OUR COMMITMENT AND WORK IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL
Our Federation is deeply committed to a strong and safe State of Israel. As our brothers and sisters again faced an overwhelming onslaught of rocket fire from the South and rioting within Israel’s borders, we immediately began working with our partners including the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) to provide emergency funding to expand their work during and after the conflict with Hamas, as well as much-needed support — especially to the most vulnerable including frail elderly, families, and young children. ITC and its teams of professionals train clinicians, first line responders, and local officials on diagnosing and managing trauma, promoting healing and rehabilitation, and creating resilient individuals, families, and communities. Our President & CEO Jay Sanderson is leading these efforts as he has traveled to Israel to join a small group of national leaders on a Jewish Federations of North America Leadership and Solidarity Mission.
KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE FROM ANTISEMITISM
Our Federation is deeply concerned about the dramatic rise in antisemitism and direct attacks on Jews worldwide including the hate crime on Jews perpetrated by a pro-Palestinian mob in a Los Angeles restaurant last week. Our Community Security Initiative (CSI) worked directly with local law enforcement to make sure the perpetrators were caught and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Last week, CSI held an emergency briefing with elected officials, law enforcement, and Federation staff — attended by over 1,200 community members — to provide an update on the attack and share vital information about how people can submit tips concerning antisemitic incidents and crimes. Our Federation will continue to be vigilant in making sure that every individual and Jewish institution is safe and secure.
PROVIDING URGENTLY NEEDED RESOURCES TO FOOD-INSECURE JEWISH COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS
As the pandemic hit, our Federation connected with partners and young adults in our community to conduct wellness checks. We learned that a surprisingly large number of Jewish college students and 20- and 30-year-olds struggled to afford food. We responded by helping launch WellFed, which provides $250 grocery gift cards and meal delivery cards to food-insecure college students and young adults who have lost jobs and whose families were experiencing unemployment or reductions in income. In 2020, WellFed helped over 400 young adults. Because we knew the need for this support was still present, in March of 2021 we initiated a second round of WellFed to support our young adult community. Within days of its launch, 850 new young adults submitted applications. A quarter of the applicants also asked for additional social services, which we are now providing.