The Jewish Federation joined the world in monitoring the hostage situation that took place at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas last Saturday night. While our prayers were answered as all hostages were freed, this incident underscores the need for additional funding to help secure our synagogues, schools and other Jewish institutions as antisemitic incidents continue to occur every day. The Jewish Federation, JCRC, and our Security Director are in contact with their counterparts locally and across the country to remain apprised of what is happening among our Jewish communities and how to keep them safe. 

We are currently working with partners to provide updated security trainings in order to increase community knowledge, skills and comfort level in ensuring the safety of local schools, synagogues and agencies, in addition to the following efforts:

• Leadership Conversations
  Rabbinic and professional leadership of our local synagogues and agencies are having a private conversation with Michael Balaban and select Jewish Federation professionals to share ideas and support each other during this difficult time.  
• Security Grant Webinars
  Yesterday, we hosted an educational webinar offering basic guidance on Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) non-profit security grant applications. If you missed the session, you can view it here or contact alewis@jewishphilly.org with questions.
  
• Advocacy Opportunities
  Jewish Federations are calling on Congress to double funding for FEMA's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to allow Jewish and other institutions targeted by hate, violence, and threats to protect their communities. Click here to contact your Members of Congress to urge them to double NSGP funding this year.
• National Initiatives
  Click here to learn more about Jewish Federations' LiveSecure campaign to advance the security and safety of Jewish communities.
• New Training Program
  Secure Community Network (SCN) launched “BeAware - Introduction to Situational Awareness,” a new training program to help protect community members from violence. The program was designed in collaboration with U.S. law enforcement by security professionals who specifically worked within the Jewish community. Training topics include enhancing situational awareness; identifying safety and security threats; recognizing and reporting suspicious activity; and learning how to be an active participant in the safety of your community. Register here for the training on January 27 at 12:00 p.m. 
• Statewide Forum
  We are organizing a Statewide Forum on Extremism and Hate with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Jewish Federation of Harrisburg, Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, ADL Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition. Save the date for Tuesday, February 22 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. More details will be provided.

We hope you will Answer the Call. On February 27th a cadre of Jewish Federation volunteers as well as students from local Hillel chapters will take to the phones in an effort to raise critical dollars that support those in need, build and sustain Jewish life in Greater Philadelphia and connect us to our global Jewish world. If you receive a call, text, Robocall, or email we hope you will choose to make an impact. Also, consider visiting jewishphilly.org/donate to make your gift today. 

Mazel tov to four of our Jewish Community Fund and Women of Vision Fund grantees that received national attention for their innovative leadership in Jewish education. We are proud of these Jewish educators that are helping to advance Jewish life and setting an example at a national level. The Covenant Foundation announced Signature Grants to the following organizations that foster new and exciting approaches in Jewish education:

• South Philadelphia Shtiebel to expand its Communities of Care program by training peer facilitators to lead small learning clusters for their person-centered Jewish learning program
• Jewish Learning Venture, for their jkidACCESS program to provide Jewish experiences and learning for families raising Jewish children with disabilities
• OneTable to develop a tech-free Shabbat initiative to foster mental health and wellness 
• jGirls Magazine, funded through a Women of Vision grant, for its public speaking and leadership work

A professional from the Jewish Federation's Mitzvah Food Program was invited to participate in focus groups with representatives from state agencies, food pantries and other Jewish and Muslim advocacy organizations about the importance of offering kosher and halal foods through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). In the Greater Philadelphia region,16 percent of Jewish households keep kosher at home, and another 12 percent are kosher when observing Passover. Food banks have an overabundance of pork products, which have limited distribution and greatly limit what options pantries like the Jewish Federation’s can take. We expressed concerns about the overall lack of kosher food options through TEFAP in our region as well as the common issue of non-kosher foods being substituted without communication or awareness of a recipient's dietary requirements. Based on focus group feedback, city officials understand the necessity of the availability of kosher food options, identified opportunities to promote and optimize TEFAP foods that are acceptable for clients keeping kosher, and will be incorporating the feedback into their decision-making process for the Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA to best support the diverse communities relying on TEFAP.

Recently, the Jewish Federation received a $30,000 grant from Wells Fargo Foundation to partner with a local agency to build a greenhouse structure and use it as a community tool to provide both education and sustainability. Just like the Jewish Federation, Wells Fargo works to embed environmental sustainability throughout its services, operations and culture. We are proud to have our longstanding partnership with Wells Fargo Foundation continue through this project. Click here to learn how an agency can partner with us on this exciting project. Requests for proposal are due by February 7, 2022.