The right person for the “wrong” time…

When Ofek came into my office to visit three years ago, and we started to discuss the possibility of his returning to serve in our community, we could never have imagined the impact he would share with us all. In his first year as our Community Shaliach – a brand-new role – he so ably built upon his time as a former Federation Young Emissary to create a wide range of high-level, interactive programs highlighting Israel. He sparked conversations, forged relationships and created the framework for our first-ever Israel Desk.

At the start of his second autumn, we were excited to introduce his compelling array of programs. His mother visited from Israel, and we launched our program year on September 28th with “Cooking with Ima.” One week later, October 7th hit and, in an instant, we were faced with a new reality… Israel under attack and a Jewish diaspora in pain.

We were all reeling. But one thing was certain from the start. Ofek was the right emissary at this very wrong time. He quickly pivoted from cooking demos and film series to full-on Israel Advocacy. His stirring words at our Community Vigil on October 9th touched our souls and set the tone for community engagement moving forward. He addressed crowds at Israel rallies throughout Greater Fairfield County. He arranged a program with a survivor of the Nova music festival so that we could hear firsthand the horrific details of the massacre that day.

He connected our former Israeli Young Emissaries with their host families, leading emotionally charged discussions. He met with adults to share his thoughts on living under conflict. He challenged our religious-school students to discuss the war in an age-appropriate way. He met with local college students to create a safe space to connect. And he visited area high schools and teen groups to lead discussions on antisemitism and anti-Zionism. He even helped lead our Community Mission to Israel in March, weaving his personal connections into the journey.

Wherever Ofek went, he brought his whole heart, his passion for his homeland, and he set a new standard for Israel engagement.

Clearly, Ofek was the perfect Israel emissary to meet this moment. Now, it’s our turn to step up for Ofek. Please join us to say TODA RABAH to Ofek and thank him for his incredible service to our community on Monday, June 10th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the Federation offices. Stop by, enjoy dessert and be sure to let Ofek know how much our community appreciates his hard work and dedication to nurturing and sustaining the living bridge we in Greater Fairfield County share with Israel. Click the RSVP link below and let Ofek see the love!

We look forward to seeing you. Thank you for being a part of Ofek's journey!

Shabbat shalom,

Stacy Kamisar, Director of Programming and Partnerships

Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County

Town of Fairfield Marks Jewish American Heritage Month

An excited crowd on Wednesday morning gathered at Old Town Hall to witness State Senator Tony Hwang, State Representative Sarah Keitt, and Fairfield First Selectman Bill Gerber, along with Rabbi Shlame Landa (Chabad of Fairfield), Rabbi Josh Ratner (Or Hadash), and Rabbi Evan Schultz (Congregation B'nai Israel) officially proclaim May as Jewish American Heritage Month in the Town of Fairfield and adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The event was hosted by the Fairfield Jewish Advocacy Coalition.

PJ Library books go to Israel!

PJ Library of Greater Fairfield County collected hundreds of gently-used PJ Library books and with the help of parent and student volunteers, packed them up to go to Israel.

Thanks to the generosity of Congregation Rodeph Sholom, six boxes full of books will be shipped to children in our partnership region of Afula-Gilboa in northern Israel. With so many displaced after October 7th, children will have these books to call their own.

SHAKSHUKA THREE WAYS =

THREE TIMES THE YUM!

Our Federation Israel Emissary, Ofek Moscovich, shared his favorite Shakshuka recipes at a cooking demo at Congregation B'nai Israel, highlighting not only the traditional tomato-based Shakshuka, but ones that included spinach and feta and a hearty sweet potato version as well. What a delicious way to learn about how Israeli food reflects its cultural melting pot!

How fun it was to run into Anita Rosnick lighting Shabbat candles at The Blondinit, Westport's new Israeli restaurant!

Over 5,000 people tuned in on Tuesday evening for a discussion with Sheryl Sandberg about her new documentary, Screams Before Silence. The film underscores the importance of bearing witness to the acts of sexual violence committed by Hamas terrorists, lifting up the voices of those who were silenced on October 7th and since, and demanding justice.

WATCH THE EVENT RECORDING.

As Sheryl said at the National Council of Jewish Women event, “I’m hoping people watch Screams Before Silence. We know this film is hard to watch. Watching in community — across faith groups and with organizational partners — can make it just a little easier."

Stay tuned for info on a community showing of the film.

The Jewish Federation presented this conversation a few months ago to a packed Westport Library and it did not disappoint. Informative, controversial, eye-opening. Read the New York Times' take on this story:

The Hamas Chief and the Israeli Who Saved His Life

In an Israeli prison infirmary, a Jewish dentist came to the aid of a desperately ill Hamas inmate. Years later, the prisoner became a mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack.

This is how Dr. Yuval Bitton remembers the morning of Oct. 7. Being jolted awake just after sunrise by the insistent ringing of his phone. The frantic voice of his daughter, who was traveling abroad, asking, “Dad, what’s happened in Israel? Turn on the TV.

