Weekly Round-up June 24-28

Dear Colleagues,

We joined the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles in condemning the terrible violence that took place outside a synagogue in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood. Our system is continuing its invaluable work to protect our communities and push back against the rising tide of antisemitism. 

Also this week, Jewish Federations of North America and more than 40 other Jewish organizations wrote a letter to the Wikimedia Foundation to urge the company to reconsider its tendentious decision to label ADL’s Wikipedia entries on antisemitism and the war in Gaza as “unreliable.” The letter implores the company to “join us in combating antisemitism, rather than acting as a cover for those who seek to perpetuate the scourge of Jew hatred.”

For the latest information on the war, see yesterday’s Israel Update. Also, please see this week’s Community Mobilization Dispatch, which focuses on the plight of the hostages. Our Israel Emergency Campaign has now surpassed $848 million, with more than $469 million allocated to date. For a full breakdown, click here.

In honor of International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, Jewish Federations of North America joined over 50 organizations in signing onto a letter to the UN Secretary General that calls for an unbiased and independent investigation and demands that Hamas be held accountable.

The closed-door trial of wrongly-detained WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, 32, started on Wednesday in the  Russian city of Yekaterinburg. He is accused of “collecting secret information” about the Uralvagonzavod military factory. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. We will provide updates as they become available. 

Also this week, Jewish Federations lauded the House members who voted to increase the size of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) from $305 million to $335 million for fiscal year 2025, This represents a major step towards the ultimate goal of $500 million in security funding. We worked especially closely with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Rep. Bill Pascrell (NJ-9), and Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10).

Finally, our Talking Points Library continues to expand, with additions on NSGP, the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism, and LiveSecure. Please check back regularly and contact Niv Elis with feedback and suggestions for additional Talking Points.

For additional updates and reminders, please see below.

Overview of Professional Development Opportunities: We want to ensure professionals in Jewish Federations across North America have access to opportunities to learn and grow. We encourage you to review our robust schedule of upcoming professional development opportunities. Feel free to bookmark the page and visit back often as new programs are added weekly! 

The Catalyst Fellowship to Inspire Young Adult Volunteerism: Jewish Federations, in partnership with Repair the World, are excited to announce that applications are open for the third cohort of The Catalyst, a transformational professional development initiative for Federation professionals who work with community members under 40 years old. This cohort-based training program provides tools and resources to design and deliver programming that inspires Jewish volunteerism and service. The third Catalyst cohort of 10 professionals will engage in monthly learning and attend an in-person convening at the General Assembly. Each fellow will be eligible for micro-grant funding of up to $7,000 to pilot a new service initiative in their community. Space is extremely limited. Learn more about The Catalyst here. Apply here by Thursday, July 25.

ILOJC Conference: The binennial International Lion of Judah Conference will take place from January 12-14, 2025. Access the ILOJC 2025 Toolkit featuring 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.

General Assembly 2024: We hope you will register for the 2024 General Assembly, taking 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. 

Togethering: This new program brings groups of young (25-40) couples together to explore, through immersive travel experiences, what Jewish wisdom, traditions, and culture can bring to their lives. Our next Togethering trip will send Seattle-based couples to Santa Fe, New Mexico from September 25 to 29. Other Fall trips will be to Paradise Valley, Montana and to the Catskills Mountain region of New York State. For additional information, contact Sumiko Zayon, Togethering Program Manager in Community and Jewish Life.

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.

Summer Intern Series: The second installment (“Making the Most of Your Internship”) of this three-part series will take place on Wednesday, July 17 at 1 pm ET. This series is designed to introduce interns to the Federation system, connect them with their peers, provide tools to deepen their learning, and envision and chart their professional path forward. Interns can register for the two remaining sessions—the final one to take place on Wednesday, July 31 (“Career Next Steps”)—tat one time. For more information, please contact Rebecca Ruberg.

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