Weekly Round-up February 26 - March 1
Dear Colleagues,
The Israel Educational Travel Alliance (IETA), a consortium of over 100 Israel educational travel organizations, programs, and philanthropies housed at the Jewish Federations, wrapped up its convening this morning in DC. With more than 170 people in attendance, including 40 Federation professionals, the convening focused on the future of Israel educational travel following October 7. Read more here.
Nearly 650 people participated in this week’s Jewish Advocacy Disability Day (JDAD), which was geared toward support of the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would increase the SSI asset limit for the first time since 1989, thereby increasing the income of millions of older adults and people with disabilities. To view the recording, click here. To read more, click here.
Our second systemwide quarterly Virtual Town Hall for Federation professionals will take place on Wednesday, March 6 at 1pm ET. We will delve into the most challenging issues we face and spotlight some of our local Federations' amazing achievements. We'll also have time for a thorough Q&A to hear what's on your mind. Click here to register.
House and Senate leaders passed a stopgap deal to avert a partial government shutdown, at least for this week. Our Government Relations Team met with Members of Congress to hammer home the continuing need for aid to Israel, for an increased level of allocations for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and for more attention to the growing problem of antisemitism and anti-Zionism in the US. Click on our Action Alert to learn more and to make your voice heard.
Jewish Federations’ Israel Emergency Campaign has now raised a total of more than $780 million and allocated close to $375 million. Click here for the most recent update from our Israel office. Also, click here for the most recent dispatch from our Community Mobilization Center.
Also this week, our government relations team helped prepare Jewish college students to speak at a roundtable discussion hosted by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. These students will be sharing their personal stories of antisemitism on campus to help underscore the need for our federal government to tackle this issue head-on. To watch a recording of the hearing, click here. For more, click here.
For additional updates and reminders, please see below.
People Management Program for Frontline Managers: This is a seven-part online series, beginning February 29, which will support our critical frontline workforce. We will learn how to drive engagement and productivity from our teams. To register, click here. Late participation is welcomed as content sessions are recorded. To learn more about the program, read these FAQ.
Affinity Group for Israeli Staff Based in North America: This group, which is facilitated by Netaly Ophir-Flint and offered by JPro in partnership with Jewish Federations, supports North America-based Israeli staff of Jewish communal organizations. We will discuss how the war impacts our work and we will support one another in navigating this unprecedented moment. The next meeting is on Monday, March 4 at noon ET. Participants are welcome to engage in this discussion in either Hebrew or English. Register here. For questions, reach out to Rebecca Ruberg.
Group Coaching for Middle Managers: This is a ten-part online cohort program to empower experienced managers to develop coaching skills, build trust and emotional resilience among their employees, and collaborate more effectively with peers, supervisors, and partners. Apply here; the deadline is Friday, March 15. To learn more, read these FAQ.
Judaism 101: Join us for a four-part online series for all Federation professionals, beginning on Wednesday, March 13, led by Rabbi Mike Uram. The series will explore the history, culture, religion, and traditions of Judaism. No prior knowledge is needed. Click here to learn more and register here.Please click here to learn more about all of our Jewish learning series and other professional development programs.
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, April 17 at 1 pm ET. The orientations provide an opportunity for newly- hired professionals to learn about Jewish Federations, to connect with colleagues in other Federations, and to access additional support and resources. Please visit jfeds.org/virtualorientation for more information and share the link with your team and all new hires. Please contact Sari Kreines with any questions,
Jewish Changemakers Fellowship: The Jewish Changemakers Fellowship engages young Jewish adults, ages 20-25, in a six-week online leadership experience. We are now recruiting for the summer session, which begins on Monday, May 6. Participants will meet inspiring professionals and peers in a fellowship that aims to expand their networks, hone their leadership skills, and jumpstart their careers. Current Jewish professionals are invited to join our new Jewish professional cohort. Nominate someone to be a Fellow or apply yourself! Learn more here or email Lauren Silverman with any questions.
Wexner Davidson Fellowship (WDF): Applications are now open for the founding cohort of this three-year leadership development program for Jewish communal professionals ages 26–36. Up to 15 participants will be selected. Fellows will benefit from experienced mentors at The Wexner Foundation and from the foundation’s extensive alumni network. To learn if you are eligible and to start a pre-application, please click here. Applications are due by Wednesday, April 3 at 1 pm ET. This program is initiated in partnership with the William Davidson Foundation.
Shabbat Shalom,
Shira Hutt
Executive Vice President
Jewish Federations of North America