Our donors help unite and strengthen our Jewish community to shape a vibrant, resilient future – a flourishing Jewish community that is welcoming & inclusive, educated & engaged, safe & secure, caring, active, and connected to our local community, Israel, and Jews worldwide. Thank you!
During the past year, much was accomplished with your support:
- A record $1.6 million campaign
- Successful inaugural year of our Shinshinim program & new community-wide Lag B’Omer program with over 300 attendees
- Black/Jewish Unity Group founded including a Black Jewish Seder and a combined trip to local underground railroad sites
- Hanukah/Diwali program with local Hindu community
- Over $500,000 in non-profit security grants awarded
- $63,000 in extra funding for summer security guards
- State government advocacy for increased security and social service support
This year’s campaign video provides a moving picture of the work in which we’ve been engaged and the urgency of continuing and expanding our efforts.
Looking Ahead
At our Major Donors/Legacy Event, we announced an audacious campaign goal of $2 Million – a 25% increase over last year’s record campaign. This goal is bold, historic, and maybe a little overconfident. But it is not an arbitrary number. It’s based on what together we should be doing for our community. Frankly, it could be higher.
Community Need – $1.7 Million
Each year we ask for a minor increase to meet the needs of our community, but we have greatly under-reported the true needs of our partners and the Jewish Federation to continue and expand programs and services needed for a flourishing Jewish community.
This past campaign year we raised and allocated $1.6M. However, the requests from our partners – and our own financial needs – totaled $1.7M. A full $100,000 more than we were able to provide. And costs are rising. We simply cannot continue to meet community need with small, incremental increases.
Community Security – $275,000
In the coming year, our Jewish community will spend more than $1 Million for safety and security needs! More than half of that pays for security personnel to protect participants in engaged in Jewish communal life throughout the community. We believe it is Jewish Federation’s responsibility to support our local organizations, so they do not have to bear the brunt of this necessary expense alone. Our goal will cover expenses for our community security program AND approximately 30% of anticipated security personnel costs for all Jewish communal organizations.
Community Shinshinim – $25,000
Our inaugural year of hosting Israel gap-year students (Shinshinim) to deepen our connection with and understanding of Israel was a huge success. Last year, Shinshinim sang with preschoolers at the JCC, engaged teens in BBYO, connected with children & families at HDS, and presented Jewish & Hebrew Story Time at the Ann Arbor Public Library. Our second cohort is already expanding their involvement to new groups in the community. Thanks to a pilot grant and the support of our local partners, we have been able to fund this project for its first two years. Continuing this widely impactful program will cost Federation $25,000/year.
These are challenging and complicated times which require more of us than ever before. The initiatives we drive and fund are essential for a strong, welcoming, engaged and flourishing Jewish community. Together we must:
- Advocate for our community in our state, county, local and national governing bodies.
- Educate about and combat antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and hate.
- Build bridges with other faith, ethnic and cultural communities.
- Reach unengaged and marginalized members of our community through community-wide visioning and planning.
- Support our partners in Israel as they continue to rebuild and bolster a strong shared civil society.
- Help Jewish communities in need around the world.
- Sustain critical work with older adults, those facing financial hardship, and individuals struggling with loneliness or mental health.
- Encourage innovative transformational Jewish programs to inspire the next generation.
- Ensure people feel safe participating in Jewish life through coordinated security operations.
To do this work, we need you to support this Jewish Federation to continue to grow, lead and serve the community in this time, in this environment. No one else will do it for us.
When your Campaign Volunteer contacts you, or if you receive an email or mail appeal, please consider this important mission and dig deeply to help us reach this audacious goal. If you have suggestions, ideas or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I’m grateful for your involvement, dedication and generosity.
We pray for the return of all hostages to their families, the cessation of the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and peace and safety for our people and all peoples around the world.
I wish you a joyous Sukkot and a happy, healthy, sweet, and peaceful New Year.
Chag Sameach,
Eileen