Introducing the Deli and Herb Weisberg Israel Advocacy Leadership Circle Program

One of the priorities of Milken’s Strategic Vision created in 2021 is expanding current Signature Programs and using the Tiferet Israel Fellowship as the catalyst for creating meaningful Israel education opportunities and a culture of student-led Israel advocacy on campus. Our strategic goal for this area states: “Make Milken a leader in educating and combating rising antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in our city, on our college campuses, in our country and in the world.”

Through a meaningful donation from Milken Trustee Jake Davidson ‘13 and his fiance Vanessa King, Milken is proud to create and implement the Israel Advocacy Leadership Circle Program. Building on the success of the Tiferet Israel Fellowship, this new program will exponentially increase the impact of Tiferet by empowering students to deepen and apply their learning and plan meaningful experiences for all other Milken students. At the end of Tiferet, Fellows will be invited to apply for one of ten spots annually in the Leadership Circle. As juniors and seniors, the Leadership Circle students will be exposed to a wide array of programming geared towards developing critical advocacy skills. By the time they leave Milken, Weisberg Leadership Circle students will have an improved ability to advocate for Israel on college campuses while combating anti-Israel rhetoric.

 

In the year after graduation from Milken, fellows will be asked to return to campus to share experiences with current Milken students of living on a college campus as a pro-Israel, Jewish student. “Anti-semitism is increasing at an alarming rate both on and off college campuses. I am proud of the way Milken is taking the responsibility seriously about equipping our students to be proud ambassadors of Israel throughout their lives. The Jewish future will be stronger with countless Milken alumni serving as passionate, committed and effective advocates” said Davidson. It is Jake and Vanessa's hope that other alumni will follow their lead of investing significant resources into Milken, to help shape the Jewish future.

 

Davidson said, "Growing up, my parents and grandparents showed me how critical it was for the future of the Jewish people to support and advocate for Israel and it brings me great pride and joy that a program named in my grandparents’ honor will do the same for student leaders well into the future"

About Deli and Herb Weisberg
Longtime Los Angeles residents, Deli and Herb Weisberg are active supporters of a variety of Jewish causes. As a high schooler, Herb was President of the greater Los Angeles BBYO AZA (Aleph Zakid Aleph) brotherhood chapter and was the youngest President of the Los Angeles B’nai B’rith chapter at 27. He served two separate terms as the President of Adat Ari El synagogue as well as serving as Chairman of the Board. Deli served as the Vice President of Service of the Adat Ari El sisterhood. Herb and Deli have been to Israel many times and also traveled to the former Soviet Union, delivering medicine in support of Jewish refuseniks. They have instilled a fervent passion for the Jewish community and Israeli advocacy in their three children and four grandchildren – all of whom have traveled to Israel on multiple occasions. The Weisbergs’ lessons, stories, and actions have been instrumental in shaping the lives and education of many young Jewish students, including their grandson, Jake Davidson, and future granddaughter-in-law Vanessa King, who funded this program named in their honor.