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In the News

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Karen Bresson | kbresson@jewishrochester.org
Andy Hynes | ahynes@jewishrochester.org

Daphne Futerman Selected for National Women’s Philanthropy Board

February 5th, 2024

 

Mazal Tov to Daphne Futerman on being selected for the National Women’s Philanthropy Board of the Jewish Federations of North America. National Women’s Philanthropy is the fastest growing campaign of Jewish Federations, and engages Jewish women in the fulfilling work of making the world a better place. Women’s philanthropy represents over 200 million in annual giving across the Federation system and over 18,000 Lions of Judah are contributing gifts of $5,000 and above. In every Jewish community, Federations are building and supporting Jewish life for today and for generations to come.

 

We are proud to have three members of our community representing Rochester on the National Women’s Philanthropy board: Lisa Axelrod, Daphne Futerman, and Debbie Gordon.

Jewish Federations Launch New Executive Accelerator Program

January 17th, 2024

 

We are thrilled to share that Leah Goldman, Chief Planning & Programming Officer at the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester has been chosen to participate in JFNA’s inaugural cohort of Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) Executive Accelerator. This new program is design to equip emerging leaders with the resources, network and coaching to competently and confidently grow into c-suite roles. Mazel Tov!

 

Click here to read more.

January 14, 2024

 

The Rochester Jewish Community came together on Sunday, January 14th in support of the remaining hostages that are still being held by Hamas.

 

News coverage from 13WHAM and Spectrum Local News.

Rochester man returns home from Israel after being on lockdown

 

October 16th, 2023

 

Rochester N.Y. - Marc Cohen is back home in Rochester with his family after their Tel Aviv hotel was placed on lockdown following the surprise Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

 

"Everyone is doing as well as could be expected," said Cohen. "We’re all just praying for the people who are still facing incredible hardship and horror for the families who have lost loved ones for the families who are waiting to hear from loved ones who were taken hostage. "

 

Click here to read the entire article.

Media Wrap-Up For Community Vigil

 

Week Ending October 13th, 2023

 

Click below to view local media coverage of the Community Vigil: Standing in Solidarity and Unity with Israel.

RPO Trumpet Player Herb Smith Performs At Concert To End Hate

 

October 2nd, 2023

 

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A concert on Wednesday night that featured renowned Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra trumpet player Herb Smith aimed to put an end to hate. The concert at ARTISANworks was organized by the Levine Center to End Hate at the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, which seeks to overcome hate through education and dialogue. 

 

Click here to read the entire article.

Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester denounces Goyim Defense League

 

June 26th, 2023

 

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester says it’s being extra vigilant after several neo-Nazis openly demonstrated outside of a synagogue in Cobb County Georgia over the weekend.

 

News10NBC found out what the Jewish Federation is doing to erase the hate.

 

The group that demonstrated over the weekend calls itself the Goyim Defense League, and according to the Jewish Federation, the GDL has been known to target Jews right here in the Rochester area.

 

Click here to read the entire article.

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.

 

Click here to read the entire press release.

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."
 

Click here to read the entire article.

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.

 

Click here to listen to the interview.

'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.
 

Click here to read the entire article.

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.

 

Click here to read the entire article.

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.


Click here to read the entire article.

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."

 

Click here to listen to the program.

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