Weekly Blast

Flint Jewish Federation--The Smart, Meaningful Way to Give!

In This Issue

INVITATION TO COMPETE IN THE 2014 MACCABI GAMES AND ARTFEST!

Athletes and Artists, age 12--17 have been invited to try out for the 2014 Maccabi Games and Artfest to be held August at . The Detroit Community has invited our students to participate as part of the Detroit Delegation which will welcome competitors from across the U.S., Israel, and South America. Tryouts for the athletic competitions will be held beginning in December--check the Maccabi website for dates and times. Those wishing to participate in the artistic portion should submit a Youtube video. Go to www.jccmaccabiartsfest.org/ for more information. As a part of the Detroit delegation Genesee County participants will receive home hospitality during the games and pay a lower entry fee. The JCC is also seeking volunteers to help with running the games, performing such tasks as assisting in the serving of meals during the week of competition. This is a great opportunity for our students to make friends with Jewish athletes and artists from around the world. For more information contact the Federation office or go to the Maccabi website.

JEWISH FEDERATIONS RESPOND TO PHILLIPINE TYPHOON

The Jewish Federations of North America and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee are raising funds and mobilizing a communal response to the super Typhoon Haiyan, which has wrought widespread destruction in the Philippines.

JDC is consulting with local officials, the Filipino Jewish community and global partners to assess the evolving situation on the ground in the Philippines. More than 3500 people are reported dead and there is a shortage of food, shelter and clean water.

Donations can be made on the JFNA online relief page or given by mail at Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund, The Jewish Federations of North America, Wall Street Station, PO Box 148, New York, NY 10268 or to the Flint Jewish Federation, 619 Wallenberg St., Flint MI 48502 or call our office at 810 767-5922 to make a credit card donation.

Jewish Federations have a proud tradition of supporting the Jewish communal response to disasters around the world and at home, raising tens of millions of dollars for emergency assistance and longer-term aid.

TAX DEDUCTION REMINDER

In order to be tax deductible for the 2013 tax year we must receive your gift by midnight of December 31st 2013. If you are mailing us your donation it must be postmarked no later than December 31st, 2013. If you are transferring shares of stock the transfer must be completed on or before that date. Please also note that we cannot certify as deductible any amount for which you received goods or services from the Federation. In the event you paid for a dinner or other goods and services we will inform you of the fair market value of what was provided. Any amount in excess of that fair market value may be deductible--please consult your accountant, lawyer or other tax adviser.

Call 810 767-5922 or

mail your donation to

619 Wallenberg St.,

Flint Michigan, 48502

THE YEAR IN REVIEW!

This past year was an exciting one. Jeannie Opdyke Smith spoke at our Annual Holocaust Memorial Service. She also shared the story of her mother, Righteous Gentile Irene Opdyke, with over 500 students, faculty and administrators on visits to three Genesee County Schools. After the war Federation assisted her family when they immigrated to the U.S. and she and her mother were grateful for all that was done for them.

The ninth Annual Karen Schneider Jewish Film festival attracted over 500 viewers-Jewish and non-Jewish--to our partner Flint Institute of Arts auditorium to view a variety of American and foreign films. We look forward to the 10th film festival this May 4-8th.

We partnered with the Greater Lansing Jewish Welfare Federation and Mott Community College Library to host a photo exhibition, open to the entire community, of the Ethiopian Jews and their resettlement journey to Israel. The exhibit showcased the compassionate extension of acculturation and resettlement assistance by Israel and the world Jewish community that is supported by our annual campaign to help the Ethiopians adjust to life in a modern, industrial and high tech society.

Those who joined our interfaith Don Riegle mission to Israel had other opportunities to see how we support social services and support understanding and the peaceful relations with the Israel Arab community. We visited Susan's house which helps Israeli youth from broken homes develop relationships, life and career skills that will enable them to become successful members of Israeli society. Tzofen assists Israeli youth, among them Arab youth, in acquiring the technical and job application/networking skills to enter the Israel high tech industrial sector.

A fun time was had by all who gathered to make their own pizzas, ice cream sundaes and hang out in the Sukkah at the 2nd Annual Pizza in the Hut.

The Donald Riegle Community Service Award Event is one of the premier community events of the year and kickoff to the fall season. This year's awardees were outstanding in their contributions to our

community and their remarks (including our own Mitchell Weiss) and those of Yulia Malayev and Senator Riegle were especially moving and inspirational. Next year will be a special one as we mark the 25th Anniversary of this event. Proceeds of this fundraiser enable the JCS to continue to provide needed resettlement services to our community.

October 6, brought the inaugural Daniel Pearl Memorial Humanity in Harmony Concert and Awards Ceremony attended by almost 200 people. We enjoyed a presentation of diverse musical groups and cultures dedicated to creating bridges of understanding through the medium of music. Three high school students were honored for essays on the importance of journalism.

The PJ Library now is up and running and sending a Jewish book or CD each month to Jewish children throughout Mid-Michigan. So far 46 children have enrolled in the program. The program introduces families who may not otherwise be connected to the Jewish community to Jewish culture and values through books, music and activities.

Jewish youth supported our Federation this year by manning the phones during our campaign last November. They also participated in our Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony and helped build the Sukkah for our Pizza in the Hut program. In turn the Federation supported the youth with subsidies to attend youth conferences. We are proud of our youth and look forward to continuing our mutual endeavors.

Behind the scenes the Federation has upgraded its database and accounting software, begun construction of a new website www.miflintfed.com and acquired a twitter account.

Your donations make all of the above and more possible. We support Jewish life locally, in Israel and in 70 countries around the world. We feed the hungry and provide them with toiletries, medicines and transportation. We support community centers, retreats and camps for rebuilding Jewish life in Russia and around the world.

If you have enjoyed and benefited from our programs described above or from another program not mentioned there we hope you will be generous when we approach you through the mail, the phone, email or in person. If we can better address your family's needs we want to know. This year Chanuka, a holiday where we celebrate rededication, falls during the American holiday of Thanksgiving. Won't you express your gratitude and rededicate yourselves to our Jewish and general community with a generous contribution to our annual campaign? If you are already a donor please consider a 10% increase. Your gift enables the Flint Jewish Federation to do a world of good.