Month: June 2025

There’s an infamous stretch of the Boston Marathon route called Heartbreak Hill. It sits between miles 20 and 21, a point at which the race weighs heavy on the runners, and the finish line is not yet in view. This stretch of road has been on my mind this week as our community finds itself rallying to meet another critical moment.

It’s hard to believe that after the horrors of October 7th and the war with Hamas, Israelis would once again be called upon to demonstrate their resilience, but that was the situation over the past two weeks as Israel sought to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program and Iran sought to inflict pain on the Israeli population. In response, Federation is accelerating funds and increasing support to provide Israelis with additional trauma care and mental health support, upgrade shelters for thousands of evacuees—including Jewish, Arab and Druze communities, and ensure specialized support for at-risk teens and displaced families. Learn more and donate.

Here at home, we are focused on security. This week, I joined a delegation of 400 Jewish leaders from around the country to urge Congress to adopt the Jewish Community’s Six-Point Policy on Security. The proposal calls for a comprehensive strategy to increase security for the Jewish community, including increasing Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding to $1 billion, expanding support for security personnel and local law enforcement at Jewish institutions, and enhancing FBI intelligence capabilities to address potential threats. It also emphasizes prosecuting antisemitic hate crimes and holding tech platforms accountable for spreading antisemitic content. Contact your representative.

This work is urgent, important, and deserving of your support. I also want to acknowledge that like those marathon runners rounding mile 20, it’s possible that the challenges over the past five years might be getting to us. Since 2020, we’ve been giving it our all to come together as a community and address immense needs locally, globally and in Israel. Through Covid, Ukraine, October 7, and beyond our collective efforts have been monumental and record breaking—and it’s understandable if we’re feeling more than a little fatigued.

The magic of Heartbreak Hill, however, is that while the marathon runners are exhausted, they are doing it with the largest crowds along the path of the race cheering them on. In our community’s case, we meet this moment by becoming both runner and cheerleader. We need everyone in our collective race. Our success depends not on a few but on all of us. And we need to remind each other we’re not alone on the course. We have one another, our allies, a purpose, and a Jewish story still unfolding.

We recognize that significant challenges remain. Our support for Israel continues to be vital. We must accelerate our investment in ensuring security at all Jewish institutions and events—and rise to meet the surge in interest and engagement we’re seeing across our community: to be together, to experience the richness of learning, celebration, and connection. After all, our goal continues to be to strengthen Jewish life and engage more people in the beauty of Judaism and the Jewish people.

We’ve been through a lot as a community, and there’s a lot more we’ll need to navigate together, but so long as we keep our vision for vibrant Jewish life front and center, there’s no hill we can’t climb.

Shabbat Shalom,

Gil

I’ve been to the site of the Nova Music Festival—where Hamas unleashed unthinkable violence—just outside Kibbutz Re’im. I’ve walked the grounds. I thought it couldn’t get harder than that. But then I walked through the Nova Exhibition at Gallery Place in Washington, DC, and heard the stream of raw video: the yelling, the screaming, the gunshots. Footage taken by people who were there—by victims, not reporters. You don’t just hear it. You feel it—in your core, in a completely different way. The exhibit doesn’t just show you what happened. It immerses you in it. It confronts you. It stays with you. Nova survivor Noa Beer shared her story and reminded me: this wasn’t just an attack on a place. It was an attack on joy. An attack on freedom. An attack on community.

Why Federation Day at the Nova Exhibition Matters

That’s why Federation Day at the Nova Exhibition on Tuesday, July 1 matters. It’s not just about viewing an art installation, walking past scorched cars, standing among bullet-riddled bathroom stalls, or staring at piles of personal belongings left behind. It’s about bearing witness—together. Come. Join your community. Bring someone who hasn’t seen it. Someone who needs to understand. That’s how we get through the hardest things: by showing up. By being in community. July 1 is for exactly this. A day to stand with the victims, lift up the survivors, and lean on each other. Because healing begins with presence. And it continues with action.

