Jewish Peninsula is proud to announce Dr. Jonathan Rathsam will be awarded the Barbara Rosenbaum Young Leadership Award, a recognition that celebrates young leaders whose dedication, vision and heart are helping to shape the future of Jewish life on the Peninsula.

Named in honor of Barbara Rosenbaum, whose decades of service to this community have inspired generations of leaders, the award is given to individuals who carry forward her passion for a vibrant, connected and enduring Jewish future. In Jonathan Rathsam, that spirit is unmistakable.

Jonathan serves as the cantorial soloist at Congregation Emet V’Or (CEVO), where his contributions extend far beyond leading services. His D’var Torah teachings are known for their warmth and originality, weaving together Jewish tradition with stories drawn from his experiences living in Israel and his remarkable career at NASA’s Langley Research Center.

His voice has also resonated across the wider Jewish community. Jonathan has lent his musical talents to Jewish Peninsula events including the October 7 Memorial, Yom HaShoah commemorations and Hannukah lighting celebrations. He shows up not when asked, but because he genuinely wants to be there.

"Jonathan is always available to participate in programs with his wonderful singing talent," said Marley Keefer, past president of Congregation Emet V’Or. "He is truly an exceptional leader in both his synagogue and the entire Jewish community and deserves this award."

Jonathan’s leadership is as broad as it is deep. At CEVO, he has organized Tot Shabbats, participated in holiday programming, served on the Board of Directors and spearheaded the kind of joyful, welcoming initiative that brings people together across affiliations. "Serving the Jewish community helps me feel connected to something bigger than myself and to generations that came before," shared Rathsam. "I hope to find ways to help strengthen that sense of connection for others too."

He has also joined the Board of Directors of Jewish Peninsula, where his perspective and dedication are already proving invaluable.

Jewish Peninsula Board President Steve Marks put it plainly: "Jonathan Rathsam represents the kind of thoughtful, engaged leadership that strengthens Jewish life across our community. Through his service, his warmth and his ability to bring people together, he is already making a meaningful impact on the Peninsula."

A senior research engineer at NASA Langley, Jonathan studies human perception of reduced-noise supersonic overflights and co-chairs a committee for an international scientific commission on the biological effects of noise. He brings that same precision and curiosity to his Jewish engagement, asking not just what the community is, but what it can become.

"With antisemitism on the rise and Israel’s legitimacy increasingly questioned, Jewish community feels more important than ever," Rathsam reflected. "It gives me a sense of belonging and resilience."

That sense of purpose extends into his home. Jonathan and his wife are raising their two sons "with a variety of Jewish experiences to help them understand where they come from and feel proud of their Jewish identity."

The Barbara Rosenbaum Young Leadership Award includes a stipend to support Jonathan’s continued growth as a leader, whether through a JFNA overseas mission, the JFNA General Assembly, or another transformative Jewish experience. It is an investment in a leader who has already shown he will pay it forward.

"I am excited to continue growing with Jewish Peninsula and to help build on its momentum.  The leadership, programming and community impact grow stronger each year," shared Rathasm. "I hope to help create experiences that bring people together and make them feel at home in the community."

Please join us in celebrating Jonathan Rathsam at the Jewish Peninsula Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 26 at 6:00 PM. We look forward to honoring a leader who embodies exactly what this award was created to recognize — with so much still ahead of him.