Category: Crisis Response & Resilience

Following a deadly Iranian missile strike in his hometown of Beit Shemesh, one Federation’s community shaliach (Israeli emissary), Yismaw, shares his personal perspective.

When I was three years old, my family and I made aliyah (immigrated) to Israel from Ethiopia. We settled in Beit Shemesh, a city about thirty minutes from Jerusalem, where I was raised.

To me, Beit Shemesh is much more than just the city where I grew up. It is the place that shaped me, where my childhood and teenage years unfolded, where I forged friendships and created countless memories. Beit Shemesh has always been and always will be my home—it is embedded deep in my heart.

That’s why when I first learned that there was a deadly attack on Beit Shemesh on March 1, the first full day of the war between Israel and Iran, my first instinct was to call my friends and family back home. Everyone is there: my grandfather, my family, my community. Thank God, everyone I called was okay. Sadly, the same can’t be said for many other families in my city.

Being so far away from home during moments like these is not simple. The distance feels heavy, the pull to home and the desire to be there stronger than ever. Yet at the same time, I feel grateful to be here, with my Greater Washington community. I have felt an outpouring of warmth and support from everyone I’ve spoken with. Each person reaching out, asking questions, and genuinely caring about the safety of my family and friends in Israel has created a sense of home for me here.

Thank you for holding my family, my city, and all of Israel in your thoughts and prayers. During this painful and complicated time, this support is what strengthens me.

To learn more about what Federation is doing to support Israel in this time of crisis, including in Beit Shemesh, see here.

Many have already asked how to help. Our current response is being mobilized through existing Federation resources and long-term investments stewarded by the Foundation, enabling swift and accountable action. Those who wish to contribute may do so here.

On Monday, March 9, 2026, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s Israel & Overseas Committee approved $125,000 in emergency allocations to partners in Israel to support urgent medical, humanitarian, and community needs following recent attacks.

In moments of crisis, Federation mobilizes the resources and relationships of our community to ensure help reaches those who need it most.

The allocations approved this week reflect urgent areas of need identified by Federation’s partners across Israel.

Emergency Allocations Supporting Communities Across Israel ($125,000)

Strengthening trauma capacity in northern Israel ($50,000): Federation funding will help expand emergency surgery capacity at Tzafon Medical Center (formerly known as Poriyah), which serves more than 300,000 residents in Israel’s north, where attacks have sharply increased demand for emergency care. The grant will fund the purchase of an additional anesthesia workstation for the hospital’s Trauma Unit.

Supporting vulnerable residents in the Kinneret Valley Cluster ($35,000): Communities in the Kinneret Valley Cluster—one of Federation’s partner regions in Israel, comprising 15 municipalities—remain under threat, with many residents without private shelters in a region where there is often only one minute to reach protection. Federation support will help the Cluster provide transportation to safe spaces during alerts, expand trauma response services, and deliver essential supplies during prolonged emergency conditions.

Standing with victims of terror ($25,000): After an attack, Israelis may be faced with the need to evacuate their homes, receive medical or psychological care, or confront a new reality of grief. Through the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Fund for Victims of Terror, families affected by these attacks receive immediate assistance, including emergency financial support, trauma care, and guidance in the difficult days following injury, displacement, or loss. Federation support helps ensure this rapid-response system is available when families need it most.

Providing community support in Beit Shemesh ($15,000): Following an Iranian missile strike that killed nine civilians and forced evacuations in Beit Shemesh, the Zinman Community Center became a gathering point for affected residents. Federation support is helping the center coordinate emergency programming and provide emotional support for evacuees and survivors.

Federation maintains long-standing relationships with these partners through decades of work with The Jewish Agency for Israel, our response following October 7, and our prior partnership with the city of Beit Shemesh. These connections allow our community to respond quickly and meaningfully when it matters most. They also reflect Federation’s broader Israel strategy: strengthening ties between Greater Washington and communities across Israel.

Once again, our hearts and minds are turned toward Israel as the conflict with Iran continues to unfold. In a briefing this week with Karen Katzman, director of our Israel office, we heard about what life is like in Israel right now. Karen described text messages warning of incoming missiles. Rushing to shelters. Looking after family. Even young kids are now well practiced as to what to do when a siren goes off.

It’s hard watching this from afar. It may also feel hard to figure out what to do. Do we respond based on what we see on the news or what shows up in our inbox? Where are needs most urgent? As we consider Federation’s response, I want to highlight some specific ways that we are thinking about this moment and what we can collectively do to help.

For many decades, since before the creation of the State of Israel, Federation has been working with global organizations to support the needs of Israel and Israelis through our partnership with JDC and the Jewish Agency (JAFI). They continue to be central to an effective response.

For example, the Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror provides immediate cash assistance to people who have been displaced or whose family member was injured or killed by rocket attacks. The funds can be used for food, clothes, toothbrushes, diapers, and whatever else they need to get situated. JDC is likewise deploying emergency supplies, running a national mental health initiative, and supporting a network of caseworkers to continue caring for Israel’s vulnerable, among other rapid-response efforts. These are critical and ongoing programs that serve an important and unique role in times of crisis.

Beyond our traditional partners, Federation has also developed new relationships with Israeli communities and organizations since October 7. Take, for instance, Poriya Hospital in the north. Medical professionals are working 12-hour shifts to ensure full coverage. Meanwhile, schools and daycare centers are closed, which means doctors, nurses, and hospital staff need help with childcare. This isn’t something you would hear about on the news, but we know about this need because of the ongoing relationships we’ve established with our network over the past three years. (Federation, in fact, helped get onsite childcare up and running at the hospital following October 7 and the shelling from Hezbollah.)

Finally, we are working closely with local Washington-based synagogues and other organizations to understand their direct relationships in Israel and support them in making a difference. For example, one of our local synagogues is working with their sister congregation in Israel to ensure they can gather safely, with adequate access to shelter space during missile alerts.

Across all these mechanisms, Federation and the Greater Washington Jewish community is well positioned to understand the challenges Israelis are facing beyond the headlines. The relationships we have developed with Israeli leaders and organizations allow us to gain a clearer and more detailed picture of what’s happening on the ground. Together, this enables us to act swiftly, thoughtfully, and effectively to meet emerging needs.

I could go on but what I want you to know is that our community is making a difference. We are showing up for Israel and Israelis by responding to real needs in real time. And we are doing this all thanks to the tireless work of our partners in Israel and the incredible support of our community members. Ultimately, Federation is a conduit for your passion and commitment. Thank you for being there for Israel in this moment and for everything you do for the Jewish people.

A missile siren sounded just before Karen Katzman, Director of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s Israel Office, joined our community for a live update from Israel. 

“Just about 20 minutes ago… I received a siren. Luckily, I have a safe room in my home and just had to go into it, which is just a few meters away from my office. Generally, if we get an alert like that, I have about 90 seconds to move to the shelter.”

Life Under Missile Alerts

Across Israel, families are living with repeated missile alerts. Schools are closed, businesses shuttered, and people are staying close to shelters. In the moments after a strike:

“You see the people emerging in the minutes after the attack… people coming out in shock, holding babies, helping elderly people leave their apartments, holding their dogs and pets. People were sobbing.”

In the midst of all this, Karen said something that stayed with many of us:

“It sounds maybe kind of cliché, but Israelis truly are resilient.”

She also shared joyful moments she’s witnessing:

“Some of you may have seen on social media the clips of Israelis celebrating Purim in the shelters. I saw a clip today that there was even a wedding in an underground shelter in a garage.”

The Toll of Sustained Conflict

Karen spoke about the growing mental health strain:

“For many people, the sirens and the missile attacks are extremely triggering after everything they’ve experienced over the past year and a half.”

Communities are responding to missile strikes, displacement, and the growing emotional toll.

How Our Community Is Responding

Moments like these are why Federation exists: to bring our community together and respond when Jews in Israel need support.

Earlier this week, Federation allocated an initial $250,000 to begin addressing urgent needs.

The full scope of need is still coming into focus, and we are working closely with partners across Israel—from national organizations to municipalities, hospitals, and grassroots groups—to understand how our community can respond in the days and weeks ahead.

For those who want to help today, your gift strengthens our community’s ability to respond quickly and responsibly as needs emerge.

Support our work in Israel

Karen closed with a message to our community:

“It really means a lot to know that we’re not alone and that you’re thinking of us.”

Thank you for standing with Israel and for being part of a community that shows up when it matters most.

May the people of Israel continue to find strength in one another and know that our Jewish community in Greater Washington stands with them.

Watch the full conversation.

As the war with Iran continues to escalate across the region and families across Israel once again take shelter in safe rooms and bomb shelters, we stand firmly with the people of Israel. We mourn the victims of the recent Iranian ballistic missile strike in Beit Shemesh, in which at least nine civilians were killed and dozens were injured. We remain in close communication with partners there as more details emerge.

