good morning and welcome to mosaic. i'm honored to be your host. the route our country, faith communities establish wide range organizations to take care of their own needs and to take care of the communities in which they live. we would like to invite you into a wonderful conversation with danny grossman who is the ceo of the jewish community federation of san francisco and the peninsula. welcome. >> pleasure to be here. >> let's just jump in. what is the federation? >> the federation was formed with the idea of insuring a flourishing jewish community. we play the role of a catalyst,

a convener, a planner, if under, they can ensure that we flourish flourish. >> federations have a history throughout our country. they exist in different -- mostly urban jewish communities around the country. so can you talk a little bit about what the history of federations across the country is the? >> absolutely. there are more than 150 of them around the country. they were formed with the idea of bringing the community together, and assuring there was a fundraising arm for the community, a planning for the community and the federation build communities around the country with their partners. >> and so our federation region serves san francisco city and county, and the peninsula -- throughout the mountain view. >> correct. >> in our particular federation, -- >> in this region, first of

all, what we do is we can be in our partners. and we together collaborate and plan on what the needs of the community are, how we're going to meet them. we then raise the funds -- sometimes in collaboration with them, to ensure that those needs are fulfilled. we determine what the greatest needs of the community are and direct the funds in that direction. we have many ancillary services like pro bono consulting. in addition, we have a service arm which provides services to jewish philanthropists who want to engage both in philanthropy in the jewish community and be on the jewish community. >> and so the bay area at large -- we know is so diverse. and fast. and the ways in which people

identify -- however they identify in the world, is just very complex. so how do we come within our jewish community, understand that complexity when it comes to our jewish community and how the federation goes about its work? >> great question. something different -- even though we were always diverse as a community. we are so much more diverse as a community now, in the way that we identify, practice and affiliate. so we as a federation have said that the goal that we would like to pursue forward with the community is double engagement of jews of this community. that raises all the questions you just identified. so what is engagement? how do we define it? is itself defined? is a defined by someone else? what is meaningful? what engagement is meaningful? all of these important questions are ones that we will bring our partners around the table to answer as we pursue this goal. >> can you talk a little bit

about what we might think of as the values -- behind the organizational structure? we have civic organizations like the united way. we have faith based organizations like, catholic charities, presbyterian services, episcopal services. in some ways, they are technically all secular organizations that kind of function as a community chest and a think tank and offer services to meet the needs of the community. but faith-based organizations have, in their own way, a particular value system that drives them -- sometimes it is not exactly the same as what you might think of as a solely economic driver. >> absolutely. we often have this discussion about the universal system -- many of the values we're talking about are universal values. ideas related to social justice or healing the world.

what is particular to the jewish community is, thousands of years of thinking and teaching this course, dispute, about those issues that have left a body of material that is incredibly rich, that enables us to really challenge each other and think about the highest fulfillment of the values and these principles. >> we will have a quick break and come back to this conversation with danny grossman, the ceo of the jewish community federation of san francisco and the peninsula in just a moment. please join us back here on mosaic.

welcome back to mosaic. i'm rabbi eric weiss. in the middle of a wonderful conversation with danny grossman, the ceo of the jewish community federation here in the san francisco counties and

the peninsula. welcome back, danny. >> thank you. >> we were talking about the basic understanding of how the federation functions. and how we can serve -- if we thought of the federation as a house, there are different ways we can come through the doors. so one way is -- somebody can donate money to the federation data essentially gets redistributed to agencies in need. to provide services in need. another one is -- if someone has the economic blessings to set up a fund that they can come to the federation with their economic blessing -- and set up the fund at the federation -- philanthropic services -- also people can come in with different ideas to particularly execute to the services of the community. and then i know the federation brings the services back into the community in terms of

volunteer work -- attorneys, accounts, strategic planners, can come into an agency and help in organizational structure function better. anything else? >> i will say that one vision is to ensure a flirting jewish community. that is -- that is a lot we might do. within that, we try to focus on the particular and most acute and most important needs of the community. wit -- what you discussed at the very front end -- the idea of giving to federation. we think of that -- if someone wants to invest in a flourishing jewish community, that is like a mutual fund. you don't pick stocks. you don't give it to this or that agency. you give it to the fund. and the fund will ensure that those dollars will go to the most important needs of the community. that is how we think about that. i will only add that, when it comes to the philanthropic engagement, i would say that

one doesn't have to have extraordinary means to be part of the philanthropic surges -- services. one could open a fund with only a few thousand dollars and take advantage of the services we provide, the tax opportunities and also the jewish philanthropic education which is important. >> how does an organization that has philanthropic capacity and other capacity, help to make its decisions about -- what the world might think of as priorities or strategic direction or a way of articulating this vision? >> that is a very important question. the first of course is based on data. and so we, as a federation, routinely conduct a community study, a demographic study. we're about to embark on the next one for the community -- after about 12 years. and we have a breakthrough new approach to that study. it starts with that data. in other words, who are we? what do we need?

