March is Women’s History Month. Women stand at the center of Jewish life and our Federation. This month’s Impact Update celebrates several of the incredible women who lead our community with our shared Jewish values of kindness, courage, and compassion not just in March, but every day.
MANDANA DAYANI INSPIRED US AT OUR LION OF JUDAH LUNCHEON
Our Jewish values teach us to welcome. Our annual Lion of Judah Luncheon, held on March 20th, honored this value by featuring Mandana Dayani as the guest speaker. A religious refugee from Iran, Mandana credits her experience immigrating to the United States as her motivation to dedicate herself to social activism. That dedication inspired her to become the co-founder of I am a Voter, an organization that increases voter participation. We celebrate the fearlessness of Mandana, who reminded all the women at the luncheon how vital it is to welcome refugees with a warm embrace so that they can make a positive impact on our Jewish world. She also encouraged us to make our voices heard during this time of heightened antisemitism.
Interested in joining our community of strong, passionate women? Reach out to our Vice President, Development Marta Rubenstein-Harmon.
WE HONORED NANCY JOSEPHSON FOR ENSURING THE JEWISH FUTURE
A thriving Jewish future isn’t guaranteed. Caring people create it through hard work, perseverance, and love. Nancy Josephson is one of those people. Over the course of her decades-long career as an agent in the entertainment industry, Nancy has never lost sight of how important it is to build a strong, vibrant Jewish community. On March 21st, we honored Nancy with a beautiful event that celebrated the impactful contributions Nancy, and strong women like her, have made on Jewish life in Los Angeles. The evening raised almost a million dollars for the cause of sustaining Judaism for generations to come.
You can still make a donation in Nancy’s honor by visiting: JewishLA.org/NancyJosephson.
MOMENTUM MOMS BOND OVER THE UNIFYING POWER OF ART
We value the friendship and community that Jewish mothers create. MOMentum is a year-long program we support that brings together women with children ages 9 and under for learning sessions, volunteer opportunities, and a transformative eight-day trip to Israel. In mid-March, with our partners at Jewish Studio Project, our MOMentum moms used art to explore their motherhood journey, which helped them grow closer in anticipation of their Israel trip in November. These dedicated women honored the Purim tradition by creating masks, which sparked conversation over their symbolism, as masks have the power to both conceal and reveal our true selves. It was an impactful afternoon of relationship-building and thought-provoking discussion.
We’re recruiting for our November 2024 MOMentum experience. Sign up at: JewishLA.org/MOMentum.
JFEDLA acts on shared values to create safe, joyful, and connected Jewish life in Los Angeles, Israel, and around the world. We care for our vulnerable by fighting poverty and combating antisemitism. We inspire by fostering Jewish journeys, building bridges, and developing leaders. Our dedicated partners, passionate staff, and your generosity make our work possible.
To make a gift, please visit JewishLA.org/Donate.