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.5 May 2020 Iyar - Sivan 5780 ShaloThe Journal of the Reading Jewish Communitym published by0 the Jewish5 Federation2 of Reading/Berks0 From the President’s Desk Your Federation Supports: Jewish Education Coronavirus crisis helps us learn Food Pantry Friendship Circle the value of a strong community Chevra By William D. Franklin Morality — I am in awe seeing how Tenacity — We resolve to beat this plague Community Shabbat President much everyone is doing to help each other. and we will come out better. Shalom. As we continue Reading Jewish Film Series I regularly see Sari, Carole, Richard, Brenda You — Our community is made up of all to deal with the coronavirus and others reach out to check on people, of you .You are the means and the ends to a PJ Library crisis, I believe we better provide transportation and bring them food, better future. understand the meaning medical supplies and other vital items. Jewish Family Service and value of COMMUNITY: You, the Federation and our synagogues Uh Oh — We know there are many ‘uh are working to keep our Jewish community Challenges — We, Jewish Cultural Center oh’ moments in this fight but we are banding together, supportive and meaningful. as individuals, families, employers, and together to succeed, which shows that the Many in our community are providing food, Lakin Holocaust Library organizations, face many challenges in real ‘U’ word is unity. transportation and delivery services to those positively shaping our new reality. & Resource Center Normal — Our normal gives us the time in need. Thank you. O pportunities — We have many and chance to create a future new normal We also thank the community’s health care Israel & Overseas opportunities to build stronger and deeper which we hope is better than before. and emergency service providers for their relationships with the time to connect and Camp Scholarships Ingenuity — All of the above requires us bravery, sacrifices and hard work, which minimize share jokes, favorite books, music and movies to create new solutions to the problems of the disastrous effect of the COVID-19 plague. Israel Trips and just listen to each other. quarantine, furlough, school closings, etc. Kehillah — community — is a central Meaning — There is real clarity of what is Amanda, Adi and others continue to create tenet of our Jewish tradition. Thank you all Jewish Community truly meaningful in our lives -- family, friends, and deliver new educational and entertaining for helping us preserve it. High School Tzedakah. programs to keep us interested and energized. Keep smiling and keep safe! Emergency Support Lakin Preschool Our work continues in challenging time Richard J. Yashek Lecture Transportation Maimonides Society Your Jewish Legacy 92ND ST Y Programs Joint Distribution Committee Meir Panim Annual Campaign Jewish Agency for Israel Yemin Orde School Education Programs The Jewish Family Service Food Pantry at the Olivet’s Pendora Park Fieldhouse is going strong in Adi Shalev and her mom lead a cooking class all the way from Israel. Classes continue a time of acute need. this month. See inside for details. 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 Gabby Gurwitz’s winning entry in our Passover-themed Lego contest. Family Seder table with Seder plate, and they PJ Library held virtual story times in April. Now story times are Hebrew letters yoga. left the door open for Elijah! See more on Page 4. done by our library partner Exeter Community Library Page 2 SHALOM May 2020 Your gifts keep us connected in pandemic By Richard Nassau programs offered by JFS and JCC are JFS continues to remain open and help. Development Director vital for our community. From the JFS Your Community Campaign contributions It is your gifts to Food Pantry that makes sure families to Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks are Jewish Federation’s are fed to the JCC’s PJ Library virtual making sure they can. JFS staff is calling Community Campaign story time programs that are bringing people, especially vulnerable seniors, to that have kept us people together. check on their status and find out what t connected throughout I know that I, like many people, gladly they may need. Staff is updating family this pandemic. support Jewish Family Service programs. members, especially those who are not The importance of JFS programs are critical for our community. in the area, about their elderly parents. Federation’s campaign is I also hope that you will never need to use JFS staff is arranging for volunteers to n never more evident than a JFS program service, such as its Food drop off groceries or medications. The now. Your current and past contributions to Pantry. During times like this pandemic, JFS Food Pantry continues to operate. It our campaign are providing programs and I am reminded of the importance of JFS is an essential service that remains open, services for our entire community. Your and how glad I am to have their programs especially for the many people who thought e gift is being used by Federation’s Jewish available to me. they would never need its service. Family Service and JCC to respond to this I was 5 or 6 when I first realized my On behalf of the many lives you make crisis and meet the ongoing needs within family was receiving help from our local better every day, thank you for supporting our community. Thank you. Jewish Family Service agency. Their JFS and JCC through our Community If you can join with others to ensure counseling helped my family through a very Campaign. You make it possible for us to m we have the resources to respond, please difficult time. It would not be the last time remain an active, vibrant and connected donate at ReadingJewishCommunity.org. my family or I received help from Jewish Jewish community. Isolation reminds us how important Family Service. If you can, please donate at community is. How services and Here in our Berks County community ReadingJewishCommunity.org. p Making life better for Jews around the world o From Federation staff and questions from the field. online Seders took place for children, l Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks JDC volunteers in Mogilev, Belarus, teens, youth, families and the elderly. through Jewish Federations of North delivered kits to 70 homebound elderly. In Kharkov, Ukraine, more than 150 America supports the Jewish Agency for These kits included disposable gloves members participated and in Kishinev Israel (JAFI) and the Joint Distribution and wipes, along with emergency contact more than 250 participants from all ages e Committee (JDC.) We do this as part of our information. In Egypt, ahead of Passover came together. mission to make life better for Jews and holiday, JDC shipped about 175 pounds JDC distributed more than 4,500 Jewish communities throughout the world. of matzah and other holiday foods to hygiene and activity kits to Israeli Arab and v Here are some of the ways our partners Jewish community members. In Moldova, Bedouin families with materials on how are responding during this pandemic. confined community members called to use them and how to practice social JAFI is working closely with Israel’s homebound elderly to provide them with distancing. In Ethiopia, the first half of Ministry of Health and JAFI’s local partners important information related to COVID-19 18 foot-operated hand-washing stations e that are dealing with the thousands of and learn about their needs. were installed in Gondar and Addis olim (immigrants to Israel) and Shlichim JDC known as the global Jewish 9-1-1, Ababa. These were constructed locally (Israeli emissaries) to minimize risks. One launched a virtual ‘Center for Independent in partnership with NALA, an Israeli NGO way they are doing this is by preparing Living’ on Facebook. With thousands that works to break the cycle of poverty for D apartments in their residential programs of followers, it provides information for those with limited access to clean water for olim who need to be quarantined. people with disabilities, including special and sanitation. JAFI has also established an materials, podcasts and online support Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks Annual Campaign Organizational Coordinating Forum. groups. It also features fitness courses with our worldwide partners will always Women’s Philanthropy This group convenes daily to assess and cultural/leisure courses, as well as respond to emergencies impacting our changing developments related to the training sessions for people who work with global community. This pandemic is no Maimonides Society virus. JAFI is also a member of the wider people with disabilities. exception. For the latest updates, visit our Emergency Forum that deals with issues In the former Soviet Union, over 125 website, ReadingJewishCommunity.org. Your Jewish Legacy Chai Circle L’Chaim Society Book of Life Letter of Intent 2020 Annual Meeting Save the Date for Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks annual meeting DONATE NOW TO OUR Date: Sunday, May 31 JEWISH Time: 4:00 PM COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN Please visit Check your email and our website for updates ReadingJewishCommunity. as the date gets closer. org www.ReadingJewishCommunity.org