On Tuesday, May 27 the 13 members of the Jerome J. Bornstein Leadership Program participated in a graduation ceremony at the home of Judy Kahan. The members of the class brought family members to celebrate their graduation from this prestigious leadership program.

The evening began with Roz Fuchs giving a history of the program she helped create 22 years ago. Fuchs was pleased to see the program continuing to thrive and produce leadership for the Jewish community.

The group nominated two speakers, Leah Silver and Eric Sugarman, to represent them at the ceremony. Both spoke about the strong bonds they had formed with members of the class. Silver told of her desire to get more involved in the Jewish community, and the path she had taken to get to this point. She especially enjoyed the time spent learning about leadership through a Jewish lens. Sugarman, too, expressed his desire to become more involved in the Jewish community, and was pleased to have gained skills to help him realize his goal of making the Jewish community more open and welcoming to young Jews.

Michael Soll, president of the JFGO Board, shared some thoughts about the qualities of great leaders that the group had clearly embraced. He shared the thought that each of these leaders showed capability, continuity, shared a vision of community and had mastered communication. After handing out certificates and gifts, Olga Yorish, executive director of the Jewish Federation, closed the program with the shehechehyanu. The group enjoyed a beautiful reception prepared by Judy Kahan, chairperson of the Bornstein Leadership Program, lingering over shared stories of their Shabbat retreat and their many other sessions.

The Jewish Federation will be taking nominations for the next Bornstein Leadership class beginning in late June. For more information, please contact Lisa Sholk, 407-261-3175, or lsholk@jfgo.org.