Letter from the CEO: Standing Up to Hate, Together with Our Allies
December 19, 2025
On Wednesday, hundreds joined our Community Candlelighting and Vigil for the victims of the tragic Bondi Beach attack.
Read the latest messages from Solly Kane, President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
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.
Today, we breathe a sigh of relief at the announcement of the first phase of a deal between Israel and Hamas to end the war and return all the remaining hostages home.
Together, with hope, we can make the year ahead a sweet one.
Share your voice and build a safer community in Washington State.
Keeping our Jewish community safe is a top priority at the Federation, and we know that physical security is just one piece of what Jewish parents worry about at the start of the school year. Many Jewish parents are also thinking about their child’s well-being and inclusion in the classroom amid the rising antisemitism.
This week marks one year in the Hebrew calendar since Hersh Goldberg-Polin was murdered after 328 days of brutal captivity in the Gaza tunnels.
We are pleased to announce today that we are investing in a significant expansion of the SAFE Washington program, committing $2.25 million over the next three years to the safety and security of our Washington State Jewish community.
As we head into Shabbat, may we seek out ways to create ahavat chinam — the extending of unconditional love to one another — lest we find ourselves on a trajectory toward an even more difficult future.
Join tomorrow’s JFNA briefing and see highlights from this week’s Federation programs.
Updates on our next generation of Jewish leaders, Israel partnerships, and advocacy efforts.
Updates on new leadership, camp scholarships, advocacy in schools, and more.
I hope you will join us this coming year to find connection, hope, and meaning during these turbulent times.
We are coming together to call on our government leaders to safeguard Jewish communities from hatred and violence.
