Dear Community Members,
In this season of counting our blessings, our community is at the top of the list.
On September 1st, we launched our annual Combined Jewish Appeal (CJA) campaign, and it has gathered amazing momentum thanks to your support! So far, we have raised $3,350,784 that will fund Federation’s beneficiary agencies, services, and programs. Our sincerest thanks to those who have already donated, and to make your donation to the CJA annual campaign, visit here.
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our recent events, including our Federation’s Mayoral Candidates Forum earlier this month. At the Forum, we hosted the six leading mayoral candidates: Scott Gillingham, Kevin Klein, Shaun Loney, Jenny Motkaluk, Glen Murray, and Robert-Falcon Ouellette. They weighed in on key community issues, which included combating antisemitism, poverty and homelessness, infrastructure, security and public safety, their vision for Winnipeg, and more. It presented an excellent opportunity for our community members to hear the candidates reflect on these important issues, and we thank them again for their participation.
Women’s Philanthropy represents one third of our total CJA campaign and highlights women’s leadership and immense contributions to our community. Please join us for a very special upcoming Women’s Philanthropy event, Uncovering My Metis Roots: A Jewish Woman's Journey featuring Winnipeg-born Lisa Wilder on Tuesday, November 1. Lisa was adopted and raised in a Jewish family in Winnipeg and carries on the traditions of her Jewish heritage, while proudly celebrating her Indigenous roots. For more information and to register, please visit here.
A glance at news headlines shows that antisemitism continues to be on the rise – in the streets, on the internet, and around the world. Identifying antisemitism and combating it both offline and online remains a key area of focus for our Federation and Federations across the country. The Hamilton Jewish Federation’s inaugural international conference on antisemitism taking place this November aims to bring together people of all ages, from all communities and ethnic and cultural groups to learn, and to have an open dialogue about antisemitism. Students, educators, and community advocates, as well as unaffiliated community members, are invited to attend the conference virtually or in-person.
Perpetuating the memory and knowledge of the Holocaust, particularly among youth, remains a key priority for our Federation. We are pleased to inform you that March of the Living will be offered through Federation as in previous years. The March of the Living is an international, educational program that brings Jewish teens from all over the world to Poland on Yom HaShoah to march from Auschwitz to Birkenau, then off to Israel to observe Yom Ha’zikaron, Israel Memorial Day, and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. This week, we had a very successful information night attended by youth and their families are who are interested in this life-changing program. To learn more, please visit here.
Your Federation continues to represent the community on important issues to elected officials and external community stakeholders, including raising awareness on the increase in antisemitism and how it can be addressed, as well as raising funds to support the important work of our beneficiary agencies, and our national and overseas partners. We continue to make connections for our youth to participate in transformative educational experiences and build meaningful relationships with Israel. We invite you to be part of our Federation’s Mission to Israel in 2023 and form lifetime friendships. Please contact us.to learn more and to register.
On behalf of the board and staff of the Federation, we wish you a peaceful and restful Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom,
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Gustavo Zentner
President
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Elaine Goldstine
Chief Executive Officer
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