Here's to a promising new year with the Jewish Federation

Shalom, friends,

On behalf of the staff and Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, I wish you a sweet New Year 5779!

Just over a month ago, I was elected president of the Federation, and during our annual meeting I discussed our strategic plan to refine and modernize Orlando's Federation model to better serve the modern local Jewish community.

As we embark on a promising new year, it is apropos to reaffirm the principles that will fuel our progress in the months ahead.

The Federation mission is built on four core objectives that we strive to achieve every day on your behalf: Advocating, Connecting, Educating and Supporting. It is our goal that every Federation initiative fulfill at least one-and, ideally, all four-of these objectives.

One such example is the recently announced community demographic study and needs assessment. The Federation, working in collaboration with The Roth Family JCC, is in the process of securing the funding to launch this comprehensive study, the first in a quarter-century. The project will be funded exclusively by donors who are enthusiastic about vision planning and our future, and the results will be shared with all of our synagogues and Jewish organizations so that we all are attuned to the needs of our modern Jewish community. The Federation is proud to be a catalyst for this initiative, which will benefit all Jews in Central Florida for decades to come.

Our goal is for every member of our community to have the ability to participate in Jewish experiences, regardless of affiliation, generation or economic status. We can achieve that goal if we all approach the new year, and every new day, with a collective commitment to stand unified, confident and strong in support of the Jewish values we share.

As we enter 5779, let us pledge to do all we can to nurture and celebrate Jewish life. I invite you to join the Federation on its mission to build and sustain a bright future for Jews in Central Florida, in Israel and around the world.

L'Shana tova umetukah,

Brad Jacobs, president