Keeping our community informed, inspired, and connected to Jewish life in Delaware and the Brandywine Valley, in Israel, and around the world.
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CEO message to the community
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Friend!
Good morning.
This past Sunday more than 80 members of the community attended Jewish Federation of Delaware's collaboration with American Associates Ben-Gurion University of the Negev for a special screening of the film, "
Ben-Gurion, Epilogue
." We were fortunate to have AABGU President and Federation Past-President, Toni Young, introduce the film as well as facilitate a post-screening discussion. We also thank Reiko and Barry Kayne for their leadership as well as sponsoring the program reception.
On Monday, Jewish Federation of Delaware hosted a Business Professionals Breakfast with more than 70 in attendance. The featured speaker was community leader Rodger Levenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of WSFS Financial Corporation. Rodger spoke about the history of WSFS and shared his insights on the future of the banking industry in the digital age, the importance and power of personal relationships and their impressive growth and performance in the region. Special thanks to Event Co-Chairs, Beth Moskow-Schnoll and Jesse Miller.
Federation's CFO, Controller and myself attended webinar entitled, "\
Best Practices for Nonprofit Financial Policies, Procedures and Governance"
, on Tuesday sponsored by Jewish Federations of North America. It was reassuring to confirm that our financial operations parallel best practices and ensures transparency. Federation is continually acknowledged by the nonprofit industry's key evaluators for being a trusted and transparent organization as well as fiscally sound.
On Wednesday, Federation's Senior Vice President of Financial Resource Development, Wendy Berger, and I attended a
Meet the Funders
program coordinated by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Brandywine Chapter. Federation is a proud member of AFP where I also serve as an Officer on their Board of Directors.
Also on Wednesday morning, Albert Einstein Academy hosted its Model Seder in the Siegel JCC auditorium for students and families. It was nice seeing students, parents and grandparents learning and celebrating together.
Passover celebrates the Jewish People’s long sought emergence from slavery into a new era of freedom and liberty.
Wishing you a
Chag Sameach
as we celebrate as a global Jewish people, whether in Delaware and the Brandywine Valley, in Israel or around the world. Together, we help create a more united and caring Jewish people.
We Grow Stronger TOGETHER.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Pesach Sameach
,
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Seth J. Katzen
Chief Executive Officer
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Renewing Tradition—A Passover Message
Why is it that more Jews attend a Passover seder than any other Jewish ritual or service?
Maybe it’s because it is celebrated at home, around a table with family and friends.
Maybe it’s because questions play a central role in the seder, and everyone can ask questions.
Or maybe it’s the fact that in order to fulfill this mitzvah, each person must experience the seder so that they feel personally redeemed from Mitzrayim. Even though the seder, which means “order,” has a prescribed series of stages, we still bring ourselves to the table with whatever is going on in our lives at the moment. This mitzvah of self-realization is central, and so we are central. Mitzrayim is the name for Egypt, and its root is tzar, which means “narrow.” Each year, we are enjoined to discover how to break the confines of our own narrowness, to ask questions, and to discover ourselves in the continuing narrative of our people.
This way, we preserve and advance something venerable and sacred, making it new and resonant to each person, of every age.
Likewise, at our Federation communal table, we are placing ourselves and our history in the midst of a strategic and orderly process, seeking to make our work resonate better for our communities and our people, thereby strengthening our ability to thrive into the future. Through hundreds of surveys, interviews and discussions over the past few months, we asked key questions of our Federations, and we listened intently to the answers, comments, and additional questions presented to us. This is a crucial step in our ability to meet the needs of a contemporary Jewish community.
Our Federations both want and need a strong national system that is more responsive to today’s needs and trends, while remaining resolute in our timeless mission—and delivering on that mission. Each step we take towards creating that resonance only strengthens our sacred bonds of peoplehood—so desperately needed in today’s world. There is no other entity that matches the reach of our Federation system, caring for, educating, rescuing and absorbing millions of our fellow Jews of all ages and in all places on earth. A system with that kind of history and network remains crucial and relevant as it adjusts to the times in which we live.
We have already begun work on the three key areas mandated by the field: an ambitious signature initiative to engage the next generations of Jews; the collection, analysis, and sharing of Federation performance data with dashboards; and a re-orientation of services and supports with a special focus on talent. Overarching these areas is continued growth of our Israel and overseas work and deepening of our engagement with our community lay and professional leadership.
We would like to add our profound gratitude to all the professionals and volunteers who have helped us in this important task, which sets us on a path that will positively impact our ability to fulfill our mission for many years to come.
Our immersion in this process confirms the value of asking questions—just like our seder. This is not a one-time phenomenon; by asking questions again and again, we grow wiser ... and stronger.
