BJF Board Update December 2022

TALENT & PEOPLE PLANNING

Changes in Federation's Professional Team

We are pleased to announce several changes to the Federation’s professional structure to better align the organization’s talent with its 2023 goals and objectives These changes are part of a multi-year People Plan, which was born from 9 months of internal work with Federation Officers, and several senior professionals

The Federation’s People Plan pivots around succession planning and data collected through a comprehensive human resources survey, which our professional team participated in this past May. Conducted by Leading Edge, this annual employee survey is designed to help nonprofits improve their workplace culture and leadership in an effort to better achieve their missions.

MIRIAM ABRAMOVICH CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Miriam Abramovich, who has served the Federation in a variety of capacities since 2013, is now Federation’s Chief Operating Officer. Previously Miriam served as Federation’s Chief Experience Officer, overseeing LiNK Jewish Buffalo. With over 20 years of experience in Jewish professional leadership in cities across the East Coast, Miriam has directed a number of innovative opportunities for Jewish Buffalo. In her new role, Miriam will oversee Talent and People Planning, provide operational support for Governance, and manage the organization’s team of Senior Directors. She will also become more deeply engaged in philanthropy, working with the Federation’s most treasured supporters and closely with Assistant Executive Director Randi Morkisz, who will be retiring from her full-time role this summer and transitioning to a new role as Major Gifts Specialist.

Federation is also pleased to announce that effective January 1, three talented professionals will transition into new Senior Directorship roles. These title changes recognize the invaluable skills and passion each of these professionals bring to Federation and the greater community. The impact they’ve had in their current roles and the impact we know they will have going forward will help us to build a flourishing Jewish Buffalo for years to come.

KOVEN-GELMAN SENIOR DIRECTOR, JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS

MARA

MIKE STEKLOF SENIOR DIRECTOR, LiNK JEWISH BUFFALO

STACEY BLOCK SENIOR DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS AND DONOR EXPERIENCE

TALENT & PEOPLE PLANNING

PEO Contracted to Oversee Federation HR and Employee Administration

The Federation has entered into a partnership with the Professional Employment Organization (PEO) ESC Employer Services to outsource the agency’s HR and employment administration including payroll and benefits. Effective January 1, this shift will extend exciting new benefits to individual employees, and, to the organization as a whole such as: access to HR & legal subject matter experts, state DOL compliance support, onboarding systems, access to an EAP [Employees Assistance Program] and more.

All Staff Gatherings

In November, the Federation professional team convened for their bi-monthly All Staff Gathering at Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). This gathering was an opportunity to give back to greater Buffalo during a “build day” constructing beds and improving the quality of the life for dozens of children in our community. In lieu of other costs associated with typical All Staff Gatherings, a donation was made to SHP, to cover the cost to build 20 beds. For more information, contact Miriam Abramovich here.

119th ANNUAL MEETING & CELEBRATION

On December 7, over 150 individuals gathered at Congregation Shir Shalom for the joint Buffalo Jewish Federation and Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies annual meeting and award celebration. At the event three outstanding leaders were honored: Howard Rosenhoch (a Federation past president and campaign chair), received Foundation’s highest honor with the Endowment Leadership Award; Rabbi Sara Rich, received the Kantor Professional Service Award; and Jim Biltekoff was honored with the Ann Holland Cohn Community Impact Award.

Marjorie (Margie) Bryen was elected and installed as Federation’s 53rd President. In addition to Margie, Marc Brown and Rise’ Kulick were elected as Vice Presidents, Shawn Frier as Treasurer, and Cheryl Stein as Secretary. Kirstie Henry, Jim Kramer, Robin Raphael and Blaine Schwartz were elected as new governors for a three-year term; they join Kenneth Dauber, Deborah Goldman, Marina Maulucci-Finkelstein and Ezra Rich who were also elected to a second three-year term.

s

annual Hanukkah Gathering for families with young

children, Get Your Hanukkah On. Over 450 people were in attendance including many friends of other faiths who were a part of our efforts to shine a light on antisemitism through relationships and understanding. New families were welcomed (including the Jewish Ukrainian family who recently settled in Buffalo) and dozens of connections were facilitated.

We are grateful to Robin Kurss, Director of Jewish Experience, who was meticulous in her professional leadership of the day along with support from the full LiNK team and other Federation colleagues including Jill Komm, Jessica Wittman, Stacey Block, Joan Kwiatkowski, Lauren Bloomberg, Mandy Weiss, Mara Koven-Gelman, Rachel Beerman and Susan DeMari This cross-department support and collaboration amongst Federation pros is something to celebrate. This day was made possible because of funding from the Shine A Light Foundation, and the support and vision of our volunteer partners. Many were involved but it is worth noting Brenda Feldstein, Marni Marciano, and Rebecca Freedman who went above and beyond. In addition, many community agencies partnered on the planning and execution of this event including the JCC, Community Religious School, and the Kadimah Scholars at Park School. We are so thankful to the volunteers who gave up a precious Sunday afternoon to staff tables at the event crafting, schmoozing, and sharing Jewish wisdom with all those who attended.

For more information, contact Robin Kurss here.

BUFFALO ISRAEL EXPERIENCE II

In October, 49 Buffalonians traveled to Israel on the second Buffalo Israel Experience (BIE). The group was comprised of individuals from across generations, first timers, those who haven’t been in decades and past BIE participants, each looking to make a meaningful connection to Israel. Much time was spent before the trip building connection amongst participants at various gatherings in Buffalo. In Israel, each day was filled with opportunities to learn and be inspired by the land and the people around us, and to deepen the relationships with each other and Jewish Buffalo.

Shabbat was celebrated together with services led by Sara Weinstein, Amelida Ortiz Weinmann and Mike Steklof. While in the Western Galilee at our Partnership Center, Shelly Yellen, Brenda Feldstein, Pam Snyder and Laurie Sadler paid tribute to our dear friend Leslie Shuman Kramer z”l by planting a tree in her memory. Wendy Weisbrot led a meaningful memorial service to conclude their visit at Yad Vashem Participants David Feuerstein and Jodi Bloom were so moved during their visit to Sderot that they arranged for bags of toys to be purchased and delivered to the Reut-Sderot Association Travelers climbed Masada and floated in the Dead Sea while singing, “The Bills make me want to shout…”.

The BIE facilitated meaningful new connections, new friendships and strengthened the threads of community in Jewish Buffalo. We are grateful to Robin Raphael and Alan Gellin our Chairs and stewards of this experience. For more information, contact Stacey Block here.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES JOURNEY

Twenty-five members of Jewish Buffalo are set to go to the United Arab Emirates for a 9-day journey beginning February 2 Led by Randi Morkisz and Rob Goldberg, the delegation will visit sites in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, meet with members of the Royal Family, and learn about the new and growing relationship the UAE has with Israel. Participants joined together in November for wine and cheese at the home of Sam and Joni Shatkin and the following week Zoomed in with special guest, John Lowenstein, a Federation professional from the Chicago Federation, who shared highlights of his recent UAE experience with his home community.

For more information, contact Randi Morkisz here.

JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL

Staff Expansion

With gratitude to the Golden Goldman Philanthropic Fund, JCRC has expanded its impact by adding the role of JCRC Manager this Fall. Rachel Beerman (previously our Racial Justice Coordinator) has taken on this new role. JCRC also added a new high school intern, Sam Lukin Johnson, who is a junior at Amherst High School.

Civic Leader Trip to Israel 2023

Thirty-three participants are joining the eight-day Civic Leader Trip to Israel in February 2023.

Participants include:

Karen McMahon, NYS Assembly member

David Rivera, Buffalo City Council member

Stephan Tucker, CEO, Northland Workforce Training Ctr

Thomas Beauford Jr., CEO, Buffalo Urban League

Rene Petties-Jones, President, NFJC of WNY

Molly Carr, CEO, Jewish Family Services of WNY

Christina Orsi, CEO, Oishei Foundation

Mara Koven-Gelman, Senior Director of JCRC Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein, JCRC Jewish Educator

Rob Goldberg, CEO, Buffalo Jewish Federation

Chicago General Assembly

Voter Engagement & Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Activities

Living in a strong democracy by building voter engagement partnerships is a JCRC continued priority. JCRC is an active member of the Civic Engagement Committee of the NAACP Buffalo Branch. Engagement efforts included updating the Federation's Vote 2022 website, holding a GOTV registration event with the JCC, amplifying GOTV postcard writing campaigns, and mailing letters of congratulations to all winning legislatures with a reminder of Jewish communal priorities and a Jewish holiday calendar.