how are we identified? from there, we gather people from the community to say, let's think about where the needs are the most acute. those are not easy decisions. obviously, in the three rounds -- the three fundamental rounds of work that we operate, engaging and educating the jewish community, caring for the vulnerable and ensuring a just and civil society in israel -- there are priorities across all of those areas. it is only as a collective that we think we can get to the best decisions. >> it is a big question -- for anybody that comes into a reflective capacity and thinks about -- who am i in the world? what is my place in the world? there is always that level in which one thinks about one's own self and one's community -- and then a broader community. we live in a community where -- being jewish involves people in

the family who are not jewish. and being jewish involves a tremendous amount of effort to where the community that is not jewish. a lot of different levels. and so how do we have that conversation among ourselves? >> i'm glad you asked that question. i told you part of our vision, which is to ensure a flourishing jewish community -- the back end of that is to be a force for good and the world. when we say the world, we don't mean the jewish world. we mean, the world. so there are a few elements. the first is to be inclusive. inclusive of people who identify as jewish. whether there is a strict law about who is and who isn't or not. we want to be inclusive. my mother was not jewish and never converted. and was not included in this community. and as a consequence, stayed in the background. i hope that others don't feel that. the other part of your question relates to how we as juice,

relate to the world beyond us. that is critically important. this is not just about ensuring our own welfare. for that force for good in the world. we have those conversations about where those priorities are. that relates directly to where work is in philanthropic education. >> we will take a break in a moment. part of what you are saying -- i think comes down to a really honest transparent basic reality which is -- whatever we build, it starts with a single relationship. and how we multiply relational issues so that everybody does feel that they matter and that that is what drives the broader vision, rather than some vision that forces individual people to comply with something they don't agree with. we will come back in just a moment here on mosaic. please join us.

welcome back to mosaic. i'm rabbi eric weiss. in the middle of a wonderful conversation with danny grossman who is the ceo of the jewish organizations in san francisco. a way in which organizations make decisions about the kinds of the on-topic decisions they make and services they offer to the community, for the sake of -- sake of building a vibrant community. what do you think -- it is so hard to predict the future. none of us really can't. what are some of the things that you think are important to have in mind -- so that we do meet the future with confidence

and poise ourselves for what we think success will be? what are some of the ideas or principles or ways of thinking that you think are important for us to pay attention to check? i think we are in a pivot point of a jewish community that unfortunately -- and for reasons we understand, had a fear-based message for that identification of judaism. >> fear-based judaism? >> fear-based. meaning that we have to protect ourselves. we are the subjects of anti- semitism. again, understandable. i'm not judging it at all. today's younger generations don't understand that -- they don't see israel as vulnerable as it once was. they want to understand the value proposition. we have to get much better

about articulating that -- expressing what that is. not based on fear. but on the beauty and the value associated with jewish life. >> when you use the term value proposition -- meaning that somebody sees jewish life as something that will nourish them -- something that will give them comfort. >> yes. excite them. they can identify and many ways. one hundred years ago, you didn't really have a choice about what your identity was. today, you can choose. and one can choose beyond a faith-based message and say -- my daddy is a surfer. or a fighter. or is a jew. but why? all the -- reasons you mentioned. all of the deep tradition that brings comfort, that brings inspiration, brings obligation and responsibility. >> it is a fascinating thing -- i think -- particularly in the area that we, in our

country, are the end of manifest destiny -- not to leave out alaska or hawaii -- we have a natural border to our consonant. we have anybody that -- embodied that -- there is history that says the jewish community says that they will currently be west, to the east, rather than east, to the west. running on that context then, what are some of the things that we see -- particularly in the world of inclusion, that will become the mainstream into the future? i think of the issue of -- people of color or lgbt jews or jews in interfaith relationships -- or all the different ways in which jewish identity itself can change. what are some of the things you think that are kind of burdening up here that actually are going to be the prairie

