Jewish Federation Women's Philanthropy
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Jewish Community News www.jfedps.org The Publication of the Jewish Federation of the Desert Iyar/Sivan 5780 - May 2020 The Challenges of Our New Reality By Bruce Landgarten, Jewish Federation Chief Executive Officer There are new questions and new or when summer activities open. So participating together. and timeless. Yes, we need to make realities we find ourselves grappling many unknowns. So much unfamiliar The North American Jewish hard choices now about how to with today. During these difficult times ground. So much to think about. community has evolved an endure the current challenges. And we are questioning what happens to Our responsibilities, however, extraordinary philanthropic we’ll need to adjust our operations perspective when we’re living through oblige us to do more. To broaden tradition, having created perhaps once we re-open in deference to the what feels like an endless alternative our frame of reference. To focus the most expansive Jewish communal economic realities we will confront. reality? After so many weeks of on the inevitable post-crisis period infrastructure in the history of the But our mission isn’t defined in weeks, shutdown, it becomes more and to come. As a Federation we have Diaspora. Much of this organizational months, or even years. Our mission is more difficult to get our arms around played a critical part in building and infrastructure is dependent, on an to strengthen Jewish community and how things will work, how they’ll look strengthening Jewish life. For decades ongoing basis, on continued fund- enrich Jewish life. It’s a mission we and feel when this crisis is over. How we provided a warm and welcoming raising and philanthropic support. inherited from those who preceded many will we have lost? How deep recreational setting for Jews and Jewish We need to be the most prolific us and for which we bear a sacred and will the economic fallout be? Will the families unwelcome elsewhere. We platform for Jewish engagement and profound responsibility. nature of community and the way it have served a critical, complementary demonstrate unique, invaluable, and We’ll find our way through the functions have changed? The answers role alongside synagogues and other ongoing importance to the continuing challenges of this crisis in the short seem far away. In the Jewish communal Jewish institutions. We have become a development of Jewish community term....and then we’ll resume our world, nearer at hand are decisions gateway to everything else the Jewish and Jewish life long after COVID-19 march forward, with renewed that need to be made about how to community has to offer; the one place recedes into memory. determination with a more vibrant, serve those most in need, about lay- in which every demographic in the Our responsibilities, as leaders, and more dedicated Jewish community. offs and furloughs, about whether community can be readily found as a Jewish community are immediate Our best days lie ahead. After 17-Month Stalemate, Netanyahu and Gantz Strike Unity Deal After three elections and months of election campaigns and coalition negotiations, Netanyahu and Gantz have signed a deal for the establishment of a new government. By Gil Hoffman, Jerusalem Post Israel will soon have a new coalition the Prime Minister’s Office sooner, implemented in July, when maps are government after an agreement was Gantz would already take over. set to be finalized. signed on April 20th between Likud Gantz expressed his relief that an In a controversial clause, both and Blue and White, putting an end election that would have been Netanyahu and Gantz will have the to a 17-month political stalemate held on August 4 if a deal was not right to an official residence fully that resulted in three elections. reached by May 7 had been averted. funded by the state. In another, the As part of the deal, Prime Minister “We prevented a fourth election,” so-called Norwegian law will be Benjamin Netanyahu, who has Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Gantz said. “We will protect our changed to allow ministers to quit (right) and Blue and White leader Benny served as caretaker prime minister Gantz (left) sign a unity government democracy and fight against the and new MKs to enter the Knesset, since December 2018, will remain agreement coronavirus.” including in Blue and White, prime minister for another 18 will serve as vice prime minister in US President Donald Trump’s peace skipping over MKs from the Yesh months and then will be replaced the meantime. Netanyahu will be plan, including its clauses enabling Atid and Telem parties that will in October 2021 by Blue and vice prime minister under Gantz Israel to apply sovereignty in Judea remain in the opposition. White