As we head into summer, a time when the Federation team takes a little time to breathe and begins planning for the coming programming year, I extend deep gratitude to the 645 donors to the 2024 Annual Community Campaign. Thanks to you, we have raised $1,565,000 to foster a strong, engaged, connected, vibrant and enduring Jewish community locally, in Israel, and around the world.
If you have not yet had an opportunity to support the community in this way, there is still time to contribute to this year’s campaign. We and our funding partners are grateful for gifts in any amount.
This has been a challenging year for our community, for Israel, and for the Jewish people. Throughout history, resilience has been our superpower. We cannot choose the moment in which we are called upon to lead. But we can choose how we will respond to the situations in which we find ourselves. The dedicated involvement of our Board of Directors – led for the last two years by Decky Alexander, and now Marla Linderman Richelew—over 125 volunteers, and our exceptional professional team provide the leadership our community need in this time.
Thanks to the Federation Board of Directors, on June 24, I am embarking on a four-week sabbatical, which I will spend in Israel. During my month away, I will participate in the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Community Leadership Program, visit projects we fund, spend time in our partner community Moshav Nahalal, and enjoy time with family and friends. Although this sabbatical was approved well before the unprecedented events of this year, the opportunity to re-engage and re-connect with the nature, culture and people of Israel, coupled with some much-appreciated rest and recreation, could not have come at a more important time. I look forward to sharing insights from my conversations, learning and experiences with you upon my return.
I wish you a pleasant July and safe travels this vacation season.
Shabbat Shalom,
Eileen