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

Goldman is a quiet force in the Jewish world: thoughtful, strategic, and deeply committed to building something lasting. He doesn’t seek the spotlight, but his impact is widely felt. What makes him stand out is his ability to see the gaps others overlook, between generations, ideologies, geographies, and to respond not with critique, but with concrete, collaborative solutions. Through LAZOS, the network he founded and continues to lead, Diego has spent the last decade creating spaces where young Jews across the world can reconnect, lead, and build community together.

LAZOS is an international community of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking Jewish young adults (25-45 years old) in Latin America, Europe, Israel and the USA, committed to strengthening Jewish life through connection, inclusivity, and shared leadership. Diego’s approach is rooted in the belief that the future of Jewish identity can’t rely solely on inherited frameworks, it must be built, chosen, and lived in ways that feel relevant and authentic to today’s generation.

Under his leadership, LAZOS has grown into a pluralistic, people-centered platform with 13 local leadership ecosystems in 10 countries and members in over 90 cities. These local groups don’t just receive programming, they co-create initiatives based on their own realities, with support and guidance from the broader network. This structure allows LAZOS to scale while staying rooted in local context and needs.

Diego has guided the development of four key areas of programming that bridge divides and build Jewish connection:
* Professional Networking: gatherings like Business Breakfasts, Braindates, and WNet foster relationships across professions, cities, and perspectives.
* Jewish Identity: programs like Shabbat Unplugged, Zikaron BaSalon, Mitzvah Day, and the Jewish Spirituality and Mindfulness Network offer inclusive and relevant experiences of tradition.
* Leadership Development: initiatives like +IMPACTO and localized training equip young adults to lead community efforts with confidence and purpose.
* Social Impact: platforms like RETO (the Jewish Social Entrepreneurs Network) and the Strategic Philanthropy Network (RFE) reimagine tikkun olam in ways that are collaborative and values-based.
What sets Diego apart is his ability to translate big-picture ideals like pluralism, peoplehood, and belonging into operational systems that young people actually want to be part of. His work isn’t theoretical. It’s happening every week, in real communities, led by real people, across an entire region.

At a time when many Jewish spaces feel exclusive or out of touch, Diego has created platforms where participation feels personal, purpose-driven, and accessible. His work with LAZOS is not only helping young Jews stay connected, it’s helping them lead.

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

Diego Goldman’s leadership is defined not by visibility or hierarchy, but by his ability to empower others. What makes his leadership exceptional is that the outcomes are not centered around him, they multiply through others. The success of LAZOS is not the success of one person, but of hundreds of young Jewish leaders across Latin America, Europe, Israel, and the U.S. who are building more inclusive, vibrant, and representative Jewish communities in their own cities, on their own terms.

Diego’s approach is rooted in the belief that local leadership is essential for Jewish continuity. LAZOS is not a one-size-fits-all model exported from one hub to many, it’s a flexible framework designed to be co-created and contextualized. Each local ecosystem (now 13 across 10 countries) builds its own initiatives based on its community’s needs, challenges, and identity. Diego’s role is to guide this process, support the leaders, and build scalable systems so that success in one place can inspire innovation in another.

This decentralized, collaborative structure is only possible because of Diego’s unique leadership qualities: deep listening, long-term thinking, and an instinct for balancing local autonomy with shared vision. His goal is not to run a network, it’s to ensure that every member sees themselves as a stakeholder in the Jewish future. And it’s working: 1 in 6 LAZOS members leads an initiative within the network and within their own community.

Diego isn’t afraid to innovate. He has shown extraordinary commitment to making Jewish community relevant and accessible again, especially for those who have felt excluded or disillusioned with traditional structures. He has built models that are not only impactful, but also replicable, and that’s what makes his leadership sustainable. LAZOS programs like +IMPACTO (training program for future Jewish leaders and changemakers), RETO (the Jewish Social Entrepreneurs Network), and the Strategic Philanthropy Network are now active in multiple countries, tailored to local needs but connected through shared frameworks. The annual LAZOS Summit amplifies these efforts, serving as a cross-border incubator for emerging Jewish leadership.

At a time when many organizations struggle to retain engagement, Diego has grown a network that doesn’t just engage, it activates. His leadership is not about being the voice, it’s about making sure every community has the tools to raise its own. In doing so, he is helping to shape a Jewish future that is more pluralistic, more grounded, and more resilient.

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

Diego Goldman’s impact on the Jewish world is rooted in one essential idea: belonging should never be behind a barrier. Across Latin America and beyond, too many young Jews have grown up in communities where access to Jewish life comes with expectations, be them ideological, financial, or personal, that exclude rather than include. Diego’s work through LAZOS has changed that.

In the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Jewish world, disconnection isn’t always a rejection of Jewish identity, it’s often the result of not finding a space where people feel welcomed as they are. In many communities, especially smaller or more traditional ones, Jewish life is still shaped by rigid norms. Young Jews who are LGBTQ+, single, childfree, questioning, or simply living nontraditional lives often feel judged or invisible. There’s only one way to “belong” and it doesn’t reflect their reality. On top of that, many established institutions require high membership fees or expect formal affiliation as a prerequisite for participation.

LAZOS breaks down those barriers. There are no fees, no entry requirements, and no ideological litmus tests. Anyone who wants to engage is welcomed, and not just as a guest, as a co-creator. This simple but radical openness is what has made LAZOS a growing home for thousands of young Jews across more than 90 cities and 10 countries. It’s a place where people lead with their values, not their credentials. Where showing up is enough to belong.

That culture of openness is matched by impact. LAZOS has helped young adults reconnect with Judaism in ways that feel personal, relevant, and meaningful. Some join through the Jewish Spirituality & Mindfulness Network, others through professional networking opportunities, others engage through the Tikkun Olam network for social entrepreneurs or through training and development programs for emerging leaders and changemakers. The common thread is that LAZOS gives people real agency to shape Jewish life in their own cities.

This shift has extended far beyond the individual. Communities that once had little activity outside of traditional frameworks are now experimenting with pluralistic, inclusive models of engagement. Leaders trained through LAZOS are now running independent initiatives, building ecosystems, and mentoring others.

The annual LAZOS Summit further amplifies this impact, connecting participants across borders and reminding them that they are part of something larger. And yet, at its core, LAZOS remains deeply local. Every success story is a reflection of someone who no longer had to choose between who they are and being part of Jewish life.

By removing the barriers (social, financial, ideological) Diego has helped make Jewish belonging more possible, more personal, and more powerful. That is his legacy in the making.