Bashert is the LGBTQ Initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Bashert reaches out to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and questioning Jews in Greater Seattle in order to build a stronger, more inclusive Jewish community. This initiative creates opportunities for Jews to come together, celebrate and explore their Jewish identities in a welcoming environment.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle applauds the Senate Democratic leadership for rejecting a proposed limitation on itemized tax deductions, including the charitable contribution deduction, as a means to help pay for a proposed jobs bill.
The Jewish Federations of North America, our parent organization, is leading a broad-based coalition of charitable organizations that has been opposing several administration attempts over the last three years to impose a limit on the deductibility of charitable contributions for those with taxable incomes in excess of $200,000.
Governor Announces Special Session for November; More Cuts Loom
As state revenues continue to fall, Governor Gregoire has announced she will call the legislature to Olympia after Thanksgiving for a 30-day special session beginning on November 28. Legislators will address a multi-billion dollar hole in state revenue with up to $2 billion in cuts. While additional cuts will likely be part of any solution legislators adopt, the idea of enhancing revenue may be considered as well. In the days following Gregoire's announcement of a special session, Senator Ed Murray and Derrick Kilmer wrote an Op-Ed on the challenges facing legislators and just last week, The Seattle Times editorialized in support of some additional revenue, drawing on ideas from Representative Reuven Carlyle.
In a recently published Op-Ed in the JTA, Jerry Silverman, President & CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, our parent organization, reported that the Department of Homeland Security is partnering with the Jewish Federations and the Federation-funded Secure Community Network (SCN) to address the threat of terrorism in the Jewish community. This marks the first time that DHS has teamed up with a faith-based community.
Silverman reminds us that our security will require the whole community's involvement and that communication is our first line of defense.
Fresh off their successful application for a hospice care license, the Kline Galland is now seeking a license from Washington State to begin a Medicare certified home health service.
Are you interested in doing more for your Jewish community? Do you want to learn more about how the Jewish Federation impacts Jewish people here and abroad, and help make those decisions?
Consider serving on a committee or helping out in our office.
"A program that more than 50 million children, adults with disabilities and older Americans depend upon for support with their health and long-term service needs is under attack in Washington. Medicaid, just like Medicare, is part of the fabric of this nation's health and we must not allow it to be unraveled." These are the words of William Daroff, Jewish Federations of North America's Vice President for Public Policy.
Summer -- Seattle style -- has arrived. But, it was only a month ago that the Washington State Legislature was ensconced in Olympia, hammering out the final details of budget to cut billions from Washington's health, human service, education and capital budgets.
We applaud Jewish Family Service (JFS) on the occasion of their Community of Caring Luncheon. They are one of our largest beneficiary agencies, impacting thousands of lives each year, and we are proud of all the work they do to help our family in need in Seattle. In this time of government budget cuts, when other sources of support are being scaled back, your direct support of JFS – and of our Community Campaign – is more important than ever.
Our partner Jewish Federation in Birmingham has launched a Tornado Recovery Drive to help those affected by last week's deadly storms and tornadoes. We encourage you to make a gift to support their cause. Click here and enter "Tornado Recovery" in the comments. They sent out the following report:
Bashert is the LGBTQ Initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Bashert reaches out to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and questioning Jews in Greater Seattle in order to build a stronger, more inclusive Jewish community. This initiative creates opportunities for Jews to come together, celebrate and explore their Jewish identities in a welcoming environment.
