A Father’s Day reflection from Dan Kohl, NCJW Senior Director, Stakeholder Engagement

Ahead of this Father’s Day, I’ve been thinking about what it means to be a man working for a feminist, Jewish nonprofit focused on civil rights. What it means to be an “M” in the NCJW movement.

My family recently came together to celebrate my dad’s 90th birthday. What a gift to have three generations under one roof sharing stories, enjoying moments of laughter, and passing down meaning. L’dor v’dor. From generation to generation. That phrase lives at the heart of why I do this work and why I’m proud to be on NCJW’s staff.

NCJW has fought for women, children, and families for over 130 years. That includes entire generations of changemakers. And when I think about my kids, my sisters, my family, and my community, I’m not thinking about policy. I’m thinking about the people most impacted. 

I came to NCJW because the issues compelled me, and I approach this work through multiple identities — as a father, a son, a brother, and an uncle. Reproductive rights, economic wellbeing, and the safety of our communities aren’t just women’s issues. They’re family issues. They’re our issues. And yet, too often, they’re decided by men in suits who will never live the consequences. I wanted to spend my time somewhere different.

What I didn’t expect was the community I’d find at NCJW. Meeting advocates in city after city — hearing stories from our supporters — I keep encountering the same thing: people who have given decades of their lives to turning their values into action. Generations of mothers, sisters, aunts, and whole families who have made justice a family tradition. Legacy isn’t just a word at NCJW. It’s what makes up every room NCJW leaders are in.

Men are part of this family, too. And this Father’s Day, I’m proud to be one of them.

If NCJW is part of your family’s story, there’s no better way to celebrate the men in your life than with a gift that says they belong in this fight as well. Honor the fathers, brothers, uncles, and father figures in your life with a gift that carries this legacy forward.

From my family to yours, Happy Father’s Day!