By: Renée Rockford
President & CEO
Since the outbreak of war with Iran last Saturday, we have seen an extraordinary return on the emergency funding that our Colorado community provided for the ongoing work of Jewish Federations and our core partners, the Jewish Agency for Israel and JDC. In this moment, rather than looking to implement critical new systems in real time, they are in place and being activated.
Our former Shaliach, Itai Divinski reports from our partner community of Nitzana that they have mobilized their entire campus to support displaced families, volunteers, and security personnel, while maintaining their educational commitments. The rooms they were able to renovate after October 7th, thanks to emergency support from JEWISHcolorado, are now full with different people who need them, and we have our first request for funding to help feed those displaced families. Our partners in Ramat HaNegev are working to support reservists and their families as well as providing mental health and therapeutic assistance in their region’s schools.
Thanks to you, Israel is much better prepared to manage this new crisis because of the capacity and heightened response capabilities your support helped to establish. From rapid financial relief for victims, to an enhanced national mental health infrastructure and coordinated local support for tens of thousands of IDF reservists and their families, these investments are delivering measurable impact exactly when Israel needs them most. We are deeply grateful for your continued support, which allows communities in Israel to act decisively when it matters most.
In this week’s parsha, Ki Tisa, the Torah commands that the Jewish people be counted through the giving of a half-shekel. Rather than counting individuals directly, each person contributes the same coin, reminding us that every Jew matters equally and that each of us is an essential part of the whole. No one is too small, and no one is insignificant. Every half-shekel completes another half, and together they form the community.
Being counted in the Torah is not just about numbers; it is about responsibility and presence. To be counted means that your contribution—your faith, your courage, your actions—are needed. We live in a time when it can feel easier to stay quiet, to blend in, or to assume that someone else will step forward. But our tradition reminds us that being part of the Jewish people means more than belonging—it means being willing to stand up. Thank you for your unwavering support. Shabbat Shalom.
Please email Renée Rockford at rrockford@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.