Federation Impact Fall 2021

FEDERATION

IMPACT

You give our Jewish community a better future

FALL 2021

jewishcincinnati.org

YOU HELP YARDEN

MAKE ISRAEL COME ALIVE

SPECIAL EDITION: A Year of Impact

“We have so much to be proud of —you have helped so many.”

—Debbie Brant, Chair, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

Welcome Yarden Neeman: Cincinnati’s Link to Israel Your Gift Helps Cincinnati Learn from a Native

Cincinnati is excited to welcome Yarden Neeman as our newest community Shaliach, or Israeli emissary.

Yarden, his wife Liat, and their two-year-old son Yiftach arrived in Cincinnati in August. As the newest Shaliach, Yarden will work within the Jewish community to help connect Cincinnati to Israel. “It’s an amazing opportunity to get to know more, understand better, and try to help strengthen the ties between the Jewish community here and in America,” Yarden said in a Zoom call before his arrival.

He has a background in HR, organizational development, and leadership development.

He holds an MBA from the Hebrew Union University of Jerusalem and a BA in sociology and anthropology.

“We’re all one big family in my eyes,” says Yarden Neeman, Cincinnati’s newest emissary from Israel.

“We’re all one big family in my eyes, the Jewish family. Still, there are big differences between Jews in Israel and Jews in America. My family and I are very excited for this opportunity.

Everyone I’ve met so far has been so wonderful and so welcoming and so helpful. We’re already feeling like it’s going to be a really, really cozy home for us, a really welcoming community.”

Mother of Two Escapes Abusive Relationship Jewish Family Service Helps Abigail Move Towards Freedom Abigail (identities altered for privacy) was a stay-at-home mom of two without family in town. On the outside, she had a happy marriage, but her husband would often get violent, have screaming fits, or insist on his conjugal rights. Then he would apologize. “It almost felt like rape,” said Abigail. “I felt alone a lot.”

THANKS TO YOU: After suffering her husband’s abuse for years, Abigail and her children are safe now.

It was protecting her children, says Abigail, that pushed her to break the cycle. “I decided I had to fight,” she said. So she called Jewish Family Service. They, with the support of her rabbi, found Abigail and the kids safe shelter, counseling, and clothes.

When you give to the Federation, you help Jewish Family Service empower people like Abigail. As she said: “The day the kids and I left felt like freedom.”

You empower mothers to protect their children.

YOUR GIFT

Jewish Summer Camps Connect the Generations

gives families a way to become closer.

Embracing Judaism Along with Summer Fun For Lauren Lillenstein and her son, Jonah, Jewish summer camp is a way to connect. “I went to Jewish summer camp when I was a kid, and now that my son is going, it gives us a special connection,” said Lauren.

When you support the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, you help bridge the gap between generations, just like the Lillensteins, while creating a solid foundation for Jewish values. “Without Camp Livingston, I don’t think I would have been engaged in youth group in high school, I would not have been involved in Hillel in college. Camp really helped me embrace Judaism in a spiritual way rather than through Torah study or text.

As for Jonah, he’s learning more about his Jewish identity and his community identity, said Lauren.”

Jonah agrees: “I wouldn’t know that such fun things existed without camp,” said Jonah. “I wouldn’t know that there were so many people who want to be friends with you. If I didn’t go to camp, [I wouldn’t know that] you’re really missing out.

Jewish summer camp deepened Lauren and her son Jonah’s connection.

RISE UP DO GOOD

“For the most part,” added Jonah, “everyone is really outgoing, and almost everyone there is Jewish and that already gives you something in common with them.”

Together Again On June 17, the Russian Jewish Cultural Center met in person for the first time since March 2020. Mark Klotsman, at 99 years old, gave a speech to mark the occasion.

Lauren concluded, “Any camping experience gives an opportunity for a shared experience. So whether I’m sharing it with Jonah, or he’s sharing it with other campers, we are creating memories and experiences together.”

Making Aliyah During COVID-19 After years of successful medical careers in Ukraine, Stanislav, a doctor, and his wife, Dasha, a registered nurse, made aliyah with their family in April 2020. Your gift has allowed immigration to Israel to continue even in the face of COVID. New Help for Youth Mental Health “The families I’ve worked with so far have made incredible efforts on behalf of their children, but they are looking for help to navigate the more complex resources in our community. I can help them identify how the community can wrap services and support them.”

—Leah Marcus, new Director of Youth Mental Health Services, Jewish Family Service Cincinnati 2030 With community input at all levels, the Cincinnati 2030 Committee, coordinated by the Jewish Federation, is busy building the future of Jewish Cincinnati. Thank you to the more than 600 of you who took our survey.

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Get the Match:

2:1 MATCH

Every new or increased gift will be matched 2:1

$100 BECOMES $300

GIVE TODAY

jewishcincinnati.org/GIVE

“We’re all connected”

Why Giving Back Is a Must for One Couple

Dear friends, I would like to introduce you to two friends of mine and longtime supporters of our community, Rabbi Dr. Richard (Rick) Sarason and his wife Anne Arenstein. They have been giving to our community for decades. As he puts it, “if you’re an American citizen, you pay your taxes. If you’re a Jew, you support the community.”

The Detroit native moved to Cincinnati 42 years ago when he took a faculty position at Hebrew Union College –Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), and he has stayed on at HUC-JIR ever since, becoming director of the Pines School of Graduate Studies five years ago.

Anne spent her career working in museums—starting with the Cincinnati Natural History Museum/Museum Center and then the Taft Museum—as well as writing arts features for CityBeat, and conducting interviews for WVXU’s “Around Cincinnati.” They are strong supporters of the local arts.

“Because of the tremendous community support it receives, Cincinnati’s Jewish community bats above its size,” Rick said. “There is so much the Federation and The Jewish Foundation are doing right now, it’s amazing.

They are building quality of life, building communal connectedness. It’s important to come together, to be together, and to do things together. We’re not just a community, we’re a family.”

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Rabbi Dr. Richard Sarason and his wife, Anne Arenstein, originally bonded over their shared Jewish values and their love of the arts.

Rick admits he’s not as involved now in community work as he used to be, due to professional commitments taking up more of his time, but he still gives, when and how he can. “If you benefit from something, then you have to be willing to give back,” he explained.

“It’s a matter of putting your money where your mouth is: of taking responsibility and not walking away from it.”

Just like Rick and Anne, you are an important supporter of our community. Thank you for all that you do,

Tamara Harkavy Chief Development Officer Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

SPECIAL EDITION: A Year of Impact

Message from Debbie Brant I am so proud of our community and everything it has been able to accomplish this year. The way that our community has been able to rally during this very difficult year gives me great hope for our future.

I am most proud of how resilient we’ve been, how our staff and our volunteers have stepped up, despite personal hardships, to continue to work on behalf of the community. I look forward to seeing you all in person soon, hopefully at the cafe at the JCC or in a meeting, or just walking around our community.

This special insert is to show you a glimpse of the breadth of what we have accomplished together this year.

Because together, we can do almost anything.

Debbie Brant Chair Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

We strive to act with fairness and honor the trust given to us as financial stewards.

By providing innovative new community services, like Shared Business Services, the Federation’s financial framework has grown dramatically over the past decade.

Today it includes funding from multiple sources including our Annual Campaign, Federation-run donor-advised funds, donor-directed gifts, and legacy giving.

To learn more about 2020 grant allocations, visit: jewishcincinnati.org/yourimpact. |5

WHO WE ARE The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati is the backbone that catalyzes our community in common purpose—optimizing community resources, keeping our community safe, and strengthening key organizations. We may come from different places and may express our Jewishness in different ways, but we are unified in our vision to build a flourishing, diverse Jewish community for future generations.

Our Mission: To assure a vibrant Jewish future.

Our Vision: To build a flourishing, inclusive, and diverse Jewish community. We empower everyone to participate through learning, volunteering, leading, and social action. We care for everyone in our community and ensure all have access to a full and meaningful life.

