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By Barrett Holman Leak
There are those who spend money to buy power, influence and position. There are those who make moves to gain more money to elevate themselves in some way. Then there are those people who both work hard to grow income and invest wisely so they can give back and elevate the people and projects who most need it in this world. It is at this intersection that Dan and Jaime Feder live. Not only that, but it is also a family affair.
It only takes a few moments in the presence of Jaime and Dan to realize what truly outstanding individuals and what a remarkable couple these two people are.
Giving back to numerous organizations, including Just In Time for Foster Youth (Jaime was on the board in the past) and more recently, StandWithUs—through time, effort and money—is why Jaime and Dan Feder are being honored at the 2024 San Diego StandWithUs Gala. on November 17, 2024.
But, how did Jaime and Dan arrive at this moment in time?
Jaime Feder has family roots in Connecticut but made her way to California where she met Dan Feder and was working as Director of Operations for Jerome’s Furniture. She decided in 2010 to “stop working crazy hours and focus on having children and raising them with her husband Dan, while giving back to the world. She enjoys both being home and raising their four kids—David, Mayer, Evelyn and Noa—as well as being involved in the San Diego community
The world is large yet very small and I was delighted to find that not only did I have commonality with Jaime in her roots and knowledge about Connecticut and foster care systems, I had something in common with Dan Feder.
Dan has roots in Denmark and Israel. When I asked him about his journey to this moment in time he said, “Jeg hedder Dan og min bro hedder Mark fordi vi er født i Danmark”
I nearly jumped out of my seat! Dan was speaking Danish, telling me that his brother and he were born in Denmark. I responded in the same language spoken by only about 5.5 million people in the world. Quickly, in Danish I told him where I lived in Denmark, which Danish university I graduated from, which neighborhoods I lived in and where I worked and that I am part Danish with cousins still living there.. Jaime interjected wanting to know what we were saying. For a few minutes we were transported back to Denmark
His ancestors escaped the Holocaust and Dan Feder has valued life, giving back, his Jewish identity and the Jewish community with his every word and action.
Dan shared an interesting anecdote about this family’s Danish roots. He recalled the boat his ancestors used to escape Hitler and his troops—who were already occupying Denmark. Hitler decided in 1943 to deport the 7,800 or so Danish Jews to concentration camps/death camps. The plan was leaked and immediately a Swedish passport was given to all Danish Jews without question. The Danish resistance movement, with the assistance of many Danish citizens, managed to evacuate 7,220 of Denmark’s 7,800 Jews, plus 686 non-Jewish spouses, across the Øresund sea to nearby neutral Sweden during the Second World War. Basically 99% of Denmark’s Jews were saved, including Dan’s family.
That boat is now in the Jewish Museum in Copenhagen.
Dan Feder is a hardworking man. He and his brother were born in Denmark (Denmark in Danish is “Danmark”) to a Danish mother and Israeli Special Forces father. His family was entrepreneurial and owned a small brass bed business in Denmark and later moved to California where he encountered infamous controversial and antisemitic educator Steven Frogue. Frogue became known for teaching students Holocaust denial and making derogatory remarks in class about Jews, African Americans and Asians. Dan’s father once had to go to the school and confront the teacher because he lowered Dan’s grade from an A to a C for countering his antisemitism with facts. Dan’s family had spent time in Israel where he remembers working at “New York, New York restaurant as a dishwasher for 8 shekels per hour, and both being a camper and serving as a camp counselor in Betar, a Zionist youth movement. What he learned at Betar, his love for Israel and all things Zionist empowered him to stand up to the teacher as a teenage boy. Dan’s father was also not afraid to confront Frogue’s Jew-hatred. Frogue was leaving his classroom when he saw Mr. Feder coming to discuss his Jew-hatred, and Frogue ran back to his classroom and locked himself in a closet.
“The next day my grade was returned to an A,” said Dan.
After that, Dan worked three different jobs while living with his brother in Florida. He finished college back in California at USC. He worked for a company in the auction/liquidation business. Next, Dan, his brother Mark and their fraternity brother Dave started an equipment leasing business. In 2012, Dan closed the sale of the equipment leasing business and on the same day opened the first office of F & F Properties, a San Diego-based real estate firm focused on multi-family property development. Most importantly, during this time, Dan had his first child (David, named after his deceased father). A hardworking businessman and savvy investor, he uses his resources to invest and grow their money, then give back to the community, standing proudly with Israel and the San Diego Jewish community.
