Posted May 11 2008 by Jewneric
The Jewneric Leadership Series: Jules Polonetsky
Jewneric recently had the opportunity to speak with Jules Polonetsky, Chief Privacy Officer at AOL and a prominent Jewish leader. We asked him a series of questions to help us better understand and appreciate their significant contributions to our community.
Jules serves as Chief Privacy Officer and Senior Vice President at AOL. Prior to joining AOL in 2002, Jules worked as DoubleClickâs Chief Privacy Officer. He has also served as the NYC Consumer Affairs Commissioner for Mayor Rudy Giuliani, as a Brooklyn state legislator and a congressional staffer. He is a VP of Potomac’s Beth Sholom Congregation and board member of the Washington Jewish Federation, the JCRC and the local AIPAC leadership council.
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1. What is the single most significant project you are involved with in the Jewish Community?
My wife, Na’ama Lewin, and I launched the Potomac Jewish Film Festival two years ago. In partnership with the Maaleh School of Television and Film, we bring over from Israel great films about topics like faith, marriage, and Jewish identity to provoke dialogue and discussion. I was inspired by the way a film Na’ama did years ago called “Mikvah: The Cycle” opened up discussion about women’s feeling about mikvah in a way that wasn’t happening. I have also been influenced by my former boss at AOL, Ted Leonsis, who has pioneered what he calls “filmanthropy” as a great way to really get people engaged or inspired to take action around a cause.
2. What organizations or people do you look to for inspiration?
My father-in law, Nathan Lewin, is someone I find to be a great role model in the way he has carved out a role in life where he combines his professional legal skills with scholarship and advocacy of community causes, while managing to be a great husband and parent.
3. If one Jewish leader could come back and take a role in strengthening the Jewish community today, who would it be?
My dear friend JJ Greenberg, for many years executive director of the New York-based Jewish Life Network, was someone whose impact on the Jewish community wasn’t truly appreciated until his untimely death. JJ’s ability to deeply and personally connect with literally tens of thousands of people across the Jewish spectrum and to inspire them to action was incredible. If he was alive today, he would be a central figure bridging the Jewish establishment and the next generation.
4. Who are the current Jewish leaders that you think are affecting the most positive change?
Rabbis Marc Angel and Avi Weiss are my current heroes for standing up against the trend in orthodoxy to make decisions that are increasing divisive and exclusionary. My former classmate, Rabbi Seth Farber, is doing fabulous work in Israel seeking to bridge the religious and secular divide.
5. What is the most exciting Jewish project you have encountered in the past two years?
I am excited by PresenTense Magazine and its mission of providing a forum for cutting edge and edgy culture in a way that ties to the idea of Jewish community. And of course Jewneric!
6. What is your favorite part of your job as a lay leader?
I love the fact that by being involved I get to know people from all different walks of life across the Washington area.
7. What do you feel are your biggest challenges balancing work and the community?
With email, conference calls, Facebook and a top notch executive assistant I don’t have too much trouble juggling work and community. Where I feel the strain is when work and organizational schedules get busy and time for my wife and young children gets squeezed. I can call-in to a meeting from abroad, but I am either there for car pool and Little League or not!
8. What do you think is the best way to foster a sense of responsibility amongst potential new leaders?
Identify those that are capable and put them in charge! Nothing breeds responsibility like accountability.
9. What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders?
Show up, put politics and bureaucracy aside and get things done. Develop relationships and treat people with respect, but recognize that if what you are doing is popular and not offending anyone you probably aren’t making hard decisions and driving real change.
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