Momentum’s impact has been felt far and wide across the globe in Fall 2024. Our transformational trips to Israel, Leadership summits around the world, Momentum on the Road speaker events, and online experiences have been key elements in empowering Jewish mothers and fathers to embrace their Jewish identities. Momentum is providing the confidence and tools to stand up, speak out, and take action for Israel and against antisemitism around the world.
We are pleased announce two new members to Momentum’s Board of Directors. Each comes to Momentum with robust knowledge and experience, and commitment to Israel, and a passion to empower Jewish mothers to lead our Jewish future.
A passionate advocate for Momentum, Wendy participated in three Momentum trips, including Momentum Grand, and served as a Madricha. Her time with Momentum inspired her commitment to the movement’s mission of empowering women through transformative experiences in Israel. Wendy is an active philanthropist and community leader. She has served on various boards, including NCJW, Federation, and the Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School. She also serves on the Davidson School Advisory Board at JTS and cofounded a program that brings children from the Gaza Envelope to Camp Herzl in Wisconsin. Wendy lives with her husband, Colin, and their four children in Minneapolis.
Judith grew up in Madrid, in a traditional Sephardic family.
After graduating in Economics in Madrid, Judith studied at Oxford and Paris and earned a degree in Organizational Psychology. Her professional career servicing C-Suite worldwide clients started at Merrill Lynch International Bank in London, where she was appointed Vice President. She has worked in different executive roles for Capgemini Consulting, and most recently AXA Insurance Group. Her core expertise is business transformation for growth, leveraging IT ecosystems. Judith currently lives in Madrid with her husband, Fred and have three children and a beautiful grandson.
Building a strong Jewish future depends on passing down Jewish values from one generation to the next, and Jewish mothers play a critical role. For over 15 years, Momentum’s mission has been to empower women to change the world through Jewish values that transform ourselves, our families, and our communities. In the wake of the events of October 7, the urgency of our work has never been clearer. This past September 25-27, Momentum called out to our community and within 36 hours raised over $1 Million from 1500+ donors.
The Jewish world recognized and marked that the difficult remembrance of October 7 fell between the Jewish High Holy Days. As we paused to honor the events, victims, and families of October 7 and the past year, and looked to open our hearts into a new year, Momentum took the led for our community in navigating grief, sorrow, loss, and frustration and holding in our hearts…hope, resilience, leadership, and action.
Click here to see the moving and inspirational video viewed over 2,500 times worldwide
Click here to experience the recorded event
350+
Women Participated
On October 6, Momentum hosted 350 women from all over the world for an intimate online event to support each other, share incredibly moving stories, and have the opportunity to participate in a candle lighting ceremony in honor of the souls lost on and since the events of October 7.
Adrienne Gold DavisMomentum Director of Experience & Engagement
BatHen Lavi
Israeli Mother and Evacuee from Kiryat Shmona since October 7
Sara Jacobs Founder of Maman Nonprofit and an activist for Israel
Aviva Siegel
Freed hostage and the wife of Keith, who is still captive in Gaza
We asked our global community to join us by sharing how they’re inspiring, leading, or bringing to life acts of Jewish pride and action for their communities and for Israel and to tell us by declaring “This year We Will…” and to date we have received 682 submissions from individuals, groups, and cohorts telling their stories of how they have been inspired by Momentum to take action in their own communities and around the world.
600 Women
THE NEXT STEP IN THE MOMENTUM LEADERSHIP JOURNEY
With a focus on meeting the needs of today’s – and tomorrow’s – Jewish women leaders, Momentum is launching Fellowship NEXT in 2025 and will provide continued education and in-depth training to our graduate fellows.
Through a completely virtual platform, Fellows will participate in online workshops led by experts in their fields, offering practical skills and insights tailored to the realities of leading Jewish communities today. Initially available in English and Spanish, the sessions are planned to expand to French, Russian, and Hebrew.
