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D'Var Torah
Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO
Our human services agencies have a wide array of programs designed to make our clients lives better. It is a noble mission, most often performed with passion and dignity. But, despite our commitment to perfecting the world, tikkun olam, it is not easy. We want to treat our clients with the respect that all humans deserve, and most often we do, but it is a challenge at times.
In the early chapters of Torah, and in many that will follow, people do not always treat their fellow community members with dignity and respect. Thus, the onset of the Flood, the destruction of Sodom, and the Tower of Babel. In this week's parashah, Hayyei Sarah, an example of pure kindness, of gemilut hasadim, is introduced with Rebekkah. After the death of Sarah, Abraham sends out his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant asks God for guidance in finding a woman who will demonstrate her virtues by providing sustenance for him and his entourage (mostly camels). He sees the "very beautiful" Rebekkah at the well and approaches her. She offers him water to drink and then without a further request, draws water for the camels and makes the necessary trips from the well so that all of the animals get their fill. She then invites the servant to her home to stay the night and take a break from his journey. Rebekkah acts out of pure kindness and humility.
Although Rebekkah was undoubtedly a beautiful woman, what made her such an ideal wife for Isaac and a matriarch for the Jewish people were her inner values as evidenced by her outward actions. Without hesitation and in a totally selfless manner, Rebekkah treated the stranger with dignity and respect as a fellow human. And she extended the courtesy to his animals because they too are God's creatures. In her actions, Rebekkah set an example for all of us, in the way we treat our clients and in our personal relationships, to willingly serve in a manner that recognizes that each person is made "b'zellim Elohim," in the image of God. May we all strive to emulate Rebekkah to fulfill our mission.
Shabbat Shalom
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Jewish Social Service Agency Provides Ongoing Superior Hospice Care
November is National Hospice Awareness Month. Jewish Social Service Agency, located in Rockville, MD, is one of the few Jewish organizations that manage their own hospice. For nearly 30 years, JSSA's hospice has offered a wide range of quality medical and support services, from symptom and pain management to emotional and spiritual guidance for patients and their families. JSSA's Hospice is where the community turns for exceptional end-of-life care that supports dignity and comfort for individuals and provides peace of mind to families and hono rs cultural traditions and customs.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington featured JSSA's Hospice in their November 4th newsletter, which included this excerpt from a letter sent to JSSA from a patient's loved one. "I am writing to thank you for the superb care and support that you and the entire JSSA team provided to [my loved one], the family and me throughout the hospice experience. Your responsiveness, resourcefulness and attention to detail were remarkable. Most important, however, was your focus on [the patient] as a whole person and the depth of authentic caring you gave to us all. I know it made a tremendous difference to [our loved one] on the final leg of the journey in life. I truly cannot thank you enough." |
HR Book for Non-HR People (including EDs, Supervisors, Boards)
HR Book for Non-HR People incl EDs, Supervisors, Boards, Blue Avocado, October 31, 2011, By Jan Masaoka While there are many books written on HR, almost none focuses on nonprofits or addresses the unique issues and cultures in community nonprofits (for instance, the fact that in most organizations the budget does not allow for a full-time, credentialed HR director). 
Jan Masaoka's (Director and Editor-in-Chief of Blue Avocado) newest book, The Nonprofit's Guide to Human Resources: Managing Your Employees & Volunteers, could have been titled "Everything You Need to Know About HR in Nonprofits." It's truly focused on HR from a nonprofit perspective, and it's written for everybody but the full-time HR professional. To read more click here. This article is reprinted with permission from Blue Avocado, a practical and readable online magazine for nonprofits. Subscribe free by contacting the Blue Avocado editor or visiting www.blueavocado.org. |
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A Few Good Tools for eAdvocacy
A Few Good Tools for eAdvocacy, November 15, 2011, Idealware, By Kyle Henri Andrei
Advocacy organizations often encourage their grassroots supporters to influence politicians and corporations using different methods, from promoting a cause or opposing legislation to challenging ad campaigns or policies. A large display of public opinion can have a powerful message, and advocacy groups often help to focus and channel this support to make the most impact.
This was traditionally done with mail. The sheer bulk of hundreds or thousands of letters was a strong visual stand-in for the people behind the cause. Today the tactic hasn't changed, but the message is more likely to be delivered by email, telephone or social media, and the physical presence of the message replaced by the easy, constant barrage of communications.
Idealware takes a look at the tools available to help advocacy groups direct grassroots communications to a target.
