Greetings!
In this week's Torah portion, Lech Lecha, G-d tells Abram to "Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you." With very little instruction, our forefather follows G-d's command with only a vague promise of abundant descendants and blessings.
Today, we are still entering uncharted territory – in many cases, digital realms – with little guidance. Laissez-faire corporate policies have allowed a new frontier of hate to flourish on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, reaching increasingly younger audiences. A recent report by European anti-hate groups found that on TikTok – a platform dominated by young people ages 16 to 24 – a collection of three antisemitic hashtags were viewed more than 25 million times in six months.
At Federation, we are redoubling our efforts to combat antisemitism. As our new Chair of the Board Dana Keller discussed at last month’s Annual Meeting, it’s a top organizational priority. That’s why we are proud to support ADL Connecticut’s Words to Action program, which equips secondary school and college students to effectively confront antisemitism in their schools and communities and online. Through virtual and in-person trainings, Words to Action gives young people the opportunity to share their experiences and build the skills and confidence to respond quickly and decisively to antisemitic words and acts.
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We know that biased attitudes can lead to biased acts and, if left unchecked, to violence. Thanks to your support and our partners at ADL, we are ensuring that future generations are well-equipped to traverse new and hazardous terrain. |
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David Waren
President & CEO
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From Peddlers to Community Pillars: A Virtual Tour of Jewish Hartford |
Did you know that your gifts to Federation's Annual Campaign help Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford tell local Jewish stories and preserve our community's history? When the pandemic put in-person programs on hold, JHS was able to transform its popular historical tour of Jewish Hartford into a virtual tour. "'Exploring Jewish Hartford' includes an interactive map, stories, videos, and historic images," says JHS Executive Director Elizabeth Rose. "You can participate from the comfort of home. The exhibit explores 300 years of history by spotlighting the people, institutions, and neighborhoods that made Jewish Hartford what it is today," she adds. "Online, we were able to showcase a wider range of sites and make the content available to a broader audience, including teachers and students." Click here for the full story or here to take the tour.
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Above: A historic map of the City of Hartford from "Exploring Jewish Hartford." Courtesy of JHS. |
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Celebrating a Year of Extraordinary Kindness at Federation’s Virtual Annual Meeting |
Hundreds of viewers tuned in to Federation’s 2021 Annual Meeting & Celebration on September 13 to celebrate community accomplishments, recognize outstanding service, and elect new leaders. The program highlighted the many acts of kindness that have taken place across Greater Hartford's Jewish community over the past year. We recognized outgoing leaders and welcomed incoming leaders, presented the Henry M. Zachs Spirit of Judaism Award to Stuart Rabinowitz and Shayna Gopin, and learned how to create a kinder and more vibrant Jewish community from psychologist, TV personality, and author Dale Atkins, Ph.D. Click the image below to view the full event video on YouTube, or click here for a recap.
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Israel and Greece Work Together to Safeguard Children's Rights |
Your contributions to Federation’s Annual Campaign help Israel National Council for the Child protect the welfare of all Israeli children and provide support for NCC's Ombudsperson's office, which aids in inquiries about children at risk. NCC's Alon Madar told us about an exciting recent partnership between Israel and Greece that is benefiting children in both nations. "Every year, [we] receive and respond to thousands of inquiries. Your Federation has been a dependable and ever-present funder. NCC serves as a consultant to the State of Israel on its commission for children in out-of-home care (e.g., foster care and boarding schools). This summer we were paired with the Greek Commission for Children as part of the European Union Twinning Project to share ideas and best practices. Together, we discussed making services accessible to children with disabilities and children in foster care. We developed more effective techniques for working with children in need in both countries. At the end of the day, there’s nothing quite as refreshing and beneficial as dialogue between professionals from different countries. We come to the table with varying educational pedagogies, backgrounds, and therapeutic approaches – and we work together to better the lives of children at risk." Click here for the full story.
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Above: Israeli and Greek participants in the EU's Twinning Project. |
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