At a time when voices of intolerance and bigotry are growing louder, I am grateful that the AJWS community has never wavered in its commitment to building a more just and equitable world.

In a moment overshadowed by fear and hate, I am grateful to be part of American Jewish World Service, a community fully committed to the dignity and rights of every person everywhere.

Even though we may not see the leaves change here in Southern California, we know fall is a time for transition. As you may have heard, after eight accomplished years at AJWS, Allison Lee has started a new role as the Vice President of External Affairs at Bet Tzedek.

In the coming year we hope to launch “A Taste of AJWS”—a program that pairs delicious food from around the world with an appetite for social justice! During a private cooking class led by an accomplished LA chef, we’ll explore a country’s cuisine and gain insight into AJWS’s work in the region. With options from …

I am delighted to share my first newsletter of 2016 and to take note of the many accomplishments of AJWS in the past year—which I know make you as proud as they make me!