Cathy’s Whim Cathy’s Whim

Cathy’s Whim What Inspires Me

WHIM (What Inspires Me) is a weekly column penned by Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton CEO Cathy Gardner. Each week, Cathy delves into current events, significant news stories, and everything related to Jewish Federations and the vibrant Dayton Jewish community. Through her insightful reflections, WHIM offers readers a thoughtful perspective on the issues that matter most to our community.

New Report on Antisemitism
Cathy Gardner

New report on antisemitism earlier this month, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Tel Aviv University published the…

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Telling the Story Through Dance
Cathy Gardner

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…

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There Is More to the Story
Cathy Gardner

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…

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Let’s Talk About Antisemitism
Cathy Gardner

Antisemitism has long been an issue in our world. It seemed, at least for a short time, that things were moving in the…

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Register for an exclusive briefing on the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire: TODAY, JANUARY 16TH AT 3:30 P.M. ET
Cathy Gardner

Earlier this week, I attended the International Lion of Judah Conference in Atlanta. Rachel Goldberg-Polin was one of the featured speakers. Her son, Hersh (z”l), was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Sadly, he was murdered while in captivity in August 2024. Her story was incredibly moving. She was asked how she was able to carry on when her son was abducted, and in the aftermath of his death. She simply said, “I believe hope is mandatory.” A day after I heard Rachel speak, news broke of a potential Israel-Hamas ceasefire. If implemented as proposed, the deal is set...

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How You Can Help the Los Angeles Community
Cathy Gardner

Having lived the majority of my life in Florida, where hurricanes are abundant, I understand the ferocity and destruction natural disasters can cause. But I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to have my home and community consumed by fire. The California wildfires have blazed a trail of destruction and devastated the lives of thousands of people. At the time of this writing, 10 people have died; authorities expect that number to rise. Jewish communities in the path of the wildfires have been destroyed. Synagogues, Jewish community centers, and other Jewish institutions are gone. I have...

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A Chanukah Message
Cathy Gardner

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A Thanksgiving Message
Cathy Gardner

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November Highlights
Cathy Gardner

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