96 Organizations
15 Countries
Fellows will gain insights and skills in:
• Leading through crises and mobilizing communities
• Jewish leadership rooted in values and history
• Emotional intelligence and self-awareness
• Public speaking and group facilitation
• Fundraising and building strong donor relationships
PHILADELPHIA
May 12-14 CHICAGO Sept 7-9
7-9
This fall, Momentum is partnering with 100+ ORGANIZATIONS to bring expert speakers to 45+ EVENTS across 4 COUNTRIES USA, Panama, France, and Canada 28+ CITIES
STRENGTHENING JEWISH IDENTITY WORLDWIDE
Mariacha Drai Momentum Educator
Dana Levenson
Media Personality and Advocate
Monique Tordjman
French-Israeli Ceramicist
Mother of Avidan Z’L, Murdered at Nova Festival
These impactful, inspiring events will empower participants with tools to strengthen Jewish identity, raising our voices and nurturing our souls.
Eve Levy
Momentum Educator, Co-Director of L’Chaim Center
Ruchi Koval
Momentum Educator, Founder & Director of Jewish Family Experience
Lori Palatnik
Momentum Founding Director
Noam Weissman
Executive Vice President
OpenDor Media, Host of Unpacking Israeli History
Adrienne Gold Davis
Momentum Director of Experience & Engagement
Dr. Zohar Raviv
Momentum Scholar in Residence International VP of Education & Strategy for Taglit Birthright
Ashager Araro
Israeli-Ethiopian Activist
Jessica Berkowitz Momentum Senior Education Specialist
Momentum’s first-ever Momentum Grand for Men, led by the dynamic and inspirational Saul Blinkoff, featured meetings with dignitaries, IDF generals, and leaders in the hightech industry.
The group was also treated to a special visit to the Iron Dome Center where they witnessed the incredible honor and pride of this site. The men experienced a VIP tour of the City of David and enjoyed exclusive restaurants and behind the scenes tour.
Despite the turmoil and news of volatility and war, Momentum led amazing groups of men and women to the heart of Israel to expand their own horizons and Jewish identity.
In November, buses filled with 168 determined women and men arrived for their Momentum Israel experience. Visits to the ANU Museum, the Ethiopian Heritage Center, and the Hostage Families Forum filled the days and at night beautiful dinners with deep and meaningful connection and conversation. Briefings with the IDF and dignitaries were key to learning more about how Israel is protecting the people of our homeland.
Momentum is committed to ongoing engagement with Israel as one of our highest priorities. Our key focus areas are The Momentum Journey of Growth, Leadership and Alumni Engagement, and Israel Society. We will continue to expand partnerships, host Momentum Community events, and deploy ongoing programming.
1300 Israeli women and men engaged through Momentum Programs
84 women and 21 men participated in the Momentum Israel Trips
12 events hosted a total of 509 participants in person and virtually
266 women matched in the Mother2Mother program
Israel Fellowship Summit, Jan 7-9
Designed to nurture and mobilize the next generation of Jewish communal leaders as they strengthen their communities and improve the world. Momentum is adapting, creating, and translating content specifically for the Israeli audience.
16
Israeli partner organizations
100+ Participants expected
Momentum is shining the light and leading the way for Jewish mothers to make a meaningful difference in transforming themselves, their families, and communities.
During the 8 Days of Hanukkah, through the lens of Momentum’s 8 Core Jewish Values, we’ll bring to life our mission and impact from the real stories and insights of Momentum moms and alumni, world-class Momentum educators, and the original founders of the Momentum movement.
Now more than ever, we’re focused on building a better world by creating Jewish pride, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging…together. By making a commitment to Jewish mothers everywhere, andshifting our thinking from “me” to “we”, our exponential impact can be seen and felt around the world. Join us by declaring “This
year I will”
and
give generously to help Momentum continue empowering Jewish mothers to lead our Jewish future.”
