$27 million was raised Tuesday night at the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) National NY Gala Dinner where over 1,400 prominent business and philanthropic leaders from across the country gathered at the historic Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to demonstrate their love and support for the soldiers of Israel. FIDF Chairman Emeritus Arthur Stark was the chair of the Gala, and author and nationally syndicated radio host Dr. Monica Crowley served as the evening's Master of Ceremonies.
A special delegation from the FIDF Pennsylvania & Southern New Jersey Region participated in the Gala event. Among the delegation members was the Executive Director of the FIDF Pennsylvania & Southern New Jersey Region, Tzvia Wexler.
This summer List College will be launching JustCity, a new precollege program in Jewish social justice. In collaboration with Avodah, Ramah and USY, JustCity will offer rising high-school juniors and seniors the opportunity to deepen their Jewish identity while working on community-building projects with organizations such as Hazon, Kids Creative, and Hurricane Sandy relief agencies. Participants will live in the JTS residence halls and engage in Jewish text study with JTS faculty in the mornings. Afternoons will be devoted to service learning in the field, and evenings and weekends will be spent further exploring New York City and developing the skills necessary to transform their passion for Jewish social justice in to action. Please visit The JustCity website for more information.
New York City, NY / Falls Village, CT
Monday, December 3, 2012 / 19 Kislev 5773
The boards of Hazon and the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center are today announcing the anticipated merger of the two well-respected Jewish non-profits. Both organizations are rooted in the New York area; have national impact; are known for providing transformative experiences; and in particular play a leading role in the Jewish Food Movement and Jewish environmental movement.
On December 4, JSPAN presented its 2012 Social Justice Award to Dr. Ernest Kahn. Dr. Kahn has served the Jewish Community in numerous capacities, including Director of Community Planning, Associate Executive Vice President and acting Executive Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. The award was presented to Dr. Kahn by the co-chairs of the event, David Gutin and Burt Siegel. Dr. Kahn expressed his deep appreciation for the award not only on his own behalf, but as recognition of the contribution made by professionals to the wider Jewish community.
Also addressing the gathering was Professor Michael Reisch, Daniel Thursz Professor of Social Justice at the University of Maryland. Dr. Reisch spoke on "The Implications of the Election for the Future of Social Welfare in the U.S." Professor Reisch observed a need for a change in the discourse in both Washington and in the states about funding of social services and advanced the idea that the word "entitlements" — so much a part of the controversy over budget and deficits — is really a misnomer since all employees and self employed pay into Social Security and Medicare during their working years.
Rebecca Salame, a member of our community, is in urgent need of our help. She is a single mother with late stage Lymphoma. If she doesn't get a bone marrow transplant in 3-6 months, then there will be nothing left for her to do.
Rebecca's transplant team and main local oncologist are at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Order your free cheeck swabbing kit. This will not hurt!
Your results will be recorded in Be The Match's database. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has a dedicated person on staff who tracks these results. If a match is found, they will immediately be contacted.
The Golden Slipper Clubs & Charities (GSC) is celebrating its 90th birthday in 2012, as it continues to find new and creative ways to help people in need of their services. Recently, one of the arms of the GSC, its Human Needs and Services (HUNAS) division, teamed up with B'Nai
B'rith Project H.O.P.E. (Help Our People Everywhere) to launch a coat drive for homeless shelters in Philadelphia and Norristown.
Over 400 coats and other essentials designed to get recipients through the winter were collected by Golden Slipper Club members.
B'nai B'rith International is launching an Israel Emergency Fund in response to events in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Its goal is to raise funds to assist Israeli residents who are dealing with a barrage of rocket attacks from Hamas. Funds could also be used to help with the personal needs of Israel Defense Forces soldiers.
In response to Israel's military efforts to stop the barrage of rockets fired from Gaza, and the subsequent escalation in violence, the arms of the Reform Movement, representing 1.5 million Jews in North America, as well as numerous professional organizations and affiliates, are joining together, calling for spiritual, political, and financial support for Israel.
