A Conversation Across Generations

On Friday, October 16, JPro San Diego welcomed communal professionals from across the region to the Joseph and Lenka Finci Jewish Community Building for a Luminary Breakfast featuring Luis and Jack Maizel in conversation with Jewish Federation of San Diego CEO Heidi Gantwerk.

As a father-and-son duo whose roots span Mexico, the United States, and generations of Jewish communal leadership, the Maizels offered a unique perspective on belonging, responsibility, and the values that shape both family and community life. Their conversation explored the contrasts between Jewish life in Mexico and America, the evolution of their own philanthropic journeys, and the opportunities and challenges facing Jewish communities today.

Building Community from the Ground Up

When Luis Maizel and his family arrived in San Diego, they quickly recognized something was missing: the deeply interconnected sense of community they had experienced as part of Mexico City’s vibrant Jewish community.

Rather than simply accepting the difference, they helped build the kind of community they hoped to find.

Luis recalled how a group of Mexican Jewish families began gathering for dinner after Shabbat services, creating a space where relationships flourished and everyone knew one another. If someone did not attend services or the dinner that followed, Luis said, they would receive several phone calls asking where they were. It was a simple but powerful sign that each person was seen and missed when absent.

That sense of being known and cared for, he emphasized, is an essential part of building community. This commitment led them to support local institutions that foster connection and continue to serve Jewish San Diegans today, including the San Diego Jewish Academy and Ken Jewish Community.

“We decided that if we were going to stay in this country, we would have to integrate into this country,” Luis reflected. “We could no longer live in our own enclave.”

Today, San Diego is home to one of the largest Mexican Jewish communities outside of Mexico, a testament to the vision and dedication of families like the Maizels who helped create opportunities for connection while embracing a broader Jewish communal identity.

Jewish Life: Chosen and Inherited

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the contrast between Jewish life in Mexico and the United States.

In Mexico, both Luis and Jack described a community where Jewish identity is woven into daily life. Jewish schools, communal organizations, synagogues, and social networks are deeply integrated, creating an environment where participation often feels natural and automatic.

In America, Jack noted, Jewish engagement requires a more intentional choice.

“Here, you have to choose to belong,” he said. “You have to choose to show up. You have to choose to be part of the community.”

While the challenges are different, Jack sees strength in that reality. Those who actively engage in Jewish life often do so from a place of conviction and commitment, creating communities built on purpose as much as tradition.

The discussion resonated strongly with San Diego’s ongoing focus on Jewish belonging and the question of how communities create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and connected.

A Legacy of Responsibility

The Maizel family’s commitment to community did not begin in San Diego.

Jack shared stories of his great-grandfather, a scholar of Jewish migration, Yiddish culture, and Jewish history whose life’s work centered on preserving Jewish memory and bringing people together through culture. His grandfather, meanwhile, focused on protecting Jewish life and strengthening communal institutions during periods of uncertainty.

Each generation responded to the needs of its time.

For Jack, that legacy translates into active leadership across numerous Jewish organizations and causes.

“Someone else will do it” is not a philosophy he embraces. Instead, he sees communal involvement as a responsibility.

“I know the community I want my family to grow up in,” he said. “I want to help make sure that community exists.”

Luis expressed immense pride in watching his son develop into a leader in his own right.

“I admire his dedication,” Luis said. “Community building is a vocation. You have to enjoy it and feel called to it.”

Their exchange offered a powerful reminder that leadership is not always passed down through instruction. Often, it is modeled through examples, observations, and a shared commitment to giving back.

Philanthropy with Purpose

The conversation also explored how the Maizel family approaches philanthropy.

Rather than spreading resources thinly, they seek opportunities where their giving can make a meaningful difference. Much of their philanthropy focuses on strengthening Jewish life, supporting communal institutions, addressing emerging needs, and ensuring future generations inherit a vibrant and secure community.

Jack spoke passionately about the impact he has witnessed through Federation, JDC, Jewish Agency initiatives, and local organizations.

He emphasized the importance of responding not only to urgent needs, such as community security, but also to the cultural programs that enrich Jewish identity and strengthen communal connections.

“We can’t only focus on existential threats,” he noted. “We also have to celebrate who we are.”

That balance between protecting Jewish life and nurturing Jewish culture emerged as a central theme throughout the morning.

Looking Ahead

As the conversation turned to the future, both Luis and Jack acknowledged concerns about rising antisemitism, polarization, and the challenges facing Jewish communities around the world.

Yet despite those concerns, both expressed optimism grounded in the strength of Jewish institutions, leadership, and communal resilience.

Their confidence comes not from ignoring the challenges, but from believing in the power of engaged individuals and strong communities to meet them.

In many ways, the Maizels’ story reflects the broader story of the Jewish people: preserving tradition while adapting to change, honoring the past while investing in the future, and understanding that every generation has a role to play in sustaining and strengthening communal life.

As Heidi concluded, much of what makes San Diego’s Jewish community vibrant today can be traced to people like Luis and Jack Maizel, whose leadership, generosity, and commitment have helped create opportunities for connection, belonging, and Jewish life for countless others.

Their story is not just about one family. It is about the enduring impact of values passed from one generation to the next, and the communities that are built when people choose to turn those values into action.