UJA Federation News

Musical Theater Connects Dominicans and Jews

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:44:00 -0500

Jordan Hoepelman, 13, didn’t have anything to do after school, so he answered an audition call for teens with Dominican and Jewish backgrounds who live in Washington Heights.

Jordan, whose father is Dominican, became one of 20 students — 10 Dominican, 10 Jewish — chosen to work with prize-winning director and composer Elizabeth Swados on an original musical theater production, Sosua: Dare to Dance Together, a project of the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood, a beneficiary agency of UJA-Federation of New York. The play will open at the Washington Heights Y in May.

Jordan Hoepelman during rehearsal at Washington Heights Y

What started out for Jordan as a way to overcome boredom has become a powerful lesson about Jewish refugees from the Holocaust and the history of the Dominican Republic.

Sosua tells the little-known story of how the Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo in 1938 accepted 800 Jews fleeing Hitler, becoming the only western nation to do so. The play, based on monologues the teens wrote themselves, reveals how the refugees settled in Sosua, an abandoned banana plantation, and how the Dominican people helped them. “Now I know more about how the Jewish people suffered, and that the Dominicans saved them,” Jordan says. “It’s been the greatest project I’ve ever done. I’m learning new things, making great friends, and working with a great director.”The teens and Swados meet weekly in the Washington Heights Y auditorium that also doubles as a cafeteria with a kosher kitchen, and a Dominican chef prepares dinner for the teens after rehearsals. Beef stew, brown rice, and platanos were on the menu at a recent rehearsal.Creating Community TiesThe play is the brainchild of Victoria Neznansky, chief program officer at the Washington Heights Y. She had seen an exhibit about Sosua organized by the Museum of Jewish Heritage and realized the potential of the story to create a greater connection between the Dominican and Jewish communities she works with.“The three primary immigrant groups arriving in Washington Heights over the years are German Jews, Russian Jews, and Dominicans. All three groups have survived terror and oppression by brutal leaders, suffered tremendous losses and traumas, and did not have an easy time assimilating into a new culture,” Neznansky explains. “This project will bring a sense of meaningful community ties and spirit that is needed to make a more vibrant and cohesive community.”The production is made possible through the support of the Community Connections Committee, part of the New York Jewry Task Force of UJA-Federation’s Commission on the Jewish People. The committee reflects UJA-Federation’s commitment to respond to community relations concerns, help beneficiary agencies engage in innovative community-based programs, and mobilize the diverse resources of the communal network.“In Washington Heights, there’s a vibrant Jewish and Dominican population living side by side, but without really interacting or understanding one another,” says Neil Steinberg, Community Connections Committee chair. “Through musical theater, we are funding a vehicle that brings teenagers from the two groups together and meets our founding mission of improving intergroup relations.”

Elizabeth Swados, composer and director of Sosua: Dare to Dance Together

The project appealed to director Liz Swados, who has worked on issue-oriented musical theater with children and teens throughout her Broadway and Off Broadway career.“I thought it was so beautiful that this Latino country and Jews could come together. It was unlikely and a surprise. It was the worse time of the world and here was a little pocket of humanity, even though it came from a brutal dictator,” notes Swados. Work with Teens InspiresShe has found her work with these teens inspiring. “They’re wonderful kids with a real sense of responsibility and understanding of the horrors of what the world can do and how to heal it,” she says. “In small groups like this, you can discuss the healing process. It gives me hope.”

Hannah Krutiansksy on stage at Sosua rehearsal

At a recent rehearsal, Swados asked the teens to work in teams of two or three people to create a scene about how Dominicans would have perceived Jews arriving in their country in 1938, and how the Jewish refugees viewed Dominicans. The scenes will form the basis of dialogue Swados later integrates into the play.“Liz is an amazing director,” says Hannah Krutiansksy, 12, a Jewish teen in the play whose grandparents are Holocaust survivors. “Most directors would give us a script. But the way she works, she asks for our input and asks us to write on a certain topic, collaborates with us, and incorporates it into her writing.”The project has left Hannah with two key impressions.“What most shocked me was that Trujillo, who took in the Jews, was just as bad as Hitler and did the same things to Haitians that was done to Jews,” she says.“And I think every culture has things in common with each other. So many times, people only perceive the differences. There should be more mixing between Dominicans and Jews — because there’s so much that can happen when we come together.”

A Job Fair That Showed Connect to Care's Power

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:43:00 -0500

By Alexandra Roth-Kahn

I knew we were expecting well over 400 people for the Connect to Care job fair on March 2nd. And through my continuous analysis of our data, I am also acutely aware of the thousands of people that are being served monthly through Connect to Care.

However, it is a radically different experience to look at numbers and calculations on paper compared with hundreds of people waiting on Amsterdam Avenue to enter the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan. The sight of these individuals lining the block in front of the JCC will forever stay in my mind. It serves as a testament that we created a truly valued response for the Jewish community at a point of utter crisis in our region. We have made services that are of critical necessity possible.

I was extremely impressed by the level of sophistication and coordination that marked every aspect of this event. The planners’ efforts really paid off. It's astonishing that 700 people each had unique experiences. I saw some individuals rushing for the networking session, while others spoke at length with our colleagues at the New York Legal Assistance Group table. The Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services team was engaging with clients at every minute. I traveled the elevators numerous times and witnessed so many participants exchanging their resumes with one another, networking at the core, and providing one another with suggestions and tips in their job searches. I doubt that many of these people knew each other hours before. It is these customized experiences that make our initiative so precious and distinctive.

In the central room with the tables of employers, there was a tangible sense of energy and enthusiasm. The attendees truly looked their best and moved around the room with confidence, which I know comes from coaching and support. I don't want to diminish how painful it is that so many people are out of work, but there really was a positive aura in the room — a feeling that we are all going through this together.

I not only felt the pride in Connect to Care that I feel every day, but I actually felt in awe of all that has been accomplished. When I was speaking to a member of the Russian press and witnessed how astonished she was to learn that just next week, Brooklyn will host a similarly designed fair with all new employers and all new clientele, I privately shared in her wonder.

To our beneficiary agency colleagues, thank you again for all of your work and your steadfast commitment to this initiative.

Connect to Care Brooklyn Job Fair is Wednesday, March 10th, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m., at the Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst. For more information, call 1.718.331.6800 ext. 178.

For Young Leaders: New 'Observers' Being Sought

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:47:00 -0500

UJA-Federation is now accepting applications for a new class of its Observership Program, a one-year experience designed to give emerging young leaders a chance to participate in the work of its task forces or beneficiary agency boards. “During your year as an observer, you will have the opportunity to participate directly in the Jewish community.”” said the program’s chair, Dori Konig. “This is a chance to see firsthand how UJA-Federation and its network of agencies function. You will have the opportunity to learn about board governance, and develop your own leadership skills while making an impact.” If accepted into the program, observers are placed with a specific agency or task force and invited to attend the board and committee meetings as a nonvoting member. UJA-Federation also hosts several learning sessions for observers during the year. After their time in the program, many observers have gone on to join task forces and boards as full members. Most recently, a former program participant was elected president of the agency where he had observed just a few years ago.Candidates for the program should be between 22 and 45 years old, have the ability to commit time to regular board or task force meetings, and be willing to make a quality gift to UJA-Federation. For more information or to begin the application process, contact Hannah Toce by Monday, March 29, 2010, at toceh@ujafedny.org or 1.212.836.1534.

UJA-Federation Launches Chile Relief Fund

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:56:00 -0500

UJA-Federation of New York has established the Chile Relief Fund to help victims of the 8.8 earthquake that struck the country February 27th.“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Chile,” said John S. Ruskay, executive vice president and CEO of UJA-Federation. UJA-Federation will be working closely with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), which is receiving reports from their Latin American team stationed in the area. They are monitoring the situation by working closely with Chile’s Jewish community to determine critical next steps based on immediate needs.Steven Schwager, CEO of the JDC, said, “As we have done recently in Haiti, we will leverage our strong partnerships in the region, including the local Chilean Jewish community, to provide a quick and effective response to the needs of those affected.”Most of Chile’s diverse Jewish community lives in Santiago, but parts of the community are located in earthquake-affected cities like Concepción and Valparaíso-Viña del Mar. The community includes a Jewish community center, two Jewish day schools, and synagogues. One hundred percent of funds raised will be used for relief efforts. Donations can be made to the Chile Relief Fund.

Kind Gesture at Purim Time

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:19:00 -0500

Purim time brings hamantaschen, costumes, megillah readings, and the tradition of mishloach manot — the giving of gifts to one another, and the chance to cheer up someone’s day.

Children from Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan draw Purim bag decorations.

Which is just what happened for Edward Kashdan and his wife, May, this past weekend when 50 members of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan packaged and donated bags full of Purim fare for residents of the Penn South Program for Seniors.“It really highlights the holiday. I appreciated it, and my wife appreciated it,” Kashdan says. “We’re blind, in our 80s, and don’t get around much. It was very nice to think of us and remember us on the holidays.”It was all part of the UJA at KJ program, explains Erica Schwartz, who chairs the project with Sara Shemia. “UJA at KJ helps Kehilath Jeshurun members become involved in chesed in a hands-on way and introduces people to UJA-Federation’s network of agencies,” Schwartz says. “With this Purim event, we could bring bags to people who are homebound.”

Families from Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan work on Purim designs for senior citizens.

Children decorate bags

KJ members gathered at the synagogue February 21st to fill more than 50 bags with hamantaschen of many flavors, apples, potato chips, raisins, and grape juice. Children also decorated the white paper bags and prepared cards.“Seeing kids and families taking time out of their day on a weekend was a highlight,” Schwartz notes. “I was in a room full of people who thought it was important to do this.”Several members of the synagogue then visited Penn South on Manhattan’s West Side to distribute the bags to residents of the housing program, which includes social services, education, and enrichment. Penn South is known as a naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) and is administered by the Jewish Association for Services for the Aged, a UJA-Federation beneficiary agency.

Mishloach manot for Purim to be distributed to seniors at Manhattan’s Penn South.

For Rochelle Kaplan, another Penn South resident, the bag brought back good memories. “It makes me feel very Jewish,” she says. “It’s a very kind gesture.”

Bringing Savvy Skills to Synagogues

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:15:00 -0500

Marketing, fund development, and volunteer engagement - the nuts and bolts of good business practice - are increasingly matters of interest for thriving synagogues. Pro bono consultants coordinated through the Synagogue Leadership Development Project are helping New York-area congregations develop the savvy organizational skills they need.

In the past year, the project matched consultants with 12 Conservative, Orthodox, Reform, and Reconstructionist synagogues in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester.

"The project offers synagogues the building blocks for leadership development, management skills, and infrastructure building," says Gayle Bloom, project manager of the Synagogue Leadership Development Program, part of SYNERGY: UJA Federation of New York and Synagogues Together. "By helping synagogues develop capacity in these three areas, we help to create and sustain vibrant and caring Jewish communities."

Volunteer Engagement

For the Pelham Jewish Center, a 130-member Conservative congregation in Westchester, the project helped the synagogue begin to change its volunteer culture.

