Community is commonly discussed, but for many young professionals, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s NextGen offers the Pathway Fellowship to provide highly passionate rising leaders with an opportunity to not only engage within the community, but also to impact it.
“The Pathway Fellowship is a program designed for 20 participants in their 20s and 30s who care about their Jewish community and are looking to close the gap between general interest and taking the steps to make a deep-rooted impact,” said NextGen Director Sarah Lefkowitz.
For Max Novick, the Pathway Fellowship has enabled him to put values into action. Prior to joining the program, Novick was looking to reconnect after returning to Philadelphia five years ago. At first, he started the way many do, joining Jewish groups – including the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Federation Real Estate (JFRE) group to align with his then-career and Jewish Relief Agency (JRA), where he regularly volunteers at the Jewish Federation-funded food assistance program.
Novick wanted to continue doing more, but wasn’t sure what that was.
“I wanted a broader understanding and involvement in local Jewish philanthropy,” Novick said.
Through his involvement with JFRE and JRA, Novick grew curious about the Jewish Federation. That’s when friends and family, including his brother-in-law and this year’s Pathway Fellowship Chair Noam Benjamin, encouraged him to apply for the leadership program.
“When I participated in the Pathway Fellowship, I never imagined I would return as chair,” said Benjamin, who completed the program in 2024. “Leading this program has been a full-circle moment for me in understanding the importance of a strong leadership pipeline for the Jewish community and in my own leadership journey. Then to have my brother-in-law as a part of it has made it even more meaningful.”
Similarly, Natalie Goldberg was also looking to find a way to engage more within the community.
“I knew that I wanted to get more involved but was not sure where to start,” Goldberg said. “This program gives a clear entry point.”
The Pathway Fellowship is more than a program. It’s a cohort-based philanthropic journey that prepares 20 rising leaders to take an active role in shaping the community’s future.
Lefkowitz points out that there are opportunities throughout the program for every fellow to find an area of work within the community that inspires them.
“The Pathway Fellows get a comprehensive understanding of the many ways the Jewish Federation impacts the community, locally and globally,” she said. “From disability inclusion to education to combating antisemitism, they gain exposure to the vast array of initiatives that are changing the Jewish landscape and how they can make a difference through the investment of their time and dollars.”
The program is a four-month intensive that combines education with mentorship. Each month, participants take part in in-person sessions. The program culminates with two sessions at a Jewish Federation-funded agency. This year, those organizations were Hillel at Temple University and KleinLife, a nonprofit dedicated to holistic community programming for all ages.
Individualized mentorship complements the group sessions. Each fellow is assigned a mentor who is involved in the Jewish Federation. Mentors help fellows explore their interests and gain a better understanding of what’s possible for their futures as philanthropists.
“I really enjoyed meeting with my mentor to learn about her experiences, the affinity group she is a part of, and the connections she has made through the Jewish Federation,” Goldberg continued. “Hearing her perspective has given me a clearer sense of what my own path can look like.”
The combination of community-building and individualization makes the Pathway Fellowship powerful for participants.
“There's an incredibly warm and friendly environment amongst the fellows, the Jewish Federation staff, and session leads,” said Novick. “It's empowering to be in a space of shared enthusiasm for the Jewish community locally, nationally and around the world.”
According to Lefkowitz, while the fellows attend the sessions together as a cohort, each person takes something different away from them.
“What we’ve learned over time is that leadership programs are only as successful as how well they take in the individualized journey,” Lefkowitz added. “As a result, we have taken the time to create a customized plan with each participant so that by the time they finish the fellowship, they feel confident in their next steps.”
Since the 2026 fellowship concluded in April, participants like Goldberg and Novick have been exploring how they want to shape their future philanthropy and what kind of impact they would like to have.
“Philadelphia’s Jewish community has an incredible support system in the Jewish Federation,” said Novick, who has a particular interest in the Jewish Community Relations Council, the advocacy arm of the Jewish Federation. “As a young professional, there are many ways to get involved to make a meaningful impact on the community with the support of a robust organization.”
***
The Pathway Fellowship will run again in 2028. To learn more about the Pathway Fellowship, visit jewishphilly.org/pathway. If you would like to nominate someone to become a fellow, email nextgen@jewishphilly.org.
NextGen is the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s young professional network of leaders and philanthropists, ages 22 to 40, looking to give back and build community. Opportunities to connect include social events, volunteer opportunities and networking with like-minded young leaders. To learn more about NextGen, visit jewishphilly.org/nextgen or email nextgen@jewishphilly.org.