The Grinspoon Amber Awards, established in 2024, recognize and celebrate five individuals annually who have made outstanding contributions to Jewish communal life. Recently at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation recognized the award’s inaugural winners: Rabbi Ana Bonnheim, Jeremy Burton, Jonathan Falk, Elana Frank, and Michelle Koplan.
Now, as of January 1, 2026, nominations are open for the 2026 Grinspoon Amber Awards. The nomination window will remain open until February 28, 2026.
Each 2026 Grinspoon Amber Awards recipient will receive a $10,000 prize and the opportunity to “pay it forward” by selecting two individuals doing impactful work in Jewish life to receive Peer Recognition Grants of $2,500 each. This distinctive feature of the award is intended to foster a ripple effect of gratitude, mentorship, and shared celebration across the Jewish communal field.
Learn more about the 2026 nomination criteria and nominate an outstanding Jewish communal professional here.
In honor of the open nomination window, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation is running a series of Q&A’s with the 2025 winners, continuing with Jon Falk.
Jonathan (Jon) Falk leads seven teams that collaborate to address antisemitism and deepen Israel-related programming for Jewish college students across North America. Under Jon’s leadership, these teams provide tools to campus Hillels to effectively respond to anti-Israel activities, combat antisemitic incidents, and counter BDS campaigns, while promoting Israel through education, celebration, and advocacy.
“My career has been guided by the belief that Jewish identity should be a source of pride, connection, and purpose,” shared Jon. “Through Hillel, I’ve worked to ensure that every Jewish student who has faced antisemitism feels they belong and that their community is vibrant, visible, and supported. At the same time, I believe deeply in the Jewish people’s right to self-determination and in our enduring connection to Israel as the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people. Our faith, our traditions, and our collective story are intertwined with that commitment. In my work and in my life, I see strengthening Jewish life on campus and nurturing a proud relationship with Israel as inseparable parts of building a resilient and joyful Jewish future.”
You were nominated for the inaugural cohort of the Grinspoon Amber Awards. What was your reaction when you found out you had been nominated, and were invited to apply?
I was deeply honored and honestly, a little moved to learn I had been nominated by three colleagues I’ve worked alongside for many years. When I learned I was selected, I felt an overwhelming mix of gratitude and relief; gratitude that our work was being seen, and relief that the countless sleepless nights and long hours were making a difference. This recognition wasn’t just about me; it was about the team that stood shoulder to shoulder through some of the hardest moments Jewish college students have faced.
It meant a great deal that the dedication, urgency, and care we pour into keeping Jewish students safe were being recognized on a national stage. The award affirmed that protecting and strengthening Jewish life on campus is not only vital, it’s valued.
What do you find most meaningful about working in the Jewish professional world?
I care deeply about leaving the world better than I found it, and there is no community or purpose I find more important than the Jewish community. Hillel has been at the center of that calling for me. From the moment I stepped onto Muhlenberg College’s campus, Hillel became my Jewish home—a place of belonging, friendship, and purpose.
What’s most meaningful about working in the Jewish professional world is that it allows me to give back to the same kind of community that shaped me. Every day, I have the privilege of helping college students build pride in their Jewish identity, find strength in our shared values, and create spaces where they can live and lead as their full selves. It’s not just a job—it’s a continuation of the story that began for me as a student, and one that I now get to help write for the next generation.
One component of this award is the Peer Recognition Grant. You were able to select two individuals to whom you could “pay it forward” with gifts of $2,500 each. Can you share about the people you're choosing and why?
I chose two professionals, one leading in antisemitism education and one in the digital storytelling space. These two areas, education and social media, are where we most urgently need creativity and courage to counter antisemitism and strengthen Jewish identity. Both individuals have been steadfast in how they teach, inspire, and empower others, and I wanted to honor their impact and partnership in this shared mission. They are Anyu Silverman, the Director of Antisemitism Programs at ADL, and Maya Vorobyov from Talk Israel Foundation.
What is an accomplishment that you're proudest of?
I’m proud of helping transform how Hillel monitors, tracks, and responds to antisemitism on campus. Through the Total Antisemitism Rating (TAR) system and new predictive models, we’ve built the infrastructure to deploy support to protect Jewish students in real time and hold institutions accountable. And at the same time, I’m proud of my work to ensure that every student and professional knows they’re not alone. They know that a Hillel professional will be there to support them every step of the way. The crisis response work has been some of the hardest work but it is often the most needed.
And, on a personal note, I’m proud that when my daughters ask what I do, I can tell them I help Jewish students stand up for themselves and for their community in the face of rising hatred of our people. That feels like sacred work.
Know an outstanding Jewish communal professional? Learn more about the 2026 nomination criteria and nominate an outstanding Jewish communal professional here.