Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts

06/15/2026

Thank you to the Daily Hampshire Gazette for posting CEO Adam Solender's piece on Town of Wendell, MA

06/14/2026

06/13/2026

Ahead of Juneteenth, you’re invited to join Jewish Federations of North America on Wednesday, June 17 at 1:30 PM ET for a conversation with Rabbi Dr. Chaim Tureff, whose documentary follows a transformative journey to Selma, Alabama with students from Los Angeles’ Pressman Academy and RB Hudson School. Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/5QFS50Zb8IX

06/12/2026

This week's message from Federation CEO Solender :

In a weekly missive dedicated to Jewish life, the passing of two leaders from outside our immediate Jewish community might prompt some to ask: Why do we pause to mourn them? Why does their loss belong here?

The answer lies at the very heart of who we are. The Jewish community does not exist in a vacuum; our safety, our flourishing, and our moral imperative are deeply intertwined with the neighbors who stand alongside us. Henry M. Thomas III and Benjamin Swan who both died in the last few weeks, were not just leaders of Western Massachusetts; they were historic architects of the coalitions that kept our community connected, understood, and supported. When the Jewish community needed allies, they were there. When the fight for civil rights demanded a unified front, they built the bridges. To honor them is to recognize that our history in this region cannot be written without them. We feature them today because to lose champions of mutual respect is a collective loss for us all.

The Jewish community of Western Massachusetts joined countless neighbors in mourning the loss of these two extraordinary civic leaders, Henry M. Thomas III and Benjamin Swan. Their passing leaves a profound void, but their lives leave behind something far greater: a legacy of partnership, dignity, and a steadfast commitment to the common good.

Our tradition teaches, “The world stands upon three things: “Torah, service, and acts of loving kindness” (Pirkei Avot 1:2). Both Henry Thomas and Benjamin Swan devoted their lives to that sacred work. Though they came from different backgrounds and walked different paths, they shared a belief that communities flourish when people see one another not as strangers, but as partners.

For decades, Henry Thomas stood as one of the towering figures of our region. Through his remarkable leadership of the Urban League of Springfield and his unwavering advocacy for educational opportunity, economic justice, and civil rights, he forged relationships that transcended race, religion, and geography. He understood that progress is never achieved alone. Time and again, he found common cause with the Jewish community and with so many others who sought a more equitable and compassionate Western Massachusetts.

Benjamin Swan carried that same spirit. A veteran of the Civil Rights Movement, a legislator, and an advocate for justice, he dedicated his life to ensuring that every person was seen and heard. He understood that the struggles of different communities are intertwined, and he believed deeply in the power of coalitions rooted in mutual respect. Through years of public service and activism, he strengthened bonds among people of diverse backgrounds and reminded us that democracy and dignity are collective responsibilities.

In Jewish tradition, we speak of tikkun olam—the obligation to repair the world. Neither Henry Thomas nor Benjamin Swan used those Hebrew words, but they lived them. Their work reflected a conviction shared by so many faith traditions: that we are called to lift one another up, to confront injustice, and to leave our communities stronger than we found them.

The Talmud teaches, “Whoever saves a single life, it is as if they have saved an entire world.” Through their advocacy, their mentorship, and their moral leadership, these two men touched countless lives and, in doing so, transformed our region for the better.

May their memories be for a blessing.

And may we honor them not only with words of remembrance, but by continuing the work they so nobly advanced—building bridges, seeking justice, and recognizing in one another the image of God that binds us together as one human family.

06/05/2026

This week's message along with what's happening around the Pioneer Valley
https://mailchi.mp/jewishwesternmass.org/our-weekly-email-with-events-and-opportunities-for-the-whole-family-is-here-5381065

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

Federation CEO, Adam Solender’s Opinion piece in today’s Springfield Republican/ MassLive

Democracy on a Rainy Day in Wendell

On a recent gray, rainy Saturday morning, with the temperature hovering around 43 degrees, I found myself driving the winding roads through Sunderland, North Leverett into Wendell.

As I entered town, American flags hung from utility poles, stirring gently in the damp breeze. Ahead stood the white Town Hall, modest and unassuming, the kind of building that could easily be overlooked by someone passing through. Yet inside was something extraordinary.

As I walked in to the building, the community room was nearly filled to capacity. Collapsible chairs stretched across the floor, occupied by townspeople who had come together for their annual Town Meeting. Tables stretched across the front of the room with Town Selectman and staff members who guided the meeting. There were no television cameras or social media algorithms deciding what voices deserved attention. There were simply neighbors gathered to govern themselves.

As our nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American experiment, I could not help but think that this room represented democracy at its finest.

After 26 warrants which ranged from authorization of revolving funds to the purchase of a Ford F-550 Super Duty Dump Truck, the issue that drew the greatest attention was a warrant Article #27 “Declaring the Town of Wendell to be an Apartheid-Free Community.” It was a subject that touched on matters far beyond town borders and evoked strong emotions from people on all sides. The speakers who rose to address the article did so with passion, conviction, and sincerity. Some believed deeply that adopting the measure was a moral imperative. Others were equally convinced that it was misguided, divisive, or outside the proper scope of town government. The disagreement was real, and at times profound.

Yet what struck me most was not the disagreement itself.
It was the manner in which that disagreement unfolded.

People spoke to one another, not at one another. They listened. They waited their turn. They acknowledged the humanity of those neighbors with whom they disagreed. They shared fears about the current climate in our country and in our communities. Some spoke about feeling threatened or marginalized. Others expressed concern about rising antisemitism, polarization, and division. Again and again, speakers returned to a common theme: the importance of neighbors caring for neighbors.
No one pretended that these concerns were insignificant. No one suggested that the issues were simple. But neither did anyone seek to silence the other side.

Meanwhile, the practical business of the town moved forward.

Budgets were considered. Municipal needs were discussed. Votes were taken. The work of local government continued, just as it has in New England town halls for generations. Most articles were resolved efficiently and respectfully, demonstrating that democracy is not merely about grand debates but also about the everyday responsibilities of community life.

When the discussion finally concluded, the voters cast their ballots. The resolution was defeated. Some were disappointed. Others were relieved. But the process had worked exactly as it was intended to work. Citizens spoke. Citizens listened. Citizens voted. The majority prevailed, while the minority retained both its voice and its dignity.

And then something remarkable happened.

People moved on. They talked. They shook hands. They gathered their coats and umbrellas. They returned out in the cold to their warm homes and their lives. They remained neighbors and friends.

In an era when many Americans have come to believe that disagreement must lead to hostility, Wendell offered a different lesson. Democracy does not require unanimity. It does not demand that we all think alike. What it asks is that we recognize one another as fellow citizens, worthy of respect even when our views diverge.

On that cold, rainy morning, in a white Town Hall decorated by little more than folding chairs and civic commitment, I witnessed something hopeful. I saw democracy not as an abstract ideal, but as a living practice. Two hundred and fifty years after the birth of our nation, it remains one of America's greatest strengths.

Wendell may be a small town. But on that day, it offered a lesson that communities across the country would do well to remember.

06/03/2026

Flanked by elected state leaders, members of the Jewish community and faith advocacy partners in the state, Governor Jim Pillen on Friday issued an Executive Order on antisemitism. In general…