On the heels of returning from our Civil Rights Mission, we hopped the train for Washington, D.C. to advocate for Israel. As part of the 48-hour Jewish Federations of North America Advocacy Day Fly-in, we spoke to our CT delegation and listened to many, many experts, but there was one moment that stood out. | |
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Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog flew to D.C. to talk to 500 of us who also traveled there to talk to Congress. He was firm in his resolve.
He said, "We have goals."
1. Dismantle the Hamas war machine. If we leave their leadership intact, they will just attack us again and again. We have no choice.
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2. Free all the hostages. This is very time sensitive. We are up against a deceptive enemy. This issue is the most important and we need to highlight the urgency of time.
3. Restore the sense of security in Israel. We have to rebuild, provide new life and provide hope. This is why a ceasefire is not the answer. Our people will not return to their homes until they feel safe.
4. Refrain from escalating into a regional war. This is an international responsibility, not just an Israeli responsibility. We are fighting above the ground and we are fighting below the ground. It is very complex because we are fighting an actual war -- and a war of perception.
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We will not help by talking about this. We cannot rest on our laurels. This is a time for action and more action. If you want to help, contact me.
I wish you a peaceful and safe Shabbos.
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Carin Savel, CEO
910-818-3311
carin@shalomct.org
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CIVIL RIGHTS MISSION - DAY TWO THOUGHTS
We were privileged today to sit in the company of greatness. In the back room of a small restaurant (maybe more of a combination dinette and community center) in Selma, Alabama. Author, activist, story-teller, and multiple-times convict Lynda Blackmon Lowery sat with us and explained why she started marching with Reverend Martin Luther King and John Lewis at age 13.
She described in harrowing detail several of the times she was arrested, imprisoned, brutally beaten, deprived of food, water, air, and light. All before she reached the age of 15.
She joined the civil rights marches across the Edmund Pettis Bridge 3 times in 1963. She was the youngest member of the marches, and she was terrified. She described what she saw as she came over the bridge to the waiting rows of state troopers, county sheriffs, horses, weapons, and dogs.
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What I can't do justice to is her engaging, loving, compelling energy in giving us her testimony. She was and still is irreverent, impish, loving, and powerful. What's more, she uplifted us, empowering us through a direct transfer of her deep spirit.
From there, we walked outside where we gathered in song, led by our trip's Rabbi Jason Greenberg of Temple Shalom in Norwalk. And with those songs of peaceful resistance in our minds, we marched our way across that infamous bridge. We followed in the footsteps of heroes. We stepped where they did and we stood in the spot where they witnessed the troops and knew what going forward would mean. But they knew that going backward was not an option.
I hope that of all the lessons I bring home with me, this one stays most true - going backward is not an option.
-Sharon DeFala,Federation Board Chair
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Our wonderful and knowledgeable leader, Billy, physically guided us through the streets of Montgomery, Alabama where Rosa Parks walked from her workplace to the bus on that momentous day in Montgomery, leading to the bus boycott. Billy transmitted a strong sense of the terror, restraint, and range of emotions that black people must have experienced in a world of segregation in everyday life. At the same time, I found myself still partially immersed in our prior day’s experiences, struggling to understand the evolution of slavery and the unabashed persistence of white supremacy, racial inequality, and inhumanity in today’s world.
The Rosa Parks Museum was powerful. I believe most of us were familiar with the history and bravery of civil rights leaders and many anonymous individuals -- however, the images and presentations moved the depth of my understanding, admiration, amazement – and shame – to a new level.
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In the afternoon, we were off to tour Selma, and learn about Bloody Sunday at the site of the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
We had previously learned some of the history and seen images of the beatings of civil rights marchers, but we then had the special opportunity to meet and hear the remarkable story of Linda Blackmon Lowery, a survivor of these marches. As she told her story, our group seemed mesmerized as she shared the perceptions, strength and perseverance of herself as a teenage girl, as she and her community endured beatings, brutality, imprisonment, and dehumanization, and still stood back up to march over that bridge.
While she asserted that she derived her strength from the Lord, I find it incomprehensible how she, and so many like her, found the courage to march or even function each day in a world where white people absolutely terrorized them with violence, humiliation and much worse.
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In conversation with my travel companions, I believe we shared similar disbelief and wonder. Directly hearing from primary sources had extraordinary impact which we will carry with us. As a group, we had many conversations about the role of the Jewish community during this civil rights period – which was indeed very mixed as we learned. Many of us also may find it even more difficult to comprehend the apparent resurgence of overt white supremacy in the past decade.
Lastly, while many of us struggle with contemporary issues of national support for the complex situation in Israel today, I sense our experiences and connections made there in Alabama affirmed our strong convictions to be more active about standing up for freedom, racial equality, and justice for all.
