FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN

Here for Good

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is Here for Good to ensure that our Jewish community thrives from dor l’dor. Good doesn’t just happen on its own. It comes from our collective dedication, to the promise of a flourishing Jewish future. It is also our commitment to intergenerational programming so that we can count on one another to continue to help good grow. Just as we have in the past. Just as we will in the future.

Having experienced a pandemic, our community, like many Jewish communities around the world, is no doubt at an important crossroads. How will we grow? How will we make sure that the passion for Jewish life that many of us feel gets passed on to the next generation?

I have spoken in the past about the importance of creating a kehillah kedosha (a sacred community) — with all of our agencies and synagogues working together, the Lehigh Valley Jewish community will remain vibrant and strong. It is you, our many donors and volunteers, who help us provide for an exciting and resilient Jewish community. Our Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs is the lifeline that keeps our communal agencies and synagogues healthy. To those who have given to our annual campaign, my sincere thanks and appreciation. If you have not yet given a gift, I encourage you to consider making a donation. Every gift makes a difference in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Your generosity delivers vital funding to ensure critical programs and services are available. It is how we are here to respond when a crisis strikes, and it is how we are here for the community long after it passes.

Jewish Federations play significant roles not just as funders, but as community conveners. I am proud of the work we do at our Jewish Federation, and I am blessed to be working with our board of directors, our volunteer leaders, and our staff to bring us into the next chapter of Jewish life in the Lehigh Valley.

What will that chapter look like? I can tell you that the book about our community will not be written by a single author. It will be a collaborative piece, with essay and verse from many contributors. And as we move forward, I remain dedicated to keeping you apprised of our progress. I am confident that transparency, accountability, focus, and impact will continue to guide us on our journey together.

There will be change and we will be smart about the programs we implement, and the decisions we make. This year’s campaign slogan, Here for Good, emphasizes and reminds us of our responsibility to provide for the greater good. Our community is fortunate to have so many talented people with ideas to share, and your input is most welcome.

We have a great deal of work ahead of us and, with your help, we will celebrate many remarkable accomplishments. I look forward to seeing more of you as we begin slowly to emerge from our COVID isolation so that together we can embark on this journey. To each of you, I say a heartfelt “thank you” for the difference you are making every day. May we continue to go from strength to strength!

HAKOL RECOGNIZED FOR JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE

We are proud to announce that HAKOL has been awarded Second Place for the 2022 Professional Keystone Media Award for best Special Section in a niche publication.

Thank you to all our readers and sponsors for your ongoing support!

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 HOUMAN AHDIEH In honor of your Birthday

Vicki Wax JEANETTE EICHENWALD In honor of your retirement from Yachad after 25 years

Vicki Wax KENDRA AND REINO JARVINEN In honor of the birth of your son, Jack Matias Jarvinen

Aaron Gorodzinsky DEBBIE AND ANDY KIMMEL In honor of the birth of your grandson Eileen and Roberto Fischmann ALAN SALINGER Thank you for helping Shelby prepare for her Bat Mitzvah

The Tenzer Family DEBRA AND BEN WEINSTEIN In honor of the marriage of Matthew to Pamela Cogut

Lisa and Barnet Fraenkel

IN MEMORY ARTHUR ALTMAN (Father of Rabbi Suzanne Altman Offit)

Deena and Steve Borzak

Alice and Rabbi Van Lanckton RICHARD KRASSEN (Father of Josh Krassen)

Judy Alperin MIRRA (MARIA) PAPIR (Mother of Leon Papir)

Lisa and Barnet Fraenkel

Beth and Wesley Kozinn

Carole and Michael Langsam

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. Quotes may be edited for grammar and clarity. 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.

MAIL, FAX, OR E-MAIL TO: JFLV ATTN: HAKOL 702 N. 22nd St. Allentown, PA 18104 Phone: (610) 821-5500 Fax: (610) 821-8946 E-mail: hakol@jflv.org Member American Jewish Press Association

All advertising is subject to review and approval by The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley (JFLV). JFLV reserves the right to decline, withdraw and/or edit any ad. The appearance of any advertising in HAKOL does not represent an endorsement or kashrut certification. Paid political advertisements that appear in HAKOL do not represent an endorsement of any candidate by the JFLV.

HAKOL STAFF

CARL ZEBROWSKI Editor

ALLISON MEYERS Marketing Project Manager & Senior Graphic Designer DIANE McKEE Account Representative TEL: 610-515-1391 hakolads@jflv.org BAYLEY CARL Marketing & Engagement Associate

JFLV EXECUTIVE STAFF

JERI ZIMMERMAN Executive Director

AARON GORODZINSKY Director of Campaign & Security Planning DENISE AHNER Director of Finance & Administration

JULIA UMANSKY Director of Gift Planning & EITC

GARY FROMER JFLV President

WENDY EDWARDS Office Manager GINGER HORSFORD Donor Services Associate

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.