Deborah Goldman (JCRC Chair & Federation Board Member) and Irwin Gelman (JCC President) joined Rob Goldberg and Mara Koven-Gelman at the JFNA General Assembly in Chicago this November. Among the highlights was Mara's presentation on a panel entitled, "Best Practices for Building a Culture of Belonging in Safety and Security."

Racial Justice

The following are highlights of JCRC's racial justice efforts:

The role out of the JEDI (Jewish Equity Diversity and Inclusion) curriculum will run January - May 2023. More than 60% of Federation staff volunteered to be part of this pilot program to help our Jewish community flourish and increase Jewish engagement for all members of our community. Hosted a community meet up to see the award-winning play Toni Stone at Ujima Theater Co-sponsored the Pulling the Race Card event on October 26, bringing together leaders and members of diverse backgrounds for an important conversation about race and society. Sponsored a table at the NAACP awards dinner on October 22. Purchased ad space in the Black Community Challenger Newspaper to send Christmas & Kwanzaa greetings. Facilitated bronze sponsorship to African American Veterans Monument.

For more information, contact Mara Koven-Gelman here.

LIFE & LEGACY®

Last month, team members from all of the agencies and synagogues participating in the LIFE & LEGACY® at Buffalo program met at Hillel for a training focused on the formalization of gifts. As Federation and Foundation enter the middle of the 2nd year of this four-year program, the community has received nearly 230 commitments totaling over $8.4 Million. Co-chaired by Howard Rosenhoch and Alison Keane, LIFE & LEGACY is a partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation that promotes after-lifetime giving to benefit Jewish Buffalo. Our community was selected in 2021 to join more than 70 other communities across North America in this Jewish legacy giving initiative.

For more information, contact Randi Morkisz here.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

SCN Summit

Susan DeMari joined 100 Security Directors from across the country at the Secure Community Network Summit in New Orleans. The networking opportunity provided assurances that we're on the right path to securing Jewish Buffalo. We also created a new partnership at the Federal level of law enforcement to include the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives branch. This opportunity is part of our effort to routinely engage all levels of law enforcement in our partnership, a methodology that was the common theme at the Summit because it is these relationships that are invaluable when the need for assistance arises. The commitment to consistency in training and sharing of resources was evident throughout the week.

Security for Houses of Worship

The Federation continues its support of routine security (off-duty police) in Amherst and have included several places in Buffalo. Federation continues to provide 25% reimbursement per quarter to those who coordinate their security needs through us. New this year, and widely received, was the opportunity for a 10% reimbursement for the High Holy Day security detail.

Critical Incident Management Tabletop Exercise

Trainings

During the winter months, we developed virtual "Training/Education Tuesdays" offering Department of Homeland Security video links for Active Shooter, Protecting Houses of Worship and Workplace Security,, Bomb Threats and Suspicious Activity Recognition, and Reporting. Stay tuned for this year's winter trainings on Hate Crimes.

On Monday, March 20, 2023 from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, the Federation will sponsor a Critical Incident Management Tabletop Exercise (TTX) for senior leadership of Jewish Buffalo. This TTX will be a discussionbased exercise, facilitated by the Department of Homeland Security, in which Jewish community leaders (preferably 2-4 professional/volunteers for each agency/congregation), law enforcement, and other firstresponders come together around a shared table to role play, discuss, and clarify roles during a critical incident. This priceless tool will help each agency and congregation understand essential responses to particular emergency situations. In advance of the TTX, a formal registration will be sent along with a location. If you are interested in participating, please contact Joan here.

For more information, contact Susan DeMari here

Addressing Antisemitism

LiNK, HRC and JCRC are collaborating to develop a robust communal strategy to address antisemitism while ensuring joyful Judaism. Our approach recognizes that we must support individuals and organizations when they encounter antisemitism, and also work to ensure that Judaism remains joyful to all.

Thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to inspire multicultural connections, we are working to raise the visibility of our vibrant Jewish community and create opportunities for families of different faiths and cultures to have shared experiences. In addition, work will focus on preparing parents and educators to discuss antisemitism with their children through age-appropriate resources with thanks to a $7,000 grant from the Shine a Light Foundation

Nickel City Jews

We are continuing our work to begin a strategic planning process to refresh NCJ - ensuring this work remains meaningful and relevant to young adults across Jewish Buffalo. Next up is the annual Hanukkah party, plus monthly gatherings planned by peers for peers including Shabbat dinners, game nights, hikes and more

Adult Learning

Classes & gatherings are in full swing with 12 different offerings Zahava Fried has brought new energy and enthusiasm to Hebrew offerings Dan Gattuso, vice chair of Adult Engagement and Ellen Weiss, chair are working on surveying current and potential participants to ensure our offerings meet their needs.

