JFed Connects - Aug/Sept '13

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

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

INSIDE YPD Board Transitions............ 2 Goldstein/Grosberg Winners 2 Hidden Holocaust Program.... 2 Young Leadership Retreat...... 3 Lazaroff Lecture ..................... 3 Staenberg Grant .................... 3 Rabbi Sid Schwarz.................. 4 News from Fiscal.................... 4

NORC MEMBERS ENTERTAINED WITH SHOW TUNES The St. Louis Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) recently held an evening of musical entertainment provided by the grandson of one of its most loyal and active members. Bessie Garland hosted 110 St. Louis NORC and community guests as her grandson, Eric, sang a medley of popular Broadway tunes. It was a beautiful performance, and Bessie was as proud as a grandmother could be.

DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY UPDATE

Jewish Federation recently sent a Request for Proposals to five researchers, inviting them to apply to conduct a demographic study. All five have indicated that they plan to submit proposals, which are due in late September. We anticipate an interesting range of proposed techniques and budgets. The next step is to convene several technical experts who can help us with the researcher selection process and an advisory group that will guide us through the study process.

JFedSTL.org

From the CEO

CONNECTING WITH YOU This time of year is a time of reflection.

We take time out to think about what we have changed in the past year, what we want to change in the upcoming year and the ways we can help one another. Renewal is the word of the season—putting aside our differences and focusing instead on what brings us together. We are reminded of the importance of acknowledging and respecting the impact that our actions and inactions can have on others, and we celebrate the sweetness and harmony of our existence.

event. We encourage you to come to the JCC’s Arts & Entertainment building on September 17 to celebrate what we have accomplished in the past year, outline a vision for our future and recognize the challenges we face in the upcoming year, and talk about the role you can play in designing the future of our community. We will also celebrate individual contributions to our community and identify opportunities to strengthen our community.

Although the holidays will soon be over, the reflection and focus on renewal will continue as we come together at Federation’s Annual Meeting. This year, we have chosen “Designing Our Future” as the theme for the

Andrew Rehfeld

I hope to see you there. G’mar chatimah tovah.

Sincerely,

For information on Federation’s Annual Meeting, contact Erin Wolfman at 314-442-3814 or visit JFedSTL.org/JFed13.

FEDERATION RECEIVES UNITED WAY OPERATIONAL PLAN GRANT The United Way of Greater St. Louis, through its Agency Consulting, Training and Support Department, has chosen the Federation to receive consulting services from Vector Communications to assist us with the development of an annual operational plan and dashboard. This $7,500 project is being made available to Federation for only $1,000.

YPD BOARD TRANSITIONS IN NEW MEMBERS You may be familiar with the phrase “from generation to generation.” It reminds us that exciting things are always just around the corner. With that in mind, Federation’s Young Professionals Division (YPD) community would like to congratulate Ben Cherry and welcome him as the new president of YPD for the next (two-year) term.

Ben, a commercial real estate broker with Manor Real Estate, has been an active YPD board member for more than 5 years and has held a range of positions. He brings passion, experience and the desire to listen to what YPDers (young Jews in their 20s and 30s) envision for the future of the Jewish community in St. Louis.

In similar fashion, the YPD Board is in the midst of its biennial transition process as seasoned members prepare to roll off and fresh voices are added to the conversation.

Congratulations to the new executive team of the YPD Board: Vice President of Campaign, Jessica Tilson; Vice President of Community, Service Julie Abeles; Vice President of Leadership Development, Staci Tons; Vice President of Programming, Billy Rubenstein; Vice President of Outreach, Seth Williams; and Vice President of Young Couples and Family, Outreach Sara Haluf. At-large board members will be added to the board in the next few weeks. YPD looks forward to the year ahead!

GOLDSTEIN AND GROSBERG AWARD WINNERS NAMED Jewish Federation of St. Louis has announced the 2013 winners of two prestigious awards, the Fred A. Goldstein Professional Leadership Award and the David N. and Roselin Grosberg Young Leadership Award. Both awards will be presented at Federation’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, September 17 at the J’s Arts & Education Building.

Larry Levin, publisher/CEO of the St. Louis Jewish Light, is the winner of the Goldstein Award, which recognizes outstanding professional leadership among those who work in a St. Louis Jewish organization.

The award honors individuals who excel in their field, have a significant track record over time, have introduced important innovations, and are perceived as role models by other professionals and volunteers. Levin has overseen sweeping changes at the newspaper since becoming publisher/CEO in 2008, resulting in stronger financial footing, improved news coverage, enhanced design and online presence, technological upgrades, and improved community presence. During Levin’s tenure, the newspaper has received 16 local and national journalism awards. Levin has substantial experience in law, business, nonprofit organizations and journalism. He has two adult sons.

