Category: Blog


Processing a Week of Grief

February 22, 2025

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Dear friends, After 503 days, the news we dreaded – the news we knew on some level was coming – finally arrived. And all our hearts, which have been broken […]


Hostage Release Deal Reached in Israel

January 15, 2025

From the desk of Heidi Gantwerk

Dear friends, Today’s news of the ceasefire and hostage release deal in Isarel is both a welcome relief, and a sign of much more work to come. We are especially […]


Iranian attack on Israel: Message from Heidi Gantwerk & David Bark

April 14, 2024

From the desk of Heidi Gantwerk

Friends, A few days ago, Heidi wrote to you from Sha’ar HaNegev following our second Solidarity Mission as Israeli artillery in Gaza boomed in the background. We spent four intense […]


100 Days.

January 12, 2024

From the desk of Heidi Gantwerk

This Sunday marks 100 days. One hundred days since the “Black Sabbath;” since more than 200 Israelis and foreign nationals were taken into Gaza as hostages. One hundred days of […]


Thoughts of Resilience and Light this Shabbat

December 9, 2023

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Dear friends,  It has been almost a week since I returned from our Federation Solidarity Mission to Israel, and as I lit the candles with friends and family from San […]


Marking One Month

November 11, 2023

From the desk of Heidi Gantwerk

Dear Friends, This past week, marking the one-month mark since the October 7 Hamas attack, has brought equal parts inspiration and joy and grief and anger. I want to start […]


Yesterday, I went to Washington D.C.

October 18, 2023

From the desk of Heidi Gantwerk

Yesterday, I, along with Federation Board Chair David Bark, flew to Washington D.C. to gather with more than 200 Federation and partner agency leaders, philanthropists, and many national officials – […]


From San Diego to Sha'ar HaNegev, it's about the people

May 18, 2022

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Dear Friends,  Building strong, personal connections to Israel has been part of Federation’s DNA since our founding 85 years ago. Sometimes, we focus on bringing San Diego to Israel, such […]


From Darkness to Light: Federation in Action

January 21, 2022

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Dear Friends,  Last Saturday, we all followed the attack in Colleyville, fearful of the worst possible ending as we also were reminded of our own local past tragedies. Federation and […]


I Stand With Israel

May 21, 2021

Friends,  We hope you had a meaningful Shavuot, the holiday commemorating our receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai, a defining event for the Jewish people. Sadly, Shavuot this year followed […]

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