24 Sivan 5785

Dear Friend,

In many ways, it is hard to figure out which way to look; and it is natural to feel helpless with so many occurrences pulling at our hearts and minds:

There is an ongoing war in Gaza;
There are continued threats to our synagogues and institutions;
There are still 53 hostages being held by Hamas;
There is the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities and;
There have been hundreds of missile attacks on Israel;
There have been Jews who have been murdered just for being Jewish; and
Antisemitism continues to increase around the world and here in our communities.

This is exactly the reason why the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts was founded almost 100 years ago: to collectively address the issues before us with moral clarity and to respond to the needs of our community with focus and resolve

This is exactly the reason why the Jewish Endowment Foundation was founded 53 years ago: because generations who came before us understood that Jewish lives would one day depend on having the assets necessary to define, protect, and enhance Jewish lives.

We have helped our community secure Federal funds to protect our synagogues;
We have trained hundreds of community members on security protocols;
We have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support our brothers and sisters through the Israel Emergency Campaign;
We have supported synagogue and day school education, travel to Israel, college scholarships;
We have created relationships, built coalitions, and established essential infrastructure.

The Federation, your Federation,

The Endowment Foundation, your Endowment Foundation,

Has been there to serve the daily needs of our community, and

Has been there when there are extraordinary needs here and throughout the world.

And it only works when we are all together, as One.

It only works when you support the Annual Community Campaign,

It only works with your influence, your backing, your commitment,

To the Federation, to Israel, and to each other.

Shabbat Shalom, 

Adam Solender