Dear friends of DJCF,
In late July, my husband and I traveled with our two young children to Washington DC. Driving from Pennsylvania, we passed through Gettysburg and then while entering the DC area, drove past the Israeli Embassy – which was the only such structure with a high barrier wall erected around it. We were “greeted” by a small group of protestors across the street holding signs accusing Israel of bombing babies – a particularly ironic statement given the Majdal Shams attack, where a rocket fired by Hezbollah struck near a sports field in the center of the Druze town, killing 12 children and teenagers, had taken place literally the day before we arrived. Sadly, it wasn’t the only antisemitic protest we encountered during our brief stay in the nation’s capital.
With hopes of escaping the extreme heat, I booked a national monuments bus tour for our family. We visited all the well-known monuments for four hours, including the new-to-me Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The design referenced a line from King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech: “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope” and includes a massive carved mountain with a slice pulled out of it, symbolizing the “Stone of Hope” being hewn from the “Mountain of Despair.” Reinforcing this motif the edges of the Stone of Hope and the Mountain of Despair incorporate scrape marks to symbolize the struggle and movement.
It struck me how fortunate we are to be here in Dallas, where I don’t feel fear wearing my Shema or Chai necklaces in public, where my son considers his kippah a critical element to getting dressed in his “fancy clothes” for a family dinner out, and where my daughter sings Shabbat songs she learned at school at top volume while perusing the aisles of Costco (we are still working on appropriate behaviors in public places…) In fact, when I selected my outfit to speak a little under a year ago before the Dallas City Council, I proudly donned a blue headband adorned with the Star of David and didn’t think twice! Note to Lele Sadoughi – please bring this one back!! I didn’t convert to Judaism to hide my Judaism. We must not cower in fear, nor allow political divisiveness to separate us. We are in desperate need of the support and joy of community now more than ever.
This experience in DC also offered a chance to start thinking about how I’m going to carve out my own stone of hope as a Jewish communal leader and as a mother. It was only strengthened while watching Rachel Goldberg-Polin speak at her son Hersh’s funeral. Her maternal presence captivated the world for 11 months as she and her husband engaged in a tireless campaign to rescue their son from the clutches of Hamas. Speaking to everyone from presidents, the pope, the UN, to 20 million Americans watching the Democratic convention, I know I am not alone in feeling inspired and deeply connected to this family’s quest which humanized the plight of our people deep in the mountain of despair. Jewish spiritual influencer and Judaica designer, Micaela Ezra, articulated several key parenthood lessons that Rachel imparted at the tragic occasion of her son’s funeral:
- I must have done something glorious in a previous life to deserve such a beautiful gift as you.
- It’s not that you are perfect. But you are the perfect child for me.
- We can treat each other respectfully always, even when you choose a different path.
- I’m sorry if there is some way I neglected or hurt you today. I love you; I’m learning and would like to try again.
- It’s important to ask for help when we need it. We are here to help each other.
- Our souls are eternal. We are blessed with bodies to live in, but our souls were and always will be, connected.
Rachel taught us all how to be stronger mothers, serving as a lighthouse for the entire world. The full text of her eulogy is available here: ‘My sweet boy Hersh, we tried so desperately to save you’ | The Times of Israel.
Now that we are in the Hebrew month of Elul, the time of repentance in preparation for the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, reflecting on the past year is top of mind for most in the Jewish community. Rabbi Reuven Hammer wrote that Jewish tradition points to the name of the month as symbolically appropriate – the letters of Elul form an acronym for the words in the verse Ani le-dodi ve-dodi li – “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song of Songs 6:3). Believing that the “beloved” refers to G-d, the sages take this verse to describe the particularly loving and close relationship between G-d and Israel. May this month bring the end of a year of devastation, trauma, and destruction for the people of Israel.
Also, during the month of Elul, Jews are called to look into our own soul and assess our actions from the prior year. In my last newsletter, I promised to give an impact update on my 2-year anniversary as President and CEO of DJCF. What perfect timing to highlight 10 major stones of hope in our community of philanthropists:
1.Record-breaking Grantmaking: In our fiscal year 2024, which represented our 50th year of operations, DJCF/SWCF fundholders directed a record $37 million to charities from funds held at the foundation. This is a 48% year-over-year increase in giving.
2.Responding to a Crisis: $3 million was raised through our Community Resilience and Crisis Response crowdfunding page supporting Israel, combatting antisemitism and securing our community.
3.Growth in Assets: Charitable assets under management grew by net $80 million to our current AUM of $360 million. We are more than a third of the way to our $1Billion goal!!
4.Rising the Charitable Tide for all Boats: Grew our custodial agency relationships to include 62 nonprofit organizations, based locally and nationally, both Jewish and secular.
5.Supporting Students: Surpassed $3 million in charitable support via scholarships awarded. Expanded our scholarship program to now offer 80 unique opportunities to support educational pathways from early childhood to advanced degrees, across a wide range of academic interests and eligibility.
6.Launched “Your Legacy, Our Jewish Future”: an initiative to grow community legacy giving and endowment. This includes 1:1 charitable conversations with individuals and families, training and education for nonprofit leaders and professional advisors.
