Federation’s Response Ability Is Our Responsibility

by Laura Dorf Queller, Vice President, Communications and Marketing

When Hurricane Irma was targeted to hit South Florida where several of my elderly relatives live, I was comforted to read an e-mail from our Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest. It began, “As we continue to support the communities devastated by Hurricane Harvey, we turn our eyes to Hurricane Irma. Our Federation system is poised and ready to act in support of anyone affected.” The e-mail went on to offer aid to Floridians unable to evacuate or just in need of assistance. It also offered to help those of us up north check on the safety of our loved ones – Jewish or not – after the storm. I immediately forwarded the e-mail to members of my extended family. They, too, were comforted to know this safety net was in place.

My relatives luckily escaped harm from Hurricane Irma. But the e-mail that I read on that September day taught me valuable lessons about our Federation’s capacity to respond to emergency situations.

This Women’s Philanthropy e-newsletter looks at how our Federation has the ability, and responsibility, to address crises – both near and far, and on a large scale or one person at a time. Our Federation can rally the resources necessary to respond to emergencies, thanks entirely to the generous donations it receives to its UJA Annual Campaign. Our Federation also can respond beyond the confines of Greater MetroWest because it belongs to the larger umbrella organization, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), which is comprised of 148 Federations and more than 300 network communities. It was this web of partnerships, for example, that enabled our Federation in New Jersey to assist victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston and Irma in Florida. And last, but not least, our Federation can reach out and make the connections to help individuals and groups in crisis because of the meaningful partnerships we have with agencies, locally, nationally, and internationally, that support Jews who need our help the most. 

Federation’s reach is vast and its “response ability” is rapid. And in the blink of an eye, donors to Jewish Federation can become grateful recipients of its services. The same women who sprang into action to help their fellow Jews after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston community could one day find themselves in need of Federation’s assistance back in New Jersey. Whether the crisis is a medical emergency that touches loved ones close to home, or a natural disaster that affects relatives as far away as Puerto Rico, Federation is there.

The email I received offering help during Hurricane Irma was signed, “Shabbat Shalom, Your Federation Family.” That final greeting said it all.