Leadership Corner

JFGI Leadership shares its thoughts about a range of topics from Jewish camping to our Jewish community to Israel and more.

If Not Now, When?

I remember being surprised when I learned that we are supposed to plant most trees in the late fall and early winter. Springtime seems more logical and pleasant because we can then watch the dormant tree flourish with the new season. But, by planting as the ground cools, saplings can develop…

Our Why

When I first arrived here, I went on a listening tour and spoke with a lot of our community about this Federation, its history, and your visions for the future. What I heard was a very clear message: the Federation does three things: It does fundraising; it does leadership development; and i…

President Helen Kurlander Goldstein's Welcome Message

As your new Board President, I am honored and excited to serve our Indianapolis Jewish community.

I have been involved in our Indianapolis community most of my life. My involvement in Jewish communal activities began at the young age of 12 at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, moving on to become…

The Collective Impact

If the Federation News had a theme, this one would be “The Impact Issue.” The following pages demonstrate over and over the impact that your participation can have in all aspects of what our Indianapolis Jewish community offers.
Whether it’s participating in a PJ Library program, the H…

Our Connection to Israel

I am and have always been a proud supporter of Israel. It’s how I was raised and is an essential part of my self-identity. When we were in college, Elise and I spent a year together studying in Israel. Our daughter Joelle also attended Hebrew U and our son Josh is a current student there. …