"We wanted to change from having one member handling a project such as social action, adult education, or fundraising to having a committee and more members involved with different projects," says Hildy Martin, executive vice president at the synagogue. "We put volunteer engagement at the forefront, saying this is something the board feels will help the synagogue and congregation members."

"We also came up with a value statement that helped clarify our vision," notes the synagogue's rabbi, David Schuck. "Everyone should give to the community, and not just financially. One hundred percent of the congregation should make a commitment to give some time, such as coming to the synagogue to help package mishloach manot bags for Purim."

Rabbi Schuck says even "small" acts have great potential to bring about change.

"This small act can lead to involvement on a committee, so there are new people coming to the table with new ideas," he adds. "For people who don't have the time to sit on a committee, they can do something discrete. And the feeling that people get from that is very positive."

Tools to Sustain Synagogues

Consultant Linda Rich is an executive coach and specialist in leadership development. Like other consultants in the project, she is a volunteer, and she met for six months with an action team from the synagogue. The team included long-term and newer members and represented young families, empty nesters, active volunteers, and people who were less active.

"I'm committed to volunteerism and always volunteering in one way or another," Rich says about why she offered pro bono services. "I'm also committed to building strong Jewish communities."

Bloom notes that Rich and consultants at the other synagogues served as guides who could recommend tools and processes for the congregations. She adds that congregants were to implement the techniques they learned and continue to use these skills on their own as a way to sustain their synagogues.

At Huntington Jewish Center, a Conservative synagogue on Long Island, the action team and their consultant looked at new approaches for raising funds, including parlor meetings to learn about congregants' needs and information about the synagogue. The meetings were held before the start of the Kol Nidre Appeal campaign and contributed to the most successful Kol Nidre Appeal the synagogue has ever undertaken.

Projects at other synagogues include:• creating a strategic marketing plan to reach current and new congregants• developing a database of volunteers' areas of interest • using surveys congregation-wide to learn the needs and interests of congregants.

The Synagogue Leadership Development Project formed a new cohort of eight synagogues for pro bono consultation in February. To learn how a synagogue can be involved in the program or find out how you can volunteer your consulting expertise in marketing, fund development, or volunteer engagement, contact Gayle Bloom at 1.212.584.3346 or bloomg@ujafedny.org.

Preparing to Lead: Israeli Mechinot Programs

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:22:00 -0500

It was 18-year-old Maya Maymoni’s day off from service in the Israeli Air Force. And she did what she had learned in Nachshon, her year-long pre-army leadership program between high school and induction into the Israeli army: Maya volunteered her time. In celebration of Tu B’Shevat in January, Maya and her friend convinced a local grower to donate 200 trees that they could plant with 30 adults at a residence in Jerusalem for people living with mental illness. They were volunteering with Hevra Tovah, supported by UJA-Federation of New York, which allows for participation in a variety of social action activities.“At Nachshon I learned to pay attention to other people who need help, to do things not just for myself, but for other people as well,” she says. “That was the most important thing I learned.”In Israel, there are more than 30 pre-army preparatory programs, known in Hebrew as Mechina, the word for preparation, that are bridging social gaps in Israeli society and training new leaders for the country. Each “gap year” program includes a focus on Judaism and volunteer service with an emphasis on social responsibility.UJA-Federation of New York’s Commission on the Jewish People is helping this growing phenomenon with support to

10 pre-army programs, both secular and Orthodox
Two post-army programs that allow mechina alumni to continue to engage in community service projects throughout the country
Amuta, an umbrella organization, designed to support the network of mechinot, offer direction, and advocate for funding of the programs

“Mechinot programs are clearly driving positive social change within Israeli society, bringing together diverse segments of the population and fostering new future Israeli and Jewish leadership,” notes Sarah Biser, chair of the Jewish Peoplehood in Israel task force. ‘Best thing that happened to me’

Maymoni speaks fondly of her Nachshon days. Mornings began with several hours of study and discussion groups that encouraged participants to develop a connection to the Jewish people. Afternoons were filled with organizing volunteer projects or trips to get to know the country better. “Nachshon is the best thing that happened to me. It prepared me for life. I’ve been all over the country and traveled a lot. It’s very important to know the country and speak about politics and religion,” she says. “We had a lot of discussions and I got a better understanding of these subjects. There are a lot of different kinds of people at the mechina, some believe in God, some don’t. You start to speak with people, you learn more.”Maymoni brings equal affection to her post-mechina involvement with Hevra Tovah, Hebrew for Good Society. Hevra Tovah allows graduates of Nachshon and other mechinot programs to volunteer with social action projects. Although Hevra Tova is designed for post-army young adults, Maymoni volunteers when she can while she is still doing her military service.This past Chanukah she joined Hevra Tovah in a “Light in the Heart” project that included 8,000 volunteers with nearly 100 holiday events for children in hospitals and older adults in nursing homes. “It was touching and exciting to see the children’s happiness and smiles when we sang and drew pictures together,” she notes.The mechina and Hevra Tovah programs have inspired Maymoni’s goals following her army duty.“After the army I want to go to the Jewish Agency and help care for other people.” She adds with modesty, “I hope I will be accepted.”

