JFC Federation Impact_Spring2025 ISSUU

FEDERATION

IMPACT You give our Jewish community a better future

SPRING 2025

Keran

Reem With your support, Diana is able to enjoy the home she loves.

You Turn Needs into Smiles —story on p. 2

jewishcincinnati.org

One Can Lift the Other Your support gives a boost to those who need it most

stages of forming a gardening committee and really strategizing about the type of garden we want,” Executive Director Amy Fischer explained.

For Diana, Halom House is more than a residence—it’s her home. She laughs as she shows off her pink room.

“I love it here,” she said, during a recent tour. Founded 40 years ago by Jewish families to bring independence to their adult children with developmental disabilities, Halom House has grown into a thriving network of support for twenty individuals.

Through vision, compassion, and generosity, donors like you are not just improving lives—they’re helping them flourish.

Until recently, many living in and visiting the group home, couldn’t travel between floors. But thanks to a partnership between Halom House, the Federation, and the generosity of Pamela and Bernard Barbash, a long-held dream became reality: a new ADAcompliant elevator grants Diana and others the freedom to explore their home without barriers.

“For should they fall, one can lift the other,” – Kohelet 4:10 is engraved on a plaque that greets everyone who uses the elevator.

Because of your support, a fully accessible community garden is being planned next. “We are in the beginning

Halom House Executive Director Amy Fischer stands with Nathan, who uses the elevator every chance he gets.

In an Instant Training, Trust, and the Power of Community It happened in an instant. A loud clap cut through the sanctuary of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church.

Dozens of people sprang into action, putting their training into action, and rushed toward the exit.

“If you’re paying attention, you can secure yourself and your community and your facility. And that’s where we want everybody to be,” said Mark, our SAFE Cincinnati Director of Community Security. “The training turned those instincts into readiness.”

Thanks to your support, we provided this training through our public-affairs work knowing that faith communities like St. Mark face growing threats.

But it was about more than readiness—it was about building a connection.

As Deacon Staley noted, “The fact that the Jewish community cared enough to reach out to us—that meant something.”

Congregants of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church are better prepared because of you.

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For many at St. Mark, the training wasn’t just about safety. It was about building something more— community. As Connie Gipson reflected, “Putting more love out there is what really bridges the gap.”

The Power of a Quiet Living Room Bringing the Help You Give Israel, Back Home It started with a simple offer: “Our home is open.”

When Nancy and Ray Warren extended that invitation, they ignited something powerful—a space for connection, healing, and understanding.

In the aftermath of October 7, the Federation’s Israel in Your Living Room initiative—developed with our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)—transformed everyday rooms into places of meaning.

“When you sit down with someone who’s been there, who’s seen it with their own eyes, it changes everything.”

—Nancy Warren “After experiencing Israel in its current state, I knew I had to,” explained Jeremy Kanter about his motivation for speaking at one of the gatherings.

Kanter and others have used the opportunity to

Community members listened to firsthand accounts from our local Jewish leaders returning from Israel

convey the heartbreak, resilience, and hope of the Israeli people in ways that resonate beyond headlines and numbers. The Federation’s Senior Community Shaliach, Tzach Shmuely—entrusted with bridging Cincinnati’s Jewish community with Israel—has attended each session and serves as both a guide and a listener. “They can ask real questions, express their feelings, and hear perspectives they might not get anywhere else.”

Making Every Dollar Count A New Chapter in Local Allocations Andrea Baron remembers the first time she walked into Halom House. She had driven past it countless times but had never stepped inside. That day, she met individuals with disabilities thriving in a space designed to feel like home. She saw their artwork, heard their laughter, and understood—this is what community support looks like.

As Vice President of Local Allocations, Andrea is shaping a new chapter—one that is clearer, more intentional, and focused on people. “At the end of the day, this isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people.

It’s about making sure students at our Hillels feel safe, seniors have meals, and families get the support they need,” she says.

YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE STARTS NOW! The changes underway will give volunteers and agencies a more informed approach to funding decisions and help agencies deliver life-changing support with confidence and care. At its core, the Local Allocations process is about helping agencies care for our community members at every stage of life. |3

Every Dollar Directly Supports Our Community Dear Friends, Last summer, I sat with volunteers who had just returned from visiting local agencies through the Local Allocations process. They didn’t just read about impact in a report—they saw it, felt it, and experienced it firsthand. They watched students at Cincinnati Hillel lean on each other for support in difficult times. They stood in the Mayerson JCC kitchen, as hot meals were prepared for seniors who rely on that sense of nourishment and belonging. They met families whose lives had been changed by the safety net of our community’s resources.

One volunteer, reflecting on the experience, said, “I always knew this funding was important, but seeing it in action changed everything.”

At Federation, we are more than funders—we are partners in building a stronger Jewish Cincinnati. That’s why we are rolling out updates to the Local Allocations process, ensuring funding is more transparent, more intentional, and more responsive to the needs of our community. With the leadership of volunteers like Andrea Baron,

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Vice President of Local Allocations, we are working toward a more structured process, deeper collaboration with agencies to help them grow and adapt, and a renewed focus on measuring real-world impact.

This isn’t about bureaucracy or red tape—it’s about ensuring every dollar directly supports people, every agency has the resources to uplift lives, and every volunteer sees the impact of their dedication.

None of this happens without you. Whether you donate, volunteer, or advocate for our community, you are a vital part of this work. Thank you for trusting Federation to be a steward of our shared future—we are honored to do this together, so that Jewish Cincinnati remains strong today and for generations to come.

With gratitude, Felicia Zakem Chief Planning & Engagement Officer Jewish Federation of Cincinnati