Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

Israel is always on our minds. Yesterday, two events so inspired me that I want to share them with you. 

First, our Israel advocacy matters to hostage families. I met Zahava Tamir yesterday by chance at the J Café. Kathy at the front desk suggested I meet an Israeli visiting a relative at Cedar Village, whose sister-in-law is a hostage. Zahava told me her sister-in-law Carmel Gat, is a hostage in Gaza. From what is known, Carmel is still alive, and has been seen leading yoga for other hostages. Zahava felt good and safe at our J and appreciated the public support for the hostages, and especially the hostage t-shirts display. By the end of our conversation, Zahava took the Bring Them Home hostage dog tag from her neck and placed it around mine. She said to keep it. On behalf of all of us, I was deeply touched. Our public advocacy matters. 

Second, our advocacy matters to Reds fans. Last night was Jewish Community Night at the Cincinnati Reds game, hosted by the Mayerson JCC in partnership with the Federation and other organizations. Bobby Fisher, our Campaign Chair, was on the field as an honoree; he won the Ceremony Community Advocate Award. In front of everyone at the game and watching on tv, Bobby wore his “Bring Them Home” shirt. This visible display of advocacy and leadership also moved me.  

These are two dramatic moments, but these moments of Israel advocacy and education happen all year thanks to the Israeli Emissaries and Friends from Israel we bring from Israel to Cincinnati. 

Last year’s chaverot, or 19-year-old Friends from Israel, Shaked Vatavu and Shiri Avisar, have had more than 11,000 interactions so far (their year with us is over in August). They created or attended 157 events and visited 53 organizations. They will spend the summer as counselors at Camp Livingston. That’s considerable Israel education. They also faced the biggest national crisis of their lifetimes with true grace.  I thank them for their amazing resilience and ability to bring laughter during this difficult year. 

This August, after three years, we will also say goodbye to our Senior Israel Emissary, or Shaliach, Yarden Neeman. Yarden came during COVID and had to acclimate to a new job and culture remotely. Yarden has brought us many initiatives, including the Israel at 75 celebration at Summit Park, the Israeli Hanukkah party, and the AFTER October 7 series. This past Wednesday he kicked off B’Yachad, a new program to help the Israeli community feel more part of the organized Jewish community. We know this has been a difficult year for Israelis living abroad, and we thank Yarden for his strength. He is calm under pressure and passionate about creating people-to-people connections.  

We thank Shaked, Shiri, and Yarden, and say l’hitraot (see you later). 

On Monday, during his initial visit to Cincinnati, I met our new Shaliach, Tzach Shmuely. It was a wonderful breakfast, and I hope you get the chance to meet him, his wife, and their three children soon after they arrive this August. In our search for the next Emissary, we prioritized depth of knowledge in Israel education, and Tzach has been an educator his entire life. 

No matter what happens in Israel this coming year, we will need thoughtful, expert, engaging Israel advocacy, support, and education. We promise, this coming year, to meet these needs at multiple levels. 

As our community provides support, advocates, and educates, Israel is always on our minds. Every moment matters. 

Shabbat Shalom, 

Danielle V. Minson  
CEO  
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati