8 Tamuz 5785

Dear Friend,

Definition: “Nefesh" (נֶ֫פֶשׁ) primarily means soul or life, referring to the essence of a living being.  It encompasses the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person or creature, including their breath, desires, and even their will.  While often translated as “soul,” it’s more accurately understood as the living, breathing, physical being.”

Definition: NEFESH: A fund which was established in 1997 through a cooperative effort of the Jewish Endowment Foundation and the Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts whose purpose is to support Jewish women’s issues and concerns.

With a mission statement, “To support and empower Jewish women and girls in Western Massachusetts, Israel, and around the world,” the goals of the fund include:

• To raise money to support programming for women and girls,and;
• Build strong women’s programs through grantmaking, and;
• Promote empowerment and leadership in women and girls, and;
• Act as an agent for social change, and;
• Carry out the Fund’s mission based on commitment to the health,  education, and welfare of Jewish women and girls

The fund does not provide scholarships or grants to individuals nor does it make grants for capital improvements.  It does provide grants to improve the human condition for women and girls.

A representative group of women in our community came together this month to make recommendations and discuss potential beneficiaries.  The committee historically has chosen programs that were both in Israel and in Western Mass (often, those programs were parallel or similar in their goals).

Acknowledging the trauma that has beset Israel post 10/7, the Committee focused entirely on organizations in Israel to assist with the particular issues affecting women and girls.

It is estimated that in the small country of Israel that there are an estimated 230 sexual assaults daily; 84,000 women are victims of sexual violence each year.  One in three Israeli women are assaulted in their lifetimes; 10% higher than the average rate in OECD countries.

With these distressing facts in hand, the Committee chaired by Ronda Parish included Suze Goldman, Judy Ingis, Ester Kosofsky, Iris Linson, Robyn Newhouse, Sue Polansky, and Diane Troderman discussed a number of beneficiaries before making two substantial awards to Maslan and the Haifa Rape Crisis Center.

Maslan is the Negev’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Support Center which is responsible for the entire Negev region from Kyriat Gat to Eilat.  Founded in 1988, they provide assistance, practical aid and emotional support to victims of sexual and domestic violence and their families.  In addition, they work to tackle the root of the problem through educational activities and publicity in order to foster social change.

The attacks in Israel on 10/7 were especially traumatic.  Based on survivor and witness testimonies, accounts from first responders and forensic evidence, sexual violence was intentionally used as a “weapon of war.”  With the ongoing war, increased trauma, and displacement, the number of sexual assaults skyrocketed, especially in the Southern Region, making this support of Maslan even more poignant.

The Haifa Rape Crisis Center (HRCC) provides 24/7 services to over 7,000 victims and those close to them, annually.  They are very proud that they have almost 100 volunteers as part of the program, 1/3 of them have been victims themselves. Established in 1979, HRCC provides services to Haifa and the entire North of Israel.

In speaking with the HRCC CEO, Tali Eisenberg, she is committed (with our directed funding) to providing support and presence in our Partnership Region of Afula/Gilboa where they have seen significant increases in domestic and sexual abuse due to the trauma of displacement and constant threats of missile attacks.

Twenty-eight years ago, a group of committed and determined women created the NEFESH Fund at the Jewish Endowment Foundation to address issues specifically associated with women and girls.  They had the brilliant foresight to create an initiative to better the lives of women here in our community and in Israel.  You can be a part of NEFESH by making a contribution to the fund at JEF and by volunteering to be a part of the initiative.

We often read about the leadership of Lillian Wald, Gloria Steinem, Henrietta Szold, Golda Meir, Emma Goldman, and Hannah Szenes; each of the donors to NEFESH are no less leaders in advocating and supporting women’s lives in our time. 

Kol Hakavod to them all.

Wishing you a safe and restful Shabbat

Adam Solender