Join Us for Chanukah on Ice Food Pantry by Amanda J
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Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks Non-Profit Organization Jewish Cultural Center, PO Box 14925 U.S. Postage PAID Reading, PA 19612-4925 Permit No. 2 readingjewishcommunity.org Reading, PA Change Service Requested Enriching Lives Volume 47, No. 12 December 2017 Kislev-Tevet 5778 ShaloThe Journal of the Reading Jewish Communitym published 1by the Jewish2 Federation1 of Reading/Berks7 Your Federation Supports: Jewish Education Join us for Chanukah on Ice Food Pantry By Amanda J. Hornberger Friendship Circle Ice skates. Ice sculpture menorah. Warm latkes. Crafts. Chanukah music. Chevra Hot chocolate. Friends and family. Sound like a recipe for fun? Come join us for Community Shabbat this and more at Chanukah on Ice on Sunday, Dec. 10, sponsored by Chabad Reading Jewish Film Series and Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks. PJ Library The entire community is invited to join us at Body Zone in Spring Township from Jewish Family Service 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 10 for ice skating and warm Chanukah Jewish Cultural Center food. The cost is $10 per person which includes your ice skate rental and the Lakin Holocaust Library food including warm soup, latkes and & Resource Center other treats. Chanukah on Ice is for all ages: Israel & Overseas seniors to youngsters are invited to attend and do crafts, enjoy the Jewish music and Camp Scholarships marvel at the menorah made out of ice, even if you don’t skate! Israel Trips RSVP is requested to chabadofberks@ Jewish Community gmail.com or Brenda at 610-921-0624 by Dec. 8. High School Emergency Support Lakin Preschool Reading community remembers Kristallnacht Richard J. Yashek Lecture Transportation Maimonides Society Your Jewish Legacy 92ND ST Y Programs Joint Distribution Committee Meir Panim Annual Campaign Jewish Agency for Israel Yemin Orde School Education Programs Interfaith Unity Council Israel Advocacy Youth Events Great Decisions Series Jewish Community Relations Council Community Holiday Programs Women’s Philanthropy Jewish Federations of North America Counseling Services On Nov. 9, the Jewish community the Holocaust. Our community was Bratt’s granddaughter; Rosayle Yashek, gathered with members of Reading’s fortunate to have survivors as well as wife of the late Holocaust survivor Leo Camp Lecture Christ Episcopal Church and other second- and third-generation family Richard J. Yashek; Holocaust survivor Christians to commemorate 79 years members light the six memorial candles. Mariette Jacobson; Jacques Jacobson, Shabbat B’Yachad since Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Pictured, from left, are Holocaust Jacobson’s son; and Holocaust survivor Glass, considered to be the start of survivor Esther Bratt; Michele Leisawitz, Hilde Gernsheimer. Page 2 SHALOM December 2017 Our place in the community By Richard Nassau Resource Center. Through the Lakin Library Your support provides services to the Development Director we help sponsor Holocaust education poor and elderly wherever it is needed, Federation is proud programs at public and parochial schools including the former Soviet Union and to be a partner agency throughout Berks County. The partnership elsewhere in Eastern Europe. These of United Way of Berks includes annual lectures at Albright in services come through our international County. Federation’s memory of past community leaders Leo partners, Jewish Agency for Israel, Joint broad network of more Camp and Richard J Yashek. Each year Distribution Committee, and Jewish t than 50 programs and these lectures fill the auditorium at Albright Federations of North America, In Israel, services supports our to capacity. Jeffrey Rosen, CEO of the disadvantaged and immigrant youth receive Jewish community and National Constitution Center, was the most critical social services at Meir Panim n helps people throughout recent speaker, attracting a large crowd and Yemin Orde. Nationally our U.S. Berks County. The this past October for the 38th annual Leo partnerships meant a quick response to the range and number of services we offer is Camp Lecture. recent natural disasters and humanitarian impressive for a Jewish community our size. Last month we continued our partnership crises. The result of our national network of e Federation’s Jewish Family Service with area churches as we again joined with community Federations, like Houston, and (JFS) and Jewish Cultural Center (JCC) Christ Episcopal Church to support the the work of emergency aid organizations provide many of these programs directly. Kristallnacht Remembrance Service. IsraAid and Nechama. There are also many programs that are We also partner with local companies. These are just a few examples of our the result of our partnerships with Berks During Sukkot, we worked with the place as members of the greater Berks County agencies and charities, including Wyomissing Home Depot to create a County community. Not seen are the many m each synagogue, area colleges and local Sukkah Kit craft project. Home Depot examples of