Dear Colleagues,

This week, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, in consultation with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, announced that Israel has been accepted into the Visa Waiver Program, which will allow Israelis to travel to the US without a visa for up to 90 days starting in November. Federations have advocated strongly for this policy. Click here for more information on the visa waiver program.

Jewish Federations also applauded the substantial step taken by the Biden administration to expand Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to include antisemitism. For more, click here.

We held our inaugural Town Hall for Federation professionals yesterday to share updates on major initiatives and to respond to questions from the field. The agenda focused on the response to the war in Ukraine, the status of the judicial reform proposals in Israel, LiveSecure, and what we are doing to bolster our professional talent system-wide. 

For a recording of the Town Hall, click here. Other resources we discussed at the event include this slide deck on Ukraine, these talking points on our work in Israel, and this link to register for our upcoming webinar on judicial reform, which will take place Wednesday, October 11 at 2 pm ET and feature Times of Israel correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn.

With the government funding deadline looming and little progress being made on a stopgap measure, a government shutdown in two days looks increasingly likely. Jewish Federations hosted a webinar on Wednesday to help communities and Federation partners prepare for the consequences of a shutdown. Please see this memo with the main takeaways. Please contact Jonathan Schrag with any questions.

The House voted this week to augment its proposal for 2024 funding for nonprofit security grants by $20 million. This brings its total proposed allocation to $335 million, which is $30 million above current levels, well above the levels in the Senate bill. Read more in Jewish Insider about the crucial role Federations play in advancing the NSGP to protect Jewish communities.

Last Friday, Jewish Federations hailed the Biden Administration for its decision to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. This will enable tens of thousands of displaced Afghans, many of whom have been in legal limbo for two years to remain in this country. We will continue to advocate for the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would give them permanent status.

Yesterday, we joined the US Department of Education to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the landmark Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the precursor to the Americans with Disabilities Act. To see photos from the event, click here.

We also spoke out on the recent antisemitic vandalism and both antisemitic and anti-Zionist hate speech at the University of Pennsylvania. All Jewish Federations stand with the students at Penn and our colleagues at the Jewish Federation of Philadelphia in responding to this disgraceful episode.

The Eradicate Hate Global Summit, which kicked off on Wednesday in Pittsburgh, wraps up today. Jewish organizations from all over the country, including a large delegation from the United Jewish Federation of Utah (in tandem with a group of lawmakers, law enforcement officials, faith leaders, and others), have been represented. For more on the conference, click here.

A new episode of our podcast, The Glue, was released today, featuring Shalom Austin’s Rabbi Daniel Septimus and New York Times opinion writer Jessica Grose. The episode explores the communal implications of Americans moving away from religion, (and whether Jews are an exception to the rule). Click here to listen, and please share, subscribe, and leave a review.

Finally, we wish Elana Broitman, Senior Vice President for Public Affairs, luck as she moves on from Jewish Federations after three years. We thank Elana for her many accomplishments and wish her the very best in her next endeavor.

For additional updates and reminders, please see below.

Executive Accelerator: We are accepting nominations for the inaugural cohort of Jewish Federations’ Executive Accelerator. This year-long program for mid to senior level professionals will combine professional development, applied learning, cohort experiences, and coaching—all of which will support professionals as they chart their path forward in the Federation system towards executive leadership. To nominate a colleague, click here. Nominations close on Friday, October 20. Learn more about cost, eligibility requirements and the application process here. For more information, please contact Rebecca Ruberg.

The Catalyst: Jewish Federations, in partnership with Repair the World, have announced the second cohort of The Catalyst, a professional development initiative for Federation professionals focused on "next-gen" engagement for participants in their 20s and 30s. For more, click here. 

FedPro Community Relations Track: Join professionals from across the system at FedPro in November to network, discuss best practices, create solutions to shared challenges, and innovate together around the topics of community relations and combatting antisemitism. Learn from experts and receive practical tools on how you can leverage the power of local community activism to address antisemitism and Israel delegitimization. Registration for this track will be subsidized to $100. For more information, email Adam Teitelbaum.

Shine A Light 3.0 Community Microgrants: Shine A Light draws inspiration from Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, to champion the message that light can dispel darkness and hate. Apply for a community microgrant to create and host a local event. Applications are due no later than Monday, October 9. Consult our website for grant criteria and for examples of previously funded events. For questions, contact microgrants@shinealighton.com.

Cabinet Alumni Reunion: We are just a couple of weeks away from the Cabinet Alumni Reunion, taking place Thursday, October 12 to Sunday, October 15, at the Fairmont Mission Inn & Spa Sonoma. This gathering will bring together Alumni in celebration of Cabinet’s 60th year–and for the first time in ten years! Programming will include breakouts based on affinities, a variety of keynote presenters, plenty of time for reconnection, and unique wine-country experiences. This gathering is not open to current Cabinet members or to Federation professionals. Register here and please refer to the FAQs with any questions, or contact Jill Kaplan.

JEDI Learning Circle: During a seven-week immersive educational opportunity on racial identity and Jewish equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI), participants will engage with experts on questions that are relevant to modern Jewish life. The course begins on Monday, October 9. Register here.

Anti-Bullying Webinar: On Wednesday, October 11 at 1 pm ET, Jewish Federations will address the impact of bullying on teens’ mental health. This panel discussion will focus on adolescents with disabilities who, studies show, are bullied far more than their nondisabled peers. To register, click here.  

2023 International Leadership Reunion (ILR): The upcoming ILR will take place Tuesday, October 24-Thursday, October 26 in Israel and Jordan, with an exciting three-day, high-level program that will include meetings with senior Israeli officials, Israeli philanthropists, and cultural figures. The ILR, a partnership with Keren Hayesod (KH), is intended for donors who give a minimum of $250,000 each year to Federation. To learn more and to register, visit www.ILR2023.com.

Virtual Orientation for Newly-Hired Professionals: Please encourage new hires to attend our upcoming virtual orientation scheduled for Wednesday, October 25 at 1 pm ET. More information and registration can be found here. We have also designed several resources to support new professionals. Contact Rebecca Zuck Sowers with any questions.

Ignite: Powering Teen Engagement: Stay in Chicago after FedPro to attend this two-day, network-building experience, which will explore cutting-edge, effective strategies to launch, grow or reimagine Jewish teen engagement in your community.  This convening will commence at the Chicago Hilton at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, November 7 and will end at 4 pm on Wednesday, November 8. Learn more and register here. For questions, email Beth Lipschutz.

Wexner Field Fellowship: The Wexner Field Fellowship is a leadership learning opportunity for high-potential, full-time Jewish communal professionals to deepen their leadership skills and develop a rich network of colleagues. Up to 15 exceptional professionals will be selected for a three-year program with a cohort of lifelong professional learners. To learn more about program content and eligibility requirements, and to start a pre-application, please click here. Applications are due by Thursday, October 26 at 1 pm ET. 

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sukkot Sameach,

Shira Hutt
Executive Vice President
Jewish Federations of North America