The Jewish Federation of Richmond has begun a three-year partnership with the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula (UJCVP) to support the northern Israeli town of Shlomi as it rebuilds from the devastation of months of rocket fire and subsequent evacuation during the ongoing conflict.
Located just one kilometer from Israel's northern border with Lebanon, Shlomi was evacuated in October 2023 as rocket attacks from Hezbollah intensified. The town of 8,650 residents suffered significant damage, with approximately 400 homes evacuated as rocket attacks from Hezbollah intensified.
The collaborative initiative, part of the global Communities2Gether program, represents a new model of international Jewish solidarity, bringing together two Virginia Jewish communities to maximize their impact on Israeli recovery efforts.
JCFR CEO Daniel Staffenberg said, "This initiative is about more than simply restoring buildings in a city in the north of Israel. With every dollar granted, and every community center rebuilt, Federation is fostering hope, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of our new friends in Shlomi- united by compassion, care and purpose,”
Shlomi is a diverse municipality with 26% of residents under age 18, with ambitious expansion plans to reach 30,000 inhabitants in the coming years— making the timing of this partnership particularly significant for the town's future development.
A Community Poised for Growth
Originally established in the 1950s as a transit camp for immigrants from Eastern Europe, Yemen, and Tunisia, Shlomi has evolved into a diverse municipality serving as both a commercial hub and home to a thriving industrial zone. The town absorbed around 1,000 immigrants from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s, who now comprise over 20% of the population.
Addressing Critical Needs
The joint steering committee identified Shlomi's most pressing challenges, which the partnership will address through targeted funding:
- Physical Reconstruction: A severe contractor shortage has slowed repair efforts for damaged homes and public buildings, complicated by budgetary gaps from government decisions. The partnership will help bridge these financial barriers to restore essential infrastructure.
- Security Enhancement: Shlomi is implementing a comprehensive security strategy including high-security fencing, surveillance systems, radar technology, and a specialized tactical response unit.
- Community Safety Systems: Advanced monitoring and surveillance infrastructure will be developed, including strategic observation points and smart scheduling tools to track community readiness and emergency response capabilities.
"We envision this as more than just financial support—we're building a genuine bridge between our communities," shared UJCVP CEO, Eric Maurer.
The multi-year commitment will include not only financial assistance, but also people-to-people initiatives such as overseas missions and cultural exchanges designed to strengthen the bonds between Virginia and Israeli families.
“My hope is that we not just raise inspirational financial resources to help but create inspiring new friendships and relationships between our communities,” said Staffenberg.
The Communities2Gether framework was established by The Jewish Agency for Israel in collaboration with Jewish Federations of North America. The global initiative has already created 32 active partnerships, with 26 representing entirely new relationships formed in response to the October 7 attacks.
Editor’s Note: The photo at the top of the article shows some Shlomi residents gathered at the local Community Center this past October. In the Features section, see a second article about the resilience of residents of Shlomi since October 2023.