From freedom to community

The Passover journey continues

Nammie Ichilov, Federation President & CEO

As we celebrate Passover this month, when we gather around our Seder tables, we retell the ancient story of the Exodus. This narrative — our journey from slavery to freedom — has sustained our people through millennia of challenges. At its heart lies the mah nishtanah, four crucial questions asked by the youngest among us, beginning with “Why is this night different from all other nights?”

In the spirit of those four questions, I'd like to share how Jewish Federation of Greater Naples answers four fundamental questions that guide our sacred work, especially as we approach this season of liberation and renewal.

Why does our Jewish Federation exist? What is our mission and vision?

Like Moses who was called to lead our people to freedom, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples exists with a threefold purpose: to convene and gather our diverse Jewish community; to thoughtfully plan for a vibrant, engaged and safe Jewish future; and to secure the resources needed to transform these aspirations into reality. Our vision is a thriving Jewish community where every person feels connected to our shared heritage and responsible for one another.

Who benefits from our annual campaign?

Our annual community campaign supports a tapestry of vital services and programs across our community and beyond. Locally, we provide dignity to Holocaust survivors and the elderly through the Baker Senior Center. We nurture the next generation through our local Jewish educational programs, including preschool scholarships, teen gatherings and young adult mentorships. We cultivate Jewish identity on college campuses through Chabad at FGCU and Hillel International. We preserve our heritage by investing in the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center and the Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida.

This Passover, as we recount how each Israelite — from the highest to the most humble — experienced both slavery and freedom, we remember that Jewish Federation of Greater Naples similarly touches every segment of Jewish life, from seniors to newborns, from the affiliated to those seeking connection.

How do we build local community while supporting our homeland?

Just as the parted Yam Suf created a pathway to the Promised Land, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples builds bridges between our diaspora community and Israel. Through our overseas allocations, we support organizations like Neve Michael Children's Village, American Friends of Leket Israel, and Yad LaKashish's programs for elderly Israelis. In these extraordinarily challenging times for Israel, our support for these programs becomes even more critical — a lifeline of solidarity that spans oceans.

How do we face an uncertain future amid rising antisemitism and diminishing Jewish connection?

The final cup at our Seder table remains unfinished, symbolizing the incomplete nature of redemption. Similarly, our work continues in a world darkened by record antisemitism, diminishing Jewish literacy and fading optimism. Yet we draw strength from the Passover story itself, a narrative that begins in darkness but culminates in freedom, covenant and purpose.

Through our support for organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, innovative educational programming, and community-building initiatives, we counter hatred with knowledge, isolation with belonging, and despair with concrete action. Like our ancestors who took that first step into the uncertain waters, we move forward with faith that our collective efforts will create ripples of positive change.

As we recline at our Seder tables this year, let us remember that freedom is never merely personal — it comes with responsibility. Through Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, we transform the ancient commandment to “remember that you were slaves in Egypt” into modern action: ensuring no Jewish person stands alone, that our traditions endure, and that the journey from slavery to freedom continues for generations to come.

Chag Pesach Sameach — a joyous and meaningful Passover to all.