Enriching Jewish life, here and everywhere.

Some 2000 years ago Rabbi Hillel taught us, Al tifrosh min hatzibur, “Don’t separate yourself from the community.”

And yet, here we are a society at the most hyperconnected point in a millennia, and we are forced to physically separate. While these physical barriers may be necessary at this time, the Federation is doing its best to keep you connected to community because at its heart, Jewish life is about community.

In today’s Shabbat message, I share with you what the Federation is doing keep our community connected, help those in need, support our partners, and find a way for us to get through these challenging times together.

Shabbat Shalom.

Thank you to our volunteer families who spent Presidents’ Day making a difference. This awesome group learned about sayver panim yafot (intentionally greeting others with kindness) before delivering approximately 50 Meals on Wheels and baking challah for hungry neighbors in need. Because of these generous volunteers, all 350 clients received their meals!

YEDA is just one of many programs we support to fund what matters most in the lives of Jewish families here and in Israel. The schools, located in Northern Haifa, are inspired by Houston’s KIPP: Knowledge Is Power Program. YEDA believes that their students’ demography should not determine their destiny. The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston has committed to fund YEDA with $250,000 over 5 years.

The Federation’s 26th Annual Yom Limmud drew more than 1,300 of our community members who joined for a day of Jewish learning. This is one of the ways our Federation keeps us connected to Judaism and promotes lifelong learning. Thank you to the Barish family, Chair King Backyard Store , Congregation Beth Israel – Houston, TX, our chairs Steve & Sandra Finkelman, and all our volunteers for making it possible.

Around the world, in places like the former Soviet Union, there are thousands of Jewish people struggling to meet their basic needs.

The Federation partners with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to deliver lifesaving food, medicine, home care and heat to some of the world’s poorest Jews.

In the former Soviet Union, Federation-partner agency, JDC, provides basic needs services to nearly 100,000 elderly Jews across 11 time zones.

These include 46,000 Holocaust survivors, retired doctors, teachers and engineers who are struggling to live on pensions as low as $2 per day. Many are alone, without family to care for them.

YOU sustain the most vulnerable members of our global Jewish family.

Jewish overnight camp is a unique atmosphere where children can grow and explore in a Jewish setting.

YOU make it possible for everyone to participate because your support of the Federation provides scholarships and One Happy Camper grants for first-time campers. YOU are sparking unforgettable experiences, building lifelong friendships and forming a strong Jewish foundation for our next generation.

Last summer, you provided 140 need-based scholarships and 90 One Happy Camper grants to enable children to attend Jewish camp. Adults who attended overnight Jewish camp are 37% more likely to light candles for Shabbat, 45% more likely to attend synagogue at least once per month, and 55% more likely to feel very emotionally attached to Israel.