Survey: Synagogues feel economic downturn

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:18:16 -0500

All New York synagogues have felt the impact of the economic downturn, according to a new survey from SYNERGY: UJA-Federation of New York and Synagogues Together.Every synagogue reported that congregants had lost jobs, and the numbers of members seeking counsel from rabbis and Partners in Caring social workers increased significantly from a year earlier. “In the face of painful loss and anxiety for so many of their congregants, New York synagogues have been amazing in the creative ways they have found to help—giving new meaning to ‘caring community,’ ” says Dru Greenwood, director of SYNERGY.According to the survey, approaches to helping congregants have most often included special dues arrangements, referral to UJA-Federation of New York’s Connect to Care, and use of clergy discretionary funds for emergency needs. Others have started economic response teams or groups to help in person or online.Synagogues are using multiple strategies to mitigate the effects of the financial crisis on themselves, the survey reports. More than two-thirds increased fundraising activities, although results varied. While synagogue membership appears to be stabilizing overall, approaches are evenly split between between raising dues and freezing or lowering dues. In response to economic challenges, more synagogues than a year ago said they had eliminated staff positions, and nearly half had collaborated with other institutions, including on programs. Sixty-eight congregations from New York City, Long Island, and Westchester responded to the online survey taken from in late November, which had about a 20 percent response rate.Read the full summary from the survey.

Campership Grants for New Campers

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:59:00 -0500

In the greater New York area, less than 10 percent of the Jewish community’s children attend a Jewish summer camp. But synagogues and community centers are working hard to increase that participation rate by cultivating a culture of Jewish camping.The Campership initiative is supported by UJA-Federation of New York’s Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal (COJIR), the Foundation for Jewish Camp, and the Jewish Communal Fund. The initiative makes it possible for children attending a Jewish camp for the first time to receive $1,000 stipends.“Camp has proven itself to be a transformational experience, immersing children in Jewish learning, living, and community,” says Deborah Joselow, COJIR managing director. “UJA-Federation aspires to make Jewish camping an integral part of every child’s Jewish journey.”Campership 2010 applications are available.

Learn more about Campership.

2010 Super Sunday Makes a Hit

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:48:00 -0500

Hundreds of volunteers warmed up a cold winter’s day in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester January 31st, making Super Sunday calls that raised nearly $1 million for UJA-Federation of New York, an increase of more than 10 percent from last year’s event.

Volunteers make calls for Super Sunday in the Manhattan office of UJA-Federation of New York.

Hailing the phone-a-thon as “a yearly New York Jewish tradition,” UJA-Federation President John M. Shapiro thanked the event’s more than 900 volunteers for making it “such a great success.” Callers, ranging from teenagers to people in their 80s, with many coming from UJA-Federation’s beneficiary agencies and programs, spent hours on the phone asking for donations. A Super Sunday agency chair, Richard Altman, executive director of the Jewish Child Care Association of New York , said, “Super Sunday exemplifies UJA-Federation’s successful efforts at addressing the needs of and caring for the Jewish community in New York, in Israel, and around the globe through our network of agencies.” Another agency chair, Ellie Aronowitz, executive director at the Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester, said the event “demonstrates community building and philanthropic commitment that sets an example for younger generations of Jews.”

"More Urgent"

Maddie Berg of Harrison and Maddy Berkman of Briarcliff sort food for the Westchester UJA-Federation food drive.

Many volunteers in New York City were from the Russian community. “The state of the economy makes the services UJA-Federation helps to provide that much more urgent,” said Polina Targonskaya, a chair of that effort along with Ilona Lantsman, her daughter, and granddaughter Jacqueline Lantsman. “Super Sunday offers the Russian community a way to give back,” said Ilona Lantsman. “We have survived through the years because of our communal determination and dedication to help one another.”

In Westchester, phone calls were supplemented by a food drive that involved more than 120 teenagers sorting and packing food donations to be distributed through UJA-Federation’s beneficiary agencies, including the Bronx Jewish Community Council.

Dan Burton, a Super Sunday chair in Westchester, said, “It’s a wonderful feeling when our entire community comes together to help people in need.”

Super Sunday volunteers working on call reports in the Manhattan office of UJA-Federation of New York.

New Rochelle resident Ellen Gelboim, who has been participating in Super Sunday for more than 30 years, said, “I feel like making calls is my duty to the Jewish community. It’s our obligation to remind others.”

On Long Island, more than 100 volunteers made calls and were visited by Jon Cooper, majority leader of the Suffolk County Legislature. Dr. Barry Bass, one of the chairs, said, “This year, I’m especially happy to lead Long Island on Super Sunday so that we can make sure the agencies’ food pantries continue to be filled and services continue to be available for those having a hard time right now.” The other chair, Donald Tanenbaum, added, “This is obviously an exceptionally tough year for so many people. I’m happy to do what I can to support UJA-Federation, whose programs and network agencies are helping so many in need.”

Facebook, Twitter Used

Jessica Corbin of Larchmont and Molly Cohen of Mamaroneck participate in Westchester's food collection for UJA-Federation.

In a new Super Sunday twist, computers were set up in Manhattan where many volunteers, particularly younger ones, could update their Facebook status and use Twitter, publicizing the event and circulating the current campaign video.

Also in the Manhattan office, callers crowded the more than 180 seats and at times overflowed the room festooned with red and white balloons. Large screens displayed facts about the impact of UJA-Federation, as well as photos of those helped.

Volunteers said they were clear about why they participated in making Super Sunday calls. Lilianna Zulunova, 26, a member of the Bukharian community in Queens and a JCCA program there, said, “This is a great way to give back. We appreciate all the help and support UJA-Federation gives the community. It does a great job.”

Zelda Fassler, president of the tenants association at Kittay House, a senior living facility that is part of Jewish Home Lifecare, a beneficiary agency of UJA-Federation, said, “I wanted to volunteer because of all the wonderful things UJA-Federation does. I feel almost obligated to be here.”

