CEO UNVEILS VISION FOR THE FUTURE AT PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL RECEPTION
“What we are doing here, now, the decisions that we make as an organization and the women that we are bringing into the fold who then take that back to their families and take that back to their communities – the stuff that we are doing today in this moment –impacts us for generations to come.”
– TARA BROWN, MOMENTUM CEO
Philadelphia holds deep meaning for Momentum’s new CEO, Tara Brown, both personally and professionally. It’s the birthplace of America, it’s where she met her husband, and it’s also where she presented at her first event for Momentum supporters, at a Feb. 2 reception hosted by President’s Council members Mary Ellen and Drew Weissman.
Tara spoke passionately about plans for the future and the need to expand Momentum’s offerings to reach more women, families, and communities around the world. There are waitlists for Momentum’s trips to Israel, and she expressed a need to focus on fundraising and organizational structure to keep scaling up.
“What we do today matters and will pay off for many, many years to come … I thank you, because if you’re in this room you are either generously invested in our work or soon to be and so, I thank you because without you, we actually can’t do this,” Tara said to the President’s Council members, board members, and Philadelphia-area supporters in attendance.
What is the President’s Council?
Momentum’s President’s Council is composed of dynamic, philanthropic supporters who join the current and past presidents of the Momentum board to advance the organization’s global vision and mission.
FELLOWSHIP IN PHILLY
Momentum’s Leadership Development initiative continues to grow and deepen in communities around the globe. Most recently, our 13th Fellowship Summit took place in Philadelphia, February 1-3, at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. We were honored to celebrate longtime Philadelphia community leader and Momentum supporter Cindy Smukler at the summit for her extraordinary dedication and commitment to Momentum and the Jewish people.
FELLOWS INCLUDING PARTNER COHORTS COMING UP
• Building a Marketing and Communications Strategy 82
FELLOWSHIP NEXT EXPANDS
This year, Fellowship NEXT, a followup program to Momentum’s leadership summits, is expanding in ways that Fellows have been asking for, with more opportunities to collaborate, deeper learning, and practical tools they can use immediately in their work and communities.
In 2026, workshops will focus on the topics Fellows have consistently told us matter most, like:
• Fundraising
• Community Engagement and Retention
UNITY WITHOUT UNIFORMITY:
ACHAYOT LECHOSEN LAUNCHES 2ND COHORT
On Jan. 28, 80 women across 13 teams – religious, secular, Haredi, and Orthodox – came together for the second cohort of a groundbreaking cross-sector initiative in Israel to support families impacted by the war. Through the Achayot LeChosen program, these teams are accompanying families of injured soldiers in Beit Shemesh, Petach Tikva, and Tel Aviv, with a special focus on mothers and spouses. We are proud to be part of this deeply meaningful and values-driven initiative, living out Momentum’s vision by bridging divisions, strengthening national unity, and translating empathy into meaningful action.
SHABBAT GUIDEBOOK BROADENS ITS REACH
The upcoming edition of the Shabbat Guidebook is taking shape and will more fully reflect our commitment to unity without uniformity.
This edition intentionally expands the range of practices represented, with the addition of three Mizrachi and Sephardi traditions integrated into the existing framework.
The goal is to offer a richer, more expansive picture of Shabbat that honors the diversity of Jewish lived experience while remaining accessible and inspiring.
AS A JEW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN’T AFRAID?
Inspired by the courage of Purim and the power of International Women’s Day, Momentum featured on its March 5 Boost two best-selling female authors who went “all-in” for the Jewish people: former White House speech writer Sarah Hurwitz and former Global Head of Culture at TikTok, Michal Oshman.
UPCOMING BOOSTS: SAVE THE DATE MAY 31 • OCT. 11 • NOV. 30
THE MOMENTUM JOURNEY OF
GROWTH AND SIGNATURE TRIPS TO ISRAEL
Through a dynamic and sometimes uncertain environment, interest in Momentum's Journey of Growth trips is continuing to surge Programs are nearing capacity, and active waitlists are now in place for Spanish, Russian, and English-speaking participants, an encouraging signal of both global demand and the strength of our community.
We have made the difficult decision to postpone our April trips, and we are closely monitoring the evolving situation in Israel and the broader region as it pertains to trips later this spring and into summer. We are in ongoing, direct communication with the Israeli government and the Israel Defense Forces to ensure the safety and security of all trip participants and staff. The well-being of our community remains our highest priority, and we will continue to assess conditions in real time as the trips approach.
Momentum’s educator cohort is also seeing significant growth: one bus representing eight schools has already been filled for July 2026, and we are actively working to expand to a full three-bus educator delegation, reflecting deepening engagement from partners worldwide.
INTEREST IN MOMENTUM GRAND AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH
Spots are filling up fast for the upcoming Momentum Grand trip taking place Oct. 19-25. This extraordinary, transformational, and spiritual journey to Israel is for women looking to invest in themselves and continue building the Momentum movement.
Learn more and apply at momentumunlimited.org/ momentum-grand.
FROM A VISIT TO A DREAM: MOMENTUM IN ACTION
This coming June, a delegation of 25 teenagers and six tutors from Ofakim, Naharia, and Afula will travel to Paris for five meaningful days thanks to an inspired group of Momentum alumni.
During their May 2025 trip, the group visited the Pothim Atid center, which serves as a safe, nurturing space for children and teenagers from families facing complex challenges. For many of these children, the center is a second home.
One of the participants was so deeply moved by this visit –especially when she realized that many of the kids had never traveled outside of Israel – that she began exploring, along with Momentum and partner Keren Hayesod, how to bring a group of these teens to France.
She built a dedicated volunteer team – all alumni from the trip. Through their initiative, commitment, and network, they mobilized to make this project happen.
This initiative is a powerful reflection of what Momentum truly ignites.
