Category: Israel & Global Jewish Life

It’s hard to describe the emotional whiplash of the past few months. We’ve witnessed horrifying acts of antisemitic violence both here at home—including the attacks in Boulder and at the Capital Jewish Museum—and abroad. The fear and pain reverberating through our community are real and raw.

I’ve found myself thinking often of Sara Milgrim z”l  and Yaron Lischinsky  z”l , and all those still recovering from the Boulder firebombing. May their memories be a blessing.

Just days before the D.C. shooting, I returned from a week-long journey to Poland organized by our partner, the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), and 3GNY. The trip brought together third-generation descendants of Holocaust survivors and others with a familial lineage to Poland and the Holocaust, to connect with Jewish life today in Poland.

My great-grandparents were born and raised in Poland. They fled in the late 1920s and early 1930s to escape pogroms, antisemitism, and poverty, eventually landing in Cuba. They left behind their parents, siblings, and entire communities, most of whom perished in the Holocaust.

Our group visited Kraków, Warsaw, and Łódź. We walked through ghettos and cemeteries, and we spent a powerful, heart-wrenching day at Auschwitz. We listened to one another’s family stories—tales of survival and resistance, loss and love. It was heavy. And yet, it was also deeply connective.

Amid the grief, we encountered something remarkable: life. Resilience. A Jewish community in Poland that, while small, is vibrant, proud, and growing.

At JCC Krakow, we saw firsthand how Federation support is making a difference. The center is a hub of Jewish life—hosting Shabbat dinners, running a preschool and day camp, and helping Ukrainian refugees, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. We visited their distribution center, which continues to offer food, clothing, toiletries, and toys to those in need.

We also met young adults from Hillel International Krakow. Many didn’t grow up Jewish; some only recently discovered their Jewish heritage. Yet they’ve chosen to build community, connect with Jewish identity, and take part in Jewish life. Today, more than 200 young people are active in Hillel Krakow. That choice—to embrace a Jewish identity in Poland, of all places—is deeply moving.

In Warsaw, the POLIN Museum blew me away. It traces a thousand years of Jewish life in Poland—from vibrant shtetls to intellectual movements, to the devastation of the Holocaust and the rebirth that followed. It’s one of the most thoughtful and comprehensive museums I’ve ever visited.

This trip was a rollercoaster of emotions—grief, pride, hope, disbelief. But I came home feeling something I never expected: optimism. Against all odds, Jewish life in Poland is not only persisting—it is reemerging.

One person said to our group, “There’s something inherently Jewish about Poland. Polish history wouldn’t be Polish history without Jewish history.” I agree. And I’d add: Jewish history wouldn’t be complete without Poland—the good, the bad, and the unimaginable.

This experience gave me more than memories. It renewed my sense of purpose. At a time when antisemitism is rising, I’m more committed than ever to standing up for our community. But I’m also determined to celebrate us—to lift up the vibrant, diverse, and global Jewish life that continues to thrive.

Together, let’s remember. Let’s rebuild. Let’s keep showing up for one another—in grief, in strength, and in joy.

Friends,

Yesterday, I left Paris and arrived in Tel Aviv on a flight with over 100 new immigrants. Most of their families had only come to France 60-70 years earlier from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and other places in North Africa. They shared with me what a tough decision it was to relocate their lives, but they felt deep down their future was in Israel.

I had the privilege of accompanying Israel’s newest arrivals as part of a seminar organized by the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) for executives from major U.S. Jewish Federations. We spent the week learning about the changing realities facing French Jewry and ended our program with additional discussions in Israel.

The situation in France today is complex. With over 450,000 Jews, France is home to the third largest Jewish population after Israel and the United States. Jewish life there is vibrant. There are many day schools, synagogues, and over 250 Kosher restaurants.

At the same time, antisemitism in France has been growing steadily for over two decades, and October 7th has produced a new, more aggressive strain. There are increasing reports of antisemitic acts at all levels of schooling. The head of the Jewish student union told us that university students are wary of associating with their Jewish peers for fear that they themselves will be called supporters of Israel. In lower grades, kindergarteners, preschoolers even, are being excluded from their classmates’ parties because they’re Jewish. Broadly speaking, incidents are being met with apathy from teachers, staff, and authorities.

The result of all this is widespread uncertainty and unease. The American Jewish Committee’s Paris office found that one in five French Jews have removed their mezuzah from outside their home. One in six have changed their name on delivery apps to obscure their religious identity. Jewish communities are questioning whether they have a future in France, and more and more families are indeed choosing to make Aliyah.

That said, French Jews remain passionate about building their community. Nearly three-quarters of French Jews say the October 7th massacre strengthened both their Zionist convictions (73%) and their Jewish identity (71%). Jewish engagement is up and interest in Jewish day schools has skyrocketed, particularly as families leave public education.

What comes next for French Jewry is hard to predict. Those we spoke with are awaiting the 2027 presidential election for clues about the direction France will take. For my part, I continue to picture the upcoming opening of a new, large synagogue in Sarcelles to serve a community 12,000 strong even as they face threats from those around them. While our history has many instances where we are forced to leave, we have many others cases of building Jewish life and thriving even as others would do us harm. I am confident that one way or another, the French Jews will thrive.

