From the Executive Director

By Michal Kohane

Almost six years ago I walked into the offices of the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region and handed in my resumé. I must admit that until then, my connection with Federation included getting and sometimes reading The Jewish Voice and receiving an annual call during Super Sunday about my donation ($18, $36, maybe $50). Once, following a 4th-grade project at Shalom School, I knocked on Federation’s door asking for $500 to buy glass cabinets so we could start a Jewish Community Museum in the Capital City, a dream that still isn’t too late for Federation to jumpstart. Bottom line: Had you stopped me then and there, I would have to admit that I didn’t really know what I was getting into.

I just know that the Jewish people are one of the greatest wonders of the world, that our survival is at a fragile state, and that if I could, I’d be honored to take a bigger part in it.

Well, that sounds nice, but down on the ground there were programs on hold; dialogs in mid-air; meetings in process; a budget with “challenges;” inter- and intra-community relations to rebuild; and much more. Any one of these could have been totally overwhelming.

When I became Executive Director, I felt like I was standing in front of my closet before Pesach cleaning. There were some big items, some bigger items, and some huge ones. I do remember a couple of nights when I stepped out after a long board meeting, gazed at the sky, and wondered what was it that made me take this on. Then I came back to my original conviction. Besides, after all, I am an Israeli, and Israelis will always tell you, even in the worst situations, that yiheye beseder (things will be fine).

Now, six years later, I’m proud to point out to some major achievements:

1. Federation sold the Wyda Way property and increased its endowment by close to $2 million; other new funds have been opened, among them a special fund for Taglit-Birthright Israel.

2. Federation brought the PJ Library Program to our region.

3. Federation is opening the seventh year of Yachad, our community high school program.

4. Federation continues to assist Shalom School and Hillel. A special matching grant of $100,000 was given to Hillel’s Capital Campaign.

5. Federation sponsors NextDor, a young adults program.

6. Federation continues to organize communitywide events, among them the largest ever Israel-Jewish Festival at the Capitol last year with Matisyahu as headliner, attracting more than 10,000 people.

7. Federation picked up the senior High Holy Days basket project, previously organized by Jewish Family Services.

8. Federation partners with other organizations, projects, and events, from the “Big Nosh,” which supports local causes to “Israel in the Gardens” in San Francisco and more.

9. Federation sends the monthly Jewish Voice and the weekly EVoice to more than 5,000 households in the region, maintains the community calendar, and offers an on-line website resource.

10. Federation is a key contact point with Diaspora communities and Israel through its support of the American Joint Distribution Committee and the Jewish Agency for Israel, participating in Partnership 2000, and bringing overseas guests and a Shaliach (Israeli Emissary) to our community.

All of these things and more are done by having highly committed lay leadership, hard working professional staff (see p. 4), and the support of our community. Every time each of you comes to one event, invites one guest, sends $1 more to Federation, you, too, express the sentiment that the Jewish people are important and together we are working today to assure our tomorrow.