Looking back & ahead at what’s to come
As I have previously shared in this column, one of my favorite things at this time of the year is the retrospective look-backs. You know the ones I am talking about… the shows and news articles that look at the previous year’s highlights (and sometimes lowlights). And in that same spirit, I, too, have enjoyed getting to recap our Jewish Federation’s accomplishments of the previous year while also providing an outlook for what we have in store in the year ahead. So, to kick off 2025, I will do both in this month’s column.
For starters, during remarks I gave during our 30th Anniversary Celebration Brunch last year, I shared my vision for our next 30 years. I am excited to say that we have already been able to initiate TWO of the efforts I mentioned back in June – One Happy Camper, a needs-blind grant program for first-time attendees of Jewish overnight camp we have brought to our community in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp and our Jewish Community Relations Council. While each tackles a different area of focus, both are examples of our Jewish Federation continuing to strive to ensure a robust and vibrant Jewish community in the greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.
Research continues to show that experiences like Jewish overnight camps have a profound impact on attendees. Not only does the experience help build and strengthen a child’s Jewish identity, but it also gives them a sense of belonging while at the same time deepening their connection to the Jewish community. Through the generosity of two community members, we launched One Happy Camper. This has been one of the goals I have had for our community since the moment I learned of this incredible opportunity. The cost of camp has skyrocketed over the years, placing it out of reach for many families. By establishing this for our community, we will now be able to financially assist families in sending their children for their first Jewish overnight camp experience while at the same time making an investment in the future of the Jewish community. Because of this program, many of our community’s youth will now have the chance to experience the richness of this life-changing opportunity.
As we have seen over the last couple of years, there is a growing need for our Jewish Federation to provide an even more substantial, more robust amount of advocacy on behalf of our local Jewish community. By starting our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), comprised of a dedicated group of community members, we will be prepared to respond to any issue that may arise within our community and, at the same time, advocate for the needs of our community. Our JCRC has been meeting to develop its priority areas of focus to create strategic approaches to current and potential issues so we are ready to respond as needed.
I know that 2025 will be an incredible year for our Jewish Federation. And I am anxious and excited to see how these two initiatives impact our local Jewish community.
Jason Moss is executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Greater
San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.
