I hope you and your families are staying healthy and safe. This continues to be a challenging time for all of us and for our community.
I remain an impatient optimist and, even though in many ways we have taken a step back, our Federation continues to look forward.
I am deeply proud of how our Federation has been able to pivot to make the greatest possible impact to address this pandemic and its effect on our entire community.
With our trusted partners, we have redoubled our efforts to feed those in need, provide financial support to our most vulnerable, prioritize mental health and wellness, and continue to provide highly impactful Jewish experiences and connections.
I feel privileged to live in a Jewish community led by passionate, committed, and creative lay and professional leaders. Our rabbis are providing great comfort to us all.
Over the past few weeks, many concerning emails and blog posts have been circulated. First and foremost, we want to assure you that our Federation continues to be committed to the safety and security of our community and to addressing anti- Semitism in all its forms. We are thoughtful and strategic in our approach and steadfast in our commitment.
I am extremely proud of the national and local initiatives and partnerships that our Federation has established over the past decade. Ten years ago, we helped create the Israel Action Network that combats BDS and anti-Israel groups across North America, from college campuses to trade unions to churches. We have also been effectively and continuously working directly on our local college campuses. In 2012, our Federation was among the first Federations to launch a significant security effort in the form of our Community Security Initiative (CSI). We work directly with almost every Jewish institution, synagogue, and school to keep them and their communities safe. CSI continues to work directly with local and national law enforcement. We continue to monitor any threat to our community and have the most factual and current information available.
Our Federation is deeply committed to our values and our clearly stated mission statement. We do not and will not associate or support any organization that has a platform inconsistent with those values or with our mission.
Our Jewish community’s strength is its diversity, and we celebrate that diversity and encourage a wide range of thoughtful and responsible voices.
We continue to address our community’s greatest needs and challenges while looking forward to our future.
Wishing you continued good health and safety,
Jay Sanderson
President & CEO
