News & Features

We just returned from an urgent trip to Israel where we joined a delegation of 30 Federation lay and professional leaders from over 20 communities organized by The Jewish Federations of North America. We went to show solidarity and to advocate for a resolution to the ongoing judicial reform crisis. We heard repeatedly that our presence was desired, and our voices needed.

Two Los Angeles leaders, Federation Chief Program Officer Becky Sobelman-Stern and Federation Board Member Daniel Gryczman, traveled from the Ethiopian cities of Addis Ababa and Gondar to Israel to witness the reunification of 3,000 Ethiopian Jews with family members who previously made aliyah and had already started to be absorbed into Israeli society.

Shalom. Our Federation’s President & CEO Jay Sanderson, along with other Federation leaders from North America, are in Israel to see what‘s happening on the ground, how our Israeli partners have been impacted, and learn how we can all proactively build a safer, more inclusive, and fair future for all. Here Jay shares the personal reason behind why he has dedicated his life to protecting Israel.

I am writing to you from my seat on an El Al flight headed to Israel. After the frightening antisemitic acts of last week and after over 4,400 rockets rained over Israel, I am proud to be joining a small group of national leaders on a Jewish Federations of North America Leadership and Solidarity Mission.