Town Hall on Antisemitic Violence in Our Community
In response to the antisemitic hate crimes that rattled our sense of safety and self-expression, our Federation convened the community at YULA Boys High School on Feb. 20th for an evening of powerful solidarity. We brought together 400 community members to gather with elected officials including Mayor Karen Bass, law enforcement experts including LAPD Chief Michel Moore, and Jewish community leaders. They spoke with strength as they reflected on the power of collective action to stand up to hate. It’s vital to note the role our Community Security Initiative (CSI) plays in protecting every school, synagogue, summer camp, and organization in Jewish Los Angeles. The CSI team keeps our community as safe and secure as possible during these challenging times. The town hall proved our community’s resilience in the face of deeply troubling circumstances.
For more info on the ways the Federation is responding to antisemitism visit: JewishLA.org/TownHall.
Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month
February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). It’s a chance to honor people of all abilities. It’s also an ideal time to celebrate the ways our Federation supports individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and their families. But our support extends beyond spreading awareness. In 2022, our Los Angeles Jewish Abilities Center, along with our partners Jewish Family Service LA and ETTA, provided 548 hours of case management for nearly 300 individuals. Together, with your support, we advocate for IDD inclusion during JDAIM — and all year round.
Learn more about our important work in this space: JewishLA.org/JDAIM.
Financial Assistance
Inflation has increased the price of everything from basic necessities to a carton of eggs. As a result, many in the Jewish community have fallen on hard financial times. According to our Study of Jewish LA, nearly one in five (19%) of Jewish households describe themselves as “struggling to make ends meet.” To address this instability, the Federation’s Max Factor Family Foundation Financial Assistance Network (MFFFFAN) provided more than 700 people emergency financial assistance that kept the lights on in their home with help paying utility bills, paid for an emergency medical expense they could not otherwise afford, and prevented members of our community from becoming unhoused through help with mortgage or rent payments. In these unsettling economic times, we are committed to ensuring that anybody suffering financial hardship has a place to turn for help. For many, that place is the Federation.
Here are some resources for those who have fallen on hard times: JewishLA.org/Financial-Assistance.
MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health is one of the most pressing issues facing the Jewish community today. According to our Study of Jewish LA, 23% of all Jewish households had a member with a limiting mental health issue. Many cannot afford services, experience accessibility obstacles navigating the complex insurance landscape, or do not know where to begin the process of finding help. Our Ezra Network (a partnership of the Federation, Jewish Family Service LA, JVS SoCal, and Bet Tzedek) helps Jews in need access government benefits, connects them to mental health services, and offers crucial help in navigating social services. The Federation is also working to increase access to affordable clinical counseling, insurance navigation, and support groups for Jews in need in partnership with The Maple Counseling Center and NAMI. The mental health crisis cannot be ignored. Through the strategic partnerships the Federation has developed, we are taking action to ensure the needs of our community are met.
Seeking support for a mental health challenge? JewishLA.org/Mental-Health-Services.