Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

06/05/2026

Sometimes is knowing "when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em" and when to walk away. A message from our CEO.

In Numbers 11:4, the Torah offers us a startling and deeply human moment. The asafsuf (the mixed multitude traveling with Israel, often translated in English as the “rabble” or “riffraff”) gave in to their cravings, crying out: "Who will feed us meat?" Despite having witnessed miracles, desp...

06/01/2026

The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples extends a sincere thank you to Sen. Kathleen Passidomo and Rep. .u.melo for their sponsorship and support of our appropriations request for security funding in this year’s legislative budget, which was approved Friday and awaits the signature of Gov. DeSantis.

This critical investment will enhance security at Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and for schools, businesses, synagogues and other Jewish communal organizations across Lee and Collier counties, through close partnerships with local sheriff’s offices and police departments.

Our elected officials’ leadership in protecting the Jewish community reflect a strong commitment to public safety and to the well-being of the constituents we collectively serve. Please join me in thanking them directly for their unflagging support:
[email protected]
[email protected]

05/27/2026

Action Alert: Protect our Communities

Jewish communities across the United States are operating under an unprecedented security burden as threats, violence, and fear increasingly shape daily life for Jewish families. According to the FBI, although Jews make up just 2% of the U.S. population, they accounted for nearly 69% of reported religiously motivated hate crimes in 2024.

Anti-Semitism is rising, and Congress now has an opportunity to act. The federal government has a fundamental responsibility to ensure that Americans can safely worship, gather, and live openly without fear.

The bipartisan Jewish American Security Act would strengthen protections for Jewish communities through increased security funding, stronger student protections, and new tools to combat anti-Semitism.

ACT NOW

The Act authorizes $1 billion in nonprofit security grants, provides greater flexibility to support security personnel, streamlines the grantmaking process, and expands resources for state and local law enforcement that protect all houses of worship and religious institutions, not just the Jewish community.

The bill also strengthens protections for Jewish students through stronger Title VI enforcement and by establishing a dedicated Anti-Semitism Coordinator at the Department of Education. It addresses the surge in anti-Semitism online by requiring major social media platforms to increase transparency about their efforts to combat anti-Semitic content.

The Jewish American Security Act is an important first step toward confronting the growing threat of anti-Semitic violence facing Jewish communities across the country.

Please take a moment to urge your members of Congress to cosponsor this critical legislation.

Thank you for helping amplify this important effort.

Antisemitism is rising, and Jewish communities across the country continue to face serious security threats. Congress now has an...

05/26/2026

Throughout May, we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month. ✨

Jewish culture is woven into the fabric of America in ways both meaningful and familiar, from challah and bagels to poetry, advocacy, resilience, and a deep commitment to welcoming others.

Join the JCRC in celebrating the generations of Jewish Americans who helped shape this country while standing up for immigrants and refugees of all backgrounds, knowing firsthand what it means to seek safety, opportunity, and belonging.

As Jewish American poet Emma Lazarus wrote in words etched on the Statue of Liberty:

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

A reminder that heritage is not only about where we come from, but the values we carry forward.

Image cred: Ximena Torres Rodríguez on Unsplash, Emma Lazarus portrait T. Lazarus and W. Kurtz

05/25/2026

“Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.”
— Elie Wiesel

05/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our inaugural Lions of Judah Summer Lunch! It was a meaningful afternoon of connection, conversation, and community shared among an incredible group of women.

A special thank you to Gail Smith for graciously hosting and creating such a warm and welcoming gathering. We are grateful to each of the women who joined us and look forward to many more opportunities to connect throughout the summer. 🦁💙

Watch your email for upcoming events!

05/18/2026

The greater Naples Jewish community is proud to mark May as

Here in Florida we are proud as the original proclamation of this special month began with efforts by the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders. Resolutions were introduced by Florida's own Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, together with Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. These resolutions urged the president to proclaim a month that would recognize the rich history of Jews in America and the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American society. The resolutions passed unanimously, first in the House of Representatives in December 2005 and in the Senate in February 2006.

05/15/2026

The Degel, The Brand, and The Story. A message from our CEO, Nammie Ichilov.

The Book of, and the name of this week’s Torah portion, Bamidbar opens not with a grand proclamation but with a census, a precise, methodical counting of the Israelite people in the wilderness. Yet embedded in that counting is something far more evocative than a headcount. Gd commands that each tr...

05/06/2026

Across our country, communities of all shapes and sizes are recognizing May as Jewish American Heritage Month in honor of more than 350 years of vibrant Jewish life in our nation.

On Thursday City of Naples, FL joined that cohort with a resolution recognizing this designation, which was first recognized by our federal government two decades ago.

The resolution recognizes that "Jewish citizens of the City of Naples have long been an integral part of our community, contributing significantly to the growth and development of the city in fields ranging from healthcare, business and law to agriculture, education, and civic and political leadership."

It further states that "Neapolitans are encouraged to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month through education, reflection, and the promotion of cultural understanding, in recognition of the profound and lasting contributions of Jewish Americans to our city, county, state and the nation."

Our sincere thanks to the Naples City Council for the public support. As Nammie Ichilov, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples stated at the council meeting, "This proclamation recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month is more than symbolic. It is a statement of values."

"In a world where anti-Semitism is at its highest level in modern history, your action today sends a clear and powerful message that in the city of Naples, every resident is seen, every community is protected, and no one stands alone. Because of leaders like you - leaders who care deeply about the safety, security and dignity of all our residents, the Jewish community here doesn't feel simply tolerated. We feel recognized, we feel supported, and we feel genuinely safe."

05/04/2026

We are proud to recognize Paula Filler, one of our dedicated Lions of Judah, who participated in the Ruby Lion of Judah Mission in Israel, and then brought that experience home to our community.

After returning, Paula shared reflections from her journey, offering a firsthand look at the strength, resilience, and unity she witnessed. Her experience brought the mission’s impact into focus.

We are honored to have Paula represent Greater Naples and share that inspiration with us all.

Read more:

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 tha...