FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN

Here for Good

The holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are our individual and communal opportunities to mark the transition from the past year to a new year. As I think about beginning a new Jewish year, it is an opportunity to reflect on the past year(s) and a beautiful time to renew our commitment to ensuring the vibrancy of our Jewish community. Individually and communally, we transition from the past to the future.

Judaism teaches us that people must play an active role in the world. In Jewish life, the concept of tikun olam (repairing the world) is an expression of the value of making the world a better place. The world may not be perfect, but we have the opportunity, and really the obligation, to help make it better. Because of the noble work we each do, the Jewish Federation is excited to partner with you to strengthen our community. It enables us all to take an active role in nourishing and enriching our community.

This is also a wonderful time to reflect on the kind of Jewish community we want here in the Lehigh Valley. Are we creating the inclusive, caring and committed environment that we would all like to see for ourselves, our neighbors and our entire Jewish family?

The Jewish Federation’s 2022 campaign slogan, Here for Good, is more than just a slogan. What does it mean to be “here for good?” For our community and for people in need, it means Jewish Federation is here to provide resources, strength and support to help build and sustain flourishing Jewish life at home, in Israel, and around the world. It means we are, and always will be, the engine for Jewish communal life in our community. We are here for good, we have been and we will be for generations to come. While we have challenges and opportunities ahead of us, you are a valuable and significant part of leading us into the future. The Jewish Federation really depends on your active participation not only in your own lives, but in our community’s destiny, too. There is room for everyone to make a positive impact for the good of our community.

Despite the challenges that we weathered over the past year and a half, we are again gearing up for the many activities that will take place both here at Federation and in the community. Federation’s Major Gifts, Women’s Philanthropy events, Maimonides Society events are all driven by your goodness to create successful and meaningful Jewish engagement. All a reminder that we are Here for Good!

This time of year also marks transitions for our community. Our synagogues and agencies are also kicking-off the New Year with programs that engage community members and enhance our Jewish community’s vibrancy. The fall calendar is beyond full!

The schools at the Jewish Day School and Jewish Community Center, as well as at synagogues with religious schools, are days or weeks away from the start of a new school year. A new fiscal and program year has all organizations preparing to implement their plans to improve Jewish life in the Lehigh Valley. And, at the Jewish Federation, we are preparing to roll out the 2022 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

Our goals and wishes are for strength, health and happiness. Let us all join together in our hopes and efforts to enhance our Jewish community as we mark the distinctions between the past and the future because we believe that tomorrow will be better than today. Together, we are all Here for Good!

Wishing each of you and those you love a sweet and joyous New Year! Shana Tova U’metuka!

The Lehigh Valley-Yoav Partnership Park in Blessed Memory of Mark L. Goldstein

We gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expressions of friendship by requesting that trees be planted in the Mark L. Goldstein Friendship Park, a Yoav-Lehigh Valley Partnership Forest.

IN HONOR LENNY ABRAMS In honor of your Special Birthday Vicki Wax JEAN WEINER In honor of your Special Birthday

Vicki Wax IN MEMORY URI ZAHAVI (Father-in-Law of Amit Zahavi)

LV Partnership2Gether Committee

TO ORDER TREES, call the JFLV at 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org.

HAKOL is published 11 times per year for the Jewish communities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and vicinity by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.

COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONS

Submissions to HAKOL must be of interest to the entire Jewish community. HAKOL reserves all editorial rights including, but not limited to, the decision to print any submitted materials, the editing of submissions to conform to style and length requirements, and the placement of any printed material. Articles should be submitted by e-mail or presented as typed copy; “Community Calendar” listings must be submitted by e-mail to hakol@jflv.org or online at www.jewishlehighvalley.org. Please include your name and a daytime telephone number where you can be contacted in the event questions arise. We cannot guarantee publication or placement of submissions.

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JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT

In order to unite, sustain, and enhance the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, and support Jewish communities in Israel and around the world, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is dedicated to the following core values:

• Supporting Jews in need wherever they may be. • Supporting Israel as a Jewish homeland. • Supporting and encouraging Jewish education in the Lehigh Valley as a means of strengthening Jewish life for individuals and families. • Supporting programs and services of organizations whose values and mission meet local Jewish needs.

To accomplish this mission the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is committed to the following operating guidelines: • Raising and distributing funds to support the core values. • Developing Jewish leaders. • Building endowments to support implementation of core values. • Committing to ongoing Jewish community strategic planning. • Fostering cooperation among organizations and community building. • Evaluating all decisions with respect to fiscal responsibility. • Identifying unmet needs and investing in community initiatives to help get them started. • Coordinating and convening a community response as an issue or need arises. • Setting priorities for allocation and distribution of funds. • Acting as a central address for communication about events, programs and services of the Jewish community as a whole.