News from AJFCA for December 17, 2010

The Hand Up Youth Food Pantry at Jewish Family Service of San Diego is in a race and all of you can help. This innovative program, winner of AJFCA's 2009 Goodman Award, is one of 1,142 organizations competing for a share of $1.3 million from the Pepsi Refresh Project. The project plans to award $20 million throughout the year to help communities, and Hand Up is participating in the company's $250,000 grant bracket.

With those funds, organizers said, they would be able to purchase a refrigerated truck to distribute 3,000 pounds of fresh produce weekly, serve 1,000 military families at monthly distributions, provide food to the homeless and low-income, and train 30 teens in its leadership development program.

"With just a little effort every day we can make a tremendous impact in the lives of those who wonder where their next meal will come from," said Shelly Hahne, a food pantry supervisor. "Many of these people have never needed this kind of help before and are turning to us."

Now, the organization is turning to the community, asking residents and anyone else who would like to help (that means all of us) to set aside 30 seconds every day this month to cast their vote.

To participate, text 104167 to 73774; log onto

www.refresheverything.com/handupyouthfoodpantry

or install the Pepsi Refresh Voting App on Facebook.

Jewish Family Service's program focuses on helping families - regardless of their religious beliefs - to get back on their feet. In the last year, it has provided more than 7,000 people - military and civilian - with 125,121 meals. So take a few seconds a day for the next couple of weeks and back a winner.

D'Var Torah

D'var Torah

Lee I. Sherman

President & CEO

Whenever I finish reading a good novel, the characters always stay with me for a few days or sometimes longer. After all, we have just spent a considerable amount of time together and they have allowed me to get to know them and, in many cases, to be permitted entry into their most intimate and inner thoughts. This time spent with character types I might never otherwise have an opportunity to experience is one of the major reasons I remain an avid reader of fiction.

With the reading of this week's parashah, Va-yehi, the Book of Bereshit comes to a close. It is a fascinating story of individuals and families, many of whom we have gotten to know quite well. This week's reading includes the deaths of two of the most detailed of the "characters" in Torah, Jacob and Joseph. We have been spending time with them over many weeks as we read about their triumphs and challenges, and the delicate and often troubling relationships they had with others, particularly family members, and the internal struggles they had with themselves. Although these individuals lived thousands of years ago, there is still much we can relate to today.

Although there is a touch of sadness when we finish a book and leave those characters behind, there is also satisfaction in remembering the lessons we have learned from them. The individual and family work done by our patriarchs and matriarchs in Bereshit will lead to the nation of Israel as it forms in the remainder of Torah. For each of us, as we remember those who are no longer with us, we also can take comfort in the lessons they have given us which will strengthen our lives and give us the foundation to grow and thrive.

Shabbat Shalom.

2011 AJFCA Annual Conference

by Ann Zeller

Director, Meetings and Conferences

Visit the Canadian Rockies: Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival

The Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival is the largest and most exciting wine and food event in Alberta, Canada. The Festival offers a chance to sample unique wines, high quality ports, fine single-malt scotch, imported beer and premium spirits, along with gourmet food samples from local restaurants.

Location: Banff National Park

Dates: May 13-14, 2011

Visit Website: http://www.banfflakelouise.com/events-and-festivals/festivals/wine-food-festival

Contact: 1-403-228-0777

E-mail: Specialevents@banfflakelouise.com

To be notified when tickets go on sale, email: liz@rockymountainwine.com and write in the subject box: Please send me information on the 2011 Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival in Banff.

2010 AJFCA Friends' Fund Campaign

by James R. Kahn, AJFCA Vice Chair

2010 Friends' Fund Campaign

Please Support AJFCA in a Meaningful Way

Please become a Friend of AJFCA.

We are sure that you appreciate reading our weekly newsletter and all AJFCA does for its member agencies, their lay leaders and professionals.

Please show your support with a financial contribution to our 2010 Friends' Fund Campaign. Your donation, whether large or small, will be meaningful.

Many of our donors choose to honor or commemorate a loved one.

To donate online or for information on how to submit by mail, click on the link in the left column of this Newsletter that reads: JOIN THE FRIENDS' FUND CAMPAIGN & HELP SUPPORT THE WORK OF AJFCA.

A contribution to AJFCA is fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Thank you in advance for your support.