A Gift For You, Courtesy of... February – March 2021 | Shevat-Adar 5781 United Jewish Federation Volume 22, Number 16 THE NEW JEWISH VOICE A PUBLICATION OF UNITED JEWISH FEDERATION Rachel Dratch Named Next UJF’s Community Read: Head of School at Bi-Cultural A Bend in the Stars BY JUDIE JACOBSON “When Jackie Herman told (Courtesy of UJF) United story of Albert Einstein’s race Rachel Levitt Klein Dratch us of her plan to retire as Bi- Jewish Federation of Great- to prove his theory of relativ- has been named the next Cultural’s Head of School, we er Stamford, New Canaan and ity. A Bend in the Stars was Head of School of Bi-Cultur- knew how difficult it would be Darien is pleased to announce a New York Times Summer al Hebrew Academy (BCHA), to find the right person to fill the historical novel A Bend Reading Selection, a Boston it was announced recently by her shoes,” wrote Pitkoff and in the Stars as its next Com- Globe Bestseller and the 2019 the school’s President David Zitter in a letter to the Bi-Cultural munity Read. Author Rachel Forbes Best Historical Novel Pitkoff and Chairman of the community announcing Dratch’s Barenbaum will speak about for Summer. Board of Incorporators Bob appointment. “Under Jackie’s her book via Zoom on Mon- The New York Times de- Zitter. stewardship for the past 10 day, February 22nd at 7:30 in clared it …”an epic march Dratch will take over as years, BCHA has developed and the evening. Following the au- across Russia during the head of the Stamford Jew- Rachel Dratch, incoming thrived as a school known for its thor’s program, small breakout Author Rachel summer of 1914. The his- ish day school, which is open BCHA Head of School. warmth and academic excellence. groups will be set up for inter- Barenbaum tory of the region has been to students in pre-K through It is with great pleasure that ested participants to discuss studied, but Barenbaum grade 12, in August 2021. She succeeds we announce that after a 15-month national the book further. The program is free to all. carves a fresh story from some of its most Jacqueline Herman, who is stepping down as Barenbaum took inspiration for her de- Head of School after ten years of service. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 but novel, set during World War I, from the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Bruce Feiler Headlines New Lecture Series at Temple Sinai (Courtesy of Temple Sinai) Temple Sinai and how our ideas of Jewish culture are how they navigate life’s transitions with will present New York Times best selling au- changing. meaning, purpose and skill. thor Bruce Feiler at the inaugural program Feiler is the best selling author of 15 Since 2001 Feiler has been a leading of the Joan Bruder Danoff Lecture Series books and a writer and presenter of two thinker on the role of spirituality in con- on Sunday, March 21 at 4:30 pm. The vir- PBS miniseries, Walking The Bible and Sa- temporary life. His book Walking the Bible tual program is offered free of charge to the cred Journeys. He is one of America’s most describes his 10,000 mile journey retrac- community. popular and dynamic speakers on contem- ing the Five Books of Moses through the Feiler and moderator Daniel Block will porary life whose two TED talks have been desert and spent a year on the New York have a conversation about “The Jewish Voice viewed over two million times. His current Times bestseller list. He is also the author in American Culture Tomorrow.” Feiler will best seller “Life in the Transitions: Mastering of Where God Was Born; America’s Prophet; discuss how Millennials and the Gen Z gen- Change At Any Age” describes his journey eration are engaging with Judaism today across America talking with people about CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Author Bruce Feiler 2 Candle 14 Bits 15-16 17 Life 20-22 PJ 23 Voices Lighting & Pieces Purim & Legacy Library and Views JCC Collects Supplies for Those in Need Children display food and household items donated to November’s Collection Drive sponsored by KidsPlace, in front of the Stamford JCC. See article on page 11, on how the Stamford JCC JCares initiative is helping to alleviate hunger in our community. (CREDIT: KATHRYN CURRY) 2 THE NEW JEWISH VOICE From UJF’s Chief Executive Officer Rising Above the Challenge BY DIANE SLOYER provided and will contin- Federation focused on as to support our greater community is due 2020 has been devastating for the world ue to provide much needed Zoom and Facebook Live. to the generosity of you, our valued donors. and for the Jewish community of Greater financial support to all our From rabbi classes to cook- Even in these difficult and uncertain times, Stamford, New Canaan and Darien. COV- agencies and synagogues ing presentations, UJF’s you stepped up and answered the call, so ID-19 closed summer camps, synagogues to meet their emergency annual meeting, the live thank you! And because of your generosity, and businesses. It also left many Jewish needs. drive-in movie event for we “met the match” and received an addi- families struggling to meet even their most We all play a role in the campaign kickoff, and tional $72,000 from Jewish Federations of basic needs. our diverse Jewish com- comedy shows, Federa- North America for Human Service Needs Our Federation team wanted to be a help munity and I am grate- tion put on a range of vir- in our community. for the entire Jewish community during this ful and in awe for the lay tual and semi-virtual events As the year came to a close, I reflect- most difficult year, and rose to the occasion. leaders and professionals, for every age group in the ed with pride on Federation’s efforts dur- Our goal was to secure our community and many on reduced salaries, community. ing 2020 to build an infrastructure that al- protect its most vulnerable while also in- who worked around the Diane Sloyer, UJF CEO The Federation’s PJ lowed us to meet the needs of so many dur- novating new activities to keep people en- clock to ensure we met the Library program realized ing this time of crisis. We need to be able gaged and connected. We launched new growing and demanding needs of the pan- that for many families, this would be the to deal with big challenges and new chal- online programs and continued to welcome demic. The resilience and strength used to first time everyone was under one roof lenges. We’re not going to solve every prob- new residents, as Fairfield County became a tackle the unknown has been awe- inspir- 24/7. Our team equipped families with free lem every day. But at the end of the day, the refuge for those escaping cities, with social- ing and gives me hope for the future. books, at-home activities, virtual events Jewish Federation’s relationship with the ly distanced visits and welcome bags. Federation thrives on bringing people and parent sessions. community of Stamford, New Canaan and Our emergency COVID relief campaign together for various events yearly. When Our ability to provide engaging pro- Darien and globally is getting stronger, and as well as grants obtained (see centerfold) in-person gatherings couldn’t happen, gramming and educational events as well we will continue the work we do into 2021. UJF President’s Message BY DAVID GORDON community, and our Chris- protection program PPP of “Unorthodox”. It also brought the com- UJF President David Gordon gave this tian and Muslim neigh- loans from the federal gov- munity together, virtually, for learning ses- address at the (virtual) Annual Meeting of bors. It was not only a feel- ernment. These loans kept sions led by our Rabbis and teachers for Ti- United Jewish Federation on December 17, good moment. It galva- them all afloat during the sha B’av and the High Holidays. Our News- 2020. nized our community to March-to-May shutdown paper committee continued to work with One year ago I stood before you as your renew long dormant out- period. Our UJF also of- our local agencies to provide eight editions incoming Federation president and I laid reach and communication fered all of the local agen- of the New Jewish Voice, including a beau- out my vision for my expected two years of through our Jewish Com- cies interest-free loans of up tifully conceived and executed COVID edi- leadership. Well, there is an old Yiddish ex- munity Relations Council to $100,000, if they needed tion highlighting Jewish heroes in our com- pression which translates to: “man plans and (the JCRC) as well as on the it to tide them over until re- munity. Our JCRC provided multiple Zoom G-d laughs”; and while I am not sure G-d is synagogue-to-church lev- ceipt of their PPP loans. We programs to further communication and laughing, G-d certainly had something else el. These efforts are ongo- convened our communi- understanding between our Jewish com- in mind. It was hard for me to achieve my ing and are contributing to UJF President David Gordon ty leaders in several meet- munity and our greater interfaith commu- agenda due to Covid-19 which has been no mutual understanding and ings over multiple months nity. The JCRC also participated in a polit- laughing matter. In preparing my remarks security of the community.