Nominations Open for the 2025 Z3 Bridge Builder Award
Act now to honor those who are making Jewish peoplehood real. Deadline: Next Monday, August 4
David H.—What binds us together as a people? We have been hearing about “peoplehood” for decades as a major concern both in America and Israel. Our viability as a people is threatened by division, infighting, competing allegiances, and threats from without—and our behavior suggests the very idea of a single “Jewish people” may be on the rocks.
More than a century ago, Theodor Herzl was consumed by the revelation that “We are one people,” which drove him to embark on a lifelong mission to establish the first Jewish nation state in thousands of years.
Peoplehood, however, doesn’t happen by itself. It is built one step at a time, through education, communities, books, beliefs, and practices. It was the idea of peoplehood that inspired me to create Jewish Priorities, with the goal of sharing the voices of our people from all its major religious, political, geographical, and demographic groups, in a single book.
For this reason I’m thrilled that the Z3 Project has launched the Bridge Builder Award to recognize those who are making a real contribution to healing divides within our people. Through their example, we can gain the tools and inspiration to help the Jewish people grow stronger together.
If you know someone who is doing the hard work of bringing Jews together across our divisions, please let us know through a simple nomination form. Nominations are closing in the next week—submit by next Monday, August 4.
Here is the announcement from the Z3 Project:
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.
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.
Nominate someone today!