Alex Weingarten: 2015 Young Leadership Award Honoree
Each year, Jewish Federation Los Angeles awards an exceptional young male lay leader (ages 30-45) with the Julius M. Ratner Leadership Award, an honor that comes with a grant to attend the Jewish Federation of North America’s General Assembly (GA). Honorees are chosen for their extraordinary commitment to the Federation’s forward-thinking work and for their active leadership within Federation roles. Last year, Alex Weingarten was bestowed this honor and will serve on this year’s selection committee. We sat down with Alex to learn more about his experience with the Federation, what it meant for him to be selected as the Julius M. Ratner Leadership Award recipient last year, and his experience at the GA.
Why is the Jewish community and Jewish involvement so important to you?
I grew up in the Valley in a neighborhood that was extremely Jewish, where I still live. When I was ten and one of my brothers was 5 or 6, he asked me how many Jewish people there were in the world. I said 10 million and he said, “How is that possible? Everyone I know is Jewish.” I went to Hebrew school, had a bar mitzvah and went to USY, but being [religiously/spiritually] Jewish wasn’t top of mind or part of my daily consciousness. I did not grow up in a religious home and am still not today particularly religious, though both of my parents were raised in very religious homes.
Judaism has always been important to me culturally and “culinarially.” Becoming a father made me want to get more involved. I was raised in a charitable home. Community service and philanthropy were always very important and remain very important in my family. I wanted those values and traditions to be passed on to my children. I wanted to make sure they knew that they were Jewish and the importance of a Jewish identity.
How are you currently involved with The Jewish Federation?
I’m currently Chair of the Legal Division and I’m in the National Young Leadership Cabinet (NYLC). I was also previously involved in the Rautenberg New Leaders Project. I have been active in the Legal Division, and served as the Dinner Chair one year, as well as on the Executive Committee.
What did it mean to you to be honored last year with the Federation’s Julius M. Ratner Leadership Award?
It’s always nice to be recognized for the effort you make and the commitment you provide. The honor for me is to be involved in the Federation in the way I am, and to meet the people I’ve had the opportunity to meet. I’m not doing it for an award or recognition, but it’s nice to have the effort validated in that respect and to share it with my family. Something I’ve heard a lot is that you get back so much more than you give – and that’s 100% my experience. It makes me feel good to help other people.
Tell us a little bit about last year’s GA.
I had the opportunity to hear Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak, and was able to reconnect with my Cabinet [NYLC]. I also got to know the other lay leaders from the L.A. delegation that were there. I was surprised at the overwhelming nature of the level of participation and commitment that so many people from all around North America have to “doing good”. The GA is a large convention of people committed to the Jewish community and to making the world a better place. It’s a nice illustration of what can happen when we come together as a community. There were so many important people (business leaders and politicians) from outside the community and from around the world that were there out of respect for the impact that we as a community can have when we come together… And because we are committed to using that influence for good.
What are you looking for in a Julius M. Ratner Leadership Award candidate this year?
Having had the benefit of now knowing those who received the honor before me, I would look for someone with a commitment to Jewish values and principles, to tikkun olam, to helping make this world a better place than how we found it. Someone who is making a positive impact for the world — and that can happen in a lot of different ways. We are all a part of something greater than ourselves and doing what we can to help everyone.
The Julius M. Ratner Leadership Award recognizes young adults who have exhibited exemplary leadership in the Los Angeles Jewish community, and specifically with Jewish Federation Los Angeles.
If you would like to nominate an outstanding young leader, click HERE. Nominations will be accepted through September 2, 2016. Recipients will receive their awards at this year’s GA, which takes place November 13-15 in Washington, D.C.
