In the Spotlight

Signer Spotlight: Rabbi Chaim Neiditch Rabbi Chaim Neiditch is the Founder and Executive Director of the Jewish Student Union of Atlanta Tell us about your role as the Executive Director and Founder of the Jewish Student Union of Atlanta In 2007, a Jewish Federation study found that 90% of Jewish teens in Atlanta were unaffiliated and had no connection to Judaism. Our idea was to revolutionize the conventional service provision model: what if we met them where they were? Instead of trying to convince them to come to us, we went into public and private high schools and established Jewish clubs,

Signer Spotlight: Shabbos Kestenbaum Shabbos Kestenbaum is a student activist and the lead plaintiff against Harvard University, alleging pervasive and systemic antisemitism. Tell us about your experience as a student at Harvard University the night of October 7, 2023. On the night of October 7, we (Harvard) had 34 student groups representing more than 1,000 students jump out of their beds to draft what they called “an emergency statement” to blame Jews for the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The opening line of their statement literally said, “we hold the Israeli regime responsible for all violence.” The WhatsApp group I’m

Signer Spotlight: Abe Foxman Why is the Jewish future important to you? In my years at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), I measured success on whether non-Jewish groups wanted to partner with us. Through this, I observed that other groups saw values in the Jewish people they wanted to learn: closeness, responsibility, understanding, and care for each other in good times and in times of need. That’s tikkun olam to me: if you take pride in your values and who you are, others will recognize this and join you. Why do you think younger Jews are feeling disconnected from their Judaism, and

Signer Spotlight: Andrea Leven You recently visited Israel through a trip organized by the Atlanta Jewish Federation. Share your takeaways from your visit. I was struck by the resilience of the Israelis we met. Our small group went to the site of the Nova music festival and spoke 1-on-1 with a festival attendee. He told us how, during the massacre, he called his parents to say goodbye and that he was not going to make it out [alive].  I then spoke to his mother, asking her how she felt after she received the phone call. She said they were heartbroken, of

Signer Spotlight: Ilan Sinelnikov Ilan is the President and Founder of Students Supporting Israel (SSI), a JFP partner and pro-Israel student movement that, over the past 12 years, has operated on over 200 college campuses and universities in the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Israel.  Why is it so important to have organizations like the Jewish Future Promise? The Jewish people will always be around, but the question is how comfortable we will be. I always tell our students we are the luckiest Jewish generation to be alive in 3,000 years; even with all the challenges we face today, we still have it way better than our

Signer Spotlight: Aidan Bloomstine Los Angeles, CA In January 2024, University of Southern California (USC) junior Aidan Bloomstine traveled to Israel along with fellow non-Jewish college students through a trip organized by the Maccabee Task Force. We caught up with Aidan to hear his experiences and perspectives. What inspired you, aN AMERICAN college student, to travel to Israel in January 2024 through the Maccabee Task Force? Through my Christian upbringing, I developed a reverence for Israel and the Jewish People. When I arrived as a Freshman at USC, I was invited to a Shabbat dinner. I showed up for a meal,

Signer Spotlight: Danny Cohn Mountain Brook, AL Danny Cohn is the CEO of the Birmingham Jewish Federation. What does the Jewish Future Promise mean to you? Hineni – here I am. I can’t ask anyone to do what I wouldn’t do; I have to give first. The Promise was something easy for me to stand up for, and then ask my community to join me in doing what’s right.   I believe that the most valuable thing that you own is your voice. Your word is your honor and your integrity. The Promise is simply signaling: “I’m going to do it.”

Pledger Spotlight: Carolyn Siegel Encino, CA Tell us about your organization, If You Heard What I Heard When I was 8 years old, my grandfather, Moses Locker, a Holocaust survivor, told me: “Carolyn, it will be the job of your generation to make sure the world never forgets.” I was taken aback as a young child, but he then took my hand and said “no, you have to remember this happened, so it doesn’t happen again.” Fast forward 30 years later, a synagogue near my home was graffitied with “F** the Jews.” My grandfather’s concerns of history repeating were becoming a

Signer Spotlight: Doug Ross Doug Ross serves as Vice Chair of Birthright Israel Foundation, a partner organization of the Jewish Youth Pledge. How do the missions of the Pledge and Birthright Israel align? The Pledge is an idea whose time has come. The Pledge and Birthright Israel are both trying to raise the collective consciousness of the Jewish people by bringing people together in tangible ways to powerfully impact our communities and the Jewish world, whether now (Birthright) or in the future (Pledge). Birthright participants are more likely to marry Jewish, engage with their Jewish communities when they return home are

Signer Spotlight: Bernie and Joan White Share your unique approach to endowment-based giving As the well-worn saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.” We wanted our giving legacy to be actionable. For this reason, our three children participate on the committee for the endowment we established through the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation. The “Joan and Bernard White Jewish Future Fund” endowment provides scholarships for Jewish summer camps, gap-year study in Israel, Jewish Day Schools, March of the Living, and other organizations that create a vibrant Jewish life for young people. Since our children serve as three members of the endowment committee,  they gain operational