Federation’s Response: From Witnessing to Action

That’s why The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is:

• Supporting trauma recovery programs for survivors of October 7
• Strengthening local Jewish security through JShield
• Investing in both immediate relief and long-term healing in Israel

It all matters. And so does this moment—standing together, bearing witness, being there. I hope you’ll meet me there—on Tuesday, July 1.

713 7th Street NW
Open 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Reserve your timed-entry tickets at novaexhibition.com

On Wednesday, I had the honor of joining fellow lay and professional leaders from Greater Washington—alongside hundreds more from 100+ Jewish communities across the country—for the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)’s Emergency Leadership Mission: United for Security on Capitol Hill.

As JFNA CEO Eric Fingerhut so powerfully said, “The power of today is our unity.”

I felt that unity profoundly. It gave me strength and deepened my pride in being Jewish—and in serving our community through the work of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

Building Security Through Advocacy

Throughout the day, I met leaders from every corner of Jewish life. We come from different backgrounds, attend different kinds of synagogues—or none at all. We live in diverse communities, hold a wide range of political beliefs, and may disagree on many issues. And yet, we stood united by a shared purpose: ensuring that our Jewish communities have the security and resources to live freely and safely as Jews. To celebrate simchas (joyful Jewish lifecycle events). To attend school. To pray. To observe our holidays. To mourn. All without fear.

Together, we called on Congress to expand the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)—a vital source of support for Jewish institutions nationwide. Locally, our JShield initiative helps schools, synagogues, and other organizations apply for these funds and turn them into real-world security upgrades. It’s one of the many ways we’re investing in safety—not just through dollars, but through expertise, coordination, and partnership.

A Memorable Capitol Hill Moment

One moment captured the spirit of the day perfectly: a group of us—lay leaders and professionals from Greater Washington, Baltimore, and Annapolis—were racing to make it to our meeting with Jonathan Lord, the new national security advisor to Senator Angela Alsobrooks. The usual route was closed, so we had to get creative. After some quick coordination (and a little begging), I found a staffer named Zane who helped us access the restricted train that runs between the House and Senate buildings. Thanks to Zane, we arrived just in time. The meeting was incredibly productive, especially the conversation with Alsobrooks’s new national security advisor, Jonathan Lord, who, as it happens, is Jewish.

It wasn’t just a logistical workaround. It was a reminder that behind every policy win and funding decision is a relationship, a human moment, a door opened.

And sometimes, that connection comes with VIP access to the underground Senate train—complete with a new friend named Zane.

Strength in Collective Action

We came together with a single goal: to keep our communities safe. We showed up to tell our stories—diverse, personal, and deeply rooted in Jewish life—and to affirm our determination to live proudly and securely as Jews, even in the face of rising antisemitism and new threats unlike any we’ve experienced in the U.S., and certainly not in Washington, DC.

I’m especially grateful to Guila Franklin Siegel, one of our partners at the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington, who led many of the day’s meetings with clarity, purpose, and a deep understanding of what’s at stake. Her reflections capture the urgency and solidarity of the moment beautifully.

Why I Returned to Federation

It’s been nearly six months since I returned to Federation. I came back for many reasons. I believe in the power of philanthropy—what becomes possible when people give generously and collectively to drive meaningful change. I love the Jewish community, and I especially love the Jewish community here in Greater Washington. I moved here with purpose, like so many others, at 23 years old. Nearly 30 years later, I feel more at home here than ever.

This week gave me renewed hope that we will get through this challenging time—so long as we do it together.

Our unity is our strength. Now more than ever, it’s up to all of us to show up, speak out, and invest in the security and resilience of Jewish life—for ourselves and for generations to come.

Let’s keep moving forward—together.

