Wednesday night was a reminder of the highs and lows we experience as a community. Two very different things happened—and together, they defined the night.
At 7 PM, I stood in front of more than 300 community members at our 129th Annual Meeting. I had just come from our Sustainers Gathering, honoring legacy donors and those who’ve given to the Federation for 25 years or more—the quiet backbone of our community. It was exhilarating to reconnect with so many of you.
That energy carried into the Annual Meeting, where I reflected on what we’ve done since October 7: raised millions in emergency dollars for Israel, expanded security, deepened advocacy, stood in Hostage Square on our leadership trip to Israel, welcomed children from Kibbutz Carmia to Camp Livingston—and walked the path of the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery and Selma, Alabama.
We thanked Josh Blatt for his extraordinary service as Board Chair. Afterward, I joined my team to celebrate with our new Board Chair, Sherri Symson. I drove home feeling proud of the night we’d just shared.
And then, I got a text from Mark Dowd, our SAFE Cincinnati Security Director. That’s when I learned the heartbreaking news: Sarah Milgrim z”l and Yaron Lischinsky z”l, both staff members of the Israeli Embassy, were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, following AJC’s annual Young Diplomats Reception.
Like so many of you, I felt a wave of grief. In the Jewish tradition, each person is a universe—and that night, we lost two.
Our Response
The system we’ve built—locally and nationally—worked as intended. Within minutes, our security partners were activated.
By Thursday morning, we had contacted all our partner agencies. There are no known threats to the Cincinnati Jewish community. We reminded everyone that safety doesn’t begin and end at the door. We must stay calmly aware—whether arriving, leaving, or simply moving through our day. Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) convened hundreds of community leaders, law enforcement partners, and Israeli officials for a national security briefing. Watch the briefing here. Within hours after the briefing, JFNA along with 43 Jewish organizations issued a unified call to the U.S. government for increased protection and meaningful action. Read the joint statement here. JFNA and our security partners also issued security recommendations for Jewish events, all of which we will continue to follow.
Why Planning Matters Now More Than Ever
Sadly, what I had called out during our Annual Meeting as the challenges we face—Rising antisemitism. Growing division. Real uncertainty—became reality once again.
These are the moments we prepare for—not just with protocols, but through strong relationships and shared responsibility. This is what Federation does. And this is what we will continue to do: show up, stand together, and lead.
I said then—and say again now—we cannot face this moment alone.
We are halfway through our Cincinnati 2030 planning process, asking big questions: What does a vibrant Jewish Cincinnati look like? And how do we sustain our community for the long term?
To answer those questions, we’ve partnered with the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati on a new model of collaboration and planning. As Sherri shared that night, our next chapter—and her objectives as Board Chair—depend on how we plan and lead, with:
- Bold planning and disciplined investment to future-proof our community.
- Deeper collaboration across institutions.
- Relevance and inclusion so everyone feels seen and connected.
Because collaboration isn’t just how we got through this year—it’s how we’re building what comes next.
Thank you for showing up—for moving through the highs and lows together, and for finding our way forward, side by side.
As we go into this Shabbat, I know how close to home this tragedy hits and we are shaken and saddened by the loss of Sarah Milgrim z"l and Yaron Lischinsky z"l. We send our condolences to their families, friends, and communities. May we honor them and others by remaining strong, proud, and resilient and may their memories be for a blessing.
Shabbat Shalom,
Danielle V. Minson
CEO, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
Your Support Matters: jewishcincinnati.org/give
PS: Wednesday night wasn’t just a meeting—it was a moment that captured the heart of who we are.
We stood together to honor Rabbi Lewis Kamrass of Wise Temple and Rabbi Robert Barr of Beth Adam—two exceptional leaders who have guided our community for more than 40 years. And we looked ahead, as a new generation of rabbis and professionals stepped forward with fresh purpose and shared commitment.
We celebrated:
- Carrie Rhodus, Director of Operations at Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati, and Lindsey Wade, our COO — both honored with Weston Avodah Awards for leading with quiet strength and care.
- Sharon Spiegel, named Goldstein Volunteer of the Year for her decades of tireless service and community impact.
- Bobby Fisher, recipient of the Jay Price Award, whose humility and belief in what’s possible continue to inspire.
If you missed the Annual Meeting or want to revisit any part of it, you can watch the full program here.
PSS: Please join us in welcoming our new Board of Trustees and Executive Committee—a remarkable group of leaders ready to help shape what’s next.