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THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.

Newsletter of Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Winter 2014

The Time is NOW!

THE 2014 CAMPAIGN IS UNDERWAY Tradition is an important part of our lives and tzedakah is woven into the fabric of Jewish life as is helping to maintain our Jewish Community all around the world. The Jewish Federation is your one source solu-tion to build, strengthen, and maintain the Jewish Community.

The Jewish Federation is the umbrella organization of our local Jewish Community bringing together agen-cies, organizations and communities to support and fulfill the needs of the Jewish people. We coordinate services and help support agencies that touch the lives of Jews in Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Coun-ties, in Israel and throughout the world where support is needed, even in the face of natural disasters.

What are we doing specifically?

-Assisting Jews in need in our tri county area

-Combating Global Jewish Poverty

-Caring for New Immigrants

-Responding to Life-Threatening Disasters

-Providing Community Resources and Services

-Assisting Severely Disabled Children, At-Risk Youth, and the Isolated Elderly

-Inspiring Jewish Learning for all ages

-Building Jewish Community Partners including the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Com-munity Center, Jewish Family Service, Raritan Valley Community College Holocaust and Genocide Studies, PJ Library, Jewish Life

-Supporting Cultural Connections

-Helping to maintain Jewish Identity, and Conti-nuity through programs like Birthright, The Israel Action Network, and Rutgers Center for Israel Engagement

The Federation Mourns The Loss of Israel’s Former Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon

“Today, Jewish Federations mourn the loss of a great Israeli leader. Ariel Sharon was a highly regarded mili-tary leader, but he was also a peacemaker. One of the

country’s most daring and celebrated gener-als, he was also a man who was able to take bold steps in the hopes of achieving peace.”-Jewish Federation of North America Board of Trustees Chair Michael Siegal and JFNA Pres-

ident and CEO Jerry Silverman

When you connect with Feder-ation, you put the Jewish values of compassion, generosity and responsibility into action. Every day, we work together to im-prove the lives of people in our community, in Israel and in more than 70 countries world-wide.

For generations, Federation has enabled Jews to fulfill our obli-gation to take care of each oth-er and to ensure our Jewish fu-ture. The Jewish Federation is all of us-the members of our community-working together to repair the world and to keep Jewish life strong and thriving.

2013 Federation

Accomplishments Together we have...

...funded Jewish adult education pro-

gramming through Jewish LIFE.

...helped sustain 185,000 destitute

elderly Jews.

...assisted food banks and shelters,

and fed hungry Jews in Siberia.

...worked legislatively to advocate for

social services for seniors, including

Holocaust survivors.

...sponsored 33 years of Holocaust

and Genocide “Learning through Ex-

perience” programming at Raritan

Valley Community College.

...helped provide young adults the

opportunity to connect with their

Jewish identity through Taglit-

Birthright Israel.

...nurtured the Jewish identity of

young adults throughout the Former

Soviet Union.

...continued our dollar-for-dollar community challenge grant for new and increased gifts, Kehilat Achat.

...worked with local agencies to collect and provide donated food and goods.

...organized our largest community outreach of the year, Super Sunday 2013-raising thousands of dollars and bring-

ing together community members from across our tri-county area for a day of tzedakah and tikkun olam.

...funded, in concert with the JCC, PJ Library, a children’s book program for local Jewish families.

...funded another year of educational programming at the Institute of Holocaust and Genocide at Raritan Valley

Community College.

...assisted individuals through information and referral for health and human services.

...aided communities destroyed by natural disasters around the world.

...supported the journey of 2,700 Ethiopian Jews to Israel.

...provided financial support to our area synagogues.

...funded a wide range of programs at Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties.

FEDERATION BOARD MEMBER, LEONARD KNAUER, HONORED

AT ANNUAL MAKE A DIFFERENCE DINNER

Leonard Knauer was honored in No-vember at Raritan Valley Community College’s Holocaust and Genocide Institute’s Make a Difference event. Knauer, a commercial real estate broker and president of Knauer Real-tycorp, headquartered in Raritan Borough, and a resident of the Mar-tinsville section of Bridgewater, has been a volunteer leader in the com-munity for more than 40 years. He was a major force in the creation of the Holocaust and Genocide Re-sources Library and program at the college. For 33 years, the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties has co-sponsored the Holo-caust and Genocide program at Rari-tan Valley Community College. The Federation has helped to educate more than 100,000 students and hundreds of teachers and communi-ty members on the realities of the

FEDERATION FUNDS RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE PROGRAM

In December, Jewish Federation Executive Director Diane Naar and Federation Board Member and Treasurer, Gerald Weissman met with Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) staff to hand deliver checks to continue to fund the Holocaust and Genocide Studies programs at the college. For 33 years, the Jewish Federation has cosponsored the Holocaust and Genocide program at RVCC and has helped to educate more than 100,000 students and hundreds of teachers and community members on the realities of the Holocaust and other genocides.

