J Leaders Fellowship: From Learning to Impact
By J Leaders Team
The J Leaders Fellowship is a collaborative partnership between Academy fellows, J Leaders, and local synagogues or Jewish organizations. The J Leaders Fellowship gives Academy participants the opportunity to apply the lessons taught in the Academy in the real world. Participating fellows will create sustainable and meaningful Jewish communities for young adults within their organization.
Learning While Taking Action
The J Leaders Fellowship is designed as an immersive experience that blends learning with action. While fellows participate in the J Leaders Academy to build essential leadership skills, they also engage in practical, hands-on work within their community. The fellowship allows young adults to live out their Jewish values while creating spaces for others to do the same.
Proudly Announcing our First J Leaders Fellowship
J Leaders is proud to announce our first J Leaders Fellowship at Temple Beth El in Aptos, California through the inspiring leadership of the synagogue’s Executive Director David Ginsborg and Senior Rabbi Paula Marcus. We’re thrilled that our first two J Leaders Fellowship participants are Rachel Wells and Max Sunberg. As Rachel shared, “I’m excited to be part of the J Leaders Fellowship so that I can help create a sustainable community for Jewish young adults at Beth El.” She looks forward to translating the skills learned in the Academy into real-life leadership.
Why we’re interested in bringing a J Leaders Fellowship to Beth El?
“I’m excited about this program because for a very very long time, I’ve wanted to figure out ways that we can engage with young Jewish adults in our community. In the process of interacting with others, I want to help these young people see what they want in a meaningful Jewish life. It’s about creating something organic and meaningful that keeps people connected, engages them in ways they need and want, and empowers them to contribute to making it happen.”
Building a Sustainable Community for Jewish Young Adults
Rachel and Max are collaborating closely with Rabbi Paula Marcus and Executive Director Ginsborg to foster an engaged, sustainable young adult Jewish community that will grow and serve the community’s needs for future generations. Throughout the Fellowship, Rachel and Max will have the opportunity to explore their Jewish identity, connect with their values, and build a community for young Jewish adults.
“We’re really excited about Rachel and Max engaging with other young adults in our community who want to find connections with other Jewish young adults and their own meaningful spirituality,” says David Ginsborg, Executive Director at Temple Beth El.
David and Temple Beth El have wanted to do more with young adults, so he is excited for Rachel and Max to inspire people and bring new people in. He is also looking forward to helping young adults rediscover their Judaism and how it can intersect in their professional lives.
Senior Rabbi Paula has been wanting to find ways to engage young Jewish adults and help them have a meaningful Jewish life they are connected to.
For Max Sunberg, the goal is clear: to create a community where young adults can connect in meaningful ways. As he puts it, “We hope to create a community that allows more people to make connections with the work we’re doing so that young adults can build a strong Jewish community that reflects their life values.”
Bring a J Leaders Fellowship to your Synagogue or Jewish Organization
If you are a Jewish organization or synagogue interested in engaging young Jewish adults, we’d love to hear from you. We are accepting organization applications on a rolling basis, with the next Fellowship beginning Fall 2025. Please contact peter@jleaders.org for more information.