Newsletter Spring 2020

Update from Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey • Spring 2020 • Volume 11

Making Jewish life stronger, safer, more supportive and sustainable

Federation guards & strengthens Jewish life Welcome to Spring 2020, and depending on when this arrives in your hands, happy Passover or just plain happy to connect with you.

What may strike you about this collection of news is how much pertains to Federation’s impact enabling Jewish Monmouth and Greater Middlesex counties — the Jewish heart of NJ — to combat anti-Semitism, enhance security, and strengthen the fabric and future of Jewish life. Inside, you’ll read about education, advocacy, community relations, and more. It’s important information… unfortunate that we find ourselves so immersed in it, but we are making strides that you’ll want to know about, and maybe get involved in.

What did not make these pages is equally important: challenges — such as how the need for mental health counseling has surged among Holocaust survivors re-traumatized by increasing hate in the news; and victories — such as how a dozen Jewish organizations exceeded their Life & Legacy year-three goal by securing $14 million of future value to keep Jewish resources strong for younger generations.

Alas, with six pages, we can do only so much.

It’s a familiar concept in the world of continued on page 2

AT PRESS TIME: Coronavirus Update While Jewish life is meant to be lived together, as this newsletter was going to press, many religious and communal programs were being adapted to take place online, or postponed, in an effort to slow the spread of Coronavirus.

Jewish Federation is joining with partners to develop and deploy ways to support the Jewish community through this public health emergency. Initiatives in planning included phone trees and safe volunteer protocols for neighbors to check in on neighbors and connect those in need with services; online resource guides, happenings, even counseling

to reduce the impact of social distancing; weekly coordination calls among school heads, agency leaders, rabbis; government relations to advocate for the Jewish community’s needs; and more.

Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh – we are responsible for one another… It’s a hallmark of our people and the essence of Federation’s reason for being, even more so during a crisis.

If you or someone you know is in need because of the impact of Coronavirus, or any other reason, please connect with us at 732-588-1800 and we will do all we can to help.

continued from page 1

Federation… There is so much need, so much to be done — for people who are vulnerable or ailing, for the organizations that form the backbone of Jewish community, for Israel, for our children. We are proud to have helped bring another $1.4 million in security enhancements to this community in the past year. We are proud to have doubled the number of young families participating in PJ Library events. We are proud to have rebooted the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) connecting the many parts of the Jewish community with each other and

with civic and interfaith partners to fight hate and advance shared goals. We are proud to have connected grade school students to their peers in Israel through a classroom twinning program, to put a human face on Israel for people here. And we are proud to call you on Super Sunday or mail you a letter or include a donation envelope in this newsletter — to ask you to invest in Jewish life, security, and social justice — because our impact is great and its promise is greater. Thank you for your interest, your support, and all you do to enable this

Jewish community to thrive together.

Let us know what you think, what you’d change if you could, what you feel strongly about, and what you want to get involved in.

Stay up to date at jewishheartnj.org/news Susan Antman Executive Director Cheryl Markbreiter President

Local Leaders Met Lawmakers in DC East Brunswick’s Liran Kapoano has strong memories of the winter of 2010-2011, when he was a student at Rutgers and anti-Israel groups on campus stormed the Hillel House. “I learned a lot from that experience. But the most important lesson is that we can’t just watch. We must get involved.

We must do something.”

For Liran, Amy Mallet of Tinton Falls, and Dan Rozett, Manager, Community and Israel Engagement at Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ, that “something” meant representing the Jewish community of Monmouth and Greater Middlesex counties on a two-day Federation Mission to Washington, DC. All three represent Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), whose leaders also include Rabbi Marc Kline of Monmouth Reform Temple and Joel Krinsky of Manalapan.

In DC, Liran, Amy, and Dan met with Rep. Frank Pallone; Rep. Chris Smith; James Gee, chief of staff of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman; Sen. Robert Menendez; and Tricia Russell, chief of staff for Sen. Cory Booker.

“At home, it’s easy to feel powerless,” said Liran, “to think you can’t make a difference. But it’s not true. We were there on a pivotal day in the impeachment process, yet these lawmakers made time for us. They sat face-to-face with us, and asked what we were interested in.”

Amy said, “It’s important to develop relationships with elected officials. It means a lot to them when you make the effort to be there. One of the things we talked about was the need for a federal act to support primary and secondary school programs about the Holocaust and the consequences of hate. A bill existed but was never voted on. The next week, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the House of Representatives passed The Never Again Education Act.” Our group also pressed lawmakers on the importance of security enhancements at Jewish community buildings through increased funds for the Nonprofit Security Grants Program (NSGP) and by categorizing hate crimes as domestic terrorism, which would make additional federal resources available.

Dan noted that Federation advocacy, working through its Security Task Force, has been instrumental in securing more than $4 million to date in government grants for Jewish organizations in the heart of NJ — and added the JCRC will continue to promote this kind of impact for our community.