Mr. Weissman and Mrs. Naar are pic-tured delivering checks to Raritan Valley Community College President James B. Ventanto-nio who thanked the Federation for their continuing partnership and support.

Holocaust and other genocides. “It is my firm belief that the oft used phrase ‘We must learn from history, or we will be doomed to relive it’ applies to our current his-tory,” Knauer said. “Although the Holocaust happened over 50 years ago, genocide is still happening in our time. We believe that the stu-dents, who have and will attend the institute's programs, will be better equipped to fight hatred when they encounter it. Hopefully they will help to make the world a better place.” Knauer is a Past President of the Jewish Federation, where he con-tinues to work to raise dollars for people in need locally and over-seas. Knauer also played a key role in the planning and building of the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center in Bridgewater,

and has been a leader at Temple Beth El in Hillsborough. He said the honor meant a great deal to him. “I felt greatly humbled by the recog-nition; generally I prefer to ‘work’ in the background,” Knauer added. “In actuality, as I said that night, many of the people in the room should have been standing there with me because I truly feel that one person alone rarely can ‘Make A Difference.’ It takes many people working together. I call it the ‘Power of We.’ This is part of what drives me to volunteer in the communal efforts.” Len Knauer was given special awards by both the college and the Federation at this special event.

For more than 53 years, The Jewish Federation has been the unifying force for Jewish community-building and philanthropy. We work to enrich the quality of Jewish life in our tri-county area by bringing com-fort and hope to the vulnerable and investing in programs that build Jewish knowledge, identity, and community-ensuring the next gener-ation of Jews. In cooperation with The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and working in partnership with a network of local, national, and international beneficiary agencies and programs, we touch countless lives each year.

Find us on... Check out

our new and improved website and community calendar

www.jfedshaw.org!

Jewish Federation Board of Directors

Steven B. Lieberman, Current President

Kalman Barson

George Blank

Mark Chazin

Elaine Dunst, Immediate Past President

Alissa Fox

Kenneth Kaplan

Leonard Knauer

Sandra Krawitz

Eric Lavitsky

Pamela Nemeth

Arthur Roswell

Michael Saul

Edward Tolman

Gerald Weissman

Robin Wishnie

S T A F F

Diane Naar

Executive Director

(908)725-6994 X202

dnaar@jfedshaw.org

Kim Lazarus

Development Coordinator

(908)725-6994 X 204

klazarus@jfedshaw.org

Eli Goldstein

Financial Services Manager

(908)725-6994 X253

egoldstein@jfedshaw.org

Katie Bopp

Program Assistant

(908)725-6994 X 238

kbopp@jfedshaw.org

The Jewish Federation of Somerset Hunterdon and Warren Counties is proud to announce that Somerville attorney, Steven B. Lieberman, has been elected as the new President of their Board of Trustees. Steven, a transplanted native of the Bronx, New York, moved to New Jersey, along with his wife, Irene, in 1973 when he attended Rutgers Law School. Since 1979 they have resided in Somerville, where Steven has been engaged in the general practice of law, either as a solo prac-titioner or as a partner in a small law firm.

Despite a busy law practice, Steven has been involved in a number of charitable causes within the Jewish world and the local community. He is a past Board member and President of Middle Earth, a social service agency designed to help troubled youth. He has been a volunteer attorney for over 25 years with the Free Legal Clinic run by the Somerset County chapter of the ACLU. He has served on the Board of Directors of Somerset-Sussex Legal Services, and for many years has been the Volunteer Legal Advisor to the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Somerset County, and to HomeSharing. In 2001, Steven was honored to receive the Margery and Tom Corrigan Humanitarian Award. He was also a member of the Somerville Board of Education from 1986 to 1989.

