
- Hillel GMW, our multi-campus Greater MetroWest Hillel, is still running, and actually has more programming planned than ever- all virtual, of course! The new format, called “The HQ” (Hillel Quarantined), includes lectures, yoga and baking classes, hangout sessions, and more!
- Tracy Levine, Fara Gold, and Gerri Russo from the One Happy Camper team are attending the Bi-enniel Leaders Assembly Camp Conference 202.0 virtually, since the multi-day conference in Baltimore was canceled. The OHC team has been reaching out to key day and overnight camps serving GMW to understand concerns and contingency plans for the coming summer and possible ways Federation can support them.
- Sarah Segal, with Synagogue Initiatives, is connecting with Greater MetroWest synagogues to identify their most pressing needs and how Federation can be of help. We’ll be getting survey results around this later this week.
- The Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) is in touch with NJ nonprofit advocacy groups to coordinate legislator outreach related to the needs of individuals with disabilities as well as our local agencies. They’re also working with our nonpublic school partners to possibly create a joint call to action to the governor and the NJ legislature to support NJ’s nonpublic schools during this emergency.
- ABLE has continued to reach out to families and partner agencies to assess needs and offer support. People have been incredibly grateful to hear from Federation and know that we are here as a resource.
- Rebecca Hindin of our Day School Initiative convened the Deans of Instruction from each of the day schools to learn more about what is working and what isn’t, determine which platforms work best, identify lead teachers who can cross train between schools, and understand the professional development and immediate needs teachers have that we can support in the next few weeks.
- Chief Security Officer Robert Wilson continues to work daily with our agencies and synagogues who are applying for the FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Our Greater MetroWest community is working hard to meet the deadline of March 27 at 5 p.m.
- The Center for Volunteerism launched an “I Want to Help” form for volunteers to complete if they are interested in helping as we assess needs throughout the community. In the first 24 hours of this being live, we received 28 responses – 12 of them are teens!
One particularly inspiring moment was when, after extensive lobbying by our Chief Jewish Learning Officer Robert Lichtman, a local hospital decided to make an exception for one of our chaplains to continue to visit Jewish patients (technically a volunteer, she had been informed she would no longer be allowed in the hospital). If you or someone you know is experiencing stress, anxiety, or could benefit from meeting with a chaplain, please reach out to Robert Lichtman.
All that was in one day. Today we gathered 120 Federation professionals (including a few from Israel) for a virtual staff huddle (pictured above). Imagine what we’ll do tomorrow.