Rachel Milder Lubchansky and Jeffrey Sparks were named winners of the Grosberg Award, which recognizes volunteer leaders in the Jewish community who are 40 years and younger and demonstrate active Jewish Federation leadership and commitment to Federation’s Annual Community Campaign.

Lubchansky is the director of admissions and communications at the H.F. Epstein Hebrew Academy. In the past 11 years, she

has devoted much of her time to volunteerism. She was an executive board member for Federation’s Young Professionals Division (YPD) and was a Millstone Fellow in the inaugural class of the Federation leadership series. She will join the Federation’s Board of Trustees this fall. She co-founded the Barbara Mendelson Tomchei Shabbos Fund, which empowers Shabbos-observant families by providing food to prepare their own Shabbos celebration. The organization serves more than 40 families weekly. In addition, Lubchansky has served on the steering committee for the J’s Maccabi Games, as social chair for Young Israel and was a Professional Leaders Project participant and a Corporate Achiever Honoree with the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She and her husband, Adam, have 4-year-old triplets.

Sparks is a partner in RubinBrown’s Assurance Services Group. He served as president, vice president of campaign and at-large board member for Federation’s YPD. He has shifted the focus of YPD toward supporting the community through giving, and under his leadership the YPD campaign has experienced continued growth. Sparks is also a member of Federation’s Board of Trustees and its Montefiore Society and Ben Gurion Society. In 2010, Sparks was named as one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s 30 Under 30. In addition, he is a member of the board of directors for the JCRC and is a member of the Miami University Alumni Association and Miami University Admission Recruiting Network.

HMLC TO PRESENT PROGRAM ON THE HIDDEN HOLOCAUST The Holocaust Museum and Learning Center (HLMC) will present “The Hidden Holocaust: New Research on Excavations at an Extermination Camp,” featuring biblical archeology Professor Richard Freund, the Maurice Greenberg Professor of History at the University of Hartford, October 13 at 1:00 pm at the Jewish Federation Kopolow Building.

Freund has used traditional and cutting-edge techniques to shed new light on a range of subjects, from ancient Qumran to the Holocaust. He will discuss his work at Sobibor, one of the six notorious Nazi death camps in Poland. Although the Nazis attempted to bury the camp and obliterate any evidence of its horrors, recent work has revealed elements about the Holocaust that were unknown nearly 70 years ago.

LOCAL LEADERS ATTEND NATIONAL YOUNG LEADERSHIP CABINET RETREAT By Brad Gross St. Louisians were among more than 250 young leaders from across the United States and Canada who gathered to hone leadership skills and explore deeper Jewish meaning at this year’s National Young Leadership Cabinet retreat in Park City, Utah, this August.

Nationally renowned Jewish leader Rae Ringel and Rabbi David Wolpe of Los Angeles were the presenters. We shared best practices, deepened our connection to our Jewish people, and strengthened our bonds with each other. The retreat was capped off with a very moving Havdallah lead by St. Louis’ own Rick Recht.

Cabinet is a six-year, incredibly intense leadership and philanthropic program within Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and throughout the Jewish world. Cabinet, which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, comprises approximately 300 men and women, ages 30 to 45 years, who are deeply committed to shaping a brighter future for the Jewish people in North America, Israel and around the globe.

Cabinet alumni are among today’s leaders in virtually every Jewish community in North America and serve as advocates and activists in their own communities. Through annual retreats and conferences sharing best practices, Cabinet develops and cultivates leadership skills and educates members about Israel advocacy, humanitarian endeavors, legislative issues and Jewish life. On missions to places like Ethiopia, Budapest, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Morocco, Congrats to our St. Louis Argentina and Israel, Cabinet members personally witness Cabinet chevre who already committed $65,500 to the the needs of the Jewish people in diverse communities 2014 Annual Campaign at around the world. Because of these experiences, Cabinet retreat. This is a 48% increase members go back to their home communities empowered over their giving last year. They as advocates and prepared to motivate others to get truly are leading by example! involved. On a local level, St Louis has six current Cabinet To find out more about the members and more than 70 alumni.

National Young Leadership Cabinet Program, please contact Rachel Pereles at rpereles@jfedstl.org or 314-442-3809

Cabinet is not only a profound experience that forges leadership paths, but also a social and spiritual journey that builds deep and life-long friendships. Members of Cabinet aren’t just members; they are chevre. It is said that making friends after age 30 is one of life’s hardest things to do. With Cabinet, some of the closest and dearest friends were made over the course of a few days at conferences and while travelling.

