Weekly Round-up March 4 - March 8
Dear Colleagues,
Don’t miss our webinar at 11:00 AM ET this morning on the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (H.R. 7521), a bill we are supporting to push back against TikTok. TikTok is a major driver of antisemitism and anti-Israel, and is having an outsize influence on the younger generation’s views toward our community and toward Israel. The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously voted yesterday to advance the legislation. To register for the webinar, click here. Also, see our toolkit, and encourage your community to contact their Members of Congress through our Action Alert.
Our Israel Emergency Campaign has raised more than $783 million and allocated close to $385 million to date. For the latest update on allocations, click here.To read the most recent update from our Israel office, click here. To read our most recent dispatch from the Community Mobilization Center, click here.
The Israeli hostages have now spent more than 150 days in captivity in Gaza. President Biden highlighted their plight in his State of the Union address last night. Mia Schem, a hostage who was freed in November, was in attendance along with 17 family members of those still held hostage. Talia Khan, a Jewish MIT student who has exposed antisemitism on her campus, was a guest of House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Today is International Women’s Day. Jewish Federations of North America signed onto a letter, led by Hadassah, that urges UN Secretary-General Guterres to conduct an independent, unbiased investigation into the evidence of Hamas’ weaponization of gender-based violence on October 7. We demand that these war crimes be prosecuted to the maximum extent. Sign this petition demanding that the United Nations act now to pursue vigorous prosecution for the crimes of sexual violence committed against Israeli women. Also, please share our statement on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn that condemns the wave of denial of this horrific sexual violence.
The latest episode of The Glue has just aired! Listen to Eric Fingerhut’s wide-ranging interview with Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) on DEI, antisemitism, Tiktok, and the current state of Black-Jewish relations. Click here to listen–and please subscribe! You can also find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or Amazon Music.
Jewish Federations of North America partnered with Hillel International to prepare students for last week’s hearing on campus antisemitism sponsored by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Students from various universities–including Harvard, Penn, MIT, Stanford, and Tulane–told wrenching stories about the level of antisemitism on their campuses and the astonishing lack of response from their respective administrations. To view the recording of the discussion, click here. For the coverage of the hearing in the Jerusalem Post, click here.
Finally, please take a minute to check out the Passover package we released a few weeks ago, along with the social media content we release and update weekly. You can also get a sneak peek at the Annual Campaign package we’re launching in May, as well as an overview of the resources available for the Israel Emergency Campaign. Click here.
For additional updates and reminders, please see below:
March Resiliency Roundtable: How can we help young people look to the future with hope, even when the weight of the world feels heavy? Join the Resiliency Roundtable on Wednesday, March 13 at from 2 to 3:30 pm ET for a mini-case study on climate anxiety. We will show how taking action toward a better world can positively impact youth (ages 12 to 16) mental health. The Resiliency Roundtable convenes diverse stakeholders, including educators, engagement professionals, and clinicians. To learn more and register, click here.
Calling All Florida Professionals: A Special Regional Gathering: We have chosen Palm Beach, Florida as the location of our first in-person regional people management training and networking program, which will take place from Monday, May 20 to Tuesday, May 21. This convening will be an invaluable opportunity for Florida Federation pros to gather for a day and a half of professional development. We will also have time for networking, sharing of best practices, and celebration. Open to all Florida pros only, but stay tuned, as we will announce other locations for future programs. To learn more, click here. To register, click here.
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.
Scaling Masterclass, Cohort 6: Expand the reach and effectiveness of your programs by scaling them. If there is evidence of demand for your program or model and you love the idea that this work could blossom in other places, this class, which will be held in Boston from Monday, June 3 to Wednesday, June 5, could be for you. For more information, click here. For questions, email Rabbi Dena Shaffer.
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.
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.
Shabbat Shalom,
Shira Hutt
Executive Vice President
Jewish Federations of North America