For more information and to get involved, contact danr@jewishheartnj.org

PJ Library Ambassadors Grow Feeling of Community On a recent Sunday morning, a bunch of tykes and their parents gathered at a local home to make challah. After mixing and twisting, and story time with a PJ Library book, they got to the best part: choosing a topping — from white or chocolate chips, cranberries, and raisins. And no one minded if most of the decorations landed in the bakers’ mouths.

ing for a way to meet other mothers of Jewish children. Anne and her husband, Sam, and their four-year old son live in a town without a Jewish community agency or synagogue, which made connecting to other Jewish families more of a challenge. They already loved PJ Library books, so when she saw the ad about PJ Ambassadors on social media, she applied.

With an outing as fun as this, it’s no wonder East Brunswick and Old Bridge families have been flocking to PJ Library programs organized by Shira Madnick on behalf of Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ. Shira says, “Most of the moms in my area are working; I try to design programs where the moms have a chance to talk with one another while the children are busy.”

Expanding her outreach to the surrounding towns of Atlantic Highlands, Hazlet, and Aberdeen, she was stunned to find other Jewish families all over. “One lives right on my block,” she said, “and I never would have known without this program.”

Federation’s new PJ Library Ambassadors have introduced hundreds of families in the area to PJ Library and to one another.

Federation’s new PJ Library Ambassadors have introduced hundreds of families in the area to PJ Library and to one another.

With her teaching background and roots in the Jewish community, Shira was intrigued when she saw an email posting for a part-time Ambassador to reach out to other parents and kids in her area through PJ Library — the Federation-sponsored program offering free Jewish books and music for children six months to 12 years.

“My husband, Philip, and I are fortunate. We have many wonderful friends who live right near us.

But I’m always eager to meet new friends, and our children are too.”

Meanwhile, in Belford, Anne Goodman, who is fairly new to the area, and does not have deep roots in the Jewish community, was look-

“Engaging young families makes Jewish life sweeter, stronger, and more sustainable,” said Susan Antman, Federation’s Executive Director. “The PJ Ambassadors program is a gift that Federation is proud to bring our community for a better today and a brighter tomorrow.”

A third PJ Ambassador, Joanna Koster, of Metuchen, reaches out to families in Edison, Highland Park, and South and Perth Amboy.

The fourth, Kristyn Mednik, offers programs in the Manalapan and Marlboro areas. More than 3,000 children in the heart of NJ participate in PJ Library and PJ Our Way, a program in which older children can choose their own books.

Federation’s Community Engagement Manager, Inbar Singal, credits these Ambassadors with the surge in attendance at PJ Library events. “Each of the Ambassadors tells me that the parents are enjoying them as much as the kids. And many come to the next event with a friend. So, it’s helping to strengthen the Jewish community.”

Anne said one of her most successful programs has been a monthly Shabbat experience.

“It’s very casual, usually with a ‘build-it-yourself’ dinner. And we all have an opportunity to really get to know each other.”

Shira says her children “always look forward to the programs. And honestly, the program has been good for all of us.”

For more information, contact Inbars@jewishheartnj.org The PJ Library Ambassadors program is supported by a grant from The Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

Faith Leaders Encourage Us to “See Human” It began in Israel as Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faith leaders from the heart of NJ traveled together on two Federation Interfaith Clergy Missions.

According to The Reverend Jeffrey Roy of St. George’s By the River Episcopal Church, Rumson, “We had great conversations and got to see each other as humans, not as representatives of one group or another.”

The Reverend says those conversations have continued, and now the public is invited to join them, during three programs. On March 1st, an interfaith panel, “Seeing Human,” including Rev. Roy; Rabbi Marc Kline of Monmouth Reform Temple, Tinton Falls, and chair of the Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ’s Community Relations Council (JCRC) interfaith initiatives; Mohammad Ali Chaudry, President of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge; Rev. Dr. Anne-Marie Jeffery, Rector of St. Peter’s

Episcopal Church, Perth Amboy; Wayne Boatwright, Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, Hackensack Meridian Health; and Rev. Dr. Semaj Y. Vanzant, Sr., Second Baptist Church of Asbury Park, explored what the three Abrahamic faiths teach about interfaith collaboration and understanding. It was co-hosted by Federation’s JCRC, St. George’s By the River, and Hackensack Meridian Health.

The second, co-sponsored with East Brunswick’s Interfaith Community Council, invites community members to participate in an Iftar, the evening meal that ends the full day fast during Ramadan. At press time, details were being finalized. And on June 2, an interfaith panel discussion will be co-hosted by the JCRC and Rev. Guy Selvester, Director of the Office of Ecumenical & Interfaith Affairs of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

J-SERVE 2020 Turns Teens into Influencers!

Rev. Selvester said, “We need to be able to talk about things of importance to us despite having fundamentally different

Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey brings together teens from across Monmouth and Greater Middlesex counties each year for J-SERVE, the International Day of Jewish Youth Service.

As they did in 2019, a teenled committee drove major decisions for the 2020 event slated to take place at Shalom Torah Academy, Morganville.

This year, for the first time, the teens serving as witnesses to Holocaust survivors’ stories will be given tools to share those stories with their peers.

“We are empowering teens to take their responsibility as witnesses one step further,” said Stacy Feldman,

perspectives. That was among the lessons I took away from the Mission to Israel. All of us involved in this series hope it will help people see each other’s humanity.”