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When Tweeting Depletes: How Social Media Can Disconnect Us
When Tweeting Depletes: How Social Media Can Disconnect Us, eJewish Philanthropy, November 11, 2011 by Ami Hersh and Leor Shtull Leber
As people who barely remember a time before the Internet and who use Facebook (too) often to stay in touch with friends from around the world, we are not ignorant of the power of social media and technology in connecting people and ideas. However, we question the direction we are taking when we rely too heavily on technology and we fear the authenticity of our relationships when they are based on "@s" and "#s."
Authors Ami Hersh and Leor Shtull Leber admit they are guilty too. "Once we were sitting around a table with friends, each of us on our own laptop. Somebody walked in and asked if he could join and do homework with us, and we awkwardly apologized that we were actually in a meeting - it just so happened that our meeting involved us all sitting in a circle in silence working collaboratively on the same Google doc."
Still, they use the word "guilty" because of the value of personal relationships with which they were raised. "We both recently attended the JFNA General Assembly in Denver and were shocked to see the technology culture present and the (over)use of smartpones during sessions. We were encouraged to play with our phones instead of focusing on the speakers. People barely looked up - a great success according to the "Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!" message of the conference. What happened to turning off your phone for a lecture?"
Read more about, "How Social Media Can Disconnect Us."
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What's Best for Your Agency-Nonprofit State Unemployment Taxes
Option A: Pay SUI Taxes, regardless of cost or claims
Benefit: 
- State always pays all claims.
Risk & Challenges:
- For-profit and nonprofit SUI taxes are pooled together.
- Most Jewish family and children's service agencies pay far more in unemployment than they have in claims.
- Reserve accounts with the state stay with the state. Your agency can never withdraw that money.
Learn the benefits, challenges and risks of Option B in next week's e-newsletter. For questions regarding "An Unemployment Trust Program That Saves Jewish Family & Children's Agencies Money," please contact Heidi Posada, 501c Agencies Trust Representative.
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Bridging the Gap
As a sector, we seek to ensure that the people and communities we serve have the opportunities and resources they need to thrive.
Yet, currently, millions of Americans - our clients and constituents - are struggling just to make ends meet. 1 in 6 people in Ame rica face poverty every day. 1 in 4 people in America can't afford to pay for healthy foods. And more than 50 million people are living without health insurance.
As a member of the National Human Services Assembly, AJFCA and our member agencies are invited to join this free webinar.
Bridging the Gap - Connecting Frontline Workers and their Families to Critically Needed Supports in Tough Times
Tuesday, November 22nd, 1-2:30pm EST
REGISTER HERE
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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AJFCA Member Agencies Collaborate at Board Retreat
Charting a Course for Our Future: AJFCS Hosts Board Retreat, November 16, 2011, AJFCS Communications Department, By Margie Yansura
At the recent retreat of the Alpert Jewish Family & Children's Service Board of Directors, leaders from some of the most successful
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Jewish Family & Children's Service agencies in the nation lent their experience and expertise as the local AJFCS Board, located in Palm Beach County, FL, charts the course of the agency for the next three to five years.
Meeting moderator David Saltman, retired CEO of Jewish Community Services of South Florida and professor at FIU, encouraged the assemblage of 75 board members and senior staff to "listen today for what you need to know so that you can go forward to determine how you will make necessary course changes."
The expert panel included Jewish Family Service of Seattle Chief Executive Officer Ken Weinberg, Jewish Family and Career Services of Atlanta Chief Executive Officer Gary Miller, Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit's recently-retired CEO Norman Keane, and Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis CEO Judy Halper.
Saltman explained that, "the challenges faced by our agencies are all different and complex, but we do have shared experience in providing the people we serve with the quality of life they deserve."
Read more about AJFCA's member agencies sharing valuable information with their colleagues at AJFCS's Board Retreat here.
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New Census Figures Highlight Older Adults' Financial Struggles  New poverty figures released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau show a large increase in the number of poor Americans nationwide, specifically older adults. The criteria by which poverty is measured was expanded for this study to include a more accurate reflection of a person's overall economic needs and vulnerability, including out-of-pocket health care costs. Read more about, "New Poverty Rate More Reflective of Economic Realities for Seniors; Tied to Increased Health Care Costs."
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Jewish Family Service of Rochester introduces: "Share Your Jewish Identity with Your Interfaith Grandchildren." The Grandparents Circle is . . .  - A FREE five-session program for Jewish grandparents whose children are intermarried that offers participants skills and techniques to share their Jewish heritages and nurture their interfaith grandchildren's Jewish identities.
- An Online Community that allows grandparents to share their experiences with others. Sign up for the Grandparents Circle Online Community by emailing Marley Weiner at MWeiner@JOI.org.
- Family Fun events surrounding the holidays that grandparents can invite their grandchildren to attend.
To learn more, contact Michele Leve, CSW at 461-2000, ext. 232, or Kimberly Kalish, PhD at 461-0110, ext. 115. |
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