*Event details, including the location and street address or virtual link, will be emailed to you prior to the event using the address provided at registration. Learn more about security at Federation events.
We’re committed to building an inclusive community. If you need accommodations to participate meaningfully, please contact us in advance.
This past Sunday, living rooms across Greater Washington filled with laughter, stories, and something deeper: a sense of belonging. More than 50 women gathered in DC, Maryland, and Virginia for Women’s Philanthropy Community Gatherings that sparked real conversation, connection, and community.
Many came with their mothers, or talked about them. Stories of Federation through generations echoed across the rooms: memories of parents hosting events, shaping Jewish life, and quietly passing the baton.
Each gathering also featured one of our Community Shlichim, who bringing personal stories, powerful perspective, and a tangible reminder that our connection to Israel is rooted in people, not just headlines.
Each gathering felt different—different homes, conversations, energy—but all left women feeling the same thing: connected.
In Maryland, women came together for an afternoon that felt deeply grounded and generous. One participant shared a personal reflection on recent loss and how this community has held her. The conversation that followed was honest and warm. Another spoke about Jewish identity and teen engagement, sharing insight that felt timely and real.“Very relatable and poignant to the moment we’re in,” one attendee said. “I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
In Virginia, the tone was joyful and full of small, meaningful moments, including one surprise reconnection between two women who hadn’t seen each other since Jewish day school in North Carolina back in 2005. The event felt like both a reunion and a doorway into something new.
And in DC, the gathering sparked conversations that felt alive with possibility. Women asked thoughtful questions, explored shared values, and reflected on how they want to show up—for themselves, for each other, and for Jewish life.
These weren’t just welcomes. They were starting points for friendship, for purpose, for whatever comes next.
Inspired to get involved? Explore how you can connect, lead, and grow with Women’s Philanthropy here.
When Women’s Philanthropy set out to create a signature gathering for the Lions of Judah community, the goal was simple but ambitious: to build something that felt both celebratory and essential. A space to honor stories. A moment to deepen connections. A tradition worth beginning.
Held at the Four Seasons in Georgetown, this inaugural event on Monday, September 15, brought together more than 150 women for a morning of inspiration, reflection, and connection. More than a brunch, L’Chaim was a powerful reminder of what happens when women gather with intention. When leadership meets legacy. When stories are shared freely, and futures are shaped collectively.
You could feel it immediately. It was a celebration of shared values, lived leadership, and the power of women’s philanthropy to shape our community.
Co-Chairs Yvonne Schlafstein Distenfeld and Irene Sherman set the tone: this wasn’t a day to sit back—it was a day to reflect, to honor, to energize.
Yvonne shared:
“There’s something truly powerful about bringing so many women together in one room—it’s inspiring every time. I’m in awe of the energy, strength, and spirit of being surrounded by such extraordinary women!”
Her message resonated deeply with the room. One Lion said:
“Wendy Sachs was so eloquent and inspiring and I loved hearing her speak. I was impressed how she talked about her audience being a global one (which we certainly need).”
Another Lion added:
“Wasn’t Wendy Sachs amazing? She was just as engaging and interesting as she could be.”
Marianna spoke of leaving everything behind in 1989; her home, her extended family, and her familiar world in Kyiv. She recalled standing on a train platform with her parents and brother, holding only a pair of suitcases and an unwavering sense of Jewish identity.
“While we may have made a leap of faith by getting on that plane,” she said, “Federation was there to catch us when we landed at JFK.”
The room was quiet as she described how Federation gave her family not just resources, but dignity: language classes, job support, school supplies, summer camp. A kitchen full of groceries. A Jewish home in a new land.
“The Jewish Federation didn’t just help us get by. You helped us imagine what could come next, and gave us the tools to pursue.”
Her story reminded everyone in the room exactly why their giving matters.
“Without Jewish Federation. Without you. I am not here—standing in front of you. Sharing my story.”
What made the morning unforgettable wasn’t just the speakers or the setting; it was the women who filled the room. Each one carrying a legacy of giving, each one committed to community.
“It was fun to connect with old friends and also meet new ones,” said one Lion. “What a spectacular event!”
Another reflected on what made the gathering so meaningful:
“I am so glad I came today! It was a beautiful event, and I learned so much from the stories that the women told.”
L’Chaim was about the quiet confidence that comes from standing shoulder to shoulder with women who believe in tikkun olam, repairing the world, and who act on that belief every day.
“This event was a huge success,” one Lion shared. “It has all the markings of a program to have every year before the holidays.”
We are grateful to our host committee, our Women’s Philanthropy leaders, our Co-Chairs, and all who brought their time, energy, and commitment to this celebration.
If you’d like to learn more about the Lions of Judah giving society, please contact Becca Ginns at becca.ginns@www.shalomdc.org or (301) 230-7236.
How Natalia Straus is helping Greater Washington’s Jewish community plan for the future—with heart, humor, and purpose.
Natalia Straus has always been a planner.
“As a kid, I’d write a to-do list that started with ‘write a to-do list,’” she laughs. “My family still teases me that I can’t get through breakfast without saying, ‘Let’s make a list.’”
That love of structure—and her deep sense of purpose—make Natalia the perfect person to lead legacy giving at The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
Now serving as Federation’s Senior Director of Legacy Giving, Natalia is revitalizing a community-driven legacy program in partnership with the Jewish Community Foundation.
