Letter from the CEO: Summer is Almost Here
June 5, 2026
As we start to turn to the beautiful summer, I know the end of the school year and summer activities are on the minds of many families in our community.
Read the latest messages from Solly Kane, President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
As we start to turn to the beautiful summer, I know the end of the school year and summer activities are on the minds of many families in our community.
Today, we need you to add your voice to ours by calling on our elected leaders to support The Jewish American Security Act.
We are excited to share that later this summer, the Washington State Jewish Historical Society will be integrated into the Federation’s portfolio of meaningful engagement programs we offer to the community.
It is important to remember that the reason we are committed to countering antisemitism and keeping our community safe is so that we can be Jewish joyfully, openly, and with optimism about the future.
This research helps us see where we have things in common, where we differ, and what we can do to improve our community’s well-being and engagement. I am excited today to share the results of this survey with our community for the first time.
It is our job to do whatever we can to build a thriving Jewish future. We will only be able to do that work if we continue to take the steps into the water together and have faith that the sea will part.
As a Jewish community, we have allowed these security measures – out of necessity – to be normalized, when in reality, we should be calling out that nothing about this is normal, nor should it be normalized in the United States, where freedom of religion is an enshrined right.
We can lift up joyful experiences and celebrate that more young people are engaging while also striving to support those who are affected by antisemitism.
As you read our 2025 Impact Report, I hope you feel as proud as I am to be part of our incredible Seattle Jewish community.
The Federation’s mission and the vibrancy of our community were on display throughout all these gatherings last week.
We will be meeting with dozens of elected leaders to share the need to ensure Jewish communal safety through a range of legislative priorities.
Over the weekend, many of us woke up to the news of yet another antisemitic attack – this time in Jackson, Mississippi.
On Wednesday, hundreds joined our Community Candlelighting and Vigil for the victims of the tragic Bondi Beach attack.
Read opening remarks from Solly Kane, President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, delivered at our community’s Bondi Beach Vigil and Candlelighting on December 17.
As I woke up this morning preparing for the start of Chanukah, I was instead greeted with headlines of a mass shooting at a Chanukah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, and Jewish Federations across the country, are horrified by this antisemitic terrorist attack.
I wish you a bright and joyful Chanukah – may this season be a time of a little more light in our world.
Last night, I was honored to see so many of you join us for the 2025 Federation Fall Fundraiser: Together in Hope.
Read opening remarks from Solly Kane, President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, delivered at the Federation’s Fall Fundraiser: Together in Hope on November 13.
The last two weeks have been a mix of joy, relief, and a tentative hope for lasting stability after two years of war in Israel and Gaza. Like many of you, I am holding on to hope for a continued ceasefire, the end of the war, and the beginning of a new era of peace and stability for both Israeli and Palestinian people.
As we prepare to celebrate Simchat Torah this evening, we remember the darkness that descended on Simchat Torah two years ago, and we hope the days ahead are a time of renewal, joy, and peace.
