Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey Newsletter Fall 2020

Update from Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey • Fall 2020 • Volume 12

Making Jewish life stronger, safer, more supportive and sustainable

This Year Amplified Federation’s Essential Role in the Community

The Coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, along with 2020’s surge in anti-Semitism and social unrest, upended our world in ways we could not imagine one year ago.

Volunteers deliver food

By quickly recognizing emerging priorities and developing creative solutions, Federation and its partners addressed vital concerns, knit us together in support for one another, and helped keep us engaged in Jewish life – all as many worked from home and much of life moved online.

Through initiatives as varied as emergency relief and government advocacy, cultural events and security training, our efforts focused on meeting the needs of people in the heart of NJ as well as the organizations that form the backbone of the Jewish community.

Together, we make a difference.

No one can know what lies ahead, but we do know Jewish Federation acts when our people, the institutions that serve them, and the very fabric and future of Jewish life are at risk. It is what we do – year in and year out, and especially at times such as this.

It is the reason Federation exists.

For People “Ms. B” says Jewish Family Services of Middlesex (JFS) Women’s Center, “was already helping me get through days when the weight on my shoulders was too heavy.” Then, the newly single mom’s job was cut due to the pandemic. Receiving emergency aid from Federation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund enabled her to pay the rent. “I couldn’t be more thankful! I know children feel our pain even when we try our best to hide it. I was feeling overwhelmed by financial stress. I’m now overwhelmed with feeling thankful!” (More about COVID Relief Fund page 5) continued on page 2

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Scores of programs and services also included:

• For preschool and grade school children and their parents, PJ Library went into hyper­drive, with Parent Ambassadors hosting, mostly virtually, activities for families – from scavenger hunts, community Havdallah, and a Scubi

asked applicants to quickly recast their proposals to meet COVID-related needs. The following programs received JTEAM grants: *

JFS, Middlesex County, for its kosher food pantries and Kosher Meals on Wheels for homebound seniors

*

The Hebrew Academy, for

For Heather Kibel, Executive Director at New Brunswick’s Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, Federation’s calls have “offered an invaluable opportunity to speak with and learn from our colleagues.”

Jew adventure, to virtual parents nights-in.

• For out-of-work Jewish

grads and 20-something job seekers, Changemakers offered professional and leadership experience making them more employable while serving the community.

• As people and orPJ families enjoyed outdoor Baby and Me Yoga

• Our partner, Hebrew Free Loan of NJ, offered interest-free loans for individuals and small businesses hurt by COVID.

Shabbat meals and homemade challah, sent to school families devastated medically and financially

by COVID-19

• When people couldn’t gather

participants, on the eve of grant-making decisions,

“We convened communal leaders to move together through uncharted waters – including virtual operations, increased anti-Semitism and cyber threats,” said Susan Antman, Executive Director. “We tapped our resources to bring major grants, matching funds, and national programs to this community. And we built a Jewish Life Online portal so Federation, synagogues, schools, and cultural organizations could help people battle isolation with an astounding array of virtual programs.” shared access to Federally vetted expertise helping employers optimize payroll protection benefits, saving countless jobs.

• For recent college

• JTEAM Teen Philanthropy’s

Federation stepped in to broaden the reach and impact of every Jewish organization as synagogues, schools, cultural centers, and agencies faced new constraints and mounting needs.

• Federation

communal professionals, the RISE program provided career resources and support.

in person to share their concerns and questions, Federation established series with doctors armed with information.

For Jewish Organizations

*

The Friendship Circle, to create and send activity packs to children with special needs.

ganizations moved online, Federation brought in cyber security resources to protect us all from scams, fraud, and anti-Semitic Zoom bombers.

• For Jewish communal leaders to explore COVID issues, Federation created peer discussion groups.

• Federation supported a Jewish educators conference on using technology for virtual Jewish learning.

Since COVID hit, Terri H has found talking with other PJ parents through Ambassador programs invaluable. “I’ve found this community of people that are friendly and supportive. I’ve loved being connected to them.”

Zoom calls and the Jewish Life Online portal kept us connected

• Federation offered guidance to synagogues and other Jewish organizations on applying for government security grants, resulting in another $1,000,000 for our community.

• For clergy and other communal leaders, the H.A.R.M. program taught hostility, anger, and rage management techniques.

• For providers of human services, Federation found matching funds and advocated to increase Federal aid.

For the Community at Large

PJ kids made holiday-themed art projects during a virtual program

To address growing anti-Semitism, and to fight all hate and bias:

• Our Federation was part of a nationwide advocacy campaign resulting in Facebook’s banning and removing hate speech and Holocaust denial.

• Federation expanded its Jewish Community Relations Council interfaith efforts to fight

anti-Semitism and all hate, denouncing acts of violence while supporting racial equality with our peaceful partners in communities of color.

• Federation publicized how Jewish values underlie participation in activities such as voting and the census –

two forms of civic engagement directly affecting jobs, social service programs, the local economy, public safety, and tax treatment of charitable contributions.

For 5781 and 2021, we all can hope for good health, good fortune, good friends, and a good laugh now and then. Imagine the role you can play. Donate to Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ and work with Federation to make this community stronger and more supportive. Thank you.

COVID highlighted challenges The pandemic did not cause Heidi’s problems.

It exacerbated them.

A single woman with no children, she was informed near the end of the school year that her contract would not be renewed due to shifting priorities. She’d taught English as a Second Language. Now, she was told, what the school needed was bilingual teachers.

She was neither fluent in a second language, nor certified to teach a bilingual curriculum, so they were letting her go.

The private school offered no benefits, so she applied for unemployment insurance, which barely covered her rent and food needs. After speaking with colleagues and friends, she learned that teachers with a special Dyslexia certification were in demand.

She made the conscious decision to invest in the certification with hopes it would lead to a job this year. When Heidi applied for the certification training, she was faced with a choice: either pay the rent or pay for the certification.

That’s when she contacted Jewish Federation’s COVID Emergency Relief Committee.

Stacy Feldman, Federation’s Director of Community Impact, took the call.

Drawing strength from one another Early last spring, Marjorie Wold, president of Tinton Falls’ Monmouth Reform Temple, reached out to Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ with a question. Could the Federation facilitate convening the synagogue presidents?

Marjorie’s reasoning was simple.

“It is important for the area synagogues to share information, especially now,” she said. “None of us exists in a silo.”

That question spawned bi-weekly calls with area synagogue presidents, executive directors, administrators, and heads of Jewish schools. All offer participants opportunities to share challenges and exchange information.

“Heidi did everything right,” Stacy said. “She applied for unemployment insurance and for the supplemental funds and rental relief available, but the checks were slow in coming. Time was tight. She needed to pay the rent and begin her coursework.”

Stacy presented Heidi’s case to Federation’s COVID Emergency Relief Committee, a joint venture initiated

by Federation that includes partner organizations tasked to make one-time grants for basic needs, including food, medicine, shelter, and mental health.

The committee, made up of a cross-section of community leaders, agreed Heidi’s needs met their criteria; they were short-term and could be met by a one-time grant to cover her rent. As soon as Heidi’s course work began, she started applying for jobs in schools throughout the area and, as of this writing, had been interviewed for a position.

Heidi’s story is only one of many. The needs are ongoing, and additional funds are welcome.

To contribute, go to jewishheartnj.org/donate or contact stacyf@jewishheartnj.org

Everyone is looking for creative ways to meet the needs of the community, whether in the virtual world, or one that requires social distancing. Common issues including what to do about prayer books, how to organize reopening, where to get PPEs and plexiglass partitions have been discussed for best practices.

Josh Kaplan, Educational Director of Edison’s Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva found, “It has been terrific to share information with other heads of schools. All of us are dealing with so many challenges and changes.

There’s illness, and people have lost jobs and can’t pay their bills. Thanks to the calls, we shared information about grants and collaborated with each other. I’m really grateful to Federation for facilitating.” continued on back page

Embracing Differences, Emphasizing Action This fall offers a bumper crop of issues of consequence. And, of course, where there are issues, there are disagreements.

Debates are not new to Jews. They are embedded in one of our most sacred texts, the Talmud. Yet this fall, even neighborly chats seem more intense.

Perhaps it is because of “COVID Fatigue,” or election season heightened tensions. Perhaps people missed celebrating the High Holidays in person. Perhaps we all miss hugs.

While it does not dispense hugs, Jewish Federation is a place for discussion because we represent all Jews. And as the old saying goes, two Jews, three opinions.

Some in the community would like Federation to “take a side” or issue formal statements on troubling current events. And we do, at times, in non-partisan, non-political cases. But it is more effective to expend our resources — including your dollars — on actions instead of statements. For example:

These pages are filled with stories of people who worked together to help one another through challenging times.

• As anti-Semitism heated up, Federation intervened with: *

partners in government and law enforcement to step up threat assessment, intelligence gathering, reporting, and vigilance

*

security training and support for communal leaders

*

help bringing in government security grants

*

more local education and advocacy to increase Holocaust education in public schools

*

peace-minded allies from other faiths and ethnicities to fight hate in all its forms.

The start of a new year is the perfect time to listen to other opinions, hear new voices, and see different sides of a story. Please contact Jewish Federation to see what role you can play. Thank you.

Kids just want to have fun When COVID shuttered in-person programs across NJ, Jewish Federation’s PJ Library Ambassadors jumped online to assure PJ families they’d be staying connected. This spirited group, all mothers, arranged for virtual events that ended up engaging more parents and grandparents – not to mention tykes and toddlers – than before.

The Ambassadors, Anne Goodman in Middletown, Joanna Koster in Metuchen/Edison, and Kristyn Mednik, in Marlboro/Manalapan/ Freehold, arranged for more than 150 summer fun events combined: virtual coffee dates and scavenger hunts, socially distanced beach days with sand art, and more.

All had great fun with the PJ Library Kindness Kits, put together by Inbar Singal, Federation’s Manager of Community Engagement.

Terri H and her family, including two boys ages three and one, moved to Union Beach, last fall.

“The Ambassador’s group is friendly and warm.”

She added, “It’s rare to find that on Facebook.”

Terri’s older son used to love story time at the library. Now he loves watching Anne’s videos of PJ Library kids and their families reading stories on YouTube.

Terri added, “PJ Library books have connected me to Judaism in a way I didn’t think possible and since COVID hit, I’ve found this community of people that are friendly and supportive. I’ve loved being connected to them.”

Federation’s PJ Library Ambassadors program is made possible by a grant from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

For more information, contact inbars@jewishheartnj.org or go to jewishheartnj.org/ambassadors

Federation Leadership Cheryl Markbreiter PRESIDENT Adrienne Ross 1ST VICE PRESIDENT

230 Old Bridge Turnpike South River, NJ 08882

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID New Brunswick, NJ Permit No. 885

Ed Guttenplan 2ND VICE PRESIDENT Murray Katz TREASURER Sheryl Grutman SECRETARY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Elise Feldman Alex Kemeny Naomi Lasky Jeffrey Schwartz Stuart Abraham Mitch Frumkin Susan Antman EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

FBI Lauds Federation’s Security Work “Drawing Strength...” continued

Yoti Golan, Head of Marlboro’s The Hebrew Academy, added, “COVID-19 brought unique challenges that none of us knew the right answers to.

However, together we were able to perhaps see a little more clearly, and even an opportunity to just breathe. We all drew strength from each other.”

The calls will continue for as long as the participants find them useful.

YOU ARE INVITED! Join us Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 6:30 PM on Zoom

JEWISH FEDERATION’S 2020 ANNUAL MEETING We will • Look at the extraordinary impact you helped make possible amid extraordinary challenges in 2020 • Chart our path to continue making Jewish life strong, supportive, and sustainable • Honor exceptional efforts keeping the Jewish community connected and caring • Celebrate the shared values and aspirations that unite us as Jews.