JCA 2017 COMMUNITY HELP US SOURCE MAGAZINE write our FUTURE Insight 2 It’s not the amount of marble in your reception, but the relevance of your insight. Insight 2 The FUTURE of our It’s not the amount community of marble in your is reception, but the UNWRITTEN... relevance of your insight. This year’s Community Source magazine is of particular significance as JCA celebrates its 50th year. This is a collective celebration. It marks the time of our volunteers, the dollars of our donors and the leadership and vision of all involved who have helped shape our community over the past 50 years – a community that we are privileged to live in. This moment also gives us pause to think about our community’s future. A future that ensures a vibrant, secure and inclusive community in which our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will thrive – a community that leaves no Jewish person in isolation and celebrates the combined diversity of our people, our culture and our heritage. 2017 is a chance for each of us to get involved, to give in whatever way we can, and help us write the next chapter. This year’s Source magazine mirrors our community. It is a collaborative effort of individuals who have come together to tell a story that best represents who we are, what we do and all we hope for in our future. We would like to acknowledge the JCA team, our member organisations, our hard working volunteers across the many committees and project groups, all of whom have contributed to the creation of this magazine. Most importantly, we thank the contributions of each donor and volunteer whose generosity supports the activities of JCA and our member organisations and helps sustain our community. Community Source is a 140-146 Darlinghurst Road, Email [email protected] publication of JCA (NSW) Darlinghurst NSW 2010 www.jca.org.au ABN 29 920 168 287 Telephone 9360 2344 CONTENTS 04 08 12 OUR LEADERSHIP OUR PEOPLE OUR COMMUNITY 14 20 24 26 JEWISH CULTURE & SOCIAL JUSTICE AGED CARE EDUCATION ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH 30 32 34 36 COMMUNITY ADVOCACY & HISTORY & OUR FUTURE CARE SECURITY HERITAGE 44 46 75 BEQUESTS & OUR SUPPORTERS OUR SPONSORS ENDOWMENTS HOPES and DREAMS OUR LEADERSHIP Only we can WRITE OUR PAGE. We will NEED MORE THAN A WORD or a line or a tweet or a post. WE WILL NEED A STORY, a book of stories, a LIBRARY OF STORYBOOKS that describe the HOPES and DREAMS for our community and the ACTIONS that will help realize them. STEPHEN CHIPKIN STEPHEN CHIPKIN PRESIDENT 6 OUR LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT STEPHEN CHIPKIN Welcome again to JCA’s Community Source magazine. These are not the Days of Awe, when a higher power holds the pen and contemplates our entry into the The personal stories of our 2016 ‘Humans of JCA’ Book of Life. Campaign clearly resonated. Our fundraising result was the highest ever, our donor numbers increased We hold the pen and the open page, one that is rich and perhaps most pleasing of all, our Next Generation with freedom and possibility. participation through Jumpstart increased in numbers We are the fortunate beneficiaries of an exceptional and in dollar terms. local community, replete with resources and programs Thank you to all who contributed. that support and enrich our Jewish lives. This did not just happen. The Humans of JCA over the years have 2016 saw the successful continuation of a number of made this community what it is. initiatives at JCA across the spectrum of fundraising, engagement and the next generation. The year also So what do we propose to do with that gift? heralded a change in JCA’s CEO. Daniel Grynberg left We have begun the work of reimagining our future the organisation after three very successful years in – our new Engagement team, a fresh Campaign the role and he deserves our sincere thanks. Bruce approach and our Jumpstart initiatives (supported Goldsmith has taken on the role, bringing substantial by members of The Giving Forum – a group of business, strategic and leadership credentials that major donors intent on strengthening the culture of should enable him to build on JCA’s very strong philanthropy for the long-term sustainability of our platform. We wish him every success. community) to name a few. There is renewed energy and a glimpse of our future possibilities. JCA turns 50 this year. It was the Six Day War in 1967 that prompted the then leaders of Sydney’s Jewish Only we can write our page. We will need more than community to step up to the existential challenge a word or a line or a tweet or a post. We will need a and agree to the remarkable co-operative model that story, a book of stories, a library of storybooks that is JCA today. The collective principle remains the describe the hopes and