By Nancy B. Greer
President & CEO
When the sun sets on Friday, Rosh Hashanah will be here. We will take stock of the year that is ending and look ahead to the possibilities that the new year might bring.
We have faced the challenge of a lifetime. Yet Jewish life doesn’t stop—not for a pandemic, not for anything. As a community, we mobilized to help people in need. We found ways to leverage our strength through partnerships. We invented virtual engagement opportunities to keep ourselves connected.
We are so thankful to YOU, our generous donors. Your support has been the bedrock for Federation’s work creating Jewish connections and providing critical community services that cannot pause. We couldn’t do it without you.
Everything we do is driven by our overarching mission to ensure Jewish continuity and a vibrant future for Jewish life. That has been the case since we opened our doors 92 years ago and will be so in the coming year and beyond … whatever the future might bring. That will never change.
Let’s take a quick look at examples of accomplishments that you made possible in 5780. When COVID-19 forced cancellation of in-person Jewish experiences, we adjusted and made a virtue out of virtual experiences. SAFE Washington has kept Jewish organizations informed about best practices for staying healthy. Our government affairs team achieved significant wins in the 2020 Washington legislative session.
As 5781 draws near, it is not yet possible to say when life will seem normal again or what a “new normal” might look like. You can be sure of one thing, however: with your generous support, the Federation will be all-in ensuring Jewish continuity. We need you now more than ever. We are stepping up the fight against antisemitism. We are helping families ensure that their children will grow up proud to be Jewish. More opportunities to learn, engage, and come together—virtually when we must, in-person whenever the time is right—are in the works.
We can serve the community that we all love because of your commitment to Jewish life and your generosity. Thank you! From all of us at Federation, we wish you and your loved ones a safe, healthy, and sweet new year.
L’Shanah Tovah!
