Friday Five – November 6, 2026
At JewishColumbus we have a bold and audacious goal to become the BEST Jewish community in North America. Friday Five is a way to share how your support makes a great impact possible. Every other week, we are proud to share that impact, community partnership, accomplishments, and our most incredible moments of pride. Thank you for coming along.
Over the past two years, we have worked to revitalize our nearly 25-year partnership with Kfar Saba. Last year’s Israel 614 Mission brought those connections to life, and I’m still grateful for the friendships it made possible. Sitting with people in Kfar Saba and talking about what our two cities could build together showed me why these personal relationships, and the bridges between Columbus and Israel, matter so much.
This week, we welcomed five leaders from Kfar Saba to Columbus for their first visit since COVID. We have kept them busy, meeting with community partners, participating in a JCRC breakfast at Columbus City Hall, and reconnecting with Israel 614 Mission participants. These conversations reinforced our shared commitment to building an even stronger partnership.
Jewish peoplehood and our connection to Israel remain central priorities for JewishColumbus. Together with our Kfar Saba partners, we are developing a plan for the year ahead that will include community delegations, educational exchanges, and new opportunities for people of all ages to connect, learn from one another, and build lasting relationships. As we approach the partnership’s 25th anniversary, I look forward to sharing more about these exciting opportunities. Stay tuned!
We’d love to see you get involved. If you want to join a future mission or get involved with the committee and have a more direct impact on this work, email Efrat Speckman, Director of Israel & Overseas.
DID YOU KNOW… You can turn your Ohio state taxes into scholarships for local Jewish day school students?
Jewish day school nurtures academically strong, resilient, and deeply rooted students who hold strong Jewish identities. Last year, our community made that possible for more Columbus families by redirecting $530,000 in Ohio tax liability to scholarships at Columbus Jewish Day School and Columbus Torah Academy. The credit is dollar-for-dollar, so money you would have paid the state stays here and invests in our community’s future.
GIVING IS SIMPLE:
- Choose your school or divide your gift between the two
- Give up to $750 per taxpayer, or $1,500 for married couples filing jointly
- Send your official receipt to your tax preparer or claim it on Line 15 of the Ohio IT 1040 Schedule of Credits
Gifts count toward your 2026 taxes if you make them by April 15, 2027.
Our community is gaining another layer of protection: a dedicated Columbus Police cruiser, leased from the City of Columbus by our security partner JCSecurity, LLC (the new name of our Columbus community security entity). The visible presence of a police cruiser at the JCC sends a powerful message: our community is protected, and our safety is a priority. Beyond serving as a deterrent, the cruiser will enhance our ability to respond quickly to emergencies, with direct access to Columbus Police radio and dispatch systems. The cruiser will support the special duty officers stationed at the JCC each day and provide an additional security presence at Jewish community locations within Columbus city limits during holidays and special events.
This is about more than security. It’s about creating an environment where Jewish life can thrive. Every dollar JewishColumbus invests in protecting our community allows our partners to direct more of their resources toward what they do best: creating vibrant, meaningful Jewish experiences for all.
JewishColumbus’ Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) brought together superintendents and senior education leaders from across Central Ohio to strengthen relationships with the people shaping our schools, deepen their understanding of antisemitism and the Jewish community, and demonstrate how JewishColumbus can serve as a resource and partner.
The morning featured Jewish high school seniors Dafna S. and Noah B., who shared their experiences through our Student to Student program, which builds understanding between Jewish teens and their peers. Lara Burns, Senior Research Fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, provided important insights into recognizing antisemitism, including how it can be disguised within broader social justice messaging.
Education leaders left with a stronger understanding of the issues faced by Jewish students and with the tools and resources that help them ensure Jewish students and families feel safe, understood, and supported.
To learn more about this important work, contact JCRC Director Ori Katzav.
Start where the need is greatest.
For nearly seven decades, Alan and Bobbie Weiler have given by that principle across Columbus, from underwriting Habitat for Humanity homes to supporting Jewish Family Services and the JCC. They learned it from their fathers. “We grew up expecting to do it,” Bobbie says. “And we did.” Their Jewish giving runs through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) at JewishColumbus, a charitable account that makes giving easy. Once you have funded it, you can give from it whenever you choose.
Their routine is simple. They contribute appreciated stock, which earns an immediate tax deduction and avoids capital gains tax. The fund invests those dollars, and the Weilers can recommend grants throughout the year without managing a single transaction. For Bobbie, the value is control: “We direct where the money goes. That matters to both of us.”
A DAF can be opened with as little as $2,500. To learn more, contact Lori Wishne at [email protected] or 614-559-3208.
Already have one? Recommend your year-end grants through the JewishColumbus DAF portal.