So much stood out in 2024

  • Gil Preuss
  • 20 December 2024

Last week, I sat down for another conversation with some of our donors and local Hillel directors. It’s been a privilege this year to have so many in-depth discussions with the people at the forefront of supporting our students and building Jewish life on campus.

Here are some of my takeaways:

  • With the growth of antisemitic and anti-Israel activity on campuses, students are facing mental health challenges as they navigate their lives in a complicated context.
  • Hillel work is increasingly focused on building strong partnerships with university administrators, faculty, and other campus players.
  • Increased numbers of students are seeking out Hillel offerings, and Hillel teams want to be sure they are prepared to meet the rise in interest for meaningful Jewish engagement.

More to come on this work in the New Year.

Meanwhile, as 2024 speeds to a close, I am looking back at all we accomplished together. Read on for a list of what stood out to me this year — and drop me a lineto let me know what stayed with you!

  • This spring, Federation invested $500,000 in empowering teens to combat antisemitism. I’m inspired by the organizations and courageous teens tackling these issues head on. Today, we’re helping them build and access peer-to-peer initiatives, safe spaces on campus, and increased education on antisemitism in local schools.
  • This year also saw the official launch of JShield: Security by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. While I wish it wasn’t necessary, I am proud to see JShield serve as a community-wide resource. We are driving more security-related funding to local organizations, providing trainings and assessments, and forging local and national partnerships to ensure we have best-in-class security strategies. As one mother wrote to us, “Having extra police/security was the only reason I could bring my son to school on October 7, 2024.” Catch JShield Executive Director Rusty Rosenthal’s take on Chanukah security.
  • We marked both six months and one year since October 7th as a community. April, we rallied at the Lincoln Memorial to amplify the voices of hostage families. In October, 6,000 of us came together at The Anthem and online to mark this painful yahrzeit. I’ll never forget the stirring words from Ambassador Michael Herzog and so many others, or how we began in tears and concluded with song, dance, and the joy of being Jewish.
  • Donors continued to give in record numbers to Israel crisis relief efforts. In the immediate aftermath of October 7th, our community responded by donating record-breaking funds to aid in Israel’s recovery. Your generosity continued through 2024. Together, we’ve continued providing urgent relief to victims in Israel, supporting long-term recovery efforts, and addressing emerging needs as the security situation in Israel evolves.
  • I traveled to Argentina and Uruguay as part of our Women’s Philanthropy mission to learn about and speak with Jewish communities there. While Jews are busy building vibrant Jewish life in these countries, we also saw the impact of significant economic crises, especially in Argentina. I was also fortunate to explore Mexico City with our Jewish Communal Leadership Program — and to spend time with such a great group of current and Next Gen leaders.