Friedman Fellows Cohort Has Commenced Leadership Program
The two-year professional development initiative supports early-career staff at Jewish organizations in Baltimore.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Judaism
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Na'aleh: The Hub for Leadership Learning has launched its latest Friedman Fellows cohort. This initiative supports early-career professionals in the Baltimore Jewish community through mentorship and training.
Why it matters
The program helps participants develop leadership skills and gain cross-organizational perspectives. This model allows staff to collaborate with peers to strengthen the local Jewish communal sector.
The Friedman Fellows program provides participants with dedicated funds for professional development over a two-year period. Participants like Leah Kliegman bring five years of prior professional experience to the cohort.
The players
Na'aleh: The Hub for Leadership Learning
This organization operates the Friedman Fellows program and provides leadership development resources to the Jewish community.
Leah Kliegman
She is an early-career professional participating in the two-year Friedman Fellows leadership program.
The details
Fellows engage in consistent professional development sessions, peer meetings, and career coaching to foster personal and organizational growth. The program is specifically designed to facilitate networking among professionals working within various Baltimore-area Jewish institutions.
Timeline
The first cohort meeting occurred in mid-September 2026.
The program duration runs from 2026 to 2028.
Culture Shift
This program reflects a broader trend of formalizing leadership development within non-profit sectors to retain talent. By focusing on cross-organizational networking, the initiative follows the pattern set by Jewish communal professional development standards to ensure organizational longevity.
Residents engaged in the Jewish communal sector may see increased collaboration and refined programming from local organizations as these fellows apply their training. The program offers a structured path for early-career staff to enhance their expertise without leaving the region.
The takeaway
The program emphasizes the value of external mentorship and peer exchange for long-term career success. Professionals seeking to grow should prioritize cross-organizational networking to gain diverse perspectives outside their immediate work environment.
Further reading
Learn more about local communal initiatives on the Baltimore Judaism page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Baltimore Jewish Times.
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