Israel in 2007 I realized that I had a stronger connection than ever before with Judaism, Israel, and with the Jewish community here in the bay area. I soon after enrolled in an Israel Advocacy seminar to fully educate myself in the areas I felt unsure of and so that I could be a strong advocate. I then got a job at Institute for Jewish & Community Research researching anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses across the US. I now am interested and excited about this opportunity to further connect me with like minded people and to strengthen myself to pursue more opportunities as a Jewish leader.

Leah Turchin
I always worked in the Jewish social service/education sector; I have not had to think too much about ways of integrating tzedakeh and tikkun olam into my large and small goals. I hope that being part of LI will help pave the next stages of my Jewish life as a lay leader.

I currently work at the Contemporary Jewish Museum and live in Oakland.

Miriam Barrere
I worked for over a year with Shalom Bayit. It was the first time I worked for a Jewish organization and I enjoyed that I shared that background with my co-workers. As I pursue a career in nursing, being a part of YLD gives me the opportunity to explore what our Jewish community is doing about issues of health.

As for my Jewish identity, I asked for a Bat Mitzvah and completed one through a Reconstructionist congregation. I participated in Young Judaea's year course in Israel. Where I was introduced to a Zionist and observant lifestyle, parts of which I still carry with me today.
In college I frequented a conservative shul and now I attend a modern orthodox congregation.

Harrison Krat
Much of my Jewish community involvement in the Bay Area has centered around young people. I am looking for more meaningful interaction with peers, and to gain more knowledge of the inner workings of the Jewish Community in the Bay Area.
I work as a project manager at a digital marketing agency in Foster City and have taught 3rd Grade Religious School at Temple Beth Torah in Fremont for last four years. I have served as BBYO advisor for Fremont chapter last three years.

David Callen
I would like to be more involved in the Jewish Community and approach the work I do in the world with Jewish values. I believe this program can enhance my knowledge of leadership from a Jewish perspective and pave the way to further opportunities in the community. I work as an Organization Development consultant (Human side of biz) with working experience in a wide variety of industries, including media, marketing, and sales, as well as public sector. Active member of Netivot Shalom. Father of Judah and Husband to Laura.

Julie Hammerman
I’ve always participated and donated to the Federations in the cities where we’ve lived. As we grow roots in the East Bay – we moved here 2 years ago - I’m interested in learning more about the local Federation – how the money is allocated, the organizational structure, management goals, and how the Federation works with other Jewish organizations. My personal background – from the East Coast (MD, NYC, Miami, Boston), married with 3 young children who attend preschool at Temple Isaiah. My professional background is finance, start-ups, and business strategy consulting.

Maya Guendelman

Tracy Ucuzoglu
I chose to be part of the Leadership Initiative as I think now more than ever, it is important to become involved and informed about our Jewish community to be certain that that it receives the support it needs. I am interested in learning specifically about the East Bay Jewish Federation and the agencies it sponsors in addition to meeting other people in the community that are also eager to become involved. I am married with two children, ages 4 and 2. I am originally from Southern California, but most recently moved to Northern California from the metro Washington DC area. I am a CPA and worked at Deloitte and Touche and MasterCard up until four years ago when I decided to stay at home to raise my two children full time. I am currently a member of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette.