2023 LiNK impact report

2022-2023

IMPACT REPORT

Priya Parker in her book, The Art of Gathering, writes, “Gathering—the conscious bringing together people for a reason—shapes the way we think, feel, and makes sense of our world.

When LiNK Jewish Buffalo brings people together, we do so intentionally with the goal of connecting participants with one another and their Jewish identities. At the most fundamental level, LiNK works to ensure all Jews, their family and friends of other faiths, and those exploring Judaism, connect with one another through meaningful Jewish living and learning experiences.

Through this work, each year, LiNK Jewish Buffalo forms relationships with hundreds of individuals and family units throughout Buffalo and works to connect them to Jewish ideas, celebrations, explorations, and to one another.

On behalf of the volunteer and professional leadership teams at LiNK Jewish Buffalo — THANK YOU for participating in a LiNK program or gathering this year!

We invite you to explore this booklet that highlights just some of the many gatherings LiNK Jewish Buffalo hosts each year.

OUR VISION

All Jews, their family and friends of other faiths, and those exploring Judaism, connect with one another through meaningful Jewish living and learning experiences.

OUR MISSION

LiNK Jewish Buffalo:

1. Engages and nurtures relationships with and among families & individuals at all stages of life;

2. Creates opportunities for meaningful and relevant Jewish exploration and learning; and

3. Supports and amplifies the work of synagogues and partner organizations.

CORE VALUES

Several core Jewish values underpin our mission and are central to activating our vision:

SAKRANUT - CURIOSITY

We encourage anyone to ask questions, explore, and seek depth and meaning in their Jewishness.

HAZON - VISION & INNOVATION

We are forward thinking and believe that Jewish living and learning can happen both inside of and outside of institutions. We facilitate new kinds of Jewish experiences; our work is iterative and continually improving.

ANAVAH - HUMILITY

We focus on building relationships and creating shared Jewish experiences that build and deepen connections.

B’TZELEM ELOKIM - CREATED WITH THE SPARK OF THE DIVINE

We believe that everyone has something of value to contribute and everyone has a right to belong. We are inclusive of those raised inside Jewish community, those raised completely without Jewish community, individuals who are Jew-adjacent, and inclusive of all abilities, gender identities and sexual orientations.

OUR IMPACT

In the 2022-2023 year, LiNK Jewish Buffalo ran 35 one-time programs & 20 semester-long deep Jewish learning experiences — reaching over 450 individuals and 3,000 points of connection.

END OF SUMMER FESTIVAL AND TEEN RETREAT END OF SUMMER FESTIVAL AND TEEN RETREAT

Last summer, LiNK Jewish Buffalo welcomed over 250 people to the annual PJ Library End of Summer Festival and Buffalo Jewish Teen Initiative Teen Retreat, hosted at The Park School. At the End of Summer Festival, families explored the seven days of the creation of the world. Participants sampled local honey, got up close and interacted with extraordinary birds of prey, learned about vermicomposting and more. At each station, participants were taught about a Jewish value that related to that station’s activity and its corresponding day. The festival also served as a celebration of the beginning of Elul, the month that directly precedes Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

During the Teen Retreat, planned in partnership with the Holocaust Resource Center, participants explored what it means to advocate for an individual or cause and how to intervene on behalf of a person who is being attacked or bullied. The Teen Leadership Council chose this theme so that their peers could have a safe space to process and strategize how to respond to antisemitic incidents at their schools. The retreat featured guest speaker Dr. Amanda Nickerson from the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention at UB, who worked in collaboration with the Teen Leadership Council to plan this event.

NKING GENERATIONS NKING GENERATIONS

and their parents to engage new families and plan meaningful experiences. A favorite gathering this year took place at Buffalo Battleground. Jonah and Sharon Nisengard planned the experience, which consisted of a Havdalah service, bowling, and arcade games. At the event’s conclusion, five new middle schoolers had become engaged in LiNK programming.

GET YOUR HANUKKAH ON GET YOUR HANUKKAH ON

Addressing antisemitism was a focal point of LiNK Jewish Buffalo’s work this year. In December, we hosted a PJ Library/PJ Our Way Hanukkah party for over 450 attendees. The inspiration for this joyfully Jewish event was based around the premise that we must support individuals and organizations when they encounter antisemitism. This gathering included many friends

of other faiths who were a part of our efforts to shine a light on antisemitism through relationships and understanding. New families were welcomed, dozens of connections were facilitated, teens had an opportunity to lead, and smiling faces abounded. This party was made possible by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and the Shine a Light Foundation.

BOX OF FREEDOM BOX OF FREEDOM

This past spring, LiNK Jewish Buffalo distributed its fourth take-home box of holiday-based activities to 115 families. The Box of Freedom included activities centered around Passover to help families enhance their celebration of the holiday. For many, home is the central place where Judaism is practiced. By distributing holiday boxes

LiNK Jewish Buffalo works to support families in creating Jewish practices within their home. One family who received the Box of Freedom stated, that the box “helped us create new Passover traditions that will continue for years to come”. This project was made possible by the National Center to Encourage Judaism.

