During these Yamim Nora’im (Days of Awe), many of us fill the sanctuaries of our congregations and communities to usher in the Jewish New Year and undergo a Heshbon HaNefesh (accounting of the soul). During this time, we look at our past and imagine an even better future.

In the spirit of looking at our past, we recently distributed our annual IMPACT report, detailing a year of successes you, our supporters, helped make possible through the Jewish Federation. We are proud of this year’s report, which highlights life-saving work, community and identity building, and caring efforts that touch thousands of people here in San Diego and around the world. Below is a snippet of the work you make possible with your generous support and compassion:

Through our work to care for Jews in need everywhere, you make it possible for the Community Chaplaincy program to provide support to vulnerable members of our Jewish community in times of acute crisis. You are a lifeline to Jews in need!

Through our efforts to build Jewish community and strengthen Jewish identity, you support the Jewish journeys of thousands of Jewish families, teens, and young professionals through programs like PJ Library, young professional networking events, Jewish camp scholarships, and our Jewish Teen Initiative.

Through our programs that connect San Diego to Israel, you unite thousands through programs like Birthright Israel, Masa long-term Israel experience programs, teen Israel travel scholarships, Celebrate IsraelFest, and our Yom Hazikaron commemoration.

If the IMPACT report is sitting on your coffee table starting to collect dust, please read it! You can also find it online HERE. I hope you will share the incredible stories with others, and inspire them to learn more about the important work being done to care for Jews in need, build Jewish community and strengthen Jewish identity, and connect San Diego to Israel. Be proud of our collective work on behalf of the Jewish people, and thank YOU for making all of this possible.

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While the following story did not make it into the IMPACT report, I am also delighted to share this update with you about our efforts to embrace San Diego's Holocaust Survivors. This represents the very first real ‘win’ for our community in the form of a collaborative and collective approach to serving our Survivors.

• At the beginning of July 2019, Federation signed an agreement with KAVOD & Seed the Dream Foundation to secure $100,000 of new funding for emergency services for Holocaust Survivors in San Diego. Jewish Family Service San Diego signed on as the social service agency to deliver emergency services that are not currently being met by existing funding. This fund was only made possible due to our strong partnership with JFS.
• The first claim was filed in July.  Since then, there have been 80 requests for emergency services in excess of $42,000. We were told that San Diego is accessing these funds at a faster rate than any of the other dozen communities who are part of this pilot funding program.
• The primary request for services has been food related while the most expensive services are emergency dental care. Many Survivors have delayed dental work for decades, affecting their interactions with others because they’re self-conscious about their teeth.

We are proud that Federation is living its mission of Caring for Jews in Need Everywhere, and is doing so in a way that leverages existing service providers to bring an even higher level of care to this precious segment of our community. What a blessing. You can read more about this exciting effort by clicking HERE.