Gesher

Gesher congratulates our longtime supporter and close friend Rabbi Charlie Savenor on being named as a recipient of this year’s Covenant Award (awarded by The Covenant Foundation), honoring three exceptional Jewish educators for their integral contributions building the field of Jewish education.

“As he has done in so many settings, Charlie sets the educational vision and teaches alongside a team of educators at all workshops and conferences. He believes that the integration of Jewish teachings and values in civics education is essential to the betterment of both the Jewish community and American society.”

Upon receiving the news that he’d been selected for the Award, Savenor shared, “Torah has given my life purpose, passion, and hope. Building Jewish community through meaning and learning is truly all I have ever wanted to do.”

Mazal Tov Charlie!!!!

To read more: https://covenantfn-2026.kudos.nyc/news/the-covenant-foundation-announces-recipients-of-2026-covenant-award/

Gesher congratulates our veteran facilitator Hillel Debow on being named a JDC 2026 Ralph I. Goodman Fellow.

"Encountering these diverse perspectives is the substance of my work. At Gesher, I facilitate conversations between people from across Israeli society. These are spaces in which people enter with strong identities and often even stronger assumptions about one another.

Again and again, I see how fragile our sense of shared Jewish identity can be. How quickly disagreement becomes separation. How two people keeping Shabbat in different ways — one by keeping to the letter of the law and not touching electronics, the other by driving to his grandparents to share a Friday night dinner — can initially create distance.

But I see something else, too. When people are given the space to speak honestly and truly listen, something shifts. It’s not necessarily agreement or resolution, but recognition, an understanding that even across deep differences, we still have something shared.

I love this open space of diversity and respect, dialogue and exploration, and difference without alienation."

To read more and learn what led him to apply for this special and unique leadership opportunity, click here:

“Connection Across Difference”: Introducing the 2026 Ralph I. Goldman (RIG) Fellow | JDC Hillel Debow, the 2026 JDC Entwine Ralph I. Goldman (RIG) Fellow, is a rising Jewish leader dedicated to building bridges between Jews of all backgrounds. At Gesher, an organization where he serves as group facilitator, Debow promotes respectful, effective dialogue between people from every sector o...

What an extraordinary week in New York City.

Leading two separate delegations of influential Israeli leaders and Mayors to the heart of the Jewish community in New York was a profound experience. Over the past several days, we engaged in deep, honest, and transformative dialogues with communal leaders, organizations, and the next generation of young people.

These meetings were not about sharing our story but about listening. We explored the complexities of our shared destiny and the critical importance of the bond between Israel and the Diaspora. Our goal was to bridge divides and strengthen the connection to our global family, and the insights we gained were invaluable.

The week culminated in a powerful moment of unity as we marched together in the Celebrate Israel Parade on Fifth Avenue. Standing shoulder to shoulder with tens of thousands of others, the energy was a testament to our collective resilience.

Our team is returning home with a heightened sense of connection to our brothers and sisters overseas. We are reminded that we are not working in isolation. We are part of a vital and vibrant partnership that spans the globe.

I am incredibly grateful to all the partners who made this week possible, including קק״ל - קרן קימת לישראל , בית בן-גוריון בתל אביב and the מרכז השלטון המקומי בישראל Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, as well as to the members of our delegations for their vision, intellect, and commitment to a shared future.

I am also grateful to all of the leaders and people we met with and all those who hosted our group in their offices or in their homes throughout the week. Without the hospitality and generosity of these individuals, none of this would have been possible.

Together, we are building the strategic social infrastructure that will sustain our people for generations to come.