Also Seen at the White House:
Brass Menorah designed by Manfred Anson who fled Nazi Germany in 1939 and lost family members in the Holocaust. This Statue of Liberty Centennial Menorah is in the collection of the National Museum of American Jewish History.
The staff and board of AJFCA hope that your own Hanukkiyah shone brightly this season during the Festival of Lights.
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Agency Highlights
Ruth Rales JFS Marks 1st Anniversary of Jacobson Family Food Pantry
One year after the grand opening of the agency's food pantry in a new 2600 sq. ft. space in Delray Beach, Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service is celebrating the move's success in enabling the agency to do even more to address hunger in the Boca Raton and Delray Beach community.  "We knew that moving the food pantry to a more appropriate space would give JFS additional opportunities to feed more people and store more food, and the relocation has surpassed our expectations," said Danielle N. Hartman, JFS President & CEO. For the full article, click here.
JFS Delaware Expands Village Network
The BRANDYWINE VILLAGE NETWORK (BVN) is Delaware's first and only membership-driven, grassroots, concierge association devoted to vibrant aging in northern New Castle County.
 Village membership is open to any adult age 50 and over who is interested in civic engagement and active living, and who desires to age-in-place in the comfort and security of home. Contact Maggie at 302.478.9411 or at mratnayake@jfs.org for more information.
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New JFCS Senior Center Underway in Southwest FL Construction is underway on Jewish Family & Community Services of Southwest Florida's senior center at 5025 Castello Drive, adjacent to the existing JFCS offices.  Upon completion, the 4,000-square-foot center will provide a full range of activities, services and programs to support all older adults and their caregivers in Collier and southern Lee counties. "Compared with their peers, participants in senior centers have higher levels of health, social interaction and life satisfaction," reports JFCS President and CEO Jaclynn Faffer. Click here for the full article in the Naples Florida Weekly.
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In Memoriam
Saul Kagan, Founder of Claims Conference Passed Away on November 8, 2013 at the age of 91. Mr. Kagan was the architect of Holocaust compensation and restitution.
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to learn more about free calls and webinars. For more information login to For Our Members on the AJFCA website, followed by Webinars. Contact Sandy at 410-843-7487 with questions. Funding For Impact: How to Know When Your Giving is Getting Results
Dec. 10th, 4:30 pm EST
To register click here. This webinar is part of Giving that Gets Results, a Stanford Social Innovation Review -- Bridgespan eight-week series of blogs, videos, and webinars.
 For more information about the full series, click here. New Family Foster Care and Kinship Care Standards Dec. 11th, 1 pm EST To register click here.
Use the search and filter feature. Search by "training type" (i.e. Webinar). Check the box next to this training and click "Register for Selected." You will receive an email confirmation with log in details upon completion of the registration process.
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Stay updated on AJFCA offerings, agency news & current trends . . .
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D'Var Torah Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO
 On Thursday afternoon, AJFCA Board Chair Jim Kahn, Board Member Seth Cohen and I had the honor of attending the White House Hanukkah Celebration, hosted by the President and First Lady in the East Room of The White House. Along with hundreds of other honored guests (Administration Senior Officials, Jewish communal and religious leaders, and celebrities) we ate kosher food, lit the Hanukkiah, and shared the joy of the holiday. It was an awe-inspiring experience, one which I will not soon forget. The event also made me think about how fortunate we are to be a diaspora community in the United States.
In this week's Torah reading, Va-yiggash, we read about the beginning of the first Jewish diaspora community. After revealing his true identity to his brothers and enjoying a tearful reunion, Joseph arranges for his father Jacob, all of his brothers and their households to join him in Egypt. Because Joseph is the second most powerful man in the kingdom, his family is graced with property, provisions, and all they need to thrive, even though the country is enmeshed in a terrible famine. We know that the prominence of these foreign Jews will not last, but at least in this parashah, Jacob and his family enjoy a privileged station in their host country.
The United States is not a modern day Egypt, and Jews are not more privileged than other faiths or nationalities. But, from the policy briefing I attended on Thursday morning to the celebration in the afternoon, it is clear that Jews are fully engaged and accepted, something that is less than common since the time of Joseph. Much to be thankful for.
