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April 12, 2013 / 2 Iyar 5773
Candle Lighting: 7:18 PM 
NEWS & NOTES
Federation's weekly e-news to keep you informed, inspired and connected to Jewish life in Delaware and the Brandywine Valley.

Message from the CEO...
 
Greetings!,      
  
This past Sunday morning our Emerging Leadership Project met to hear from Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) Chair, John Elzufon, as well as Holocaust Education Committee (HEC) member, Steve Gonzer. We also heard from ELP Co-Chair, Regan Davis, who played a video interview of her grandfather who was a Holocaust survivor. Later that afternoon, 300 members of the community filled the Siegel JCC auditorium for the Rededication of the Garden of the Righteous Gentiles. Special thanks to Regina Alonzo and David Lee Preston for coordinating such a meaningful program.

On Monday, our Yom Hashoah program was held at the Carvel State Office Building auditorium in downtown Wilmington that was attended by Governor Markell, Lt. Governor Denn, Attorney General Biden, Senator Coons, Congressman Carney and Mayor Williams. Having the ongoing support of our elected officials makes Delaware unique in many ways. Attendees heard from Holocaust survivor Susan Bendetz Plitt who told her story in a public forum for the first time. Special thanks to HEC member, Steve Gonzer, JCRC Chair, John Elzufon, and Federation professional Gina Kozicki for their assistance.

On Tuesday, the Peace Drums Project committee met in preparation for their May 5th launch event at the Delaware Art Museum. Thanks to Rabbi Michael Beals for getting the Jewish community involved in this Interfaith effort. Later that evening, I had the pleasure of attending a discussion on Israeli and Palestinian relations with a small group of community members including a local Palestinian. It is important that we, as a community, engage in these conversations to learn and better understand each narrative with the shared vision for peace in the Middle East.

On Wednesday, I met with Idith Schaham, an Israeli who visits Delaware several times per year forging wonderful friendships with members of our community. This past October, Idith hosted several of us in her home in Tel Aviv for dinner. Special thanks to our Israel & Overseas Committee Chair, Robin Karol-Eng, for her ongoing leadership and support in building living bridges with our spiritual homeland.

Last night, Federation's Executive Committee met to provide guidance and counsel on our operations and activities. The role of community leadership is critical to the success and growth of Federation. An excellent article by Steven Windmueller, Ph.D, was posted in eJewishPhilanthropy earlier this week that captured this essence; Federations represent one of the most unique institutions within the North American Jewish landscape. In many ways its evolution and structure reflect the alignment of core Jewish values of tzedakah with the American pubic policy commitment to social welfare. This blending together of the nonprofit framework with historic Jewish principles of communal responsibility has enabled federations to construct this extraordinary service system. Federations are distinctively reflective of their communities, their cultures, histories and traditions. Our ability to rapidly and systematically adjust to both internal and external currents of opportunities and threats will define our continued success.
 
And this Sunday, more than 45 teens in our community will visit the U.S. Holocaust Museum as part of the Jewish Federation of Delaware's Jewish Education Committee. Special thanks to our area congregations and BBYO chapters and especially to Temple Beth El, Robin Jacobs Freschman, and Larry Lehrfeld for serving as trip chaperones.
 
With the strength of a people and the power of community, we are Improving Our World...TOGETHER. 
 
Shabbat Shalom
SJK signature  
Seth J. Katzen
 
Women's Philanthropy presents WOW Spring Luncheon
Featuring June Hersh
Wednesday, April 24th at 11:30 AM
Siegel JCC 


Please join the Jewish Federation of Delaware's Women Philanthropy for our WOW Spring Luncheon with featured speaker, June Hersh, on Wednesday, April 24th at 11:30am in the Siegel JCC Auditorium.

June will share her book, Recipes Remembered: A Celebration of Survival, which explores both the recipes and the stories of Holocaust survivors.

Event Co-Chairs:
Lisa Dadone-Weiner
Jodi Cohen

Cost: $60 per person
This event is open to all women making a minimum $100 tax-deductible gift to the 2013 Annual Campaign.

To register online, click here.

Babysitting is also available.
 
**You can purchase June's cookbooks at the WOW Event on April 24!**

 

 

YOM HA'ATZMAUT COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
Featuring Todd Herzog
Sunday, April 28th
PJ Library Concert at 11:00 AM
Community Concert at 2:00 PM 
Siegel JCC 

Please join the Jewish Federation of Delaware, the Siegel JCC and Delaware Rabbis and Cantors (DERECH) for our Yom Ha'Atzmaut/Israel@65 Community Celebration featuring singer/songwriter, Todd Herzog, on Sunday, April 28th in the Siegel JCC Auditorium.

Todd will be performing a special PJ Library concert at 11:00 am and a second performance for the community at 2:00 pm. Both concerts are free and open to the community.

You will also have an opportunity to purchase Todd's CDs the day of the performance. You can listen to Todd's music through his website.

For more information, please call 302/427-2100 or [email protected].


 

 

8th Annual MITZVAH DAY
Sunday, May19th  9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Siegel JCC and throughout the State 
 

The 8th Annual Mitzvah Day, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Delaware, is set for Sunday, May 19th. Do you want to get involved? Have an idea for a mitzvah project? See a need in our community that we can help address? Know of a service we can perform?

Register online to volunteer: Click here

Share your thoughts and ideas with Roberta Matz, Director of Outreach at [email protected] or 302-427-2100 extension 827.
 

Other Community Events and Programs...
 

 

BBYO Central Region East WOW Convention

Weekend of April 19th-21st

Siegel JCC

 

 

The Wilmington Chapter of BBYO is looking for host families to house teens the weekend of April 19th-21st.

 

Responsibilities of a host family include:

  1. Housing the teen on Friday and Saturday night of the convention
  2. Providing Saturday morning breakfast, Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast
  3. Abiding by BBYO's Zero Tolerance policies:  No house parties after Friday or Saturday night programming, No teen use of tobacco, drugs or alcohol
  4. Transporting teens to and from the JCC
  5. Return to the JCC on Sunday morning. 

If interested, please contact Josh Nachlis at 302-438-0585 or [email protected].  

 

   

AKSE Academy - An Evening of Jewish Learning

Sunday, April 14

6:30 - 9:00 PM

Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth

AKSE

 

 

  The community is invited to participate in an evening of Jewish learning, including two sessions of your choice with refreshments in between. Choose among six classes on a variety of engaging topics, taught by guest instructors Rabbi Steven Saks (Judaism and Sexuality), Faith Brown (Humor-the Secret of Jewish Survival), Richard Plotzker (Synagogue Life Cycles), John Elzufon (Christian Zionism-What It Is and Why It's Real), Dan Tanzer (Expanding Access to Kashrut), and Elliott Echt (Perspectives on Women of the Wall). Fee for the evening is $10 in advance, $12 at the door.  

 

Please contact the AKSE office at 302-762-2705 for more information.

 

Politics and the Delaware Jewish Community
Annual Meeting of the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware
Sunday, April 28th  4:00 - 6:00 PM
Siegel JCC 
 

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