Oded Shekel
Founder of the Bay Area Jewish Coalition
A) What qualities make the nominee deserving of the Z3 Bridge Builder Award?
The events of October 7th left the Jewish community in the Bay Area, and around the world, in shock and deep sadness. Oded quickly recognized the needs of the community and led several initiatives aimed at bringing people together and channeling their energy into meaningful action. Here are some of the projects he spearheaded:
1. Supporting the IDF
When the Iron Sword war began unexpectedly, 300,000 people were drafted without proper preparation, leading to a significant shortage of supplies. Oded took the initiative by purchasing materials himself, and soon, others joined him. He started a WhatsApp group, which quickly grew to hundreds of members, and he organized a highly effective system:
Leveraging his connections with Israelis, he compiled a list of specific needs for particular IDF units and linked them with the local community.
He created an Amazon registry of non-tactical items, specifying the right brands and sizes, allowing community members to purchase as many items as they could and ship them directly to his home.
The result was nearly 100 bags weighing over 4,000 pounds, containing 5,000 socks, 3,000 shirts, 2,500 protein bars, 1,000 headlamps, 1,000 gloves, 500 first aid kits, and thousands of other items.
He also coordinated with SPHDS, arranging for children to write personal notes to soldiers, further connecting the Bay Area and Israeli communities.
Despite the lack of flights to Israel, Oded found a key contact in Los Angeles. People who flew or drove to Los Angeles transported bags of supplies to be sent directly to specific IDF units in Israel.
Once there, the packages were collected and delivered to the units as quickly as possible.
2. Supporting the Local Community
The Bay Area Jewish community is deeply connected to Israel, both spiritually and practically. Many local families had children or siblings serving in the IDF, including some who were in Gaza facing life-threatening risks. Some families also suffered the loss of loved ones. Recognizing the need for support, Oded had an idea to show them they weren’t alone. He organized volunteers to send challah for Shabbat, along with a spiritual note attached to a magnet, to these families. Dozens of Challah were baked and distributed, bringing many families to tears, deeply grateful for the community's gesture. The initiative continued and expanded, with more families receiving challah before Chanukah.
3. Supporting Families Visiting from Israel
After October 7th, several Israeli families came to the Bay Area, often due to anxiety, safety concerns, or displacement from their homes. Many of them had no local social network, no school for their children, and no one to lean on for support. Oded recognized this gap and stepped in by creating a list of host families with children, matching them with visiting Israeli families based on the ages of their kids. The response from the local community was overwhelming, with dozens of families hosting Israeli guests for meals and playdates. Oded also organized gatherings where the visiting families could meet and support each other.
4. Fighting Antisemitism
As city councils in the Bay Area started receiving resolutions calling for ceasefires and increased pressure from groups critical of Israel, Oded saw the urgent need to unify the Jewish and Israeli communities, something that hadn’t happened in years. He brought together a group of leaders who have since mobilized to advocate against antisemitism and promote the Jewish narrative across the Bay Area.
5. Primary Voting Guide
Oded realized that the Israeli and Jewish communities needed clear guidance for the upcoming primary and general elections, especially for local positions like city councils and school boards, which had not been adequately addressed by Jewish organizations but had a significant impact on the community. He organized a team to create a bipartisan voter guide based on a single factor: which candidates were more likely to support the Jewish community. With the help of nearly 100 volunteers, the guide reached thousands across the Bay Area. Several candidates reached out to Oded after the primaries, attributing their victories to the guide’s influence.
6. Building Relationships with Local Officials
The group Oded led, the Bay Area Jewish Coalition (BAJC), established relationships with mayors, congresspeople, State Assembly members, trustees, and board members. These connections are crucial for building trust and ensuring that the Jewish perspective is considered in discussions on both local and international issues. A notable example of this collaboration was when the Mayor of Sunnyvale presented Oded with the city's proclamation for Jewish Heritage Month in May.
7. Encouraging Community Candidates
Oded leveraged his relationships with grassroots Jewish leaders to encourage community members to run for various elected positions. As a result, there are now dozens of Jewish candidates running for roles in committees, councils, trusteeships, and other positions across the Bay Area.
8. Bay Area Jewish Coalition (BAJC) – Education and Advocacy
Oded founded the BAJC, an organization composed of dozens of activists and over 1,500 members. This grassroots organization is led by dedicated volunteers and has made history by uniting the Israeli and Jewish communities in the Bay Area. For the first time in many years, the Jewish community is becoming more engaged in the systems that govern their lives, advocating for themselves and working toward common goals.
B) In what ways has the nominee demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to their work in bridging divides?
One of the challenges facing the Jewish community is our divisions. However, most organizations and communities share similar goals when it comes to fighting antisemitism.
Oded’s unique leadership style has allowed him to bring together diverse perspectives under one umbrella, working collaboratively to achieve common goals for the Jewish community in the Bay Area. Some of his key strengths include:
Building working relationships with local activists: Oded began connecting activists in Sunnyvale by creating a grassroots organization that promoted both independence and collaboration among volunteers. He established a framework that broke down tasks into workgroups, with local activists independently leading each group. Examples of these workgroups include: K-12 Education, Alliances with Other Communities, City Councils, Elections, School Boards, Communication, and more.
Removing barriers between organizations and communities: Oded extended his coordination efforts beyond Sunnyvale. He hosted a meeting at his home, inviting representatives from dozens of organizations such as AIC, StandWithUs, ClubZ, JCRC, and many grassroots leaders. From that day forward, everyone began working together with a unified goal—focusing on fighting antisemitism and making the Bay Area a safe place for our children and ourselves.
Ongoing synchronization meetings: Despite working with volunteers, Oded understands the importance of keeping everyone informed. For almost a year, he has been holding regular meetings with key activists every two weeks, spending several hours reviewing ongoing tasks and projects to ensure priorities are aligned and efforts are coordinated.
Communication: Oded recognized that while a large part of the community may not be actively involved, they still play an important role—whether by signing petitions or showing up at city council meetings when necessary. To mobilize this group, he created a WhatsApp group for announcements and community requests. To date, the group includes over 1,500 members.
Oded is the glue that holds together projects, activists, organizations, and the broader community. He knows how to empower others to work independently, while also offering support and coordination when needed. By fostering collaboration among charismatic, dedicated, and talented activists, Oded has helped achieve remarkable results. His leadership style allows each leader to take ownership of different responsibilities while still providing the necessary support. This approach has kept the leadership team connected and strong. Oded continues to maintain direct contact with the SF Federation, the SF Consulate, mayors, and other grassroots organizations across the Bay Area.