YAD Colorado

04/13/2026

Jewish Federations of North America Tonight at sunset begins Yom HaShoah. As we remember the six million Jews that died in the Holocaust, we must also recognize that Jews today are being targeted for who they are and what they believe, and commit to fighting antisemitism and hate.

05/12/2025

Jewish Federations of North America are thrilled and relieved that Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli citizen, is being reunited with his parents and two siblings after more than 580 days in captivity.

Jewish Federations have prayed 19 months for the return of every person taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. Along the way we have rejoiced at those who have returned home safely and mourned those who have not. We will continue those prayers until the remaining 58 are released.

Jewish Federations of North America are thrilled and relieved that Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli citizen, is being reunited with his parents and two siblings after more than 580 days in captivity.

Jewish Federations have prayed 19 months for the return of every person taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. Along the way we have rejoiced at those who have returned home safely and mourned those who have not. We will continue those prayers until the remaining 58 are released.

02/26/2025

Jewish Federations of North America Today, Jewish Federations mourn and pray for the families of Itzik Elgarat, Tsahi Idan, Shlomo Mantzur, and Ohad Yahalomi, all taken hostage from their safe rooms and homes in a horrifying manner by Hamas terrorists on October 7. Along with all of Israel, we are waiting for the government to positively identify their remains.
The last several weeks have been tragic in many ways, yet we remain amazed and proud of the resilience of the Israeli people as they stand strong during these times of grief. Jewish Federations stand in solidarity and pray with them during these times of mourning. Read the full statement here:

Today, Jewish Federations mourn and pray for the families of Itzik Elgarat, Tsahi Idan, Shlomo Mantzur, and Ohad Yahalomi, all taken hostage from their safe rooms and homes in a horrifying manner by Hamas terrorists on October 7. Along with all of Israel, we are waiting for the government to positiv...

02/23/2025

Jewish Federations of North America Following a week that has delivered great tragedy to our community, are thankful for the release of the six hostages who were freed from the darkness of captivity today: Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed – both of whom spent a decade in Hamas’s hands – as well as Tal Shoham, Omer Shem-Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Eliya Cohen, who were taken hostage on October 7th.

Federations are also full of gratitude that Shiri Bibas has finally been brought home, where a proper burial can take place and she can be reunited with her boys, Ariel and Kfir. We are also praying for Yarden Bibas, husband to Shiri and father to the boys, as he mourns this terrible loss.

Read our full statement: ow.ly/eiy630sKeQf

02/20/2025

02/16/2025

Jewish Federations of North America Today, Jewish Federations are grateful and relieved to see Sagui Dekel Chen, Alexander Sasha Troufanov and Iair Horn back on Israeli soil after a terrifying 498 days in Hamas captivity in which they were unaware if their loved ones would be waiting for them. We pray for their recovery and remain hopeful for the release of all other innocent hostages who have suffered nearly 500 days in the hands of this terrorist regime.

The hostages released Saturday include:

Sagui Dekel Chen, a United States-Israeli citizen, who will meet his baby daughter for the first time when he returns home.

Iair Horn, an Argentinian-Israeli citizen, who was with his younger brother, Eitan, when they were both captured by Hamas. While Iair was released, his brother, who was visiting for the holiday on October 7, remains in captivity.

Alexander Sasha Troufanov, a Russian-Israeli citizen, who was with his mother, father, grandmother, and girlfriend when terrorists arrived. His father was murdered, and the rest were taken as hostages. The three women were released in November.

02/09/2025

Jewish Federations of North America In yet another moment of gratitude, Jewish Federations welcome Or Levy, Eli Sharabo, and Ohad Ben Ami home after a horrifying 491 days in Hamas captivity. At the same time, we are appalled and saddened by their medical condition and the serious abuse and malnutrition they have suffered at the hands of their cruel captors.

Or Levy, 34, and his wife, Eynav, had just arrived at the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023. Terrorists killed Eynav and kidnapped Or. Upon his release, Or is expected to be reunited with his son, Almog, age 3.

Eli Sharabi, 52, was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Beeri on October 7, 2023. Eli’s wife and daughters were murdered, and his brother Yossi was abducted and killed.

Ohad Ben Ami, 56, spent two birthdays in Hamas captivity. A dual Israel-German citizen, he was shot in the shoulder and abducted from Beeri. His wife, Raz Ben Ami, was also kidnapped, and released in November 2023. She then became a fierce advocate for the release of the remaining hostages.

Each hostage release from Gaza brings a great sense of comfort and anticipation of the release of the remaining 76 hostages. We continue to pray that will happen in the coming weeks so that our community can begin the healing process.

02/04/2025

EJewish Philanthropy "Across the Jewish world, our community has united in record numbers. According to a recent study conducted by Jewish Federations of North America, some 43% of Jews have sought to or have engaged more with Jewish life since October 2023.

At Hillel Ontario, we see this surge firsthand. As the largest Hillel in the world, we’ve experienced a 40% year-over-year growth in student engagement and, already this school year, we’re poised to increase that growth further."

As a new year begins, Jewish nonprofit leaders face a question that is as fundamental as it is ironic: How do we sustain the unprecedented growth in Jewish engagement that followed Oct. 7?  It’s a fundamental question because fueling growth...

02/02/2025

Jewish Federations of North America With a sense of deep relief, Jewish Federations welcome home Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon and Yarden Bibas after a horrifying 484 days in Hamas captivity.

Keith Siegel is a native of North Carolina who moved to Israel 40 years ago, and is the first American citizen to be released as part of the current ceasefire agreement. He and wife Aviva were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023. Aviva was freed during a previous deal in November 2023.
Ofer Calderon is a French-Israeli citizen who was taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his children, Erez and Sahar. The two children were released under the terms of the previous ceasefire arrangement.

Yarden Bibas, his wife Shiri, and their children, Ariel and Kfir, were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. At the time, Kfir was just 9 months old and Ariel was 4 years old. Yarden was wounded during his kidnapping, and was seen being abducted to Gaza separately from his family. A video of Shiri clinging to her children as they were kidnapped has become an enduring image of the Hamas attacks on Israel. It is unknown whether Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel are still alive, and our community prays for their safe return home.

With every individual released from Gaza and reunited with their loved ones, we are overwhelmed with emotion and hope. Yet our community cannot fully begin to heal from the horrors of October 7 until every last one of the remaining 79 hostages is released. We pray that in the coming weeks, they all will be.

01/31/2025

Hey Alma "Award season 2025 is officially in full swing. Earlier this month, we saw “The Brutalist” and Adrien Brody win big at the Golden Globes, and just last week Oscar nominations were announced, bestowing nominations upon Jewish Academy Award hopefuls like Timothée Chalamet and Mikey Madison. Next up: The 67th Grammy Awards, which will be held on Feb. 2, 2025."

Award season 2025 is officially in full swing. Earlier this month, we saw "The Brutalist" and Adrien Brody win big at the Golden Globes, and just last week Oscar nominations were announced, bestowing nominations upon Jewish Academy Award hopefuls like Timothée Chalamet and Mikey Madison. Next up: T...

01/27/2025

aish.com "In late September, 1944, a group of Sonderkommando planned a daring uprising in Auschwitz, determined to stall the N**is’ death machine as best they could. But they couldn’t do it alone. For help, they turned to a group of incredibly brave Jewish women who risked torture and death to fight back against the N**i guards."

Eighty years ago, Jews and other prisoners rose up against Auschwitz’s N**i guards.