Dear Friends,
Three years ago, the events of October 7 changed our world.
The horrific, murderous attacks and their aftermath reverberated far beyond Israel’s borders. All Jews, and Jewish women leaders in particular, found themselves navigating trauma, growing antisemitism, deepening polarization, and the painful reality that Israeli women were too often not being heard or believed.
For Elluminate, that moment clarified something fundamental:
We were made for times like these.
Long before October 7, Elluminate had created a place where Jewish women leaders could bring the fullness of who they are – their Jewish identities, their commitment to women and social justice, and their deeply held belief in tikkun olam, our responsibility to repair the world.
When the world changed, those women rose to the occasion – and Elluminate was there to stand with them.
In Israel, women in our orbit were helping hold up civil society in the midst of crisis. They documented what had happened to Israeli women, gathered evidence, challenged denial and misinformation, and advocated on the international stage to ensure that women’s experiences and voices would not be ignored. Others were protecting rights, supporting communities, responding to trauma, and working to ensure that women have a voice in Israel’s future.
We brought 13 Israeli women leaders in our Collective leadership program at that time together – creating a place for them to connect, share information, strengthen one another’s work, and amplify their voices.
In the United States, Jewish women leaders also faced new challenges. Many were leading organizations and movements beyond the Jewish community and suddenly found themselves confronting growing antisemitism, strained relationships, and environments in which their Jewish identities and experiences were not always understood or acknowledged.
They needed the moral courage and support to continue doing the work they believed in without leaving part of themselves behind.
Elluminate gave them a place where they did not have to choose – between being Jewish and pursuing justice, between standing with Israel and fighting for women’s rights, and between their identities and the causes to which they had devoted their lives. We provided connection, support, resources, and visibility. Most importantly, we made sure no one had to lead alone.
And we learned something. Merely responding to the crisis was not enough. Jewish women needed lasting connective infrastructure.
That realization helped lead to the creation of Elluminate’s Global Jewish Women’s Leadership Network, connecting women across borders so they can share expertise, build relationships, increase their visibility, support one another, and strengthen their collective impact.
Today, three years later, the urgency has not disappeared.
Antisemitism and misogyny continue to grow. Hate and extremism are being amplified and monetized. Women’s rights and democratic values are under pressure. And Jewish women leaders continue to find themselves on the front lines – leading organizations, strengthening communities, advancing solutions, and helping shape what comes next.
This is why Elluminate’s work matters now.
This November, our Israel Journey will bring women leaders and philanthropists to Israel to experience the country through the women helping shape its future – from women advancing gender equality and strengthening civil society to those rebuilding communities and building bridges across divides.
And in December, The Convening 2026 – From Wake-Up Call to Action: Women Confronting the Business of Hate will bring together more than 200 Jewish women leaders, philanthropists, advocates, and allies to examine the ecosystem fueling misogyny, antisemitism, extremism, and hate – and then move from understanding the problem to exploring what we can do about it.
Because philanthropy is part of the solution. Leadership is part of the solution. Connection is part of the solution. And women must be part of setting the path forward.
Times like these demand strong Jewish women leaders.
They need to be connected. They need to be visible. They need resources. They need places where they can think boldly, speak honestly, and act together.
And they need all of us standing with them.
We were made for times like these. But we cannot do this work without you.
Join us. Stand with these extraordinary women. Help ensure that Jewish women leaders have what they need not simply to respond to this moment – but to shape what comes next.
- Learn More about the Israel Journey– November 15 – 19
- Register for The Convening 2026– December 2, NYC
- Get Involved
Sincerely,
Melanie Roth Gorelick,
Elluminate CEO