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

Jericho Vincent is a visionary leader whose boundless energy and unwavering commitment to ancient wisdom have helped bridge deep divides within the Jewish community and beyond. Their profound connection to Torah—so powerful it called them back to rabbinic ordination after being expelled from their traditional Orthodox community—fuels their work in creating inclusive, affirming spiritual spaces for those historically marginalized or disenfranchised by religious institutions.

Rav Jericho brings together individuals across religious, cultural, and gender identities who share a yearning for safe, meaningful engagement with Jewish tradition. Through their creative and deeply moving programs, they invite participants to reinterpret liturgy in ways that reflect and empower their lived experiences. Many who attend their gatherings describe it as a spiritual homecoming—finding belonging and a renewed connection to Jewish identity after feeling exiled or erased.

With extraordinary empathy and insight, Rav Jericho helps people from all backgrounds uncover universal truths in sacred texts, cultivating understanding, resilience, and hope. In a time of increasing polarization and uncertainty, they are a rare bridge-builder—offering both vision and practice that foster unity, healing, and a shared future rooted in love and authenticity.

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

Jericho Vincent has demonstrated exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment by founding Temple of the Stranger—a nonprofit born not from ideal conditions, but from a powerful inner conviction that unity within the LGBTQ+ and broader spiritual community was both urgent and possible. Despite limited resources and no operational support, Jericho stepped forward with courage, trusting that their lived experience and unique background positioned them to meet a critical need.

Rather than waiting for funding or formal infrastructure, Jericho took immediate action—building programs through sheer grit, creativity, and a profound sense of purpose. Their bias toward action, coupled with a deep humility to learn through trial and error, cultivated a vibrant and growing community. The impact of their work quickly drew attention, resulting in multiple multi-year grants and the expansion of a dedicated team to support sustainable growth and operations.

Jericho leads with rare vulnerability and authenticity, engaging personally with every member of the Temple of the Stranger community. They offer their own story as a tool for collective healing and transformation, embracing the messiness of the human experience with grace, humor, and hope. Their leadership is not only visionary—it is deeply relational and grounded in love. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with them in advancing the mission of Temple of the Stranger, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound bridges they build across identity, tradition, and belief.

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

Rav Jericho Vincent’s work has profoundly impacted both the Jewish community and wider spiritual landscape by creating inclusive, transformative spaces for those who have long felt excluded or unseen. Through Temple of the Stranger, Jericho has helped hundreds reconnect with Jewish tradition in ways that affirm their identities, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. Many participants describe their experience as a spiritual homecoming—reclaiming a sense of belonging and purpose in a community that had once felt inaccessible.

Jericho’s ability to bridge ancient wisdom with modern experience has resonated far beyond traditional religious boundaries. Their programs foster interfaith dialogue, invite reinterpretation of sacred texts, and cultivate emotional and spiritual healing. People from diverse backgrounds—Jewish and non-Jewish alike—find strength, hope, and resilience in the inclusive, creative environments they’ve built.

By leading with authenticity and vulnerability, Jericho has not only reimagined what spiritual leadership can look like, but has modeled how personal transformation can become communal healing. Their work continues to inspire unity, connection, and a shared sense of sacred purpose across lines of identity, belief, and background.