Our tradition—whether at the seder table or in our Federations—recognizes the importance of the individual connection to the task at hand. It can’t lead us to better things if we can’t relate to it, if it leaves us uninspired or feeling left out. Rather, the brilliance of our sages in forcing us to face our times through the prism of our heritage enhances our ability to engage—personally—in our people’s journey.
At this sacred time of Passover, we wish you the joy and warmth of gathering with loved ones and retelling the Master Story of our people, a story that especially inspires and endures when we add new voices each year.
Chag Pesach Sameach!
Mark Wilf, Chair, Board of Trustees
Jerry Silverman, President & CEO
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Delaware Jewish Community Capital & Endowment Campaign Survey
We encourage all community members to participate in the Delaware Jewish Community Capital & Endowment Campaign Feasibility Study survey. This work is guided by a special Task Force comprised of dedicated volunteer leadership and professional staff who are interested in your opinions in addressing Jewish community funding priorities.
Your comments will be kept strictly confidential.
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ISRAELI SCIENTISTS UNVEIL WORLD'S FIRST 3D-PRINTED HEART WITH HUMAN TISSUE
Delphine Matthieussent
(JACK GUEZ / AFP)
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PREPARING FOR 2020: ON THE POLITICS & POLITICAL LIVES OF AMERICAN JEWRY
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THE FALSE NAKBA NARRATIVE
Col (Res.) Dr. Raphael G. Bouchnik-Chen
Photo via Wikipedia
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THE BDS MOVEMENT IS A CLEVERLY DISGUISED CAMPAIGN TO DESTROY ISRAEL
Alex Titus & Alexander Khan
Mohamad Torokman/Reuters
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More News from Around the World
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1
UNIVERSITIES ARE FAILING TO PROTECT JEWISH STUDENTS
Carly Pildis
2
IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS' TERRORIST DESIGNATION MEANT TO MAKE IT RADIOACTIVE
Yonah Jeremy Bob
3
SOMALI DIPLOMAT FIRED FOR PRO ISRAEL VIEWS
Raphael Ahren
4
THE DANGEROUS DREGS OF ISIS
Robin Wright
5
WEST BANK CROSSING UPGRADE SPEEDS PASSAGE FOR PALESTINIAN WORKERS
Mayan Jaffe-Hoffman
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Upcoming Federation Events
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PJ Our Way Sharing Is Caring
APRIL 10TH THRU MAY 9TH
Donation Bins Located At:
Siegel JCC Lobby | Temple Beth El | Congregation Beth Emeth |
Congregation Beth Shalom
Please help PJ Our Way collect
food donations
needed for their next program: filling meal kits for families staying at the
Ronald McDonald House
.
Items to collect include:
nut free individually wrapped snack/granola bars, individual fruit cups, individual bags of chips & cookies, juice boxes, cup of soups, mac n cheese cups, microwave rice cups, shelf stable lunch items, etc. We will be packing the meal kits on May 19th at 1:15 PM. For more information contact
Jamye@shalomdel.org
or call (302) 427-2100.
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CONNECT Chocolate Seder
APRIL 24TH AT 6 PM
Park Plaza Condominiums in Wilmington, DE
Join CONNECT for a sweet spin on Passover with chocolate, wine and friends. Cost is $8/person if you register online before the event and $10/person at the door. All food and wine will be Kosher for Passover. Register online at
ShalomDelaware.org/chocolateseder
or pay at the door the evening of the event. For more information contact,
Daniella@ShalomDel.org
or call (302)427-2100.
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YOM HA'ZIKARON COMMEMORATION
MAY 2ND AT 6:30 PM
Siegel JCC Auditorium
Memorial Program will be led by Delaware Community Members. Israel's Memorial Day for Soldiers and Victims of Terror. This event is FREE and OPEN to the community. Join CONNECT for a sweet spin on Passover with chocolate, wine and friends.
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Yom Ha'Shoah Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony
MAY 2ND AT NOON
Freedom Plaza - Wilmington, DE
Meet at the Holocaust Memorial Sculpture, located between the Carvel State Office Building and the City/County Building (9th & French Streets). Free and open to the public. Contact
Gina@ShalomDel.org
or call (302)427-2100 for more information.
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Yom Ha'Shoah Program
MAY 2ND AT 7 PM
Trabant Theater - 17 W Main St, Newark, DE 19716
Lecture followed by reception in remembrance of the Holocaust. Free and open to the public. Theater is wheelchair accessible.