Doctors Raise Funds, Celebrate Returned Art

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:33:00 -0500

With standing room only, more than 110 people attended UJA-Federation of New York’s 2010 New York-Presbyterian Hospital Campaign reception January 27th, and heard the dramatic story of Jacques Goudstikker’s famed art collection that was looted by the Nazis in the 1940s and only recently restored to the family by the Dutch government.Hosted at the Upper East Side’s Arader Galleries, the evening’s program offered donors the chance to hear about the impact of UJA-Federation and also featured the story and slides of Goudstikker’s “greatest collection of art,” according to his granddaughter, Charlène von Saher, who spoke along with her mother, Marei. “We proudly apologize for the crowd,” said the hospital campaign’s chair David A. Shapiro, who welcomed the guests. It was the first of what is anticipated to be an annual series of New York-Presbyterian events for UJA-Federation.

'Urgent crises'

David Blumenthal, another hospital campaign chair, lauded UJA-Federation for its “ability to respond to urgent crises,” referring specifically to Connect to Care, a program that has served more than 13,000 individuals.Eileen Cutler, who chaired the event with her husband, Lawrence, called the gallery a “perfect location” for the evening. The high ceilings and antique furnishings provided a warm space for conversations and catching up between colleagues while complementing the theme of the evening: the famed Goudstikker collection of drawings and paintings.

Marei von Saher spoke about “one of the happiest days of [her] life,” referring to February 6, 2006, when the Dutch government restituted to the family 200 artworks from her father-in-law’s collection. The only twinge of sadness, she said, was in Desi and Edo — wife and son of Goudstikker — not living to see that day. Goudstikker himself died while fleeing Europe in 1940. The challenges facing the von Sahers have been twofold, they said. There is the difficulty of locating a piece, with further complications ensuing in making a legal claim to it. But the family said it has had an advantage: the book Goudstikker used to keep records of his collection.While Charlene echoed her mother’s sentiment, she detailed the difficulties and legalities in the retrieval of Nazi-looted art. The family said Goudstikker’s vast collection of more than 1,400 works included exquisite pieces from celebrated artists, including Jan Wellens De Cock’s The Temptation of St. Anthony; Donatello’s Madonna and Child; and Luca Cranach the Elder’s Adam and Eve. While the first two have been restored to the family, the family said the last is yet to be recovered from a California museum.

More Aid for Haiti Relief Efforts

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:25:00 -0500

The total donated to UJA-Federation of New York's Haiti Relief Fund has grown to nearly $400,000, and it is being used to help pay for a field hospital in Haiti, as well as essential food, water, medical supplies, and other equipment in the country reeling from a massive earthquake January 12th.

The money, given by more than 1,500 donors during the last two weeks, is being transferred to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) for urgent current needs, UJA-Federation's executive vice president and CEO, John S. Ruskay, announced. One hundred percent of the money given to the Haiti fund is being used directly for relief efforts. UJA-Federation's relief money is part of more than $3 million raised by national federations and JDC.

Ruskay thanked all who have given to the UJA-Federation fund to date, and said, "May the days and weeks to come bring healing and a sense of recovery for the people of Haiti. This money will provide care for the injured desperately in need of medical attention, and food and vital help for those who are struggling to survive."

The money transferred to JDC is funding operations on the ground to address high-priority needs, such as:

Providing emergency medical care to injured and sick Haitians, including those treated at the Israeli Defense Forces’ field hospital set up in the immediate aftermath of the quake.

Purchasing medical equipment and supplies, including infant incubators, orthopedic and prosthetic equipment, and trucks to transport medical personnel to the more remote areas affected by the quake.

Distributing food and clean water to survivors of the disaster.

"This outpouring of support symbolizes our commitment to relieve the pain of those who are suffering, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or religion," Ruskay said. "The critical issue here is not about UJA-Federation individually, but what we, as part of the international community, as part of the human family, can do to provide assistance to a people and a country that has been devastated by a natural disaster."

Ruskay added, "These funds come as a tangible and visible expression of the continuing commitment of the New York Jewish community to care both for our own community and for all who are in need."

Donations can continue to be made to UJA-Federation for the Haiti Relief Fund and will be turned over to JDC.

Generosity Event: A Mix of Fun and Philanthropy

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:28:00 -0500

More than 600 supporters of UJA-Federation's Generosity division gathered January 21st for the group's annual signature event to raise awareness and funds.

With the event's trademark blend of stylish food, fashion, and music, participants in their 20s and 30s enjoyed an evening overlooking the Hudson River at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers. "Thanks to everyone for coming to support Generosity," said Kyle Koeppel, one of the three chairs of the event. "Congratulations everyone for sacrificing one evening to help those less fortunate," added Lee Brodsky, another chair, who served along with Samantha Elfland.

Generosity event chairs Lee Brodsky (left), Kyle Koeppel, and Samantha Elfland. Photo: Michael Priest

One of the centerpieces of the evening was the specially created Generositree, whose branches were festooned with "leaves" in the form of small paper signs purchased by those in attendance. By evening's end, hundreds hung on the tree, carrying 11 different messages including "I will change the world," "I will shelter the poor," and "I will give back to my community." All money raised through the sale of leaves went to UJA-Federation's Haiti Relief Fund.

In addition, money was raised throughout the evening for the annual campaign by spirited text-to-pledge messages displayed on screens around the rooms. As part of that effort, the division's new Chai Society was unveiled, urging people to pledge $18 a month for a year.

"It's a fun night," said Rebekah Klipper, the professional in charge of the Generosity group. "We're celebrating that we're young and philanthropic."