Steven and Irene have been members of Temple Beth-El in Hillsborough since 1980. Steven has served in various capacities, in-cluding Chairman of the Ritual and Adult Education committees. He is a past President of Temple Beth-El.

Steven and Irene have two children, Mark, who produces tele-vision news in Tampa, Florida, and Rachel, who lives in Seattle Wash-ington and is an actuary with the Mercer Consulting Group.

“I cannot think of a better job than to be the head of an organization whose man-

date is to raise money for the sole purpose of giving it away to charitable causes…

...Our job is to convince people that their

monetary support is desperately needed on

a yearly on-going basis so we can continue

to support and fund worthwhile programs

here in Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren

counties and in the state of Israel.”

THANK YOU

ELAINE DUNST

IMMEDIATE PAST

PRESIDENT

Elaine Dunst has served as Jewish Federation President for the last two and a half years. She has helped in so many ways, working to start the Mel-ton School of Adult Jewish learning, helping to plan the first Women’s Mission to Israel, assisting in growing the campaign to support so many agencies and organizations in our tri county area, in Israel, and worldwide and representing our Federation with distinction at the state and national levels.

Elaine spent countless hours at meetings on task forces, sitting with advisory and subcommittees, and at conferences helping to provide thoughtful and inspired leadership to strengthen and improve the Jewish communal system.

Diane Naar, Executive Director, thanked Elaine for her commitment. “Elaine has worked tirelessly to strengthen our local and worldwide Jewish community. She has been a responsive, knowledgeable partner who has really made a significant impact. I feel fortunate that our Fed-eration has had the benefit of her guidance and love for the Jewish people.”

Elaine also provided support and di-rection to the Women’s Philanthropy effort, a group who has continued to distinguish itself in assisting women and children locally and worldwide.

When asked about her tenure as Federation leader, Elaine reflected, “Being President of our Federation has been one of the most personally rewarding experiences and I will con-tinually assist in any way that I can.”

FEDERATION WELCOMES NEW PRESIDENT

STEVEN B. LIEBERMAN, ESQ.

SUPER SUNDAY, a Day of Community Outreach

In early December, the community came together to make a difference. Every day of the year, the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren works to assist target populations in need locally and

overseas (these include at risk youth, the isolated elderly, severely disabled children, impoverished Holo-caust survivors and people trying to move on from natural disasters). The Federation also funds the Holo-caust and Genocide Institute at Raritan Valley Community College, the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish

Community Center, Jewish Family Service, Birthright Israel and so much more. Additionally, the Federation Women’s Division has most recently been raising funds for severely disabled children who rely on the Jerry

Davis Center in Manville, and Aleh Negev in Israel.

Volunteers from all over our tri county area helped the cause on Sunday December 8, Super Sunday, a phone-a-thon. The event was held at the Federation offices at the Shimon

and Sara Birnbaum JCC. It was a labor of love, a meeting of old friends, new ones, and a day to make a tangible difference for people in need across the

street and around the world.

This event featured delicious food catered and graciously donated by Deli King of Clark. There were volunteers, prizes, a silent auction including signed sports memorabilia, gift certificates from local restaurants and

much more. A 50/50 raffle took place; the winners Ed and Anita Tolman kindly donated their winnings. Most importantly, everyone gave back.

About $100,000 was raised.

Thank you

Deli King of Clark

for generously donating breakfast for

our Super Sunday volunteers!

