In addition to fundraising and community organization, leadership development is one of the most important responsibilities of the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI). We spend a great deal of time and resources to identify, recruit, and develop the next generation of leaders not only for JFGI, but for our entire community.

In the last magazine, we introduced our second Maurer Koach Program cohort. In this issue, we are announcing our sixth ATID leadership group and will announce the second 36 Under 36 list in the next magazine. These three programs are conceived as different doorways into our organizational life, each with different expectations and responsibilities but ultimately designed for the same purpose- to nurture and encourage Jewish participation.

Indianapolis has been blessed with a core group of volunteers who have provided leadership to this community for decades. These incredible men and women have carried every synagogue and partner institution on their shoulders for a long time and thankfully to this day continue to provide their time, talents and treasure to ensure their continuity.

We are always seeking new leaders who can partner with these exceptionally experienced individuals and our current boards and together stand on the shoulders of those who built our community to carry on this most valuable work. This is what Dor L’dor, Generation to Generation, means in a healthy organizational structure such as ours.

What makes this work so rewarding is the benefit is not just to the organizations, it’s to the individuals as well. We know they are seeking their place, a way to get involved. In fact, every time we bring together a new cohort of younger leaders, I hear the same things:

• I live here but I don’t feel connected to the Jewish community or know many Jews.
• I have been in this community a long time but never knew how to get involved.
• I am finally comfortable in my career and family and am ready to take on communal responsibilities.
• And recently: October 7 affected me deeply, and I need to do something more.

 

These new leaders have so much to offer. They are smart, dedicated, have deep professional experience, and significant resources. Wealth, work and wisdom – they are learning what it will take to bring our community to the next level and are giving generously in order to get us there.

We are so fortunate to have committed and engaged volunteers who appreciate the importance of these new leaders. Adding fresh faces means that in addition to serving in their assigned roles, they must also be mentors and role models for those to follow. But this is the true richness and essence of community. Conversations between those with wisdom and experience and those who are hungry and passionate are a joy to behold. I am so grateful to serve as a facilitator and witness to what lies ahead.

Who’s next?