June 2020 Sivan-Tammuz 5780
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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 50, No.6 June 2020 Sivan-Tammuz 5780 ShaloThe Journal of the Reading Jewish Communitym published by0 the Jewish6 Federation2 of Reading/Berks0 Your Federation Supports: Executive Committee thankful Jewish Education Food Pantry for work by Federation staff Friendship Circle Federation Executive Committee exemplary level of dedicated service staff to the overall community. Chevra The Executive Committee of the and continuously highly innovative Thank you. Board of Directors of the Jewish programming provided to the Reading/ Robert M. Caster, Chair Community Shabbat Federation of Reading, Pennsylvania, Berks Jewish Community during these Sheila Bornstein, First VP Reading Jewish Film Series on behalf of the entire Board of Directors difficult times due to the current virus Traci Rossi, Second VP wishes to publicly recognize and express environment. Radene Gordon Beck, Treasurer PJ Library its gratitude to the entire professional The Executive Board does not take Debbie Goldberg, Secretary staff of the Federation for their lightly the benefits provided by the entire Jewish Family Service Jewish Cultural Center Lakin Holocaust Library Summer FUN for kids & Resource Center By Amanda J. Hornberger rabbis. Dates are June 12 and 19. FREE and open to entire youth of all ages during this Israel & Overseas Virtual learning is over, and 26, July 10 and 24 and Aug, community. unique summer. now it’s time to enjoy summer! 7 and 21. FREE and open to • Chabad Summer Camp— We know this period Camp Scholarships While this summer may look entire community. see Centerpiece for more details of social distancing is a Israel Trips different than past summers, Ages 6-12 on this daily camp offered by challenge for both kids and something that will remain is • Summer FUN hosted by Chabad. parents, and we hope to Jewish Community fun, engaging connection for JCC — Join us on Wednesdays • Harlam at Home— provide some ideas and Jewish youth in Reading. at 10 a.m. LIVE on Zoom with resources from the Union for projects to make the summer High School The JCC in collaboration with your friends from across Berks. Reform Judaism (URJ) Camp more fun and enjoyable for Emergency Support our synagogues and Chabad Adi and Amanda will lead Harlam will be posted and everyone! is offering a wide variety of interactive, age-appropriate distributed to families throughout JCC programs are free, but Lakin Preschool options for children in Berks this activities to engage youth this the summer. donations are appreciated. Richard J. Yashek Lecture summer. summer. In addition, every Teens We welcome any ideas or 5 and under other week, Camp in a Box • Adi is working on creating suggestions you may have for Transportation • Join us on Fridays at 10 materials will be delivered a youth group and opportunities programs for our youth this a.m. LIVE on Zoom (or watch to participants. In these five for connection for teens this summer. Maimonides Society recording later at a time that boxes will be supplies for summer. If you have any questions Your Jewish Legacy works for you) for a musical, special projects, crafts and Our goal is to work or suggestions, please reach fun kickoff to Shabbat. We will cooking classes held during together as a community out to Amanda at amandah@ 92ND ST Y Programs sing songs with teachers from the live sessions. Starts June to provide opportunities jfreading.org or Adi at adis@ Lakin Preschool and our local 17 and runs through Aug. for Jewish engagement for jfreading.org Joint Distribution Committee Meir Panim Community joins in effort to mark Memorial Day 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 Leo Camp Lecture Shabbat B’Yachad Members of the Jewish community join with members of Immanuel UCC in Shillington to lay flags on 260 graves at Shomrei Habrith and Kesher Zion cemeteries in preparation for Memorial Day. From left are Andrew Huesgen; the Rev. Megan Huesgen, pastor of Immanuel UCC ; Melissa, Jonathan, Stella and Jack Belinski, members of Immanuel; Dr. Neil Hoffman; Sen. Judy Schwank and Amanda Hornberger Page 2 SHALOM June 2020 Great generosity during a pandemic By Richard Nassau heard from more members of my extended create bonds and strengthen relationships, Development Director family in the last two months than I did over between people and between organizations. Your generosity and the last two years. I expect you, like mine, We work to make a difference, for each the generosity of the have extended family who disagree about other and in new ways. We act together. Our Jewish community is many things. values, as a Federation and a community, something incredible. It I have family members who wipe down are rooted in protecting our community’s t is heartfelt and is never their mail every day and members who most vulnerable and taking care of people taken for granted. No have been to the beach and are ready to in need. one should be surprised go back. The issues of going to the beach We don’t wait. We take action. We look by the generosity of the or opening mail are not why I’ve heard from at where there are gaps and needs and n Jewish community. so many family members. My family, much ways to join together. We know, as a community, that this like yours and our community, understand Every dollar Federation receives makes pandemic has changed things. No one is the importance of checking in and taking a difference. Your support added to the sure when things will return to “normal.” care of each other. contributions of others funds our response e There are people out of work. People who We are a communal people. Rabbi to this crisis. Food, transportation and are not used to needing help. Harold Kushner has taught, “Jews don’t outreach. Virtual gatherings, games and One constant is the outpouring of help. pray for, Jews pray with.” More than ever, community connections. We are finding our way together as a these last few months have shown the We’re all ready to get back to normal. community. People have stepped up and truth in that statement. How taking care of I’m looking forward to connecting in m given of their time, dollars and resources. each other and being part of a community person. Till then, your support and the Federation continues to provide services, all is a value fundamental to who we are as a work of Federation have kept us all due to your generosity. Thank you. Jewish community. connected. If you wish to make a gift, you can do Here in Berks County we, as a Please if you can, consider making a p so at ReadingJewishCommunity.org, or you Federation and a people, have worked hard gift at ReadingJewishCommunity.org. If can mail it in — we’re still open. to create a culture of belonging. Federation you or someone you know needs help, call Still, things are different. I think I’ve is a facilitator. Our work continues to Federation – 610-921-0624.Stay connected. o l Be remembered forever in our Jewish community By Rebecca Robinson outcome), not all those memories are especially during this current financial Life & Legacy Program heartwarming as I can still feel the anxiety tsunami. I am more comfortable leaving a e I am a millennial, and despite any of attending those Monday and Wednesday legacy gift than making a sizable monetary sweeping generalizations you may have classes. (My teachers could attest that I donation today. Not needing to give any heard about my generation, I care. My wasn’t the best student.) That feeling of money today to be part of this legacy society v energy, my time and yes, even my money anxiousness is similar to what I feel now has taken away my financial constraints, go to support issues that are directly as I think about the shifting Jewish future. especially given the instability of our meaningful to me. There is so much uncertainty within the present. I know that when my legacy comes While it is easier to give back via my Jewish community right now, especially as to fruition, I am leaving a meaningful gift to e time (especially as I’m living through my we all try to muddle our way through this my community. My commitment ensures second “once in a lifetime recession”), I unplannable future. that there will continue to be a strong still try to find ways to financially support The generations that came before me Jewish community. Even small legacy gifts causes I care about. One of those causes had the insight to build a safe place for Jews are important because every “drop” in the D is the Reading Jewish Community. to learn, grow, and connect that allowed my tzedakah bucket leads to a more financially We are all living through history as we generation to flourish, inspiring me to give secure Jewish future. figure out our new normal in the era of back to the community. My generation is We all need to work together to build Annual Campaign COVID-19. No one knows what our future learning the hard way that no one will bail us a strong community, ensuring that the Women’s Philanthropy will look like, and that is terrifying.