Cathy’s Whim Cathy’s Whim

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 past 30 years as a Jewish communal professional. Throughout all of these life experiences, I learned about Israel and Zionism. However, it wasn’t until I pursued my Masters in Jewish Professional Studies that I delved deeper into the history of Zionism. I learned, in greater detail, about Israel’s rich history and the conflicts surrounding its formation. Throughout my studies, I read...

Feedback is important as the CEO of the Federation, I am often the first person to receive feedback for our programs…

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

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…

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…

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

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...

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...