Voices
People who have seen the work.
A commander from the Israeli north, two Federation peers, the team he managed, and two Christian leaders who had no obligation to say anything at all.
A Voice From Israel
Seen from the front lines.
Lt. Col. (Res.) Eyal Dror
Founder & Commander, Operation Good Neighbor
IDF Northern Command · 31 Years of Service
He is a deeply committed Zionist who understands that educating the next generation requires not only words, but presence, responsibility, and leadership.
What makes Enrico especially unique is that he is both profoundly connected to American Jewish life and genuinely Israeli in his experience and outlook, including through his meaningful military service. This rare combination enables him to understand both communities from within and to build authentic bridges between them.
Enrico is a dedicated and highly professional leader who, in my view, deserves to become one of the leading Jewish voices in the United States, and I am proud to call him my friend, to have hosted him and his family in my home, and to support the important path he is leading.
What Colleagues Say
Peers who've seen it up close.
Jordenne Parker
Associate Director
UT Austin Hillel
I've had the privilege of partnering with Enrico on multiple geopolitical trips to Israel, including leading the first Maccabee Task Force campus delegation to return after October 7.
He never asks people to stop asking hard questions. Instead, he helps them ask better ones. I've watched students leave conversations with Enrico feeling more confident in their own voices, more curious about complexity, and more willing to engage thoughtfully with their communities back on campus.
He has an extraordinary ability to balance empathy with honesty, creating spaces where students can challenge assumptions without ever feeling judged. His leadership is rooted in humility, genuine curiosity, and an unwavering belief in people's potential.
What has always stood out to me is that he doesn't seek out the easy path. He embraces challenges because he knows they are opportunities to learn, adapt, and become better. Watching that growth has been just as inspiring as experiencing the impact he has on students.
Jessie Dowsakul
Executive Director
Columbia Jewish Federation
Working with Enrico has changed the way I think about leadership.
He has an incredible ability to see potential — in organizations, in leaders, and in communities that are often overlooked. More importantly, he knows how to help people turn that potential into action.
What sets him apart is that he leads with humility. He doesn't seek recognition or try to be the loudest voice in the room. He listens first, asks thoughtful questions, and creates space for others to grow. He has a unique gift for making people feel seen, valued, and capable of accomplishing more than they thought possible.
He challenged me to think bigger, dream bolder, and never accept that being a smaller community meant we had to think small.
Enrico believes deeply in people. He believes in communities. And he believes that leadership is about lifting others up. That belief is contagious, and it has made me a better leader.
From My Team
People who worked alongside me.
He consistently trusted and empowered me to focus on the needs of Northwest Arkansas — and advocated successfully with the Executive Board to expand my role, allowing me to take on more meaningful work in programming, outreach, relationship-building, and long-term community engagement.
Enrico's trust-based leadership gives me the autonomy to focus on the needs of Northwest Arkansas while ensuring I have what I need to build and engage community. I believe his leadership has helped create momentum for the continued growth of Jewish life in Northwest Arkansas — and for the work our community needs and deserves.
Erin Cohen
Community Engagement Manager, Jewish Federation of Arkansas
What he brings to an organization is something that cannot be taught — he simply has it. His passion, energy, and ability to envision what is possible are both remarkable and contagious.
He approaches challenges with optimism and resilience, seeing obstacles as opportunities rather than setbacks… One of Enrico's greatest strengths as a manager is the trust he places in his team. Rather than micromanaging, he provides steadfast support, encouragement, and advocacy for his staff — ensuring employees always know they have a leader who is invested in their success.
Wendy Paquette
Office Manager, Jewish Federation of Arkansas
Voices From the Community
What those outside the Jewish world see.
He is a skilled communicator and a builder of generational unity who is unafraid of hard conversations. His leadership drew out new and younger leaders who had been discounted and marginalized. He is a passionate and courageous representative of Jewish identity, of American ideals, of shared Judeo-Christian values, and of the existential necessity for a strong Israel.
Dr. Cathie Dorsch, PhD
CEO, Commission Fields · Judeo-Christian Studies & Ethics
I do not know of a more important time in my life to have such a dynamic and energetic bridge builder for the Jewish community like Enrico Ravenna.
Pastor Perry Black
Founding Pastor · Family Church Bryant