Israel Needs Our Support

As it has done before in other crises, the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation quickly mobilized to launch the Israel Crisis Fund Campaign for assistance to victims of terror and to address growing needs following the horrific October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The Federation approved running the emergency campaign alongside its ongoing 2023 Annual Campaign. The Federation and our agencies have become very good at being able to act immediately and “pivot” where the needs are the greatest, and a lot of this is possible because of our community’s generous support of our annual campaign. In the last few years, the Federation has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and the War in Ukraine with emergency campaigns, but what has transpired in almost two months in Israel is unprecedented, and we need to respond to this crisis in a big way.

If you have not already made your 2023 commitment to the Annual Campaign, make your pledge now. Please don’t wait for someone to call you or wait to receive a letter, email, or social media request. The time to give to the Annual Campaign is now! If you have already given, thank you, and if you are able, please consider giving more. 

Since the onset of the war, our highest priority has been to maintain safe and secure facilities across the Federation’s campus. While we believe there are no specific credible threats to our facilities, we have heightened our security presence and will do so for the foreseeable future. This increased security costs money that was not allocated in 2023, but MUST be done, we have no choice.

Next, if you have already supported the 2023 Campaign, please consider donating to the Israel Crisis Fund Campaign as part of the collective of Federations around the country raising over $500 million through the Jewish Federations of North America, with 100% of donations going directly to help the people in Israel. Your donations will be used to provide for the needs of the people, families, and communities impacted. The funds will be divided as needed, between immediate and urgent needs, such as medical care, emergency services, evacuation, transportation, housing, supporting victims of terror, trauma relief, and psychological support, as well as preparing for medium and long-term needs.  

As part of the national goal of $500 million, Youngstown’s goal is $867,000 of which we have raised (as of November 20) $385,000, including a $150,000 matching grant from the Thomases Family Endowment and $100,000 from the Federation. Please help us reach and exceed our community goal for the Emergency Campaign and take advantage of the Thomases matching grant for all new donations made after November 14. And, if you have already given to the Emergency Campaign, please consider donating more.  

JFNA’s initial goal of $500 million has been passed, with more than $659 million raised across the country, of which close to $200 million was allocated to a wide range of humanitarian organizations in Israel. I know many of us receive multiple fundraising requests on behalf of Israel on a daily basis, but if you want to know specifically where the funds allocated by JFNA so far have gone, please feel free to contact Lisa Long, Financial Resource Director, or myself and/or watch your emails for our regular updates on the war in Israel. Though JFNA has surpassed its original $500 million goal, the funds needed are unknown as the war is ongoing, but will probably be $1 billion or more.

So, in summary, what can you do:

• Give to the 2023 Annual Campaign that allows us to be ready for crises like these and to ensure the safety of our local Jewish community.
  
  
• Make whatever meaningful contribution you can make to the Israel Crisis Fund to meet the most immediate needs on the ground in Israel.
  
  
• Wear a Blue Ribbon (available at the Federation/JCC) to symbolize support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists.
  
  
• Thank our elected officials who demonstrated their unwavering support for Israel, including supporting measures to fund critical security assistance for Israel in its fight to destroy Hamas.
  
  
• Share your voice: post on social media, stay up-to-date on the evolving war in Israel.
  
  
• Speak out, wherever and whenever you are confronted with antisemitism, particularly with friends or neighbors who just may not know, through their own ignorance, that they are making an antisemitism statement. With a 388% increase in Anti-Semitism since October 7, it is imperative that our message remains clear: antisemitism and hate in all forms are not acceptable.

As we approach the end of 2023, Israel will need much support from us in the new year. They need our love, our financial support, and need to know that they aren’t fighting this war alone, and that our community and the United States are behind them 100%. On behalf of the staff and lay leadership of your Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year in 2024.

Andy
Andrew Lipkin, Federation CEO