No, no, not that kind of campaign. The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville’s 2024 Annual Campaign! So, here we are, halfway through the year, and as it happens, we are halfway to our annual campaign goal. Next year, by this point I’d like to be further ahead in the process, and we will be starting the year with a big kickoff. But one thing that I am learning in my role here at JFed Nashville is that I cannot do it all today – many of these pieces take time.
A few things have been going on behind the scenes to set us up for success for 2025. The first is that we are rebuilding a multi-generational team of lay leaders that will help Federation close out the 2024 Campaign and set us up for success in 2025. My simple ask is that if you would like to participate in that process, which several folks have already volunteered to do so, please don’t hesitate to reach out – the more the merrier. And, if someone reaches out to you to participate, I would simply ask that you answer the call.
Our newly promoted Chief Impact and Strategy Officer, Michal Ezkenazi Becker, has already formed her Grants committee and has begun the process of reviewing grants that will fund all of the great work throughout the community. And to be clear, these grants are only made possible by your generous donations.
And while I don’t want to end on a down note, the events of the last several weeks and months have only underscored just how important the role of Jewish Federation is in our time. The reality is that no country club, museum, or nonprofit is going to come to our aid in the times we are experiencing – we have to work together and support each other. As we experience hate speech in our streets and an unprecedented rise in antisemitism, it is critical for us to support and secure our Jewish community and institutions, while also advocating for our kehilah as a whole.
But as evidenced by the uplifting Nashville Together Rally, we can join together to send the message that anti-Semitism and hate speech are unacceptable in our community – and that is what we will continue to do while providing opportunities to grow and enrich our rapidly-expanding community.
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