Posts by Danielle V. Minson

The Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial is Over—What Now?

Introducing the concert at Andrew J Brady Music Center, marking the end of the Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial.
 
I’m still enjoying the glow from the October 15 concert at the Andrew J Brady Music Center that marked the end of the Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial year. The singing of the…

Wishing You and Yours Shana Tova

First and foremost, on behalf of the whole Federation staff, I wish you a sweet and happy New Year, as our community moves into 5783. I also want to share a story of our common culture:

In May, Kathryn Katzman became a bat mitzvah. Her mother, who works at the Federation, told me that Kathr…

Why we prioritize “shared society” projects in Israel

Why did we prioritize “shared society” projects in our allocations to Israel this year? 

Because of girls like Rana. After attending a bilingual, Arab Jewish summer camp in Haifa this summer, the eight-year-old said, “I had so much fun at camp and loved meeting new Hebrew-speaking a…

Jewish Federation’s Award Winners in Their Own Words

Debbie Brant (right), Board Chair of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, and Danielle V. Minson, CEO, flank Patti Heldman, one of three awardees honored at the Federation’s annual meeting.
 

[SEE VIDEO BELOW]

At the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s 126th Annual meeting on May 18…

Oreo Ice Cream and Our Future

What follows is a shortened version of my remarks in my first speech as CEO, at our annual meeting on May 17. I want my leadership to be a collaboration. I welcome your thoughts.  –Danielle  
 

Thank you all, for coming, and being in person with us tonight. I am energized to be here wi…

New One-Time Funding to Spark Innovation in Jewish Cincinnati

Cincinnati Hillel received one of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s new Special Projects grants, focused on leadership.
 

“A lot of people are going to see the impact of this money,” said Elida Kamine, Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s Planning and Allo…

Why Passover Stirs Us to Help Ukraine

Over 4.3 million refugees from Ukraine. We will hold those refugees in our thoughts and hearts this Passover, because the Passover story is itself a refugee story. As you know, Passover begins Friday, April 15, at sundown.

As Jews, we see ourselves in the struggle and story of the refugee. …

Ukraine: We Promise to Help

Ukranian boy arriving in Israel as part of a flight of refugees.
 

“If the world stands aloof, it will lose itself. Forever.” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s words reverberate for all of us. Ukraine’s fight for democracy and freedom is the fight of the Jewish people as …

Monitoring the Invasion of Ukraine

To the Cincinnati Jewish Community,

Through our global partners, we at the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati are closely monitoring reports of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and we are concerned for the safety of some 200,000 Jews in the region.

Our partners, the Jewish Federations of Nort…

Paving the way: how we create roads to our future

Every year, instead of a New Year’s resolution, I choose a word to inspire me. This year I chose “paving”—as in paving the way. For me it means wellness: I am walking and running, getting in my steps, every day. But also so much more.

This year I chose a word that speaks equally to …

JFC's Response to Colleyville, Texas

I could hear a man screaming, ranting on Beth Congregation Israel’s Facebook feed on Saturday as the hostage situation unfolded. My sister had called and directed me to the Facebook live stream and as soon as I realized there was a live hostage situation, I contacted Mark Dowd, director of…

Happy Hanukkah—what will your miracle be?

My nephews enjoying Hanukkah. Happy Hanukkah to you and yours.
 

Hanukkah started Sunday night, November 28, and at its core it is a story of a miracle —oil every day for 8 days. In the story, Judah and the Maccabees rededicated the temple with a tiny jar of oil that should have laste…

Like a Ship, Our Federation is Built for the Open Sea

This saying feels perfect for this moment:

“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” 

Our ship, the Cincinnati Jewish community, has weathered the COVID storms thanks to you, to our staff, our volunteers, and to the profoundly effective collaboration be…

Danielle V. Minson named CEO of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

It is an honor to announce that Danielle V. Minson will serve as Jewish Federation of Cincinnati's next CEO. Danielle has that rare combination of devotion to our mission and top-quality leadership. Our Board of Trustees and Executive Committee know that she is the right leader for our futur…

Time to Jump

Let’s all jump. Soon.

Let me explain.

To jump seems simple—think of kids jumping rope or a basketball layup. But there is no word, surprisingly, for the gathering of yourself you do—the bending of the knees, the coiling—before you spring up. Yet this nameless pre-jump move is cruci…