Fighting Hunger

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MASSACHUSETTS JEWISH LEDGER | SINCE 1929 | OCTOBER 15, 2021 | 9 HESHVAN 5782

Rachel’s Table receives $25,000 in state funding to feed the hungry

SPRINGFIELD – Earlier this month Sen. Eric P. Lesser announced that $25,000 in state funding has been secured for Rachel’s Table, the food rescue and redistribution program of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts.

Sen. Lesse was joined by Rep. Brian M. Ashe and Rep. Jacob R. Oliveira at a press conference held at the Springfield Jewish Community on Monday, Oct. 4.

They were welcomed by Jodi Falk, director of Rachel’s Table; Nora Gorenstein, interim executive director of the Jewish Federation of Western Mass.; Ellen Gold, board president of Rachel’s Table; and Sarah Maniaci, associate director of Rachel’s Table

“Rachel’s Table truly is rooted in community,” said Sen. Lesser. “They went from delivering 13,000 lbs of food in October 2019 to 70,000 lbs in October 2020. It was community partners like Rachel’s Table that answered the call to feed neighbors and friends of ours that were in a lot of trouble during the pandemic. They base their mission on the Jewish and universal value that no person should be hungry and that no food should go to waste by working with partners to collect and distribute unused food to those who need it. They have a great presence and team rooted in Western Mass and I’m proud to support their efforts.”

Senator Lesser acted as lead budget sponsor in the Senate in securing this earmark in the Fiscal Year 22 budget. The budget was passed by the Senate and House and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker in July. This funding will offset the cost of a larger vehicle for the organization that their volunteers use to support food deliveries.

“This wonderful and critical support of our work from State Senator Lesser’s office will go a long way to help us feed people in our region,” said Falk. “Even before the pandemic, Massachusetts ranked number one in the highest increase in food insecurity in our country. We all need to step up to change this. It is with partnerships between non-profits, government, and private sectors that we can do this. We thank Senator Lesser for all of his tireless work to make a positive impact on the people of Springfield.”

“We are proud of the work Rachel’s Table is doing to address hunger in the Pioneer Valley and how the program staff and volunteers transformed and increased its food distribution methods to meet the current demand caused by COVID-19,”

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REP. BRIAN ASHE; STAFF OF REP. WILLIAMS, RACHEL’S TABLE DIRECTOR JODI FALK; SEN. ERIC LESSER; SARAH MANIACI, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF RACHEL’S TABLE; NORA GORENSTEIN, INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION WESTERN MASS; ELLEN GOLD, BOARD PRESIDENT OF RACHEL’S TABLE; AND REP. JACOB OLIVEIRA AT THE OCT. 4 PRESS CONFERENCE.

JFCM leaders share challenges of past year, and optimism for the future at Annual Meeting

BY STACEY DRESNER

CENTRAL MASS. - The Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts held its annual meeting on Tuesday, Oct 5 via Zoom.

“Federation has adapted and responded to Covid and through the evolving challenges and opportunities in these unusual times our priorities remain the same: committing to strengthening, securing and stabilizing our community and Jewish communities around the world,” said Executive Director Steven Schimmel in his opening statement. “Thank you to all of you who have supported and partnered with us. Todah Rabah.”

Schimmel also thanked outgoing president Jonathan Sigel for his leadership and for guiding the Federation’s board of directors through the pandemic. Sigel will be succeeded by Ben Lyons.

“Each year our highly committed and energetic leaders and volunteers face the challenges of sustaining this ever-changing community,” Sigel said. “With our mission to ensure Jewish survival and enhance the quality of Jewish life, we touch thousands of lives each year and together we mobilize our resources to make a difference,” Sigel said. “We are a vital link to Israel, our traditions, our past and our future. Together we are Federation.

“In a year marked by uncertainty and instability, rising antisemitism and an ongoing global pandemic, Jewish Federation again demonstrated our community’s exceptional organizational strength.

Calling the Federation’s annual fundraising campaign “the lifeblood that we need to continue to execute our

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