PJ Library

Dozens of one-time and ongoing experiences continue to take place to engage our youngest community members. We continue to work closely with synagogue partners to engage families and young children We are also working closely with the Community Religious School to plan community-wide holiday celebrations to ensure a more seamless series of offerings for children 12 and under.

Buffalo Jewish Teen Initiative

Working with area Rabbis and educators, we have revamped the Student to Student training program to ensure student presenters are better prepared to present and answer questions about Judaism when they visit area high schools to share their Jewish story Trainings have included conversations about holidays, kashrut, the Holocaust, antisemitism, and Jewish beliefs around death

Middle School Engagement

Working closely with chair, Sharon Nisengard, we have created a new model where each program is planned by a child in partnership with their parent. Earlier this year, Sharon and her son Jonah planned a successful Havdalah and Buffalo Battleground program and we are currently working with Jen Karcz and her daughters Isabella & Anastasia to plan our next gathering.

For more information contact Mike Steklof here

HOLOCAUST RESOURCE CENTER

In partnership with JFS, HRC recruited a "Circle of Care" team of volunteers led by Judge Lisa Bloch-Rodwin, Wendy Weisbrot and Heidi Yellen to welcome Buffalo's first Jewish Ukrainian family (a family of 8) this month.

HRC's annual fund appeal begins next week! If you receive a letter in the mail, please consider a gift to support the inspiring work of HRC. You can make a gift online here.

On November 8, over 150 people attended HRC's annual Kristallnacht program at Daemen University featuring a lecture by Dr. Michael Bryant entitled: Malevolent Intentions and the Play of Circumstance: The Pogroms of November 1938 and Hitler's Plan for the Jews. The program was made possible by the generosity of the Wise Democracy Fund and cosponsored by Robert H. Jackson Center, Daemen's Global Studies Dept, JCC, Academy for Human Rights, and the Anne Frank Project. Dr. Bryant showed a 16-minute clip of this documentary.

HRC is partnering with Canisius College to commemorate UN Holocaust Remembrance Day on Thursday, January26,2023at6:30pm,andwillfeatureauthorSharonCamero. Formoreinformation,contactLaurenBloomberghere.

JEWISH BUFFALO HISTORY CENTER (JBHC)

By the Numbers

From February 1, 2021 - November 21, 2022, the JBHC website witnessed a 5,000+ visitor growth to total 15,407 visitors and almost 10,000 new page views to 38,730 tracking from the inception of the site.

New Additions

This Fall, JBHC moved forward with a special focus on women's biography adding profiles of Holocaust survivor, author, international speaker and educator Gerda Klein; Jewish activist and international women ’ s advocate, Shirley Joseph; entrepreneur, philanthropist and Temple Sinai co-founder, Anne Bunis; Namesake and co-founder of the first home for elderly immigrant Jews in Buffalo, Rosa Coplon, and Sadie Altman, a crusader for immigrant care and servicemen’s health and rights.

New organizational materials with a gendered focus included the Buffalo Jewish Men and Women’s Service Honor Roll and the work of the National Council of Jewish Women. Dr. Chana Kotzin also submitted a successful application to the New York State Parks, National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, to recognize Ritchie Boy, Kurt Jacobs’ posthumous award of the Purple Heart (see recognition here).

JEWISH BUFFALO HISTORY CENTER (JBHC)

Upcoming Exhibition: "Sokolivka: Once Home"

The largest exile Sokolivka community in the United States was located in Buffalo in the 20th century. "Sokolivka: Once Home" will focus on life in the old country (now present-day Ukraine) at the turn of the 20th century, expose the deadly antisemitism that forced immigrant waves to Buffalo, and the new lives created and unfolding up to the present day.

Through the lens of family and organizational history and using film, photographs, images, maps and first-person accounts, we will weave together stories about a place that was once home, and a place that became home.

Future Exhibition Planning

Celebrating the acquisition of a Torah for Anshe Sokolivka Shul on Spring Street, ca 1917 Collection of The Buffalo History Museum. Goldome-Nagle photograph collection.