While the formal speaking program was brief, messaging was all around throughout the evening. Food and drink servers were clad in black Generosity T-shirts with "serving 4.5 million each year" on the back, referring to the annual reach of programs supported in New York and around the world by UJA-Federation. On cocktail tables were signs with facts about aid delivered with the support of UJA-Federation. And on video screens, messages replaced the thank-yous often included in printed journals, and there was also news of upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Families Learn Lessons Through Volunteering

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:35:00 -0500

This Martin Luther King Day weekend, 10 New York families traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, for the chance to combine volunteer work with a celebration of Dr. King’s legacy.

In a trip organized by UJA-Federation of New York, 10 mothers and 14 children ages 12 to 17 spent the weekend learning about the city’s rich history and helping local charities. Chairs Laura Urken and Amy Hughson, along with Donna Divon, program executive of community and volunteer services at UJA-Federation in Westchester, designed the four-day program that commenced January 15th and included visits to charitable organizations, as well as to tourist destinations.

Samantha Spitalny (left), Sophie Brown, and Courtney Hughson help serve lunch at a soup kitchen.

Rewarding WorkPairing sightseeing with volunteer activities helped the teens see they “can do good while enjoying themselves,” and how easy it is to incorporate volunteer work into their day, says Hughson.

The teens also “realized how much they have,” adds Ellen Brown, who is chair of Westchester Women’s Philanthropy, in speaking about her three daughters.

People in Atlanta appreciated that UJA-Federation’s group traveled from New York to help, says Isabelle Brown, 13, whose sisters Sophie and Sidney were also on the trip. She said her favorite part was “talk[ing] to people” at the soup kitchen and “learn[ing] stuff about them.”

Her twin, Sophie, enjoyed coloring and making friendship bracelets with children, while foster parents picked out free clothes and other items provided by the local organization — to which the families from UJA-Federation made a donation of materials.

Hughson’s 15-year-old daughter, Lindsay, found it “rewarding” to work with people at a nursing home “because they reminded me of [my grandfather],” who had lived in a similar facility.

The teens said they plan to continue their volunteer work — Isabelle by making calls at UJA-Federation’s annual Super Sunday on January 31st, Sophie by sorting food at Westchester’s Families Feeding Families, and Lindsay by helping collect supplies for people in Haiti. Tikkun OlamIt is meaningful to volunteer in a “place that you don’t have a connection to,” adds Hughson. Getting out of the Northeast let the group forge new connections with Southern Jewish women and all the other people they met in Atlanta.

“Tikkun olam needs to be a part of your life,” says Divon, explaining the idea behind the trip. There were many activities relating Judaism’s value of tzedakah, charity, with the history of Dr. King’s activism. The most revelatory may have been the chance to speak with Janice Rothschild Blumberg at a Shabbat dinner. She, along with her late husband, Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, had been a close friend and supporter of the work of Dr. King.

Ruskay Calls Dr. King's Work "Unfinished"

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:59:00 -0500

Addressing an audience of more than 500 at the Upper West Side’s Symphony Space on January 18th, UJA-Federation of New York’s executive vice president & CEO, John S. Ruskay, remembered the brilliant oratory and life-changing work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but said, “The work remains unfinished; the quest continues.”Ruskay was the keynote speaker at the eighth annual community celebration of Dr. King held on the holiday in his honor and sponsored by the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, a beneficiary agency of UJA-Federation. For much of his speech, Ruskay recounted the events of several days in March 1965, when his path as a 19-year-old student activist helping the civil rights cause in Montgomery, Alabama, crossed that of Dr. King. He called watching and working with Dr. King close-up, even if only for a brief time, a “privilege” whose memory had stayed vividly with him.

'Passionately committed'

Ruskay described Dr. King’s spellbinding preaching one night in the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, after a day in which there had been a violent attack on a march by police: “For an hour or more, we sang; and I would say it was there — standing on the bimah with Dr. King and other leaders of the civil rights movement, being uplifted by the song and prayers of about 1,500 people packed into the church that evening — I experienced in ways in which I had never before, and rarely since, an inspiring spiritual community, passionately committed to both serve God above and heal the world below.”Ruskay spoke of the progress as a result of Dr. King’s work, but added that “coming together also provides an occasion to remind ourselves that the vision of an America where every American — irrespective of color, religion, or ethnicity — has the right to fully participate in this great nation remains fulfilled.”School segregation has risen in recent years, Ruskay said, and he spoke of how in New York City, “many of us live with unprecedented affluence and opportunity and yet just beyond our gaze, there is a second New York” with tremendous poverty and need.

Reaffirming commitments

“Forty-two years after this historic Nobel Laureate was violently taken from us,” Ruskay said, “let each of us honor Dr. King by reaffirming our own commitment to do whatever we can — in our city, in our schools, in our communities, in our country — to realize what Dr. King called on us to with unequalled eloquence: to allow freedom to ring in every part of our nation.”Ruskay was joined on the program by violinist, composer, and performer Daniel Bernhard Roumain; D.J. and composer Elan Vytal, aka DJ Scientific; poet and performer Lemon Andersen; and the Klezmatics, the Grammy Award–winning klezmer band. The emcee was Celeste Headlee, co-host of “The Takeaway”, a morning radio news program.Roumain, a Haitian-American, made repeated references to the crisis in Haiti and the need for help, as did Headlee, and a collection for Haiti relief efforts was taken after the program.

