101 Miles on 10.26: Support MJDS and Bring Hostages Home!

Join Me in Riding 101 Miles for a Powerful Cause

Hi! I’m Elan, and on October 26th, 2024, I’ve committed to riding 101 miles—one mile for each hostage still held in Gaza. My mission is to raise awareness for these hostages and to support an incredible institution, the Milwaukee Jewish Day School (MJDS), as part of my role on their board’s development committee.

Over the past 18 months, I’ve developed a passion for cycling (shoutout Uncle Kes!). My stretch goal was always to bike 100 miles in a single ride. As this cycling season came to a close, it hit me: there are 101 hostages in Gaza. Why not ride 101 miles and turn this personal challenge into an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for a cause that’s so important right now?

Why MJDS?

Since working in Wisconsin for my new job, I’ve fallen in love with the Milwaukee Jewish Day School. After meeting with their board and the head of school, I immediately felt the deep impact they have. MJDS nurtures kind, curious, and thoughtful children who take pride in their Jewish identity—something that feels more crucial now than ever before. I had the privilege of spending the morning with them on October 7th, 2024, for an all-student prayer service, and I was blown away by the warmth and unity of the students. Since their tuition only covers a small portion of the school’s revenue (<35%), they truly need our support to keep their incredible work going.

Why the Hostages Forum?

I would be remiss not to mention the 18% of funds that will go to the Hostages Forum, an organization tirelessly working to bring the hostages home. This is not a political issue—it’s a humanitarian one. Raising awareness and supporting these efforts is vital.

Lately, I’ve found myself asking two difficult questions:

1) How has raising awareness about hostages become “political?”

2) Why does it feel uncomfortable to post about my own Jewish identity?

I know many of you have likely asked yourselves the same questions. But now more than ever, it’s critical to stand tall, to be proud of our Jewish identity, and to represent it openly. The discomfort I felt in sharing this post only reaffirmed that it’s the right thing to do. I hope this inspires you to embrace who you are and to be proud.

A Special Message to My Network

Many of you may not be familiar with MJDS since most of my network is outside of Wisconsin. But that makes your potential impact even greater. Even a donation of $18 will help this Jewish institution thrive and sustain itself. For a non-profit like MJDS, first-time donors are so important, and together, we can expand their donor base and help ensure their future success.

The Ride Details

I'll be starting in Highland Park, IL, making my way to the city of Chicago, and then directly north to MJDS in Milwaukee. I’ve received interest from a few people wanting to join me for part or all of the ride. While I initially planned to ride solo, I’d be thrilled to have others join. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to ride along!

This effort is about so much more than the miles or the money raised—it’s about hope, resilience, and the strength of community. Every dollar you donate will help provide resources for MJDS students and support efforts to reunite hostages with their families. If you can’t donate, please consider liking, sharing, or commenting to help spread the word. Your support means the world to me.

Thank you for your generosity, and let’s make every mile count!

Link to MJDS: https://www.mjds.org/

Link to Hostages Forum: https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/