Thank you for all you do.

The following reflections were sent by NCJW CEO Sheila Katz to NCJW advocates on Thanksgiving.

Judaism offers us the ultimate framework for a daily thank you: Modeh Ani, “I give thanks,” a prayer of gratitude for a new day.

Traditionally, the Modeh Ani is said each morning. As we approach this Thanksgiving, I am writing to offer you my Modeh Ani — my deepest gratitude for all you do to build a better world for women, children, and families. 

This hasn’t been an easy year. And still, you and 225,000 National Council of Jewish Women advocates across the country showed up.

You showed up to push back against injustice. You showed up to collaborate across differences. And you showed up to mobilize your communities for change.

Since last Thanksgiving, our NCJW movement has been unwavering to improving our communities and our country. Together, we…

• Passed critical legislation that helps women, children, and families thrive, including the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a landmark civil rights law that went into effect this year. It ensures pregnant workers and new parents can get the workplace accommodations they need without facing discrimination or retaliation in the workplace. Collectively, we guaranteed the right of millions of workers to keep their jobs. Modeh Ani.
• Centered survivors of sexual violence in the aftermath of October 7. We convened a special session at the UN demanding that UN formally acknowledge and condemn Hamas’ use of sexual violence as a tool of war in Israel. The event and its message reached more than 80 million people, and after the event, major news outlets shifted from saying “alleged” sexual violence and started saying “confirmed”. Together, we changed gave a voice to those Hamas has silenced. Modeh Ani.
  
• Confirmed 220 fair, qualified, and independent judges, representing a diversity of experiences and backgrounds. They will serve in lifetime seats on the federal courts and make countless decisions that impact women, children, and families. You helped us support:
  • Nicole Berner, who just last week celebrated her public oath of office ceremony  to the Fourth Circuit. Because of you, we were able to lead the effort to get her confirmed to the bench as our nation’s first LGBTQ, labor lawyer, and Israeli-American judge on that bench.
    
  • Adeel Mangi, who, if confirmed, would make history as the first Muslim judge on a circuit court. When he faced dangerous and unfounded Islamophobia, your support enabled us to lead the Jewish community in speaking out. Modeh Ani.

Federal judges impact every aspect of our lives, and our efforts this past year helped bring our nation’s courts closer to the promise of equal justice for all. Modeh Ani.

• Built a grassroots movement to reclaim the faith narrative around reproductive health, rights, and justice. Most recently, NCJW local sections and advocates across the country collected 2 million signatures to get measures to protect the right to abortion on the ballot across ten states, enshrining access to this vital care for 42 million people, and turning out voters in every state where abortion was on the ballot. And because of your mobilization, just last week, Missouri became the first state to overturn a total abortion ban. Modeh Ani.
• Galvanized the faith community in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), the ratified 28th amendment to the United States Constitution, that would guarantee equal rights to all people regardless of sex. Through our Faith in the ERA effort, NCJW is urging President Biden to take the historic next step to publish the ERA before he leaves office, an enduring legacy for gender equity. Modeh Ani.
• Led and filed an amicus brief in the US Supreme Court case, FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, on behalf of thirty-six organizations focused on the importance of medication abortion to a variety of faith traditions and centering the people most impacted. With our collective efforts, the Justices upheld access to mifepristone, one of a two pill regimen used in medication abortion at issue in this case. Modeh Ani.

Despite the challenges ahead of us, I’m full of gratitude for National Council of Jewish Women’s 49 local sections and 225,000 advocates who wake up every day with a goal of repairing our broken world. 

Thank you for being part of what makes NCJW so special. 

Modeh Ani. From us to you, Happy Thanksgiving.

Sheila Katz

CEO

National Council of Jewish Women