Doron Kalaf has worked with Beit Noam for more than 30 years. As Director of the Residential Program, he oversees five small apartments across Kiryat Ono, home to 25 adults with severe physical and cognitive disabilities. All use wheelchairs. All require full-time care. And none of the apartments, which are all old, rented, and unprotected, can shield them during emergencies.

So when the first missile sirens sounded in the early hours between Thursday and Friday, Doron acted immediately. He made the decision to evacuate every resident to Beit Noam’s day center, which was closed due to the war, but had one shelter large enough to house everyone.

He’s remained by their side ever since—recruiting emergency staff to provide round-the-clock care, including daytime support that doesn’t exist under normal circumstances. Some even slept on-site in difficult conditions.

“What we used to do in emergencies was just hold hands and pray,” Doron said. “This time, we had to do more. We couldn’t leave them unprotected.”

He made sure residents had everything they needed—not just physically, but emotionally. For people with intellectual disabilities, wartime can heighten anxiety and fear. Doron helped create moments of calm and routine: shared meals, music, and laughter.

His swift, courageous response transformed fear into safety and care for some of Israel’s most vulnerable residents.

How We Show Up

Beit Noam has served adults with severe disabilities for more than 40 years from its original center in a Tel Aviv suburb. When the war began, Federation connected with Beit Noam to help meet urgent needs and ensure uninterrupted care for their residents.

Our relationship with Beit Noam began long before this crisis, and it’s exactly what allowed them to respond when it mattered most. With trusted and long-standing relationships, strategic thinking, and community insight, we mobilize our partners to meet urgent needs and strengthen Jewish life—now and for what’s next.

Support the relationships and response our community depends on—donate today.

Over the past year, I have had the honor of serving as the Senior Shlicha (Israeli emissary) and head of the Israeli delegation on behalf of The Jewish Agency and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (JFGW). I relocated here last summer with my husband and our three children.

Our delegation of young Shlichim is the second-largest in North America, comprising 11 passionate and dedicated emissaries. This speaks to Federation’s deep commitment to meaningful Israel engagement and its recognition of the Shlichim’s vital role in building bridges between Israel and this vibrant local Jewish community.

Just last year, the Mishlachat (delegation) reached nearly 20,000 participants through more than 400 programs. Our Shlichim serve in congregations, JCCs, the Federation itself, and Makom, where one Shlicha works with individuals with disabilities. From Gaithersburg to Fairfax, our presence spans the region, reflecting our shared goal of connecting with and positively impacting the entire Greater Washington community. At the same time, we are committed to bringing the strength and solidarity of this beautiful community back to Israel.

As we finalize next year’s work plan and prepare to welcome new Shlichim to our delegation, I’ve taken time to reflect on the approaches we use to deepen the relationship between Israel and our local Jewish community.

Here are three moments that shaped my understanding of our role as Shlichim.

1. Commemorating October 7 – Pozez JCC

One of the most meaningful experiences I participated in was a commemoration event held at the Pozez JCC to mark one year since the deadly attacks on October 7. The evening included workshops focused on Israeli art and storytelling. I presented an Israeli art gallery titled Wrapping Memory, which explores life in the Gaza envelope region prior to the attacks.

During my presentation, I introduced the symbol of the red poppy—Israel’s national flower—and its layered meanings. The poppy symbolizes beauty, nature, connection to the land, and renewal. But it also represents loss and mourning. In Israel Defense Forces terminology, perach (flower) is used to refer to a fallen soldier.

Many in the audience had never encountered this symbolism before. But in that moment, they connected emotionally with something deeply Israeli.

Aha Moment:

This event reminded me of the unique power of cultural programming. Through music, art, literature, and language, we can foster shared understanding and invite meaningful conversation about Israel—without always centering politics. Even in the wake of tragedy, new spaces for dialogue and connection can emerge.

2. People-to-People Connection – A Grandmother’s Words

This next story comes from one of our Shlichim, Tamar, who led a B’nai Mitzvah program focused on Jewish and Israeli values. Families were invited to a final celebration. Afterward, a grandmother approached her and said:

“When you asked the kids what makes them feel Jewish, I realized—having you here, and what you represent, makes me feel more Jewish.”

