By Leya Aronoff, Marketing Manager at J Leaders & J Leaders Academy ‘22-’23 Fellow
Tell us about yourself
Hi, my name is Yale Friend. I participated in the J Leaders Academy (2021-2022) and later served on the Academy Steering Committee and Alumni Board. I currently live in Newton, MA, just outside of Boston, but first got involved with J Leaders while living in the Bay Area.
Professionally, I’m an electrical engineer at a defense contractor working on various sonar research projects for DARPA and the Navy. Outside of work, I’m a musician, and play trumpet in several jazz and blues groups.
I am actively involved in the musical programming at my Synagogue, Temple Israel. I play with the temple band at a monthly Friday night service as well as with The Riverway Project, a young adult initiative that brings in about 250 people each month. I also do the music for High Holiday services.
What inspired you to apply to J Leaders?
I first heard about J Leaders at a happy hour in San Francisco. A friend on the Steering Committee told me about the program, describing it as a “mini MBA” for Jewish young adults. At the time, I was considering getting an MBA, so I was intrigued.
What really hooked me was attending an info session with Peter. He made it clear that J Leaders wasn’t just another Jewish young adult social event. It was about real leadership development, meaningful connections, and hands-on projects. That focus on deep engagement, not just networking, stood out to me.
With so many options, why did you choose J Leaders?
Honestly, I didn’t feel like there were that many options that combined Jewish values and leadership development in a serious way. Plenty of Jewish programs focus on community-building, and plenty of leadership programs exist, but nothing tied the two together quite like J Leaders—especially outside of a specific organization like Hillel or a synagogue.
I wanted leadership training. I wanted to grow my Jewish community. J Leaders gave me both. I didn’t realize until later how much those two things would become deeply connected. The program taught me how to bring Jewish values into my leadership style, which wasn’t something I had considered before.
What was the most impactful part of your J Leaders experience?
One defining moment for me was during Rabbi Hugh’s session on Menuchah (rest and rejuvenation) at the first retreat. He talked about the importance of rest, purpose, and joy, which helped me finally clarify my relationship with music.
Music is my passion, but I chose not to pursue it as a full-time career because I never wanted it to become a source of stress — something I had to do to make a living. Instead, I wanted it to remain a pure source of joy and renewal in my life. That session gave me the language to articulate what I had always felt but never quite defined.
Beyond that, the people were the most impactful part of the experience. From my mentor Jim to the friendships I built with Peter, Leya, and others, these are relationships that have stayed strong even after moving 3,000 miles away.
How has the program influenced your professional and Jewish life?
Professionally, J Leaders helped me clarify my goals and gave me the tools and confidence to pursue them. I successfully made a major career and life change in large part due to the experiences and learnings from J Leaders.
Jewishly, it reinforced my desire to be actively involved in the community. I had always been engaged in Jewish life, but J Leaders deepened my understanding of how Jewish values can directly influence leadership and service. That perspective now shapes how I approach both my synagogue involvement and my professional life.
What’s an unexpected benefit or achievement from your J Leaders experience?
When I went into the Academy, I never thought I would be one of the leaders of the Academy. But when I was provided the opportunity to join the next Academy’s Steering Committee, I didn’t say no. I learned even more by teaching sessions. Plus, working with the various presenters was a great honor. I am extremely proud of being even a small part of those fellows’ success and growth.
What advice would you give to Jewish young adults considering J Leaders?
If you’re looking for more than just a social experience — if you want to grow as a leader, make real connections, and integrate Jewish values into your personal and professional life — J Leaders is worth it. The experience goes beyond just a leadership course; it’s a community of people who challenge and support each other long after the program ends.