WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY
30 volunteers pack supplies for women in need By Crissy Toff Special to Hakol
The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Women’s Philanthropy division partnered with the Dignity Grows organization on March 22 for a party where 30 volunteers packed 150 bags full of essential hygiene products for women in need. Dignity Grows empowers women by providing menstrual and hygiene supplies to those who need them. Federal benefit programs do not cover items like period products, and people often don’t think to donate them to food pantries. Providing these helps improve selfesteem and self-confidence. Volunteers for the event included members of the
Jewish community and students from Lehigh University. They all came together to fill zipper-top totes with a month’s supply of soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, and menstrual products. Each tote included a personal note from the packer inside. Notes ranged from well-wishes to thoughtful quotes to a simple heart with the word “Love” in it, as the night’s littlest packer, Gemma Jones, provided. Jewish Family Service will distribute the totes to those in need in the Lehigh Valley. “The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, Women’s Philanthropy division, and the Dignity Grows partnership has been great for our community to make an
impact, giving women products that would not normally be covered under food stamps or provided by food pantries,” said Dignity Grows program chair Rachel Levin. “This is the sixth packing party in our community. So far we have donated to eight organizations. This round, the bags we packed were given to Family Promise of Allentown and Jewish Family Services.” A special thankyou to Charlie Epstein, who helped make this donation possible in honor of his bar mitzvah. The concept of
tikkun olam (repairing the world with good deeds) focuses on the pursuit of social justice and is an essential message of Judaism. There is a notion that Jews bear responsibility not only for their own well-being, but for the welfare of society at large. It is an essential part
She’ll talk about the ancient Jewish concept of personal transformation called Mussar, which was the subject of her 2021 book “Soul Construction: Shape Your Character Using 8 Steps from the Timeless Jewish Practice of Mussar.” Koval, an Orthodox Jew, has been a Jewish educator for two decades, leading
self-development groups for adults and teens, and mentoring other educators around the world, while she and her husband, JFX’s Rabbi Sruly Koval, raised seven kids. She’s also a certified parenting coach, motivational speaker and musician. The ancient practice of Mussar was revived in the 1800s by the Lithuanian rabbi Israel Salanter, and it recommends assessing one’s own character traits, such as honesty, patience, generosity, power of speech, forgiveness, happiness. Becoming aware of these traits, a person can then gradually and systematically work to refine them. “In this way, we begin to become spiritually transformed,” Koval said, “and,
by definition, our relationships with others, and with ourselves, can dramatically improve.” Lori Palatnik, founding director of Momentum, is a fan of Koval’s. She said of “Soul Construction” that “Ruchi Koval has written a handbook for self-growth that is like a close, wise (and funny) friend reaching their hand out to you to pull you up … and up!” Koval’s friend Shari has been studying Mussar with her for 22 years. “There’s nothing in my life that hasn’t changed by studying Mussar, because everything changes when you have your Mussar eyeglasses on,” Shari said. “Mussar has made my life fuller, bigger, better and
of our Jewish community to help one another — both our friends and strangers. If you’re interested in joining the next Dignity Grows tote-packing party, please contact Lee Solomon, the Federation’s associate director of development, at lee@jflv.org.
Chai Club to hear expert on Jewish spiritual practice By Carl Zebrowski Editor
The Women’s Philanthropy division of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley will hear from Ruchi Koval, cofounder and associate director of Congregation JFX (Jewish Family Experience) in Cleveland, speak at its Chai Club Dinner on May 16.
brighter. Everything is more Technicolor. The joy, the gratitude, which is where I naturally go, has been enhanced exponentially, even when I’m having a bad day.” The Chai Club Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the JCC. It’s open to donors who have made a pledge to the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs at or above $180. To register to attend, visit jewishlehighvalley.org/ calendar.
SPONSORED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY’S WOMEN’S DIVISION
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women s philanthropy
CHAI CLUB $180 Giving Level
TUESDAY, MAY 16 | 6:30 P.M. | JCC Register at jewishlehighvalley.org/calendar or scan the QR code.
Handmade Afghans BY EVA LEVITT
If you’re expecting, know someone who is, or have a new baby, PLEASE LET US KNOW! Contact Abby Trachtman, 610-821-5500 | abbyt@jflv.org 4 APRIL 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
All proceeds benefit projects in Israel:
Food Banks in Israel Neve Michael Youth Village
For prices or to place an order, call Eva 610-398-1376.
All payments are made payable to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley