Zenobia Fried, 26, said in a 2025 Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia blog post that she had always been inspired by the Federation’s work. Almost a year later, in an interview with Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, she explained that she’s inspired by the Federation’s work because it is “broadly connected to so many different Jewish organizations.”

That reach helps her, as a major gifts officer for the Federation, to impact a broad swath of Jewish life in the Philadelphia area. For a young woman who grew up in a house that was Orthodox, then Reform and often a mix of both traditions, that reach is important. Jewish life is diverse, and the Federation engages with every part of the community.

The Center City resident started working for the Federation last summer.

“It always feels better to know you’re connected to something much broader,” she said.

While her reach and impact might be broad, Fried’s role is specific. As a major gifts officer, she primarily guides Federation donors about where to put their money. Her portfolio includes a group of households, and it’s Fried’s job to direct them toward “philanthropic priorities.”

Yet, while she may help direct them, she tries to avoid being too direct. It’s not Fried’s job to tell donors what to do. It’s her role to explain what the Federation does through its various agencies so they can make informed decisions.

“I like to guide people in a direction that feels good to them,” she said.

Fried starts with a series of questions.

“I think I would ask about your connection to the Jewish community and what it looks like right now,” she said. “I always like to ask people, what are they passionate about? But also, what do they struggle with?”

Fried tries to build a relationship with the person first, focusing on their upbringing, family and interests. She can’t provide adequate guidance without knowing someone.

“I think you get to know someone’s philanthropic interest when you get to know them as a person,” she said.

Fried saw the Federation job posting on JewishJobs.com. She was looking to move up in her career after almost four years at BBYO, where she worked to raise money and attract new participants to programs.

Fried moved to Philadelphia to work for BBYO after graduating from the University of Cincinnati in 2022. In college, she was active in the school’s Hillel chapter. Before college, she found her Jewish path through NFTY, the youth movement for Reform Judaism.

Fried’s Orthodox father and Reform mother gave their 10 children an ultimatum: They had to do one Jewish activity, but they got to pick. Fried found NFTY.

“I fell in love with it. I felt like it was the first time I could explore my own Jewish identity,” she said. “I got to understand what it felt like to be my own Jewish young adult. Anything that was offered, I did it.”

The Buffalo native called NFTY her social life, community and outlet for expressing her Jewish identity. She became a youth leader in the movement, including a role as communications vice president of the national organization’s leadership board, which required her to travel to different states to help establish NFTY programs.

Fried had grown up in a house that had an Orthodox kitchen when she was a young girl. Later, though, the family “ate pepperoni pizza,” as Fried put it. She also had her bat mitzvah in Israel.

The commitment to Judaism was always there, she said. It just took on different meanings as she grew older. The NFTY experience gave her the opportunity to define it for herself.

“I got to see both sides,” she said. “I think what I appreciate the most about how our parents raised us was that it was never, ‘We die by these laws,’ but rather, ‘You should know these laws.’ We learned why Jewish customs were the way they were.”

NFTY leaders often told Fried and her contemporaries during their youth activities that they were the Jewish leaders of the next generation. She’s been trying to help mold Jewish leaders ever since.

“The mission of involving Jewish teens in their own Jewish experiences and building the next generation of Jewish leaders felt so important. It felt natural to step into that professionally,” she said.

jsaffren@midatlanticmedia.com