A few weeks ago, my husband and I went on a fabulous transatlantic cruise. From prior experience, I knew that we would meet people from other countries, speaking different languages.  What I did not know, was that there would be 150 deaf passengers from the USA and 15 from Canada.

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Lee I. Sherman

President/CEO

I don't always sleep so well. That is hardly news to all of my fellow boomers, as we confront increasing physical aging and the aches, pains, and limits that accompany that process. But, I think that the main reason I don't always sleep like a baby (I thought they get up every few hours - maybe I do sleep like a baby!), is due to the activities of my waking hours. Sometimes, I just can't seem to put aside the conversations and events of the previous few days, and the anticipation of what the immediate and distant future may hold.

In this week's parashah, Va-Yishlah, we read the ultimate example of the sleepless night. Jacob spends the entire night "wrestling" with a mysterious "man." Is this adversary truly a "man," or an angel, or, perhaps, Jacob's own conscience? What we do know is that Jacob is apprehensive about meeting his brother Esau the next day for the first time since he left his father's home. Jacob has prepared in every way he knows how, but is it enough? So, in his anxious condition, Jacob engages in the night long wrestling match, concluding as dawn breaks with an injured hip and a new name, Israel.

With all of Jacob's nocturnal struggles, the reconciliation with Esau goes far better than he ever anticipated. The brother's embrace and Jacob goes on to fulfill his role as patriarch of the nation of Israel, albeit with a few more bumps and struggles along the way. For us, we see that the internal struggles that may cause us a few sleepless nights were shared by our Biblical ancestors and like them, we can find success in the reality of the days to follow.

Have a restful and peaceful Shabbat.

NCOA Webinar Series
In continuation of our partnership with the National Council on Aging (NCOA), the second in a series of three webinars was presented to AJFCA member agencies this week. On the webinar entitled "Making Wise Decisions with Home Equity: New Tools for a New Retirement Reality", Barbara Stucki, Ph.D., Vice President, Home Equity Initiative, NCOA, discussed the new reality that even those seniors who own a home can become vulnerable. Dr. Stucki shared research on the changing motivation in securing reverse mortgages and the varying models for tapping into the equity in a home. NCOA has created a website to help navigate the various situations facing vulnerable seniors, presenting a list of viable solutions for each.
 
To listen to a recording of either webinar or view the PowerPoint slides, please visit the For Our Members portion of the AJFCA website and then click on Webinars.

We would like to invite AJFCA member agency board presidents/presidents-elect to participate in a group conference call.  This is the second in a series of conference calls for this group, to continue and build upon the networking and information sharing that began at our Annual Conference in Houston this May.  

Bruce Beyer, AJFCA Board Member, will facilitate a discussion on "Cultivating Members for Your Board," touching on topics such as the criteria used in seeking new members for your board, and how the board's basic responsibilities influence the way in which you seek new members.  

Please email Lisa if you would like to participate. A reminder with call-in information will be sent to all who RSVP closer to the call date.

Cultivating Members for Your Board
Thursday, December 13th, 1:00pm ET

AJFCA's domestic violence professionals webinar featured Deborah Rosenbloom, Director of Programs and Miri Cypers, Senior Policy and Advocacy Specialist  from JWI. Deborah and Miri informed our members about opportunities for staff development and community partnerships. JWI gave a snapshot of their domestic violence prevention programs and offered updates on advocacy on the VAWA. AJFCA advocates for the reauthorization of VAWA and will be joining JWI on December 6th on Capitol Hill. To learn more about our advocacy efforts, please contact Shelley Rood. If you are interested in signing up for the domestic violence professionals forum, or would like view the webinar slides, please email Megan Manelli. 

AJFCA member agencies are continuing to provide needed services in communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy. In support, JFNA's Emergency Committee, of which Lee Sherman is a member, has allocated over $610,000. Jewish federations around the country have raised close to $5 million, including over $3.3 million by UJA-Federation of New York. Continue reading updates from Jewish Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (JVOAD) here.

2013 Government Affairs Institute & AJFCA Advocacy Mission

Registration for the 2013 Government Affairs Institute and AJFCA Advocacy Mission (GAI) is now open. The GAI is our premier gathering of professionals and lay leaders who are interested in public policy. The GAI brings together professionals and volunteers from Jewish family and children's service agencies and Federations to advocate on policies that impact the vulnerable populations that you serve. Learn more here.

2013 Government Affairs Institute & AJFCA Advocacy Mission
Tuesday, February 5th - Thursday, February 7th - REGISTER HERE

Nonprofit insurer Kaiser Permanente and Jewish hunger charity Mazon are launching an effort to stock food pantries with fresher, healthier fare, the Los Angeles Times wrote. The Healthy Options, Healthy Meals program, announced Monday, will involve 12 food banks in six states and the District of Columbia.

Many senior-executive teams have been called upon to get involved in technology issues. Boards are also beginning to take a strategic view of how technology trends are shaping their companies' future. More boards than ever before are asking questions that ensure executives focus on the right issues. Continue reading here.

Nonprofits and the Economy, Infographic Style, November 1, 2012, Nonprofit Quarterly, by Aine Creedon   

The Rebecca Gordon Group has compiled information from Forbes, the Giving USA report (which NPQ covered in detail), the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Atlas of Giving and Johns Hopkins University to create an intriguing visual guide to the complex ways nonprofits influence the economy. The infographic, titled "Nonprofits' Impact on the Economy," can be seen here. 

Stephen Donshik has taught and worked for the Jewish community for more than 40 years. All of his experiences have been part of a quest to understand what it means to be a professional in the Jewish community and what it means to supervise and train others to fill professional roles in Jewish communal organizations. Continue reading here. 

In an economy where some people are having a hard time getting hired, there are people who are walking away from or in the process of getting ready to walk away from good paying jobs. There are, it seems, people in positions of power who are systematically demotivating and ultimately driving away successful, productive employees. Here are five easy steps to drive productive effective employees out the door.