JBHC is also in initial stages of exhibition planning with several partnerships for 2024, "On the Avenue" focusing on Hertel Ave and North Buffalo, and for 2025, "1825: Mordecai Noah and the Ararat Dream," to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Erie Canal.

Ongoing Exhibition: Jewishbuffalohistory.org/arlen

The portable exhibition An East Side Story: Harold Arlen's Buffalo East Side Roots has toured the JCC's, the Downtown Buffalo Central Library and the Hyatt Hotel during the American Association of State and Local History Conference in Buffalo, and as part of the Federation Kick Off Event. In the coming year, it will be shown at Temple Beth Zion, Canisius College, Daemen University, the Buffalo History Museum, and the BPO. The exhibition can be borrowed with a quick click and fill form found here.

Explore Buffalo

The Explore Buffalo Jewish Cemetery Tours created through the research and training provided by the JBHC Coordinator, Dr. Chana Kotzin, continues to be offered. To read about the impact of this collaboration with Explore Buffalo and lead docent, Sharon Cramer, visit here.

For more information, contact Chana Revell Kotzin here.

PARTNERSHIP2GETHER (P2G)

P2G is a program of The Jewish Agency and The Jewish Federations of North America, promoting people-topeople relationships through a variety of programs. The Western Galilee Partnership connects 18 U.S. communities of the U.S. Central Area Consortium, including Buffalo, with Israel’s Western Galilee and Budapest, Hungary. Our participation is a joint project with the Buffalo Jewish Federation and the JCC of Greater Buffalo. Earlier this fall, a delegation of 8 Buffalonians participated in the P2G Summit in Budapest. Federation professional Mandy Weiss joined P2G professional colleagues from 6 other consortium communities to continue on to Israel Highlights of the Israel gathering included:

Visiting the Partnership Center and meeting with staff for the first time Touring the Galilee Medical Center and the state-of-the-art underground hospital Sharing an evening of home hospitality and open dialogue with an Arab Israeli family in Arab El Aramshe, an Arab village along the Lebanon border Meeting with the President of Western Galilee College, Professor Nissim Ben David Open conversation about what it means to be Jewish in America and in Israel with participants of the Sliding Dors program for 2nd Generation family members of Holocaust Survivors Visit to Kibbutz Yehaim to meet and hear from Ukrainian and Russian refugees who have recently made Aliyah and been welcomed with open arms by the kibbutz

Next month, P2G will welcome a new director, Iris Posklinsky, MSW/PhD. In the past 14 years, Iris has been working for the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) where most recently she directed the Northern District and the Professional and Content Development of the Global Partnership Network.

For more information, contact Mandy Weiss here.

WOMEN'S PHILANTHROPY

Stepping Up Series

A three-part Stepping Up Our Philanthropy program will officially kick off in January. Invitations were sent to women philanthropists in our community who contribute between $500 - $4999 to the Campaign for Jewish Buffalo Our intention is to use this series to launch conversations with these women around "stepping up" to the next level in their giving

Each part of the program will have elements related to philanthropy and impact, learning, and connection to the community

Dignity Grows

In November, Hillel of Buffalo and the UB Office of Student Engagement held a joint Dignity Grows packing event. This three-hour event, held in the UB Student Union, engaged over 70 college students of all faiths. Jennifer Isenberg, Dignity Grows Chair and Stacey Block had the opportunity to speak with many students about the mission of Dignity Grows and its impact right here in our own community. This opened up the possibility of working with other campus organizations to grow awareness around hygiene poverty. Of note, some of the bags were donated directly to an oncampus pantry to be given to students in need. The remainder will be given as part of our monthly allocation.

Momentum

This past July, 9 Buffalo moms began their year-long Momentum journey led by Jill Komm. They started with a life-changing trip to Israel and then quickly dove into opportunities to learn and build on their connections back home. They have attended community events, monthly learning gatherings facilitated in part by the LiNK professional team, and are already stepping up as leaders in Jewish Buffalo. In October 2023, our third Momentum cohort will begin their journey led by Miriam Abramovich. Registration is already under way and excitement is building, with 8 women already registered. There is space for 2 additional women - spread the word!

For more information, contact Stacey Block here.

Buffalo Delegation at the ILOJ Conference in December 2022