-Rob Kapel
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Join Federation and local synagogues for a week on the ground in Israel, March 16-23, to volunteer and support soldiers, evacuees, survivors and their families. For details and registration, click here*
As a community, we will:
- Meet with residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza
- Volunteer at an IDF base and provide a BBQ dinner for 125 soldiers
- Volunteer to sort and pack supplies at a distribution center
- Connect with former Israeli Young Emissaries who will join us throughout the trip to share their personal stories
- Volunteer picking fruit or vegetables on a farm
- Volunteer in our Partnership2Gether region in Afula
- Hear from scheduled speakers Micah Goodman and Amir Tibon
- Share lunch with Ofek’s friends just released from military service
*Includes security personnel for the entire trip.
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FEDERATION ADVOCATES AT JFNA DC FLY-IN | |
Admiral John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House, opened the conversation. | |
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Above: Senator Chris Murphy meets with lay leaders, Federation board member, Dr. Mindy Hersh, and Gili Roman, brother of freed hostage Yarden Roman-Gat.
Below: Rep. Jim Himes meets with CT lay leaders and federation professionals.
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The Jewish Federations of North America's Washington, D.C. Fly-in was really impactful. CT lay leaders and professionals walked the halls of Congress and met with our congressional delegation and/or their staff.
It was a privilege to advocate for unconditional support for Israel. What did we learn? Well, as bad as things seem across our country, we were really encouraged by the conversations we had in Washington. We were told that of the 500 members of Congress, 490 were with us.
Advocates from Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County and the Federations of Greater Hartford, Greater New Haven, and Stamford spent the day on Capitol Hill to urge CT lawmakers for the return of hostages, a national definition of antisemitism, and unconditional funding for Israel. #BringThemHomeNow
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HRC Commemorates
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
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HRC Speakers' Bureau Presents at Weston Schools
Holocaust Resource Center volunteers, Bobbi Markowitz and Renee Pessin, both daughters of Holocaust survivors, spoke to 750 middle- and high-school students in Weston on Friday, Jan. 26th for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Both are part of the HRC Speakers' Bureau, which has been focused on training the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors to continue sharing their relatives' stories.
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Federation Welcomes Survivors to HRC
On Monday, Jan. 29th, Federation welcomed 40+ Holocaust survivors and their families to the Holocaust Resource Center to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Participants were able to share their stories, hear from Rabbi Stephen Shulman of Mozaic Senior Life, and view the many resources on site that honor our local survivor community.
The HRC is open M-F from 10am-3pm.
Info: HRC@shalomct.org
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Mini & Me is growing! Join us on Thursdays at 11 AM for songs, games and fun. | |
DIGNITY GROWS AT BETH EL-NORWALK
Ending period poverty one tote at a time! B'nai Mitzvah students at Congregation Beth El-Norwalk filled Dignity Grows totes with menstrual-hygiene products as part of their Tikkun Olam training. The totes will be delivered to Federation's partner organizations that serve neighbors in need.
Interested in joining our effort? Contact Stacy Kamisar stacy@shalomct.org
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*CITY & TOWN MOBILIZATION*
We are mobilizing neighbors in our Greater Fairfield County catchment area to begin talks with our city council members, selectmen, and mayors about using the Jewish community as a resource and discovering how we can maintain peace in the community. Volunteers are needed to represent each community: Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Georgetown, Monroe, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Rowayton, Southport, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.
We will be having a community training session at the Federation office (4200 Park Ave., Bridgeport) on February 7 at 7 PM, with Evan Bernstein, VP for Community Relations at The Jewish Federations of North America.
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Bridgeport Resolution update:
Come out and support Israel!
The Bridgeport City Council will meet on Feb. 5 and March 4. Come out at 6:15PM and support Councilman Scott Burns, who is offering a resolution to rescind the ceasefire resolution that recently passed.
The Councilman feels it is vital that our community is there to show that this is what the greater community wants.
Bring signs, wear blue and white -- show them we care about Israel!
Contact Debbie if you have questions. Kol Hakavod to Congregation Rodeph Sholom, who is leading this great cause and doing an amazing job!
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VOLUNTEER MAYA LENDER RETURNS TO ISRAEL
Maya has been volunteering full-time at Federation and Merkaz since arriving in CT following the outbreak of the war on Israel.
"After arriving here, I thought to myself that I must find a way to advocate for Israel and share what it's like to be an Israeli during these difficult times. Meeting with the community really felt like my duty and the Federation welcomed me with open arms. Thank you for your ongoing support of Israel. It has been amazing to see the community come together and show its strength during these challenging times."
We will miss you, Maya!
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Connect with Our Clergy
Click on the links below to reach out to your congregation. If you are not affiliated with a congregation but would like to connect with a Jewish clergyperson, please email info@shalomct.org.
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Beit Chaverim Synagogue
Westport
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Chabad Jewish Center of Ridgefield | |
Chabad Lubavitch of Westport | |
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Congregation Ahavath Achim
Fairfield
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Congregation Beth El-Norwalk | |
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Congregation B'nai Israel
Bridgeport
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Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Fairfield County
Westport
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Congregation Mishkan Israel
Trumbull
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Congregation Rodeph Sholom
Bridgeport
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Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester & Fairfield Counties
Ridgefield
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Mozaic Senior Life
Bridgeport
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Temple B'nai Chaim
Georgetown
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