Sam
Sokolove
Nickname: D.J. (“Dynamic Jew”) Sammy
Age: 33
where he’s at now:
Executive director of the San Diego chapter of The American
Jewish Committee (AJC).
why he’s on this list:
As one of the youngest AJC directors in the country, Sokolove
provides the organization – the preeminent Jewish communal think
tank – with a sharp intellect and cutting edge sensibility. Recent
accomplishments include forming a groundbreaking Latino-Jewish coalition
and starting an emerging leaders program bringing together local Jewish
up-and-comers. “We’re losing common ground with a lot of individuals
who I think don’t fully understand what Israel is going through
right now,” says Sokolove. “There are certain world truths
about the Israeli cause that a child would grasp, and it’s distressing
to see how few people fully understand what these realities are.”
breaking matzot with the diplomatic elite:
Under the auspices of the AJC, last year Sokolove hosted the
first-ever San Diego seder for representatives of foreign governments.
“There’s not one Jewish member of the local diplomatic corps,”
he says, adding that, altogether, about two dozen people participated
in the event. “It was a wonderful opportunity to show them who we
are as a community, give them a glimpse into what it means to be Jewish
in San Diego County, meet with leaders of the local Jewish community and
give them sort of a Judaism 101 course.”
where will he be in 18 years?
“Is there a job where I can do this and play guitar
simultaneously?” asks the father of a newborn girl. “My part-time
passion is music. I love music and I love Judaism, and I’d love
to be in a position in which I can combine [them] together.”
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