Signer Spotlight: Jane Schiff Why is it important to give Jewishly? I have always understood the need to take care of Jews, because no one else will take care of us. People will give to universities, hospitals, art museums, and theaters… but nobody takes care of the Jews other than the Jews themselves. I was born and raised to believe that this is my responsibility. I also realized that supporting [causes] on a collective basis, like through a Federation, allows you to touch a lot of people in a lot of places, even if you can’t be on the ground. Central

Signer Spotlight: Marvin Blum Marvin and his daughter Lizzy Savetsky signed the pledge this year. View their video of why they signed here. Why did you sign the Jewish Future Pledge? My grandparents came to America with nothing but the clothes on their backs and knowledge between their ears. They raised my parents and me with their strong values: a commitment to our faith, education, spirituality, and a determination to find meaning in life. I raised my kids with those same values, so Lizzy and her brother Adam grew up seeing the same example set for them about embracing your Jewish identity.

Signer Spotlight: Amy Berko Iles, New York Why does the Jewish Future matter to you? Our people have an extraordinary past, and we would be remiss if we weren’t cognizant of ensuring we have a future. A Jewish future transcends politics or current affairs, as family traditions and values can be passed down from generation to generation in both traditional and unexpected ways. My parents and grandparents’ traditions helped shape me, and my own life experiences further helped define my personal values and commitments. I hope to continue the chain by empowering my own children and grandchildren to define a Jewish

Signer Spotlight: Scott Arogeti, Greater Atlanta DOES IT COST MONEY TO MAKE THE PROMISE? I love how The Pledge gets you thinking about the impact you want to have on the world. Whether it’s environmental, social justice, or politics, there are so many organizations within the tapestry of American Jewry that serve various needs of the Jewish community. There are so many different ways someone can define their Judaism, and The Pledge shows how you can custom-build your legacy based off the interests and issues you feel most passionate about. A special memory from the 2008 White House Menorah Lighting I

Signer Spotlight: Andre Tarraf Brazil/Florida Why Are You Committed to a Jewish Future? L’dor V’dor – from generation to generation. I want my nieces and nephews to have the opportunities that I didn’t, and to keep the Jewish values and faith that have been passed down for generations. Without the commitment of generations before me, I wouldn’t even be here to sit in my great-grandfather’s chair. I’d like my future children or grandchildren to have the opportunity to sit in that chair as well. We are always looking forward despite any adversity. If we don’t do it, then who will do

Signer Spotlight: Jackie Goldstein, Atlanta Why did you take the Jewish Future Pledge? During COVID, I think we were frightened and thinking about our own mortality. That time was sobering, but in hindsight, lockdown gave me the luxury of downtime to really look at my legacy. The more I got into it, the more I wanted to figure out what my priorities were and how I wanted to deal with my valuables of money, wisdom and stuff. It motivated me to have conversations with people so they would be aware of what I wanted. Somewhere along the journey, I was told

Signer Spotlight: Ken Chaim Fink, Minnesota/Israel Why did you sign the Pledge? It’s so simple and such an easy “yes.” It’s a way for people to engage in a conversation about purpose and legacy in a non-threatening, but powerful way. You want to look backwards so you can reach forward, and the Pledge helps us tie together our connection to Israel, Judaism, and Jewish causes into the greater conversation about the future of the Jewish people. The past too often hangs on a string, and the pledge lays the groundwork for important discussions with our family and friends. What is your

Signer Spotlight: Ana Sazonov Columbia, South Carolina Tell us about your volunteer mission to Ukraine through the Jewish Federations of North America A native Ukrainian, I initially feared my country might disappear and that like my Jewish ancestors, my identity could be thrown into question. I saw articles about Holocaust survivors not making it through this new war. Raising awareness and supporting crisis funds is critical, but I knew I had to do more. Through a volunteer mission coordinated by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), partnering with The Jewish Agency For Israel (JAFI) and the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC),

Signer Spotlight: Isaac Frank and the Frank Family What is one Jewish value you carry with you in your daily life? Most central to us is Tikkun Olam – repairing the world. It is important to do good every day, not only for the Jewish community, but for anyone in need. Overall, for us, Jewish values serve as a compass, a guide for how we live our lives. Judaism intertwines in our daily lives – our children attend Jewish day schools, we have relatives who are rabbis and live in Israel, and everything we do is through a Jewish lens. How can we

Signer Spotlight: Nathan Bushnell What does Judaism contribute to your life, and what steps have you taken to engage with the Jewish community? I grew up in Durban, a coastal city in South Africa with a small yet mighty Jewish population. For me, Judaism served as a moral compass and created a sense of belonging. I highly value this community and have taken great steps to engage with my Judaism – going to university in Israel and, most recently, beginning my Aliyah process. Another step I have made to support the Jewish community is taking the Jewish Future Pledge. I heard

Signer Spotlight: Joe Goldblatt What does Jewish identity mean to you? Once, a reporter asked my father, a first-generation Jewish American, “Do you see yourself as an American, a Texan, or something else?” He responded, “I see myself as a Jew. Judaism is a universal type of identity; wherever I travel, whatever country I claim as my home, I am first a Jew.” That’s how I feel. Even if there isn’t a Jewish community physically nearby, the shared Jewish history, the shared experience, and the Jewish rituals allow me to be a proud Jew no matter where I go. Why is