The Jewish Federation of St. Louis that I see today is a wonderful institution.

There are many people, from all walks of life, who have contributed greatly to this enterprise since its founding in 1901.

On behalf of the many recipients who benefit from your generosity — but do not have the opportunity to acknowledge you directly for it — I would like to say a profound, “thank you.”

I am going to start by asking you to imagine.

Imagine a place.

It is a narrow, semi-arid, place bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

It is a relatively small place, approximately 290 miles long and 85 miles wide, at its widest point, with a diverse geography.

In size, it is roughly comparable to the State of New Jersey.

Imagine this place is a country — surrounded by 21 Arab states.

In and of itself, this would not be problematic.

However, the vast majority of these surrounding nations have declared their open hostility to the existence of this place.

This place is, of course, the State of Israel.

The 21 nations that surround Israel have a combined population that is 50 times larger than the population of Israel.

The surrounding countries possess a physical territory that is approximately 650 times that of the State of Israel.

Imagine a conflict, or environment, in which 50 people are all allied against you, alone.

You are on your own.

Your survival is a function of your wits, your strategy, your strength, the financial generosity you receive from supporters, and the successful management of your affairs.

You must persevere or perish.

The odds of your success are not good — and you have no margin for error.

Let me give you a different perspective.

There are approximately 14 million people of the Jewish faith worldwide.

Of course, these people cross a wide spectrum of beliefs — from the extremely devout, to those who are more cultural or secular in their connectivity or spirituality.

This compares with a total world population of approximately 6.5 billion people.

In other words, there are approximately 470 people on the planet earth for each person of the Jewish faith — left, right or center, religious, or not practicing.

The numbers are even more staggering when we compare the world’s population to that of the Jewish population in Israel.

The State of Israel has approximately 5.2 million people of the Jewish faith, which when compared to the rest of the world means there are approximately 1,250 people for every Israeli who is of the Jewish faith.

And, by the way, that 5.2 million people represents about 76% of the population of the State of Israel.

In other words, the “Jewish State” is far from being comprised of people exclusively of the Jewish faith.

Like many of you, I have been to Israel.

It has its challenges — economic, social, religious, racial and more, not unlike those in the United States and other countries.

I have also spent a fair amount of time in many of Israel’s neighboring states including but not limited to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

I have friends, school mates, and professional acquaintances in those countries and I have observed an array of traditions and met a number of people that I admire. I can also tell you, from first hand experience, that Israel’s challenges notwithstanding, it is an oasis of opportunity and dynamism, of can do spirit, of creativity, and of free thought and diversity.

The Israeli oasis needs our continued support.

It needs this support both to survive and to thrive.

Today, approximately one third of the Federation’s distributions are directed overseas — the majority to the Jewish Agency for Israel.

With a budget of nearly half a billion dollars, the Jewish Agency’s primary roles are the transmigration and absorption of new immigrants in the land of Israel.

It is a daunting, and inspiring, task.

Since 1995, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis has forged a direct working relationship in Israel — providing economic, educational and social development support to the region of Yokne’am-Megiddo, just southeast of Haifa.

As a result of this work, today, the people of St. Louis have a “home base” in Israel.

The Jewish Federation of St. Louis has also had prominent and consistent involvement with Operation Promise, which has brought over 100,000 Ethiopian people of the Jewish faith to Israel.

You have helped fund the IBTech initiative, funding high-tech business incubators, vocational training, and small business loans — all of which have been essential in strengthening the economy of Israel.

You helped open the Israel Experience Center, which was designed to promote travel to Israel amongst young people, which helps to foster a powerful connection in our young people and strengthens their Jewish identity.

And, you have been tremendous supporters of the cultural and artistic vitality of the State of Israel, frequently promoting and bringing a wide array of Israeli culture to the United States. I hope that you will continue in your tradition of leadership, while also galvanizing others to join us in that effort.

Every supporter matters and every dollar counts.

One theme (for tonight’s event) is “leading in a time of need.” But what does it mean and how can we accomplish it?

I think you know the answer and your actions have demonstrated that.

Nevertheless, let me offer a few observations.

To me, leading in a time of need means doing the most you can — with what you have.

It means leading with your words, and your actions.

It means setting a standard of integrity in your personal life, of accomplishment in your professional endeavors, and of humanity and generosity in the support you provide for the communities of which you are a part — and some of which you are not.

It means living holistically, and in a way that those who came before us, and those who will be here after we are gone, would be proud.

It means living generously, and it means making a difference.

And that is where you, and the Federation, play a vital role.

The Federation can help you have an impact on important issues that touch people’s lives in a significant way — in St. Louis, Israel, and in 65 countries around the globe.

We don’t really give to the Federation, we give through the Federation. And, it is important to know that your gift makes a difference. By giving through the Federation, each of us has an efficient and effective way to help others — and enhance the meaning of our own lives.

When you help tackle anti-Semitism and terror, you connect to people of the Jewish faith around the world in unfathomable pain, facing the most arduous of circumstances.

When you help protect abused and neglected children, you show your own kids, and others, what is important in life.

When you help seniors live with dignity and independence, you set an example of leadership and humanity.

And when you help to strengthen the identity in our children, you assure a future for people of the Jewish faith.

We have but one life to live, and one opportunity to give.

Steven L. Fradkin is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Northern Trust Corporation, headquartered in Chicago. This commentary contains excerpts adapted from his speech “Imagining Israel: The Need to Lead” given at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis Major Gifts Dinner Celebration and 2008 Campaign Launch on Oct. 28, 2007.