By Reporter staff

The Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton will hold a Chai Campaign during the month of March. Adam Weitsman and family will match up to $7,500 of the funds raised. “This Campaign’s focus is on raising money for security,” said Shelley Hubal, executive director of the Federation. “There is an urgent need to improve the security of our community. Monies raised will help us to provide communitywide trainings and grants for in-person security. We are also looking to establish an endowment that will enable us to partner long-term with Secure Community Network, a national organization that provides crisis management, intelligence sharing and facilities assessments. (See related article on page 9.) When you give to the Chai Campaign, you will be making life safer for all of us.” 

Hubal added, “We chose chai (the Hebrew word for life) because security enhances all of our lives. This is a collective effort. We are asking everyone to just give a little ‘chai.’ Your dollars will be doubled and have an impact for years to come.”

Donations for the Campaign can be made in several ways:

• Checks can be made payable to Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton, with Chai Campaign on the subject line, and mailed to the Federation at 500 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850. 
• Online donations can be made by visiting the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton's Chai Security Campaign page. 
• To make a verbal pledge, contact the Federation at 607-724-2332 or e-mail Hubal at director@jfgb.org.

“It’s up to us to help keep our community safe,” Hubal noted. “Your donation will help make that happen. Our thanks to Adam and his family for their generous matching grant.”
 

Federation safety and security measures

The Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton has worked to improve the community’s safety and security:

• In 2023, it held two communitywide, in-person security training courses. 
• It provided grant-writing resources to assist local organizations in obtaining security funding. 
• It purchased and distributed 15 Stop the Bleed kits to seven local Jewish organizations, including synagogues in Norwich and Oneonta.
• It acted as a clearinghouse for security resources, assisting local leadership in improving their security protocols, accessing virtual training courses and providing real-time access to a security professional to mitigate threats.
• It procured funding for a critical infrastructure project at a local synagogue.
• It provided mini-grants to help cover the cost of in-person security for the High Holidays.