Cathy’s WHIM – Civil Discourse ~ Lessons Learned
Cathy Gardner | October 4, 2017
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Three Years Later
Cathy Gardner
October 7, 2023 is a day we will never forget. Three years after 1,200 people were killed in a Hamas-led attack that also saw 251 people taken hostage, our lives remain forever changed. Initially, the worldwide Jewish community received an outpouring of support. However, over time, some of that support turned into accusations of war crimes and genocide. This opened the door for a wave of antisemitism throughout the diaspora. And now, three years later, we are still fighting for Israel’s right to exist and for Jewish people to live in a world free from fear and persecution. While we...
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Let Your Voice Be Heard
Cathy Gardner
If there is one constant in life, it is change. Our interests, wants, and needs often shift with time and circumstances. This is true not only in our individual lives, but also in communities. When the Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture and Education (CJCE) was built in the early 2000’s, it fulfilled the needs for our community at that time. However, throughout my tenure here, community members have shared with me that they find themselves either needing or desiring different services and amenities than we currently offer. I realize there may be others who share these sentiments. Knowing what people...
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Peter Wells
Cathy Gardner
When I first began my position as CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, I received a phone call from Peter Wells, who served as CEO of the organization from 1978 until his retirement in 2005. He was in town and asked if he could meet with me. What began as a meeting to provide me with insight and information about the Dayton Jewish community quickly morphed into a very special relationship. Peter wasn’t just a professional resource. He was my mentor and a dear friend. He proved to be a wealth of knowledge, helping me to have a...
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