Award Nominations
Do you know an outstanding young leader in the Jewish community? Nominate him or her for the 2026 George Feldman Achievement Award!
An exceptional cadre of young leaders has received the Feldman Award. First given in 1973, the award recognizes individuals who have exemplified the finest qualities of leadership in volunteer life serving the Jewish community.
The award has a monetary value of up to $1,500 for participation in a mission to Israel.
Nominating criteria:
- Should be between the ages of 25 and 45 by December 31, 2026.
- Should have demonstrated tangible evidence of promise in community leadership as represented by active participation in communal organizations, leadership qualities, respect for others, responsibility, self-motivation, participation in Federation activities, contribution to Federation campaigns commensurate with ability to do so, and interest in communal affairs over and above isolated programs.
- Should have demonstrated understanding of Jewish purpose of community work.
- Should be willing to participate in leadership training programs designed to interpret and develop awareness of community services.
- Should be willing to participate in Federation-related local, regional, national, and international meetings.
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION?
Click the button below to enter a nomination. Include his or her name and a short statement indicating the reasons for consideration for this award.
Nominations must be received no later than March 27, 2026.
George Feldman Achievement Award for Young Leadership
Do you know an outstanding Jewish communal professional in the Lehigh Valley? Nominate him or her for the 2026 Mark L. Goldstein Award.
"To the communal professional who has exemplified the finest qualities of leadership in Jewish life through service to the community, whose commitment and dedication has furthered the ideals and quality of Jewish life here and throughout the world."
The Mark L. Goldstein Award for Outstanding Jewish Communal Professional was established in 2019 in memory of Mark, who served as executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley for 16 years and committed his entire career to Jewish communal service. The award will be presented to an individual in recognition of extraordinary work as a communal professional. The recipient will have made a significant impact through his or her professional role, demonstrating dedication and commitment to Jewish values, pursuing collaborative efforts and exhibiting optimism and leadership in the Lehigh Valley Jewish community.
Nominating criteria:
- Nominee should be professionally employed in the field of Jewish communal service in the Lehigh Valley at the time of nomination, serving at, for example, an agency, synagogue, or other Jewish communal organization.
- Nominee should have demonstrated creative thinking in his or her job, developed positive working relationships with lay leadership and professional colleagues, and served as a role model in the community.
- Nominee should have demonstrated evidence of professionalism, commitment to Jewish values, and community collaboration on behalf of the broader Jewish community. This should include demonstrated respect for others, self-motivation, communal responsibility, and interest in communal affairs over and above one’s own institution.
- Nominee should be willing to participate in programs designed to interpret and develop awareness of community services at the approval and direction of his or her employer.
- Nominee should be willing to participate in organization-related local, regional, national, and international meetings at the approval and direction of his or her employer.
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION?
If so, click the button below to submit a nomination, including his or her name and the Jewish organization at which he or she is employed, along with a short statement indicating the reasons for consideration for this award.
Nominations must be received no later than March 27, 2026.
Mark L. Goldstein Award for Outstanding Jewish Communal Professional
Help us honor a Jewish college student whose leadership, service, and commitment to Jewish life make a lasting impact. Nominate them for the 2026 Vicki Wax Jewish Student Campus Leadership Award.
The Vicki Wax Jewish Student Campus Leadership Award was established to honor and celebrate Vicki Wax, whose exceptional leadership and dedication to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley for more than 50 years has set an inspiring example of Jewish communal engagement. This award seeks to recognize and commend the next generation of Jewish leaders.
The award is presented annually to an outstanding Jewish college student who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the Jewish community through service on their campus. This individual’s dedication to advancing Jewish life, promoting Israel, and combating antisemitism exemplifies the core values of the Jewish community in the Lehigh Valley.
The recipient of The Vicki Wax Jewish Student Campus Leadership Award will be recognized for their significant contributions to Jewish campus life, including their leadership role, commitment to Jewish values, outreach to fellow students, and their overall positive impact on the campus community.
Nominees will be invited through a call for applications published in HAKOL. A family foundation committee will review all submissions. The award recipient will be announced in HAKOL and will be formally presented at the Jewish Federation’s Community Celebration & Annual Meeting each year.
Eligibility and Criteria:
- The nominee must be a full-time student currently enrolled at a college or university within the Lehigh Valley at the time of nomination.
- The nominee must have demonstrated innovative thinking, fostered positive relationships with peers and faculty, and served as a role model in their campus community.
- The nominee should have shown a commitment to Jewish values and have actively worked to strengthen their campus Jewish community, including demonstrating respect for others, self-motivation, and a deep interest in communal matters beyond their own institution.
- The nominee should understand the Jewish purpose of community and work to further it.
- The nominee must be willing to engage in programs aimed at raising awareness of campus issues affecting Jewish students.
- The nominee must be open to participating in local, regional, national, and international meetings related to their organization’s activities.
Award
The recipient of The Vicki Wax Jewish Student Campus Leadership Award will receive a $500 grant to be used toward a Jewish Federation approved Israel experience or toward a relevant national conference.
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION?
If so, click the button below to submit a nomination, including his or her name and the Jewish organization at which he or she is employed, along with a short statement indicating the reasons for consideration for this award.
Nominations must be received no later than March 27, 2026.
