At the UJCVP Annual Meeting, Mariel Focseneanu was awarded the inaugural Barbara Rosenbaum Young Leadership Award. This award recognizes an emerging leader who devotes time and energy to better the Jewish community.

“Mariel stood out as an exemplary choice for the inaugural presentation of the award,” shared UJCVP outgoing President Wendy Eisner. “Mariel has shared her passion and ideas as a board member of the UJCVP, and this year extended her com- mitment by serving on the strategic planning committee, where she contributed significant time addressing some of our com- munity’s most pressing issues.”

Mariel, her husband Eric (Karlin) and their two children are all active members of the Jewish community, attending both the Sarfan Early Childhood Center and Camp Chaverim.

The Barbara Rosenbaum Young Leadership award aims to acknowledge these role models while seeking to stimulate their continuing participation in Jewish communal affairs. This annual award comes with a stipend to participate in an immersive Jewish leadership experience, such as participating in an overseas JFNA mission or attending the JFNA General Assembly.

The award is named in honor of Barbara Rosenbaum, a pillar of our community, and whose tireless dedication to the UJCVP has spanned decades.

“It is well known that the leaders of the IDF precede their troops into combat using the word ‘acharai’, meaning ‘after me,’” shared UJCVP outgoing President Wendy Eisner. “Barbara’s life in this community follows this same pattern. As a leader, she is always at the front of every cause, leading by example and teaching and motivating those who come after her. Her life is the essence of leadership in our Jewish Community.”

“Upon arriving on the Virginia Peninsula, Barbara became a Lion of Judah in 1986 and has remained a Lion for 39 consecutive years. Also, about 25 years ago Barbara endowed her Lion so that her gift will maintain itself in perpetuity. Barbara has served as a Board Member of the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula for close to 20 years and she often mentors younger community members and encourages and recruits new community leaders. Barbara is no stranger to the financial needs of local organizations; she perennially serves on the UJCVP Campaign Council and actively solicits needed dollars for our Annual Campaign.”