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Karen Bresson | kbresson@jewishrochester.org
Trenton Firster | tfirster@jewishrochester.org
Year Two of The Blue Light Project Commences on December 18, 2022 (First Night of Hanukkah)
December 16th, 2022
The Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester and ROC Against Antisemitism (ROCAA) today announced the commencement of the second year of the “The Blue Light Project,” a Jewish Federation and ROCAA collaboration. The Blue Light Project calls on Rochester members to take action and stand by their Jewish neighbors in the fight against the startling and unsettling increase in Jew hatred, around the world, nationally and right here in Rochester.
Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester and Pathways To Peace Host Second Community Shiva To Honor Victims of Gun Violence
November 17th, 2022
The Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester and Pathways To Peace announce that Monday, November 21 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. the Rochester community will come together at Parcel 5 (corner of Main Street/East Avenue) to honor the countless lives lost to gun violence and mass shootings.
Participants will observe “shiva,” the Jewish custom of mourning, which allows the bereaved to grieve together in community. Those attending will sit in silence in chairs placed on the green and hold signs bearing the names of victims of gun violence.
Click here to read the entire press release.
What's the 'State of Hate' in Rochester? Community overwhelmingly sees itself as welcoming
Victoria E. Freile | June 23rd, 2022
The Levine Center to End Hate on Wednesday shared results from its first "State of Hate" in Rochester community survey to better understand the ways people from numerous backgrounds live in different worlds within the Rochester region.
"No matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, how you identify, who you love or what your abilities, we all have dignity," Assemblyman Harry Bronson, D-Rochester, said at a mid-morning news conference at Village Gate in Rochester. "And with that dignity, we all deserve equity, justice and opportunity to succeed."
The rescue of thousands of Jewish Ethiopians fleeing a civil war
June 17, 2022
Meredith Dragon, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, talked with Scott Fybush about her trip to Ethiopia to help Jewish refugees leave the civil war and get to Israel.
'Sit shiva' held in Rochester for victims of gun violence
June 12th, 2022
Rochester, N.Y. — People gathered in Washington Square Park to sit in silence, in remembrance of those killed by gun violence and mass shootings locally and around the nation.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, along with Bookbags Express and Pathways to Peace, hosted a 'sit shiva' - a Jewish custom of sitting in silence while grieving the loss of a loved one.
250 chairs were placed in the park, signifying the number of mass shootings that have taken place so far in 2022.
Blue Light Project stands against hate; local art show gives voice to LGBTQ+ youth
Alexis Arnold | May 22nd, 2022
Rochester, N.Y. — Rochester, N.Y. - Brighton Stands Against Antisemitism and the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester are standing up to hate.
They launched "The Blue Light Project" last month, handing out approximately 1,000 light bulbs to area community members to make their windows and porches shine blue.
The goal is to raise awareness of antisemitism by creating conversations among friends and neighbors, with the hopes of raising compassion, educating each other on the topic, and standing against hate.
Ahavya Deutsch, co-founder of Brighton Stands Against Anti-Semitism, said incidents in which Jews are discriminated against have been on the rise recently.
Jewish Federation CEO Meredith Dragon Presented with Rochester Business Journal's "Women of Excellence" Award
April 1st, 2022
Rochester Business Journal has selected Meredith Dragon, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, as a Women of Excellence honoree. The Women of Excellence awards recognize high-achieving women for their career accomplishments including professional experience, community involvement, leadership and sustained commitment to mentoring. The winners were selected by a panel of judges comprised of previous Circle of Excellence honorees.
CEO Meredith Dragon and Jewish Community Relations Director Monica Gebell Discuss Rising Antisemitism
February 22, 2022
Federation CEO Meredith Dragon and Jewish Community Relations Director Monica Gebell were joined by Kiyomi Kowalski and Lucky Nahum to discuss rising antisemitism and its connection to anti-Zionism on WXXI's "Connections with Evan Dawson."
