JFED CONNECTS
AN UPDATE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING AT JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST. LOUIS DECEMBER 2015
INSIDE Phone-a-thon.................................2 PJ Library Party.............................2 JProStl Luncheon........................2 NORC Celebration......................2 Jewish Coaching Academy….3 YPD LollapaJEWza....................3 Spread the Light..........................3 HMLC Shanghai Exhibit…....... 3 Kosher Survey...........................3 LGBTQ Mission to Israel..........4 Israel Bound 2016........................4 Disability Survey...........................4
JFedSTL.org
FROM OUR CHAIR, Harvey N. Wallace Having returned from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) General Assembly (GA) in Washington, D.C., I am truly excited about the energy and commitment I saw among the 3,000 participants to build our Jewish communities and support our communities in Israel and around the world. We heard from celebrities, including David Gregory (formerly Ginsburg), who chose to attend and speak to the GA even though he would be traveling the next day to California for his father’s funeral. We heard from a student at Stanford University whose efforts to serve on the student council were outrageously rebuffed because she was Jewish and therefore was presumed to not have an independent voice on issues surrounding Israel. And, we learned from a young Frenchman of the immigration of thousands of French Jews to Israel as their lives in France were seriously impacted by the hatred they were experiencing. But yet, he was there to tell us of his efforts, and the efforts of fellow French citizens, to not allow this discrimination
and fear to continue. St. Louis was well represented by many lay leaders and senior staff of Jewish Federation of St. Louis. I know from the conversations we had that each one of us took away something different, but we all returned with an enhanced commitment to making our Jewish community a better place. With your help, we will continue to support the organizations and programs that we fund, including Covenant Place for seniors and the Jewish Community Center that provides day care for the youngest in our community. Our agencies and programs have a lasting impact. Many of them have successful fundraising operations. But few of our constituent agencies can fulfill their missions without funding from Jewish Federation of St. Louis. Most importantly, Jewish Federation of St. Louis is the only agency that looks out for the entire Jewish community. We are working hard to raise the funds that are needed, but only a few weeks remain for the 2015 Annual Campaign. If you have not made a gift, now is the time to help us meet all the needs and strengthen our community. To donate, visit BuildJewishSTL.org or call Shelley Phillips at 314-442-3793.
FROM OUR CEO, Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D. I write to thank you for the light you have shined in our community through your continued support of Jewish Federation of St. Louis. Your support has helped us achieve some significant milestones this year. Even as the news from Israel and the world continues to concern us, our region is vibrant. Although we have many things to celebrate within our community, there are still issues that face us each and every day that need our continued support and help. With the release of our first Community Study in nearly 20 years, we learned this year that our community has grown by 14 percent to 61,000 Jewish individuals. Additionally, we learned that over 30,000 individuals of other faiths now live in households with at least one Jewish adult due to intermarriage. Our community is also living throughout the region with roughly one-third now living east of Lindbergh Boulevard. Unfortunately, the study also tells us that 26 percent of our community is living with various economic hardships. This means our elderly and our families are struggling for both access to social services and (continued on page 2)
(FROM OUR CEO, Andrew Rehfeld - continued from page 1)
services and programs in the Jewish community. Jewish Federation of St. Louis is making sure our families can engage with Jewish life in our schools, camps and maintain access to services important to keeping our community thriving. That is why, during these last days of 2015, we need your help toward reaching our goal for the Annual Campaign. Please read on to see the tremendous work we do and how your generous donation will make a significant impact in so many important ways. Jewish Federation of St. Louis is here to support all individuals in leading lives well lived. We do that by mobilizing the community’s resources, allocating over $13 million in a range of grants and our direct services like the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, our Center for Jewish Learning, the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center and Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library. We are here to promote strong sustainable relationships between our community and Israel through education, travel and direct support. And we are here to support the existing infrastructure of beneficiary agencies, congregations, and all Jewish organizations that make this such wonderful St. Louis Jewish community. Your 2015 gift to the Annual Campaign allows Jewish Federation of St. Louis to do all of this and so much more. It does so much for so many with so little. Thank you for your support again this year.
Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D.
Thank you for #MakingItPersonal Join PJ Library for a Jewish Food Experience: We KNEAD You!
On December 2, community members and staff gathered at Jewish Federation of St. Louis for our last phone-a-thon of the year. Thanks to your support, we raised over $123,000 at our three phone-a-thons this year!
Sunday, December 20, 2015 11:30 am-1:30 pm
Traditional Congregation, in the kitchen 12437 Ladue Rd. Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Go beyond Challah and Matzah and discover breads from around the world! PJ Library and Jewish Food Experience are hosting a program for 8-12 year olds. There will be prizes, recipes and lots of yummy food to make and eat. This event is free and dietary laws will be observed. For more information or to RSVP, contact Jennifer Baer Lotsoff at JLotsoff@JFedSTL.org. This event is in collaboration with PJ Library, PJ Our Way, Jewish Federation of St. Louis and Jewish Food Experience. Jewish Federation of St. Louis is proud to be selected as a pilot partner with Jewish Food Experience, originally developed by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. This partnership allows us to create innovative programming and online content focused around food. Our hope is that these programs will help us engage more community members through the powerful draw of food.
JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST. LOUIS
2016 JPROSTL ANNUAL RECOGNITION LUNCHEON Save the date to honor professionals and celebrate our community!
Thursday, January 28, 2016 11:30 am-1:30 pm Jewish Community Center, Staenberg Family Complex
We are proud to announce this year’s honorees including the new JPro Partnership Award. Visit MillstoneSTL.org/JPro16 for more information.
90s CELEBRATION OF LIFE
The St. Louis NORC’s 90s Celebration of Life was that and more. With 100 reservations, the guests and their families feted the oldest male and female members (99 and 98 respectively, although there were three 98 year old women!) and the longest married couple (71 years). Banjos and Brass played, folks danced and the decorations shouted sunshine, smiles and vibrancy – just like our members.
24
with rsvp by december 22
Live DJ
December
fREE ENTRY
CENTRal WesT End
9 : 0 0 P M - 12 : 0 0 A M
sixth
14 MARYLAND PLAZA ST. LOUIS, MO 63108
SPECIALS ANNUAL
Bar Louie
DRINK
LOLLAPAJEWZA
YPD 6TH ANNUAL LOLLAPAJEWZA LollapaJEWza is back for Christmas Eve 2015! If you know young Jewish adults in the community looking for a great place to hang out with friends on Christmas Eve, they won’t want to miss this annual event! Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Young Professionals Division will be taking over Bar Louie and providing great drink specials, a live DJ and lots of fun for all on December 24 from 9:00 pm-12:00 am. Registration is free until December 22. $10 at the door. Visit YPDSTL.org/Lolla..
AN ODD AND IMPROBABLE TALE: JEWISH REFUGEES IN SHANGHAI Exhibit will run through March 5, 2016
SPREAD THE LIGHT this Chanukah season...
Approximately 18,000 German and Austrian Jews fled to Shanghai before the outbreak of WWII. This exhibit, drawn from the archives of the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, tells the stories of those who found Shanghai to be a safe haven from the impending threat of the Holocaust. Exhibit and programming generously supported by the Rubin (Of Blessed Memory) and Gloria Feldman Family Education Institute of the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, Regional Arts Commission and UMSL Center for International Studies.
JEWISH COACHING ACADEMY Give a child the gift of giving and help the community!
Each $18 donation purchases one virtual candle and each menorah represents a different need in our community. Children will receive a certificate with a custom login code that will allow them to place their candles on the menorah(s) of their choice. Purchase a candle or menorah today. SpreadTheLight.JFedSTL.org
Each $18 donation purchases one virtual candle and each
Thirty-six professionals and lay leaders recently participated in leadership coaching skills training sponsored by Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Millstone Institute, joining 40 alumni from 2014. The program was facilitated by Deborah Grayson Riegel of MyJewishCoach.com. Deborah is an internationally recognized expert on interpersonal communication and works with Jewish communities across North America, as well as universities and businesses. The program is supported by the Lubin-Green Foundation, Mont & Karen Levy and Bill Solomon and family. For information on leadership coaching skills, contact Marci Mayer Eisen at MEisen@JFedSTL.org or 314-442-3810.
ISRAEL BOUND a St. Louis Teen Adventure... a Summer to Remember
June 6-26, 2016 Open to teens currently in 10th-12th grade
$5,350 All Inclusive Earlybird pricing $5,200 through November 20, 2015 $750 travel grant given to all St. Louis teens! • • • • • • • • •
Explore ancient Jerusalem and modern Tel Aviv Climb Masada at sunrise Travel on camels in the Negev Desert and eat in a Bedouin tent Float in the Dead Sea Snorkel and swim in Eilat Connect with Israeli Teens Help others in a Community Service project Raft the Jordan River Reflect at the Kotel, The Western Wall...and much more!
For more information, contact Karen Rader at 314-442-3756 or email KRader@JFedSTL.org.
JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST. LOUIS IS PROUD TO SUPPORT JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA’S LATEST MISSION: SEE ISRAEL WITH PRIDE! Join members of the LGBTQ community from North America for this historic mission to Israel, May 26-June 2, 2016. Marvel at Jerusalem's Old City one day and be dazzled by Tel Aviv's beaches the next. Meet with Israel's LGBTQ politicians, business leaders and innovators and learn what is being done to advance the rights of the LGBTQ community. Visit incredible sites where Federations are changing lives every day. Experience Israeli culture, cuisine and character. Take pride in Israel and her LGBTQ community on this unforgettable trip. For more information, contact Karen Rader at KRader@JFedSTL.org or visit JFedSTL.org and click on the “See Israel with Pride” banner to be redirected to the trip website.
INCLUSION DISABILITY SURVEY Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Inclusion Initiative invites individuals with disabilities and/or their families to participate in a community survey. This will help us collect data in order to gain insight and prioritize the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families in the St. Louis Jewish community. The survey will be open until February 29, 2016. Questions? Please contact Rinat Kisin at RKisin@JFedSTL.org. Please use the following link to complete the survey: SurveyMonkey.com/r/InclusionInitiative.