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Elluminate invests in Jewish women leaders who are transforming communities, advancing equity, and driving social change. These leaders are on the frontlines of the most pressing issues of our time.
In this newsletter, you will see the impact of the women we support every day: leading through crisis, advancing gender justice, strengthening Jewish life, and rebuilding civil society in Israel and beyond — while also navigating growing challenges facing nonprofits and social change leaders here in the United States. Their work is urgent — and it is shaping our collective future.
At the same time, we are building what comes next. We are launching the Global Jewish Women’s Leadership Network, convening our first Global Summit, and advancing new initiatives — from transforming philanthropy through a gender lens to supporting women leaders in Israel during wartime and recovery.
We invite you to join us as we celebrate 30 years at our Annual Luncheon on April 29 — not only to honor this extraordinary leadership, but to invest in the next chapter. Together, we can strengthen and grow this movement so that women leaders have the power, resources, and community they need to lead in this moment — and the ones ahead.
This moment demands it.
With gratitude,
Melanie Roth Gorelick
CEO, Elluminate
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Register by March 29 to Secure Early Action Pricing
This year’s Luncheon is more than a celebration. It is a gathering of community leaders, advocates, and philanthropists who believe in showing up, leading with purpose, and investing in a stronger future. It is also a special milestone as we celebrate Elluminate’s 30th Anniversary.
We are proud to honor, Marcy Syms and Andrea Baumann Lustig — two extraordinary leaders whose vision, generosity, and commitment to impact exemplify the values at the heart of Elluminate’s work.
| | The Luncheon is an opportunity to meet our Collective members, Jewish women leaders on the frontlines of today’s most pressing issues. | | To secure a table, buy tickers or join the Host Committee, contact Pamela S. Goldstein, Chief Development Officer, at pamela@elluminatewomen.org. | | | Elluminating Conversations | | Building Equity and Ethical Leadership in Jewish Institutions | | | | |
As part of Elluminate’s Elluminating Conversations series, we spoke with Rabbi Mary Zamore, Executive Director of the Women’s Rabbinic Network and a member of The Collective, about the evolving landscape for women in the rabbinate.
More than 50 years after the ordination of the first woman rabbi in the United States, women have entered the field in growing numbers. Yet significant gaps remain — including disparities in compensation, barriers to advancement, and workplace cultures that do not always ensure safety, dignity, and respect. In this conversation, she shared insights on:
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- How compensation inequities for women rabbis continue to persist — and what it will take to address them
- Why workplace culture and safety remain critical issues for women in the rabbinate
- How stronger professional networks can support women’s leadership, retention, and advancement
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What ethical leadership looks like in practice, grounded in Jewish values of dignity, justice, and responsibility
This work is not only about fairness for individual leaders. It is essential to the strength, integrity, and future of Jewish communal life. We invite you to watch the conversation to learn more about how this work is shaping the future of Jewish leadership.
| | Tune In to Our Next Elluminating Conversations Webinar! | | | | |
Confronting Poverty:
Empowering Women in Uganda Through Jewish Values
Thursday, April 16, 12:00 PM ET
Featuring: Shoshana McKinney Kirya-Ziraba, Executive Director of Tikvah Chadasha Uganda
Click Here to Register
| | Don’t Miss it — Elluminate hosts a monthly webinar to highlight members of The Collective, our signature leadership advancement program for Jewish women leaders who focus on today’s intractable issues and innovative solutions. | | Elluminate Roundtable: U.S.-Israel Women's Leadership | | |
Join us for an in-person lunch on April 28th in New York City
with Elluminate's Israeli Collective Members
This interactive gathering will allow for dialogue and relationship-building, as we discuss the urgent needs of the Israeli community and the work that must be done to promote gender equity in the Middle East. Join us to learn, connect, and engage directly with the women shaping Israel’s future. Learn more and register!
| | The Status of Women's Leadership and Gender Equity in Israel | | | | On March 17, Elluminate kicked off the Elluminate Israel Roundtable with a timely webinar. This conversation offered a meaningful update from Israeli Collective members, who are working to advance policy and social change during wartime. For over two years, these women have remained flexible and committed to advancing gender equity, despite the growing challenges they face. | | Global Jewish Women's Leadership Summit | | Building a Global Network of Jewish Women Leaders
Driving Equity and Social Change - April 27-28 | | | | The Elluminate Inaugural Global Jewish Women’s Leadership Summit is bringing together Collective members and aligned leaders to weave a network of Jewish women changemakers dedicated to advancing equity, justice, and social change. The aim is to connect, collaborate, and shape a shared strategy for impact through a gender lens.
The Summit is an invite-only event.
Click here to learn more. | | | | Responding to Community Needs During War | Dana Talmi (Cohort 4), CEO of Yahel Israel, has mobilized over 500 international volunteers across Israel in response to the current war. Efforts include packing food in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Rishon LeZion, Lod, and other locations, helping children in shelters, packing kits for emergency centers in Haifa, preparing hygiene kits for evacuees from Dimona, packing food in Jerusalem for Jewish families for Passover and Arab families for Eid al-Fitr, and much more. Some of the funds for these projects are coming from Yahel's emergency crowdfunding campaign. | | Community Events that Inspire Collective Impact | | Elluminate is proud to co-sponsor
Faith into Action: Jewish Leadership in the Reproductive Rights Movement—Past, Present, and Future on April 30.
This is the first day-long gathering hosted by Jews for Repro NY for advocates and leaders in the movement. It will focus on examining reproductive justice through a Jewish lens and will explore the importance of Jewish involvement in this fight. To learn more click here. | | | | | March 26 marks Equal Pay Day!
Did you know the average New York woman still only earned 81 cents for every dollar? It's time to address the root causes of the wage gap through valuing all women's work, addressing the pay of care workers, expanding paid leave, and supporting women to attain high-wage jobs.
Today, Elluminate joins in solidarity with our community partners in recognition of Equal Pay Day! Learn more from our partners to learn how you can support promoting equity in the workspace by visiting @powherny | | |
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Elluminate empowers feminist Jewish women leaders and philanthropists to advance equity and social change.
elluminatewomen.org
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