Welcome to the March edition of the Jewish Future Promise Newsletter. Promisers to date: The Jewish Future Promise reached 50,000 Signers, and the Jewish Youth Promise now has 20,347 Youth Signers. 
Chag Purim Sameach! As we celebrate Purim, a time of unity and triumph for the Jewish people, let us draw strength from our shared history of resilience. Despite the challenges we face, both today and during the time of Esther, Purim is a powerful reminder of the Jewish people’s ability to overcome adversity when we stand together as a community.
In the spirit of unity, we are thrilled to announce that we have crossed two significant milestones: 50,000 Jewish Future Promisers and 20,000 Jewish Youth Promisers! These numbers reflect the fiery passion and unwavering commitment of our community to ensure the survival and thriving future of the Jewish people.
As we rattle the grogger and devour hamantaschen, we also celebrate our collective resilience. This resolve has carried the Jewish people from millennia to millennia, and will continue to guide us toward a brighter future.
Wishing you all a joyous Purim celebration filled with hope, unity, and solidarity.
Another trait we have passed down through generations? Humor! Dive into this month’s edition of our Mrs. Rabinowitz advice column:
Ask Mrs. Rabinowitz 
Dear Mrs. Rabinowitz: Passover is next month. Is it rude to not participate in responsive reading during a Seder?
Mrs. Rabinowitz: Well, there are a couple of acceptable excuses. Like — if a Clydesdale stood on your windpipe or you swallowed a shoe. Either of those happen to you sweetheart? Of course it’s rude to not speak! I have a question for you: What kind of schmo asks a question like that?
Dear Mrs. Rabinowitz: My husband of 56 years decided to buy a new dog with no discussion. It is a very cute dog, but I feel he was rude and inconsiderate to just show up with it. Any advice?
Mrs. Rabinowitz: Keep the dog. Lose the husband.
New & Newsworthy
Promiser Spotlight: Danny Cohn 
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.
On being a Jewish community leader following the attacks on October 7
It only underscored the importance of supporting Jewish organizations and institutions, like the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).
You never build a firehouse after you need, and the JFNA is the firehouse that was already in place. I was able to travel to Israel two weeks after the outbreak of the war and speak live to the community on the ground to really understand the importance of our support, which was really impactful for me and the community.
How did October 7 change the way you look at philanthropy?
We raised more than $1.5 million in two weeks in conjunction with our annual campaign, and saw the high value of temporary endowments and how they allowed more leeway to access funds in a state of emergency.
For those more comfortable with permanent endowments, I would ask donors to consider an emergency clause. This would allow them to feel comfortable using the funds in a different way, so in the case we have another war that needs our support, we will be able to put full force from the diaspora behind it.
Danny Cohn is the CEO of the Birmingham Jewish Federation. See Danny’s full promiser spotlight article here, and learn more about his work here: https://bjf.org. |