Celebrating Dr. King's Legacy

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:45:00 -0500

Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Les Payne and an ensemble from the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music came together at UJA-Federation’s headquarters in New York January 14th to honor and remember Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. John S. Ruskay, executive vice president & CEO of UJA-Federation, in welcoming everyone to the group’s annual commemoration program, shared his observation that there are “two very different New Yorks — geographically and experientially.” Ruskay, speaking to a standing-room-only audience of several hundred, said he was referring to the racism remaining in a city so diverse to remind us “how much we have to do” in continuing the fulfillment of Dr. King’s legacy.Has the World Changed Enough?Payne, who grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, offered that his speech was a personal testimony about Dr. King’s tremendous effect on American politics. He spoke about racist laws before Dr. King’s time, especially in the South, that made the lives of so many African-Americans a “nightmare.” Payne recounted those laws that existed into the 1960s dealing with public facilities, marriage, and cemeteries, adding, “From diapers to shrouds, life was unequal.”Payne — a reporter, editor, and columnist at Newsday for more than 40 years and a longtime mentor of African-American journalists around the country — wondered what Dr. King might think of this world were he alive in 2010 at age 82. “Still two years younger than [former New York City mayor] David Dinkins, five years younger than former mayor Koch,” and 32 years older than President Barack Obama — whose Nobel Peace Prize, Payne says, Dr. King made possible.

Obama marks another step in fulfilling what Dr. King set in motion, Payne said. But as he added, “It remains to be seen if we have made Dr. King proud.”A Hopeful NoteAs if to answer this question, there was a performance by the ensemble of stringed-instrument players from Opus 118 — a school devoted to teaching music to children of all backgrounds, and whose determined origins have been shown in two films, the Academy Award–nominated documentary Small Wonders and Music of the Heart. The group, directed by co-founder Roberta Guaspari, played three songs, including “We Shall Overcome,” to which the audience sang along. After a standing ovation and the demand for an encore, they closed with a fast-paced version of “Orange Blossom Special,” blended with rhythmic clapping from the audience.

UJA-Federation Launches Haiti Relief Fund

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:51:00 -0500

As the humanitarian crisis worsens and needs are rising exponentially after the massive earthquake on January 12th, UJA-Federation of New York has launched a Haiti Relief Fund. One hundred percent of the money raised will be used to support the relief efforts, and donations for Haiti can now be made online.

The UJA-Federation Haiti-Relief Fund will be used to fund immediate search and rescue efforts, medical needs, and provide food, water, clothing, and temporary shelter. A portion of the money raised will be reserved for long-term rebuilding needs and to provide trauma counseling for the survivors. "Just as we responded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Southeast Asia, we will once again offer our donors the opportunity to join a Jewish response to global crisis," said John S. Ruskay, executive vice president & CEO of UJA-Federation. "This is one of those moments that remind us that being a citizen of this world erases all borders and boundaries — geographic, ethnic, and religious."

Ruskay continued, "Our core values — our belief in tzedakah, justice, and tikkun olam, repairing a broken world, demand that we come together to bring light and hope to a people who have endured enough."

Social Media Boot Camp and Synagogues

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:06:00 -0500

It didn’t take long for a group of rabbis on Long Island to realize that social media could transform the way they reached their members and the wider Jewish community. So this fall the rabbis, together with congregational lay leaders, set about bringing social media tools and projects into their synagogues.The Social Media Boot Camp, a project of Synergy: UJA-Federation of New York and Synagogues Together, was designed to help congregations take the pioneering steps necessary to bring about new forms of connection and support to their communities.Nineteen synagogues on Long Island formed teams of three to five lay leaders and clergy to learn about social media theory, the tools that exist, and how to use both to design and implement projects to benefit their congregations.

'True innovators'

“In working to strengthen synagogues, we listened to the needs of our communities,” says Stephanie Ginsberg, Synergy Long Island program executive. “They took the initiative in challenging themselves to reach for the best in emerging ways to grow their congregations. They are the true innovators.”Darim Online, a not-for-profit organization committed to helping synagogues and other Jewish organizations develop their communities through effective internet and communications strategies, is a UJA-Federation grantee that provides training to the teams.A three-hour introductory session focused on Facebook, Twitter, and blogging. Throughout the year, 10 one-hour webinars are offering in-depth sessions on social media for synagogues, including fundraising efforts, online video, and Google tools. Synagogue teams are now in the process of developing innovative strategies and receiving mentoring to develop social media projects. “Social media is too big, too powerful, and too important to ignore at this time,” says Rabbi Charles Klein of Merrick Jewish Center and participant in the boot camp.That attitude was also reflected by lay leaders. “It is our responsibility and our challenge to reach our congregants, as well as people who are not members, where they live, and more and more people are ‘living’ on social networks, Twitter and Facebook,” says Peri Schacknow, trustee and coordinator of electronic communications at South Huntington Jewish Center, who also attended the boot camp session.Boot camp offers boostSome synagogues have already seen positive results from their first forays into social media. At Temple Beth Sholom in Roslyn, rabbis were able to respond quickly to a family whose father was ill by “listening” to members who had posted news on the synagogue’s Facebook page. And Rabbi Alan Lucas used a camera to produce video messages posted on the synagogue’s website. Temple Chaverim in Plainview has already announced plans to reach out to children and parents in the religious school by creating videos in class on a particular subject that will then be posted online with password-protected access for parents to view. Other synagogues are now in the planning stages to further implement the tools and strategies they learned in social media.

