From Our Leadership

Julie Platt is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and serves as Chair of the Foundation for Jewish Camp.

A Strategic Approach to the Ukraine Emergency

Since the war in Ukraine broke out, we have been to the region three times, to the border twice, and to the command centers of our relief agencies in Jerusalem.  Leaders of over thirty different major Jewish communities from across North America have been on these trips as well, seeing for …

Poland and Purim at a Time of Crisis

Today is Shushan Purim, one of the more obscure holidays in the Jewish calendar. What’s this all about?


The holiday of Purim, which we celebrated yesterday, is on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. It marks the day after the fighting ended between the Jews of the Persian Empire and th…

A "Split Screen" Day

Today is what I believe news producers call a “split screen” day.


I am writing to you from an El Al flight carrying Ukrainian refugees to their new home in Israel. These new olim are the latest participants in one of the greatest stories in human history – the establishment of the mo…

A Light in the Darkness

Though the news from Ukraine remains grim, and the work of our overseas partners continues to grow, I thought you would like to see this picture of Ukrainian refugees/new olim arriving at Ben Gurion airport, and being greeted by the Prime Minister of Israel, by the Director General of our J…

How We Move Forward After the Colleyville Synagogue Hostage Crisis

Like everyone, we are deeply relieved by the outcome of the hostage taking at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, near Dallas. We thank all the law enforcement officials who saved the lives of our brethren, and we express to Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, the other hostages, and al…