Dear Friends,
This Friday evening, the sun will set on the Jewish year of 5780, and Jews across New York and around the world will mark the start of 5781 together. 5780 has been a chaotic year, to say the least, filled with disasters that have shaken our society to its core. Against the backdrop of this dark year, however, we at NYJA were grateful to have had the opportunity to take our first steps forward, amplifying the power of liberal mainstream Jews in New York in this moment of crisis.
As we at NYJA prepare to close the book on 5780, we are taking a moment to thank you for your support, reflect on the impact we’ve had so far, and strategize about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. In our first six months of existence, NYJA has:
- Recruited liberal mainstream voices in the Jewish community to support criminal justice reform and police accountability, resulting in hundreds of signatures on letters we sent to NY political leaders
- Launched our On the Agenda speaker series by bringing together 1,100 people for a webinar on the future of the two-state solution with Peter Beinart, Jeremy Ben-Ami, and Rabbi Jill Jacobs
- Organized the New Yorkers Against Annexation campaign to unify New York Jewish voices in opposition to Israel’s proposed annexation of portions of the West Bank
- Published impactful op-eds on antisemitism, annexation, structural racism, and criminal justice reform
We are optimistic that 5781 will be a year of positive transformation for our society and growth for our organization. NYJA is doubling down on our work to build our network, engage deeply on issues of importance to our community, and increase the power of our liberal Jewish voice in the places where it counts. We hope you’ll continue to stand with us in the months to come.
We cannot do this work without your support, so as you plan your High Holiday giving, we ask you to consider a gift to the New York Jewish Agenda. We welcome you to become an Agenda Setter at $36, an “On the Agenda” Sponsor at $360, a NYJA Partner at $1,000, or a member of our Founder’s Circle at $5,000.
On behalf of NYJA’s staff and board, I wish you a sweet and healthy New Year.
Matt Nosanchuk
President, NYJA
Matt Nosanchuk is co-founder and President of the New York Jewish Agenda.