In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia joined Federations from across North America in a national effort to raise at least $20 million in emergency funding. Dollars raised for humanitarian assistance will be allocated through our global partners such as the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Joint Distribution Committee, World ORT and other partners operating on the ground in Ukraine. 

Emergency funding will address critical needs of vulnerable Jewish populations, community security, temporary housing for displaced persons and Aliyah-related assistance. Click here to donate to the Emergency Response Fund or learn more about our ongoing work in Ukraine.

The Jewish Federation's Emergency Response Fund addresses the most critical and immediate needs that develop during worldwide crisis. Committee members identify needs and swiftly distribute monetary support for efforts on the ground.  

For more than 130 years, The Jewish Exponent has strengthened the fabric of the Philadelphia Jewish community sharing local, national and worldwide news. After nearly 80 years of ownership, the time has come for the Jewish Publishing Group, a subsidiary of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, to pass ownership of the paper on so that we may hone our focus to care for those in need and build a vibrant Jewish  community. 

As of February 28, The Jewish Exponent came under new ownership by Mid-Atlantic Media, a premier media company with extensive expertise in the Jewish media business. They own Baltimore Jewish Times and Washington Jewish Week, and manage projects across the region, including Phoenix Jewish News, Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, Philly’s MetroKids and more. 

We expect under this ownership that the paper will remain an award-winning publication, better able to meet the needs of its readers including expanding its footprint in the digital media marketplace. Many community members receive The Jewish Exponent as a gift from the Jewish Federation for a past donation to the Jewish Community Fund. Rest assured that these subscriptions will continue under the new ownership.

To each of you, thank you for making this paper a cornerstone of our community. We appreciate your many years of loyal engagement with the Jewish Exponent and look forward to your continued support in the years to come. 

Be sure to check out The Jewish Exponent's new format featuring an article about the sale as well as our message to the community.  

Last Sunday was Super Sunday, our annual day of community fundraising. While we weren’t able to be together in person, we still reached more than 40,000 households through a targeted marketing campaign throughout the month. More than 30,000 community members were called, emailed and texted on Super Sunday. Thanks to the generous support, we were able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for our Jewish Community Fund and our Emergency Response Fund.

Last week, Michael Balaban and Jason Holtzman, Director of Federation's Jewish Community Relations Council, met with Asaf Zamir, the new Consul General of Israel in New York. Zamir began his tenure in October 2021, representing the state of Israel to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Delaware, and this was one of his first visits to our state. At the meeting, they discussed the important work Federation is doing in Greater Philadelphia and our Partnership2Gether region Netivot and Sdot Negev, as well as the concerns our communities have related to antisemitism, the State of Israel, and Jewish continuity. 

Zamir shared his priorities of connecting with the younger generation and emerging leaders, and his commitment to a collaborative relationship with our Jewish community. The Consulate intends to provide resources and content in the future to help engage the next generation about Israel and to push back against efforts to delegitimize Israel.

Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), celebrated in February, concluded with Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1st) receiving awards celebrating their leadership and work on behalf of people with disabilities in the commonwealth. Jewish Federations of North America presented the awards at its Jewish Disability and Awareness Day (JDAD) annual event on February 23 and 24. Senator Casey received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work throughout his senate career on behalf of people with disabilities. He was specifically recognized for his strong leadership to pass the Better Care Better Jobs Act and his work to secure $12 billion in federal funding to improve Medicaid home and community-based service programs. Representative Fitzpatrick received the Legislator of the Year Award for his leadership and support on a wide range of bills to improve the lives of people with disabilities and for his demonstrated willingness to work across the aisle to advance these policies.