By Heidi Gantwerk in San Diego, California
It has been just over five years since I officially stepped into my current role at Federation. In that time, we’ve witnessed significant change and growth. We navigated a global pandemic, began to find our footing, and then, only a short time later, the world shifted again on October 7th, changing everything. Through it all, we never stopped pursuing our mission. In fact, our campaign and our impact have grown many times over. It has been hard work, emotional work, nights-and-weekends work, and through it all, our tireless staff and committed lay leaders have been all in on Federation, and all in on the Jewish people.
This past week, we saw what that work has accomplished, and I am certain that I will remember it as one of the most meaningful weeks of my professional career.
On Saturday night, we held our FED360 gala – and what a night of belonging!
Nearly 800 people representing the incredible diversity of Jewish San Diego came together to shmooze, to honor, to bear witness, and to celebrate. Havdalah for 800 is a sight to behold, and with dozens of clergy members, musicians, and talented singers spread throughout the crowd, it offered the perfect musical and spiritual transition to a night of Jewish strength, pride, and joy.
Our Pauline & Stanley Foster Young Leadership Awardees, Maya Satnick and Will Schwerd, represent the best of the next generation of Jewish leadership in San Diego. Their passion and creativity in fostering Jewish belonging give me nothing but hope for our future.
The beautiful tribute to Silvana Christy, our Anne Ratner Award for Extraordinary Leadership Honoree, who has quietly spent decades leading and building Jewish life in San Diego, nearly brought me to tears. Her moving and personal speech sealed the deal.
It was then the honor of a lifetime to share the stage with Ziv and Gali Berman, twins from Kfar Aza who were held captive by Hamas for 738 days. These young men and their remarkable family came to San Diego for their first speaking appearance outside of Israel, just a few short months after enduring unspeakable horrors at the hands of the brutal terrorists who held them, separated and often alone, in more than 30 locations, including tunnels, hospitals, and schools. They shared about their lives before October 7th, then took us through that terrible day, their captivity, their release, and their recovery. They were raw, they were funny, and they shared a message of resilience and of love that took my breath away.
They spoke again on Monday, joined by their mother, Talia; their aunt, Macabit; their brother, Idan; and their dear friend, Ido, to a sold-out crowd at San Diego Jewish Academy. The room was riveted for over an hour. No one there will soon forget that experience.
Their visit was only possible because of our deep and enduring partnership with Sha’ar HaNegev. They trusted us with their story and to wrap them up as family, and San Diego delivered. After they left, Talia asked me to share these words:
“You truly went above and beyond to create ten meaningful days filled with rest, care, inspiration, and unforgettable experiences — alongside powerful moments of connection and advocacy within the Jewish community. These were important, healing, and deeply moving days for us, and we know we will carry their impact with us for a very long time…This visit was filling, meaningful, and deeply important to us, and to the extraordinary Jewish community of San Diego. We will never forget the generosity, the care, and the love we felt here.”
That is who we are. San Diego became their second home, and this is a blessing for us all.
Ziv and Gali brought us together to bear witness, and they left us with a message: hold your families and loved ones close and cherish every minute. We listened.
For two years, we’ve carried the words “we will dance again” in our hearts. And to close out FED360, we did just that. We danced. Joyfully, energetically, breathlessly, unapologetically. Together, we celebrated the strength and resilience of our community and the impact of building belonging and connection.
This is the power of Federation today.
Shabbat Shalom,
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Heidi Gantwerk is the president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego.