The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community
www.jewishlehighvalley.org
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Issue No. 453
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April 2022
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Adar lI /Nisan 5782
AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977
Learn about the Yoav delegation coming to visit in time to celebrate Israeli holidays p5
Get ideas for your family’s Passover story in our holiday special section
FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p3 WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY p4 LVJF TRIBUTES p8 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p11 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p14-15 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p16-17 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p23
Lehigh Valley Jewish community stands in solidarity with Ukraine By Bayley Carl JFLV Marketing and Engagement Associate “When I am dead, bury me In my beloved Ukraine, My tomb upon a grave mound high Amid the spreading plain, So that the fields, the boundless steppes, The Dnieper's plunging shore My eyes could see, my ears could hear The mighty river roar.”
This passage is taken from a longer statement from Pereyaslav made in 1845. It was read aloud on March 9, when members of the Jewish community and others joined together at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem, to hold a candlelight vigil and stand in solidarity with Ukraine in the face of the war Russia has started there. The event was organized in partnership with the Jewish Federation
of the Lehigh Valley, the Bethlehem Interfaith Group, and local Ukrainian groups. BIG President Rev. Beth Goudy started off the night on their behalf, saying, “With people of good faith from around the world, we lament the unprovoked incursion of the Russian armed forces into Ukraine, and the war that Ukraine Continues on page 6
Super FunDay brings the community back together in-person This year, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley's annual community mitzvah day was transformed into Super FunDay. On Sunday, March 13, the Federation invited the community to gather in person at the Jewish Community Center for a day of fun and mitzvot. In partnership with the JCC Purim Carnival which was taking place across the hall, the building was bopping with dance music and the delight of community members reuniting for the first big in-person event after two years of pandemic restrictions. "It was very important for us to have an in-person event this year, to bring people back together after such a long absence, and we are very happy that we were able to do that in collaboration with the JCC," said Aaron Gorodzinsky, director of campaign and security planning for the Federation. The event was the perfect wrap-up to this year's 60 Day Challenge, which sought to re-engage the Jewish community and re-imagine what it should look like going forward. The combination of mean-
ingful traditions, family time and service was a true embodiment of what the Jewish community is about. Thanks to the volunteers who made calls, $25,000 was raised for the Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs on Super FunDay. A box of breakfast food items was also collected and delivered to the Jewish Family Service Community Food Pantry. These donations were significant, and so was the fun that was had with games, costume contests and PJ Library's belly dance lessons, and delicious food from the Around the Table Catering kosher food truck. "We were thrilled with the chance to see everyone and make an impact for our Jewish community and those in Israel and around the world at the same time," said JFLV Executive Director Jeri Zimmerman. See more photos from Super FunDay on pages 12-13.
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Emergencies happen without notice, which is why we’re very grateful for your support in times when it matters most. As fighting intensifies, millions of Ukrainians, including tens of thousands of Jews, are attempting to flee the country. If you would like to make a gift in support of the emergency response efforts, please go to www.jewishlehighvalley.org/ukraine-response.