For some of the women philanthropists on the Ruby Lion of Judah mission to Israel, it was their first time visiting. For others, it was their fourth time since October 7th. But for all 100 participants, representing 32 Jewish Federation communities, it was a more powerful and unifying experience than they could have imagined. 

 

Since 1972, the Lion of Judah has united nearly 20,000 Jewish women philanthropists from all 141 Federation communities. Each year, they raise over $250 million for critical Jewish causes, both in Israel and the Diaspora. 

 

The Ruby mission, co-chaired by Kim Hartman, Carolyn Gitlin, alongside National Women’s Philanthropy Chair Sherri Ketai, was dubbed Ometz Lev (“courage of the heart”), highlighting the two-year war’s impact on women, children, and families, and how Federations are helping to Rebuild Israel.  

 

“As Israelis emerge from the trauma of the past two years, it was important that our Ruby Lions bear witness not just to their pain, but to the resilience they’ve shown and the tangible impact of Federations’ support,” said Mandy Kaiser-Blueth, Associate Vice President of National Women’s Philanthropy at Jewish Federations of North America. “We heard from survivors of the October 7th attacks, bereaved families of fallen soldiers, mentors of at-risk youth, and inspirational leaders like First Lady Michal Herzog. We were all transformed by their strength and kindness and filled with a renewed commitment to our philanthropy.” 

 

Shortly after arriving, the participants learned that Ran Gvili, the last remaining Israeli hostage in Gaza, had been returned home. The news set the tone for the rest of the mission: amid tremendous loss, rays of hope. 

 

Being in Israel during this time brought the reality of the last two years into stark view for the participants. In their meetings with Israeli women and families, they learned firsthand that, as one participant said, “every single person in the country has been affected. Everyone has lost someone, knows someone who was killed, wounded, taken hostage, or sent to fight.” These testimonies not only reaffirmed the necessity of their philanthropy, but of the Federation system’s Rebuild Israel efforts.  

 

From the Nova festival site, where one participant noted the “rows of newly planted trees – one for each victim,” to HaBeit HaYam (“Home by the Sea”), a nonprofit that helps Israelis process trauma by learning to surf, and sharing stories with Israeli Lions of Judah, the mission helped put faces to every corner of Israeli society that has been touched by Federations’ support.  

 

Leaving Israel at the conclusion of the mission, these Ruby Lions carried with them deeper connections to the land and its people, to one another, and to their philanthropic commitments as Lions of Judah. But they also left with the courage of the heart, Ometz Lev, of everyone and everything they encountered.  

 

 

To learn more about National Women’s Philanthropy and the Lion of Judah, visit our website or contact your local Jewish Federation.