FEDERATION
UPDATE
You give our Jewish community a better future
WINTER 2019
HOW YOU HELP: MILA’S STORY
At 90, this local Holocaust survivor has found much needed support.
“The Russian Jewish Center is like a home. It gives me life.”
–Mila
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Pictured: Mila, in her home
jewishcincinnati.org
HOW YOU HELP
Thanks to your gift, Mila just celebrated her 90th birthday with a party at the new Jewish Family Service Russian Jewish Cultural Center. It may look like just a room on the first floor of the Mayerson JCC—but it is the vibrant heart of a community one hundred strong. You mobilize a network of life management care for Russian-speaking Jewish seniors, over 70 percent of whom are Holocaust survivors. Due to her age, difficulties with English, and living alone, Mila would typically be socially isolated without this support. As Mila says through an interpreter: “Thank you. Everybody my age needs this help. I think that the Russian Center is like a home. It gives me life.”
On December 14, Mila celebrated her 90th birthday at the Russian Jewish Cultural Center with many people sharing anecdotes about her life.
Social isolation can be dangerous: according to the AARP Foundation, the health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Your Support Protects Jews in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Around the World Because of you, the Jewish community in Pittsburgh is safer. Nationally, the Federation system works behind the scenes to confront terror when it happens and to prepare communities with the tools to prevent and cope with such events. You fund the nation-wide Secure Community Network. Just last summer, SCN conducted a complete threat assessment, devised protocols, and provided active shooter training to Rabbi Jeffrey Meyers and the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh. The rabbi, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh, and its Director of Community Security have each said that this training saved lives that tragic day.
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Since 2004, the Secure Community Network has served as a clearinghouse for information and training on how to handle potential threats to Jewish institutions.
On the local level, SAFE Cincinnati works to protect Cincinnati’s Jewish community. Because of you, we have the infrastructure to run SAFE Cincinnati. SAFE Cincinnati works closely behind the scenes with all of our schools, organizations, and congregations to implement the most effective security possible. Your gift also funds the Jewish Community Relations Council, which has worked for decades, in coalition with other minority groups and local government, to promote equality and denounce antisemitism.
YOUR GIFT
How You Help: Holocaust Survivor’s Spirit and Vision Changes Lives
supports Al Miller’s teaching through the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.
Gifted Teacher Fights for Human Dignity, Shared Values According to the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, in the last year 96-year-old Holocaust survivor Dr. Al Miller has spoken to 3,080 people about his life and the lessons of the Holocaust. That generous gift of time comes with its own small miracle: Miller, who was born in Berlin, is also a gifted teacher. “It’s his passion, sensitivity, kindness,” says Sarah Weiss, HHC’s Executive Director. “We are lucky to have him.”
“I think your words will stick with me for the rest of my remaining life. When you said ‘Treat others how you want to be treated,’ it really hit me. When you said it from your perspective it felt like bolts of electricity running through my body.” —Sincerely, Jimmy
THE SCOOP
He began this work “almost by accident,” at 72 years old, but it has become important to him: “People come up to me afterwards, and it seems I got to them somehow—that doesn’t mean that it lasts,” he said. “I have no illusions. But I hope they take away something. I hope that the kids, particularly, take away something.”
AgeWell Cincinnati was named among the top three nonprofit programs in the state.
On January 27, HHC will mark another chapter in its growth as it celebrates its Grand Opening at Union Terminal. The Jewish Federation is proud to have successfully executed the capital campaign to build the new HHC at Union Terminal. Al Miller will be there for the ceremonies. He says, “I wouldn’t want to miss it.”
“I could write forever about how much I liked your speech but I can’t put it all in words. I can only say I will always save this experience of meeting a Holocaust survivor, in my heart.” —Elizabeth
In November, AgeWell Cincinnati was named among the top three nonprofit programs in the state. AgeWell was launched in October 2017. The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati announced the launch of the 2019 Cincinnati Jewish community study. Led by Brandeis University, its goal is to collect and analyze useful data to inform community planning, in line with the goals of Cincinnati 2030. Look for an email, postcard, or phone call sometime in February. Five pairs of local grandparents and their grandchildren returned on January 2 from a first-of-its-kind trip to Israel to strengthen Jewish identity cross-generationally. Stay tuned for stories—it was a beautiful experience.
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How Will You Be Remembered? Many of our supporters are making a legacy gift through their will, retirement account, or insurance policy. You too can strengthen Jewish life for generations to come. Your kindness will always be remembered. To learn how easy it is to leave a legacy gift, contact Debra Steinbuch at 513-985-1593 or dsteinbuch@jfedcin.org.
YOU MAKE JEWISH LIFE BETTER
Together we are building a vibrant community that helps our most vulnerable, nurtures connections with Israel, and protects and energizes Jewish life. Together we can do almost anything.
Committed to Making Our Community a Great Place to Grow Old When Cedar Village was sold last summer, Cedar Village, Federation, and Foundation leaders committed to stewarding the funds and good will from the sale to invest in the best new strategies to make our community a great place to grow old. In December, these leaders and others remembered this commitment when we took a one-day research trip to Baltimore to see cutting-edge older adult programs and learn which might best advance these goals. In Baltimore, we were hosted by the Weinberg Foundation, the leading Jewish foundation in the area of aging. Weinberg CEO Rachel Monroe packed our day with immersive visits and learning sessions. Several exciting initiatives we saw don’t exist in Cincinnati yet and could transform the options and lives of older adults. I only learned after I got back that about 30 years ago, before building Cedar Village, Paul Heiman,
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Jerry Teller, and Mel Fisher flew to Baltimore to meet with members of the Weinberg family. They received the capital grant they needed to start construction and a lot of good advice, and they made a trusted friend. When Cincinnati’s delegation went this month, Mel’s son Marc participated. And I felt, again, the power of l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation). Look for updates in the coming months. Thanks for caring,
Shep Englander, CEO