An oft repeated message from Federation is that “Federations were made for times like these.”
This most often refers to the significant collective action we employ in cases of national or global crises, such as supporting Jewish communities in the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe effected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine or quickly providing aid to communities in Florida devastated by Hurricane Ian. We and our partners effectively and rapidly respond to these emergencies due to the support, year in and year out, of generous donors to Federation’s Annual Community Campaign.
But Federation’s singular mission of providing philanthropic leadership AND community-building to nurture a strong, engaged, connected, caring, vibrant and enduring Jewish community makes us well positioned to address broad communal interests and to serve as a community advocate and convener.
When we were informed that the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) had scheduled Count Day on Yom Kippur, we reached out to school districts in Washtenaw County to alert them to this issue and provide guidance in communicating with their families. We consulted – along with local rabbis – with Ann Arbor Public Schools on their messaging to the community and were grateful for the strong position taken by AAPS superintendent Dr. Jeanice Swift. Knowing that this will come up time and time again, we contacted our state legislators and senators who have become our advocates in working to change the law to provide for more flexibility in setting this date.
Increasingly, Federation is called upon to address issues of antisemitism and community security. Here again, because of our mission and the resources of the larger Federation system, we are able to be both responsive and proactive. When racist trolls left antisemitic fliers on porches and driveways in Ann Arbor neighborhoods, Federation liaised with security personnel, local congregations and organizations, and the experts at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) to ensure all appropriate steps were taken to secure, inform and reassure the community as we headed into Rosh Hashanah. In the aftermath of this incident, we convened local law enforcement and the ADL to assist Jewish Family Services make decisions about their Walk-a-Mile event supporting refugee services.
But responding to incidents is not enough. In the coming months, we will be exploring ways in which our community can be more proactive in fighting hate and antisemitism in our community. Initiated by community members concerned about the uptick in antisemitism, Federation is hosting a Jewish community conversation on the topic November 20. Join us to share your experiences, learn more about what is and is not antisemitism, and develop a roadmap for building relationships and taking action around this important communal issue.
Antisemitism and security concerns are closely related. Over the past four years, Federation has engaged in a collaborative approach to community security. We have made some strides and provided a range of support to organizations whose leaders and safety committees have been intentional and focused in their approach to securing their facilities. And, it is clear that to further those efforts and to have a strong community-wide security infrastructure, based on best practices, we need a lead professional – a community security manager – to be responsible and accountable for ensuring we are all well-supported and well-prepared. This individual would develop deeper relationships with law enforcement, develop and implement a schedule of regular training and drilling for within and across organizations and lead the effort to create a community crisis plan. JFNA is dedicated to ensuring that all 146 communities in their network are covered by such a security infrastructure and raised matching funds for a national effort called LiveSecure. We look forward to working with you to ensure our community has the highest possible level of preparedness while maintaining a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.
The Federation is increasingly called on to support the community in many ways. We are proud to be an active partner in Jewish Congregations Organized for Resettlement (JCOR) and to provide the back-office support needed to raise and disburse funds. Through the Jewish Community Foundation, we support the efforts of the Second Generations group to establish and solicit donations for the Irene Butter Holocaust and Human Rights Education Fund. And we continue to convene community partners around Jewish education and community planning – all to ensure a flourishing Jewish community in Washtenaw County.
In urgent matters and in the daily care of our community, the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor was made for times like these – Today.Tomorrow.Always.
Federation cannot do this work without your involvement and your support, and we are grateful for both. To learn more and get involved, visit www.jewishannarbor.org or contact Rachel Wall (rachel@jewishannarbor.org).