Jewish life is rich with meaningful milestones, occasions when we come together in celebration and moments when we gather to support one another in sorrow. Life-cycle events—births, b’nai mitzvahs, confirmations, graduations, marriages, and mourning—and our many holidays give us the opportunity to deepen our connections and recognize the beauty of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

In addition to personal and religious milestones, there are moments when our community marks significant achievements: the acquisition of a new Torah scroll, the election of new board members, the celebration of an important anniversary. As we approach the conclusion of the 2025 Jewish Federation program year, we not only reflect on our shared accomplishments but also prepare to gather in celebration at our annual meeting.

We also recognize a shared national milestone: Jewish American Heritage Month begins on May 1. Established in 2006 by President George W. Bush, JAHM is a time to honor the profound contributions Jewish Americans have made to every aspect of American life—culture, science, history, and beyond. Across the country, organizations and institutions take this opportunity to celebrate and educate about Jewish American achievements and heritage.

As part of our local observance, we invite you to join us for Jewish Heritage Night at the IronPigs on Thursday, May 8—a fun and meaningful way to show community pride. Doors to the ballpark open at 5:30 p.m. and the game starts at 6:45.

We also hope you’ll join us for our community celebration and annual meeting on Thursday, June 12, at 6 p.m. at the JCC. This special evening will honor our award winners, celebrate our collective accomplishments, and highlight the strength and resilience of our Lehigh Valley Jewish community.

We are proud to be completing another successful program year in partnership with our beneficiary agencies. As we approach the close of the 2025 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs on June 30, we are deeply grateful for the generosity that makes our work possible. Your contributions support our JCC, Jewish Day School, and Jewish Family Service; fund Jewish Family Life Education at local synagogues; enable Hebrew Family League programming; provide resources for students through Hillels; and make camp and Israel travel scholarships a reality. Through our collective efforts, we also stand alongside 146 independent Jewish Federations and a network of 300 smaller communities across North America, supporting both regional initiatives and projects in Israel and around the globe.

Each of you plays an essential role in this work. If you have made a pledge or donation to our 2025 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs, we are most appreciative and grateful for your generous support. If you haven’t yet made your gift for this year’s campaign, we encourage you to do so by June 30. Together, we honor our Jewish American heritage and ensure that robust, meaningful Jewish programming continues to thrive here in the Lehigh Valley.

Thank you for your generosity and commitment. We are Here for Good—because of you. With warm regards and sincere appreciation.