Immediate Action

Federation is allocating $250,000 to address the urgent needs in Israel. Funds will be directed to existing partners on the ground, including JDC and The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), and based on evolving local needs in coordination with community partners.

Over the coming days and weeks, we will continue to evaluate developments carefully to mobilize our community to respond where support is needed most.

Security at Home

JShield, Federation’s community security initiative, remains in regular contact with law enforcement and community partners. While there are no known or anticipated security threats in Greater Washington at this time, we continue to reinforce vigilance and encourage all organizations to continue maintaining the security protocols already in place.

Community members who witness suspicious activity can report an incident here. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Organizational security-related questions may be directed to security@shalomdc.org.

Next Steps

Watch a live, firsthand update from Israel. Federation’s Israel Office Director, Karen Katzman, joined Gil Preuss on Wednesday, March 4 on Zoom. Speaking directly from Israel, Karen shared what she is seeing on the ground and what we are hearing from partners across the region.

Read the latest Israel update. Special briefings from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) are available on our news page.

Stay informed and engaged. We will continue to post verified briefings and share meaningful ways for our community to respond as the situation evolves.

Many have already asked how to help. Our current response is being mobilized through existing Federation resources and long-term investments stewarded by the Foundation, enabling swift and accountable action. Those who wish to contribute may do so here.

Learn more about or support our ongoing work in Israel.

Photo credit: L: Erik Marmor/Getty Image; R: Rami Slush/Reuters

Purim typically conjures images of costumes and raucous merriment, and rightfully so. But the holiday also carries with it a special commandment, matanot la’evyonim, to give directly to those in need. Amid our revelry, we are called to ensure our joy is shared and that no one is left behind.

At Federation, this mitzvah animates our work throughout the year. We know that many people are struggling throughout the community and that Jewish poverty is real and often hidden. Families facing job loss, rising housing costs, medical bills, mental illness, or unexpected crises can quickly find themselves struggling to make ends meet. Last year, through our partnerships and targeted investments, Federation provided $1.85M in critical funds to our local agencies supporting many who are struggling and helps mobilize emergency cash assistance to help individuals and families cover rent, utilities, food, and other essential expenses. These efforts provide not only immediate relief, but also stability and dignity at moments of profound vulnerability. This is a core part of our work that we collectively do every day.

A critical entry point for this support is J-CARING, our community support hotline. With a single call, community members can be connected to financial assistance, mental health services, career counseling, and other vital resources. J-CARING ensures that when someone reaches out, they are met with compassion, discretion, and a clear path forward. You do not need to navigate hardship alone. If you or anyone you know could use some help, please call 703-J-CARING (703-522-7464).

As part of the global Jewish family, we also support Jews in Ukraine who remain affected by four years of war and counting. Our collective efforts have helped deliver cash assistance, humanitarian aid, medical care, and essential supplies, including dignity and hope. Likewise, in the wake of ongoing social and economic strain, individuals and families in Israel continue to face deep uncertainty. Through our trusted partners on the ground, we are providing services and aid to Israel’s most vulnerable.

Inherent in the story of Purim are several lessons that feel as relevant as ever: that circumstances can change in an instant, that collective action matters, that we are bound to one another’s fate. And, importantly, that joy is incomplete if it is not shared.

Please consider making a gift to Federation as we continue our collective work to ensure that those in need across the community have access to critical resources. Your support enables us to forge ahead in our efforts to respond swiftly to crises and sustain the systems of care that define us, among other components of our vital work. As we prepare to celebrate the victory of the Jewish people over those who would cause us harm, we are reminded that we must also care for those struggling within our own community. In true Purim fashion, we get to indulge both our exuberance and our generosity.

Four years into the war, daily life in Ukraine remains unpredictable. Over the past several months, intensified missile and drone attacks once again plunged major cities into darkness, interrupting heat and electricity during the coldest weeks of winter and renewing fear for families already living under constant strain.

And still, Jewish life continues—for the approximately 150,000 Jews who remain in Ukraine and for the nearly 20,000 who have made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) since the start of the war.

Some are rebuilding their lives in Israel. Others remain rooted in their communities despite the uncertainty. Our responsibility extends to both.

Through Federation’s global network of partners, and the generosity of our community, individuals and families on both paths.

Providing Care and Connection in Ukraine

Through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Federation’s support strengthens a network of Hesed centers serving vulnerable Jews across Ukraine.

For Lyudmila, a 79-year-old woman in Lviv with serious health conditions, that support means homecare, food assistance, trauma services, and connection to Jewish community.

Since the start of the crisis, nearly 57,000 vulnerable Jews like Lyudmila have received assistance through Hesed centers—essential community lifelines, providing physical warmth, emotional support, and spaces to gather and connect.

Strengthening Jewish Life

Through the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), new olim (immigrants) receive support as they integrate into Israeli society and Jewish life and resilience continue in Ukraine even under fire.

Jewish Agency camps in Ukraine last year served more than 800 children and teens, with local and Israeli counselors providing Jewish learning, connection, and support amid the realities of war.

In 2025:

• 16,000+ people participated in Jewish Agency programs.
• More than 80% remained actively engaged, and more than half began preparing for Aliyah.
• An Aliyah Fair in Kyiv welcomed 780 participants in a parking structure adapted as a bomb shelter.
• Camps, family learning programs, and resilience trainings connected hundreds of children, parents, young leaders, and mental health professionals.
• Security grants strengthened nine Jewish institutions.

Our Community Response

Since 2022, more than 3,500 donors across Greater Washington have contributed more than $2.5 million to support Federation’s Ukraine Emergency Fund. As the crisis has continued, this work is now sustained through our Annual Campaign and the strategic allocations we make to trusted global partners, including JDC and JAFI.

Four years in, this is what showing up looks like.

The needs continue to evolve, and so does our response. Thank you for your continued commitment. Your generosity ensures we can continue providing steady support to those who need it most—in Ukraine, here at home, and wherever Jewish life endures.

Photo credit: JFNA

On October 7, 2023, Ran (Rani) Gvili, 24, was at his parents’ home in Meitar, in southern Israel, on medical leave from his service in an elite police unit. About two weeks earlier, he had injured his shoulder in an off-road motorcycle accident and was scheduled to undergo surgery just days later. As his family rushed into the shelter amid relentless sirens, Rani put on his police uniform and prepared to leave. His mother, Talik, asked him where he thought he was going. Rani replied simply: “Do you really think I’d stay home knowing my friends are fighting? No way.” (as reported by The Times of Israel)

Defender of Alumim

As chaos raged all around, without waiting to be called, Rani drove straight into the fighting. He first assisted survivors of the Nova Music Festival and then joined the heroic battle to defend the nearby Kibbutz Alumim. He neutralized dozens of terrorists and saved the lives of many residents, even as he sustained severe injuries to his arm and leg. Over time, he became known as “Rani, Defender of Alumim.” He fought relentlessly until he ran out of ammunition. It was later learned that he fell in battle and that his body was abducted to Gaza.

Bringing Rani Home Last week, at long last, the circle was closed. After critical intelligence was received regarding his whereabouts, hundreds of soldiers, accompanied by dozens of forensic dental specialists, set out on a mission almost impossible to imagine: locating Rani’s body in a cemetery in Gaza. After approximately 48 hours of exhausting searches under extremely difficult conditions, the long-awaited answer came—Rani was found. Dr. Assi Sharon, who took part in the mission alongside the forces in Gaza, described the emotional moment: “There wasn’t a dry eye. People were deeply moved, with a profound sense of reverence. We recited Kaddish, and there was a ceremony with the Chief of Staff—a very special moment. As I stood there, I realized I could finally remove the yellow ribbon, and I did.” (as reported by JFEED)

843 Days, 12 Hours, 5 Minutes, and 59 Seconds With this, one of the most painful, yet also most inspiring, chapters in the history of the State of Israel and the Jewish people came to an end. After 843 days, 12 hours, 5 minutes, and 59 seconds, the clock at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv stopped. A shofar was sounded, and many recited the Shehecheyanu blessing, giving thanks for reaching this moment. The mitzvah of redeeming captives, which Maimonides called the greatest commandment in Judaism, was fulfilled. The Israeli ethos—viewing the return of every soldier and civilian from enemy hands as a supreme moral obligation—was upheld. All 251 Israelis and foreign nationals abducted to Gaza on October 7, together with two Israeli civilians and two fallen soldiers previously held by Hamas, were returned.

The Power of Public Pressure The sustained public effort to bring the hostages home was essential. Throughout this long—far too long—period, the Hostage Families Forum worked tirelessly to keep this issue at the forefront of the public agenda, most prominently in Israel and the United States. One powerful testament to the impact of this cause can be found in the words of Alon Ohel, who returned from captivity after 738 days: “They opened a laptop and showed me a picture of someone holding a drawing of me, with a piano behind her. That’s when I understood that people I didn’t know were fighting for me. It gave me even more strength—if people who don’t know me are fighting for me, who am I to give up?”

A Shared Response, Across Oceans With great pride and deep appreciation, it can be said that our community also took an active part in the collective endeavor to bring the hostages home, and in Israel’s broader recovery efforts. Shortly after October 7, Federation established the Israel Crisis Relief Fund and raised more than $15 million from the community for emergency assistance to Israel, nearly half a million dollars of which was transferred directed to the Hostage Families Forum. Beyond this, Federation supported the Hostage Families Forum in convening community events that brought people together with hostage family members and former captives, allowing them to share their personal stories and mobilize the broader community around the cause. The Community Shlichim—placed in synagogues and Jewish organizations across the community as part of a joint initiative of Federation and the Jewish Agency for Israel—led a wide range of activities focused on the hostages. These included creating dedicated spaces highlighting the hostages and their stories, and organizing events such as a community solidarity walk, an interactive cartoon exhibition addressing the hostage crisis and current Israeli issues, and many more.

“Thanks to Your Efforts…”

For all of this—and so much more—we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone across our community who took part in advancing this most important cause.

As Matan Sivek, Founder of the Hostage Families Forum US, put it:

“The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington joined forces with hostage families from day one to ensure they get the financial and communal support they need. The DMV community advocated, marched, embraced, and was on the front line of ensuring the highest echelons don’t forget about the hostages. We are grateful for the leadership and partnership of Federation in this historic moment in Jewish history. Thanks to your efforts, they are back.”

Photo Captions: Ran (Rani) Gvili in uniform; Israel Defense Forces; Photo courtesy of IDF; Hostages Square clock at the moment of release; Photo: Avshalom Sassoni / Maariv; Alon Ohel, former hostage, after return; Photo: Eden Danielle Kleiban Pakter; Pozez JCC community walk for hostage awareness; Photo: Hostage Families Forum US, Leigh Vogel

After an act of antisemitic arson devastated Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, our community stepped up. It’s a small but deeply rooted congregation where Jewish life has endured for generations—now facing the long road of recovery.

In response, 222 donors across Greater Washington raised nearly $60,000 to support restoration and healing, ensuring Beth Israel can continue to serve as a place of worship, gathering, and Jewish life. Per the congregation’s request, funds are being distributed by the Jewish Federations of North America to reach them directly and with care.

Moments like this remind us what Federation is for: to mobilize resources when crisis hits, and to build a more connected, secure, and vibrant Jewish community every day.

Thank you to everyone who gave. Your generosity sent a clear message: they are not alone and Jewish life will continue to thrive. 

This is what it means to show up as a Jewish community. This is the power of collective giving.

I stood in Hostage Square, Tel Aviv among a quiet crowd, patiently waiting. What was once a vigil site, a protest space, a place of mourning and solidarity was now the square where we were about to hear the collective sigh of a small country. At 843 days, 12 hours, 5 minutes and 59 seconds, the clock that made the abstraction of time in captivity real, was turned off. The body of Ran Gvili, the last hostage, was returned home.

Now the true healing can begin.

I am with ten amazing women from our community, on a National Women’s Philanthropy mission in Israel. Resilient is the word we keep hearing and seeing. It feels that way, and yet, you can see the cracks of exhaustion and immense sadness. The wife of a reservist said, “We are slowly starting to put our hearts together.”

Our Federation continues to work with partners on the ground.  We support the Jewish Agency for Israel, which operates Youth Futures, in response to the high levels of trauma among children. Research has found that PTSD is high among children: 15% of Israel’s children lived in communities infiltrated by terrorists, and 20% were displaced from their homes for months.

We are the initial investors in the Alin Beit Noam, Ilanot National Rehabilitation Center, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center that serves Nova survivors, bereaved families, injured soldiers and adults with special needs.

The Israelis are grateful for our commitment. A Nova survivor said, “we want to be the heroes to the heroes of October 7.” Because of you, we are a community of heroes.

This Shabbat will be the first time since October 14, 2023 that we won’t need to say a prayer for the hostages.

Am Yisrael Chai.