3 minute read
2025 International Lion of Judah Conference is a wrap!
By Cheryl Ginsberg, ILOJC25 Chair
What an incredible experience we had together at the International Lion of Judah Conference in January! Fourteen remarkable women joined over 1,700 Jewish women from 20 countries around the world, sharing stories of resilience and strength. Among the attendees were women from Los Angeles who had lost everything to the fires, but their need to feel solidarity with the Jewish community brought them to attend the conference.
Most of our meals were shared with fellow Lions from around the world, but Monday night’s intimate dinner with just our group was truly special. The speakers we heard were profoundly impactful. Rachael Goldberg, mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a murdered American Israeli hostage, moved us to tears with her story. Hearing Noah Fay — a Black, Native American, Jewish woman — speak about addressing Congress on antisemitism on college campuses and standing up at the march on the Capitol in support of Israeli hostages sent chills down my spine. Her courage reminded everyone in the room that one voice can spark a change. We also met Kateryna Vozyanova, who was rescued at age 10 by the JDC during the 2014 Crimea conflict. Relocated to Kyiv, she chose to stay in Ukraine and rebuild her Jewish community instead of moving to Israel. Her strength and commitment, supported by Federation, is truly inspiring.
We learned that $861,340,171 was raised for Israel, with a 200% increase in attendance at Israeli programs across the U.S. since Oct. 7, 2023. This surge in numbers reflect the resilience and solidarity of our global Jewish community.
Now that I’ve had time to reflect, I can’t overstate how meaningful and impactful this trip was for me. Beyond the incredible conference, the camaraderie, exchange of ideas and the friendships we formed made this experience unforgettable. The time spent organizing this trip was a worthy investment, I plan to commit to this labor of love again in 2027. I also feel compelled to mention Alicia Feldman — Alicia, I cannot thank you enough for all that you do; you are truly appreciated!
I hope this marks the beginning of a new tradition. In 2027, let’s invite more women to join us at the next Lion of Judah Conference. How many can we grow our 14 into? Let’s make it happen!
If you would like to see more information about the 2025 International Lion of Judah Conference. Please visit Lionconference.org/index.php.