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Shalom Baby Shower
MAY 5TH 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Siegel JCC Early Childhood Center
Meet other families and learn useful tips and skills like baby yoga, Zumbini and car seat safety from experts in our community as well as information from synagogues state-wide. RSVP by May 1st at
ShalomDelaware.org/BabyShower
to reserve your Shalom Baby Bag filled with swag from our participating vendors! You must be present at the event to receive the bag.
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Community
Shlichim
Wedding
MAY 5TH AT 3 PM
Congregation Beth Shalom
The entire community is gathering to celebrate the joyous union of Noam Gliksman (Israel Fellow for UD Hillel) and Daniella Buchshtaber (JFD Community Shlicha) under the
chuppa
followed by a reception. All are welcomed. Register online at
ShalomDelaware.org/wedding
and make sure to wish Noam and Daniella
Mazel Tov
!
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Yom Ha'Atzmaut
MAY 8TH AT 7 PM
Siegel JCC
Celebrate Israel's 71st birthday! Join us for Israeli food, music and fun. We will also have a special screening of "West Bank Story." This event is FREE and OPEN to the entire community, but registration is required so that we can prepare the right amount of food for everyone! For more information contact,
Daniella@shalomdel.org
.
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Women of Wisdom (WOW) Event
MAY 15TH AT 11:30 AM
Siegel JCC Auditorium
Featuring Speaker: Janice Kaplan (New York Times bestselling author, TV producer, magazine editor) She will sign copies of her book at the event. Cost: $60 if you register by April 29th, $75 after. Includes luncheon and a copy of The Gratitude Diaries. All dietary laws observed. This event is open to all women making a household gift of $250 or more for 2019 Annual Campaign, payable 12/31/2019. Event Co-Chairs: Sue Komins, Elisa Komins Morris and Debbie Komins Ross.
SPONSORED BY
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Barbara Blumberg & Lisa Dadone-Weiner | Hedy Mintz
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Upcoming Community
Events and Programs
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JFS Memory Cafe
MAY 1ST & 15TH 1:30-3:00 PM
Congregation Beth Emeth
A social gathering for people experiencing memory changes and their caregivers. Open to ALL; every 1
st
and 3
rd
Wednesday. To RSVP, contact Karen Commeret at 302-478-9411 or
kcommeret@jfsdelaware.org
.
For more information
Click Here.
Interested in volunteering? Contact Joyce Griffith at 302-478-9411 or
jgriffith@jfsdelaware.org
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Challah shabbat
MAY 3RD 4:45-6:00 PM
Siegel JCC
Join us as we break Passover at the J, with a Community Challah Shabbat featuring Breakfast for Dinner! This dinner is open to all regardless of religion. In partnership with Congregation Beth Shalom. Cost is free but space is limited so registration is a must! You can register online
here
. For more information contact Beth Ann Short at
bethannshort@siegeljcc.org
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Hadassah Presents: Celebrating One of Our Own - Ruth Bader Ginsburg
MAY 5TH AT 10 AM
Siegel JCC
Learn about RBG’s impact on human rights, gender equality and social justice. How does Judaism inform her attitude toward the law? Speakers will be Justice Randy J. Holland, retired Delaware Supreme Court Justice; Ellen Meyer, retired Attorney; Gina Schoenberg, Deputy Attorney General at DE Dept. of Justice; and Judge Aida Waserstein, retired Delaware Family Court Judge.
Light Breakfast included. $18 in advance, $25 at the door. Become a sponsor for $36. RSVP by April 24 with check payable to Hadassah mailed to Arlene Eckell, 43 Cornwall Drive, Newark, DE 19711. Registration form available
here
. Questions? Email Sylvia Wagman at
srwag8@comcast.net
.
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Today, Tomorrow, and TOGETHER
Federation Strengthens Community
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TODAY...
The Annual Campaign
- Addresses the most pressing needs
- Feeds the hungry
- Helps the unemployed
- Supports families with special needs
- Funds Jewish education
Wendy Berger
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TOMORROW...
Create A Jewish Legacy
- A legacy allows individuals and families to support the Jewish causes they care so deeply about.
- An endowment ensures that tomorrow's needs will be met through perpetual funding.
To learn more about
Creating A Jewish Legacy.
Shari Dym
CJL Program Manager
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Check out this month's issue of
J-VOICE Monthly!
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The Jewish Community Guide to life in Delaware and the Brandywine Valley.
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Federation is the trusted steward of your philanthropy.
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Federation is the wise stewards of your philanthropy
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The leading provider of user reviews about nonprofits. Federation has been honored with their Top-Rated Award every year since 2012.
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The nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. Federation is one of only eleven Delaware charities to receive their highest Four-Star Rating.
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The leading source of nonprofit information. Federation is a Platinum Participant, the highest level of recognition offered due to our commitment to transparency.
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