1) What qualities make the nominee deserving of the Z3 Bridge Builder Award?

Andrew Keene is a connector, a collaborator, and a visionary bridge builder in the global Jewish community. Across his career as a lay leader and social entrepreneur, Andrew has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to bringing people together across divides—political, generational, and geographic. His work exemplifies the very essence of the Z3 Bridge Builder Award: fostering mutual understanding, promoting shared identity, and creating tangible, enduring connections between Jews in Israel and throughout the Diaspora. As the Founder of ESEK, Andrew has built a social enterprise that creates human and economic bridges between Israelis—particularly those in the country’s geographic and social periphery—and Jewish communities worldwide. ESEK partners with small businesses in Israel to curate products and share the personal stories behind them, giving global Jewry a window into the lives of everyday Israelis. Andrew is not just facilitating commerce; he is fostering empathy, awareness, and a deeper sense of Klal Yisrael that transcends headlines and politics. Andrew’s bridge-building efforts are rooted in his cross-communal credibility and relational leadership. He has represented the Reform Movement to global and cross-communal Zionist organizations, engaging partners across the ideological spectrum with respect and nuance. He thrives in complex spaces where dialogue is often fraught, creating trust by listening first and inviting people into shared purpose. Whether in global boardrooms, local synagogues, or with Israeli entrepreneurs, Andrew has modeled a kind of leadership that welcomes difference while seeking common ground. In a moment when the Israel-Diaspora relationship is under immense strain—marked by polarization, mutual misunderstanding, and emotional distance—Andrew’s work through ESEK serves as a living bridge. By highlighting the stories of Israelis from diverse backgrounds, he invites Diaspora Jews to engage with Israel through the human stories of resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurship. These micro-connections add up to a macro-impact: communities that feel closer to each other, and a Jewish people more bound by understanding than by division.

2) In what ways has the nominee demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to their work in bridging divides?

Andrew Keene’s leadership in bridge building is both visionary and pragmatic, marked by his ability to see systemic gaps and respond with innovative solutions. He has served in officer and leadership roles at the highest levels of the Jewish communal world, from international Reform and Zionist institutions to local and grassroots initiatives. Across these roles, Andrew has cultivated a reputation as someone who can “get to yes” with diverse partners, always grounded in the belief that the Jewish people are stronger when we work together toward common goals. Through ESEK, Andrew has created a new model for Diaspora-Israel engagement. Instead of focusing solely on advocacy or philanthropy, he has pioneered a paradigm of economic and relational empowerment. By connecting small business owners in Israel’s periphery with Jewish consumers and communities worldwide, he has turned commerce into a conduit for connection. Andrew’s leadership extends beyond his own enterprise. He is a trusted collaborator across the Jewish ecosystem, working with several well-known international Jewish organizations. He has facilitated partnerships that transcend organizational silos, guided by a sincere belief that there is more value in collective action than in competition. His advocacy for pluralistic, values-based Zionism has made him a sought-after voice in forums where bridge-building is urgently needed. What distinguishes Andrew is his empathy and humility as a leader. He approaches bridge building not as the pursuit of uniformity, but as the creation of sacred space where complexity can be held together. He listens deeply, engages authentically, and leads with a quiet confidence that invites others to join him in shared purpose. In a time when divisions within the Jewish world feel acute, Andrew Keene demonstrates how bold ideas and human relationships can transform the narrative. His commitment to building bridges—through dialogue, economic empowerment, and cross-communal collaboration—is not theoretical; it is lived and lasting. By bringing Israeli and Diaspora Jews into conversation and connection, Andrew has strengthened the bonds of the Jewish people and embodied the mission of the Z3 Bridge Builder Award.

3) How has the nominee's work impacted the Jewish community and beyond?

Andrew Keene’s work through ESEK has had a profound and multifaceted impact on the Jewish community and on broader global audiences. At its core, his work expands the circle of connection to Israel, offering both Jewish and non-Jewish communities meaningful, actionable ways to engage with and support Israeli society beyond the traditional paradigms of philanthropy and advocacy. For the global Jewish community, ESEK has opened new doors for participation in Israel’s story. Many smaller or geographically isolated Jewish communities—those far from major urban centers and often beyond the reach of legacy Israel engagement programs—have historically lacked avenues to interact meaningfully with contemporary Israeli life. Through ESEK’s model, these communities can contribute directly to the vitality of Israeli society by supporting small businesses, purchasing authentic products, and sharing the personal stories of the artisans and entrepreneurs behind them. This creates a tangible sense of partnership and pride: even Jews in distant communities can see their actions as part of Israel’s ongoing narrative of resilience and creativity. Andrew’s work has also elevated Israel engagement beyond the framework of charity, introducing an empowering model of financial support that is rooted in commerce, dignity, and mutual benefit. Rather than positioning Israeli communities—especially those in the geographic or social periphery—as recipients of aid, ESEK positions them as equal partners in a global Jewish marketplace. Diaspora Jews and allies purchase products, learn the stories of the people who made them, and in doing so, forge real connections built on respect and shared purpose. This approach not only provides economic support to small business owners in Israel but also shifts the narrative of Diaspora-Israel relations toward one of partnership rather than dependency. Beyond the Jewish world, Andrew has successfully introduced non-Jewish communities to Israel through the lens of small business and entrepreneurship, bypassing political or ideological entry points that can sometimes feel polarizing. By highlighting the universal story of small business owners—families striving to create, sustain, and grow their livelihoods—ESEK fosters empathy and understanding in audiences who might otherwise have limited exposure to Israel. This has included collaborations with international organizations, local markets, and cross-cultural initiatives where Israeli products and stories have served as vehicles for human connection. The impact of Andrew’s work is therefore both relational and systemic. On the relational level, he has created countless micro-bridges: between communities around the world and communities in Israel. On the systemic level, he has helped reimagine how the global Jewish community can engage with Israel, demonstrating that meaningful support can be rooted in economic empowerment and authentic storytelling rather than one-way philanthropy alone. In a time of both challenge and opportunity for Israel-Diaspora relations, Andrew Keene’s work has created new pathways of connection, understanding, and solidarity—within the Jewish community and far beyond it.