A Unique Role in our Community

The Savannah Jewish Federation plays a unique role in the Jewish community.  When someone donates to the  Federation Annual Community Campaign, they are contributing to support Jewish education, summer camps, Family Services, JEA, Hillel, Leadership Development and to Jewish rescue and relief in Israel and throughout the world.  Simultaneously, we bring together people and resources that our community needs to tackle common goals; we focus on the strategic priorities that no single organization could achieve alone.

In recognition of the rapid rise in antisemitism and the threat to our community institutions, we are committed to strengthening community security and have made it amongst our highest priorities.  We (with the guidance of Secure Community Network) have recently hired our first Community Security Director (stay tuned for the ‘formal’ announcement next week).  And while security has become focal to our mission, our responsibility to each other and worldwide Jewry has not lessened.

We are proud that thanks to our community’s generosity and caring, the Federation sent out three checks this week as part of our commitment to worldwide Jewry and to address humanitarian needs.  Below is an extract of the three letters sent out:

On the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Savannah Jewish Federation and JewishSJF President, Linda Sacks community of Savannah encloses this check of $18,000 to provide rescue and relief to our brave brothers and sisters who bravely fight to maintain liberty and democracy in Ukraine.

We know that these funds will provide for lifesaving aids such as food and medical supplies, trauma support, and connection to those braving the coldest time of the year in a deteriorating economy.

Through our partnerships with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Agency for Israel and other Jewish agencies on the ground, we know that these funds will make a difference.

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The Savannah Jewish Federation and Jewish community of Savannah is proud to provide this allocation of $2,000 to provide support for the many Ukrainian families who are integrating in to Israeli society.

Many who fled a war zone arrived in Israel with a suitcase and the clothes on their backs.  The Association of Israel Community Centers, the leading social service agency in the country has been doing fantastic work in supporting and integrating the olim.

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The Savannah Jewish Federation and Jewish community of Savannah is proud to provide this Emergency Allocation of $3,600 to provide humanitarian relief to victims of the earthquake effecting Turkey and Syria.

We are proud of the work done by the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command, JDC, IsraAID, Magen David Adom and others who were on the ground mere hours after the earthquake to provide humanitarian aid.

By mobilizing our community’s collective giving power, we are able to answer the call of those in need.  It is at the heart of our Federation mission.

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While we often refer to Tzedakah as charity, but it is much more: it is ‘justice’ or ‘righteousness.’  In giving to Federation, in giving to others, it is an expression of our compassion or empathy.

To our community: "We are honored by your compassion, your trust, and your support as we support Jewish life here in Savannah, in Israel, and throughout the world."

Shabbat Shalom