TRENDING IN OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY

June 16, 2023

Shabbat Shalom CT!

More good news this week! As many of you know, Merkaz Community High School for Judaic Studies has been growing. And we have grown with it!

Below is some exciting news about our newest team-member, Lisa Becker, Director of Youth Programs.

With a strong background in education and a passion for empowering young minds, Lisa is set to revolutionize the way we engage and inspire the next generation of Jewish leaders.

From curriculum design to mentorship programs, this visionary leader will work tirelessly to ensure that our Jewish youth receive the support and opportunities they need to thrive.

We are excited to see Lisa's fresh perspective and expertise that will bring about positive change and empower our youth to become confident, resilient, and compassionate individuals.

Am Yisrael Chai. I wish you a safe and peaceful Shabbos.

Carin Savel, CEO

carin@shalomct.org

Federation Welcomes Lisa Becker as New Director of Youth Programs

The Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County is delighted to welcome Lisa Becker to the Federation family.

Lisa will hold the new title of Director of Youth Programs. In her role, she will serve as Head of Merkaz Community High School for Judaic Studies, and will also provide leadership for PJ Library and Federation Young Families programs.

“We are thrilled to have Lisa at the helm of Merkaz," said Federation CEO Carin Savel. "She is a thought-leader and strategic planner who brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for Jewish education.”

Lisa is deeply connected and committed to the Jewish community and has broad experience teaching at local Jewish institutions, such as introducing and teaching child-development classes at Temple Israel in Westport for babies and toddlers along with their parents in a developmentally appropriate setting for play and learning, all with an emphasis on Judaism.

Lisa has been a valued faculty member for over 12 years at Merkaz, where she has taught classes including The Palestinian and Israeli Conflict, Fiddler on the Roof Then and Now, the Mitzvah Madness Program facilitating teens to participate in community service/Tikkun Olam during the pandemic, and the ever-popular Cooking Class.

Lisa has spent the past four years at Mozaic Senior Life (formerly Jewish Senior Services) as the current Development Associate and prior to that, as the Development Assistant.

She offers a unique perspective on Jewish life, from having an observant background before returning to her Conservative roots at Congregation B’nai Torah in Trumbull, now Or Hadash. Her children have attended various Jewish and non-Jewish schools, including Hillel Academy and the Jewish High School of Connecticut; her youngest currently attends Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy in Stamford.

Lisa would like to continue to build relationships between Mozaic Jewish Home Residents and Merkaz students with inter-generational classes, events, and programs to expand and bring together our communities, bringing to life the true meaning of chesed and l’dor v’dor - from generation to generation.

Lisa has served on the Camp Kesem Parent Advisory Board and led the children’s division for Federation’s Super Sunday fundraiser. She is committed to fighting food insecurity in the local catchment area through her involvement with the Connecticut Food Bank, and has been a public advocate and speaker raising awareness about Male and Metastatic Breast Cancer. Currently, she is the Chair of Adult Education on the Board of Or Hadash in Fairfield and is a member of the Federation’s Israel and Overseas Allocations sub-committee.

Now a resident of Trumbull, Lisa lived with her late husband and their six children in the Brooklawn section of Bridgeport for nearly 30 years. She grew up in Westport and was raised at Congregation Beth El in Norwalk under Rabbi Jonas Goldberg (of blessed memory). She attended Southern New Hampshire University, and multiple programs at Bank Street College of Education in New York.

Lisa will join the Federation team on August 1st. She looks forward to bringing her unique range of experience to further enhance and broaden programs at Merkaz and Federation. Please welcome her at lisa@shalomct.org.

A True Story of Nazi Escape, Superman, and Marilyn Monroe

Tuesday, June 20 @ 7 PM

The Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport

Bonnie Siegler and Helene Stapinski, co-authors of The American Way: A True Story of Nazi Escape, Superman, and Marilyn Monroe, will discuss investigating the book and crafting this family tale with Emmy Award-winning journalist David Pogue.

According to Bonnie's family, her grandfather filmed Marilyn Monroe's legendary white dress flying up over a breezy subway grate with his home camera, but Bonnie didn't believe it until she found the reel many years later, a discovery which led to this book.

The American Way is a colorful, vivacious story of two very different men, both striving to make their way in New York — their lives intersecting with a glittering array of luminaries, from Billy Wilder and Joe DiMaggio to Superman creators Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel.

The book tells a kaleidoscopic tale of hope and reinvention, of daring escapes and fake identities, of big dreams and the magic of movies, and what it means to be a real-life Superman

In partnership with the Jewish Federation and the Westport Library

INFO & REGISTRATION

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Are you interested in helping to preserve the stories of Holocaust survivors?

We need general office help with creating databases, reading important materials, archiving documents, exhibit assistance, filing and fielding calls.

You can help protect the legacies of our survivors and their descendants.

ADD YOUR NAME TO VOLUNTEER

Kesher: The Center for Jewish Life is the dynamic learning program for grades

K-12 at Temple Israel of Westport. We are looking to hire a creative, passionate and engaging part-time Kesher educator for various grades, K-7. Classes meet at the times listed. We offer a competitive salary and an enjoyable work environment.

Sundays, 9:00a-12:30p (two different 1.75-hour sessions)
Monday, 4:15-6p
Tuesdays, 4:15-6p

Temple Israel is a thriving Reform Jewish community located in Westport. Our learning program, Kesher: The Center for Jewish Life enables the exploration of everyone’s evolving Jewish self, grounded in connection, community, holiness, and love. Truly, our families come to Temple Israel to find connection and community, as well as meaning in their Jewish learning. Learn more about Kesher and Temple Israel at tiwestport.org.

Requirements

Prior experience working with children between K-7th grade.
Working knowledge and interest in Judaism and Jewish life.
Ability to teach lessons based on the subject areas as communicated by the Associate Rabbi.
Excellent communication skills; verbally, written and interpersonally.
Good time management and organizational skills.
Likes to be creative and have fun!

INFO: Rabbi Elana Nemitoff-Bresler – enemitoffbresler@tiwestport.org

In Real Times – Arthur Szyk:

Artist and Soldier for Human Rights

September 29 – December 16, 2023

The Jewish Federation is honored to partner with Fairfield University to bring you this extraordinary event.

Coordinated at Fairfield University by Philip Eliasoph, PhD, the exhibition will feature more than 60 original works by the acclaimed artist, including political cartoons, illustrations of critical texts of the Jewish tradition, and stamps and seals that honor the power and importance of democratic ideals.

Click here for the full program.