This week, as we witnessed the emotional reunions prompted by the return of the hostages held in Gaza, a profound sense of hope and healing has swept across Israel and throughout Jewish communities worldwide. Moments like this, when Jews everywhere watch and celebrate together, remind us that Israel is not just a place on the map but a central part of how we experience peoplehood, identity, and hope for the future.

That connection, and how we teach it to the next generation, is at the heart of the latest episode of What Gives?, the Jewish Philanthropy Podcast. JFN’s Andrés Spokoiny speaks with Dr. Keren Fraiman (Dean and Chief Academic Officer, Spertus Institute) and Dr. Sivan Zakai (Professor of Jewish Education, Hebrew Union College), both recipients of the Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award for their work in Jewish education.

Their conversation offers a deeply thoughtful and timely exploration of how Jewish youth today internalize, interpret, and wrestle with Israel, identity, and Jewish life. Dr. Fraiman and Dr. Zakai's findings and frameworks feel especially urgent: how do we help young people engage honestly, vulnerably, and hope-fully with Israel, not just as a geopolitical reality, but as a living and evolving part of Jewish identity?

Take a listen.

Nominations are closing soon for the J.J. Greenberg Memorial Award. This award honors outstanding foundation professionals, age 40 and under, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in Jewish philanthropy. Click here to learn more and to nominate a worthy young professional today! Nominations close Tuesday, October 21th at 5:00pm ET, and all application materials are due by Tuesday, October 28th at 5:00pm ET.

Created in memory of J.J. Greenberg, who passed away tragically in 2002 at age 36, this award celebrates individuals who embody Jewish values and the relentless pursuit of excellence, just as J.J. did.

The award, which includes $10,000 for professional development or tzedakah, will be presented at the JFN 2026 International Conference in San Diego. Previous honorees include leaders from the Natan Fund, the Aviv Foundation, Maimonides Fund, The Klarman Family Foundation, and the Righteous Persons Foundation.

Mapping the Fight Against Antisemitism

With nearly 160 organizations now working in this space, funders face a complex landscape of overlapping efforts and urgent needs. To bring clarity, JFN commissioned Combating Antisemitism: An Organizational Mapping, a landmark study by Dr. Eitan Hersh of Tufts University that charts the field, highlights strengths and gaps, and offers insights for more effective collaboration.

JFN members can now read the full report and watch the video recording of Dr. Hersh’s recent webinar presentation. You must be logged in to the JFN website to view these resources.

Once dismissed as symbols of 1960s counterculture, psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA are now showing real promise as tools for healing. Thanks in part to early support from venture philanthropy, researchers and clinicians are finding that psychedelic-assisted therapy can help with PTSD, depression, alcohol addiction, and other serious mental health challenges. Join our expert panel as they break down where the field stands today, from the latest research and clinical practice to practitioner training, regulation, and the role philanthropy is playing in both the U.S. and Israel.

Speakers
Steven Ross, MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and Associate Director of the NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine
Keren Tzarfaty, PhD, MFT, Co-Founder and Executive Director of MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) Israel, and Co-Founder of the Hakomi Institute of Israel
Mordechai Walder, JFN Member and Research Scientist at the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies

Sponsor the JFN Conference

JFN is now inviting sponsors for the 2026 International Conference in San Diego, March 15-17.

Updated benefits and new options offer valuable ways to highlight the issues you care about while supporting one of the most impactful gatherings of Jewish philanthropists worldwide.

Some benefits are limited, so explore the updated brochure and reserve yours today.