Have a peaceful Shabbat.
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National Human Services Assembly Releases Report on Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Young Families
 Over 1.4 million youth ages 15-24 are out-of-school and out-of-work and raising dependent children. Too often, their early lack of education and work experience traps their family in the cycle of poverty for generations. The National Human Services Assembly has released a report investigating the best practices for two-generation approaches for combating poverty - the first of its kind! The report reached out to 32 organizations across the nation, including AJFCA and Jewish Family Service San Diego, and the key findings for what makes these programs so effective are broadly applicable to programs across the country. Access the report here. |
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Group Hopes To Re-Frame Human Services Using Neuroscience
Many nonprofits, especially human services, are struggling with reduced funding from government and donors. A solution to the shortfall could involve changing the way that nonprofits explain their  missions. It's a matter of choosing the right words, a process known as framing, and it can affect donors' thinking. The theory of framing suggests that human decision-making can be influenced by subtle changes in presentation, instead of arguments or facts. The theory of framing suggests that human decision-making can be influenced by subtle changes in presentation, instead of arguments or facts. Continue reading here. |
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AGENCY PROGRAMMING/OPERATIONS
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Wexner Field Fellowship Program
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 Investing in Leadership
Most people can identify effective leadership when they see it, interact with it, and work with it. We know how great leaders manage crisis situations or how they inspire greatness in their teams. The great debate on whether leaders are born or made actually doesn't matter at all -- it's not about how you acquired it, it's about how you act on it that defines leadership. Leaders have to continuously learn and adapt, which means redefining your personal style to help nurture talent or improve your bottom line. Continue reading here.
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Jewish Program Completed, Now What?
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Purchasing Point: How to save even more in 2014! 
AJFCA just received this good news about the purchases we made through Purchasing Point, and we are a relatively small organization.
Many of you have probably experienced even greater savings through this AJFCA membership benefit. To find out more about how you can experience even greater savings in 2014, click on this link.
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Ask Our Consultants: The Board Chair's Role as Ex-Officio Member of Board Committees
What is the board chair's role as an ex-officio member of all bo  ard committees? By serving on board committees as an ex-officio member, the board chair can ensure that there are good communication links between board committees and the board and that the work of all board committees is fully integrated into the whole. To lead effectively, the board chair must not only delegate some governance responsibilities to board committees, but also provide each respective board committee chair with the necessary support, encouragement, and guidance to ensure good accountability. Continue reading here. |
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Celebrating the Lay-Staff Relationship
 ship that holds significant meaning. It is the professional friendships we have with our committee and board volunteers, frequently referred to as "my lay leaders." The lay-staff partnership is distinct and the benefits are numerous. Continue reading here. |
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COMMUNICATIONS & DEVELOPMENT
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What Donors Want (And How To Give It To Them)
A new report has been released that sheds more light on the motivation behind a donor's decision-making process. Reinforcing what we have previously learned, this report offers insights on donor preferences on information by type and presentation while offering tips for nonprofits, as well as donors. Continue reading here for the report highlights. |
It's All About the Donor, Not the Nonprofit
Focusing on the donor's needs and interests can be key to receiving a philanthropic gift. This is especially important to keep in mind during November and December when nonprofits often sponsor end-of
 -the-year campaigns. These campaigns are waged to appeal to donors' interest in receiving a tax benefit for contributions made at this time. However, if the cause does not resonate with the donor's interest, then the tax benefit may not be enough of a reason to give to the organization and the efforts to solicit funds will be wasted. The most successful approaches are those that engage donors by way of their priorities and not the agency's priorities. Read more here.
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 Repair the World Accepting Applications for 2014 Fellows
Repair the World is on a quest to find courageous, compassionate go-getters who are eager to commit to a year of service in their community, developing partnerships with local organizations doing great work and rallying local volunteers to do even more.
Repair the World Fellows will focus on a range of issues, including education, poverty, sustainability, hunger, and more. The priority deadline to apply for the Repair the World Fellowship application is January 6, 2014. Click here for more information.
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 We Want You On Our Team!
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