leader Benny Gantz, who after that, but if Netanyahu leaves and Samaria, will be able to be The Privilege of Serving but also the opportunity to develop helping people in need and in crisis, their involvement in our community’s close personal friendships as we have Jewish Federation continues to ensure institutions and programs. Roberta worked together. that the programs and institutions As a community, we celebrate Nyman I want to thank our Board of that strengthen, enrich and celebrate and thank those of you who have Jewish Federation Directors and the chairs of our major Jewish life remain strong and able to made the mission of the Federation Board Chair events, and their committees, for their contribute where needed. important to you by your generous support and willingness to commit We anticipate increased demand donations. their time and energy to the Jewish for local services provided by our I hope that we will be able to spend The privilege of serving as your Federation and our community. partner agencies such as Jewish Family time with family and friends this Board Chair this past year has been a I want to thank our Federation Service, FIND, Temple Sinai Food summer. I look forward to us coming great gift to me. Working with Board staff for their outstanding support, Bank and our Tzedakah Fund. We back together this fall to take part in members and the donors to our especially during these difficult times. will continue to address the critical, our many programs and events. local Jewish Federation has allowed They were able to quickly adapt and often life-threatening issues facing Thank you again for the privilege me the satisfaction of not only seeing perform with exceptional expertise. too many of us. of serving as Chair of our Jewish the results of Federation allocations We are fortunate to have such a As I write this article, we offer our Federation. capable staff. thoughts and prayers to those in 2019-2020 This has been a challenging year for our community who are struggling. You really can change the world if JEWISH FEDERATION our Federation as well as for all non- Our Annual campaign transcends you care enough.” BOARD OF DIRECTORS profits. Even during these difficult specific affiliations. We care about Marian Wright Edelman“ times, when the biggest priority is people, regardless of the extent of Roberta Nyman, Board Chair Lori Fritz, Campaign Chair Arnie Gillman, Vice Campaign Chair Global Jewish Population Hits 14.7 Million - But Remains Phil Glass, Treasurer Stephanie Ross, Secretary Far Below Pre-Holocaust Peak Allan Lehmann, Past Co-Chair Arutz Sheva Staff Celia Norian, Past Co-Chair The worldwide Jewish population grown to over 16.6 million. living in the State of Israel. Bruce Landgarten, hit 14.7 million by the end of 2018, Of the 16.6 million Jews The second largest Jewish Chief Executive Officer according to a new report released worldwide on the eve of World War population in the world is in the US, Elliott Cohen Margie Kulp by the Israeli Central Bureau of II, 449,000, or roughly 3% of the with 5.7 million Jews, followed by Jackie Cohen Ron Langus Statistics. total population, lived in the British France, with about 450,000 Jews, Judith Cohen Bernard Reiter According to the report, which Mandate for Palestine, which would Canada with 392,000, the UK with Bobbi Holland Gary Schahet was released ahead of Holocaust later become the State of Israel. 292,000, Argentina with 180,000, Table of Contents Remembrance Day, the total Jewish In 1948, on the eve of the Russia with 165,000, Germany Vol. 46 • No. 10 population worldwide remains well establishment of the State, the with 118,000, and Australia with below its pre-Holocaust peak. While number of Jews worldwide was 11.5 116,000. Community Calendar 8-10 the size of the Jewish population million, of whom 650,000 were in Of the 6.7 million Jews living in the Federation 1-3, 18 was similar in 1925, with about 14.8 Israel (6%). State of Israel as of the end of 2018, PJ Library 20 million Jews living around the world By the end of 2018, the worldwide 5.2 million were born in Israel, while at the time, by the eve of World Jewish population had risen to 14.7 1.5 million were foreign-born. Women's Philanthropy 6 War II in 1939, the population had million, with 6.7 million, or 45.6%, Food 23 Jewish Faimly Service 10 Schools/School Listing 16 Simchas & Classifieds 22 Temples Listing 4, 8 Tributes 15 2 • JCN • May 2020 • Iyar/Sivan 5780 • www.jfedps.com Shaking Humanity Out of its Indifference the poverty line, including case of survivors, refugees, and their of today. management, emergency assistance, descendants via educational Although we cannot demand that Bruce companionship, social events, and presentations, teacher workshops, the world remember, we can stand, other specialized services.