News anchors were still piecing together the reports: Palestinian gunmen penetrating Israel’s vaunted defenses, infiltrating more than 20 towns and military bases, killing approximately 1,200 people and dragging more than 240 men, women and children into Gaza as hostages.

Even in that first moment, Dr. Bitton says, he knew with certainty who had masterminded the attack: Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza and Inmate No. 7333335 in the Israeli prison system from 1989 until his release in a prisoner swap in 2011.

RSVP

The General Assembly

Nov. 10-12, 2024

Registration for The Jewish Federations of North America 2024 General Assembly is now open and we are looking forward to seeing you there!

The General Assembly will take place from Sunday, Nov. 10- Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 in Washington, D.C.

This year’s gathering will include a special Evening of Unity on Sunday, Nov. 10 at Nationals Park Stadium. Learn more.

PROGRAM MANAGER:

In this exciting and dynamic role reporting to the Federation's Director of Youth Programs, you will plan powerful programming, connect the community, and partner with our Israel Emissary to provide a living connection to Israel for teens, young families, and our community. If you have a passion for building a vibrant Jewish life, this is the job for you!

Read full job description.

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER:

Do you live on your phone? Are you obsessed with Social Media? Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County is looking for a creative, articulate and media-savvy communicator to help manage its social media pages across multiple platforms. This position will monitor current social media accounts; communicate with followers and respond to queries in a timely manner; generate, edit and publish engaging content; and report success through KPIs. Position is remote, 8 hours per week. Please email Kimberly for more information.

A follow-up to "In Our Name: A Message from Jewish Students at Columbia University," shared by Israel & Overseas Committee Chair, Steve Kunkes:

A letter from 500 Jews at Columbia University may be a landmark in the struggle to escape a stifling regime of doublethink and ensure the American Jewish future through proud and open dissent

BY Natan Sharansky

What You Need to Know About the IDF Strike in Rafah

On Sunday, the IDF carried out a targeted strike on a Hamas compound in northwest Rafah with the use of precise munitions. The strike eliminated two senior Hamas terrorists who were responsible for executing attacks against Israelis and who were actively commanding operations aimed at killing Israelis. The IDF is investigating the cause of a fire that erupted following the strike and that tragically killed dozens of Palestinian civilians who were sheltering in a safe zone about one mile away.

The two senior terrorists eliminated in the strike were Yassin Rabia, who managed Hamas’s terrorist operations in the West Bank and was responsible for orchestrating attacks in which IDF soldiers were killed, and Khaled Nagar, who directed shooting attacks in the West Bank and also carried out several deadly attacks against soldiers.
Hamas has been storing weapons and launching rockets into Israeli territory from the vicinity of the strike in Rafah.
Contrary to accusations made by Hamas and parroted on social media, the strike did not target the IDF-designated Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, but targeted a closed compound one mile away.
The IDF used two munitions with small warheads suited for this targeted strike. According to IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari, this is the smallest munition that the IDF jets can use.
According to the IDF, the fire that broke out was unexpected and could not have been caused by these munitions. Furthermore, the IDF took necessary precautions ahead of the attack to ensure that no civilians would be harmed.
The IDF is investigating the cause of the fire, including the possibility of a secondary explosion caused by weapons stored in a compound next to the target it struck. The IDF released an intercepted phone call between two Gazans explaining that an ammunition warehouse exploded.
Hagari called this incident a tragedy and reiterated, “Our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza, which is why we convey deep sorrow for this tragic loss of life.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called this incident a “tragic mishap.” The Biden Administration said, "Israel has a right to go after Hamas, and we understand this strike killed two senior Hamas terrorists who are responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians." The statement continued, "But as we’ve been clear, Israel must take every precaution possible to protect civilians.”
Rafah is the last major enclave critical to defeating Hamas. The IDF claims four of the remaining intact battalions and many Hamas senior leaders, as well as hostages, are believed to be in Rafah. According to military analysts, most of the weapons Hamas used to massacre Israelis on October 7 came through the Rafah crossing.

Today’s suggested actions to support Israel in your local community:

Listen to the IDF Spokesperson’s press briefing on the incident in Rafah, the Israeli military’s steps to mitigate civilian harm and the investigation that is currently underway.
Watch this CNN interview from earlier this month with U.S. Lt. General Mark Hertling on the strategic importance of destroying Hamas’s remaining four battalions in Rafah.
Read this statement by IDF top military lawyer MG Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi on IDF policy to protect civilians and its commitment to international law, as is expressed in the IDF code of ethics.
Read and share the story of 59-year-old Michel Nisenbaum, a Sderot resident who immigrated to Israel from Brazil as a teenager. Michel was a popular trail guide and volunteer ambulance driver in the south of Israel, but his main love was his two children and six grandchildren. On October 7, Michel left his home and managed to help others flee to safety before he was killed by terrorists near Mefalsim and his body taken to Gaza. Last week, the IDF recovered Michel’s body and brought it back to Israel for a dignified burial. At the funeral, his loved ones eulogized Michel, calling him a hero.

Give to the Israel Emergency Fund here.

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