Doug Seserman
The revolution can take a while to organize. When Doug Seserman became head of the Denver Jewish Federation in 2002, it was struggling. A study conducted a decade later found Denver Jews actually disliked the institution that was supposed to bring them together as a community.
Seserman, 51, who describes himself as “part Jewish leader and part packaged goods marketer,” is now leading what he views as a “profound revolutionary move” to reinvent the city’s Jewish federation. The process, now at the end of its first year, included some rebranding, Seserman’s field of business expertise.
“Federation” disappeared from the name of JEWISHColorado, the organization’s new title. But change went deeper: Foundation and federation funds were combined, Jewish institutions were required to compete for funding, and support was limited to agencies that work in three strategic areas identified as most important to the community. The move, Seserman said, was meant to put an end to the feeling that the federation was a “black box” driving away young members of the community.
Seserman grew up in a Conservative Jewish family, but most of his Jewish learning took place within the federation. Now, he frequently weaves Torah phrases in his weekly messages to the community, but still spends much of his weekend skiing, not in synagogue.
In his efforts to reach out to younger generations, Seserman is willing to go further than your traditional federation CEO. This year, he took on the ice bucket challenge. His suit soaking wet, he added the “hummus not Hamas” challenge, spreading chickpea paste all over his head as a sign of solidarity with Israel’s fight against Hamas.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
