Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

Danielle V. Minson — Raising the Bar

The Ohio Loves Israel program united Jewish students and their allies around their shared love of Israel.

Dear Friends,

For all of us, Rosh Hashanah is a time for personal and collective reflection, and a time to consider how we can do better in the year ahead. The High Holiday season is also a time of celebration and renewal. This year, that reflection feels especially poignant as we approach the one-year anniversary of the October 7th attack.

In June, I had the honor of meeting Zahava Tamir, whose sister-in-law, Carmel Gat, was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th. In a moment I’ll never forget, Zahava took her ‘Bring Them Home’ dog tag and placed it around my neck. She asked me to keep it as a symbol of her hope for Carmel’s return.

On September 1, the IDF announced Carmel had been murdered along with 5 others, her body found in a Hamas tunnel. Her loss is heartbreaking, but a symbol of resilience. Other hostages shared that Carmel did yoga daily with the children. That image of strength and compassion stays with me. May her memory be a blessing as we reflect this Rosh Hashanah and in the year ahead.

Commemorating October 7th

That simple dog tag connects me to Carmel. We all share a connection to Israel’s pain. On October 7, we’ll gather to mark one year since the attack. Together, we will grieve, remember, and support each other. Our commemoration is one of over a hundred coordinated by local Jewish Federations—a powerful reminder that we are not alone. Over five hundred of you have already registered. Register here; the event begins at 6:30 pm.

A Year of Rising Engagement and Education

My reflections on this past year are ongoing, but the highlights are clear: Cincinnati has seen a surge in Jewish engagement, with fifty-five percent of our community and sixty-four percent of young adults seeking deeper involvement.

We are meeting this desire for engagement through education. We proudly co-funded the Ohio Loves Israel  program, with over a quarter of attendees from Cincinnati Hillel and Hillel at Miami University—the largest representation from any Ohio Hillel groups. This full-day event focused on Israel programming, advocacy, and education, uniting Jewish students and their allies around their shared love of Israel. It underscores our strong collaboration with these Hillels, and our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) played a key role in supporting advocacy training and discussions.

Beyond this event, our efforts to support students continue with our new Shaliach, Tzach Shmuely, who is working with educators—including thirteen recently back from a Federation-organized Mifgash iCenter trip—to deepen their understanding of post-war Israel and share it with students and our community.

A Year of Strengthening Security

This year has also forced us to address growing threats. The FBI’s 2023 Hate Crime Statistics confirm that antisemitism accounts for over 60% of all religiously motivated hate crimes in the U.S., making it the most common form of religious hate. Cincinnati, too, has experienced a rise in incidents. In response, we’ve strengthened our educational and advocacy efforts and tripled our investment in community security. Yet the needs remain great.

The New Year: Standing Together

As we enter 5785, can we carry forward Carmel’s lessons of resilience and compassion? I believe we can.  

Our October 7th commemoration will allow us to stand together in solidarity, supported by 46 local organizations—a testament to our collective strength. Last year, over 1,500 of us gathered, and I hope to see many of you again this year.


May 5785 bring peace, safety, and comfort to us all. Thank you for your steadfast support.

Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova,