Today, the Israeli government ratified a ceasefire deal with Hamas. The agreement, supported by 73% of Israelis, is complicated and is structured in three phases over a 42-day period. In the first stage of the deal, a total of 33 hostages are expected to be freed over the course of six weeks. As many as 1,000 Palestinian prisoners could be released at that stage, depending on how many of the released Israeli hostages are alive or dead. The subsequent two phases will see the release of the remaining 65 hostages, living and dead, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip, and the return of many more Palestinian prisoners. This may end the war. But the fulfillment of the second and third phase is contingent on the successful implementation of the first.

Here are two excellent recordings explaining the agreement. Here is yesterday's webinar with Israeli journalist, Haviv Rettig Gur. And here is Nadav Eyal on Dan Senor's Call Me Back podcast.

We look forward to the hostages being reunited with their families.

This week I want to provide a mid-year report on the activities at the Jewish Federation since July 2024. Not everything will be included, but you can get a good understanding of our work on behalf of the Jewish community:

• As of today, the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign has raised over $2.5 million. This includes a remarkable donor-for-donor increase of 9% over last year -- in fact, 60% of all pledges made this year have been an increase of 10% or more!

• I am delighted that our three campaign events had 732 attendees -- 132 were first time Federation event attendees and over 80 first-time donors. Thank you! 

• After raising $750,000 for security needs for Jewish organizations across the state (funds are for a three-year period), in the first six months of this fiscal year the Jewish Federation has granted out $142,000 to 19 organizations. Funds are being used for security guards and security upgrades at facilities.

• The Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) continues to lead efforts to fight antisemitism. We have met with and provided antisemitism trainings to various local school districts and individual schools, Beaverton Police, OHSU Civil Rights Department, students on local college campuses, and more. We have also provided parent advocacy training and did a workshop at the Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference. The JCRC has also trained high school students in the “Student to Student” program to talk about both antisemitism and the joys of being Jewish in metro area high schools.

• We coordinated a “day of learning” for over 100 preschool educators from our seven Jewish preschools.

• Ninety-five volunteers in our Dignity Grows program came together with community partners to pack and distribute 1,152 menstrual and hygiene totes to women and menstruators in need in our community. One powerful story -- a new mother receiving a tote at a postpartum appointment, expressing how it made her feel seen and cared for during a challenging time.

• Jewish Free Loan of Oregon has provided 17 loans totaling $57,250. These loans have helped people pay for college tuition, home and car repairs, relieve credit card debt, emergency housing assistance, and even a wedding.

• We continue to focus on young adults with our NextGen newsletter reaching over 2,300 young adults on a monthly basis. Plus, we have 23 young professionals and 14 mentors participating in our PDX Pathways program. These young professionals are provided an excellent networking, mentorship, and community involvement experience.  

• We have raised over $1.2 million towards our $1.5 million Catalyst Fund to provide three years of funding towards key recommendations from the Community Study (see below). I am grateful to those donors who make these initiatives possible and proud of the Jewish Federation team for putting them into action so quickly.

• We hired Dr. Yosef Rosen as our inaugural Director of Jewish Life and Learning. This is in direct response to the community study findings to address the insecurities around personal Jewish literacy that are a barrier to some participating in organized Jewish life.

• We welcomed Merit Pinker as our new volunteer coordinator to elevate hands-on volunteerism as an avenue of Jewish engagement.

• We will soon begin interviews for a community shaliach (emissary) from Israel to begin in fall 2025.

• We are working with Resetting the Table to create dialogue groups to talk about diverse views on Israel. These will take place in March and April – you can learn more here and apply to be a part of the program.

• In November, we held 10 focus groups (made up of community members across the region and from all age cohorts) to provide the qualitative follow-up to the quantitative community study.

• Next week we will launch our Gather Grants, a new initiative designed to financially support grassroots, home-based Jewish experiences and micro-community building.

• Working to collaborate with two local non-profit organizations to provide financial literacy support for low-income individuals in our community.

• Partnering with Moving Traditions (out of Philadelphia) and Jewish Family and Child Service to support teen mental health needs.

I promise more exciting announcements in the months ahead.

I want to thank the hundreds of people who contributed to our Los Angeles Wildfire Relief Fund. Together, we have raised over $54,000, and every penny has already been sent to Los Angeles for relief and support efforts. Sadly, we can see the devastation with thousands of people losing their homes and seeking shelter and support. Read this article from Rabbi Noah Farkas, CEO of the Jewish Federation in Los Angeles.

Monday, January 20th is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – when we honor the incredible legacy that Dr. King left on the world. Dr. King once said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.” You can do the right thing by joining us at the Work for the World Fair, a service day for all ages hosted by Portland Jewish Academy, PJ Library, Mittleman Jewish Community Center, and the Jewish Federation. The fair will be held on Monday at Portland Jewish Academy from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and include a wide array of hands-on projects and activities to support local community organizations. Register here.

Shabbat shalom and let us hope the initial group of hostages come home on Sunday.