Rabbi Kline views Federation as demonstrating “our commitment to the basic tenets of the Talmud, which ask ‘What kind of citizen are you?’

Federation works on behalf of all of us to build a wider community. But we need all of us in the conversation.

And we should start by listening.”

Interfaith clergy started important conversations during Jewish Federation’s missions to Israel.

For update on upcoming interfaith events to be conducted online due to Coronavirus, see jewishheartnj.org/interfaithevents

Federation’s Director of Community Impact. “As sophisticated users of social media, their peer-to-peer communications are powerful. We can support them in becoming influencers, so survivors’ stories travel far beyond the walls of J-SERVE.” Participants also will choose from sessions teaching them to advocate on issues such as social justice and hate, as well as hands-on activities, including crafting toys for rescue dogs and participating in a Pay It Forward telethon.

At press time, J-SERVE 2020 was being rescheduled as part of community-wide efforts to stem the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Contact stacyf@jewishheartnj.org for updates.

For more information on a wide range of teen programs, go to jewishheartnj.org/teens

Investing More in Hating Less In a recent Hillel International survey, 26% of Rutgers students say they have personally experienced anti-Semitism. According to the Anti-Defamation League, acts of campus anti-Semitism last year rose to 201 reported incidents — an 86% increase in just two years.

Stand Up Against Hate participants have also heard from Holocaust survivors, which Getraer said, “completely captivated” the 60 students who attended.

Hillel board member, Jackie Harris, a sophomore from Robbinsville, said

Synagogue was scheduled to deliver the Blaustein School of Planning and Public Policy Lecture at Rutgers Hillel in April.

The Washington Post reported in February, online activities of neo-Nazis spilling out to the real world include brazen recruitment operations across campuses — making investments in college anti-bias programs increasingly urgent.

In time for this academic year, Jewish Federation partnered with Rutgers Hillel, and awarded funding, to develop Stand Up Against Hate, a year-long initiative focused on fighting anti-Semitism and hate of all kinds.

“Federation has increased investments in education to combat hate, from middle school and college to civic and interfaith settings,” Jewish Federation’s Executive Director, Susan Antman, points out. “Empowering college students creates great impact in both responsive and pre-emptive ways.”

Rutgers Hillel Executive Director, Andrew Getraer, says Stand Up Against Hate demonstrates how the Heart of NJ’s Jewish Federation, Hillel and the campus community support students, and create outlets for expression, while helping them understand the context that gives rise to bias and hate.

Monthly programs began in September with comedian, Steve Hofstetter, who shared his experiences with neo-Nazis who attacked him online, and anti-Semitic hecklers.

Spring plans, which included a class in Krav Maga, the Israeli self-defense system, were being re-evaluated at press time, due to Coronavirus.

Federation’s increasing investments to combat hate, this year, also included an expansion of the Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) program sponsored by Federation, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and Chhange — the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights & Genocide Education.

her most meaningful experience was participating with 300 students from around the country in a conference in Pittsburgh. “The 30 of us from Rutgers Hillel were the largest delegation,” she said, “and the only group to have a Shabbaton, which gave us time to bond.” The conference culminated in a visit to the Tree of Life Synagogue.

Getraer said, “Standing at the memorial to the eleven who were murdered was phenomenally powerful.” As a follow-up, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life

Captain Jeffrey Wilbert, Special Investigation Section, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, oversees the Bias Crime Unit and attended LEO. When asked what he’d say to college students dealing with hate on campus, he replied, “Be kind, be supportive, be respectful and allow for an opportunity to get to know everyone. We all should have the same rights, privileges, and immunities — nothing more, and content with nothing less.”

For more information, contact danr@jewishheartnj.org

Federation Leadership

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

Cheryl Markbreiter PRESIDENT Adrienne Ross 1ST VICE PRESIDENT

230 Old Bridge Turnpike South River, NJ 08882

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 Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ received the FBI’s prestigious Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) in recognition of Federation’s outstanding efforts addressing the community’s security concerns.

leaders on stemming traumatic blood loss in emergencies.

Fittingly, Federation was notified of the award shortly before it conducted Stop the Bleed safety workshops educating nearly 100 communal

Other recent activities included:

These are among many workshops Federation has brought to the community to make leaders more aware and prepared in dealing with safety and security.

• Helping bring $1.4M additional dollars for security enhancement to area synagogues;

• Providing guidance on federal and state security grant applications;

• Ensuring 20 local Jewish organizations conducted security assessments, educating them about everyday safety, benchmarking policies, and procedures;

• Advocating for legislation to double non-public school security funding

from $75 to $150 per student;

• Helping officially certify two Jewish organizations as County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) go-to facilities in the case of crisis or emergencies.

Jewish Federation expresses great thanks to the FBI Newark Division and all public and private law enforcement and public safety partners, as well as members of Federation’s own, largely volunteer, Security Task Force, led

by Federation’s Director of Security Initiatives, Amy Keller, for their integral roles in community security.

Learn more at jewishheartnj.org/ securitynews or contact amyk@jewishheartnj.org