dreams for our community and same: we pool our resources and allocate to where the actions that will help realise them. community need is greatest. We are stronger when we No one can do this alone. Do not be bystanders. This is stand together. your community and this will be your legacy. Our theme for 2017 refers to our future which is to a Together we can achieve wonderful things for our large extent ‘unwritten’. A paradox? Jewish future and connection. We are, after all, the people of the Book. Our history, Regards our traditions, our teachings, and our commentaries have all been written. But the page in front of us, the page that describes our community over the next 50 years, is Unwritten. If you can imagine your grandchildren or your great- STEPHEN CHIPKIN grandchildren looking back in 2067, what will they see? Will they have a Jewish community that connects them PRESIDENT to their heritage, nourishes and cares for them and adds meaning to their lives? Irrespective of the LEVEL and the QUANTUM OF GIVING, the issue is not defining how you can give. THE ISSUE IS THAT YOU GIVE. BRUCE GOLDSMITH BRUCE GOLDSMITH CEO 8 OUR LEADERSHIP CEO BRUCE GOLDSMITH Many people from our global Jewish community have The pure joy of giving knows no depths. The difference inspired me, but one stands out. Maimonides lived your donation can make to those in need is huge but in the 12th Century – born in Cordoba, Spain. He was the difference in meaning to your life is possibly even a prolific and influential philosopher without equal – greater. Without your donation, we cannot deliver on commentating on Jewish life and traditions and our long our vision to ensure a vibrant, secure and sustainable and challenging history. Jewish community for you, your parents, your children In the course of his extensive observations and writings, and grandchildren. In this beautiful city, in 2017 my Maimonides saw fit to define eight levels of philanthropy, request of each of you is that “You must give until it feels each deemed to be ‘greater’ than the next. really good.” The first level is when one gives unwillingly or with In our 50 year history, never before have our 23 conditions. constituent member organisations touched so many individuals and families. Our “reach” has vastly improved The second level is when one gives inadequately, but over the past year, especially in respect of initiatives that gives with a smile. connect our youth to their community and their heritage. The third level is when one gives to the needy but only We are continuing on a strategic path of communicating after being asked. and connecting differently and more meaningfully with every demographic in our diverse community. As a (Etcetera etcetara I hear you say ..) result, our unwritten future has never looked brighter. The penultimate level of charity however is worthy of Last year was a record year, in terms of the results specific mention – it’s when one gives to the needy delivered through JCA: without knowing exactly to whom one is giving (I like to call this one ‘the JCA Model’). Our 2016 fundraising campaign raised 16.1m totalling a $2 million increase from 2015 (this included a $1million And the ultimate level is to support a fellow Jew by increase in our general campaign donations and a strengthening his position to ultimately ensure he is no $1million increase in directed and project gifts). longer dependent on others. 2016 also saw significant increases in the participation So I read this and ask “If giving to the needy is such a and contributions from our under 40 year old segment. core principal of Judaism, why do we need to assign a tzedakah score?” The fact is that many within our Many of our most generous donors significantly community continue to open their hearts and give increased their year-on-year contributions. in any number of ways. Perhaps Maimonides’ real We have good momentum but have some huge purpose in stack ranking philanthropy and community challenges ahead. With your help, I look forward support was a ruse. Maybe his intention was actually to to achieving another fundraising record and more accommodate and embrace as broad a cross-section meaningful engagement for more of our diverse of our donors as possible – irrespective of the level, community in 2017. the method and the quantum of giving. The issue is not defining how you can give. The issue isthat you give to Finally, I would like to simply but sincerely thank the best of your ability. everyone who contributes to our community – to our generous donors, the tireless JCA staff, our selfless In a quiet corner on the ground floor of the Sydney volunteers, our community workers, our diligent Jewish Museum in a section dedicated to the Jewish committee members and lay leaders.