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22 December 2023
It is no secret that the war in Israel has significantly impacted Jewish communities around the world, including our own, with ripple effects both predictable and previously unthinkable.
The resulting surge in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment nationally and across Greater Washington is making many people question core ideas and assumptions they have held for many years. I know many of us are grappling with how to understand this moment. Where are we headed as an American Jewish community? How do we effectively respond locally and in Israel?
Our capacity to address these questions depends on the strength of our community, our organizations, and our leadership. At Federation, we have worked for decades to ensure that – together – we can effectively respond to challenges that arise while building a stronger Jewish community every single day. It is your support, through Federation’s Annual Campaign, that makes this possible.
Your support – and that of those who came before us – is what ensured our community could send immediate relief to those in Israel when the war began. It is thanks to you and your fellow community members that we could immediately leverage our critical relationships in Israel to swiftly mobilize and respond.
Today, you are helping Israelis cope with the immediate and long-term trauma of October 7th, providing critical resources and medical care to displaced families, rebuilding homes and communities, and much more.
You have also enabled our local community to address increasing security needs and combat antisemitism, collectively engage all generations in Jewish life, and care for those who need us most across our region.
This vital work must continue, even amidst new global and local challenges.
To those who have already made your gift to Federation’s 2023 Annual Campaign, I thank you on behalf of a grateful Jewish community. For those still finalizing your end-of-year giving plans, I invite you to donate before midnight on December 31st at shalomdc.org/donate, or by calling 301-230-7239.
By bringing together resources from thousands of people across our region, we can build upon our past and shape our future even in these most challenging and uncertain times. Every gift, no matter the amount, is transformative. Thank you for ensuring we can always be there for those who need us, wherever they are.
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Preuss
CEO, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington