Danielle V. Minson — Raising the Bar
Feb 9 Update: Elevating Your Impact
Dear friends,
For those of you who attended our Federation Impact Breakfast two days ago—I want to start by saying thank you for your participation. It was such a wonderful and moving way to be together. If you weren’t able to make your 2024 Annual Campaign gift at the breakfast, you can still do so. Donate here.
On Sunday and Monday, I was in New York for the Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) board meeting. We discussed how 2024 is shaping up to be a challenging year. Alongside the CEOs of the Toronto and Chicago Federations, I participated in a panel discussion on fundraising, security, and antisemitism. We focused especially on community relations and advocacy. Particularly in state and local government relations, we are delicately managing nuanced relations and conversations around resolutions to push for a ceasefire.
We each emphasized how paramount messaging and communication are now. Recognizing the pervasive divisiveness and misinformation on our social media platforms, we in Cincinnati had presented JFNA with the idea of conducting message testing. JFNA agreed to help, and so Cincinnati and Houston became launch pads for a pilot project. We were presented with the analysis at the JFNA board meeting, and the takeaway is clear: simplicity, humanity, emotion, and boldness are the elements that resonate most deeply. Here is the most effective message so far. In partnership with JFNA, we plan to expand message testing.
On Wednesday, the Federation’s 2nd Annual Impact Breakfast was sold out with 240 members from across the Cincinnati community. At this year’s breakfast, Elevate Your Impact, we shared our work since October 7, and then featured nonprofit leader Ana Sazonov, a Ukrainian Israeli Jew. Ana spoke movingly about her childhood in Ukraine, unable to be safely Jewish; then making aliyah to Israel and becoming proudly Jewish; to wanting to give back, and so working in the American Jewish nonprofit world. You can see Ana’s talk here. Ana now works supporting emergency services in Ukraine and advising on support for Ukrainian and Israeli war victims. She herself is an example of someone we helped, and someone who helps: the Jewish Agency for Israel created a path for her family to escape to Israel, and now she helps Ukrainians and Jews in need.
Ana shared her personal experiences in a way that underscored that our actions have a profound impact. “This is the power of Federation. This is the power of community. This is the power of peoplehood,” she said. If you were able to attend, I hope that you came away feeling proud to be part of this community and inspired to help.
Those at the breakfast were able to see a new, powerful, three-minute video showing Cincinnati donors’ impact in Israel since October 7 and in Ukraine since the war there began. You can watch it here.
As I said at the Impact Breakfast, the Federation has had two main responses to this crisis; one response is to hold conversations, the second is to fundraise and allocate funds.
- Launching Israel Educational Series “AFTER October 7th”: As part of a newly launched series, AFTER October 7th, we are offering three initial opportunities:
- First, people have been asking us for meaningful conversations about Israel and antisemitism after October 7. We Need to Talk: AFTER October 7th is one good way is opening up your own living room: you bring the people; our Israel and antisemitism experts will facilitate the conversation. Sign up here.
- Second, on February 28, at 6:30 p.m., we are hosting in partnership with the Mayerson JCC a Young Adult Israel Support Gathering; please find out more here.
- Third, on March 20, at 6 p.m., is the first large community event in the series, the Jewish Community Relations Council’s (JCRC) Annual Meeting. Dara Horn, renowned author of People Love Dead Jews, will be the featured speaker, in conversation with local Jewish leaders and Kevin Aldridge, Opinion Editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer. I hope to see you there. Over 225 people have already registered, if interested, please register before we reach capacity to ensure your spot.
- Ongoing Dialogue with School Administration: We met with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) leadership to tackle ongoing concerns of antisemitism within local schools. Our presentation at the CPS board meeting represented a significant step forward. Continued discussions are crucial for driving progress towards policy enhancements and adoption of strategies that guarantee a safe and welcoming educational environment for our Jewish students.
- Launching Israel Educational Series “AFTER October 7th”: As part of a newly launched series, AFTER October 7th, we are offering three initial opportunities:
- Here in Cincinnati, we’ve raised a truly incredibly amount, almost $4.5 million, for the survivors of the attacks of October 7, and others in Israel who need our help. We prioritize lifeline services (food, clothing, and other immediate help), medical and trauma relief, economic relief, and community resilience, and rebuilding. The needs are ongoing; if you would like to help, please do so here. For the full scope of our impact through December 31, please check out Jewish Federations’ Response in Israel: Our Impact Since October 7th report.
Because we have built a system that can handle both calm and crisis, we can respond. We double down, and we dig in. Thank you for helping us all respond, together.
Warmly,
Danielle V. Minson
CEO
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
PS: Urge your Members of Congress to vote yes to two security assistance bills that will provide Israel with critical aid for life-saving missile defense systems, including Iron Dome, by calling their offices and signing our joint action alert with AIPAC.
PPS: I encourage you to read this Wall Street Journal editorial on the IDF’s progress in Gaza, and how time is needed to achieve victory.
