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Jewish Community News
JCN: September 2006
Federation hires new SVYAD director
By Shira Straus
The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley has hired Jonathan Berg, 25, as the new Young Adults Division director. Besides a stint at Krispy Kreme (it was kosher!) Jonathan has never worked outside of the Jewish community.
“At this point it’s my only marketable skill,” he deadpans.
“I suppose I could get a job in the secular world but the idea of
having to take a vacation day for Yom Kippur doesn’t really do it
for me.”
And then there is having to explain his “funny little hat.”
“You’d be surprised, people ask me all the time what it [my
yarmulke] is,” he says.
“Berg is committed, motivated and experienced,” said Federation
Executive Director Jyl Jurman. “He is terrific negotiating in groups,
and I know he’ll do a fabulous job.”
Berg moved to San Jose from Arizona in order to begin the position. He
and his fiancée, Ruth Geffner, will be living in San Jose and will
soon be shul shopping. Geffner will work at Hillel of Silicon Valley.
Prior to beginning as SVYAD director, Berg worked as the program director
for Hillel at Arizona State. Before that he was the program director for
Pasadena Jewish Temple, a Conservative synagogue in Los Angeles. Berg
has also worked as the director of media relations for the Israeli consulate
in Los Angeles.
In his role as SVYAD director, Berg aims to work in partnership with board
members to grow SVYAD. “Young adults of this age are the group that
is most ignored in Judaism, and I would really like to give them a community
that can be as much a part of their lives as Hillel or a synagogue would
be,” Berg said.
Berg’s ultimate professional goal is to become a Reform rabbi. He
will apply to Hebrew Union College in December, but will defer for one
year if accepted to carry out a minimum two-year commitment to the Federation.
SVYAD is for adults ages 25 to 40 years old. To get involved with SVYAD
contact Jonathan Berg at (408) 357-7504, or email at svyad@jvalley. org.
Obituary Submissions
If you have news to include in this column, please contact Cecily Ruttenberg You can call Cecily at (408) 357-7505.
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