Last week, I traveled to Austin, Texas for the Partnership2Gether (P2G) Council of Communities. This yearly conference brings together people from all across our P2G region for several days of planning and budgeting for the upcoming year, and time to connect and...

I was recently having a conversation with Kate Elder, our PJ Library Coordinator. Now before I go any further, you might be asking, “What is PJ Library?” Founded in 2005, PJ Library sends free high-quality Jewish children’s books to families every month. “The program...

Don’t Miss This Opportunity! As a child, I attended Sunday school, went through confirmation, and spent my summers at Jewish camp. In my young adulthood, I traveled to Israel, and eventually lived there and became an Israeli citizen. And subsequently, I’ve spent the...

Feedback is Important As the CEO of the Federation, I am often the first person to receive feedback for our programs. Usually, critical feedback can be amplified louder than positive feedback. Constructive criticism is useful because, ultimately, it provides us with...

New Report on Antisemitism  Earlier this month, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Tel Aviv University published the Annual Report on Antisemitism Worldwide for 2023. Not surprisingly, there was a sharp increase in antisemitism in 2023, with a significant number of...

As a child, I went through a phase where I wanted to be a ballerina. I was in awe of their poise, beauty, and grace. My desire to be a ballerina was alas, just a dream, but my appreciation for dance remained.   Dance is a universal language. Performers convey a...

We have all heard the phrase, “There is more to the story.” Oftentimes, the stories we see in the news and online give us an overview at best, but what is missing is the human connection. So when a story includes first-hand accounts, it broadens our view, allowing us...

Antisemitism has long been an issue in our world. It seemed, at least for a short time, that things were moving in the right direction. However, in recent years, we have seen an increase in antisemitic acts ~ including hate crimes, hate speech, vandalism, and targeted...

Like many in our Jewish community, I am continually distressed by the events of October 7th and the heartbreak of the war in Israel. Over the past four months, supporters of Israel have followed the situation closely, hoping for a speedy and peaceful resolution to...

Of all of the beautiful Jewish customs and practices, the one that I personally find the most magical is Shabbat. Having a day to focus on rest, prayer, and community is truly one of the great gifts in Judaism. Over the last several months, we have experienced a veil...