Greetings from Israel!

Believe it or not, this is my first time here — something I did not expect to say two years into my term as NCJW president. I thought I would have been here many times by now. But until this moment, it has not been possible for us to bring a large group of leaders together. That is why NCJW’s Leadership Journey to Israel is all the more special. Our legacy of leadership means we show up — not only when it is easy, but when it matters most. Grounded in our commitment to justice and equity, and featuring unique insights from NCJW’s field-building work on the ground, we are learning about Israel’s road ahead — recovery and rebuilding, deepening relationships with our partners, and meeting the leaders shaping the future.

We’ve had an inspiring start to our journey. Last night, we heard from top security experts about the complex geopolitical and security needs facing Israel. Today, our schedule included meeting Israeli feminist champions, a powerful experience at The Hostages and Missing Square, and learning about NCJW’s on-the-ground work in Israel through our Connecting for Impact (CFI) program. The CFI clusters are an innovative operating model that develop collaborative pathways to advancing gender equity in Israel. These clusters are planting the seeds to:

• Advance gender equity in representation and policy at centers of decision-making
• Establish a trauma recovery training center
• Launch an impact accelerator for gender equity that will equip feminist organizations to build partnerships
• Strengthen the infrastructure of the feminist field itself

This trip is not just a visit—it is a statement: that NCJW will continue to lead, to stand in solidarity, and to live our values no matter the moment.