As thrilling as it is for snowboarders and skaters winning Olympic gold to have their moment on the podium, it’s also thrilling for their coaches, families, and supporters. Because each plays a critical role in helping realize the athlete’s dream.

We had a similarly exhilarating podium experience this week, though ours wasn’t in PyeongChang, but rather at the Israeli Knesset. Still, it felt like an Olympic moment.

The event was the acceptance speech of Pnina Tamano-Shata, the first Ethiopian woman to serve in Knesset, who spoke about UJA-Federation and its work from the Knesset podium as she was sworn in for a second time. You can watch part of her speech here, with subtitles.

It may be the first time the words “UJA-Federation of New York” (or, more precisely, its Hebrew equivalent) have been uttered from the podium of Knesset. But given Pnina’s story — and how it follows the arc of our philanthropic partnership with Israel — it’s a moment long in the making.

Pnina’s family first came to Israel in 1984 as part of Operation Moses, the clandestine rescue of Ethiopian Jewry that was supported by UJA. In the beginning years, her family lived at an absorption center, run by our partner, the Jewish Agency for Israel. Later, she participated in Olim Beyahad (Rising Up Together), a program we support that provides Ethiopians at the university level with help preparing for the workforce.

In 2016, Pnina participated in Co.Lab, a UJA-created initiative that emerged from the recognition that the four major “tribes of Israel,” as they’ve been called by President Rivlin — secular Jews, Arab Israelis, religious Zionists, and Haredi (ultra-Orthodox Jews) — must all be integrated into Israeli society and find ways of working together. Co.Lab chooses leaders from across these groups and others, all with the ability to impact their respective communities, and brings them together for an intensive six-month program. During that time, they learn from each other, shatter stereotypes, and think about ways of working together to strengthen Israel.

In her Knesset address, Pnina speaks passionately about the brilliant people she encountered at Co.Lab — people with whom she would otherwise have no connection — and its profound impact on her world view. She then calls on all Israelis to reflect on its powerful lessons of partnership and understanding.

The story of Pnina and her family mirrors two stages of UJA’s philanthropic priorities in Israel. Initially focusing on aliyah and absorption, and then also investing in partnerships and programs that aim to strengthen the Jewish and democratic character of the state, UJA’s work in Israel directly helped enable Pnina’s success.

And now, we’re looking to Pnina, Israel’s newest member of Knesset, to help us. As I’ve discussed before, UJA is adding a third strategic priority: building stronger bridges not just between the four tribes in Israel, but between Israelis and the fifth tribe — world Jewry. All of us.

This complicated issue will require a multi-faceted strategy for the long-term. At least one such strategy requires dynamic leaders like Pnina to tell the story of a vibrant American Jewish community to Israelis who don’t fully understand who we are or what animates us.

Bottom line: whichever one of our tribes stands at the proverbial podium or struggles with daunting challenges, we all need to be there to share in the moment, to lift one another up, and to understand that our destinies are tied together — today and always.

Shabbat shalom

P.S. It’s painful but necessary to pivot to the news that’s consuming us as a nation. We’re devastated over the Parkland school shooting, the unimaginable loss of life and the emotional trauma that the surviving students will long endure. The Jewish community in Broward County, which suffered a number of losses, reports that they are coming together to mourn, comfort friends and family, and offer mental health support.

We pray that, as a country, we find a way to stop these horrific shootings and keep our children, and all people, safe from harm.