What's In A Name?

Why We Chose the Name “Le’karev”

When we first launched, we were called something very straightforward: "The Jewish Business Network". It did exactly what it said on the tin - we were a network, we were for Jewish business owners, and we were here to connect people.

But very quickly, we realised something: our name told people what we were - but not who we were. It didn’t capture the spirit behind this community, the values we hold, or the purpose that drives us. We needed a name that spoke about more than our function. We needed a name that spoke about our heart.

That’s why we chose “Le’karev”.

What Le’karev Means

Le’karev (לְקָרֵב) is a Hebrew word that means “to bring closer.”

It’s a word that speaks to connection, approachability, and the act of drawing people in - not by force or accident, but through intention and care. In Jewish tradition, the root of this word is used when talking about bringing people closer to community, to purpose, to one another. It’s about creating belonging. And for us, that’s not just a philosophical idea - it’s something we live every day.

To bring closer means we don’t let people stand on the edges. We notice when someone feels uncertain or unseen, and we reach out. We welcome people not just once at the door, but over and over, making sure they know they’re part of the group.

It means we help our members build meaningful connections - not just transactions or sales leads, but real, supportive relationships. We bring people closer by encouraging collaboration, by creating spaces where Jewish professionals can share honestly, and by making sure no one has to face the challenges of business life alone.

It also means we work to close the gaps between where people are and where they want to be. We bring members closer to opportunity by opening doors, making introductions, amplifying their work, and celebrating their wins. We bring them closer to confidence by reminding them they don’t have to navigate this journey without backup.

Most importantly, we bring people closer to each other - because we believe that community is not just something you belong to, but something you actively build together.

Taking On The Fight

There’s another, deeper layer to the name. The root of Le’karev - ק-ר-ב (k-r-v) - doesn’t just mean to bring closer. It also appears in contexts of battle, struggle, and confrontation.

In Hebrew, krav (קְרָב) means battle or combat. You hear it in phrases like krav maga, meaning “contact combat.” The connection here is about proximity: you can’t engage in a fight from far away - you have to come close, to face things directly.

So while “Le’karev” doesn’t literally mean “to fight” in everyday usage, its root sits right at the junction of closeness and conflict. This layered meaning is why this is a powerful name for what we are building at Le’karev. We’re not just drawing people close in soft, passive ways - we’re choosing to step closer to the hard, necessary work of standing up, pushing back, and holding ground together.

We are fighting.

We are fighting against prejudice, against stereotypes, against invisibility and exclusion.

We are fighting for survival, for safety, for dignity.

We are fighting for a world where Jewish businesses and professionals can stand tall, thrive openly, and take up space without fear.

And we choose to fight not with hostility, not with isolation, but by embracing the strength of coming together - building community as a form of resistance and resilience.

How We Embody “Le’karev”

At Le’karev, we live our name every day.

• We bring Jewish business owners closer to each other, creating spaces where they can connect without shrinking or explaining their identity.

• We bring Jewish professionals closer to opportunity - through referrals, collaborations, shared visibility, and mutual support.

• We bring our community closer to a future where Jewish businesses thrive not just individually, but collectively.

• And we fight - not with anger, but with purpose. We fight exclusion by building inclusion. We fight erasure by amplifying Jewish voices. We fight hate by creating a stronger, more visible, more joyful Jewish business community.

This is not just networking - it’s shared purpose. It’s the belief that when we lift each other up, we strengthen the entire Jewish community.

Why It’s More Than Just a Name

Le’karev isn’t a word we picked because it sounded nice or clever. It’s a statement of intent.

We are here to bring people closer - closer to their potential, to each other, and to a shared sense of belonging.And we are here to fight - to stand up, push back, and hold our ground in the face of those who would rather see us silent, hidden, or gone.

If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t have a space where you could bring your whole Jewish self into your business life, this was created for you.

Welcome to Le’karev.

We’re so glad you’re here.