In 2024, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation created the Grinspoon Amber Awards to recognize and celebrate those who have made outstanding contributions to Jewish communal life. In 2025, the Foundation recognized the first five winners of the awards at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly. Now the nominations for the 2026 Grinspoon Amber Awards are open, ready to welcome more exemplary names for consideration, through February 28.
The Amber Awards reflect founder Harold Grinspoon’s lifelong belief that strong, inspired professionals are vital to a vibrant Jewish future. Just as in 2025, 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.
Each 2025 winner “paid it forward” to two individuals:
- Rabbi Ana Bonnheim, Founding Executive Director, Jewish Learning Collaborative, selected Rabbi Jessy Dressin, who stepped up in the early days of JLC; and Aliza Plotkin, Senior Director, Community Partnerships for the Detroit Federation. Read more.
- Jeremy Burton, CEO, Jewish Community Relations Council Boston, selected Dan Goldwin, Chief of Public Affairs at the Jewish United Fund (Chicago Federation); and Dara Kaufman, Director of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires. Read more.
- Jonathan Falk, former Vice President, Israel Action and Addressing Antisemitism Program, and new Senior Vice President of Campus Solutions at Hillel International, selected Anyu Silverman, Director, Antisemitism Programs at ADL; and Maya Vorobyov, Executive Director, TalkIsrael. Read more.
- Elana Frank, Founder and CEO, Jewish Fertility Foundation, selected Elana Silber, CEO of Sharsheret; and Matt Goldstein, CEO of JScreen. Read more.
- Michelle Koplan, CEO, BB360 selected Michelle Caplan, Assistant Executive Director, Congregation Neveh Shalom; and Josh Kashinsky, Executive Director of Congregation Beth Israel. Read more.
A huge mazal tov to the winners of the Pay It Forward awards.
Join the 2025 Amber Award winners in recognizing a Jewish communal professional in your life by nominating them for a 2026 Grinspoon Amber Award today through February 28, 2026.