individual contributions being churches. hosted the event and donated all the made every day by members of our Jewish Our JFS Food Pantry is an example supplies the 16 participating PJ Library kids community. Contributions that come not p of how your gift and our community needed for the project. from dollars but from the time and talents partnerships feed the hungry. This past We’ve partnered with the Wyomissing of our community members. Community October 190 families received groceries Family Restaurant, which donated the members who serve on nonprofit boards, distributed through the JFS Food Pantry. hummus and donuts for the well-received lead professional organizations, sponsor art o The Pantry is an affiliated partner of the tasting event last month following the programs or provide free medical services. Berks County Food Bank. The Food Bank screening of “Hummus! The Movie.” The The range and numbers are impressive for l is the central agency that acquires and movie is part of our Reading Jewish Film a Jewish community our size. distributes food to people in need. This Series which is now in its fourth year thanks It’s no real surprise, as our partnerships successful partnership relies upon our to Fox Theatres and Federation’s Rubin and community member contributions e monthly volunteers (another successful Educational Fund. reflect our Jewish values. How by working partnership) and the Boys and Girls Club The Greater Reading Unity Coalition, together to support not just Federation’s here in Berks County. It is their community another partnership, continues to address annual campaign, but other charities as well, v hospitality that provides us with the space issues of intolerance and hate. Federation, members of our Jewish community foster to set-up and distribute the groceries at the along with organizations from the Hispanic, community, connect families, engage and Olivet Club House in Pendora Park. Islamic and African-American communities, educate the next generation, and enrich lives. Other Federation community formed the coalition to work together, On behalf of the many thousands e partnerships include Albright College, speak at school assemblies and encourage of people you help, thank you for your home to the Lakin Holocaust Library and diversity in the greater community. partnership. D End of year is opportune time for tax planning The following is for informational tax (AMT) to determine if shifting income from such gifts as well as provide you Annual Campaign purposes only and should not be construed and deduction strategies provide maximum with a vehicle from which you can make Women’s Philanthropy as legal, tax or financial advice. When savings in your financial situation. recommendations for future charitable considering gift planning strategies, you It is expected that comprehensive tax grants. Maimonides Society should always consult with your own legal reform will repeal the AMT for future years, However, in cases where the current fair and tax advisors. but it will most likely remain in place for market value of the stock remains below Your Jewish Legacy Year-end is often the most opportune 2017 and needs to be addressed in your your cost basis, it most likely makes sense Chai Circle time to consider financial and tax planning calculations. And if tax reform cuts back to sell the stock first, recognizing the tax strategies. As this article is being written, or eliminates other deductible items such loss, and then gift the proceeds to charity. L’Chaim Society Congress and the White House are as state and local income tax or property IRA Charitable Rollover: Over the negotiating significant changes in the taxes, it again may make sense to consider past 10 years, many individuals over Book of Life tax laws that could, if enacted, impact accelerating the payment of these items age 70½ have utilized the IRA charitable Letter of Intent financial strategies and tactics. This makes after factoring in the application of the AMT. rollover to transfer up to $100,000 each it more important than ever to meet with Keep in mind that if you itemize year from their retirement accounts directly your advisers to review your investment deductions, gifts of cash to public charities to public charities, such as Federations. portfolio and consider tax, financial and such as Federations are fully deductible, up (Note: transfers to DAFs, supporting charitable giving strategies before Dec. 31. to 50 percent of adjusted gross income. Any organizations, and private foundations do Things may become clearer as year-end excess can be carried forward and could be not qualify for this tax benefit.) approaches, but this will require you to be deductible for up to five years. Tax reform The IRA Charitable Rollover was made flexible and prepared to act in a short time could increase this AGI limitation for cash a permanent part of the tax code several frame. For example, it appears that most gifts to 60 percent starting in 2018. years ago, and this important charitable changes in the tax code would be effective Investment Assets: With the stock giving incentive can also be used to after the start of 2018.