Cathy’s Whim Cathy’s Whim

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 this ongoing crisis. Almost immediately after October 7th, Federations across North America embarked on a campaign to raise funds to be used for a variety of critical needs in Israel. Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) established the Israel Emergency Fund and set a goal of over $775 million. Here in Dayton, we exceeded our...

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 of darkness over our world. The war in Israel has affected us in so many ways. Now, more than ever for many of us, Shabbat isn’t just a welcome reprieve from life, but a necessity. Jewish Federations of North America generously offered the opportunity for Federations to apply for grants to...

Last week, a congressional hearing took place with the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania. The purpose of the hearing was to give the presidents an opportunity to address the recent increase in antisemitism that has been exploding on college campuses across the nation. Rather than helping the situation, the hearing ignited a firestorm. In fact, over the weekend, the president of the University of Pennsylvania resigned. Their board of trustees also resigned. And despite intense pressure, Harvard has since announced that its president will keep her job. What struck me most about the responses of the...

I am personally experiencing a plethora of emotions since October 7th that I haven’t really felt previously.  If I’m feeling this way, then I would think many of you are as well. In reading the news I often feel despair, anger, fear, and hopelessness. However, each day I look at what actions are possible, both personally and professionally, in order to advocate for the safety and survival of the Jewish people. As a Jewish Federation, we have taken some impactful actions on a local and national level including an immediate solidarity rally, the launch of a successful Israel Emergency Campaign,...