TRENDING IN OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY

June 30, 2023

Shabbat Shalom CT!

For Jews, acquiring basic literacy was the first step in moving to higher studies and acquiring more and more education. And, according to Jewish tradition, God is, among other things, a writer.

Although Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states in the country, nearly one in 10 children live in poverty and books are a luxury item that parents cannot afford.

This year's Gala on September 7th will be supporting the Magic of Literacy -- here in Connecticut and in Israel.

Federation shares our love of literacy through Books2Connect, our program that promotes literacy and self-esteem by expanding the horizons of young readers through the gift of books.

We collect gently-used and new books to distribute to children in our area, encouraging them to build their own home libraries and a foundation for life-long learning. Our Book Buddies volunteers love to read with 2nd-graders at Blackham School because it is rewarding for everyone.

The Gala will also introduce a new annual award, The Shari Levy Award for Service. It will honor the Books2Connect and Book Buddies volunteer leadership of Anita Chargar and Lauren Zirn. Shari exemplified the epitome of generosity in her lifelong dedication to Jewish education and passion for the Jewish community.

Don't wait to read about it -- join us on September 7th for the Magic of Literacy!

Am Yisrael Chai. I wish you a safe and peaceful Shabbos.

Carin Savel, CEO

carin@shalomct.org

YEAR IN REVIEW

ANTI-LBGTQ HATE & EXTREMISM INCIDENTS 2022-2023

ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) and the national LGBTQ+ organization GLAAD have released a first-of-its-kind report tracking extremist and non-extremist acts of harassment, vandalism and assault motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ hate.

The review recorded a total of 356 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents between June 2022 and April 2023, including 305 acts of harassment, 40 acts of vandalism and 11 incidents of assault, directly coinciding with a disturbing increase in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation.

“This first-of-its-kind report provides a sobering snapshot of the deluge of hatred the LGBTQ+ community faces every single day, sparked in large part by organized extremist activity,” said ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt. “We hope these stark findings serve as a wakeup call to lawmakers, civil society leaders, and community leaders to stand up to this onslaught of hate and support our LGBTQ+ community.”

From demonstrations aiming to intimidate organizers and attendees at drag shows, to bomb threats against hospitals that offer health care for LGBTQ+ people to a mass shooting that took the lives of five people in Colorado, incidents of anti-LGBTQ+ hate and extremism are an important part of a larger story about the heightened threats facing the LGBTQ+ community in the United States today.

You can read the full report HERE.

Applications are now open for the Future Fund. We created the Future Fund to help our young Jewish community members develop an understanding of and connection to Israel.

From summer programs in Israel, to studying in Israel for a semester, to Jewish pre-college and gap-year programs, there are plenty of enriching opportunities available for funding.

Students in 8th grade through college undergraduate who reside or who are attending school in our catchment can apply for $1,000 grants for programs connected to Israel.

Applications are blind submissions and will be reviewed and evaluated by the Future Fund committee.

The Future Fund can be accessed here.

The Future Fund is a program supported by the Jewish Federation. If you wish to further support the program and increase the number of participating applicants, you can donate HERE!

OUR ALLOCATIONS ARE +COMPLETE!

Your donations to our Annual Campaign helped many causes locally, in Israel, and in 90 countries around the world.

This year, beneficiaries in our partnership region of Afula-Gilboa in Israel include:

Emunah Sarah Herzog Children's Center in Afula - Health & Life Preparation for Success program

Beit Uri Special Needs Residential Village - therapeutic horse-riding

The Jewish Agency for Israel - services for new immigrants at Beit Alfa Absorption Center

Ofanim - STEM Enrichment Programs on Mobile Labs in Afula

Tarbut Movement - a multi-generational arts & cultural project connecting youth and seniors

Nirim Youth Village - outreach to at-risk youth in Afula

Ethiopian National Project - SPACE (School Performance and Community Empowerment) Scholastic Assistance Program

Haifa Rape Crisis Center Afula Branch - Educational programming to prevent and detect sexual abuse in children and youth

Mishkan Museum of Art - art-education program for Jewish and Arab youth in the region

Shehakim Afula Community Center - Sandwich Club run by at-risk teens serving children facing food scarcity

Project Kesher - Israel - educational programming for Ukrainian and Russian-speaking immigrants

A direct and compelling headline

Today, over 5.8 million refugees have fled Ukraine and are currently in Europe, with millions more internally displaced or forced to shelter in or near their homes.

THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

Since Russia first invaded Ukraine, an estimated 10 million people have been displaced, making this one of the largest humanitarian crises since WWII. As the war continues, Jewish Federations and our partners continue to work together to ensure that urgent relief reaches the neediest, including both refugees who have fled as well as those remaining in Ukraine – millions of whom are displaced.

The needs are many and urgent. They include food, water, shelter, clothing, medical supplies, safe passage, and help to make aliyah or resettle in another safe haven – whether in Europe, Canada, or the U.S.

Donate Now

Tickets for Lyman Aid

In Real Times – Arthur Szyk:

Artist and Soldier for Human Rights

September 29 – December 16, 2023

The Jewish Federation is honored to partner with Fairfield University to bring you this extraordinary event.

Coordinated at Fairfield University by Philip Eliasoph, PhD, the exhibition will feature more than 60 original works by the acclaimed artist, including political cartoons, illustrations of critical texts of the Jewish tradition, and stamps and seals that honor the power and importance of democratic ideals.

Click here for the full program.