BY DIANE SLOYER

Two years have passed since the world witnessed the horrific events of October 7, 2023—a day that not only changed Jewish history but permanently altered the landscape of Jewish community engagement. The aftermath ignited an unprecedented surge in connection and belonging, with familiar faces returning and many newcomers stepping into Jewish communal life for the first time. This transformation continues to unfold, offering Federations a critical mandate: to shape a resilient, welcoming, and adaptive Jewish future.

Jewish Federations of North America presented data at the first-ever Jewish Belonging Summit, an event done in partnership with SRE Network (a Jewish network rooted in a shared commitment to safety, respect, and equity for all). The study showed that the months following October 7 saw record numbers of people attending community gatherings—large events with prominent speakers, learning series, and solidarity vigils. These were vital touchpoints, providing knowledge and connection when both were urgently needed. Even as the initial surge is beginning to slow from its highest peak, nearly a third of American Jews still report engagement above pre-2023 levels—proof that the deep needs for togetherness and meaningful Jewish experience remain.

As the window of post-crisis engagement narrows, the central role of Federations is clearer than ever: not only answering the call during emergencies but curating the ongoing evolution of communal life. Community is not automatic. Relationships with neighbors, allies, and civic leaders must be nurtured; pipelines for learning and leadership kept wide open; and spaces created for every person seeking a place to connect Jewishly. 

The current challenge is not simply to gather crowds, but to design engagement that is relevant and inclusive. This requires shifting from crisis response to strategic community-building: amplifying voices from the margins, ensuring accessibility, and doubling down on relationships with civic and interfaith partners. The Federation infrastructure—command of resources, expertise, convening power—uniquely positions it to meet these goals and respond swiftly when new needs emerge.

Large-scale programs and headline speakers cultivate excitement and broaden the tent, but they also cost money and depend on communal support. Every inspired gathering is made possible, not by chance, but by the resources and vision that every Federation brings. It is the enduring mission of the Federations to guarantee that, when someone seeks community, they find open doors and a future full of possibility. 

With your generous support of our United Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign, As One, we can move forward with purpose. Federation, rooted in tradition and propelled by innovation, is not only a first responder to crisis, but a builder for all seasons. The strongest Jewish future—caring, united, open to all—requires nothing less.