Israel & Our Community Edition

Shalom CT!

Saying this has been a week of big highs and lows is an understatement, so let's start with a big high! Members of the Youth Committee met this week to give out $40,000 of funding for 33 kids to go to Jewish summer camp or take a trip to Israel.

We had such a good time reading their letters explaining why they wanted to go. For some, it was the opportunity to have fun with other Jewish kids; for others, it was a chance to grow up a little away from home. Some letters were heartbreaking, but others left us in pools of laughter. These youth funds are a new program for the Federation. Every child who applied for the funding had the support of their Rabbi, so it looks like this program is a hit. Mazel tov to these great kids!

Passover will undoubtedly be different this year.

Can we sing 'Dayenu' while there are hostages?

Can the Seder table have empty seats representing October 7th victims, hostages and soldiers who are unable to return home?

What about using a new Haggadah?

I've attached a prayer for the hostages written by Rabbi Josh Ratner and a Passover prayer written by the Chief Rabbi.

Additionally, here's a link for a Haggadah supplement for October 7th.

I hope these resources are helpful to you and your family.

Finally, the saddest news item of all. On April 17, the IDF and the Israeli Consulate General will be offering the film, 'Bearing Witness to the October 7th Massacre.'

This film is 47 minutes of recorded footage by Hamas terrorists, compiled and released by the Israel Defense Forces for the purpose of allowing for leaders and media representatives to bear witness to the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists on that day.

If you are interested in attending the private screening, let me know.

I wish you a safe and peaceful Shabbos.

Carin Savel, CEO

Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County

First-Ever Federation Youth Fund Grants Awarded

This summer and fall, 33 of our youngest community members will have a great Jewish camping or Israel experience, in part thanks to first-ever grants from Federation's new Youth Fund. Applications were reviewed on an anonymous and need-blind basis by the Youth Committee, co-chaired by Alex Bahary and Alyssa Gold. A total of $40,000 was awarded this week.

Summer Camp Fund applications were solicited through our community's rabbis and (mostly) written by the young applicants themselves. Among the Future Fund grantees, one is currently in a kibbutz-ulpan program and two will spend the next academic year on the Young Judaea Year-long Course.

"We are excited that the Federation’s inaugural Future & Summer Camp Funds are able to support our Jewish youth through their summer camp and Israel overseas experiences, especially in this challenging time," said co-chair Alex Bahary. "These experiences will help to cultivate a strong sense of Jewish identity and foster lifelong learning that will serve our youth and community well. Our first year turnout was excellent and we look forward to growing our efforts moving forward.”

Evening of Inspiration:

Interfaith Reading of Finding My Father's Auschwitz File

On Wednesday evening, Sacred Heart University and the Federation Holocaust Resource Center presented Finding My Father’s Auschwitz File, an interfaith reading of Allen Hershkowitz’s indelible memoir recounting the search and retrieval of his father’s lost years at the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp. Over 100 were there to share this powerfully moving and heart-wrenching evening. It was a story that must be told and retold so that the Holocaust never happens again.

Readers Alejandro J. Ramos, Gina Sharpe, Allen Hershkowitz, Rev. Sara D. Smith

Don't Miss Ladies' Night Out!

Join the Federation for an inspiring evening at the beach on Wednesday, May 22nd.

Your participation will benefit our Dignity Grows chapter and feature special guest speaker Jessica Zachs, founder of this national non-profit that fights period poverty. We hope you will join us to learn about this inspiring project and help pack Dignity Grows totes for neighbors in need.

Tickets: $118; $72 for Emerging Leaders under 40

Click Here to Purchase Tickets for Cocktails for a Cause

"Around the Clock" with Max Serena:

My day actually started at midnight with Ofek and his boys. They were all very welcoming and very nice to me. Everyone spoke great English and were impressed that our group came here to show solidarity. I heard their stories of serving in the IDF, what young adults like to do in Tel Aviv, and great childhood stories. They took me to a little hole-in-the-wall bar where we sat outside and had a couple drinks. Later that night, we got what Ofek claims to be the best kebab in Tel Aviv, which was amazing. I truly got the local experience and was very grateful to be welcomed with open arms.

Our group started the day off with breakfast at our hotel in Tel Aviv, then we took an hour-long ride north to a village near Jenin,

on the border with the West Bank. We met with several IDF volunteers who had previously served in the army. They told us the troubles they have been facing with people illegally entering the country, and gun fights around the region. They showed us their “war room” which was filled with cameras overseeing the surrounding areas. We talked about future threats from the north from the Hezbollah terrorist group, and how this conflict is far from over. We learned that, on October 7th, there were only 4 soldiers in the town and they had zero guns because the government took them all away. Now there are 50 soldiers in the village, all properly equipped. We take living in America for granted, complaining about noisy neighbors or dumb city ordinances, but in hindsight this is nothing compared to what the Israelis have to live through every day. It’s our duty to inform fellow Americans, Jewish or not, on what is happening in Israel.

After this, we drove to Afula, a city in northern Israel where we had lunch at a local falafel shop, and then walked around the city for a bit, stopping into numerous shops and window shopping. We met with the mother of a slain IDF soldier who was not even supposed to be on the front lines. It was very emotional and moving, and showed me how serious this conflict is and how it can impact people from all around the world. We donated some children's books before we headed to our next stop. Everyone has family members or someone they love in the army, and they are risking their lives to protect us from the threat of terrorism.

