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September 2020 Elul 5780 - Tishri 5781 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 50, No.8 September 2020 Elul 5780 - Tishri 5781 ShaloThe Journal of the Reading Jewish Communitym published by0 the Jewish9 Federation2 of Reading/Berks0 Your Federation Supports: Jewish Education Author Joseph Telushkin to speak at Food Pantry Community Campaign Leadership Program Friendship Circle By Richard Nassau year’s Leadership program will be Chevra Was the shtetl a forerunner held virtually. Participants will Community Shabbat of the Catskills and Broadway? receive a home-delivered brunch, Why are comedians so often a copy of Rabbi Telushkin’s book Reading Jewish Film Series Jewish? Why are Jews so and a few surprises. often comedians? Why ask A minimum contribution PJ Library questions? These are some of $1,200 per person is Jewish Family Service of the questions Rabbi Joseph recommended for those Telushkin, author of “Jewish attending the program. Jewish Cultural Center Humor: What the Best Jewish Reservations are required. Jokes Say About the Jews,” Rabbi Telushkin is a world Lakin Holocaust Library likes to think about. class speaker. Bill Franklin & Resource Center Rabbi Telushkin is a speaker Federation President said: “The who has the timing of a standup Leadership event recognizes Israel & Overseas comic. Larry Gelbart, a Tony and and thanks our major contributors Emmy Award-winning writer, to Federation’s Community Camp Scholarships said, “I don’t know if Jews are Campaign. It is our foremost Israel Trips really the chosen people, but fundraiser and most important Telushkin’s book makes a during this pandemic. We’re Jewish Community strong argument that they’re pleased Rabbi Telushkin will be High School the funniest.” joining us on Oct. 18, especially On Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. Rabbi now, when humor is so important.” something stinging, and always “America’s rabbi.” His reputation Emergency Support Telushkin will bring his findings Harper Collins reported, very, very funny, Jewish Humor: extends beyond the Jewish — and lots of jokes — to Jewish “Rabbi Telushkin is as What the Best Jewish Jokes community. He was named by Lakin Preschool Federation of Reading/Berks’ celebrated for his wit as for Say About the Jews offers a Talk magazine as one of the 50 Richard J. Yashek Lecture premier fundraising event — his scholarship and in this classic portrait of the Jewish best speakers in the U.S. His the Community Campaign’s immensely entertaining collective unconscious. book “Jewish Literacy” is the Transportation Leadership Program. book, he displays both in Rabbi Telushkin has been widest-selling work on the topic Because of the pandemic, this equal measure. Stimulating, hailed by Jewish Week as of Judaism. Maimonides Society Your Jewish Legacy 92ND ST Y Programs Joint Distribution Committee PJ Library helps Federation connect Meir Panim Jewish families and celebrate Jewish life Annual Campaign Jewish Agency for Israel Grants will strengthen social connections and increase opportunities for Jewish Yemin Orde experiences and learning across the United States and Canada School Education Programs By Amanda J. Hornberger on engaging families in Jewish life while the more than 230,000 books we send Berks County-area families raising adapting to the current realities of virtual out each month across the United States Interfaith Unity Council Jewish children will now have more and social-distancing modalities.” and Canada,” said Debbi Cooper, director opportunities to participate in Jewish life, “Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks is of engagement for PJ Library. “We have Israel Advocacy thanks to a grant recently awarded by PJ honored to receive this grant and thrilled to worked closely with our local partners for Youth Events Library®, the flagship program of the Harold be part of the global PJ Library community over a decade to help advance Jewish Grinspoon Foundation that provides free reaching more than 675,000 children and family engagement, and now we are Great Decisions Series books to families raising Jewish children their families across 23 countries” said grateful to be able to add financial support to Jewish Community all over the world. Amanda Hornberger. “We are thrilled help ensure the success of great initiatives.” Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks to continue our partnership with Exeter We are grateful to our PJ Library Relations Council received $6,500 to launch a new program Community Library in this extension Alliance partners who have joined the called Find Your Voice, in which tweens will program of Literatour Berks focused HGF in funding these engagement grants: Community Holiday Programs learn about finding their voice to become exclusively on young readers.” William Davidson Foundation; The Marcus Women’s Philanthropy more self-aware, build confidence and be The 15 winning grant proposals were Foundation, Inc.; The Azreili Foundation; an example of peace in our community. chosen through a competitive process open Genesis Philanthropy Group; Jim Joseph Jewish Federations Find Your Voice will meet five times over the to organizations implementing PJ Library Foundation; The Micah Foundation; Sam school year with authors of books that will across the United States and Canada. A Berman Charitable Foundation; Carl & of North America tackle topics such as social justice, being survey of 800 participants in previous grant- Joann Bianco; The Crown Family; Marilyn Counseling Services Jewish and young adult life in America funded projects showed: Einstein & Steven Sim Charitable Fund; in 2020, all while creating action towards • 85% of families connected socially Dr. Steven Grinspoon; One8 Foundation; Leo Camp Lecture social justice through service and learning. during the programs Howard & Geraldine Polinger Family Tracy Newman, director of community • 64% of families followed up with the Foundation; Stephen and Bebe Saks Shabbat B’Yachad engagement for PJ Library, says “these social connections afterward Family Foundation; Sherrie R. Savett grants reflect incredible creativity and • 76% of families sought out or Family Foundation; Mike & Sofia Segal flexibility in how our implementing partners attended other Jewish programs Family Foundation; Susser Family Trust; are approaching our work during this • 99% would recommend the Walter, Arnee, Sarah, & Aaron Winshall; unprecedented time. All funded grants programs to friends Zucker Family Foundation and three showcase PJ Library’s best practices “PJ Library’s impact goes well beyond anonymous partners. Page 2 SHALOM September 2020 LIFE & LEGACY has a powerful impact By Richard Nassau America. of these commitments is over $1 billion Development Director The impact on Jewish communal culture that will one day provide and sustain our You may be aware has been unprecedented. LIFE & LEGACY Jewish future. that an unprecedented enabled all donors to become legacy In Berks County, the Jewish Federation transfer of $59 trillion in philanthropists. It changed attitudes and of Reading/Berks has been a participant generational wealth has made legacy giving in communities the in LIFE & LEGACY through the Jewish t been taking place before norm. It also resulted in developing a new Community Foundation of Central our eyes. Charitable camaraderie and respect among Jewish Pennsylvania. As of the end of 2019, organizations are among communal organizations as they worked the Central Pennsylvania program with the recipients of this together to help donors create legacies 14 member organizations, including n transfer, including many that benefitted programs the donors were Federation, had secured $22.7 million in in the Jewish community — synagogues, passionate about. commitments from 680 legacy donors, agencies, and Federations. These legacy LIFE & LEGACY accomplished this including 47 donors from Berks County. gifts have become an important resource by providing communities with structure, Creating your legacy allows you e as they increasingly play an important training and mentoring. It encouraged to fulfill your philanthropic goals and role in sustaining the future of our Jewish donors to have legacy conversations, still meet the needs of your family. communities. Legacies ensure financial placing an emphasis on organizational Establishing your Jewish legacy stability. collaborations that would create a united allows you to plan and actively support In 2010, five years after they started PJ and strong Jewish community for future programs you believe in. It ensures m Library, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation generations. resources, given in your name, will be began their LIFE & LEGACY program. In the 10 years since its creation, it has available for our future community. Their goal was to build legacy funds that proved to be a success for communities Donors who wish to engage in meaningful, would support our Jewish communities and that embraced it. As of March 31, 680 confidential legacy conversations for one p organizations for the next generation and organizations from 63 communities have or multiple organizations can contact the beyond. The Grinspoon Foundation began participated in LIFE & LEGACY. The Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks at by developing partnerships with Jewish result is that more than 26,000 legacy 610-921-0621 or send an email to Richard Federations and foundations across North commitments have been secured. The total Nassau [email protected]. o l Reading Jewish Youth Programs e include Youth Group, Hebrew High v By Adi Shalev I gave of my time and effort, but I got philanthropy projects, events with other Teens are our future; on this we much more back. Without question, all youth groups and always have fun. all agree. They have the power to the things I did and experienced as part of 2. Our Hebrew High — Knowledge dream and shape themselves and a group gave me tools to become a better is power. Learning things gives us tools e have an impact on the world and their person, a more effective employee, and a to explore and understand our world, our environment. better friend, citizen and Jew.
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