Aha Moment:

That simple, powerful statement reminded me that genuine connection happens through people—not just programs. A Shaliach’s presence can become a living bridge between Israel and local Jewish life, deepening one’s own Jewish identity. Through relationships, conversations, and shared experiences, Shlichim create bonds that no one-time event can replace.

3. Facilitated Dialogue – Empowering Young Voices

A few months ago, I co-led a panel for young professionals from across the DMV. We discussed the complexities of modern Israeli discourse, the rise of antisemitism, and the overwhelming role of social media in shaping perceptions.

Many of the participants had grown up with an idealized image of Israel—Eretz Zavat Halav U’dvash (a land flowing with milk and honey)—and had little exposure to its complexities. Some expressed feeling insecure when faced with difficult conversations about Israel or antisemitic rhetoric. They felt unprepared and lacked the tools to speak up.

We discussed the value of open dialogue, approaching disagreement with curiosity and courage, and the importance of finding one’s voice. I shared that growing up in Israel, I was encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and stand for my beliefs. I told them: “You just need to be a little more Israeli.”

Aha Moment:

Empowering young adults to engage with Israel requires more than information—it requires confidence, resilience, and helping them find their voice. We must not only teach about Israel, but also support our community in learning how to speak about Israel—especially when it’s difficult. This is one of our goals for next year.

Thank you for the opportunity to share these reflections. As Shlichim, we are honored to walk alongside this community—to listen, to connect, and to build bridges of understanding in both directions.

As we reflect on the events unfolding in Israel, I truly believe we are living through historic moments. My hope for the coming year is that we will reunite to mark peace, not war, and that all the hostages will return home soon.

On Wednesday, June 18, the most generous members of the Greater Washington Jewish community gathered for an unforgettable evening at the Nova Music Festival Exhibition in Washington, DC—a powerful, immersive tribute honoring the lives lost and the strength of survivors following the October 7 terror attack.

This wasn’t just an event. It was a reckoning. A moment that asked each of us: What will you do with what you now know?

Inside the exhibition—transformed from a site of celebration into sacred ground—we walked through a landscape once alive with music, freedom, and light. The same landscape where, on October 7, thousands of young people were dancing in the desert when terror struck. The attack didn’t just take lives—it targeted joy itself.

But joy, as our community was reminded, is resilient.

Survivors and community leaders took the stage to bear witness—and to ask us to do the same.

Noa Beer, one of the Nova Festival’s original organizers and a survivor of the attack, stood before us and declared: “You are now witnesses.” Her story turned presence into purpose.

Brian Levenson spoke to the strength of our chevra—our sacred circle of trust that shows up in moments that matter. He reminded us that Jewish identity is shaped not just by what we endure, but by what we choose to stand for.

Marla Schulman, incoming chair of Federation’s Community Leadership Council, shared how her trips to Israel were canceled—visits to grantees and leadership programs postponed because of escalating violence. Her family in Tel Aviv continues to live under constant threat. Walking through the exhibit, she imagined her own children among the young people at Nova. “This exhibition,” she said, “tells the story not through headlines, but through the beat that stopped and the lives that were shattered.”

And Mollie Bowman—soon to be a mother, and a third-generation Holocaust survivor—stood in the raw space between grief and hope. “I’m filled with fear for the world my child will inherit,” she said, “and I am also audaciously hopeful that they may change it for the better.”

This evening wasn’t just about remembrance. It was about responsibility.

It wasn’t only for those in the room. It’s for everyone.

Step Into the Story

Stand with our Greater Washington community at Federation Day at the Nova Exhibition—a powerful moment to honor memory, affirm our shared values, and offer collective strength.

Bring a friend. Invite others. Everyone needs to see it.