Thank you to our volunteers! Bea Abrams

Jonathan Andell

Rob Aufseeser

Kal Barson

Ken Bernstein

Gabriel Chajnik

Mark Chazin

Marsha Chazin

Susan Darien

Elaine Dunst

Sheila Farber

Seth Geldzahler

Andrew Getraer

Debbie Golden

Robyn Goldstein

Joan Handel

Get involved! Join the Super Sunday Committee! Contact (908)725-6994 X238

Peter Horowitz

Rabbi Ron Isaacs

Linda Jerrow

Mike Keats

Rachael Keats

Bernice Kerman

Ellis Kerman

Len Knauer

Leonard Kuker

Aaron Lavitsky

Eric Lavitsky

Ronni Lederman

Harold Levin

Peppy Margolis

Bruce Miller

Pam Nemeth

Wendy Offen

Dianne Perlowitz

Phyllis Perlowitz

William Perlowitz

Sarah Pollak

Annette Radick

Greg Rosen

Arthur Roswell

Betty Roswell

Alan Rubin

Eileen Schwalb

Ellen Schwartz

Eric Schwartz

Dov Simons

Richard Skydell

Jerry Starr

Andrew Swartz

Lillian Swickle

Ellen Teller

Anita Tolman

Ed Tolman

Marcia Vogel

Rabbi Akiva Weiss

Gerald Weissman

Justin Wheelan

Amy Wilcox

Rachael Wolensky

Sheryl Zeger

Women ‘Imagine” a Better World for Children

This year’s Jewish Federation of Somer-set, Hunterdon & Warren Counties’ Women’s Philanthropy “IMAGINE” event benefitted severely disabled children lo-cally and in Israel; supporting the Jerry Davis Center for Children and Families, a program of the Arc of Somerset County and Aleh Negev, a Jewish National Fund Partner in Israel. Partnering with PNC Wealth Manage-ment, the Federation was able to attract over 100 key philanthropists in the com-munity to attend and support the event, which featured outstanding presentations from Lisa Lisser, liaison of Aleh

Negev, Lauren Panarella, Executive Director of the Jerry Davis Center, and even one mother whose child was part of the Jerry Davis Center programs. The event, which featured a wonderful brunch, silent auction, and high end boutique vendors, also included a beautiful musical piece from Duo Dmitri, a pianist and flutist pair who told their poignant and touching story of how they emigrated to Israel with the assistance of the Jewish Federation system, interwoven with their beautiful music. Over the last few years, we have imagined and accomplished so much: benefitting disadvantaged and im-poverished women in Israel, assisting Ethiopian women who were making aliyah; raising money for a refrig-erated truck for hungry children in Israel through Meir Panim; refurbishing an emergency child abuse shel-ter and creating a transitional safe house for abused children in Israel through ELI; and this year, assisting the Jerry Davis Center and Aleh Negev to provide services for severely disabled children and their families.

Our Israeli Program: Aleh Negev, a Jewish National

Fund Partner

Our Local Program: Jerry Davis Center for Children and Fami-lies, a program of the Arc of Somerset County

Aleh is Israel’s largest network of residential fa-cilities for children and adults with severe cogni-tive and physical disabilities. Aleh was founded on the belief that every child, no matter how se-vere the disability, has the right to achieve his or her potential.

The rehabilitative village is home to over 200 young people who are encouraged to develop a greater degree of independence in order to be-come productive members of Israeli society. Its frameworks include assisted-living homes, a par-amedical center, hospital, special education school, vocational workshops, a hydrotherapy pool and safari petting zoo.

The center’s comprehensive, interdisciplinary pro-grams are designed to meet the physical, social, cog-nitive, and emotional needs of the children who have a diverse range of abilities. The JDCCF staff pro-vides educational and therapeutic services for fami-lies and their young children with developmental dis-abilities, developmental delays, and other diagnoses such as autism. Specifically, JDCCF provides the following services: Early Intervention Program for children aged birth to three years; Developmental Daycare and Preschool at their licensed facility; and Therapeutic Services including evaluations and private therapy services from licensed and experienced speech, occupational, and physical therapists.

Get Involved! Join the Women’s Philanthropy Committee, Young Leadership Division, or Business Networking Group 908.725.6994 X238

JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT Business Networking

Group Breakfast Thursday February 6, 2014

7:30 AM

Hosted by Adult Day Center of Somerset County

872 East Main Street

Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Sponsored by

Cerminara Architect

$30 in advance $35 at the door

Sponsor a future

Business Networking

Group

Sponsoring a Federation event ensures your business positive exposure to our tri-county area and the opportunity to showcase your name as a lead-ing provider in your field. As an umbrella organization with an established, wide-reaching presence in our community, we offer our sponsors high-impact visibility and recognition at many levels. Together, we can make a difference locally and around the world. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Sponsorship benefits range from:

1. Your business name and logo featured on all events mass mailings and marketing materials

2. Logo and Linkage on our website

3. Sponsor recognition in pre– and post– event press releases and articles published in local newspapers, e-newsletter, The Speaker, on website and social media sites

4. An opportunity to present an overview of your business to participants at sponsored events

Previous Sponsors Include:

Contact 908.725.6994 X. 238

for more information

Non-profit Org.

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