By 
This May, 17 women will complete a transformative journey as graduates of the Pauline Foster Women’s Leadership Institute’s fourth cohort⎯an initiative of Jewish Federation of San Diego that’s shaping the future of Jewish leadership, one woman at a time.
Rooted in the enduring values of kehillah (community), achrayut (responsibility), chesed (loving kindness), and tzmicha (growth), the Institute was established to honor the legacy of Pauline Foster, z’’l. Pauline was a visionary who broke barriers in San Diego’s Jewish communal landscape, serving as the first woman to lead both Federation’s Board of Directors and what is now known as Women’s Philanthropy. She was a mentor, a pioneer, and a powerful voice for women’s leadership in Jewish life. That voice lives on through this Institute⎯and through the generosity of her daughters, Lisa Foster, Marcia Hazan, and Karen Silverman, who sustain the program in her memory.
Since its founding in 2019, the Institute has become the premier platform for emerging Jewish women leaders in San Diego. Designed to deepen Jewish knowledge, strengthen leadership capacity, and build enduring bonds between participants, the experience is both personal and communal. Through monthly learning sessions, meaningful mentorship, immersive retreats, and shared experiences, participants explore what it means to lead not just effectively⎯but Jewishly.
In February 2025, the current cohort traveled together to Mexico City, where they toured historic synagogues and community centers and engaged with local organizations, such as WomPower, a nonprofit advancing women in leadership. The group also visited the home of Frida Kahlo – drawing inspiration from her artistry and resilience as they reflected on their own leadership paths. The trip, like the program itself, blended rich Jewish identity with global perspective and purpose.
For participant Allison Wolpoff, the experience marked a profound shift. “I’ve been in leadership programs before, but nothing like this,” she reflected. “This was the first time I explored leadership through the lens of my Jewish identity, and it changed everything. I feel more confident, more connected, and more resolved in my role as a Jewish woman leader⎯especially in a time when our community needs us to step up.”
That sense of readiness is exactly what Federation envisioned when it created the Institute. With antisemitism on the rise, Israel facing critical challenges, and Jewish communities working to remain united and inclusive, there is a clear and urgent need for resilient leaders grounded in Jewish values. The Institute is answering that need – developing leaders who understand the moment and who are prepared to meet it with strength and heart.
Graduates go on to serve across the community: leading nonprofit boards, schools, congregations, and programs. They are not waiting for the future⎯they are building it.
Pauline Foster believed in leading with generosity and intention. “Sharing with other people is truly gratifying,” she once said. Through this program, that belief continues to shape and inspire new generations.
To learn more about the Pauline Foster Women’s Leadership Institute and Federation’s broader efforts to support Jewish leadership development in San Diego, visit jewishinsandiego.org.
Comments