Israel has been on our minds a lot lately, and I know many of us are feeling the tension. 

This message isn’t about untangling Israeli politics or the misinformation fueling a rise in antisemitism, including the misinformation around Question 7 on next week’s Providence ballot. (The Jewish Alliance hopes you will join us in voting No on Question 7, for many reasons you can find here.) 

With all that is going on, I think it is important to clarify where funding from the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island goes and where we stand as a Zionist organization. 

In a recent interview, The Boston Globe asked if the Jewish Alliance is a Zionist organization. Because there have been some misconceptions about Zionism raised in recent years, I asked for their definition, which was, “the Jewish people’s right to self-sovereignty in their native homeland.” I unequivocally answered yes! 

In a separate conversation about Question 7, a community member told me they do not support the Jewish Alliance because “we fund Israel.” They were visibly shocked when I described what our funding actually supports: 

  • The Haifa Rape Crisis Center addresses sexual violence in Israeli society with emotional support, legal accompaniment, support groups, prevention, education, and professional training, including for Arab and religious communities in Northern Israel. 
  • The Ethiopian National Project works to fully integrate Ethiopian immigrants into Israeli society through evaluation-based tutoring, English proficiency, parenting workshops, easing tension with law enforcement, and access to science-related higher education, preventing the creation of a black underclass in Israel. 
  • The Shalva Center supports the care and social inclusion of persons with disabilities in Israel and empowers their families. 
  • The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), our largest overseas allocation, supports Jewish life and humanitarian aid in more than 70 countries. In Israel, it serves the most vulnerable (the poor, elderly, at-risk youth, people with disabilities, Haredi, and Arab communities) through direct human services, elder care and rehabilitation, workforce training, independent living, educational guidance, a nationwide mental health initiative, and public system navigation. 
  • The Jewish Agency for Israel promotes Aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) and supports victims of terror, diverse communities, and businesses. Much of the Alliance’s funding supports Youth Futures, a mentorship program that helps at-risk children build confidence, realize their potential, and break cycles of poverty. It serves Jewish, Arab-Israeli, Bedouin, Druze, and immigrant families. 

Not one dollar goes to government programs or the military. Our mission is to support Jewish peoplehood here at home, in our homeland, and around the globe and this funding demonstrates one of our guiding values, that that no one stands alone.  

I hope this explanation offers a clearer understanding of the Jewish Alliance's funding priorities and the role that support for Israel and the Israeli people plays in our mission. While we know not all Jewish community members share this vision, our organization is one where people of all ideologies are welcome.

I am proud of our support of Israel, and I hope you are too. 

Sincerely, 
Steven A. Baker 
President & CEO