Dan firmly believes in giving back.
“If you have the ability to give time, it’s a big deal,” he said. “The most precious resource people have is time. If you’re lucky enough to have extra money, we believe you should try to give, to help. And if you can do both, that’s great, too.”
Between Jaime and Dan, they are living examples of this belief.
It’s a Family Thing
As Sly and the Family Stone famously sang, it’s a family affair for Jaime and Dan Feder. The Jewish value of tikkun olam is embedded in both of them and they are immersing it in their four children every day. Dan does the work to bring in the money and invests it in the community. Jaime sits on the boards and committees. Both are immersing their children in Jewish values. Jaime and her husband Dan are raising their children to be proud Jews. They themselves are unapologetically proud of their Jewish identity, unwavering in their support of Israel and about putting their resources into battling antisemitism and educating people about both antisemitism and Israel.
“We are very big on having them (our children) see what the real world is like and how they, even as kids, can give back and make it a better place … tikkun olam.” continued Jaime.
Jaime and Dan shared that while they are not strictly religiously observant, they and their children are unquestionably Jewish.
“Our kids are Zionist. They are Jewish through and through—everything about them,” said Jaime.
Disturbed by the rising antisemitism in the San Diego community, both Dan and Jaime joined the StandWithUs San Diego chapter several years ago.
Utilizing her operations background, she organized and co-chaired the StandWithUs San Diego gala several times and worked to help educate and about antisemitism through board and committee work.
On October 8, 2023, Dan and his friends headed to Balboa Park with the largest Israeli flags they could find to make it clear ro pro-Hamas demonstrators that Israel was not defeated.
“If you think you (a Jew) are going to assimilate away, our history should teach us that Jew Hatred is still coming for you, it’s just a matter of time,” Dan said “It happens all the time and the best way to fight it is doing so proudly at home and ensuring there is a strong and safe Israel.”
StandWithUs – Honoring Dan & Jaime Feder
StandWithUs San Diego will host its annual “Leaders of Tomorrow” gala on Sunday night, November 17, 2024, honoring Dan and Jaime Feder and featuring a keynote address by special guest Israeli author and media personality, Noa Tishby.
Noa Tishby is a two-time NY Times best-selling author and Israel’s former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism & Delegitimization. testified in front of the Committee on Ways and Means about the connection between campus antisemitism and terrorism financing. Tishby recently addressed members of Congress in a hearing exposing gender-based violence of the October 7th massacre. Her latest book, in collaboration with Emmanuel Acho, is UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH A JEW. In it, Emmanuel Acho and Noa Tishby hope to help reverse the antisemitism and Holocaust denial trend that is happening. The authors ask—and answer—questions that may make you squirm, but together they explain the tropes and catalysts of antisemitism in America today so that we as a nation can better understand what it is—and isn’t—and eradicate not just hate towards Jews, but also learn how to have the conversations that will end hate toward all groups.
What Is StandWithUs?
StandWithUs entering its 23rd year fulfilling its mission to educate about Israel on campuses, high schools, middle schools and the community, and to fight against antisemitism. StandWithUs is an international, non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism. Its goal is to counter antisemitism, educate the public about Israel, empower others to educate their communities, and make it possible to have reasonable, informed conversations about Israel’s history, policies, and humanitarian aid on campuses and in communities around the world.
Gala Tickets
Tickets to the November 17 gala start at $250 each and $2500 for a table (in addition to other levels of giving) at https://www.standwithus.com/sdgala2024 For more information on StandWithUs, visit https://www.standwithus.com/sandiego.
Barrett Holman Leak is an author, educator and the creator of Playing Together Project, a Jewish non-profit whose mission is to unite Black and/or Jewish San Diegans over a common love of film, food, music and art. She is a former TV/radio news anchor and reporter as well as the former director of a non-profit organization in Denmark where she worked with diplomats from Columbia, Poland, Denmark, People’s Republic of China, Mexico and more to create large-scale cultural events. When she’s not working, she mothers Shalom, Shiloh and Shlomo.
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