Bear witness and share the story—on social media, in your circles, and across our community

This is more than an exhibit. It’s a declaration: Joy will not be silenced. Community will not be broken. Truth will not fade.

This is our moment to listen. To act. To carry the light forward.

Stay connected. Stand together. Be a witness.

Fictionalized for storytelling purposes. Inspired by real experiences.

In Israel, life runs on the rules of the Home Front Command: no school, no work, stay close to shelter. Missiles are tracked, detected—and then the sirens sound.

In those 90 seconds, babies are lifted awake. Children are scooped into arms. Families rush into bomb shelters while texting relatives: Are you okay? Are you safe?

But behind the headlines and alerts are the quiet, human moments that rarely make the news. These moments tell the real story of life between the sirens—where fear and resilience live side by side.

The Shelter Within

One girl sleeps in leopard-print pajamas because they help her feel strong, just in case she has to run in the middle of the night. A toddler keeps a few toys in the shelter. Teenagers scroll silently, connected to their friends through glowing screens. A woman knits without looking up. Two kids play a clapping game, their laughter soft but real.

These are the small rituals of control when the world outside feels unrecognizable.

In the shared stillness of bomb shelters, strangers become familiar. Neighbors check in. People make sure everyone gets in before the door closes. Safety isn’t just personal—it’s collective.

“Club Concrete” and the Kindness of Snacks

The shelter becomes more than a safe space—it becomes a temporary community.

One neighbor sets up folding chairs like she’s hosting guests. Another pours lukewarm tea from a dented thermos. Someone shares Bamba. Someone else remembers a phone charger. There’s quiet generosity in every gesture. People make space for one another in more ways than one.

Sometimes they’re inside for ten minutes. Sometimes, hours. Either way, they wait—together.

Fragments of a Full Life

This isn’t just a story of defense. It’s a story of dinners left on stoves, of Lego IDF headquarters half-built, of whispered prayers into baby-soft necks after a long, sleepless night of sirens. It’s teens turning fear into song lyrics. Parents making hard decisions in soft voices. It’s life, in fragments.

Each story is individual. But the experience is shared.

What Holds Us Together

There’s no single story of what it means to live between sirens. But in cities and kibbutzim, in stairwells and shelters, thousands of quiet moments speak volumes.

Resilience is real. So is grief. So is exhaustion, and fear, and laughter.

And so is love—the kind that hands you a granola bar when you didn’t pack one. The kind that lets your child sing loud in a space where silence feels safer. The kind that chooses leopard-print pajamas, just in case.

The kind that leads a group of diaspora Jews to paint a mural on a bomb shelter wall, so Israeli children have something bright and joyful to look at in the moments they run to survive.

These are the moments—small, sacred, human—that hold us together, even when the world outside threatens to come apart.

In Crisis. We Come Together.

Today we’re reminded that resilience, collective action, and solidarity are more than values—they’re our sacred responsibilities.

As urgent needs emerge in Israel and here at home, our community is asking: How can we help?

In Israel, families are sheltering from an unrelenting wave of missile strikes. Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva was hit, forcing patients and staff into protected areas and temporarily shutting down essential medical services.

In Greater Washington, we’re reeling from violent antisemitic attacks and rising fear.

This isn’t business as usual.

This is the moment to lean in—together.

DONATE NOW

Because of your support, Federation is responding in real time:

• Delivering trauma care and urgent relief in Israel
• Improving shelters for evacuees through new partnerships in the Kinneret Valley Cluster (KVC)
• Strengthening security through our JShield initiative, which provides emergency planning, physical safeguards, and grant support for synagogues, schools, and gathering spaces across Greater Washington
• Your support provides urgent, critical resources to help keep our community safe—here and in Israel.

Stay Informed. Stay Connected.

Our partners are hosting virtual briefings with real-time updates on the crisis in Israel and growing security concerns here at home.

Updates are often posted on short notice, so we encourage you to check this page regularly. Recordings will be posted as we receive them for those unable to attend.

