BOCA RATON — Bryan Drowos and Erik Rosenstrauch of Boca Raton were among hundreds of young Jewish leaders from 40 communities across North America who met in Orlando last month for top-level leadership training, philanthropic education and spiritual reflection at The Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) National Young Leadership (NYL) Cabinet Retreat.
Both local men are young adult leaders in the Jewish community as well as nationally. Drowos, 33, chairs the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Young Adult Division (YAD) and is co-chair of NYL Cabinet’s 2013 Leadership Conference. Rosenstrauch, 42, shares the Cabinet’s Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) portfolio and has held Young Adult leadership positions locally as well as in Chicago.
The NYL Retreat is the annual signature gathering of the NYL Cabinet, a 50-year-strong JFNA program, which trains and inspires young Jewish leaders over the course of six years. This year’s work focuses on “Chart yOUR Path, as Cabinet members work on strengthening their leadership and affirming their commitment, becoming agents of positive change toward a strong and vibrant Jewish community and world. Participants had access to many opportunities for learning and inspiration. A number of local Jewish community leaders have served on the Cabinet, including Larry Blair, the Federation’s third current member and chair of Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service in Boca Raton.
Ambassador Yehuda Avner, former Israeli diplomat and prime ministerial advisor, delivered the Retreat’s keynote address, and Arna Poupko Fisher, a Jewish educator, author and speaker, served as scholar-in-residence. Other prominent speakers included Kathy Manning, chair of the JFNA Board of Trustees, Susan K. Stern, JFNA National Campaign Chair, and Jerry Silverman, JFNA president and CEO.
The group also spent a morning with the Disney Institute and examined leading ideas and projects across federations and partner agencies. The Retreat’s Campaign Day focused on the Federations’ vital work at home, in Israel and in more than 70 countries around the world, inspiring Cabinet members to commit their time and resources, as well as raising $1.7 million from the NYL Cabinet members.
“The Cabinet Retreat re-energizes and strengthens the leadership and philanthropic journey of young leaders to ensure there will continue to be vibrant and thriving Jewish communities across America,” said Rosenstrauch, returning from his third NYL Cabinet Retreat. “This year we focused on the changing federation landscape, gathering great ideas to implement in our community. I initially joined Cabinet as a member of the Chicago Jewish community, and am now proud to represent South Palm Beach County. My family and I have received amazing support from this Young Adult community since moving here and engaging two years ago.”
“The challenges we face as a community today and will face tomorrow are different and significant,” said Drowos, who has attended four Retreats. “The NYL Cabinet has proven itself as the premier leadership program in the Federation community, and now it is our generation’s turn to take up the baton and be part of the solution. My experiences on the Cabinet have been extremely valuable in raising funds and reaching out locally.”
“At our Federation’s Young Adult Division, it’s clear that young individuals, couples and families are a dynamic, vital and highly valued part of our Jewish community,” added Drowos. “We have our own comprehensive YAD Leadership Education and Development Series (LEADS) as well as a wealth of other activities for young adults. We look forward to meeting and working with natives to newcomers to seasoned young leaders who, like us, wish to ensure a strong vibrant Jewish community for generations to come.”
The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County serves the Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach areas, raising and allocating millions of dollars each year to meet vital needs locally, in Israel and worldwide. The Federation’s Young Adult Division provides a wide variety of networking, social, family and philanthropic opportunities for younger adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s to engage with the Jewish community.