Jewish Federations of North America surpassed the $500 million benchmark and raised $550 million for Israel, due to war with Hamas. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post on Thursday, President and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America Eric Fingerhut said “I felt as though I was hearing tales from our ancestors, facing existential threats."
October 7, 2023, stands out as a chilling reminder of the unpredictability of geopolitical conflict. The day saw Hamas launch Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, heralding the commencement of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, exactly half a century after the Yom Kippur War. The unprecedented 3,000-rocket onslaught was only the beginning. With militants penetrating the Gaza–Israel barrier, the attacks rapidly encompassed civilian targets, culminating in the tragic loss of over 1,200 Israeli lives within a span of a mere day, with the horrific events at a music festival near Re'im leaving a lasting scar. Such was the gravity of this day that it got dubbed as Israel's bloodiest, with many drawing parallels to the harrowing events of the Holocaust.
As the devastation unfolded, the resilience of the Jewish community worldwide was reflected in their financial commitments. "Our initial goal was to raise $500 million within the first week of the crisis," Fingerhut explained, "But when the numbers began pouring in and we had almost $388 million in just the opening weekend, I was speechless. It's not just about the funds, it's a testament to the collective spirit of our community. Today, as we inch towards the $550 million mark, it's more than a monetary achievement; it's a message of unity."
However, Fingerhut highlighted that funds alone aren't the endgame. "We've been coordinating community missions, deploying teams of influential figures to Israel. Their goal is twofold: to stand with Israel in its hour of need, and to engage with its people, capturing their stories to relay them to our communities back home. These interactions create a bridge of understanding," he stressed. “We were down in the emergency rooms of the hospitals and met Israelis who have been suffering trauma in so many different ways. We were obviously briefed by the military and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was just deeply impacted you
“We had 153 rallies across the continent, in communities which brought out not only choose but also non-Jewish civic and business leaders, and political leaders, but we know this effort normally may be sustained,” he said.
On the political front, Fingerhut acknowledged the overwhelming support from the corridors of power. "The bond between North American Jews and Israel is unbreakable. And this sentiment is reflected in our leaders too. President Biden's steadfast support, coupled with an almost unanimous backing from Congress, speaks volumes about the longstanding friendship between the US and Israel."
Global rise in antisemitism
Addressing the global rise in antisemitism, Fingerhut's tone turned somber, "We're acutely aware of the increasing hostility. But our answer is steadfastness. We've amplified our security measures. Over 100 of our communities are now pioneers in state-of-the-art security initiatives."
Jewish Federations of North America Chair Julie Platt added: "I have never been so touched by the passion and commitment of the North American Jewish community and so many others as I have been in the last few weeks, as we have rallied to support our beloved Israel. But there is so much more work to do. So much has changed on the ground since we estimated our initial goal just five days into this conflict, and we are only starting to comprehend the enormity of the task."
With 200,000 Israelis displaced, the danger of a multi-front war, and the array of human and economic challenges growing by the day, Jewish Federations are undertaking a commitment to expand their support in line with the ever-developing needs.
"So much has changed on the ground since we estimated our initial goal just five days into this conflict, and we are only starting to comprehend the enormity of the task."
JFNA Chair Julie Platt
Already, Federations have allocated over $111 million to support frontline communities, the Fund for Victims of Terror, trauma relief, medical equipment, support for first responders, and volunteer efforts.
Funds are flowing to 60 partner organizations, including the Jewish Agency for Israel, JDC, World ORT, Israel Trauma Coalition, United Hatzalah, Magen David Adom, ZAKA, Chabad, and over a dozen hospitals and medical organizations.