Weekly Round-up June 17-21

Dear Colleagues,

In an extraordinary meeting in Kyiv, Jewish Federations of North America leaders spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a mission to Ukraine this week to express the Jewish community’s continued commitment to supporting the country. President Zelensky discussed his Jewish roots, commented on shared values, and expressed his appreciation for the Jewish community’s ongoing support; Federations’ emergency campaign for Ukraine has now surpassed $100 million. The president said he looks forward to more visits once the war is over. Click here to read the recent leadership message about this visit.

Please join us on Wednesday, June 26 at 2 pm ET for a Jewish Federations webinar, organized in conjunction with the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, on navigating the complexity and misinformation surrounding the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Speakers will include IDF Lieutenant Colonel (Res) Or Elrom from COGAT, the IDF unit that is responsible for overseeing aid to the civilian population in Gaza, and IsraAID CEO Yotam Polizer, who is the leader of Israel’s largest humanitarian aid NGO.

For more on Israel, see the Israel Update that was sent out yesterday and the Community Mobilization Center Dispatch that went out on Tuesday.

Vice President Kamala Harris met this week with a former Israeli hostage who was the victim of sexual torture during her captivity in Gaza; the vice president also spoke with women who survived other conflict-related sexual violence around the globe.

Karen Paikin-Barall published an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post on how anti-Israel protesters are bullies; she urged the Senate to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act to protect Jewish students.

The US and Russia are reportedly discussing a possible prisoner swap that would free jailed WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, whose first judicial hearing, after more than a year in custody, is scheduled for next week. We are following this situation closely and will provide updates when available.

JTA featured the work of both Jewish Federations and A Wider Bridge in a piece about making Pride celebrations inclusive of Jews who support Israel. Last week, they ran a Federations co-authored op-ed on the topic.

Jewish Federations of North America testified this week in Columbus, Ohio in favor of the CAMPUS Act. This bill would create a safer environment for all students; it includes specific provisions that address antisemitism on college campuses. We are proud to stand with the Jewish community and students in Ohio and view this bill as a potential model for other states.

Join us for a special briefing, "Summer Strategy: Making the Most of August Recess” next Thursday, June 27 at 3 pm ET. This session will provide valuable advice for engaging with Members of Congress while they are in their home districts during the August Congressional Recess.

Finally, registration is underway for the 2025 International Lion of Judah Conference in Atlanta, GA, which will take place next January 12 to 14. Access the ILOJC 2025 Toolkitfeaturing a promotional video, engaging social media posts, and customizable email templates to spread the word. Visit lionconference.org to register. For questions, reach out to Mandy Kaiser-Blueth.

For additional updates and reminders, please see below.

General Assembly 2024: We hope you will register for the 2024 General Assembly. It will take place from Sunday, November 10 to Tuesday, November 12 in Washington, DC. The conference will include a powerful Evening of Unity event at Nationals Park Stadium on the first night of the conference. To learn more, visit generalassembly.org or check out the FAQs. 

FRD Leadership Mission: Registration will close very soon for this year’s FRD Leadership Mission! We 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 time for both Jewish communities. Please contact Serena Young with any questions. 

Annual Campaign Toolkit: Our Annual Campaign Toolkit showcases the powerful work that Federations are doing here at home, in Israel, and around the world. The toolkit is designed to drive fundraising efforts through a collection of customizable videos, photos, social media posts, and a direct mail package. It contains everything that you need to connect with donors and ignite the spirit of giving in your community.

Israel and Jewish Education Series for Lay leaders:  Join Rabbi Mike Uram, Chief Jewish Learning Officer on Tuesday, June 25 at 4 pm ET for the final session in this three-part series, which is open to all Federation lay leaders, board chairs, and community members; no prior knowledge is needed. Please contact Rebecca Gerbert with any questions. Recordings of previous sessions are now available.

Professional Development: Please see the robust schedule of upcoming professional development opportunities offered by the Mandel Center.

June Resiliency Roundtable:  One of the most powerful ways to promote youth wellbeing is by modeling healthy behaviors. This interactive, hands-on workshop, “From Head to Heart: Filling Your Cup and Honoring Spiritual Wellbeing,” will take place on Wednesday, June 26 from 2 to 3:30 pm ET. Learn embodied practices, regulation techniques and Jewish wisdom that you can bring back to your colleagues and family members. 

Summer Intern Series: Please invite your Federation summer interns to a three-part virtual series on Wednesdays that are designed to introduce them to the Federation system, connect them with other Federation interns, provide tools to deepen their learning, and envision and chart their professional path forward. Sessions will be held at 1 pm ET on June 26 (Virtual Orientation), July 17 (Making the Most of Your Internship) and July 31 (Career Next Steps). Interns can register for all three sessions at one time. For more information, please contact Rebecca Ruberg.

Creating a Culture of Candor and Safety: This two-part online series, which is open to all Federation pros, will take place 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 create “speak-up” cultures. Research shows that engagement, productivity, inclusion, and performance all increase when employees feel safe to raise concerns, share ideas, admit errors, and have constructive disagreements. These sessions, taught by workplace climate expert Fran Sepler, will offer both practical guidance and Federation-focused case studies. Learn more and register.

Executive Accelerator Cohort II: Applications are now open for the second cohort of the Jewish Federations’ Executive Accelerator, with a deadline of Friday, July 19 at 5 pm ET. This year-long experience combines professional development, applied learning, mentorship, and group coaching towards building the competence and confidence of mid and senior career professionals on a path towards executive leadership. Click hereto apply. Email Rebecca Ruberg with questions.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grant Opportunity: This program supports projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities to strengthen communities over the long term. The application deadline is Thursday, August 1. For more details on eligibility, purpose, funding, and application requirements, consult this document.

Shabbat Shalom,

Shira Hutt
Executive Vice President
Jewish Federations of North America