Weekly Round-up October 21-25

Dear Colleagues,

The death of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar last weekend has been widely celebrated in both Israel and in the Diaspora. President Joe Biden said in a statement that “Israel has had every right to eliminate the leadership and military structure of Hamas. Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7.” 

For additional developments in Israel, see yesterday’s Israel Update.

The General Assembly will take place in Washington, DC in less than three weeks, from November 10-12! The gathering will include countless featured speakers and presenters across dozens of important sessions. Please visit www.generalassembly.org for the growing list of top-flight speakers, receptions, musical performers, and other features you won’t want to miss.

We look forward to welcoming General Assembly participants, and an additional 30,000 people, to Stand Together: Unity.Strength.Resilience, which will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, November 10 at Nationals Park Stadium. The event, which takes place exactly a year after the historic March for Israel, will continue to focus on standing with Israel, for the release of the hostages, and against antisemitism. It will also enable us to thank our allies and civic partners (including our government and military), to honor heroes of this last year, and to strengthen our community. To help spread the word, please use this toolkit and visit www.standtogethernovember10.org. 

We are organizing an information session about the event and hope you will join and learn more about how Federations can encourage and support community members in their participation in the event. Register now for the call on Monday, October 28 at 2:30 pm ET to learn about the program, ticketing process, partnership opportunities, and more. 

Jewish Federations are addressing the needs of those whose lives were turned upside down by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Our Emergency Committee is working with local Federations, synagogues, and national organizations. So far, Jewish Federations have allocated over $120,000. Please support our collective efforts through our Hurricane Relief Fund and please consult the toolkit for more information and to help raise funds.

The inspiring work of the Israel emergency loan fund was featured this week in this  op-ed. These loans have been a lifeline for Israeli entrepreneurs and companies during the economic upheaval after October 7. 

For additional updates and reminders, please see below.

Serve Israel Volunteer Trip Opportunity: Join other Federation professionals in Israel from December 16 to 23 to volunteer, visit border communities, and stand in solidarity with families affected by October 7 and the ongoing instability in the north. Thanks to generous funding from Serve Israel, this heavily subsidized trip is for Federation professionals up to age 40 who are involved in Israel-related work (including Israel & Overseas, Israel engagement, and Israel education). For more information and to register, please click here.  For any additional questions, please contact Natalie Gabay.

Simchat Torah Challenge: Take part in the Simchat Torah Challenge and start reading the Torah in bite-size pieces. Billed as “the most joyful book club you’ll ever join,” this is a perfect way to make an important Jewish commitment that lasts throughout the year.

Quarterly Virtual Orientation for New Hires in Federations: Jewish Federations are running quarterly virtual orientations, to which all new hires are invited. The next orientation will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, October 30 at 1 pm ET. This is an opportunity to ask questions, connect with new colleagues in other Federations, and access additional support and resources. Please go to jfeds.org/virtualorientation and share the link with your team and with all new hires. Please contact Sari Kreines with any questions.

Tools and Strategies for Effective Management in Uncertain Times: This online session taking place on Thursday, October 31 from 1 to 2:30 pm ET will equip you with the tools and strategies needed to maintain alignment and clarity with your team even when the going gets tough. By the end of this session, you will be equipped to strengthen your team’s impact; approach performance conversations with clarity, compassion, and confidence; and implement communication strategies that support growth and cohesion. Click here to learn more and register.

Art on Mental Health: BeWell, the Blue Dove Foundation, and the Peninsula Jewish Community Center are partnering to curate an exhibit that highlights Jewish artists who have lived with mental illness or addiction. We are accepting submissions until Friday, November 1for an exhibit at the Peninsula JCC in Foster City, California. Learn more about the exhibit and how to submit by clicking on the Call for Entry.

LiveSecure Fundraising Best Practices: On Wednesday, November 6 at 3 pm ET, we will hear from communities that are successfully raising funds for LiveSecure. Learn tips, access resources, and discuss strategies that may work for you. Register here.

Supplemental NSGP Grants for FY24: Jewish Federations of North America, the Secure Community Network, Orthodox Union, and Anti-Defamation League are offering a webinar on Wednesday, November 6 at 3:30 pm ET to discuss the FY24 Supplemental Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funding, with a specific focus on updated guidelines, to better prepare for this new funding cycle. Register here.

Overview of Professional Development Opportunities: Please review our robust schedule of upcoming programs that empower Jewish professionals to learn and grow.

Chag Sameach,

Shira Hutt
Executive Vice President
Jewish Federations of North America