In February, we continued to embody the values of community and strength in our response to the wildfire crisis and through our support of local Jewish students on college campuses.
PROVIDING FUNDS TO SYNAGOGUE MEMBERS IMPACTED BY THE WILDFIRES
We helped our neighbors devastated by the wildfires when we provided vital financial assistance to families from
26 synagogues in impacted areas, in partnership with the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. The funds will be distributed to affected congregation members at the discretion of each individual rabbi. Given their intimate understanding of their members’ needs, their proximity to those directly impacted by the fires, and their experience in crisis leadership, rabbis at each shul are best positioned to sends the funds to the congregants who most
need support.
Read the press release about this allocation at JewishLA.org/Synagogues.
REBUILDING CONTAMINATED PLAY AREAS AT EARLY EDUCATION CENTERS
As a result of the devastating wildfires, toxic ash contaminated many sandboxes across our region, which created unsafe conditions for kids to play outside. During a routine Zoom call with Builders of Jewish Education, we learned that sand in play areas at many Jewish early education centers (ECCs) had to be replaced. The funding to do this work, however, didn’t exist. Identifying this urgent need, we jumped into action to give the necessary funds to 14 area ECCs,allowing them to install clean new sand, which gave our youngest the chance to play outside again.
Get help or give help by visiting our Wildfire Crisis Resource Guide at JewishLA.org/Fire.
HELPING STUDENTS COMBAT CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM
The Anti-Defamation League released a survey that found 83% of Jewish college students have experienced or witnessed antisemitism firsthand since October 7th. This alarming statistic underscores the importance of empowering Jewish students with skills and tools to address this problem. Alongside Hillel International, we recently helped expand the staff at Claremont Hillel, where our support led to the addition of their Director of Community Relations, who is pioneering innovative approaches to advocacy and allyship on campus. This professional guidance and deep understanding of coalition-building helps shape on-campus programming so that Jewish voices are heard, and the Jewish experience is honored.
Read more about our work empowering students on local college campuses by visiting JewishLA.org/CIN.