The JValley Brief: May Newsletter

May 2019 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

It’s hard to ignore that our Jewish community has been through a lot lately. Our sense of security and safety was shaken intensely by the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left our hearts shattered. And although our community always unites in moments of hardship, we are treading on volatile waves of hate and bigotry . We read the anti-Semitic tweets made by public figures, we see the vandalized headstones at Jewish cemeteries, we hear the discriminatory jokes, and we feel vulnerable. And as a Federation, it is our job to ask, “What can we do about it?”

Enhancing Our Security

At the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, one of our critical roles is ensuring both the security and engagement of the local community. Using a generous grant we secured from the Department of Homeland Security , we are enhancing the physical security of our Levy Family Campus to protect the people who visit everyday. In addition, we recently funded security assessments for local synagogues and agencies, which included in-depth analyses of the organizations’ physical sites and recommendations for improvements.

Uniting Communities

This month, our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) hosted a full house at the Multicultural & Multifaith Passover Seder. The event, lead by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders, delivered a message of solidarity that was notably relevant following the two mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand.

When our multifaith friends are attacked, we feel their pain and we know too well what happens when other communities don’t stand up for each other. By bringing together people of diverse backgrounds, the seder worked to defy the cultural stigmas that create intolerance and facilitate an understanding of our traditions and values.

Remembering the Holocaust

Foreign service personnel from various countries used their roles to save Jews during the Holocaust. One of those men is Feng Shan Ho, a Chinese diplomat who risked his life providing visas to Jews seeking refuge in Shanghai. Lotte Marcus, a local Holocaust survivor, is alive today because of these visas. Come hear her personal story of survival at theCounty of Santa Clara Holocaust Remembrance Ceremonyon Thursday, May 2nd. If you can't join us in person, the ceremony will be streamed live for viewing on our Facebookpage and published later on our YouTube channel.

In addition, on the evening of May 1st, the community will gather for a Yom Hashoah Service with guest speaker Max Garcia, a survivor, and with the participation of our local Jewish clergy.

Finding Our Strength

When anti-Semitic remarks are heard and violence seen, it’s our unquestionable duty to stand together and take action. With your donation , we can continue supporting programs that combat hate by raising awareness and building relationships.

SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY NOW

As Pesach comes to a close, we reflect on our freedom together with a sense of hope. We invite you to join us in these upcoming community events (listed below) remembering the Shoah and celebrating Israel's independence.

Chag Sameach,