Jewish Federation of NEPA • Annual Report Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania 2017-2018 Annual Report JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA Perspectives on the Federation and the Jewish World Dear Friends, parliament of our Jewish communities but to attract the many unaffiliated Jewish families of Northeast Pennsylvania. That Mission, throughout our region into the Jewish community. At the Jewish Federation of Northeastern simply stated, is “to rescue the imperiled, Pennsylvania, a key part of our mission care for the vulnerable, support Israel, In that regard, in the recent past, the Federation is tikkun olam (repairing the world). We and perpetuate Jewish life in Lackawanna, has provided emergency and capital grants to help people in need and we mobilize the Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties, and Congregation Beth Israel (Honesdale), the Scranton Jewish community to become a source of throughout the world.” Hebrew Day School, the Scranton Ritualarium care and comfort that embraces us all. (mikvah), Yeshiva Beth Moshe/Milton Eisner Institute As such, we have a broad mandate that and the Jewish Discovery Center (Chabad) which Our support also offers a safety net for transcends the interests of any one of allowed each of them to effect major structural repairs Douglas Fink, President the communities’ most vulnerable here Jewish Federation our agencies, synagogues or affiliates. to their synagogues and centers or to protect their in NEPA, in Israel and around the world. of Northeastern We plan for the future well-being of our students and teachers by providing funds to increase Through our network of agencies, we feed Pennsylvania Jewish communities, and we recognize the security of their schools and institutions... and this the hungry, help the unemployed, and extend a that our responsibility as the Jewish Federation does not include grants for innovative and creative compassionate and caring hand to the aging. of Northeastern Pennsylvania is to manage “the programs and projects sponsored by Temple Israel garden,” while our UJA-funded recreational, cultural, of the Poconos (Stroudsburg), Congregation B’nai In cases of natural and other disasters, such as after educational, religious and social service agencies and Harim (Pocono Pines), Temple Israel (Scranton), 9/11, the massive flooding in Louisiana, and in the synagogues represent the “flowers” in that garden. Temple Hesed (Scranton), and the Jewish Discovery aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, Harvey, Center (Chabad). Irma and Maria – not to mention the devastating These responsibilities include allocating our UJA earthquakes in Mexico this year alone, we, as a Campaign funds raised each year to secure Israel Each of these grants was funded from the income Federation, assisted these devastated communities and enhance Jewish overseas needs (which are paid from our Unrestricted Endowment Funds. by contributing thousands of dollars to the Jewish to the Jewish Agency for Israel (or JAFI) and the Federations of North America (JFNA) to alleviate American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (or This is what being Jewish is about. the pain and suffering of the millions affected by JDC) for these purposes (as you will see throughout these natural disasters. this year’s Annual Report), and to assist our own While most of us continue to live the lives our Jewish agencies and religious and educational parents dreamed for us, many here at home, in Our Mission continues to define our role as the institutions here in Northeastern Pennsylvania Israel, and around the world are struggling to by allocating funds to assist in offsetting the cost survive or flee persecution. We are fortunate to of their operations. These educational, family live in freedom, but many of our people do not MISSION service, social, religious and recreational agencies and it is on their behalf we sincerely thank you and institutions of higher learning include, and for assisting us in reaching $975,646 in this year’s STATEMENT have included in past years, the: annual UJA Campaign. • Scranton Jewish Community Center (Scranton) • Jewish Family Service of Northeastern IN MEMORIAM Pennsylvania (Scranton) MARY LIL WALSH • Scranton Hebrew Day School (Scranton) With much sadness, the • Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos Jewish Federation of (Stroudsburg) The Mission of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania • Chabad of the Abingtons/Jewish Discovery extends its condolences to Northeastern Pennsylvania continues to Center (Waverly) define our role as the parliament of the Jewish the Walsh family on the • Yeshiva Beth Moshe/Milton Eisner Institute passing of Mary Lil Walsh communities of Northeastern Pennsylvania. (Scranton) That Mission is to “rescue the imperiled, care on February 2. A longtime • Congregation B’nai Harim Religious School employee of the Jewish for the vulnerable, support Israel and world (Pocono Pines) Jewry and to revitalize and perpetuate the Jewish Federation, Lil served as its • Temple Hesed Religious School (Scranton) communities of Pike, Wayne, Monroe and bookkeeper from April 1, • Temple Israel Religious School (Scranton) Lackawanna counties.” 