community review www.jewishharrisburg.org
Aug 31, 2018 | 20 Elul, 5778 | Vol. 93; No. 17 Published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg | Greater Harrisburg’s Jewish Newspaper
NEW YEAR, NEW IMPACT: JOIN
ONE
OF
JFGH’S
IMPACT
SOCIETIES BY ADAM GROBMAN
E
ach year around this time, one or more new names get added to the plaques and signs that adorn the corridor of the JCC building. You may have noticed these as you have walked through the building to attend an event or a meeting, to pick up your child from day care, or to head to that 6pm spin class. But have you ever stopped and wondered what are these societies and what do they signify? Who are the members of the Cardozo Society? Why is there a society named Maimonides and what does it do? Let’s try and make some order and provide some information that might be helpful and of interest. The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, is a member of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). This national organization supports our own fundraising efforts and provides some general guidance on the national societies. These are all a good way to support the Jewish community and at the same time gain some professional benefit from your involvement. These societies exist to facilitate both giving and receiving among the members of our community. In fact, they are the greatest and clearest example of the impact of our Annual Campaign. In all, the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg has eight societies. Organized alphabetically, these include: 1. BEN-GURION SOCIETY 2. CARDOZO SOCIETY 3. HAVERIM SOCIETY 4. LION OF JUDAH 5. MAIMONIDES SOCIETY 6. NACHSHON SOCIETY 7. POMEGRANATE SOCIETY 8. WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY
Each society is aimed to serve a different part of the population, though of course there is some overlap. Let’s explore each of them a little closer. Ben-Gurion Society is a donor recognition program specifically for those in the 25-45 age range. There is a minimum gift of $1,000, but it provides visibility and recognition of the donor. These donations help us ensure that the services we offer can be maintained at the highest level for those individuals and their families. Cardozo Society is a professional society comprised of attorneys and judges in the Greater Harrisburg Area. The Society serves as a unique vehicle to promote continuing legal education and to facilitate involvement in professional activities, which benefit the local and global Jewish communities. Membership in the Cardozo Society is open to all legal professionals and law students in Central Pennsylvania. The Cardozo Society consists of members who contribute a minimum gift of $1,000 to the Annual Campaign. Associate membership is open to those who contribute a minimum of$500 to the Annual Campaign and are under the age of 35. This year, Cardozo Society will host an event with Maimonides Society about the Opioid Epidemic in November. Be sure to look for the ads. The Haverim Society, a unique society to Harrisburg, is an initiative designed to engage former Harrisburg residents who are committed to ensuring the continuity of the Harrisburg Jewish community. Donations made to this society are divided:
i. 50% support the JFGH Annual Campaign ii. 50% directed towards the Harrisburg Haverim Fund which funds, through an endowment, different projects and needs in the Jewish community. The fund is established with and managed by the Jewish Community Foundation of Central Pennsylvania. Through this society examples of funding includes: KI received funding to create a program to attract young couples to Harrisburg, the Jewish Home received funding for a training session on how to experience dementia, and The Silver Academy received funding for an educational program, to name just a few. The Lion of Judah recognition program was introduced by the Miami Jewish Federation in 1972, and endorsed nationally in 1980, to honor philanthropic women. Lions of Judah act on the strong belief that Tzedakah is an individual responsibility by making a significant and continuing personal gift to the annual campaign. More than 13,000 women in North America, Israel, and around the world are recognized as Lions of Judah by their peers. Women who give $5000 or more in a given year to the Annual Campaign are eligible to wear the Lion of Judah pin. Maimonides Society promotes fellowship among Jewish health care professionals in the greater Harrisburg area to strengthen commitment to Jewish values through educational and cultural programs. This year, Maimonides Society will host an event with Cardozo Society about the Opioid Epidemic in November. In May, Maimonides Society held a well-attended event featuring Israeli physician Itzhak Brook. Continued on page 8