Weekly Round-up April 15-19

Dear Colleagues,

It appears that Israel launched a drone strike last night on an air base in the Iranian city of Isfahan, although some Iranian officials are shifting blame from Israel in a seeming attempt to avoid having to counterattack. We sent this message out this morning. We will continue to provide updates on this rapidly developing situation.

The episode follows last weekend’s unprecedented missile and explosive drone attack on Israel, one that was largely thwarted by the sophisticated defense systems deployed by the Jewish State and with the help of our allies, which together intercepted 99% of them. We sponsored an emergency webinar on the situation on Sunday. Our most recent Israel updateand Community Mobilization Center dispatch have focused on what has occurred in the wake of Iran’s boldfaced aggression. 

Please urge your Member of Congress to support the aid package that was introduced in the House this week that includes $26.4 billion in crucial support to Israel and $4 billion in funding for these indispensable defense systems like the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow-3. It also proposes $400 million in additional funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). “Rarely does a single legislative package carry such historic significance for our country and for the Jewish community,” noted Fingerhut. The package just cleared a procedural hurdle in the House and is likely to be voted on tomorrow. 

Also this week, Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) reintroduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act. The bill is a major focus of our advocacy and has already captured the support of 14 Democrats, 15 Republicans and one Independent. It will empower government officials with the tools they need to identify and stamp out antisemitism on college campuses. Read the coverage in the Jerusalem Post and in Jewish Insider.

A new Jewish Federations-sponsored survey, covered in JTA, has found that only 28% of Americans support an unconditional ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Among Jews, the figure is just 11%. Other findings are that ten times as many Americans support Israel over Hamas and that almost four-fifths of American Jews continue to feel deeply connected to the Jewish State. Please join us for a webinar on the survey findings on Thursday, May 9 at 4 pm ET. 

Jewish Federations of North America were in attendance on Tuesday on Capitol Hill as the president of Columbia University, Nemat Shafik, was interrogated by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. We salute the US government for not letting up the pressure on these university administrations to make their campuses safe for Jewish students and faculty.

The application for the Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) for FY24 was released this week. Reach out to your State Administrative Agency (SAA), which serves as the pass-through entity for the award, to inquire about your state’s application deadline and requirements. Please review the steps to apply. Reach out to Rachel Dembo with questions.

While antisemitism continues to rise to unprecedented levels, Jewish Federations are deepening their community relations investments across the system. Since he joined us in December, VP of Community Relations Evan Bernstein has traveled to communities of all sizes to learn best practices for system-wide scaling opportunities, to provide guidance in launching a community relations program, and to consult with professionals and lay leaders in responding to crisis situations. In this week’s impact blog, read more about his work with Jewish Long Beach and Shalom Austin to develop a strategy to meet their communities’ growing needs.

Our Israel Emergency Fund is enabling thousands of Israelis who have been hit hardest by the war to to celebrate Passover in difficult circumstances. Learn more about how Federation dollars are supporting both displaced Israelis and those who have lost loved ones.

For more updates and reminders, please see below.

FRD Leadership Mission: Registration has launched for this year’s FRD Leadership Mission, which will travel to Berlin and Israel from Monday, July 8 to Saturday, July 13. Join us at this critical time to bear witness and to experience first-hand Federations’ impact on emerging needs during this perilous and vulnerable moment for both Jewish communities.

Israel 101: Join us for a four-part online series led by Rabbi Mike Uram for all Federation professionals, beginning on Wednesday, May 15 from 1 to 2:30 pm ET. The series will unpack Israel’s history and delve into key features of Israel and Zionism. No prior knowledge is needed. 

The Landscape of Collective Giving: A Look at the Power of Giving Circles: Join Amplifier, Powered by JFNA on Thursday, May 16 at 1 pm ET, at a webinar that will showcase insights from the 2023 Landscape of Collective Giving Research Study, along with ways for you to launch collective giving initiatives at your Federation. New research from Philanthropy Together, the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, and Colmena-Consulting showcases the growth and diversity of these groups--a billion-dollar movement advancing equity across the philanthropic system. We will also share findings specific to the Jewish Giving Circle Movement that can help you in donor engagement, retention, and leadership development.

Executive Leadership Program: Applications are open for Cohort VI (2025-2026) of the Executive Leadership Program of the Mandel Institute for Nonprofit Leadership.This is an 18-month fellowship that is designed to prepare outstanding midcareer professionals for senior leadership roles. Fellows analyze the changing communal landscape, sharpen their guiding visions of Jewish life, and expand their leadership and management skills. Cohort VI will be comprised of professionals who work in a wide variety of Jewish nonprofit settings, including Federations, JCCs, JCRCs, Hillels, human services agencies, social action organizations, advocacy groups, private foundations, and start-ups. The Mandel Institute covers travel and program expenses. Candidates must reside in the U.S. or Canada. Applications are due on Thursday, June 13.

D’var Torah Boot Camp: All Federation professionals are invited to learn from Rabbi Mike Uramhow to develop and deliver a d’var Torah (interpretation of the Torah portion of the week). Develop your confidence in utilizing resources to interpret the Biblical text and in then structuring your message for both written presentation and oral delivery. No prior knowledge is needed. The workshop meets on Thursdays, June 20 and 27 from 3 to 4:30 pm ET on Zoom.

Creating a Culture of Candor & Safety: This two-part series, which is open to all Federation pros, will take place virtually on Wednesday, June 26 and Tuesday, July 23 from 1-2:30 pm ET; there will be a separate session for Senior and C-Suite Leaders  on Tuesday, August 20. Jewish Federations have received a grant from SRE (Safety, Respect, Equity) Network to provide professional development to create “speak- up” cultures in Federations. Research shows that engagement, productivity, inclusion, and performance all increase in team environments in which people feel safe to raise concerns, share ideas, admit errors, and have constructive disagreements. These sessions, which are taught by workplace climate expert Fran Sepler, will include both practical guidance and Federation-focused case studies. Learn more about this program and register.

Natan Quick Funds Available: A new grant opportunity, Natan Quick Funds: Grassroots Efforts, has been launched to provide microgrants of up to $5,000 to grassroots community initiatives that address the surge in antisemitism. Jewish Federations are proud to partner in making this opportunity available and in providing additional community mobilization resources. Please share this information, along with the application, with your community members. 

We will not send out a Round-Up next week because of the holiday.

Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom and a Passover filled with joy and peace,

Shira Hutt
Executive Vice President
Jewish Federations of North America