Two weeks ago, I was in Washington, DC, for the annual Jewish Federation of North America's (JFNA) General Assembly. It was an incredible experience; however, before the conference began, I decided it would be nice to sort of "prepare" myself for what I might gain from the conference. And so, being in DC, I decided to walk the National Mall. As I walked from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial and then to the Martin Luther King Memorial, I spent time reflecting on the work our Jewish Federation has been doing over the last several years, specifically the impact it has had on our community.

 

As I stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, looking out towards the Washington Monument with the US Capitol in the background, I realized I was standing on the exact spot where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. And so, I decided to listen to the recording of the Maccabeats and Naturally 7 singing James Taylor's "Shed a Little Light." I then listened to Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech and felt a sense of awe, knowing that I was standing on hallowed ground and the understanding that there is more work left to be done.

 

I kept all of this in mind as the conference began that afternoon. For the next 48 hours, together with 2000 other attendees, we were treated to incredible speakers and a sense of pride and hope. Two moments stood out for me – hearing directly from four of the Israeli hostages that were taken on October 7, and a conversation called Navigating Today's Challenges; Confronting Antisemitism in a Changing Landscape with Eric Fingerhut, JFNA's President and CEO, and Jonathan Greenblat, ADL's President and CEO. Both were powerful and gave me a lot to think about.

 

Throughout the rest of the conference, as I listened to various sessions, I felt proud knowing that people care deeply about ensuring Jewish experiences and opportunities are available across our country. This shared commitment fosters a sense of belonging and purpose among us all.

 

I have been thinking about this a lot since the conference, and leading up to today, Giving Tuesday. As your email inbox and social media feeds, I am sure, have been inundated… today is a day set aside to encourage people to support the causes they care deeply about in this season of giving.

 

As the Executive Director of a nonprofit, I can tell you with 1000% certainty that individual donations are vital. Supporting organizations like our Jewish Federation creates a meaningful partnership that empowers us to face challenges and seize opportunities in our community.

 

Please consider this not only today but also as the year comes to an end. Your support makes a real difference, strengthening our community and giving you a sense of fulfillment as you help others.