Women for Israel
When Dana Fish thinks of Israel, she thinks of home.
After first visiting in 2015 for her children’s b’nei mitzvot, Dana says the country transformed her and her Judaism, pushing her to become a voice for Israel and its people back in her home city of Chicago, Illinois.
“People say you get off the plane and you feel like you’re home, and I really, really had that feeling,” says Dana.
Dana, the chair of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Women for Israel (WFI) Chicago committee, channeled that feeling of connection by getting involved with Jewish National Fund-USA and trusting the organization to act as her voice within Israel.
“What makes Dana such a natural leader for WFI,” said Sara King, National Director, Womens Campaign, “is that from day one, Dana was ready to roll up her sleeves and make a difference. She truly has had an impact both on our local community and in Israel. Her dedication as a member and now as co-chair of Women for Israel in Chicago is an incredible testament to her commitment and passion.”
Dana took on a leadership role with the WFI committee after several years of contributing and attending events in the hopes of inspiring other Jewish women in her area to become voices for Israel. “I think there are some areas of our work that speak specifically to women. Those are ways for them to personally put their stamp on their giving,” she said.
What stood out about Jewish National Fund-USA in general to Dana is how empowered the organization makes its partners (donors) feel. “It was really the only organization where I felt like they wanted me to really be a part of things. They just seem to want people to get really involved, to come up with solutions,” she said. “If there was something that appealed to you about a certain cause or a certain geographical area in Israel, you could say, ‘I would like my money to go there.’”
Assaf Grumberg, Jewish National Fund-USA Director, Illinois had this to say about Dana: “It’s not just the time and energy she gives, but the complete heart and soul that she puts into the work. Her love of Israel’s North, her commitment to educational initiatives for all of Israel’s children, and her dedication to expanding medical care access across Israel are just a few of the guideposts that have informed her philanthropy and her leadership.”
After October 7, Dana’s desire to have an active hand in Israel’s well-being grew. Looking for ways to be more involved, she spoke with Yedidya Harush, a reservist and Israel Envelope resident partnered with Jewish National Fund-USA. She expressed her frustration at not being able to be on the ground in Israel, to which Dana recalls Yedidya replying: “Without our partners, I don’t have what I need to fight. We absolutely need you in America and around the world, to partner with us to help us build these resilience centers that we’re going to need, to build new medical centers, to build infrastructure and all of this.”
Dana took his words to heart, and has since been focusing on raising funds, planning events, and inspiring other women to become voices for Israel.
“I view these as the most important things that I can do,” she said. “At my age, I can’t go there and fight—so I can partner with Jewish National Fund-USA and make a difference that way.”
To learn more about Women for Israel, contact Sara King at [email protected]
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