Her goal? To make it easier—and more meaningful—for community members to plan for the future and leave a lasting impact on Jewish life in Greater Washington.
“Legacy giving is about intention,” she says. “It’s asking: What values do I want to carry forward? What kind of world do I want to help build—even after I’m gone?”
And there’s no better time to start. August is National Make-A-Will Month—a timely reminder that creating or updating your will is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to secure your future impact.
Legacy gifts—like naming Federation in your will, trust, or retirement plan—are simple to set up and have a lasting effect. These gifts sustain the programs, services, and values that shape Jewish life: from youth education and senior care to Jewish identity, emergency response, and beyond.
Natalia got her start in legacy giving at the Osher Marin JCC through Federation’s “Leave a Jewish Legacy” initiative. Since then, she’s helped organizations from Spirit Rock Meditation Center to California State Parks Foundation build and strengthen their legacy programs.
She recalls one moment that solidified her passion: a longtime donor reached out to confirm their gift shortly before passing. “They told me it brought them peace,” she remembers. “That conversation reminded me—this work isn’t about paperwork. It’s about people, their stories, and their hopes.”
For Natalia, planning a legacy isn’t just a job—it’s how she moves through the world.
“Creating a plan is one of the most generous things you can do. For your family. For your community. For yourself. It’s an act of hope.”
That same outlook shaped her leadership in Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy program over the past three and a half years. “It’s been an incredible experience building this community,” she says. “I’m proud to leave it in the hands of amazing leaders like Becca Ginns, Jordan Kaufman, and our Women’s Philanthropy chairs and changemakers.”
Ready to Write Your Next Chapter?
Your legacy is already in the making. Let’s make sure it tells the story you want to be remembered by.
Reach out to Natalia at natalia.straus@www.shalomdc.org or 301.230.7279
Despite the vital role women and girls play in building strong, resilient communities, philanthropic funding continues to fall dramatically short. Organizations serving women and girls received only 2.2%^ of total charitable dollars in 2020.
The Fund for Women and Girls exists to help close that critical gap.
Powered by The Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the Fund channels collective giving into multi-year, trust-based partnerships to transform conditions for women and girls here in Greater Washington and in Israel.
The Fund for Women and Girls is more than a force for change—it’s showing how Jewish philanthropy can come together to make a lasting impact.
Over the last 18 months, the Fund has supported Israeli women and girls through three rounds of grants and multiple learning sessions. Now, we’re entering a new phase of growth—with a goal of raising $1 million this summer, and ultimately $3 million, to ensure we can continue driving change where it’s needed most.
We’re proud to share that momentum is already building. To date, we’ve secured more than $500,000 in multi-year commitments, with $140,000 already transferred to the Fund. We invite you to join us—at any level—as continue to expand the Fund’s reach.
“Now is the moment to invest in women and girls—because when they thrive, whole communities rise,” explains Dr. Jannah Yutkovitz, Senior Director of Philanthropic Impact at the Jewish Community Foundation. “Supporting a fund of this nature helps fuel solutions that are bold and urgently needed. Through developing long-term partnerships with organizations on the ground, we’re not just supporting solutions—we’re investing in resilience and have the opportunity to make a generational impact.”
To help propel this growth, Carol and Gary Berman have made an exceptional three-year, $300,000 commitment to the Fund to honor the extraordinary leadership of their daughter-in-law Emily Berman, a founding member of the Fund’s steering committee.
“Women and girls are in the forefront of being there to provide what’s necessary and critical for those in need. In the case of Israel, they are also holding the families together through war and the tragic losses as a result of war. As a family, we recognize the importance of women’s voices and actions, as well as the remarkable contributions they make to our world. We feel very grateful to be able to support this fund,” Carol and Gary shared.
Carol and Gary are inviting nine additional individuals to match their commitment and join them in a small minyan of major donors who will seed the Fund with $3 million over the next three years. To learn more, please reach out to sara.brenner@www.shalomdc.org..
The Fund for Women and Girls reflects what’s possible when community comes together with shared purpose and deep commitment. It was created in response to a clear and urgent gap—and it continues to grow as more people recognize the power of long-term, collective investment in women and girls.
As the Fund looks ahead, our focus remains the same: to shift conditions, elevate voices, and invest in meaningful change—locally and in Israel.
^Jewish Funders Network “The Complete Guide to Promote Gender Equity through Strategic Philanthropy” (2025)
| Meet Yair and Sarah | |
|
Yair Attias, 35, is a decorated IDF officer and father of three. He served as Battalion Commander of the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion and Chief of Staff for the 162nd Armored Division during the recent war. He was among the first responders to the Nova music festival attack and led operations throughout the Gaza envelope. Today, he serves in a joint military program with the U.S. Marine Corps in Virginia. |
| Sarah Attias, 35, is a midwife and devoted mother. She has carried the weight of wartime motherhood—raising children in uncertainty, grieving the loss of her brother who fell in Gaza, and holding her family together while Yair served on the front lines. Together, Yair and Sarah will share a story of service, sacrifice, and strength—a story that echoes the heart of Israel and the soul of our community. | |
*Event details, including the location and street address or virtual link, will be emailed to you prior to the event using the address provided at registration. Learn more about security at Federation events.
We’re committed to building an inclusive community. If you need accommodations to participate meaningfully, please contact us in advance.
