Strong Jewish communities are not built by accident. They are built through thoughtful process, shared responsibility, and a deep belief that when we bring diverse voices to the table, we make better decisions for everyone. At its best, a Jewish Federation is not simply an organization that raises funds or distributes grants — it is a convener, a listener, and a strategic partner to the community it serves.
Recently, our Federation had the opportunity to demonstrate what this looks like in practice.
After reviewing new Impact Index data, Federation President Aron Karabel convened a task force to take a deeper look at what the numbers were telling us about Israel connection, identity, and engagement across Jewish Nashville, and then report their recommendations to the Jewish Federation Board of Directors. Rather than making assumptions or rushing to conclusions, we chose a different path: we invited community leaders to join us as thought partners.
Chief Impact Officer Michal Eskenazi Becker, in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, conducted a comprehensive Jewish Nashville survey to better understand the shlichut program — its strengths, its challenges, and its potential. The task force that reviewed the findings represented a cross-section of our community’s leadership: Rabbi Lindsey Danziger, P2G Chair; board members Fred Zimmerman and Bill Berk; community leader Penny Woody; and staff partners Judy Alperin and Michal Eskenazi Becker.
Together, they:
- Considered generational differences in how Jews connect with Israel
- Examined data on pride, discomfort, and belonging
- Explored how Federation can create more nuanced, inclusive pro-Israel spaces
- Recommended a dedicated departmental framework to advance this work with intention
This was not a rubber-stamp committee. It was a collaborative, rigorous, values-driven process — the kind of process that strengthens trust and leads to better outcomes.
The result was the creation of a new Israel & Overseas Department, launched as a two-year pilot with clear expectations for measurable impact. The Board of Directors approved the pilot unanimously, not because the answers were simple, but because the process was strong.
And that is the point.
A strong Federation is not defined by unanimity — it is defined by the journey; how we arrive at decisions. When we:
- Invite diverse voices into the room
- Listen to data and to lived experience
- Allow for complexity rather than forcing simplicity
- Build structures that reflect the community’s evolving needs
- Hold ourselves accountable through measurable outcomes
…we model the very leadership our community deserves.
This task force was one example, but it reflects a broader truth: Federation is at its best when it acts as a platform for collective wisdom. When we treat community members as partners rather than spectators, we strengthen not only our decisions but our relationships. We build trust. We build resilience. We build a community that sees itself reflected in its institutions.
In a moment when Jewish communities across the country are navigating profound challenges — rising antisemitism, shifting generational identities, and complex conversations about Israel — the need for thoughtful, inclusive, strategic leadership has never been greater.
Jewish Nashville is meeting that moment.
And we will continue to do so by grounding our work in the same principles that guided this process: transparency, collaboration, humility, and a deep commitment to the future of Jewish life in our city.
Because a strong Federation doesn’t just respond to the community. A strong Federation is shaped by the community. For some, their volunteer journey may begin at Federation and for others it may flow through other agencies and synagogues. The most important thing is to follow the path your journey takes to help build, strengthen and sustain Jewish Nashville.
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