The events that unfolded this past month can make the world feel dark, from the shootings on school campuses to the horrific antisemitic attack on the Australian Jewish community. As 2025 comes to an end, we are continually reminded of the challenges that Jews and women face globally.
However, I remain so proud to be leading Elluminate, a powerful community of bold, visionary Jewish women committed to equity and social change. Our flagship program, The Collective, has provided a community for over 70 women to shape a better future – and I am proud to learn from them every day.
At Elluminate, we believe this moment isn’t just a challenge — it’s a call to rise. And that is what we are doing. It is my pleasure to share with you some of 2025’s highlights:
- IMPACT: We measured our impact through an extensive evaluation of our Collective program, produced our first impact report, as well as a video with uplifting case studies that show how this experience supports women on the frontlines of social change. To watch the video, click here. To read the impact report, click here.
- EDUCATION: Through our community briefings and Elluminating Conversation Webinars, we brought women’s voices on important issues straight to you. Our education initiatives included our in-person Israeli women’s leadership series, briefings on Reproductive Rights (in New York, Westchester, New Jersey, and Florida), and our Annual Convening.
- ACTIVATION: We have our 70 Cohort members who are already making changes and have received numerous applications for consideration to be in our next cohort. These women are leading change in Israel, the U.S., and Africa. They are fighting hunger, advancing women’s rights, organizing communities, and refusing to accept injustice as inevitable. To watch the video of Cohort 6, click here. To watch the video of Cohort 7, click here.
- THE FUTURE: At our Annual Luncheon 2025, with more than 400 women in attendance, we announced our Global Jewish Women’s Leadership Network, launching with our first-ever Summit in April 2026. To learn more, click here.
At Elluminate, we believe that each one of us is a changemaker. As our President, Linda Yarden, stated, each of us can be the change, and together we are the change – our Board, our Visionary Circle members, and Jewish women leaders, our donors. At this time, we need your moral courage. We need your voices. We need your leadership to advance justice.
I am dedicating this newsletter to Glenn Rosenkrantz, our newsletter editor, who passed away this week. He will be missed.
CLICK HERE TO READ ELLUMINATE’S DECEMBER 2025 NEWSLETTER
With gratitude,
Melanie Roth Gorelick
CEO, Elluminate