For current Cabinet members, the experience has been profound to say the least. We have seen the St. Louis community’s needs in a broader range and been able to share other communities’ best practices with local leadership as a live conduit. St. Louis’ Cabinet members have taken on national assignments within JFNA, led international missions and actively sit on numerous boards throughout the St. Louis area. The lessons learned in Cabinet are ones that we use daily in how we lead our lives socially, professionally, through our volunteer efforts and with our families. The entire journey is an eye-opening and priceless experience. When you ask alumni about their experience with Cabinet, you see a twinkle in their eyes appear as they fondly reflect on their six-year journey. It is sometimes hard to get us active Cabinet members to be quiet once we start waxing eloquently about the program.

ANNUAL LAZAROFF LECTURE ON ABRAHAM LINCOLN On Monday, September 23, at 7:30 pm, noted scholar and author Dr. Gary Zola will speak at the Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library’s Annual Lazaroff Lecture on Abraham Lincoln and the interesting history that links him with American Jewry. Dr. Gary Zola, executive director of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives and professor at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, has a forthcoming book titled We Called Him Rabbi Abraham: Lincoln and American Jewry. A reception will follow the lecture.

Admission is $7 per person; admission is free to Friends of the Library. The program will be held at the Jewish Federation Kopolow Building, 12 Millstone Campus Drive. Reservations are required by September 22.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 314-442-3720 or email brodsky-library@jfedstl.org.

The program is funded by the Morris and Ann Lazaroff Endowment for the Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library.

STAENBERG FAMILY FOUNDATION LAUNCHES NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITY The Staenberg Family Foundation, a supporting Foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, announces a new grant opportunity aimed at helping agencies and programs raise funds for a variety of needs, including infrastructure, capital improvements, new and ongoing programs, technology, etc. The Foundation’s Anything Grants will award $50,000 in grants to local Jewish organizations, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per grant. Each grant will be equal to 50% of the project budget; organizations are responsible for raising the remaining 50% from other sources.

Anything Grant applications are being accepted now through November 15 at JFedSTL.org/AnythingGrants. Members of the Staenberg Family Foundation will evaluate proposals and will announce the winners by January 15, 2014. For information, contact Mindee Fredman at mfredman@jfedstl.org

COMMUNITY PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE AMERICAN JEWISH FUTURE Rabbi Sid Schwarz, author of the recent book Jewish Megatrends, Charting the Course of the American Jewish Future, will be the featured speaker at a community program on Tuesday, October 1 at the Jewish Federation Kopolow Building, 12 Millstone Campus Drive. A light breakfast will be served at 8:00 am, and Rabbi Schwarz will begin promptly at 8:15. The program is sponsored by the Millstone Institute for Jewish Leadership.

Rabbi Schwarz will share visionary solutions for synagogues, Federations and Jewish membership organizations focused on the changing interests and needs of the next generation. In his book, a challenging yet hopeful call for transformational change, Rabbi Schwarz looks at the social norms that are shaping the habits and lifestyles of younger American Jews and why the next generation is resistant to participation in the institutions of Jewish communal life as they currently exist. He sets out four guiding principles that can drive a renaissance in Jewish life and gives evidence of how, on the margins of the Jewish community, those principles are already generating enthusiasm and engagement from the very millennials that the organized Jewish community would like to engage.

Rabbi Schwarz has been a congregational rabbi, a social entrepreneur, an author and a political activist and frequent speaker on issues related to Jewish life around the country.

Currently, he serves as a senior fellow at Clal: The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, where he is

involved in a program that trains rabbis to be visionary spiritual leaders. In 2011, he helped to develop the Rene Cassin Fellowship Program, an international fellowship program on Judaism and human rights for Jewish young professionals with hubs in New York, London and Jerusalem which he now directs. In 2007, he was named one of the 50 most influential rabbis in North America by Newsweek magazine. He founded and led PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, an organization dedicated to inspiring, training and empowering Jewish youth to a life of leadership, activism and service, for 21 years. Rabbi Schwarz previously served as the executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington, DC, where he oversaw the public affairs and community relations work for the Jewish community. In 2002, he was awarded the prestigious Covenant Award for his pioneering work in the field of Jewish education. He holds a PhD in Jewish history and is the author of numerous articles and two additional groundbreaking books, Finding a Spiritual Home: How a New Generation of Jews Can Transform the American Synagogue and Judaism and Justice: The Jewish Passion to Repair the World.

The Millstone Institute is a community-wide initiative of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and focuses on collaborative leadership training. The breakfast program is free of charge and made possible by the generous support of the Lubin-Green Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Mont and Karen Levy, The Millstone Foundation, and Bill Solomon and family.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Marci Mayer Eisen at meisen@jfedstl.org or 314-442-3810.

OUR MISSION

Jewish Federation mobilizes the Jewish community and its human and financial resources to preserve and enhance Jewish life in St. Louis, Israel and around the world.

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