Dear Friends,
Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) celebrates freedom as we recall the Exodus from Egypt more than 3,000 years ago.
Family and friends at a seder, springtime, renewal, and freedom are just a few of the images that come to mind when we think about this most celebrated festival on the Jewish calendar.
For us at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, we also think about making certain our community can safely observe the holiday through our commitment to the Secure Community Network (SCN); that we are able to assist the courageous people of Ukraine through our donations and our work with the American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA); that we are able to assist those in need in Israel; as well as all of the local Jewish organizations, schools, and congregations that work daily to ultimately assure that spring and Passover offer feelings of hope and renewal.
As we look forward to celebrating Israel’s 75th birthday, it is important to remember that UJFT funds social service and humanitarian programs in Israel…that our funding does not intersect with Israel’s politics. Funds raised through our UJFT annual community campaign go directly to communities such as Sderot, Kiryat Yam and Pardes Hanna, Israel, where children, teens and families, often at-risk or victims of trauma, receive mental health services, meals, socialization, participate in after-school programs in a safe environment, and so much more.
Next month, at the Sandler Family Campus, we will host a Community Celebration of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s 75th birthday. It promises to be a not-to-be-missed community event. If you joined us last year, you saw a true community celebration of more than 2,000 strong. I hope to see you on Sunday afternoon, April 30 where there will be something for all ages to enjoy.
It is the strength of our community, its determination, its perseverance, its generosity, its inclusiveness, and its diversity that inspire me to continue the work I do every day, along with my colleagues.
All of us at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater wish you and your families a happy, peaceful, and joyful Passover season.
Chag Passover Samaech!
Betty Ann Levin
Executive Vice President/CEO
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater/Simon Family JCC