Shabbat Shalom,

—Gil

Photos: Avi Bass, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)

In the wake of last month’s missile attacks in Israel, the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington has announced a new round of emergency relief grants totaling over $378,000 to help Israeli communities recover, rebuild infrastructure, and support displaced families.

Though a ceasefire is now in place, the impact of the missile strikes remains widespread. Families have been displaced, and while many schools and businesses have reopened, hundreds remain under repair. Towns previously untouched by conflict are now grappling with destruction and uncertainty. More than 9,700 Israelis have been evacuated from homes that were hit or deemed unsafe, many now living in temporary accommodations with no clear timeline for return.

Municipalities across northern Israel are stretched thin, working to maintain public safety, deliver essential services, and care for vulnerable populations. One of the most urgent issues is the lack of certified, reinforced public shelters, particularly in under-resourced communities. Mobile units—like those previously deployed in Druze towns and the Kinneret Valley Cluster (KVC)—offer limited protection and are not built to withstand the current level of threat.

In response, the Federation is directing these emergency relief funds to trusted partners meeting critical needs on the ground. These grants reflect a community-led approach: guided by lay leaders and professionals, informed by local insight, and grounded in a strategic model designed to meet both immediate and long-term recovery goals.

This effort aligns with the organization’s evolving Israel strategy—one rooted in partnership, not just philanthropy. Several of the funded initiatives emerged from ongoing work with the KVC, a diverse northern region central to its place-based investment in long-term recovery and resilience.

Expanding Civilian Protection and Infrastructure

Residents in towns like Tiberias and Beit Shean are gaining access to safe shelter through a large-scale restoration project led by Osim Shechunah, a grassroots volunteer network transforming neglected public spaces into reinforced community shelters. This project was prioritized through insights from KVC partners and aligns with Federation’s goal of strengthening vulnerable northern communities.

Public shelters are also being equipped with emergency supplies, and homebound seniors are receiving essential care and safety checks through the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), one of the Federation’s long-standing global humanitarian partners.

Relieving Pressure on Israel’s Healthcare System

Patients recovering from trauma or illness will now receive care at home via Sheba Beyond, the virtual division of Sheba Medical Center. This expansion helps alleviate the strain on hospitals like Sheba, which has taken on patients transferred from missile-damaged facilities such as Soroka Hospital.

Emergency readiness is also being bolstered in northern Israel, where Poriyah Medical Center’s trauma unit—currently operating underground—is receiving upgraded equipment. Serving the Galilee and Golan, Poriyah is a key regional provider and a strategic focus of the Federation’s Israel infrastructure investment.

Supporting Emotional Recovery and Social Stability

Displaced children and families are receiving emotional care and daily structure from teen counselors mobilized by Dror Israel, a national movement focused on education and community resilience.

Meanwhile, more than 500 people—including spouses and children of IDF reservists—will receive emotional, financial, and parenting support from HaBayit BeMiluim, which pairs trained volunteers with families facing prolonged military service and uncertainty.

Together, these emergency grants address both urgent needs and longer-term recovery. They reflect a relationship-driven approach to supporting Israeli communities through trauma, rebuilding, and resilience.

On July 1, during Federation Day at the Nova Music Festival Exhibition in Gallery Place, Jackson Siegal of In-Rel Properties showed up with purpose.

He didn’t come alone. He brought his team: five maintenance men, straight from the job site, pockets full of screwdrivers and flashlights.

At the security checkpoint, they handed over their tools. A small, routine act. But upstairs, those everyday objects stood in quiet, haunting contrast to what lay on the tables.

Phones. Backpacks. Jewelry. Sandals. Not items people forgot, but belongings of those who were hunted, kidnapped, and murdered on October 7. Artifacts recovered from the site of the massacre.

Jackson’s team moved through the exhibit slowly, together. At the table of artifacts, a volunteer who had helped clean and catalog each item spoke with quiet steadiness, explaining what had happened on October 7. She had washed away the blood so the victims’ families wouldn’t have to see it. But she left the dust on the shoes. Just as they were found.

Dust from the earth where people danced, where thousands fled, where hundreds were murdered.

At one point, Jackson and the volunteer slipped into Hebrew. One of the younger workers leaned in to translate into Spanish for an older teammate. No one asked him to. He just did.

That kind of instinct—across languages, generations, and lived experience—is exactly what Federation Day was made to hold. A moment to show up. To witness. To carry memory together.

Jackson, who recently joined Federation’s Real Estate Network, didn’t say much. But the way he moved through the exhibit—asking questions, staying present—set the tone for his team.

Moments like this have defined the exhibit since it opened here in Greater Washington. Earlier in the run, a survivor spotted something he never expected: his hat.

Not just any hat. The one his friends always borrowed for pictures. The one that made people smile. The one everyone said made him look like Bruno Mars.

He left it there. Because it wasn’t just his anymore. It was part of the story now.

Something shifted for Jackson’s team, too. They didn’t just visit. They paid attention. They stayed with it.

They arrived with the tools of their trade. They left with something harder to name—but just as real. A story to carry. A truth to hold.

This is what it means to show up for one another. This is how memory becomes action.

Bringing the exhibit to Washington made space for moments like this—quiet, human, unforgettable. The kind that help us hold the truth and carry it forward, together.

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

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.

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.