Nearly 300 philanthropists recently united to show their steadfast support for the land and people of Israel at Jewish National Fund-USA’s Breakfast for Israel in Cincinnati. The annual event was chaired by Jewish National Fund-USA Ohio Valley Board Member Morry Wiener and was held at the Mayerson JCC.
The event focused on the key themes of resilience and rebuilding communities in Israel’s Negev and Galilee regions, while bringing to light the trauma and PTSD that many Israelis are still facing in the aftermath of October 7. Keynote speaker Ayelet Shmuel, the Director of the International Resilience Center, who is renowned for her expertise in crisis resilience, revealed that psychological wounds can be even more challenging to repair than physical ones.
Ayelet Shmuel, Director of the International Resilience Center and Morry Wiener, Jewish National Fund-USA’s Breakfast for Israel Chair (courtesy)
“Following the Hamas massacre, Ayelet was extremely vital in supporting Israeli communities with her insights into trauma recovery, emotional strength, and navigating the psychological toll of conflict,” said Wiener. “All Jews worldwide are certainly affected by the atrocities that occurred in Israel. Imagine constantly living under attack from seven different fronts and the ongoing threat of missile fire! The trauma will not vanish, and it lingers on. In order to move forward, you need to have resilience skills, and that Chaverim, is the challenge.”
Marsha Barsman, Shari Mann, Sharon Spiegel (courtesy)
Local lay leaders also showcased how Jewish National Fund-USA is leading efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate Israel’s battered North and South. By investing in new housing sites, employment initiatives, medical centers, mental health services, schools, playgrounds, resilience centers, and more, the organization is creating multiple “circles of impact” that support its vision of attracting 800,000 new residents to Israel’s frontier regions.
Lainey Paul Richler (courtesy)
“We have all witnessed a significant rise in antisemitism that is unprecedented in our lifetime, and yet, even after the most brutal attack on the Jewish People’s very existence since the Holocaust, antisemitism continues to increase both here and around the globe,” said Jewish National Fund-USA Ohio Valley Board President Barb Miller. “This reality alone has only helped to emphasize why we need a strong and secure Israel. Since the devastating terrorist attacks, we have been on the ground assisting in every way possible, from evacuating tens of thousands of residents who were under fire from missile attacks to providing emergency aid. Our Israel Resilience Campaign has been carefully planned in consultation with these impacted communities to create a safer and more secure life for the people of Israel.”
For more information or to learn about future events in Cincinnati, contact Eric Goldstein at egoldstein.cinci@jnf.org or 513.794.1300 x780.
