Elluminate E-News November 2024

Elluminate E-News November 2024

Message from our CEO

As I write this message, it is hard to believe it is one week before the national election. As a Jewish woman and leader, coming to this moment has been stressful, holding concern for women’s rights, wartime in Israel, growing antisemitism, and an unknown future ahead of us.

We’ve been hearing countless testimonials of how the rollback of abortion access has harmed innocent women and girls. It is hard to believe when I read “The Handmaid’s Tale” when I was younger that we could go from a sci-fi imaginary story to one that could become closer to reality. I am horrified at what is happening in Afghanistan as women live behind veils and gates and have lost all their freedom and access to education and employment, and this month, it is reported that they are not allowed to speak. Where is the international community?

And yet, these last few weeks, I have spent time with other advocates and leaders of different communities who have come together to rally women’s leadership and prepare to mobilize women to take back our power and future. The Amplify Women conference in New York brought women from diverse backgrounds together to learn about new data produced by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, revealing that less than 2 percent of charitable dollars go to empowering women and girls. A gathering of Jewish professionals by CSS Fundraising underscored that our philanthropists have strengthened their Jewish identity and support during the past year.

Elluminate is the place in the Jewish community to direct philanthropic dollars to support women leaders who are pushing barriers and leading us to create a world that addresses major issues through a gender lens! We envision women at all the decision-making tables, from the boardroom to the political arena.

I personally invite you to attend our upcoming Convening on November 21 to gather with like-minded women to set a path forward. We are multitasking and busy. But the time is now! We cannot go back. Join us in the room where it happens.

Shabbat Shalom,

Melanie Roth Gorelick

CEO

Elluminate Marks October 7th,

Elevating Voices of Israeli Women Leaders

As we marked one year since October 7, Elluminate hosted a special Crown JEWEL Conversation: Leading During Wartime: Reflecting on Life in Israel Since October 7th. It featured three of our Collective Cohort 5 nonprofit Israeli women leaders: Rina Ayalin-Gorelik, Executive Director of the Association of Ethiopian Jews, Dina Shalev, Executive Director of Lada’at – Choose Well, and Orit Sulitzeanu, Executive Director of The Association of Rape Crisis Centers.

Each described the journey of this year as individuals impacted by the war, mothers with children called to service, leaders meeting the needs of their organizations, and pivoting to hold up civil society during wartime. These high-level women led investigation and advocacy efforts focused on the sexual crimes committed by Hamas terrorists, cared for women and their reproductive care in diverse communities during times of division, and supported a minority community, some of whom didn’t speak the native language, to keep abreast of their kids and the news.

They also talked about the fact there are few women leaders at this time, and we must be proactive to ensure women’s voices and experiences help to shape the decisions of war and peace and the future of Israel. We encourage you to listen to this heartfelt and personal conversation led by Elluminate President Stephanie Garry. To watch or listen to this compelling conversation, click here.

TUNE IN TO OUR NEXT CROWN JEWEL CONVERSATION:

As we prepare for Hanukkah, our next Crown Jewel Conversation will occur on Thursday, December 5 at noon ET and feature Jodi Bromberg, former CEO of 18Doors. Jodi is a national leader and advocate focused on the primacy of building and cultivating Jewish communities of belonging, focusing on interfaith families. We often hear about the stress of the holidays on multifaith families. Jodi is here to help.

Elluminate’s Crown JEWEL Conversations monthly webcast highlights members of our Collective — visionary leaders creating social change on today’s most emergent issues. Click here to register.

Register Now and Be Part of our Critical Conversations

Join us at this historic moment as issues of great importance to Jewish women in the US, Israel, and worldwide are front and center. Our Convening is timed to bring women together post-October 7 and after the U.S. elections to grapple with the state of women and set a path forward for our work advancing equity and justice through a gender lens. Your voice and presence are important at this crucial time.

Highlights:

• Plenaries are designed for meaningful discussion with experts, advocates, and leaders on … the future of women’s issues and advancement in post-election America … women leading the rebuilding and restructuring of Israeli civil society after Oct. 7 … women’s response to antisemitism and hate … our ongoing efforts to ensure reproductive freedom and gender equality … and more.

To learn more about the Convening program and speakers, click here.

• Special afternoon presentation on Activism Through Art with a discussion on the Broadway production of Suffs, followed by a book signing of “On Being Jewish Now: Reflections from Authors and Advocates,” a collection of insightful and inspiring essays by dozens of Jewish writers expressing Jewish identity post-Oct. 7, edited by Zibby Owens. The proceeds of the event will go to Artists Against Antisemitism. The plenary will feature:

Zibby Owens

Bestselling Author

Founder & CEO, Zibby Media

Rachel Sussman

Producer

Tony Award Winning Suffs

• Hear from our amazing Collective Cohort 6 members and learn about their important work addressing emergent issues in interactive workshops. To learn more about this year’s slate of visionary leaders, click here.

• Time for networking and song. Join us for a meaningful day!

Get Inspired. Get Connected. We are Jewish Women Leading the Way Forward.

Expand your philanthropic impact. Elevate Jewish women leaders. Advance social change and gender justice.

Joining an Elluminate Visionary Circle, you will be part of one of our signature initiative bringing Jewish feminists, advocates and philanthropists together to select the seventh Cohort of The Collective — our leadership fellowship program and global network — and to shape the future of Jewish women’s leadership.

Please contact Eva Stern, our Director of Strategic Initiatives, for more information.

Prop 1 will ensure abortion access and reproductive freedom, end discrimination and protect vulnerable groups. You can read more on the Columbia Law School ERA Project Explainer on Proposal 1, and in Elluminate CEO Melanie Gorelick’s thought piece in The Times of Israel.

Proposal 1 can be found on the back of your ballot, so don’t forget to FLIP IT!

Kimberly Novod, Founder and Executive Director of Saul’s Light Foundation — a member of our Collective Cohort 5 — received a 2024 Angel Award from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation of Louisiana on Oct. 21. The Angel Award recognizes everyday Louisiana people who have distinguished themselves by improving the health and lives of the state’s children. Congratulations Kimberly!

An Oct. 29 New York Times article featured Collective Cohort 3 member Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, Founder and CEO of Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action — and the organization’s efforts to mobilize Jewish Americans in the fight against global warming, and its get-out-the-vote campaign this fall. Congratulations Rabbi Jennie for this prominent platform for your work and impact!