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October 13, 2022
Network News
Fall 2022
A Message From Our Leadership
Shanah Tovah from Board Chair,
Julie Platt
I am so excited to be writing to you for the first time as the newly installed Chair of the Jewish Federations of North America. It is an honor and a privilege to serve in this role.
SPOTLIGHT ON ISRAEL & OVERSEAS
Witness to the Crisis in Ukraine - My Journey As the mom of six children, I have traveled to many countries in this world and seen many things. I have never witnessed anything like I did recently in Poland. At the beginning of the war, people were waiting in lines that lasted for miles just to cross the Ukrainian border. At the time of my visit in April, three million people had already left Ukraine. So by the time we arrived, the number of refugees crossing the border was a little more sporadic. Still, it was heartbreaking to watch people cross the border with a small bag that represented their entire life. Carrying a lifetime of memories in just one tiny bag, they were forced to make choices that I don’t ever think I’ve ever thought about making in the entirety of my life. |
Leading with our Jewish Values by Marc Wolf,
I have been blessed to touch this miraculous work, and it has deeply impacted my life. In the early 1990s, my parents and the Beaumont Texas Jewish Federation helped to resettle two Refusenik families who had previously been denied visas to leave the Soviet Union. In 2012, while working for UJA-Federation of New York, I had the honor of staffing a mission to Gondar, Ethiopia, from where we escorted 80 olim (immigrants) to Israel. |
Network Leader to Serve on Advocacy Corps Leadership Committee by Seth Lipkin, Senior Manager, Public Engagement, JFNA Last year, Jewish Federations launched the Advocacy Corps to create a network of volunteer leaders to champion our community’s needs and priorities on Capitol Hill and in statehouses throughout the country. Through this initiative, Federation volunteers helped to secure historic levels of funding for the Nonprofit Security
Grant Program and the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program, helped Ukrainian refugees enter and resettle in the United States, and successfully advocated for the passage of the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act. |
Network Communities I am penning this article while attending my first National Young Leadership Cabinet Retreat. I wanted to share with our expansive network of communities my impressions, “ah ha” moments, and takeaways from this experience. I arrived at this Federation conference as the first representative of my Knoxville, TN Community in many years. Our last voice within the Federation system was Judge Mary Beth Lebowitz, who served with distinction and was someone I looked to for advice before making this commitment. My 2022 class is composed of roughly 80 Jewish individuals from across the country and we join a Cabinet that includes some 300 current members. |
The 2022 Annual Campaign Season Kicks Off with the New Year
Network Communities across the country are kicking off the New Year of 5783 with Annual Campaign events with speakers arranged by JFNA to update community donors on our intensive global activities, especially regarding the situation in Ukraine and the inspiring Aliyah of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. Over the next several weeks, campaign events have been and will be held in Knoxville TN, Charleston WV, Tri-Cities TN, Gainesville FL, Huntington WV, Colorado Springs CO, Wilmington NC, Kenosha WI, Fayetteville NC, Monterey CA, Williamsport PA, and Montgomery AL. JFNA’s Marketing Department has made resources available for community customization for digital and print mailing, videos and digital messages. Please check out JFNA’s Annual Campaign marketing toolkit here with 2022’s theme of Today. Tomorrow. Always or contact network@jewishfederations.org for more information.
Emergency Committee Responds to Domestic Disasters
by Stephan Kline, Associate Vice President, National Agency Relations & Public Policy, JFNA
There are numerous examples where our system’s continental emergency response has made a significant difference in both local Jewish and non-Jewish communities impacted by disaster. From responding to Hurricane Hugo impact on the Southeast in 1989, through the rebuilding of the New Orleans Jewish community after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the response to Superstorm Sandy in New York and New Jersey in 2012, to Hurricane Harvey in Texas, and Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and Florida, as well as, very recently, Hurricane Ian in Florida, our efforts have made a significant difference and provided a tremendous amount of attention and millions of dollars of funding dedicated to meeting the local needs.
Planting Seeds for the Jewish Community of the Future
by Dirk Bird, Vice President, Philanthropy and Financial Resource Development, JFNA
Several years ago, I was sitting in shul with my oldest son who was 15 at the time. He was wandering through the depths of his fertile imagination during the sermon when the Rabbi said something about the concept of legacy. Suddenly, my son perked up and said, “Legacy…planting seeds in a garden that you never get to see grow.” Welling up with pride, I turned and looked at him prepared to fully acknowledge that he a) was paying attention in shul and b) had uttered such poignant words. Sensing that this was coming, he preempted me by saying, “Dad, it’s from Hamilton.” Regardless, the message stuck. When we leave a legacy gift, we are investing in something powerful for those whom we will never meet and making an impact that we will never see.
JFNA Network Leave a Jewish Legacy Honor Roll
During this holy day season, we are reminded that when the need is great, the strength of our collective community is greater. Supporting one another at times of challenge allow every one of us to feel an embrace of goodness.
While we can’t know everything the new year will bring, we do know this. With your support, the Jewish Federations of North America will be there as we always have, tirelessly working to help transform thousands of lives globally with one simple action.
Turn your wish for a brighter, safer New Year through your gift today.
Shanah Tovah!
Help make this a promising new year of 5783, filled with kindness.
Simone Knego
Chair, Network of Independent Communities
Network News is a publication of The Jewish Federations of North America. It helps to inform Network Jewish communities and their leadership on the issues, opportunities and available resources to help strengthen and sustain Jewish life and Jewish peoplehood.
For general inquiries about the Network, email network@JewishFederations.org or call (212) 284-6595
