Lions and Poms celebrate Women’s Philanthropy at a special event

By Susan Pittelman, Pomegranate Society Co-Chair, and Betty Schwartz, Pomegranate Society Chair

The song, “I Am Standing on the Shoulders” (of the ones who came before me), by Joyce Johnson Rouse was playing as Lions of Judah and members of the Pomegranate Society joined the (virtual) Celebration of Women’s Philanthropy the afternoon of April 6. The song set the tone for this special event featuring Professor Pamela Nadell, author of “America’s Jewish Women.” This is the third year that the “Lions” and “Poms” gathered at an exclusive celebration of Women’s Philanthropy and to meet with an author from the Greater Naples Jewish Book Festival.

Professor Nadell is a renowned American historian, often quoted researcher and an award-winning professor. She holds the Patrick Clendenen Chair in Women’s and Gender History at American University, where she also directs the Jewish Studies Program. Last year, her book, “America’s Jewish Women: A History from Colonial Times to Today,” won the prestigious National Jewish Book Award for Jewish Book of the Year.

The virtual event began with welcoming remarks by JFGN Board Chair Jane Schiff, CEO and President Jeffrey Feld, and Annual Community Campaign Chair Karen Deutsch. After thanking the Lions and Poms for being the “backbone of our community,” Schiff announced that their gifts have helped to set a record-breaking Annual Campaign of more than $1.4 million, sharing the tremendous impact these campaign contributions have had.

Professor Pamela Nadell talking about Rebecca Gratz

Feld thanked the Lions and Poms for being philanthropists — change-makers and community shakers of the world — and for all they do, both as individuals and collectively, for our community here in Greater Naples, in Israel and around the world.

Deutsch praised the Lions and the Poms, telling them, “Each of you has made a very conscious effort to not only stand up, but also to stand out, as unique and important women of Jewish philanthropy.”

After reiterating the exciting news about our record-breaking Annual Campaign, Deutsch concluded her remarks by thanking the women for “making a difference today, for a better tomorrow.”

For the next part of the program, the women were placed at virtual “tables” (breakout rooms), providing an opportunity for them to talk with the other women at their table. The women shared who it was that had inspired their own commitment to tzedakah. After these interesting discussions, the women returned to the main meeting room.

Pomegranate Co-Chair Susan Pittelman introduced guest speaker Prof. Pamela Nadell, who began by complimenting the women on the significant role they played in raising money for this year’s Annual Campaign. Professor Nadell explained that the three women she was going to be talking about this afternoon were women, who, had they been living today, would surely have been a Lion or a Pomegranate.

She told the stories of Rebecca Gratz, who, among her many other accomplishments, founded the first Hebrew Sunday School and the first orphanage for Jewish children; Henrietta Szold, who founded the woman’s organization, Hadassah, which both promoted Zionism and created the infrastructure for Israel’s future health care system; and Golda Meir, the fourth Prime Minister of Israel, who was an outstanding leader and a model fundraiser.

We are certainly “standing on the shoulders” of some incredible women!

Professor Nadell concluded with the challenge that our Jewish community today must continue to raise philanthropic dollars as Rebecca Gratz, Henrietta Szold and Golda Meir had done in the past. She added that if those three women were alive today, “They would join me in thanking you — the generous women of the Lion of Judah and the Pomegranate Society — for continuing to fulfill the biblical mandate of the worthy Woman of Valor, giving generously to the poor and to all those who need help. May you go from Strength to Strength.”

Following a question-and-answer session, Pomegranate Society Chair Betty Schwartz concluded the program by thanking Professor Nadell and everyone else who had helped to organize and implement the event. She also expressed appreciation to the Federation for providing complimentary copies of “American Jewish Women,” with a signed bookplate, to each participant. She thanked the Lions and Pomegranates for being the kind of dedicated and committed women about whom we had talked today.

We hope that you will join our Federation’s growing Women’s Division by becoming a Lion of Judah or a member of the Pomegranate Society. These women set exemplary standards of leadership and giving in our community.

For more information, please contact Jeffrey Feld at 239-263-4205 or jfeld@ jewishnaples.org.