Tina Erlich Wins Inaugural Rabbi Herbert A. Friedman Cabinet Service Award

“Raising people by strengthening their individual Jewish identities [and] linking their hearts and souls to the land of Israel and the worldwide people of Israel … is the central purpose of the Young Leadership Cabinet. As the work continues…the effort to preserve the Jewish future in North America will be considerably fortified.” –Rabbi Herbert A. Friedman, 1963


National Young Leadership Cabinet of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) is thrilled to announce that Tina Erlich from UJA Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA Toronto) has won the inaugural Rabbi Herbert A. Friedman Cabinet Service Award. This award honors a Cabinet member who, their final year in the program, exemplifies the values of leadership, humility, authenticity, and integrity.


Rabbi Friedman founded the National Young Leadership Cabinet in the 1960s as the premier leadership and philanthropic development program for North American Jews. Through his founding of the Cabinet program, Rabbi Friedman formed the basis for nearly six decades of leadership and philanthropic growth among more than 4,400 current members and alumni.


The Cabinet is a linchpin of JFNA’s vision to create and sustain flourishing Jewish communities--ones that are healthy, safe, caring, welcoming and inclusive, educated and engaged, involved in our broader communities, and deeply connected to Israel and global Jewry.


Tina is the Vice President of Account Services at Innovative, a third-generation direct marketing business. She serves on the board of JFNA and as chair of the Development Committee for Bialik Hebrew Day School. Tina has focused her leadership on young adult engagement with UJA Toronto.  She is a graduate of the Joshua Institute Future Leaders Program, is a past UJA Young Leaders Chair. Tina is the 2015 recipient of the Toronto Leadership Development Award. She lives with her husband, Adam, and their two children.


Adam Minsky, UJA Toronto’s CEO, said that Tina’s “magnetism has gotten so many people energized about being part of Cabinet.” He says that because of her “authentic leadership style,” and, in particular, her “exceptional ability, whenever she speaks, to combine her personal narrative with the narrative of the community,” Toronto regularly has one of the largest cohorts as part of Cabinet.


Marisa Polin, Co-Chair, with Ari Ackerman, of National Young Leadership for JFNA, said, “Tina is the leader and friend we all want to follow! She leads with authenticity, integrity and, most importantly, her heart--living and sharing her love for Cabinet with all of us! Her passion for the Jewish community and the Jewish people is reflected in everything she does.  I am so proud of my good friend Tina, who inspires me every day!"


Her co-chair, Ari, said that Tina is a “true woman of valor” who is “incredibly deserving of this recognition. She is the perfect first recipient and representative of this award; she is our George Washington or David Ben-Gurion.  And, on a personal note, she has a warm, engaging way and you just can’t help but smile every time you see her.”