Celebrating Those Who Make a Difference

On Sunday evening, we welcome Rosh Hashanah. Upon looking forward to a year filled with promise, I have also been reflecting on the accomplishments spurring us on. As our latest Annual Report highlights, 5782 has been marked by significant growth within Jewish Greater Washington. Over the past year, our community – thanks to your support and leadership – has:

• Educated and engaged children, youth, and teens in Jewish life through day schools, synagogues, camps, youth groups, and other initiatives throughout the community.
• Connected people to Israel through our Community Shlichim (Israeli emissary) Program, educational programs, and extensive, immersive trips such as Birthright, Onward Israel, and MASA.
• Fostered inclusion and belonging through Federation’s Disability Inclusion Task Force, convened the community in meaningful conversations with the Shalom Hartman Institute, and supported opportunities for education professionals.
• Provided broader access to Jewish identity building experiences through financial aid, One Happy Camper scholarships, PJ Library’s extensive programming, and deepened engagement with families with young children.
• Connected community members with vital resources, and expanded, 703-J-Caring: the Jewish Community Support Line, cared for Holocaust survivors, supported vital health and human service agencies, and cared for people in Israel, Ukraine, and around the world.
• Uplifted current and emerging Jewish communal leaders across Greater Washington and empowered community members to broaden their networks in NOVA through JOIN.
• Secured our community through ongoing and expanded training opportunities and financial and grant writing assistance.

I hope you’ll take some time to explore some of our incredible shared accomplishments in Federation’s just-released 2022 Annual Report, the fully digital, immersive, and interactive showcase of our work over the past year.

In celebrating this incredible collective work, let’s also recognize and show our gratitude to the thousands of people throughout our community who work every day to achieve all of those outcomes above during very challenging times as we build a vibrant, caring, and connected community. It is their passion and commitment to our Jewish community that helps ensure that we can achieve our collective aspirations.

As we enter Shabbat and Rosh Hashanah, I thank you for your generosity, your leadership, and your passion for ensuring a bright future for us all.

Shabbat Shalom and Shanah Tovah (happy New Year). May this New Year be sweet, joyous, and meaningful for us all.
Gil