Suzy & Wally Marks, Jr. z"l 2023 Trailblazer Forum

This is an important time for our community to come together for critical conversations.

NOTE: We are currently at capacity for Trailblazer. If you would like to be added to our waiting list, please fill out THIS FORM.

If you would still like to support NewGround through event, we invite you to make a donation on our general page.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza expands and Israeli hostages are still held captive, it has become increasingly difficult for us to move forward with the Trailblazer as an awards ceremony. It is clear that this is not the time to celebrate what has been, but to hold, grieve, and process the raw pain present now.

NewGround’s commitment is to create a space where people can authentically share their experiences and beliefs, often to those who need to hear them most. A place where you can be a voice for yourself and others. A place where you can feel safe to share your convictions with each other, rather than at each other.

As such, we’re adjusting our Trailblazer program to meet this moment. Our honorees Rabbi Bill Cutter, Zohreen Shah, and David Weiner will speak to the importance of persevering in peacebuilding, truth-telling work, even and especially when it is hard. After which, the focus of the Trailblazer will be a panel discussion including Palestinian-American Dr. Ruba Alami and Rabbi Susan Goldberg, moderated by Edina Lekovic, about what our communities are seeing in Gaza and Israel and how it’s impacting our lives. We want to use this opportunity to uplift stories that aren’t being heard right now. To sit with grief and its complexities together.

In the face of these challenges, the best response we know how to offer is to come together in community to tell stories, challenge assumptions, and reflect understanding. Right now, doing that is hard, and it’s never been more crucial.

Registration starts at 10:30 AM. The program will begin at 11:15 AM.

Diamond Sponsors

Wally Marks III

Ruby Sponsors

Paul Beck | Joshua & Lisa Hofheimer | Paula & Barry Litt

Nurya Shabir & Muhammad Adaya | David Weiner & Marieke Oudejans Weiner | Sanford Weiner

Sapphire Sponsors

Jasmine & Pervez Delawalla | The Fakhri Family | Suzy Marks

Julia & David Meltzer | Dr. Lois M. Sprague, Ph.D. - The Guibord Center

Platinum Sponsors

Rachel Andres & Ben Tysch | Luis & Lee Lainer | Rabbi Leonard & Lois Sharzer | Social Studies School Service

Gold Sponsors

Halim & Saranya Dhanidina | Tzivia Schwartz Getzug & Steve Getzug | Aziza Hasan & Abdul Jabbar Sani

Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion | Jews United for Democracy & Justice | Farah Khan & Pedro Gonzalez

Zuzana, Shawn, Abby, & Talia, and Renata Landres | Brie Loskota & Justin Ehresmann

Joe & Patsy Ostroy | Chip & Carrie Robertson | Molly & Zach Rubin | The Susser Family

Silver Sponsors

Melissa Balaban & Adam Wergeles | Jaime Rapaport Barry & Tim Barry | Rabbi Ken Chasen & Allison Lee

Sean Hecht & Rebecca Weiker | Andrea Hodos & Rabbi Aryeh Cohen | Daniel Inlender

Stanley Kandel | Saaliha Khan & Omar Hasan | Muizz & Nazmina Kheraj

Rabbi Susan Laemmle & John Antignas | Irwin & Rachel Levin | Temple Israel of Hollywood

Aaron Willis & Natalie Weiss | Marshall Zolla

Bronze Sponsors

Sumaya Abubaker & Gibran Bouayad | All Saints Church, Pasadena

Joan Beerman | Rabbi Haim & Lynn Beliak | Barbara Blake | Rabbi Anne Brener | Arif Dhanidina

Rob Eshman & Rabbi Naomi Levy | Dr. Reuven Firestone & Rabbi Ruth Sohn

Rabbi Laura Geller | Judy Glass | Ronni Hendel & Rabbi Pinchas Giller | Janet & Herbert Hodos

Samara Hutman | Islamic Center of Southern California | Ismaili CIVIC | Nancy Kasten | Shahnaz Khan

Kathy Kobayashi & Hal Barron | James & Sandra Kohn | Jeanney Kutner | Susan Leonard | Peachy Levy

The Oudejans Family | Dr. Gary Richwald & Sue Bayley

If you would like to pledge a donation, you can do so here: https://mjnewground.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/pl...

NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change is fiscally sponsored by Community Partners, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. To learn more about Community Partners, please visit https://communitypartners.org/.

We welcome donations by check or from your DAF account. All checks must be payable to Community Partners (EIN 95-4302067) with “NewGround” in the memo line. Please use the pledge form link above to inform us of your DAF contribution.

NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change

3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste #196, C9

Los Angeles, CA 90010