Honor Holocaust Survivor Day

Wednesday is Holocaust Survivor Day. Please join the Holocaust Resource Center, Jewish Federation, and Chabad of Fairfield to honor these survivors and their families through the stories and recipes featured in June Hersh's book, Food, Hope & Resilience. This moving collection pairs the stories of Holocaust survivors with the traditional recipes that helped them preserve their heritage and identity. Don't miss this meaningful and heartfelt event.

RSVP - June Hersh author talk

Having Fun While Making a Difference

Rain could not put a damper on Wednesday evening's Cocktails for a Cause event, a meaningful evening of connection and community. The Jacky Durrell Pavilion was packed with Dignity Grows supporters looking to make a difference and help wipe out period poverty.

Guests were inspired by the words of Edith Boyle, President and CEO of LifeBridge Community Services in Bridgeport, who spoke of the stress that period poverty can have on the mental health and self-esteem of girls and women, and how Dignity Grows Totes have had a significant positive impact. She reminded us that dignity begins with the basics—and that we each have a role to play. Following her inspiring words, attendees packed totes of menstrual-hygiene essentials to be distributed to LifeBridge clients.

With the support of attendees at the event, we have raised $6,619 to date. We truly appreciate the support of all who were at the event. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to make a gift, it’s not too late. Every gift makes a difference!

$600 helps 5 women every month for a year.
$360 helps 3 women every month for a year.
$120 helps 1 woman every month for a year.

Click Here to Donate to Dignity Grows

It's not too late to support Dignity Grows or to host your own packing event with friends, colleagues, or your organization. Contact Stacy Kamisar at stacy@shalomct.org to learn more and get involved.

As One, we are making a difference—one bag, one story, one act of dignity at a time.

See more photos on the Federation Facebook page.

Jewish American Heritage Month Kicks Off in Westport

Federation leadership was on hand at the proclamation ceremony in Westport to kick off Jewish American Heritage Month:

WHEREAS, The United States has many heritage months that celebrate the various communities that form the mosaic of our country. By celebrating heritage months, we learn about one another, honor the richness of our diverse nation, and we strengthen the fabric of American society; and

WHEREAS, The month of May has been designated as Jewish American Heritage Month to honor and celebrate Jewish contributions to the United States, where for over three centuries, Jewish Americans have helped shape the story of America through leadership, service, innovation, and resilience.

WHEREAS, Antisemitism has been rising at an alarming rate in our country, and many of our communities have experienced an increase in antisemitic incidents; and

WHEREAS, Jewish American Heritage Month serves as an antidote to antisemitism by highlighting the indelible contributions American Jews have made, and continue to make, to our nation's history, culture, and society; and

WHEREAS, Westport's unique heritage would be impossible without the Jewish Americans who have been an integral part of its history, and who have contributed significantly to the cultural fabric, artistic environment, and economic vitality of our community; and

WHEREAS, The strength of a society can be measured by how it protects minority populations and celebrates their contributions, making it both fitting and necessary for us to mark this month as Jewish American Heritage Month.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jennifer S. Tooker, First Selectwoman of the Town of Westport, do hereby proclaim May 2025 as Jewish American Heritage Month in Westport, Connecticut, and I urge residents to fight against antisemitism and all forms of bigotry, to learn more about the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans, and to encourage people of all backgrounds to learn and establish a greater· appreciation of the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which we all aspire.

War on Israel: Update on Current Situation

Wednesday marked 600 days since October 7, 2023, the start of the war and the taking of the hostages, 58 of whom have still not been returned.

In Israel, the solemn milestone was marked mainly by calls for the release of the captives, including demands that the government do more to reach an agreement.

President Isaac Herzog said, “On that accursed day — the result of a terrible blindness, one of the greatest failures we have ever known — murderous, inhuman terrorists, human monsters, armed to their teeth, invaded our homes, our towns, our communities, rampaged and slaughtered us.”

IDF Activity

To mark 600 days of the war, the military has released data about the number of wounded soldiers.
Over 17,500 soldiers have been injured.
Of those, 80% are under the age of 40.
Some 50% are suffering from emotional difficulties as a result of the war.
Of the total, 65% are reservist soldiers called up for duty.
Fighting continues in Gaza, although there have been limited actual engagements between the IDF and Hamas terrorists. The military is thought to be holding some 40% of Gaza’s territory at present. It aims to reach 70% within two months if a ceasefire agreement is not reached.
The IDF has become the first military in the world to have an operational laser-based air defense system. According to official reports, the new system (see video here), which Rafael (an Israeli military contractor) developed, has been integrated into the Air Force’s Air Defense Branch. Over the past few months, it has intercepted 30-40 incoming drones (see footage here), mainly along the northern border with Lebanon.
The Israelis are also working on a more powerful and advanced “Iron Beam” laser system scheduled to become operational within months, when it will be deployed using existing Iron Dome batteries. The cost of a single Iron Dome interceptor is around $50,000, but the cost of a laser interception is only $5! The laser beam is also significantly faster than the physical interceptor and has a better success rate. On the downside, adverse weather conditions make it less efficient, and it has a shorter range (6 miles as opposed to Iron Dome’s 25-mile range).

Hostages, Ceasefire, and Diplomacy

There are conflicting reports on the possibility of a new ceasefire and the return of some hostages.
U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has reportedly presented both Israel and Hamas with a new version of his outline.
The plan would include the release of 10 living hostages plus the bodies of 18 hostages who are no longer alive.
The release would take place in two rounds, one on the first day of the deal and one on the seventh.
In exchange for the living hostages, Israel will release 125 Palestinians in jail for life, and 1,111 Gazan prisoners who were arrested after October 7.
In response to the release of the bodies of the dead hostages, Israel will release 180 bodies of Gazans—also in two installments.
On the tenth day, Hamas will deliver a full list that includes a detailed medical report on the condition of the living hostages.
Both sides will agree to a 60-day ceasefire, and at the end of this period, Israel can resume fighting, or extend the ceasefire if further negotiations are successful.
The final part of the proposal involves the IDF withdrawing from recently captured areas in Gaza and returning the distribution of humanitarian aid to the United Nations.

Humanitarian Aid

Israel has opened the first three humanitarian zones, all of which are now operational. The zones provide a Hamas-free environment where aid can be distributed to Gazan civilians. By opening the zones, the IDF hopes to stop Hamas from stealing the supplies and re-diverting them to terrorism or other aims. Israel also wants to prevent Hamas from claiming credit for the food and other items brought in, thus limiting its appeal.
At present, hundreds of thousands of meals are handed out daily, which is expected to increase to close to 1 million.
Earlier in the week, riots broke out at one new zone as many Gazans tried to seize food. Ultimately, the US contractors needed to fire in the air to disperse the rioters.
Another humanitarian zone is expected to become operational in the coming days.
Israel resumed near-daily aid deliveries to Gaza last week, after a pause since March 2. Since then, 665 aid trucks have entered the Strip.

Houthis

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen continue to fire missiles at Israel on an almost daily basis.
Most missiles are intercepted or fall short of their targets; no significant damage or injuries have occurred in recent weeks. Nonetheless, each launch triggers sirens across large swathes of the country, sending millions running to shelters.
In response to the latest firings, Israel again attacked Yemen yesterday, destroying the last Houthi airplan.

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