Rabbis and cantors in communities across the country representing all four major denominations are committing to living for one week on a food budget of $31.50, the average allotment for individuals on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly SNAP), as part of the 2012 Jewish Community Food Stamp Challenge, running from the lead-up to the High Holy Days starting September 7 and continuing through Thanksgiving. Participating clergy will take the challenge in order to educate congregations and communities about the realities of hunger and raise a loud collective Jewish voice about this crisis.
"Hunger and food insecurity touch every one of our communities, but it is rarely talked about and frequently misunderstood," said Rabbi Leonard Gordon, co-chair of the Jewish Community Food Stamp Challenge representing the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and a member of the JCPA board. "The Food Stamp Challenge is a way for rabbis and cantors to make the invisible daily struggles of congregants and neighbors real while demonstrating the Jewish community's deep commitment to help those in need. This includes education about the programs and assistance available."
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, will mark a century of partnership with Israel with its Centennial Convention in Jerusalem. Two thousand Hadassah members arriving in Israel will celebrate Hadassah's centennial participating in symposia, visits to Hadassah projects, a festive parade through Jerusalem, performances and gala events culminating with the dedication of the new Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower, a 19-story state-of-the-art medical facility, and the presentation of Hadassah's highest award, the Henrietta Szold Prize, to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to Hadassah National President Marcie Natan, presentation of the award to the Prime Minister symbolizes 100-years of partnership between the women of Hadassah and Israel, a connection. "We're marking 100 years and committing ourselves to the next 100," said Natan.
Hadassah grew last year by 10 percent and now has 330,000 members, active in Jewish life and dedicated donors to the work of Hadassah. The organization that brought modern health care and education to Israel continues to support advances in these fields and to serve as advocates for Israel in all 50 American states and around the world. Hadassah volunteers include major donors and grass-roots activists. Several hundred of the participants belong to the group called "Keepers of the Gate" who have committed to make an annual contribution of $1000 or more.
Comedian and Philadelphia Jewish Voice contributor Steve Hofstetter, whose birthday is today, decided to use the day for something serious. He made a video discouraging his 8 million social media people from birthday wishes, instead asking for donations to a cancer org that helped his wife during a difficult time.
(Left to right in back row) Nanci Gilberg, GSC Needs coordinator, GSC members Jay and Robin Cohen and Patti Isakov, and GSC president Stephen Frishberg are thanked by students from the Paley Center who received their bags of school supplies.
— by Scott D. Bluebond and Ann Hilferty
The Golden Slipper Clubs & Charities (GSC) is celebrating its 90th birthday in 2012, as it continues to find new and creative ways to help people in need of their services. Recently, one of the arms of the GSC, its Human Needs and Services (HUNAS) division, launched a school supply drive for children in the Philadelphia area.
Donations by GSC members were collected to buy the supplies. Pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, glue sticks, safety scissors, rulers, etc. were placed in the 50 new school bags that were donated by GSC members Jay and Robin Cohen. Committee members, led by GSC needs coordinator Nanci Gilberg, delivered the bags on Thursday, August 16 to the Samuel Paley Early Learning Center, 2199 Strahle Street in Northeast Philadelphia. The children receiving those bags are graduates of the Center and attended the Paley school.
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— by Jen Glantz
— by Aliyah Vinikoor
New York City, NY / Falls Village, CT
On December 4, JSPAN presented its 2012 Social Justice Award to Dr. Ernest Kahn. Dr. Kahn has served the Jewish Community in numerous capacities, including Director of Community Planning, Associate Executive Vice President and acting Executive Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. The award was presented to Dr. Kahn by the co-chairs of the event, David Gutin and Burt Siegel. Dr. Kahn expressed his deep appreciation for the award not only on his own behalf, but as recognition of the contribution made by professionals to the wider Jewish community.
Rebecca Salame, a member of our community, is in urgent need of our help. She is a single mother with late stage Lymphoma. If she doesn't get a bone marrow transplant in 3-6 months, then there will be nothing left for her to do.
— by Annette Powers
— by Benjamin Suarato
— by Racheli Goldblatt
(Left to right in back row) Nanci Gilberg, GSC Needs coordinator, GSC members Jay and Robin Cohen and Patti Isakov, and GSC president Stephen Frishberg are thanked by students from the Paley Center who received their bags of school supplies.
