In January, Tzipi Altman-Shafer, Vice President of Jewish Communal Life and Learning, and Susie Rosengarten, Associate Director of the Israel Center, traveled to Israel to visit sites funded by the Milwaukee Jewish Federation over the past year. Over five days, they visited more than 30 locations across the South and North, witnessing firsthand the impact of community support.
Our journey began at Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, located just two miles from the Gaza border. Through JAFI’s Communities2Gether program, the Milwaukee Jewish Federation will support this kibbutz for the next three years using funds from the Israel Emergency Fund. The goal is to rebuild resilience and strengthen the community after the Oct. 7, 2023, tragedy. Initial projects included sending 12 teens to The Steve and Shari Sadek Family Camp Interlaken JCC and funding a community-building retreat in November. Strengthening the connection between Milwaukee and Yad Mordechai is another key objective and we are planning opportunities for this in the future.
During our visit, we toured the preschool, interacted with children in after-school clubs, visited the adult activity center, explored orchards, and learned about the kibbutz’s bee and honey production. We also toured the museum and shared meals with residents. The warmth and hospitality of the community left a lasting impression. Yad Mordechai welcomes visitors from Milwaukee, and those interested in visiting can reach out to Tzipi or Susie for arrangements.
After two days in the south, we traveled to Tiberias, where we revisited Hotel Nof Kinneret. Throughout the war, the hotel has housed hundreds of evacuees from the north, demonstrating extraordinary dedication to meeting residents’ individual needs. Last year, the Milwaukee LEV initiative invited community members to create a quilt expressing support for Israel and the evacuees. During our visit, we attended the quilt’s dedication ceremony, where about 100 people gathered to witness its unveiling. The evacuees expressed deep appreciation for Milwaukee’s support.
In the lower Galilee, we saw first-hand the firefighting and water distribution equipment funded by a $19,000 grant from Milwaukee’s Israel Emergency Fund. When fighting in the north intensified, farms in the region were at risk of devastating fires. Firefighting equipment could be used to help create firebreaks to prevent fires from spreading. Additionally, the water distribution units — capable of transporting thousands of gallons — were crucial in case of water supply disruptions. These resources will remain valuable for future emergencies, including natural disasters.
In the Jordan Valley, we visited the Lotus Center at Kibbutz Degania, where a $6,000 grant helped transform an empty space into a clinic for displaced therapists. Dina, a therapist who led this initiative, described how losing her ability to see patients left her feeling lost. Now, she and other professionals provide essential treatments for both evacuees and locals. Even after returning home, Dina plans to continue working at Lotus weekly.
We feel profoundly grateful for this experience. Witnessing the impact of donations from the Milwaukee Jewish Federation strengthened our pride in the community’s generosity and unwavering support for Israel.
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