JFed Connects - February/March '14

JFED CONNECTS AN UPDATE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING AT JEWISH FEDERATION

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014

From our Chair

INSIDE Yom HaShoah ........................ 2 The Story of the Jews ........... 2 Rubin Feldman Lecture .......... 2 Shower Our Community ........ 2 Lens On & Fellows 3rd Year... 3 Learn and Earn....................... 3 Bayou Bash ............................ 3 Millstone Institute .................. 4 YPD Leadership ..................... 4 Help Seniors .......................... 4 Kranzberg Foundation ........... 4

TAX TIME!

Tax receipts were mailed recently, so donors should have already received a detailed letter of contributions for 2013.

Only donors with payments more than $250 will receive a letter.

Didn’t get a letter? Misplaced your copy? Have a question? Please contact Lauren Maul, donor services associate, at 314-442-3793 or lmaul@jfedstl.org.

Thank you! We appreciate your gift.

From our CEO

JFedSTL.org

A LOOK BACK AT 2013

The recently published Pew Survey of Jewish Americans has generated a great deal of discussion and controversy.

One clear trend it describes is that many millennial Jews do not identify with traditional Jewish institutions or causes.

In light of these and similar findings, we at Jewish Federation have made it a priority to expand programming and outreach to the younger, unaffiliated or disengaged members of our community. We believe strongly that the health of our St. Louis Jewish community in the years ahead demands greater focused engagement to preserve and enhance vibrant, Jewish life.

We need to ask ourselves continually, “What is the make up of our Jewish community today, and how is that different from years gone by?” We need to make the Jewish community accessible and

relevant to a wider audience, and we need to think outside the box about how to reach and engage them.

To that end, the Federation’s Board of Directors recently approved a 2014 budget that includes the creation of new professional positions in next generation engagement, community development and congregational outreach. We believe that resources aimed at creative engagement will help us to re-involve—or involve for the first time—Jews of all ages who, for a variety of reasons, have not felt connected to the Jewish community. We will also introduce creative programming, like our Interfaith Mission set to depart in March and our Inclusion Initiative.

A vibrant community must be as accessible and welcoming and relevant as possible. Under the leadership of our president and CEO, Andrew Rehfeld, we are well on our way.

Patty Croughan

IT’S ALMOST HERE: GET READY TO HAVE YOUR SAY

You may have already heard that Jewish Federation of St. Louis, in conjunction with local synagogues and other Jewish organizations, is about to conduct a Jewish Community Study. In the upcoming weeks, you’re going to be bombarded with messages about answering the call—we’re even sharing the number that will appear on your caller ID: When 314-442-3790 pops up, please pick up your phone!

The calls, which will start on or about March 31 and run for several weeks, involve no solicitation; the person on the other end will simply collect some data and ask questions about your behavior, perceptions and attitudes.

Why are we making such a big fuss about you answering the phone? Why should you care enough to take 15 to 20 minutes out of your busy day to talk with the person on the other end of the line? Because the information you share in

this short call will help inform community planning, allocations and programming efforts for Jewish agencies and institutions for the next decade.

It’s been almost 20 years since the last demographic study was conducted in our community, and the Jewish world has changed dramatically since then. The study will help us determine the size of our local Jewish community, assess the current needs of Jewish residents and plan for the future. The knowledge we gain from this study will be presented in a detailed report that will be widely distributed.

Your participation is critical to the success of this study. If you receive a phone call, please take the time to answer the questions and make your voice heard.

Andrew Rehfeld

FEDERATION HELPS BRING THE STORY OF THE JEWS TO THE AIRWAVES Jewish Federation of St. Louis is sponsoring the Nine Network showing of The Story of the Jews, a five-part public television series written and presented by historian and critic Simon Schama. The ground-breaking series, which focuses on the interaction between Jewish culture and the rest of the world, will air in primetime March 25 and April 1 on Nine PBS and Nine World (go to ninenet.org for more information).

In conjunction with the series, the network’s Living St. Louis will air a local story about Jewish identity on March 24. Then, on May 7, Federation President and CEO Andrew Rehfeld will co-moderate a “Community Conversation” event, where a panel will discuss Jewish identity in St. Louis. Save that date, and watch for more information to come on this event.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS YEAR’S YOM HASHOAH EVENT This year’s Yom HaShoah community-wide Holocaust commemoration will take place Sunday, April 27 at United Hebrew Congregation at 4 pm.

