Sunday, April 26, 2020
Unto Every Person There is a Name
We will memorialize the victims of the Holocaust through the public recitation of their names.
Birmingham Community Yom HaShoah Commemoration
On Sunday, April 26 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm, join us live for our community Holocaust remembrance event, to honor those who survived the Holocaust and to remember those we lost. This program is hosted by the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center and Temple Emanu-El.
 
The LJCC, in partnership with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama and United Way, served 300 boxes of food to the Birmingham community.
LJCC partners with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama to feed those in need
On Tuesday, April 21, the Levite Jewish Community Center, in partnership with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, served as a mobile pantry pick up site for free grocery boxes for those in need. Over 300 boxes were put together by staff and volunteers. The boxes, full of various foods addressing nutritional needs, were passed out in less than an hour. Cars lined the LJCC parking lot in an effort to secure food. Due to the enormous needs surrounding food scarcity, the LJCC has volunteered to host another mobile pantry pickup on behalf of the Community Food Bank and is hopeful that this will happen in the coming weeks. The LJCC is grateful to the support of our volunteers and members so that they can continue to serve the community during this time of immense need.
In the era of “social distancing,” the agency has been forced to roll back the “friendly visit” for the most part – but the deliveries are still filling pantries and warming the hearts of both recipients and volunteers.
Senior Grocery Service Continues to Deliver
When Collat Jewish Family Services launched its Senior Grocery Initiative last July, it was designed to provide low-income seniors not only with monthly food deliveries but also with a friendly interaction with the volunteer delivering the provisions. “In March, I hated telling our volunteers they couldn’t stay and chat. But two months into this, I see that people are still getting that positive personal connection - even from behind a mask and at a distance of six feet,” said CJFS Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Nemet. CJFS is a recipient of dollars raised in The Birmingham Jewish Federation's annual campaign.

Watch a 2-minute video showing how the food delivery program, which is supported by the Birmingham Jewish Foundation, has adapted.
Distancing together...that's just what we do!
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Functioning "Just Like Family"...From a Distance
For over a decade, Collat Jewish Family Services’ Amy Peetluk has functioned as a surrogate daughter for Mrs. C., an elderly widow whose children live out of state. Through CJFS’ “Just Like Family” program, Amy accompanies Mrs. C. to doctors’ visits, communicates with Mrs. C’s children and connects Mrs. C with resources that enable her to continue living independently despite the infirmities of age. When Amy recently learned that Mrs. C’s adult son had died in the Midwest, she found a way to comfort her longtime client in person – without violating social distancing guidelines aimed at limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “Mrs. C. sat on her porch, and I sat in my truck about 20 feet away, and that’s how we had our condolence visit. We talked about her son and the plans she was making for handling his affairs,” Amy said. “I know it was a comfort to her, and it meant a lot to me that I could be there for her. CJFS is a recipient of dollars raised in The Birmingham Jewish Federation's annual campaign.

Read more about how the pandemic affects the elderly – and how agencies like CJFS are responding.
A special celebration for Israel's 72nd Birthday!
Live Worldwide Celebration of Israel’s Independence Day!
On Wednesday, April 29 at 2:00pm, the Jewish Federations of North America community will join together for an extraordinary virtual event celebrating Israel!

Stars like Matisyahu and The Brothers Platt - Ben, Henry, and Jonah will sing in honor of Israel's celebration. Chefs from around the world will debate whether falafel is the quintessential Israeli food. The finale will be all joining together to sing Israel's national anthem, "Hatikva".

Community Events & Announcements

Israel - Living the Dream in Mind, Heart, and Soul
Sunday, April 26 at 1:00 pm, via Zoom. In conjunction with the Religious Zionists of America and in honor of Yom Haatzmaut, Knesseth Israel will be hosting a special Zoom class with esteemed Israeli Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Moshe Gordon. An exploration of our daily spiritual and emotional connection to the miracle of the State of Israel. Click here for Zoom link. Password is 879730 .

Your Financial Plan has the Corona Virus - Now What?
Tuesday, April 28, 2:30 – 3:30 pm via Zoom. Presented by Frank Siegal and Greg Burchell. Frank and Greg will talk about the investment outlook in the face of the pandemic and take questions from the community. Register here

New Normal: Creating Schedules, Routines and Positive Supports at Home
Wednesday, April 29 from 8:00 - 9:00 pm via Zoom. Presented by Educational and Behavioral Consultant, Ilene Kosoff. We are all dealing with what our "new normal" feels like as we work, learn, and play at home. Ilene Kosoff will share tips and strategies on how to use schedule, routine, and positive supports to help your children have better behavior and a more pleasant outlook. Parents will think about their own expectations of working from home, managing their children's learning, and enjoying time together so that they can create more balance and peace for the whole family. Register here

Rescuing Jews - Means & Obstacles
Thursday, May 7 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm, via Zoom. BHEC ZOOM Webinar! Community Education Series, Session 8: “Rescuing Jews- Means & Obstacles”. An adult education series based on the book How Was It Possible?: A Holocaust Reader. Facilitator: Amy McDonald, Shades Valley High School. Register here

Bearing Witness: Stories of the Holocaust
Thursday, May 14 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm, via Zoom. BHEC ZOOM Webinar! Community Education Series, Bearing Witness: Stories of the Holocaust - Featuring Esther Levy. Second Generation . My Mother’s Story: Tobi Komornik Gerson. Esther will share the story of her mother, a Holocaust survivor from Szczerców, Poland. Register here

Temple Emanu-El is here for our community during these times. Please join us for a variety of events and program ming by clicking here .
Birmingham Jewish Federation
COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund

The importance of a strong and vibrant Jewish community has never been clearer than it is today. The Birmingham Jewish Federation, in collaboration with Collat Jewish Family Services, Levite Jewish Community Center, N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, the Birmingham Jewish Foundation, and all area synagogues, are proud to play a role in safeguarding the most vulnerable among us, and to help coordinate and communicate the efforts of our community partners.

We are all working together to understand the immediate and short-term needs of members of our Jewish community and the greater community most impacted by the situation surrounding COVID-19. This may include emergency financial support for housing and utilities, medicine, food assistance/delivery, and social work/counseling services.

In response to the current crisis, we have created the Birmingham Jewish Federation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to support our agency partners, Israel and the broader Birmingham Community. While this effort must not replace our annual campaign, there is an immediate need for these funds, which we hope will be above and beyond your generous annual commitment. 100% of all contributions will directly support those impacted by the pandemic, and/or programs providing critical community services.
Support our Local Agencies and Synagogues with Amazon Smile
Amazon Smile, a website operated by Amazon lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when customers shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers. Please visit: smile.amazon.com If you have an existing Amazon.com account, you use the same account on AmazonSmile. All of our Birmingham agencies and synagogues are listed on Amazon Smile and you may choose one of them as the beneficiary of your purchases.