By Heidi Gantwerk
SAN DIEGO — The cycle of the Jewish calendar imposes a rhythm on our lives. It is in sync with the seasons, and provides time for reflection, for celebration, for atonement, for mourning, for learning. This pause for summer between Shavuot and the High Holidays is usually a time to breathe, a sort of calm before the increasing energy of Elul.
At Federation, we operate on a fiscal year calendar, and as summer begins and things slow down just a bit, we take time to reflect on the year that has passed and plan for the year to come.
Of course, this year marked the dividing line of this generation: before October 7 and after. Thanks to a strong national Federation system, powerful ties with international and local partners, a deep relationship with Sha’ar HaNegev, and a robust Community Security Initiative, we met the moment, and we continue to do in so many ways, both here in San Diego and in Israel. That is what Federation does.
That is why our Annual Campaign matters so much. As one of our board members said recently, “We build the firehouse before the fire.” We were ready. And we have had the privilege of leadership in both moments of grief and moments of celebration.
For the past eight months, you have heard from us about the need to support critical needs in Israel, about funding our community security efforts, and about fighting antisemitism. These are all essential functions of Federation, and I am enormously proud of our work in all three areas.
Just this week, we will be sending out hundreds of thousands of dollars in security grants to 13 Jewish preschools and to 12 synagogues to help cover High Holiday expenses. This is just a small example of our impact and our reach into the community. I am immensely grateful for your generous support that enables us to do meaningful work in all these areas.
Yet as I reflect on the past year, and look forward to the year ahead, I am just as focused on Jewish joy, and on Jewish meaning and purpose, all of which are essential for Jewish life to flourish. It is just as much a part of meeting this moment. Strengthening Jewish identity and creating strong, joyful Jewish experiences is a core pillar of our work. As I have written before, and is increasingly true, we must do everything we can to ensure being Jewish is not just a defensive posture, but something that enriches every aspect of our lives.
A recent JFNA survey of Jewish engagement revealed a notable surge in the desire for Jewish connection. Jews are craving deeper connections to Jewish life and friends, in part because so many of us feel unmoored. All of a sudden, we see ourselves as Jewish first, and most everything else after that. For many of us, especially those born and raised here in the U.S., that is a new feeling, and one that demands our response. So, while we have not taken our eyes off the very real threats and crises we face, we have also worked to create opportunities for Jewish connection, learning and fun. Missions to Mexico City and Cuba. A teen trip to Bulgaria and Greece. A young adult trip to Budapest. A completely sold-out Jewish Community Day at the Padres, and our upcoming Jewish Community Day at the San Diego County Fair. A festive Yom Ha’Atzmaut with our JCC and IAC partners
Our highly successful leadership programs – the Courageous Leadership Institute, Pauline Foster Women’s Leadership Institute, LEADS for young adults, and Peer Leaders Fellowship program for teens – all had record attendance and participation.
Our creative and dedicated Women’s Philanthropy leaders brought hundreds of women together for festive, thought-provoking events. Our Fed360 gala brought nearly 600 people together in a powerful show of community.
With our San Diego Jewish Academy partners, we welcomed 120 teens from Sha’ar HaNegev for a week full of learning, celebration and life-long bonds. As I write, we have a group of young adults here from Sha’ar HaNegev enjoying all that San Diego has to offer, while spending time building lasting friendships and sharing Jewish experiences with local residents.
We have a group of San Diego teens leaving in a few days to meet up with Jewish peers from Budapest to spend 10 days travelling together. We just announced our next Young Adult trip to Italy. And we have helped families in record numbers send their children to Jewish summer camp, which my own children have told me over and over again, is their Jewish “happy place.”
I had the great privilege earlier this week of doing a deep dive into the past eight months with Rabbi Phil Graubart and Ali Viterbi as part of their wonderful Hevruta podcast. We talked about Moses and his moments of crisis, my own approach to leadership, Federation’s role and responsibility this year, and the need for Jewish joy, among many other things. If interested, you can listen here. For the past few months, and as I listen back to our thought-provoking conversation, I find myself coming back again and again to the themes of Jewish joy, meaning and purpose.
As our Federation heads into the next fiscal year, we will step up our efforts make sure Jewish life thrives and opportunities for Jewish joy are plentiful, easy to access and lasting. As much as anything else we do, this is what “meeting this moment” demands.
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Heidi Gantwerk is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of San Diego.