This week, our very own Chief Development Officer, Brian Eglash, spoke in front of 1,400 women at the Jewish Federations of North America National Lion of Judah Conference in Florida. He discussed the Federation’s actions in response to the October 27th murderous attack at the Tree of Life building. Our work as a Federation in Pittsburgh has inspired others to better understand the critical role a strong Federation has both in supporting the day to day activities of a community and in responding to the unexpected.

The outpouring of support for the Federation’s Victims of Terror Fund has been outstanding and a beautiful show of solidarity with our community. Donations have come from nearly every state and from countries around the world. As has been communicated, but is important to restate, an independent committee has been chartered by the Federation Board to oversee the distribution of these specific funds. That committee has been meeting constantly for the last weeks trying to understand the situation and to learn from other terrible national tragedies. Every dollar that has been collected as part of the fund will be allocated by this committee. These dollars in no way take the place of the generous support you all provide to the Federation’s Community Campaign. The Community Campaign is the source of funds that help to fund the work of our local and overseas agencies. And, the Community Campaign is what makes the work of our Jewish Community Security Director, Brad Orsini, possible.

In Brian’s powerful words at the conference this week, he reiterated an important point about Federation. We were there on that day because we were there for the days prior. We were positioned to respond because we existed as a strong, well-functioning organization. All of that is because of your support of the Community Campaign and I am unabashedly and proudly asking for everyone to consider joining me by increasing your support of the Community Campaign this year.

Thank you and Shabbat Shalom.