Weekly Round-Up October 16-20
Dear Colleagues,
As we approach two weeks since Hamas’s craven and deplorable terror campaign against Israel began, our community continues to mourn the terrible loss of life and pray for the fate of the over 200 hostages.
Here is the link to our ever-expanding Swords of Iron Toolkit, which provides our local Federations with an array of helpful, regularly updated talking points and sample social posts, a guide to how to fight disinformation online, and fundraising information, as well as our Statement of Solidarity.
This week, Jewish Federations co-sponsored a solidarity gathering for Israel in Washington, DC, along with the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee, and the Anti-Defamation League. Leadership of both major parties in Congress and US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas spoke at the event, along with so many of you who dropped everything and flew in to the nation’s capital to join us. Click here for the video on C-Span.
Following a Federations breakfast and caucus surrounding the event, National Campaign Chair David Heller announced that less than a week after we announced our $500 million emergency campaign, we have already raised a total of $388 million systemwide, over 75% of the goal. We are so profoundly grateful to all of you for working around the clock to make this unprecedented campaign a success. Click here for the eJP coverage of our reaching this incredible fundraising milestone and click here for our blog post.
As of last night, our system has already allocated $70 million to 45 nonprofit organizations and groups providing urgent and immediate care on the ground in Israel. We are supporting communities under fire and helping people living in shelters or hospitals because of their evacuation from the battle fronts. See this presentation for a more thorough breakdown, and learn more on our blog post here.
Click here to read the eJP account of our allocations process.
Leaders at Tuesday’s events sported blue ribbons as part of the Blue Ribbons for Israel Campaign we kicked off this week alongside 145 outside organizations and Federations. Scores of our Changemakers gathered on Capitol Hill Wednesday, visiting all 538 congressional offices, distributing the ribbons to the lawmakers and their staffs. Click here to read about the visit. Please join them by wearing a blue ribbon – and to get as many other people as possible to do the same – in support of the hostages and their families. Learn more about #BlueRibbonsforIsrael and how to partner here.
Since the start of the conflict, President Biden has provided full-throated and unequivocal support for Israel. On Wednesday, he arrived in the Jewish State as the first American leader to visit Israel in wartime. He met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the cabinet, as well as relatives of the hostages. Jewish Federations took out a full-page ad in the Jerusalem Post to thank President Biden for his extraordinary support of Israel. Click here to see the ad and to share it.
Upon returning to Washington, Biden made a stirring address to the nation Thursday. Click here for a video of the speech and here to read the latest update from our Israel office.
Our new Instagram feed is live and growing with our first reel garnering more than 150,000 views, and a plethora of useful content that can be shared on your personal or professional pages. We encourage you to follow us, like and share our recent posts, reels, and stories to help grow this new outlet for our system. Feel free to reach out to Jessica Bates if there is a post from your Federation you would like to see amplified in our stories.
For additional updates and reminders, please see below:
Nonprofit Security Grant Program: We are continuing to urge Congress to increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $500 million, from its current level of $305 for Fiscal Year 2023. Jewish Federations joined a letter to President Biden asking for his support on this issue. Click Here to read the letter. Click here for the Action Alert. Here is our blog post. For more information, email Karen Barall.
Executive Accelerator: We are accepting nominations for the inaugural cohort of Jewish Federations’ Executive Accelerator. This year-long program for mid to senior level professionals will combine professional development, applied learning, cohort experiences, and coaching—all of which will support professionals as they chart their path forward in the Federation system towards executive leadership. To nominate a colleague, click here. The nomination period has been extended to November 10th. Learn more about cost, eligibility requirements and the application process here. For more information, email Rebecca Ruberg.
JPro Israel Mini-Course: Chief Rabbi Michael Uram will teach on the basics of Israel for Federation professionals from 3-4 pm ET every Tuesday from October 24 to November 21 (except November 7). The course is offered through JPro. Click here to register.
Virtual Orientation for Newly Hired Professionals: Please encourage new hires to attend our upcoming virtual orientation scheduled for Wednesday, October 25 at 1 pm ET. More information and registration can be found here. We have also designed several resources to support new professionals. Contact Rebecca Zuck Sowers with any questions.
The Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI): Daily webinars sponsored by Jewish Federations and the Jewish Agency are offered. A rotating team of top analysts of Israeli military affairs, the US-Israel relationship, Israel’s political system, and of the country’s diverse society will speak every Sunday to Thursday from 11-11:30 am ET. No registration is required. Joinhere.
Praying for peace as we enter Shabbat,
Shira Hutt
Executive Vice President
Jewish Federations of North America
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