Ruth Messinger: Empowering the Community
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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 48, No. 11 November 2018 Cheshvan - Kislev 5779 ShaloThe Journal of the Reading Jewish Communitym published by1 the Jewish1 Federation1 of Reading/Berks8 Your Federation Supports: Ruth Messinger: Jewish Education Food Pantry Empowering the community Friendship Circle By Margo Levin immigration issues. Though the topic at During the week of Oct. 1, we hand was immigration, Ruth emphasized Chevra welcomed Ruth Messinger to the Berks the importance of coalition building Community Shabbat County community. Ruth was invited by when it comes to addressing any social the Jewish Federation of Reading to share or political issues on which people have Reading Jewish Film Series her insights about issues important to differing views and she emphasized the our community, state and country. Ruth overriding importance of taking prompt PJ Library is a tireless advocate and social change and decisive initial action to address a Jewish Family Service visionary. She mobilizes faith-based specific issue or concern as opposed to communities throughout the United States simply agreeing to meet to formulate a Jewish Cultural Center to promote human rights. She previously possible plan for a future meeting. Ruth served on the State Department’s Religion provided the audience with a number of Lakin Holocaust Library and Foreign Policy Working Group examples from her own life. Following and is currently a member of the World the lunch, Ruth had an opportunity to & Resource Center Bank’s Moral Imperative Working Group meet with community leaders including Israel & Overseas on Extreme Poverty. She served as the Sen. Judy Schwank, Centro Hispano CEO of American Jewish World Service Executive Director Michael Toledo and Camp Scholarships (AJWS), an international human rights and Yamil Sanchez Rivera of the United development organization dedicated to Way of Berks County, as well as other Israel Trips promoting social justice in the developing luminaries from the community. world from 1998 to 2016. That evening during the finale of her Jewish Community The overriding theme of Ruth’s Reading visit, Ruth spoke to an attentive High School message to our community had to crowd at Reform Congregation Oheb do with encouraging people from Sholom about the mission of the AJWS Emergency Support different backgrounds to work together and the efforts it makes around the world to accomplish social and political to help developing countries. Earlier in Lakin Preschool change. On Oct. 3, Ruth spoke at the evening Ruth met with leaders of the the Youth Summit held at the Miller Berks County Jewish community and had Richard J. Yashek Lecture Center for the Arts at Reading Area Ruth Messinger with Sen. Judy Schwank during a an opportunity to learn about our history Transportation Community College, where she talked community meeting held at Centro Hispano in Reading. and the issues confronting us at this time about the power of 18 and how young and to share some insights with us. Maimonides Society people can change the world through High School students, which focused One important take away she made the power of youth voting. The event on how young adults can make a real clear was as follows: Every social Your Jewish Legacy at the Miller Center was sponsored difference by voting irrespective of their issue is a Jewish issue and because of 92ND ST Y Programs by the Jewish Community Relations background and political leanings. On our values we must act on them. Ruth Council (JCRC) in partnership with Oct. 4, at an event also sponsored by the emphasized the critical importance of Joint Distribution Committee the Reading based Centro Hispano. JCRC and the Centro Hispano, a diverse reaching out and working with those High school and college students crowd was on hand when Ruth met with whose opinions may differ with your Meir Panim attended and had the opportunity to members of the Reading community own or whose ideas you may not fully view a telling and moving video of an for a luncheon at the Centro Hispano understand. By doing so, real social Annual Campaign interview involving Stoneman Douglas in downtown Reading and talked about change can be accomplished. Jewish Agency for Israel Yemin Orde School Education Programs Your Opinion Matters! Interfaith Unity Council You’re invited to be part of an online survey for the Israel Advocacy Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks. It is an outgrowth of conversations and meetings with Youth Events community members over the past six months. Great Decisions Series Your participation is important. We want to hear from as many community members Jewish Community as possible. Your insights can create new initiatives and continue programs. You will Relations Council help meet the needs of our diverse community and keep us connected. Community Holiday Programs A link to the survey is on Federation’s website ReadingJewishCommunity.org. Women’s Philanthropy Thank you for participating and moving our community forward. Jewish Federations of North America With appreciation, Counseling Services Leo Camp Lecture Survey closes November 7th. Shabbat B’Yachad Page 2 SHALOM November 2018 Take time to consider your Jewish legacy By Richard Nassau and dreams. It can also be a gift that carries If you have already included a legacy gift Development Director on the legacy of those who came before us. in your will or estate plans, THANK YOU! Rabbi Abraham Consider the importance of the legacy from Let us know so we can thank you now and Joshua Heschel wrote: your parents and now how important it is to recognize your commitment. “The tasks, begun by your family and your children. If not, consider what creating your our ancestors … are A legacy can create a positive Jewish Jewish legacy can do: t now entrusted to us. community full of life, connections and new • It enables you to fulfill your philanthropic When we think of traditions. vision and allows you to support specific charitable giving, we first Creating your legacy is a highly satisfying needs in the Jewish community; think of the current needs experience. You are ensuring a Jewish future • It provides critical resources for our n of our community. These and providing a way for your legacy to live- agencies, synagogues and community to everyday needs cannot be overlooked. If you on. In fact, it is considered one of the highest meet unforeseen challenges and build for haven’t yet made your Community Campaign forms of tzedakah. Adding a charitable the future; e gift this year — please take time now to go bequest in your will provides funds for future • It creates a strong and secure future to ReadingJewishCommunity.org and make programs; funds which can only come to the for generations to come. your gift. Your contributions connect us and community after your lifetime. Today is a good day to decide what your show the power of community. Legacies are also an opportunity to legacy will be. Take time to also consider securing the share your values with your family. You For a confidential, no-obligation future of our Jewish community, one that can engage them in your plan, speak to conversation or for more information send m ensures needs will always be met. Imagine them about the things that are important to an email to [email protected] or this solid financial future. One that is you, connect them to the community and call me at 610-921-0624 to learn more possible for our community because legacy empower them to carry on your vision. about Creating Your Legacy. gifts are helping to provide necessary Your legacy allows you to continue Please remember Federation and the p resources in our Jewish future. making the world a better place. It is a gift Jewish community with a gift in your will, Each one of us has the power to leave a that will remain a permanent part of our trust, retirement account, or life insurance Jewish legacy — one that fulfills our passions Jewish community. policy. o l Save money with IRA qualified charitable distribution By Richard Nassau Any amount you receive would need to be firm to firm, and the end-of-the-year is a e If you are over the age of 70½, included in your adjusted gross income. busy time for many IRA administrators. It is donating directly from your traditional IRA The IRS also does not allow you to make recommended you start the process at least to a qualified charity such as the Jewish distributions to a donor advised fund, even 30 days before year-end. v Federation of Reading/Berks can satisfy if it is with a public charity or a private Make sure to also contact the charity your RMD (required minimum distribution) foundation. about the QCD transfer from your IRA. and lower your taxes. There are other advantages to making This alerts Federation and others to your You can do this because the IRS allows a qualified charitable distribution. There gift, allowing us to properly acknowledge it e qualified charitable distributions (QCD) is no minimum required amount that you to comply with IRS guidelines for qualified to be excluded from your adjusted gross must transfer to the charity. (Some IRA charitable distributions. income. The Federation and other public accounts do have internal minimums.) You For more information, email RichardN@ charities are eligible to receive these IRA don’t need to itemize deductions. The QCD JFReading.org or call Richard Nassau at D distributions. You can transfer a portion transfer is excluded from your income.