Sat. Oct. 7 5 a.m. CEO of Federation wakes to the news of the attack
6 a.m. First meeting with MJF security, who dispatched security to all Jewish spaces and ensured our Orthodox community members were informed
Sun. Oct. 8 First Zoom community wide gathering for Milwaukee was organized
That night, Federation leaders spoke with Orthodox rabbis
Mon. Oct. 9 Community wide gathering at Congregation Shalom
– All local Jewish organizations collaborated
– 1,000 in-person, 2,500 took part online
– $180,000 raised for the Fund for Victims of Terror
Tues. Oct .10 First anti-Israel protest staged at UWM
Thur. Oct.12 Federation launches the Israel Emergency Fund
Fri. Oct.13 First of 4 months of weekly MJF Board Situational Update Meetings
Daniel M. Soref Foundation commits $220,000 to security for Federation to enhance protection of local spaces; MJF Board approves enhanced security investments through end of fiscal year
Tues. Oct 17. CEO and Board Chair of MJF meet in Washington, D.C. with Jewish Federations of North America to secure support from Congress
Sat. Oct. 28 Contingent of MJF leaders depart for first solidarity mission to Israel
Said Kaddish in Israel
Tue. Nov .14 MJF coordinates local community travel to the March for Israel in Washington, D.C., joining roughly 300,000 Jews and allies from across America
March MJF and Jewish community leaders testify at public hearing of Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors against one-sided ceasefire resolution as divisive and hurtful to Jews and Israelis
April/May
- University encampments begin to take root in Wisconsin as part of a nationally coordinated anti-Israel campaign, including at UW Madison and UW Milwaukee
- Jewish and Israeli students, faculty, staff and allies are told they are not welcome on UWM’s campus by encampment organizers
- Officially sponsored Hillel event is disrupted and Jewish attendees intimidated by pro-Hamas protestors, resulting in security escort by campus police and testimony from the UWM Chief of Police confirming these were antisemitic incidents
- Local pro-Hamas student and community groups introduce antisemitic tropes and misinformation into their regular communications and press releases
June MJF releases the latest Community Report on Antisemitism, which shows the continued historic rise of antisemitic incidents locally. Since 2015 we have experienced a more than 500% increase in antisemitic incidents, mirroring national data.
July Five student groups at UWM publicly post threats to Jewish students, Hillel and the Federation, declaring them and any allies as terrorists and murderers, announcing they are unwelcome on campus and will face consequences if they don’t abide
Aug. UWM student groups are suspended by the University for making threats. They threaten a response, setting the stage for the Fall semester and bringing us to today
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Timeline
This is a brief timeline of some of Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s response to the aftermath of the attacks of Oct. 7. It is part of our Federation’s report to the community on its work since that terrible day.
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A Report to the Jewish community from Milwaukee Jewish Federation
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