Zayit Program Shapes Jewish Life in Israel

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:48:00 -0500

Study groups, Shabbat programs, and holiday events — these are among the highlights of Zayit, a program that is reinvigorating Jewish life for Israelis living in Emek Hefer, an agricultural region between Netanya and Hadera.UJA-Federation of New York helps provide vital funds that support the Emek Hefer Regional Council Community Center, which offers essential services to Zayit. “We see the search for connection to the larger Israeli community through Jewish experiences as especially relevant at this time of political, economic, and security uncertainties,” says Eli Gur, planning executive in Israel for UJA-Federation of New York. “Zayit engages the larger secular Israeli community in Jewish cultural initiatives.”Since Zayit, also known as the Center for Jewish Cultural Identity in Emek Hefer, started in 2006, the organization has created:

17 Jewish study groups with more than 200 participants
Holiday and special events
Kabbalat Shabbat programs
Lectures with leading Israeli scholars and artists
Leadership programs to empower community activists
Youth programs

David Aviv, founder of Zayit, saw a need in his home community, which four years ago offered few programs in the Emek Hefer region for residents who wanted to explore their Jewish identity. He knew he wanted to make something meaningful in his local municipality, which includes 35,000 residents.

All of the residents live on kibbutzim or communal settlements. The majority of the population is secular, with only 10 percent of the residents identifying as religious.Aviv, a project manager for a youth village similar to residential schools in the United States, knew he wanted to create an initiative that nurtured Jewish–Israeli identity. “I was 36 years old and had three children," he explains. "I was not religious, but still felt as a parent that I had a responsibility to pass on the richness of Jewish culture to my children.” His vision was to create programs that would allow people to study together and learn about Jewish culture as a “platform to build a better community.”“A lot of our parents didn’t pass on Judaism to us, but raising our own families now, we see that was a mistake,” Aviv says. “And we’re shaping our communities to respond. Zayit, which means 'olive,' comes from a tree that can give fruit even after 700 or 800 years; it combines the past with the future.”Grassroots Appeal

From its start, Zayit sought to make its programs a grassroots effort that reflected the needs of Emek Hefer’s different communities. Zayit also chose to work within the Emek Hefer Regional Council and benefit from the existing municipal structure.“When I saw an ad in the local pamphlet from the regional council that Zayit was looking for people to lead a Kabbalat Shabbat program, I knew I wanted to do it,” says Inbal Pery, who has been a Zayit facilitator for three years. “I really wanted to have a Kabbalat Shabbat program for children, because my community didn’t have it.”“What makes Zayit so successful,” Pery adds, “is we’re operating within the Emek Hefer Regional Council, and we’re an integral part of the regional community center.”That cooperation is an important part of Zayit’s effort, but it is only part of the success.“Zayit offers a different way for kids and adults to come close to the life of Judaism and to how you live and learn,” says Ronen Ungar, who studies regularly with other adults in Zayit’s beit midrash program and participated in a four-day summer Zayit retreat in Jerusalem with his wife, Edna, and their two children. “When I study with adults and talk with others, it gives me a good spirit and a way to understand what things were like 2,000 years ago and what they’re like now,” Ungar says.

Uniting New York’s and Israel’s LGBT Communities

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:59:44 -0500

On August 5th, when Congregation Beth Simchat Torah (CBST) rallied with New York’s LGBT community to show solidarity with victims of a recent hate shooting in a Tel Aviv gay-youth center, there was a special connection.

For more than 10 years, CBST and the Jerusalem Open House (JOH) have enjoyed a close relationship, organizing programs and missions between their cities. The rally in support of the Israeli community was “a public message of unity in grief,” says Yonatan Gher, director of JOH. More than that, he says, it was about arvut hadadit, mutual responsibility.

A focus of the New York–Jerusalem partnership is on the responsibility of making the Jewish community a comfortable place for LGBT people. UJA-Federation of New York’s Commission on the Jewish People (COJP) has been aiding the program financially since 2003. The funds come from COJP’s Global Jewish Connections, a task force dedicated to strengthening Jewish collective identity. The Jewish Agency for Israel, a beneficiary agency of UJA-Federation, works cooperatively to facilitate this relationship and 23 others among institutions in New York, Israel, Europe, and South America, which serve to connect communities of similar geography, economics, or demographics.

'Bringing together communities'

It is about “bringing together two communities interested in living beyond their own borders,” says COJP planning executive Anat Barber.

Starting with this common bond allows for what CBST’s senior rabbi, Sharon Kleinbaum, calls “a personal, real relationship.”

Heymi Kuriel, board member for CBST and the LGBT Center of New York, says that through cooperative work, “we can accomplish a society where inclusiveness, acceptance, and embracing our differences bring peace both inside and outside of us.”

The coming-out experience for Jews has two phases, says Gher. The first is reclaiming one’s Jewish identity, and “CBST’s connection with JOH allows the second: . . . reconnecting to Israel.”

In their most recent mission, a group of Israeli teens met up with members of CBST in September. While here they got a taste of New York, attending two Broadway plays, meeting with LGBT teens from around New York, and speaking with the Dish, CBST’s group for senior citizens. It was an exciting opportunity, said youth counselor Lital Pascar, “to speak to seniors who have spent most of their lives out of the closet.”

Since their stay coincided with the High Holidays, they joined CBST’s services in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. For some, it was their first time in a synagogue on Yom Kippur. “Many of them came here resentful or hostile to Judaism,” says Kleinbaum, who was delighted to “give them access to liberal Judaism” and its acceptance of homosexuality.

Help through mentoring

Past CBST president Eric Rosenbaum adds, “When I see how desperately these young leaders look for mature adults they can trust, who understand their struggle to be spiritual and proud, I know this is one way I can make a difference.” Through such mentoring, these young adults, ranging in age from 17 to 23, learn to take an active role socially and Judaically.

Mor Pesachovitch, an 18-year-old from Israel, feels she can “make a huge difference in the LGBT community in Israel. [I] realize how lucky we are . . . to watch the community in New York and learn from them.” Back in Israel, the group hopes to raise awareness and build a strong religious LGBT community.