A Modern-Day Pogrom

Late last night in Amsterdam, anti-Israel mobs terrorized and beat Israelis and Jews after a soccer game. The images are horrifying. This modern-day pogrom took place two days before the anniversary of Kristallnacht — a sobering, devastating reminder of the true impact of antisemitism.

I’ve been in close contact with our partners at The Jewish Agency for Israel as they provide security on the ground. They are rapidly coordinating with the local government, emergency services, and the Jewish community.

Their immediate response is possible because of their global infrastructure, which our community has supported for decades. Today, your support is seeing the victims of this attack through a terrifying situation and providing added security for Amsterdam’s Jewish school, among many other efforts.

Thank you for ensuring we can be there for those who need us. And as we respond on the ground in Amsterdam, we remain committed to combating hatred and antisemitism locally as well. Clearly, this work has never been more important.

Here at home, during a week marked by political division, Federation continued to connect people across generations. Read on for highlights from the week — and reminders of what keeps us united.

• We started the week with an intergenerational dialogue hosted by our Jewish Community Foundation. Amid the most significant generational transfer of wealth in history, we heard from two philanthropic families setting incredible examples: Gary and Adam Berman and Rachel Federowicz and Randall Levitt. One takeaway: the younger generation has taken on the charge to “do more,” not just with dollars, but to actively engage in leadership as modeled by their parents (and sometimes grandparents and great-grandparents). I’m grateful to see that engagement in action every day from so many of our Next Gen leaders.
• Wednesday offered donors to Federation’s Israel Crisis Relief Fund — another multigenerational group — a closer look at their philanthropic impact. We met with our grantee, Bshvil Hamachar, an Israeli NGO supporting combat reservists, including those deployed in Gaza and Lebanon since October 7^th. We heard directly from three reservists who shared stories of their elite rescue unit 669, months in Gaza and Lebanon, and how our support of Bshvil Hamachar has helped them process the trauma of their experiences. I am still thinking about Iftach’s artwork; his black and white scenes of war and the vivid color in the drawings of his healing retreat. It was an honor to learn their stories.
• We closed out the week with a dynamic event for 30 current, former, and prospective members of Cabinet — Federation’s national young leadership program. Cabinet alumni spoke about their leadership journeys with Federation and beyond. As Stuart Kurlander, a past Federation president, shared, “With Cabinet, you develop relationships with people who have shared values…it’s a shared bond, an opportunity to build bridges. It’s relationships that last a lifetime.” It was truly special to bring these current and future leaders of our community together.
• I hope to see you this Sunday, November 10^th, in DC as we unite with Jewish community members from across North America for Stand Together, nearly one year after our March for Israel.
• Stand Together will kick off the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly (GA). If you’ll be attending the GA, please join me and Federation on November 11th for a participant breakfast with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. We’re co-hosting with the Forum to stand in solidarity with those still captive in Gaza and uplift their families. I’ll report back on both gatherings.