STUDENT TO STUDENT ® STUDENT TO STUDENT ®

For the past three years, LiNK Jewish Buffalo has deployed 10th, 11th, and 12th grade teens to area high schools to foster empathy, understanding and connection by educating their peers about the experience of being a Jewish teen. This year, twelve teens made twenty-five presentations which reached over 750 students throughout Western NY. This cohort of Jewish students shared their

lived experiences as Jewish teens in order to put a human face on Judaism and dismantle antisemitism especially in schools that lack a Jewish presence. This year the participating Jewish students embarked on an intensive two month training program with local Rabbis and Jewish educators so they would be fully prepared to answer any question that might be asked.

YOUNG ADULT ENGAGEMENT YOUNG ADULT ENGAGEMENT

Over the past ten years, Nickel City Jews has engaged hundreds of young adults in meaningful Jewish living and learning experiences while helping individuals form connections and make friendships. This year, we have revitalized our Young Adult Engagement strategy in recognition of the changing times. We want to remain true to the mission to connect all Jews, those exploring Judaism, and their friends of other faiths through meaningful Jewish living and learning experiences.

To this end, we have retired the Nickel City Jews name, so we can focus our efforts on meeting people and supporting young adults throughout Buffalo in creating community for themselves, their friends, and folks we have not yet met.

Already, we have begun to host a series of small events including Shabbat dinners, hikes, and other opportunities to be together.

LET’S TALK ABOUT antisemitism LET’S TALK ABOUT antisemitism

The Buffalo Jewish Federation and its divisions work in coordination to be a voice and response to address and combat anti-Jewish hate. We have curated actionable information, led several events and activities for different audiences and we have partnered with the Kraft Foundation to participate in the national Stand Up to Jewish Hate Campaign, as we work to continue to increase awareness of antisemitism.

In the spring, LiNK Jewish Buffalo convened close to 100 Buffalonians, including adults, educators, and teens. Alongside the Holocaust Resource Center and Jewish Community Relations, these Buffalonians created a shared language and explored tangible tools for addressing antisemitism and combatting hate via a multi-pronged approach.

This approach is focused on: Education - sharing the rich diversity of Jewish culture and practices and the important lessons of our people’s history; Relationships– building relationships with other faith and ethnic communities and educational, political, and civic leaders from throughout Western New York to work together to create a broader and stronger community. Using both of these strategies gives us the confidence to confront and condone hate. Let’s Talk About antisemitism was supported by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

LiNK helped me make new friends and form new connections.

LINK 2022-2023 SURVEY LINK 2022-2023 SURVEY

LiNK Jewish Buffalo surveys participants annually to gather feedback about their experiences during the past academic year. Survey results help plan for the future and continue our commitment to design offerings which are meaningful, relevant, and valuable to YOU. To discuss the results further, contact Mike Steklof, Senior Director of LiNK at mike@buffalojewishfederation.org.

AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT:

• Commit to helping individuals meet new people at LiNK gatherings.

• Planning gatherings for mixed heritage families to help find their home within Jewish Buffalo.

• Imagine new opportunities for those in their 30s and 40s to gather together.

On behalf of the volunteer and professional leadership at LiNK Jewish Buffalo - THANK YOU for participating in the 2022-2023 survey. We appreciate your feedback; we are listening and want to share with you what we learned.

Always a pleasure to attend gatherings hosted by LiNK Jewish Buffalo.

WHAT YOU TOLD US:

• 90% of survey participants will participate in a future LiNK experience.

• 88% of survey participants would recommend participating in a LiNK experience to friends or family members.

LiNK gave me a sense of Belonging when I needed it most.

• 86% of survey participants experienced a sense of Belonging at LiNK experiences.

LiNK Jewish Buffalo, a project of the Buffalo Federation, works to build and nurture relationships with individuals and families. We aim to design opportunities to explore and live Judaism in ways that are relevant and meaningful to those we serve.

In partnership with an incredible cadre of volunteer leaders who represent each area of engagement and gift us with their time and expertise, we work every day towards our mission to connect Buffalonians more deeply to Jewish ideas, Jewish time, Jewish communities and with one another.

With dozens of offerings including ongoing classes, larger gatherings, events for festivals and holidays, immersive trips and conferences, LiNK Jewish Buffalo touches all parts of the community – children, teens, tweens, new parents, young adults, grandparents, adult learners, those who are new to and exploring Judaism, and of course our many volunteer and community partners.

On behalf of those we serve, thank you for your support, thank you for engaging with us and please be in touch: we want to be in conversation with YOU.

Brenda Feldstein Chair,LiNKJewishBuffalo Marni Marciano ViceChair,LiNKJewishBuffalo Mike Steklof, Ed.D., SeniorDirector,LiNKJewishBuffalo