I flew home from Washington last night—tired, grateful, and more certain than ever: showing up matters.
More than 400 Jewish leaders from 100 communities gathered in DC—from New York and Los Angeles to Cincinnati—for an emergency advocacy mission on Capitol Hill. It was important for Ohio to be there, and the three big C’s—Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus—were present.
The fly-in was convened by Jewish Federations of North America—our national system—and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. I was there with our Board Chair, Sherri Symson, representing Cincinnati.
So why did we drop everything to go?
It was one of the largest Jewish advocacy missions in years—hundreds of leaders from across the country fanning out across Capitol Hill with one urgent message: Jewish security cannot wait.
The threats had already escalated—murders in DC, an attack on a peaceful hostage rally, rising hate across the country. Then came the Israel-Iran war. Overnight, the stakes grew even higher. This wasn’t business as usual. It was crisis leadership.
We heard from the parents of Sarah Milgrim, one of the victims killed in DC. Their message was simple and searing: Don’t let our daughter be forgotten.
We also heard from Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Michael Leiter, who urged the US government to act decisively. He reminded us that this moment isn’t only about Jewish institutions. It’s about America’s ability to protect its own citizens from hate-fueled violence. And it’s about moral clarity—we’re fighting for human life, for safety, for the values of the free world: dignity, inclusivity, and the right to live without fear.
Our Cincinnati delegation included Chandler Waite, our new JCRC Director; Jeremy Spiegel, Assistant Director of JCRC; Carol Ann Schwartz, International President of Hadassah; Rabbi Liz Hirsch, CEO of Women of Reform Judaism; and her board chair, Karen Sim. It was powerful to see so many local leaders—many of whom also lead national institutions—step up to represent Jewish Cincinnati.
Alongside Chandler and Jeremy, Sherri and I met with Ohio elected officials across the political spectrum—including Congressmen Warren Davidson, Jim Jordan, Greg Landsman, and Senator Bernie Moreno—to press for urgent federal action on security.
We brought our case directly to Congress and the administration, urging them to act on a six-point security agenda:
- Increase the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion
- Offset security costs for schools, camps, synagogues, and JCCs
- Boost FBI and Homeland Security funding to address threats
- Support local law enforcement with federal resources
- Hold social platforms accountable for hate and incitement
- Enforce hate crime laws aggressively and consistently
Across the Hill, leaders from every community brought the same message: our safety is not optional. Our security is not negotiable.
We said: safety. We said: support.
And while we pushed for action in Washington, we also spoke about the moment we’re in—rebuilding and responding all at once. The Israel–Iran war was a war within a war, with hostages still in Hamas’s grip.
That’s why I’m asking: please give to our Israel Emergency Fund. Your gift will provide urgent aid—trauma relief, mental health support, and more—and show that Cincinnati shows up for our people and for Israel.
Last year’s federal security funding fell short—and the need has only grown.
Moments like this remind me why the Federation system matters. It’s the only network that brings together hundreds of leaders across North America to align around urgent needs and push for national action—while staying rooted in local communities.
And we feel the impact here, too. We’re all a little more aware—dropping kids at school, walking into synagogue, gathering in public spaces. These aren’t hypotheticals. They’re the moment we’re living in. And that’s why we show up: to protect what matters, and to make sure people can keep showing up for Jewish life, fully and without fear.
Thank you for trusting us to carry Cincinnati’s voice—when it’s easy, and when it’s not.
Shabbat Shalom,
Danielle V. Minson
CEO
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati