When I first heard about The Jewish Federation’s Community Leadership Institute, I got really excited about the program, but wasn’t sure that adding more to being a mother of a young child and pursuing my MBA was a great idea. I didn’t think I had the time for something else in my already jam-packed schedule.
But now, looking back, applying for CLI’s Russian Jewish Leadership Track (RJLT) was one of the best things I could have ever done. Participating in CLI transformed my expectations, not only of the program, but also of my role as a Jewish leader in our community as well as my future career goals.
Because of my involvement and what I learned about organizations within our community, I became very invested in both The Jewish Federation and Jewish LA. I now sit on the RuJuLA steering committee, where I am actively recruiting young Russian Jewish families to participate in our monthly events. I am also a part of the Limmud FSU West Coast organizing committee that is bringing this dynamic, pluralistic gathering of Russian Jewish learning to Los Angeles for the first time in January 2016.
Although I was initially wary about having enough time to get involved with CLI, I now think differently about my time and am incorporating community leadership into my life—which is setting an example for my son.
RJLT is a part of The Jewish Federation’s Community Leadership Institute. RJLT and RuJuLA are joint programs of Genesis Philanthropy Group, Jewish Agency for Israel and Jewish Federation Los Angeles.
Exclusively for young adults between the ages of 25-40, CLI is the top-tier program that provides young professionals with the skills, training, development and networks to launch into a lifetime of success. By participating in four highly competitive, specialized tracks—Universal, Real Estate, Entertainment and Russian Jewish Community—participants expand their personal and professional networks while gaining critical skills that will help them become leaders in our Jewish community and beyond.
Applications for our next cohort are being accepted through May 15, 2015.