fire, so to speak, east? >> i'm proud to say -- as you acknowledge, that this community and federation have been cutting-edge in determining and defining approaches that do typically role in a wave eastward. we're looked at for those reasons. you mentioned one on significant realm, which is the realm of identification and acceptance. who is there and how do we include them? we have to be better about that. the next round -- i think is the realm of expression. we used to think of ourselves -- if you are jewish, you go to a synagogue and you pray on certain days. and there are so many ways to be jewish now. so many exciting inspired ways that are based on jewish tradition and industry. i think it is about offering those -- what is the value proposition identifying that? >> wonderful. we will take a quick break and come back in just a moment here

on mosaic.

welcome back to mosaic. i'm rabbi eric weiss. honored to be your host this morning. in the middle of a wonderful conversation with danny grossman, the ceo of the jewish federation of cinema, san francisco -- and the peninsula. welcome back. >> thank you. >> what about -- you more personally? what draws you to this work? >> i was born and raised here in this community. i care deeply about it. i'm very involved in this community -- i went to israel for a year after high school. when i came back after my first career in the service, it was with the explicit objective of

-- the community -- and it is important and not something we should take for granted. i looked at the federation and other ideas in the jewish world. that -- there is one organization that looks out for the broadest interest of the community. where i want to be. that is my interest. that is why i made the decision to cross from a career in the private sector -- and government, into the building world. >> so the skills that you bring is from the world of diplomacy. those are really interesting things together. can you talk a little bit more about that federation? certainly, this kind of work it involves business model thinking and diplomacy. and a lot of other stuff in

between. >> it does. and even beyond that -- my previous role after diplomacy was in starting a couple of companies. those were companies that were very focused on innovation. and the best franking -- thinking is finding out the needs from the people who enjoy those products. and integrating that in a brainstorm design of thinking approach and bringing the product to market. when we think about the strategic needs of the communities -- back to your question earlier, we think about -- let's ask them. do they need? and let's brainstorm the kind of products that mike may -- that might make sense. so the diplomatic are helpful with dealing with -- between agencies and donors. yes, the practical business skills are helpful -- management and strategy and others. right now i'm experiencing the value of 20 years of

developing. >> yes. and faith-based communities tend to have products that are essentially for experience. it is a big question. but how do you test human experience checklist -- ? >> the good news for us -- especially here in this incubator of interesting ideas, there are so many places to watch human experience and understand what is powerful and meaningful and where the trends are going. not easy. founders talk about the secret sauce is in the observation of people's experiences. >> that is for the answer is i think. >> there is so much wisdom there. and the jewish community federation supports in part, --

one of the things i find fascinating when we look at our little niche of success is -- we look at our volunteers. curiosity and a sense of humor are two of the most significant personality characteristics that make for a successful volunteer. that can dictate a lot about the human experience of supporting a volunteer. i'm wondering -- just wondering -- in your work, are there human characteristics that you have observed -- actually are the ones that help drive a vibrant community? >> you said one of them. curiosity -- i think is so powerful. and we tend to shut it down the older we get because we want to look like we know everything. so we don't express that curiosity. we fail to learn. we don't really hear what people are saying. whether i'm speaking with a

donor or to an agency partner were speaking to a member of the community, i try to -- not want to project the idea that i know everything. >> so fascinating. so we have just a little bit of time left. in a word or two, what is your hope for our future? >> i think we spring from magnificent values. and we have already, as a community, done extraordinary things -- not just for ourselves, but beyond. i hope that we continue to do that and find that pathway. i encourage anyone listening to this program to get involved with us, anyone else -- the federation will welcome your donation. they will welcome your arrival at our endowment fund. we will welcome you as a volunteer -- if you want to come to us and say, we would like to be involved in pro bono consulting. >> thank you so much. have a wonderful day.

thank you for joining this wonderful conversation with us and danny grossman.

sunday. good to have you with us........another great ow on tap. and w hello everyone. i'm frank mallicoat. welcome to bay sunday. good to have you back with us. another great show on tap today. we begin with a former 49er -- a man wanted back in 1982 for the first super bowl game. had it all but let's celebrate take over. nearly lost all to drugs and jail time. had an epiphany and turn his life around. and inspiring story on how he is helping others. how are you? >> i'm doing well. >> a blessing to be here. >> let's go back