On Wednesday evening, the
Jewish Historical Society of Delaware held its Annual Meeting & Book Launch in the Siegel JCC Auditorium. It was a special evening celebrating the Yiddish poetry of Rabbi Simon Krinsky with modern English translation by Rabbi Edward Zerin.
Yasher koach to JHSD President Dan Kristol, Rabbi Peter Grumbacher and Ruth Fisher Goodman for their participation in the memorable evening.
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Photo Credit: Brad Glazier
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Yesterday morning I attended the
Jewish Community Cemetery Association (JCCA) groundbreaking ceremony for a new building
as part of the JCCA's continuing efforts to beautify and modernize the cemetery grounds as a fitting final resting place for our deceased community members. The new eco-friendly building will house a small chapel available for graveside services during inclement weather. In addition, the facility will be available for community High Holiday memorial services, and provide administrative offices, a conference room, and storage space for equipment. The building is dedicated
to Alan Schoenberg for his many years of dedication to our community.
Our
Leadership Council, consisting of Federation Board of Directors, presidents of our area synagogues, beneficiary agency leadership, and other local Jewish organizations, met last night to review and approve
Nominating Committee recommendations for the 2014-2015 Officers, Board of Directors and At-Large Members of the Leadership Council. Highlights of the Pew Research Center's,
A Portrait of Jewish Americans, was also presented by Laurence Kotler-Berkowitz,
Senior Director, Research and Analysis at the Jewish Federations of North America.
This Sunday morning, our
Emerging Leadership Project (ELP) will be meeting with Ann Jaffe who will share her personal story and experiences surviving the Holocaust. Participants will also learn about The Halina Wind Preston Holocaust Education Committee and the important work it does in educating the community. Later that morning a special program for high school juniors and seniors entitled,
Stand Up For Israel, will provide information about supporting Israel on the college campus.
Based on the enthusiasm and popularity of our Noa Baum event this past December, Federation and Conversations For Peace is co-sponsoring a special screening of the film,
Two Sided Story, on Sunday at 4:00pm as part of the
WilmFilm Festival. Thanks to the ongoing efforts of Toni Young and Mike Abel, we are bringing this film to Delaware to help educate our community on the Israeli/Palestinian dual narratives. Michael Sigman will also be leading a post-screening discussion immediately following the film. You can purchase tickets online by clicking
here.
Our community
Yom HaShoah program is being held on Monday at noon in the Carvel State Office Building in downtown Wilmington. Special thanks to the Halina Wind Preston Holocaust Education Committee, under the leadership of Regina Kerr Alonzo and Steve Gonzer, and Delaware Rabbis and Cantors (DERECH) for sponsoring this interfaith public commemoration.
The insight that needs to be powerfully grasped when we reflect upon the Holocaust's message must be that, "The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference." - Elie Wiesel
Shabbat Shalom,