We went to a school where we helped kids make cookies and I got the chance to meet and talk with some 11-year-old boys and learned a lot about them. It was very touching since they’ve never met an American before and I am glad I got to be their first. It also reminded me of my sister who we met through the foster care system. Being able to welcome someone into your family and end up loving them for eternity is an amazing thing to do. These young boys and girls reminded me of that moment.

We wrapped up the night by having dinner with high-schoolers at a local hangout area which keeps kids off the streets. I met some very nice young men and women who were very interested in America, and more specifically, my home town of Florida. They love Miami and want to go sometime. I think the girls liked me too much as they wanted my phone number. I think today was my favorite day of the trip so far as it was very emotional and moving for me to be able to hang out with these kids. It reminded me of my relationship with my sister, and when I used to work with kids at summer camp in Florida.

"The Final Day" with Nancy Diamond & Jeff Meyer:

On this last day of our Israel trip, I realized our mission had included three buckets:

• Education - e.g. visits with Magen David Adom; Brothers and Sister for Israel, and Israel Trauma Coalition

• Volunteering - e.g. Pantry Packers, cucumbers on the Moshav, and the Sandwich Club

• Bearing Witness - the most searing, and our activity for today

Chen Kotler was born and raised on Kibbutz Kfar Aza with her parents, three sisters and a brother. She also raised her own children there. Just a few kilometers from the Gazan border, Chen recalled going comfortably as a child with her family to the

beautiful beach she referred to as the "Gazan Riviera." After Hamas took control of Gaza in 2005, the trips to Gaza stopped, but Gazans continued to come east to work and shop. Mostly, there was détente.

Chen was in Portugal visiting a sister on 10/7, when she was awakened by alerts going off on her phone. Quickly checking in with her father, she learned that terrorists had breached the fences and were in the kibbutz. Some people had been shot. The IDF wasn’t coming. Her youngest sister was locked in a safe room with friends and children totaling 12.

Chen and her sister spent the next 48 hours making phone calls, reaching out on WhatsApp to friends, the IDF and family. She shared stories of the 63 brutally massacred and the 19 kidnapped, in minute detail. She walked us around and allowed us to take limited photos of the destruction.

Chen’s calm façade cracked when she spoke of the 5 hostages from the kibbutz remaining in Hamas captivity. “Until they are back, we can’t move on. We are still at the beginning of the story and we don’t know where it will go.”

By Chen baring her soul and story to us, we became witnesses to the horrors of the story. We also accepted the responsibility of spreading the truth of the events of 10/7. All of Chen’s family miraculously survived.

Chen also left us with the scariest thought: this attack was not just on Jews or her community. This is the playbook for the terrorists’ next attack. I am still trembling from that remark.

Lunch was in the nearby town of Sderot, where 13 police officers and a total of 75 people were murdered by terrorists. The police station was burned down. The town is still very depressed, with many stores closed.

Imri was one of 6 rapid-response officers on duty at Kibbutz Re’im, also just a few kilometers from the Gazan border, where he lived with his wife and 3 children. When he was alerted that terrorists had breached the fence around 6:30am on 10/7 he had time to get dressed, put on the right shoes, unlock his gun and grab 2 magazines (144 bullets) of ammunition.

Imri spent an hour walking us around the kibbutz. He gave us a play by play of his movements fighting off the terrorists until help arrived. He explained how kibbutzniks made the terrorists think there were more of them. With fires burning and rockets and shooting everywhere, they were shielded by smoke and noise. We felt like he was a director on a movie set, blocking out the filming for the next day. The constant blasts of Israeli artillery from Gaza added to this impression of a film set.

Clearly Imri’s way of dealing with this trauma is very different from Chen’s. He relived his experiences for us. He didn’t tell us how many were killed or kidnapped. When he mentioned a young man, the son of one of the first responders who was killed, he choked up.

The kibbutz was severely bombed and burned. Imri's wife and children survived after 24 hours in the shelter.

The site of the Nova music festival reminded me of the memorials set up after 9/11. A rebar pole in the ground was set up for each victim with their photo. Many had flowers, candles, memorabilia and written words. There were murals, posters and other impromptu memorials set up all over the site. It was beyond heartbreaking to see hundreds of beautiful alive faces marked as no longer alive. There are no words.

Ofek led a beautiful memorial tribute to his good friend Gila who was also murdered on 10/7. Rabbi-Cantor Shirah Sklar and Rabbi Josh Ratner led us in song and prayer. We were all so moved.

Dinner at Nina Bianca near Rehovot was a wonderful way to close out this extraordinary week of learning, volunteering and bearing witness. Carin invited us all to share

all to share our reflections (my least favorite activity) and the exercise proved to reveal how exceptionally powerful this week has been for all of us. We have learned truths about Israel that we can spread at home. We can let our friends in Israel know that we stand with them as they navigate their most complicated and dangerous future.

Thank you, Carin Savel, Stacy Kamisar, Ofek Moscovich, and Alan Feldman.

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