The annual event, open to the St. Louis community, remembers the victims, honors the survivors and brings the community together in remembrance.

For more information, go to HMLC.org.

FILM AS AN EDUCATION RESOURCE SUBJECT OF ANNUAL RUBIN FELDMAN MEMORIAL LECTURE “Survivor Testimony on Film: Faith and Courage Amid the Shoah” is the theme of this year’s annual Rubin Feldman Memorial Lecture, which will be held at the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center theater in the Jewish Federation Kopolow Building, 12 Millstone Campus Drive, on Tuesday, March 11 at 7:30 pm. Rabbi Dovid Bernstein, writer and co-producer of a series of Holocaust-related films, will screen segments of the film V’nikdashti (And I Will Be Sanctified) and discuss how filmed testimonies of acts of faith during the Shoah are being used as an education resource.

This year’s lecture is generously supported by Aish St. Louis and the Rubin (z”l) and Gloria Feldman Family Education Institute of the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be followed by a light reception. For further information, visit HMLC.org.

WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY WILL SHOWER THE COMMUNITY WITH LOVE Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy will hold the 6th Annual “Shower Our Community” event on April 24 at 7 pm at the JCC Staenberg Family Complex Arts and Education Building. Women’s Philanthropy’s biggest volunteer event, the Shower brings together Jewish women within the St. Louis community to give back through a hands-on service project. This year’s recipient is the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. Participants will bring in specific items requested by the pantry to help fill its shelves. The women will hear from the pantry’s coordinator, Marcia Mermelstein, a representative from the Rubin Israel Experience, and Margaux Buck-Yael, community chaplain for Jewish Family & Children’s Service. For more information visit WomensPhilanthropySTL.org.

MILLSTONE LENS ON AND FELLOWS PROGRAMS ENTER THIRD YEARS Lou Feldstein, founder and CEO of Dynamic Change Solutions in Atlanta, will kick off the 2014 Millstone IMPACT Impact Series for board members, volunteers and professionals throughout the St. Louis Jewish community on Monday, March 10 at 7 pm. Feldstein will lead an interactive program on “The Path to Exceptional Organizations: Bringing Energy, Enthusiasm and Effectiveness to Every Meeting.”

Feldstein will also lead a program the same day at 12 pm on “The Secret Story Behind Successful Fundraising.” Both programs are free and open to the community and will be held at the Jewish Federation Kopolow Building, 12 Millstone Campus Drive.

Professionals working at Jewish organizations in St. Louis are welcome to attend Feldstein’s JPro program, “Making Meetings Magical: The Role of the Professional.” It will take place Monday, March 10 at 8:30 am.

To RSVP or for questions, contact Marci Mayer Eisen at 314-442-3810 or go to MillstoneSTL.org.

Fellows

JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST. LOUIS INITIATES SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Learn and Earn will connect students with employment and the local Jewish community

JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST. LOUIS

Jewish Federation of St. Louis has launched AND a summer internship program for college students that will INTERNSHIP combine meaningful employment and a PROGRAM community connection experience. Applications are being accepted online now for the Learn and Earn Internship Program, an eight-week paid summer opportunity for students who either live or study in St. Louis.

As many as six interns will be matched with local companies, including Zoltek Companies, Inc., Warehouse of Fixtures, and Manor Real Estate, for positions in finance, marketing, sales and more. Interns will work in the positions Monday through Thursday, and on Fridays, they will come together to learn about the St. Louis Jewish community and connect with each other.

For more information or to apply, go to JFedSTL.org/LEInternship.

Applications will be accepted until April 25.

In addition, Federation is seeking more companies to participate in the program. For more information, email jfrankel@jfedstl.org.

YPDERS CELEBRATE N’AWLINS STYLE More than 250 members of Federation’s Young Professionals Division (YPD) attended the Bayou Bash on February 22 to kick off the 2014 programming year.

The New Orleans-inspired event featured jazzy entertainment from North of the Quarter, libations and popular Crescent City eats.

Participants also donated several bins worth of non-perishable items for the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. Congrats to co-chairs Emily Bornstein and Joey Gerchen, VP of Outreach Seth Williams, YPD President Ben Cherry, and the whole event committee for a wonderful event!

All Jews in their 20s and 30s are invited to continue the celebration in New Orleans from March 16 to 18 at National Young Leadership’s TribeFest. For more information and to join the St. Louis krewe, visit YPDSTL.org.

MILLSTONE INSTITUTE PRESENTS PROGRAMS ON IMPROVING MEETINGS, FUNDRAISING Seventy-five people from nearly 30 different organizations participated in the third Presidents’ Circle Reception on December 10 at Crown Center for Senior Living. The Millstone Institute brought together board presidents and presidents-elect, executive directors/CEOs, and senior clergy. Participants spread out around the room for a small group “speed dialogue,” which explored 15 different questions related to engaging boards, a Jewish lens on leadership, organizational change and motivating involvement.

Also, the 2013 Millstone Fellows were honored. The Millstone Institute is made possible by the generous support of the Lubin-Green Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, the Millstone Foundation, Mont and Karen Levy, and Bill Solomon and family. The Millstone Institute sponsors JProStl, Millstone Fellows and LENS On and will be offering a broad selection of board training workshops throughout 2014. For information, contact Marci Mayer Eisen at 314-442-3810 or meisen@jfedstl.org

YPD LEADERSHIP SERIES HELPS DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS Federation’s Young Professionals Division (YPD) holds a yearly LEADS (Leadership, Education, and Development Series) designed to familiarize participants with YPD and its programming, stimulate participation in YPD events, cultivate important professional skills, and help participants make new friends. This year’s five-part series takes place in February and March and features top-level speakers from throughout the professional and Jewish communities. Participants often go on to become board members of Jewish organizations and active members of the Jewish community in St. Louis.

Congratulations to the 2014 YPD LEADS participants: Adira Weixlmann, Alexandra Rudolph, Brad Lewis, David Kramer, Drew Schwartz, Emilie Lytton, Heidi Molos, Kara Sussman, Michael Gross, Sam Freedman, Stephen Davis, Toby Loewenstein, and Zach Rosenblatt.

For more information on how to be a part of the 2015 LEADS series, please contact Lee’at Bachar at lbachar@jfedstl.org.

HELP SENIORS AND BENEFIT As 2014 tax planning proceeds, consider a tax credit program that may be perfect for your clients and/or firm.

Jewish Federation of St Louis has approximately $97,000 ($194,000 for gifts) remaining in Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits from the state of Missouri that will assist in raising funds for the St. Louis Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC).

St. Louis NORC programs, partially funded by these tax credits, support the healthy aging of adults 65+ in their own homes by providing opportunities for meaningful community involvement and access to support services.

The tax credits are awarded to qualified donors who make gifts to Federation to benefit the NORC program. A qualified donor is any business or individual with business income, such as S Corp income, partnership income, rental property income or limited liability company income.

This program is tax efficient. Not only will you receive tax savings from deducting your gift for Missouri and Federal income tax purposes, but also a credit against your Missouri income tax equal to one-half the amount of the gift. After the tax savings from the deductions and the credit, the out-of-pocket cost to you of making the gift can be lower than 30% of the amount of the gift. In addition, you’ll be making an important difference in the lives of older adults in the St. Louis area.

Want to know how to apply? Please contact Ken Weintraub at 314-442-3731 or kweintraub@jfedstl.org today.

KRANZBERG FOUNDATION AWARDS $65K TO JEWISH YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS IN 2014 Grants have been given to innovative next generation Jewish projects since 2008 The Kranzberg Family Foundation, a supporting organization of Jewish Federation of St. Louis, has awarded $65,000 in grants to 12 Jewish programs for children, teens and young adults for 2014. This is the seventh year the family has gifted grants to next gen programs. The Kranzberg Foundation is administered by the Jewish Community Foundation of St. Louis.

Recipients of the 2014 Kranzberg Grants include: Bais Abraham Congregation, Covenant House/CHAI, Hillel at Mizzou, Jewish Parents as Teachers, Jewish Student Union, Judaism Alive–Jewish Rock Radio, Maryville University, Next Dor, Nishmah, PJ Library, St. Louis Jewish Light, and Torah and Turf.