Vote now for your favorite nominee!
Voting is open until August 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM PDT. You may only vote once.
Meet Our 18 Nominees
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Aaron Afilalo
President (Volunteer)
West Side Sephardic Synagogue -
Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz
Founder
Hashgacha Pratit and Chuppot -
Andrew Keene
Founder
ESEK -
Bucky Apisdorf
Founder & CEO
Let’s Do Something -
Rabbi Charlie Schwartz
Co-Founder
Lehrhaus -
Diego Goldman
Founder & CEO
LAZOS -
Rabbi Dr. Dovid Bashevkin
Founder
18Forty -
Gina Raphael
Co-founder
The Golda Project -
Rav Jericho Vincent
Founder
Temple of the Stranger -
Judi Leib
President & Co-founder
Challah and Soul -
Julie Zuckerman
Founder
Literary Modiin Author Series -
Karin Zell
Founder
Workshop 8teen -
Malka Shaw
Founder
Kesher Shalom Projects -
Margarita Lyadova
Host & Creator
People Jew Wanna Know Podcast -
Moshe Samuels
Co-founder
Shazur / Interwoven -
Nina Levitt
Leadership
Temple Emanu-El -
Noa Barazani
Founder
Olim in TLV -
Sara Winkelman
Director of Education Programs & Services
Jewish Community Relations Council
The Z3 Project is proud to offer the Bridge Builder Award for its second year, recognizing individuals who are working to bridge divides within the Jewish people—between communities, across ideologies, between the Diaspora and Israel and more.
Architects of the Jewish Future® awards recognize individuals for excellence in the field of Jewish culture, spirituality and education.
The winner will be presented the top prize of $10,000 at the Z3 Conference 2025 on November 9.
About
The tumult of the last few years has posed new and unique challenges to the Jewish world. While in some ways we have rallied together, in others our divisions have become more pronounced, with new fault lines appearing and new internal tensions rising—whether around the war in Gaza, politics in Israel and the U.S. or widening religious and cultural differences.
The Z3 Bridge Builder Award honors individuals who are creating spaces for connection, understanding, and dialogue between Jewish communities.
Bridge building is never easy, but it is essential. This award shines a light on those helping to hold the Jewish people together even when everything around us seems to be pulling us apart.
We’re seeking individuals who:
Have shown outstanding leadership in bringing together Jewish communities.
Have launched innovative projects that promote collaboration and understanding.
Are committed to bridging gaps and creating a stronger, more inclusive Jewish world.
The winner will be presented the top prize of $10,000 at the Z3 Conference 2025 on Sunday, November 9. The two runner-up finalists will each receive $1,000.
Full award details, eligibility and deadlines
Award Process
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Submissions of nominations will be open from July 7, 2025 until August 4, 2025.
Eighteen nominees will continue to Phase 2.
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The 18 nominees chosen from Phase 1 will be announced on a public voting page. Anyone may vote for any of the 18 nominees.
Limited to one vote per person.The nominees who receive the top 3 highest vote counts will advance to Phase 3.
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The 3 finalists will be announced on September 2, 2025.
The winner will be chosen from among the finalists by the Z3 Project team and publicly announced on September 10, 2025.
November 9, 2025: The winner will be presented with the award at the Z3 Conference in Palo Alto, California.
Important dates
July 7, 2025 at 12:00 AM PDT
Phase 1: Nominations Period opens for submission.
August 4, 2025 at 11:59 PM PDT
Phase 1: Nominations period closes.
August 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM PDT
Phase 2: Public Voting Period opens.
August 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM PDT
Phase 2: Public Voting Period closes.
September 2, 2025
The three (3) finalists are publicly announced.
September 10, 2025
The winner is publicly announced.
November 9, 2025
The winner will be flown to Palo Alto to accept the Z3 Bridge Builder Award at the Z3 Conference 2025.
Award Qualifications
Requirements
Nominations must be received by August 4, 2025 at 11:59 PM PDT.
Self-nominations or nominating someone else are both permitted; however, the same person may be nominated only once, and any additional submissions will be disqualified.
A headshot of the nominee must be included with the nomination form.
Past Z3 Bridge Builder Award finalists may not be nominated again.
Eligibility
This award is open to nominees worldwide.
The application must show how the nominee has affected or facilitated efforts in a professional or volunteer capacity within the Jewish community to bridge divides, bringing together individuals or groups with opposing views through dialogue, projects and initiatives that foster unity and understanding.
The award is dedicated to honor and recognize individuals who have demonstrated outstanding efforts in building bridges within the Jewish community. This award is not intended for organizations.
While we deeply value the work of coexistence and peace-building organizations, this award specifically recognizes individuals who are dedicated to creating connections and bridging divides within the Jewish world.
We encourage nominators to be detailed in their submissions to clearly outline the actions and impact of the nominee’s work.
If you have any questions that are not answered above, you may contact us at [email protected].
Z3 BRIDGE BUILDER AWARD
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Z3 BRIDGE BUILDER AWARD •
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