FEDERATION IMPACT
“We were underground, and the whole shelter shook.”
Your help brought Sophie and others home safely.
On June 19, a missile struck Jaffa, just a few blocks away from Sophie Kanter’s hotel. Deep below in a spaturned-bomb shelter, Sophie feared for her life.
The Cincinnati native, now a grad student in Austin, had come to Israel with the Builders’ Society, a program of America-Israel Democracy Coalition, to help rebuild communities attacked on October 7. But when Iran launched missiles and commercial flights shut down, she found herself trapped in an active war zone.
Thousands of American families were suddenly in crisis. Our Federation team jumped in—identifying who from our community was in Israel, contacting families, and working around the clock with partners to get them home safely.
“We had to react immediately and lean into our networks,” said Felica Zakem, Federation’s Chief
Planning and Engagement Officer. “We had the relationships, the trust, and the ability to act.”
Through these connections, an emergency flight to Greece was secured for Sophie and her group. “They weren’t just sending helpful website links,” Sophie said. “They were connecting me with real people.”
When she landed safely, her message was simple: “It was a miracle. And you made it all happen.”
Your support reminded her: she’s never alone. She has a community behind her.
Restoring Relationships in a Fractured World
Because of You, JCRC Keeps the Door Open to
“My door is always open, especially to people who feel their voice isn’t being heard,” says Chandler Waite, the new Director of our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC).
Tough Conversations
In a time when it feels harder than ever to talk across divides, Chandler believes that listening, with intention, is one of the most important things we can do. Whether starting the first Jewish group at his college or advocating for Israel in the American Southwest, he’s always been drawn to the kind of leadership that’s built on relationships, not headlines.
Now in Cincinnati, Chandler is focused on restoring trust between communities, across coalitions, and within civic life. “In Jewish life, we don’t walk away from one another,” he says. “We listen. We wrestle. We stay in relationship, even when it’s difficult.”
After October 7th, that work became even more urgent. Because of your gift to the Federation, JCRC is doing what few can: staying in challenging conversations, showing up with compassion, and helping our community live out its values.
This moment calls for steady leadership and a clear vision. Your support makes both possible.
Sophie and others try to sleep in a hotel bomb shelter.
When Aging Becomes Overwhelming, Help Arrives
With Your Support, One Family Found Peace
When Salvador Wertheim z”l began showing signs of Alzheimer’s, his daughter Donna Wertheim Ross and other family members found themselves quickly overwhelmed. “Even in his dying day, he still wanted to go to work,” Donna recalled. Salvador had lived a life of hard work and devotion to his family. But dementia stripped away those certainties, leaving Donna, her brother Marc, and especially their mother Beatriz struggling to keep up.
That’s when they turned to AgeWell Cincinnati Concierge, a private-pay, care management service of Jewish Family Service, funded in part by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. From choosing in-home aides to navigating hospice options, care managers Katie Moore and Bethany Putnam were more than professionals—they were partners. “They didn’t judge our choices,” said Donna. “They just stood with us.”
With AgeWell’s guidance, the family found peace. Salvador passed away at home, surrounded by loved ones, just as his family intended. But the care did not
Beyond the Bridge: What Comes After the Civil Rights Journey
You Help Jewish Women and the YWCA Partner for Change
Last fall, 31 Jewish women from Cincinnati walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma—not as tourists, but as students of history. Their Civil Rights journey, led by Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy and Etgar 36, planted seeds that didn’t stay dormant. Thanks
stop there. Beatriz, his wife of 62 years, now finds strength in community programs and making new friends. “She’s now a K’vod Connect client,” said Bethany. “I love how JFS can integrate all these different programs for one family.”
“I think it gave us a sense of grounding,” Donna reflected. Grounding—and the assurance that, through Jewish values and Federation support, no one in our community faces aging or loss alone.
Because of your gift to Federation, JFS’ Aging & Care Services provide compassionate support when it matters most.
to your support, those seeds have blossomed into a partnership with the YWCA Greater Cincinnati. “This isn’t about one trip,” said participant Beth Guttman. “It’s about asking what we can do now.”
This summer, Federation funded a multipart series led by YWCA educators—creating space for deep reflection and courageous conversation around race and identity. “This is the beginning of something bigger,” said YWCA Advocacy Director Ryane Sickles.
Justice begins with people. We are showing up as learners and leaders, reigniting a historic bond between Jewish and Black communities. “They’re not just in the training—they’re part of the foundation,” said YWCA’s Veronica Perez.
Your support makes this possible because lasting change takes root when we’re willing to grow.
Donna Wertheim Ross turned to Jewish Family Service when her father Salvador Wertheim z”l, and her family, needed it most.
Listen First—Then Act
We listen before we act—so your support truly meets real needs. This summer, we visited 10 agencies and evaluated 19 programs—walking halls, meeting staff, and hearing directly from people doing the work.
We asked 45 volunteers to let us know what’s working, changing, and what keeps people up at night. These partnerships ground our decisions in real needs, not assumptions. In turn, your support makes the greatest impact.
“This isn’t just a once-a-year check-in,” said Andrea Baron, a volunteer leader and Federation’s VP of Local Allocations. “It’s an ongoing cycle— visiting, listening, following up—so we can invest where it matters most.”
Because of you, those investments are already changing lives:
• Jewish Family Service offered nearly 3,000 counseling sessions to older adults and reconnected 700 isolated seniors.
• The Mayerson JCC helped 100+ families— to join as members or enroll their children in JCC programs and camp.
• Rockwern Academy supported 250 students with therapy, screenings, and extra care helping them grow emotionally and academically.
Your support doesn’t just strengthen Cincinnati— it ensures we can respond when our global Jewish family is in crisis.
When the Israel–Iran war escalated, we mobilized— helping travelers get home safely and reminding families they weren’t alone. “You don’t really understand the power of the Federation system,” said Karen Goodman, VP of Israel & Overseas, “until you’re inside it—especially when everything needs to move at once.”
That kind of readiness is built over time, through listening, planning, action, and trust. Because of you, Jewish Cincinnati is ready for today—and tomorrow. Thank you for making every step count.
With gratitude,
Felicia Zakem Chief Planning & Engagement Officer Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
