Mayor Todd Gloria to Receive the Kesher Bridge Builder Award

The San Diego Jewish Bar Association is proud to announce that Mayor Todd Gloria will be recognized with the Kesher Bridge Builder Award at SDJBA's Hanukkah celebration this December.

Kesher is the Hebrew word for connection. The Kesher Bridge Builder Award recognizes a public figure whose leadership reflects moral courage, meaningful partnership, and steadfast support for the Jewish community and the broader values of civic responsibility and human dignity.

Since October 7, elected officials across the country have faced significant political and social pressure surrounding Israel and the Jewish community. During this period, Mayor Gloria has demonstrated a willingness to listen to and stand with Jewish San Diegans, including when doing so has required leadership in difficult circumstances.

Mayor Gloria's relationship with San Diego's Jewish community has been demonstrated through his actions during some of the community's most difficult moments. Following the October 7 terrorist attacks, he joined the Jewish community at vigils and AJC events, spoke publicly against Hamas's attacks and antisemitism, and personally mourned Mayor Ofir Libshtein of Sha'ar HaNegev, who was killed on October 7.

Mayor Gloria has also helped strengthen the relationship between San Diego and Israel through the designation of Sha'ar HaNegev as an official Friendship City. His annual menorah lightings at City Hall and recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month have further demonstrated his commitment to ensuring that Jewish San Diegans are included in the city's civic community.

That leadership was again demonstrated when Mayor Gloria withdrew from the 2025 San Diego Pride Festival after members of the Jewish community raised serious concerns regarding the festival's headliner and rhetoric surrounding Jews and Israel. At a time when many Jewish San Diegans felt excluded from an event intended to celebrate inclusion, Mayor Gloria listened to those concerns and acted on them.

The Kesher Bridge Builder Award recognizes the importance of showing up for a community not only when it is easy, but when doing so requires moral courage. SDJBA is proud to recognize Mayor Gloria for the relationships he has built and his continued support of San Diego's Jewish community.