1985, until her retirement • Temple Israel of the Poconos Hebrew School on April 1, 2012, during which time she As the parliament of the Jewish communities of our (Stroudsburg) provided excellent professional services for region, the Federation has a broad mandate that • Bais Ya’akov (Scranton) and on behalf of this Federation. transcends the interests of any one of its agencies • Bnos Yisroel (Scranton) She was a fine and caring person who brought or affiliates. Its role is to plan for the future well- • Scranton Ritualarium (Mikvah) (Scranton) honor to our Federation and continually being of our greater Jewish community – both • Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms Religious demonstrated love and respect to her large here and abroad. As such, our responsibility is to School (Lords Valley) family based primarily in Scranton. Her enhance the quality of Jewish life throughout our • Jewish Heritage Connection (Scranton) presence and her many kindnesses are a loss for region, Israel and the Jewish world by providing all who knew and respected her. She will never the UJA funding and the guidance necessary to And this does not include program, capital and be forgotten and she will be deeply missed. May deliver the highest quality programs and services emergency grants awarded each year by our Grants her memory forever be a blessing, as was her through our local, national and internationally- Committee to our agencies, synagogues and presence among us, and may she rest in peace. funded agencies and affiliates. institutions for creative and innovative programs – programs designed not only to retain their members 2 Annual Report • Jewish Federation of NEPA 2018 UJA CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES We Made It - $975,646! We are living in a time of participation and support of our extraordinary change. Our world 2018 UJA Campaign but viewing 2018 UJA Campaign video and communities in Northeast just a sample of what your gift https://drive.google.com/file/ Pennsylvania are rapidly evolving makes possible is incredible. d/0B2g428_1KfYTQTRfaDU0TTV1MFU/view and creating new and diverse issues to address each and every • Financial assistance to Endowment Funds with our Federation to day. In the midst of this dramatic the educational, religious, continue their legacy for generations to come, change, our community has social service, cultural and continue to designate UJA Campaign gifts consistently risen to meet the recreational agencies that through our Philanthropic Funds to our annual challenges we face to secure comprise the Jewish Federation UJA Campaign, as well as non-Federation-owned our future here in Northeastrn of Northeastern Pennsylvania private Foundations, and have dedicated hundreds Pennsylvania. Dr. Joel Laury and Leah Laury • Funding the costs of aliyah of volunteer hours to ensure the future viability 2018 UJA Campaign Co-Chairs through the Jewish Agency for of our Jewish communities here in Northeastrn As a 2018 UJA Campaign donor, participant, Israel and the Joint Distribution Committee for Pennsylvania, as you will see below. volunteer, or more likely all three, you have the threatened Jewish communities of Europe. ignited positive changes in our community and • Elderly, disabled and vulnerable Jewish citizens Our successful 2018 UJA Campaign has had and beyond. You have exemplified the strength of worldwide have received nutritious meals, financial continues to have a great impact on improving our people and demonstrated the power that our assistance, medical aid, health care, transportation Jewish lives and communities here and abroad community has to help so many others. You have services, and friendly, attentive visitors at Hesed and is helping to secure a future where Jews feel supported, educated, uplifted, and strengthened Centers funded by our UJA dollars around the world. safe, accepted, and able to thrive. our communities here, in Israel, and in Jewish • Children whose families otherwise couldn’t communities worldwide through your donations afford it received scholarships for universities and Our thanks is extended to each of you for being to our annual UJA Campaign. Jewish summer camps from the Federation. part of our extraordinary community. • Jewish youth in other countries, including You have forged connections within our Israel, are receiving educational advantages from Without exaggeration, your