Let’s meet this moment, together.

As you’re no doubt following in the news and through your personal networks, Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones into civilian areas across Israel in response to Israel’s efforts to degrade Iran’s nuclear capabilities. More than a dozen civilians have been killed, including children, with hundreds more injured across multiple cities. Israelis are living under constant threat and Jews around the world are watching with worry and solidarity.

What sets Iran’s attack apart is the scale and the intent, aimed at civilians rather than military targets. Israel remains focused, strategic, and aiming its attacks squarely at neutralizing immediate and long-term threats.

Even as the situation continues to unfold, one truth is clear: Israelis are once again under fire. And once again, our community is ready to respond.

Our Onward Israel participants—13 young adults from Greater Washington—have been in Israel since June 4. Following the attacks, they were moved from Tel Aviv to the Dead Sea for safety. Federation staff have been in touch with them directly, offering support, care, and connection. We are proud of their resilience and maturity in facing this moment.

Federation’s Role: Strategic, Informed, Impactful

We are in close contact with our partners on the ground in Israel and monitoring real-time updates from our Israel Office Director, who is actively guiding our response—even while navigating their own safety during attacks.

Our investments over the past two years continue to play a critical role in supporting Israelis as they respond to the new challenges being faced. Trauma response systems and municipal partnerships are operating as intended, reflecting the resilience those investments were designed to build. That said, public shelter needs are significant, and our partners—the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)—are well-positioned to respond if additional support is needed.

Thanks to our long-term work in Israel, which strengthens education, community development, and civil institutions, and the rapid-response infrastructure of our Israel Crisis Response Allocation (ICRA), we can respond quickly, responsibly, and in partnership.

One of our newest grantees, Kinneret Valley Cluster (KVC), a regional coalition, is working around the clock in 15 communities in the North of Israel. Its CEO, Dror Lalush, is meeting with regional mayors and other executives to understand needs throughout the region. In a recent conversation, Dror expressed deep gratitude for the Federation-funded shelter that is currently enabling his staff to continue operating safely from their headquarters.

This moment underscores the value of having strong, trusted partnerships already in place before a crisis begins.

What’s Next?

We are tracking developments in real-time. As new needs surface, we’ll continue to share updates from our Israel Office and other partners. For those looking for a trusted way to support Israel right now, we are here and committed to meaningful, coordinated impact.

In moments like this, the Federation’s strength is your strength. Together, we stand committed—with resolve, resilience, and with an enduring bond between our community and the people of Israel.

A community like ours—bold, diverse, ever evolving—deserves a leadership model that reflects who we are and where we’re going.

That’s why, over the past two years, we’ve approached this work with deep intention: reimagining our governance model to reflect our values, our community, and our future. This change is the result of careful listening, learning, and collaboration across our leadership and community—rooted in where we’ve been and designed for where we’re headed.

Not just for efficiency. Not for optics. But to create a true culture of belonging—where more people have more ways to show up, speak out, and shape what comes next.

Here’s what’s new:

• A smaller, sharper Governing Board, focused on Federation’s strength and strategy.
• A new Community Leadership Council (CLC): a powerhouse group of 70–80 leaders, connectors, and changemakers bringing the voice of the community to the table.
• A renewed commitment to data-informed decision-making, gathering broad community insight, analyzing what we learn, and acting with clarity and purpose.

This is not a departure from who we are—it’s a step toward who we’re becoming.

More voices. Smarter choices. Stronger Community

A foundation built for action, not reaction.

Federation remains committed to strengthening the connective tissue of Jewish Greater Washington—fostering deeper collaboration among synagogues, agencies, and institutions to meet this moment and build what’s next. That’s how we create lasting belonging.

Because our future deserves bold ideas, shared ownership, and a leadership model that leads like our community: diverse, passionate, and deeply invested.

Curious who’s leading the way? Take a closer look at our evolving leadership team.