Anatomy of a Jewish Leader

Arna Poupko Fisher

Jonathan Frieden

Arna Poupko Fisher is a widely renowned leader and educator who has lectured in over 120 different communities throughout North America. She was the first individual to be a full time scholar in residence of a federation, she was the president of the JCRC of Cincinnati, is a core faculty member for Wexner, which is the premier organization for Jewish leaders, is a faculty member in the Dept. of Jewish Studies at the University of Cincinnati, was an executive for the federation of Cincinnati, and is now a member of the board of trustees for the foundation. 


Arna Poupko Fisher sits down to discuss her path to Jewish leadership, the experience of being a female Jewish leader, and what she learned from speaking in so many communities. She talks about living a value-driven life, when it’s proper to stand up for one's beliefs, and the importance of parents in religious experience. Mrs. Fisher mentions the necessity of occasionally filling a leadership position because one is needed there, even if one isn’t passionate about it, and provides advice to future leaders. She closes off by highlighting how leadership and teaching are actually quite similar.