Thank you for your ongoing support in building a vibrant and engaged community. Every day in so many ways Jewish Federation of Delaware is making a difference in the lives of thousands of people locally, nationally and internationally. I am pleased to provide highlights from this week's activities and initiatives...

COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of joining our Emerging Leadership Project (ELP) participants at the home of Toni and Stuart Young to hear Toni speak about the history of Jewish Delaware as well as our community's ongoing relationship with our Partnership2Gether community of Arad and the various programs and projects our Federation supports.

Later Sunday afternoon, more than 100 community members attended A Land Twice Promised with story teller, Noa Baum. This community event was co-sponsored by Jewish Federation of Delaware's Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) and Conversations For Peace. We look forward to bringing other thought-provoking programs that educate and engage our community.

COMMUNITY SHALIACH
I am proud to announce that our Community Shaliach, Adir Ben Tovim, will begin working full-time in our community beginning January 2014. This program builds a living bridge between Delaware and Israel, reinforcing our connection and love for our spiritual homeland. Adir will be working with our beneficiary agencies and area synagogues as well as staff key events such as our Yom Ha'Atzmaut community-wide celebration.

CAMPAIGN COUNTDOWN:
Thank you to the volunteers who attended our Wednesday evening phoning session to help close Federation's 2013 Annual Campaign. There are only 12 days remaining to meet the allocation commitments to our local, national and international agencies and partners. Please contact Federation Development Director, Wendy Berger, to make your tax-deductible donation today or click here to make a secure online donation.
Our Create A Jewish Legacy Cabinet met Wednesday morning to discuss the progress and successes of building a viable and sustainable endowment program in Delaware. We welcome and encourage you to speak with our Endowment Director, Richard Nassau, who can explain the simple and various ways of leaving your legacy. Today - Tomorrow - TOGETHER!

TRIBEFEST 2014
Come out this Sunday to find out how you can join other Jewish young adults from our region at this amazing event. We'll be in the Siegel JCC board room with light refreshments, prizes, and more information. Please contact Young Leadership Division Director, Julie James, for more information.

I hope to see many of you at Temple Beth El in Newark this evening at 7:30pm for their "Shabbat in the Groove", a special musical service led by Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein and Congregation Beth Shalom's Rabbi Michael Beals and Cantor Elisa Abrams.

Shabbat Shalom,

With 2014 soon approaching, please join Jewish Federation of Delaware's countdown to "The 12 Days of Tzedakah" - Help us reach our 2013 Annual Campaign goal today!

With your generous support, Federation is able to allocate critically needed dollars to our local Beneficiary Agencies and overseas partners and assist people in need wherever they may live - from around the corner to around the world. Donate Today. Volunteer. Make a Difference. We're all in this TOGETHER!

Click to Donate

The Jewish Federations of North America support the bipartisan introduction of the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act in the United States Senate yesterday. If negotiations with Iran for a comprehensive agreement fail or if Iran violates the terms of the interim agreement with the P5+1, the legislation would impose tougher sanctions aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
 
"We believe a diplomatic solution to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capacity, a threat to the entire world, is vital. We stand firmly with President Obama as he and our P5+1 allies seek to negotiate a comprehensive agreement," said Michael Siegal, chair of the JFNA Board of Trustees.

"We recognize economic sanctions have been successful in bringing Iran to the negotiating table, as well as in expressing the resolve of the global community," Siegal added. "The threat of additional sanctions, with the appropriate Presidential waivers in this legislation, ensures that Iran knows this and all other options are on the table should negotiations fail."
 
The Senate bill is consistent with the resolution passed by the Jewish Federations last month, after the JFNA General Assembly in Jerusalem, which called for the "complete dismantling of Iran's capability of producing nuclear weapons."

The Jewish Federations encourage Senators to co-sponsor the legislation, and to swiftly pass it upon their return to Washington in January.

Jewish Federation of Delaware thanks U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del) for being an original co-sponsor of the bipartisan legislation.
 

For Sponsorship opportunities, please contact Wendy Berger.