7.Re-introduced the Jewish Future Promise: a movement to commit to supporting Jewish organizations in charitable bequests and estate plans. Go here to learn more and sign the promise: Sign The Promise – Jewish Future Promise
8.Mission-aligned Investing: we’ve introduced support for Israel within every asset class of our investment offering – Israel Bonds in our Fixed Income fund, JLens in our Equity fund, and now Joule Ventures in our Alternative Assets fund.
9.Innovating for Good: DJCF collaborates with Chariot and DonateStock to make it easier and more efficient to drive impact from your donor-advised funds and to make charitable gifts of stock.
10.Expanded our Team: We’ve welcomed 3 new employees to the DJCF team – Sarah Golman, Chief Operating Officer, Brooke Bloomberg, Impact Associate, and Lisa Wile, Executive Assistant
Behind each of these top 10 highlights was a yeoman’s job of professional and volunteer leadership and effort put forth by committee members and our board of trustees. It’s just a glimpse of the transformation that we’ve been driving since September 2022 – making this philanthropic community strong, vibrant, and sustainable. This professional opportunity is truly a dream come true for me, having the chance to impact lives and places for the better while working alongside my friends and talented, supportive, diverse community.
Thank you for the trust and confidence you place in us as your partner in philanthropy. It is the biggest gift.
September Nonprofit Spotlight
Akiba Yavneh Academy – Akiba Yavneh Academy (AYA) is a Modern Orthodox, co-ed, early childhood through 12th grade college-preparatory school dedicated to providing an academically excellent and values-based General and Judaic education to Jewish students of all backgrounds to inspire a lifelong love of Torah, higher learning, and the State of Israel. Support Jewish Education – Akiba Yavneh Academy – Dallas, Texas – Jewish Education
Dallas Jewish Historical Society – Since 1971, as part of DJHS’ ongoing mission to tell the story of the Dallas Jewish community, they have captured approximately 750 oral histories and continue to digitally record interviews with members of the Dallas Jewish community from all walks of life, preserving life’s lessons and important events for future generations. DJHS has an active Oral History committee and are committed to expanding their scope. The Oral History participants serve as a collective memory, communicating the values and history of different generations and providing a distinct sense of place and time. Donation | Dallas Jewish Historical Society (djhs.org)
Legacy Senior Communities – From one generation to the next, The Legacy Senior Communities has been here to care for our Jewish seniors. Today, the not-for-profit LSC remains steadfast to its Jewish values, but has evolved to serve Dallas seniors of all faiths. Through strong leadership and innovation, LSC is committed to meeting the changing needs of seniors and their families and offers a full continuum of care: independent living, assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing and rehab, in-home care, and hospice. Donation Form – The Legacy Senior Communities
Temple Emanu-El – Founded in 1872 as the first Jewish congregation in North Texas. Though the location has changed a few times, their final home at the corner of Hillcrest and Northwest Highway in 1957 and completed a $38 million dollar expansion and renovation in 2016. The temple’s spaces were reimagined and redesigned to put interaction at the forefront: with nature, with one another and with God. Temple Emanu-El welcomes more than 2,500 families with diverse backgrounds and lifestyles through their doors and help them find their Jewish path through prayer, music, learning and community. Annual Fund | Temple Emanu-El (tedallas.org)
Upcoming Programs & Events
DJCF/SWCF Annual Meeting
12/3 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
DJCF/SWCF will be hosting its Annual Meeting to highlight this year’s accomplishments and what’s to come for the Foundation. An official invite will be sent out with more details in the weeks to come and we hope to see you all there!
Call for Art – We are so excited to partner with the Texas Jewish Artists Association to display a rotating exhibition at our new Byrna and Joe Fund Family Philanthropy Center. If you or someone you know, is a Jewish artist in Texas, please have them contact the TJAA at info@texasjewisharts.org to learn more.
Your Legacy, Our Jewish Future: The Stanley Family Legacy – if you missed our webinar with DJHS, and brothers Marc & David Stanley, you can watch the replay here: Your Legacy, Our Jewish Future – Stanley Family Legacy Webinar – DJHS + DJCF (youtube.com).
Grant Cycle
Please note: With the Jewish holidays approaching, the grant cycle in the month of October will be slowed down. Below are some important dates to note when requesting grants in the month of October.
- Oct. 7: Grants close on Monday, checks will be mailed by Friday 10/11
- Oct. 14: Grants close on Monday, checks will be mailed following Monday 10/21
- Oct. 21: Grants close on Monday, checks will be mailed following Monday 10/28
- Oct. 28: Grants close on Monday, checks will be mailed by Friday 11/1
Investment Reports & Fund Statements
The Foundation’s investment portfolio is managed by Graystone Consulting, under the guidance of the Foundation Investment Committee. This relationship has allowed us to offer seven investment models for our constituents to choose from. Graystone provides monthly investment return information on the models as a whole and fact cards for the individual models and the sub-funds that make up each model.
DJCF’s investment performance reports through August are posted on the website. These reports can be found on the Investment Reports page under ‘Tools + Resources’ tab on our menu toggle, found here: Investment Reports – Dallas Jewish Community Foundation (djcf.org)
August fund holder statements will be released in your My DJCF portal soon.
