Taking in the grandeur of the National Library of Israel amidst the exhibit, "Every Hostage Has a Story”
More than 100 days have passed since October 7th. While we might have hoped the passage of time would lead to greater clarity, the Jewish people are still consumed by uncertainty, which persists alongside the sadness and trauma. Israel continues to need support, even as an unprecedented level of funds have been committed for emergency response. Many philanthropists, recognizing that disaster relief is a long-term process, are seeking to better understand their role vis-à-vis the role of Israel’s government in meeting present needs while also holding on to the desire to help rebuild Israel with a new vision for its safety and resilience – socially, economically, and even religiously – in the day after.
I was fortunate to visit Israel for two weeks after Thanksgiving – a trip very much shaped by the dual tension of response and planning. The first week I spent with family and the Russell Berrie Foundation’s Israel team and grantees, while the second week I traveled with a group of senior foundation leaders who sought to understand how we could be most effective in our giving, both at this moment and in the foreseeable and imperceptible future.
I’m pleased to share that some of my reflections were published in eJewish Philanthropy earlier this week. “On my visit, I was confronted with two potential visions for Israel’s future, one optimistic and one pessimistic, depending on circumstances…Given this anxiety and uncertainty, Israelis and Jews around the world feel unable to wholly roll the Torah scroll to Bereishit, to the new beginning.”
I welcome your thoughts and reactions.