JCRC CEO and Amber Award winner Jeremy Burton recognizes Federation's Executive Director Dara Kaufman’s leadership and impact in the Berkshires and across MA

The Grinspoon Amber Awards recognize and celebrate five individuals annually who have made outstanding contributions to Jewish communal life. Last November at Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly in Washington, DC, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation recognized the award’s inaugural winners, among them Jeremy Burton, the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston (JCRC).

As part of his Amber Award, which included a $10,000 prize, Jeremy had the opportunity to “pay it forward” by selecting two individuals doing impactful work in Jewish life to receive Peer Recognition Grants of $2,500 each. This distinctive feature of the award is intended to foster a ripple effect of gratitude, mentorship, and shared celebration across the Jewish communal field.

In January, Jeremy Burton selected Jewish Federation of the Berkshires Executive Director Dara Kaufman as one of his Peer Recognition Grant recipients. In addition to collaborating closely on issues of shared concern, Burton and Kaufman served together on the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism, which delivered its final report and recommendations to the Massachusetts State Legislature last November.

“Dara is such a thoughtful, skilled leader in a smaller community,” said Burton. “Frankly, I think smaller communities often get overlooked in some of these national spaces. But Dara is respected both across the Massachusetts Jewish communal professional space and in the state house in Boston. She carries, nurtures, and supports so many different partners and community leaders.”

Burton’s other nominee for the grant was Dan Goldwin, who is Chief of Public Affairs at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Chicago.

Reflecting on his own work, Burton noted the challenges inherent in communal advocacy: “On the day-to-day basis, sometimes it feels like I'm dealing with some of the hard, difficult, dark stuff, like how our state government is dealing with hate crimes and enforcement. It’s working on institutional hardening for Jewish buildings through non-profit security grants. It’s not necessarily fun or easy things to think about. But the essence of the work is about ensuring that Jewish communities feel welcome and valued by the surrounding communities here in Massachusetts. And that Jewish people are safe and feel comfortable, welcomed, and can show up in Jewish spaces and live vibrant Jewish lives.”

Know an outstanding Jewish communal professional?

Nominations are open for the 2026 Grinspoon Amber Awards. The nomination window will remain open until February 28, 2026.

Learn more about the 2026 nomination criteria and nominate an outstanding Jewish communal professional by clicking here.