Women’s History Month has been celebrated since 1987 to reflect on women’s often overlooked contributions. During the month of March, we celebrate strong women who took brave risks to pursue important milestones such as suffrage and leadership in the business world.
Women stood at the forefront of creating many important Jewish institutions. Rebecca Gratz founded and taught in the first Jewish Sunday school in Philadelphia in 1838. Out of this grew an entire system for educating and maintaining the identity of millions of future Jewish children. In 1893, Hannah Solomon made history by representing Jewish women at the World’s Fair. Inspired by her experiences, she founded the National Council of Jewish Women, a groundbreaking movement committed to social reform while remaining firmly rooted in Jewish values. Trailblazer Henrietta Szold left an indelible mark with her founding of Hadassah, the premier Women’s Zionist organization. With her pioneering spirit, Szold paved the way for women to actively engage in Zionist endeavors, shaping the course of Jewish history.
The Jewish Communal Fund also has its share of female leaders. Susan Lytle Lipton, Karen Adler, Zoya Raynes, and Teena Lerner have all dedicated their time and talent as JCF Board President. Additionally, JCF has been a female-led organization since 1998, when Sue Dickman began as CEO. This level of female representation is remarkable for a financially oriented organization, and I am proud to continue this tradition.
As we honor the strength and leadership of women, it is with mixed emotions that we bid farewell to one of our own female leaders, Ellen Israelson, who will be retiring at the end of this month. For the past 17 years, Ellen has led the marketing and development teams and played a pivotal role in JCF’s growth, building our Advisor Network and working directly with many of you to establish your donor advised funds, facilitate your philanthropy, and secure your legacies. Her wisdom, guidance, and experience will be deeply missed. We wish Ellen all the best in her well-deserved retirement.