Our Values: Compassion, Courage, Inclusivity, Integrity, and Learning

STORIES OF IMPACT Cincinnati Hillel Prioritizes Students’ Mental Health

Your Dollars Help Fight COVID Seeing the isolation among young adults, Cincinnati Hillel has hosted a mental health series every semester since the spring of 2019. “Students are saying this was the best program that they have done in all their years at Hillel.”

—Rachel Kaplan, Executive Director

Safe In-Classroom Learning Despite Pandemic

Your Dollars Helped Students Thrive Students at Rockwern Academy and Cincinnati Hebrew Day School were able to attend all of the 2020-21 school year in person thanks to your gift to the Federation. You helped supply PPE equipment and cleaning supplies to improve all students’ capacity to learn.

JVS Career Services Fights Job Loss Due to COVID

Your Dollars Helped People Find Jobs JVS Career Services quickly pivoted its services and programming online to help people impacted by job loss due to COVID-19. From online career coaching to weekly webinars on resume building, networking, and LinkedIn, JVCSC helped 305 people to find jobs this year.

JCC Delivers Record Number of Meals to Seniors Your Dollars Funded Lifeline

The Mayerson JCC provided more than 97,000 meals through its Meals on Wheels and Congregate Meals programs—double the amount of pre-pandemic deliveries.

“We rely on the Federation’s support,” said Susan BradleyMeyer, Director of Senior Adult Services.

Jewish Family Service Steps Up to Meet Increased Demand

Your Dollars Kept Families Afloat When COVID came, JFS moved its programming online, and provided access to technology when needed. JFS also helped community members in need pay rent, and have food and clothing. It also grew its care management and counseling to meet the increased need.

So Much Need: Helping Vulnerable Jews Worldwide Your Dollars Help in Ukraine, Russia, Israel

We continued to fund the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee during COVID-19. In addition, the Federation gave significant additional dollars in COVID-19-specific relief funds.

WHO YOU HELPED IN THE PAST YEAR AELITA

ZOHAR

and over 80,000 elderly, impoverished Jews in the former Soviet Union received food, medicine, and home care

and 9,464 others virtually attended locally run Holocaust Awareness programs

JONAH

BEHATI

and 225 other campers built a Jewish identity, a sense of belonging, resilience, life skills, and made lifelong friendships

and 662 other Ethiopian Jews have been assisted in making aliyah

LILAH

KOFI

and hundreds of other job seekers gained more than 305 meaningful jobs, earning over $12.8 million in annualized economic impact in Cincinnati

and 46,600 people of all ages participated in Jewish education programs in the former Soviet Union, Middle East, and Asia

EMMA

STEPHANOS

and 10,800 local children received 10,440 free Jewish books and music CDs

and 183 other local Holocaust survivors received 123,054 hours of homecare assistance

The Honor Roll recognizes our donors, our leaders, and our award winners. The Jewish Federation thanks you for being a partner in all the good work we do. Your generosity and compassion change lives every day. Together, we can do almost anything.

To read the Donor Honor Roll visit

jewishcincinnati.org/honorroll. |7

JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL:

A YEAR OF SUCCESSES

Over the past year, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), the nonpartisan public affairs arm of the Federation, has met the changing times with innovative strategies, new initiatives, and expanded alliances. As a donor, you have been part of this important work. We remain deeply committed to protecting Jewish security, recognizing that Jewish security depends on a just society for all.

Ensuring Jewish Security and Combatting Antisemitism and Hate Hosted new speaker series, “To Bigotry No Sanction;” facilitated “Hate at Home” trainings; and secured an increase in government funding opportunities for Cincinnati organizations vulnerable to hate violence.

Israel Education and Advocacy Supported Israel’s right to defend its citizens; countered bias against Israel in the press; and supported local Jewish teens and young adults dealing with antisemitic and anti-Israel language.

Building Power for Racial Justice Facilitated panels on inter-community strategies for justice, including Black-Jewish alliances; stood united with the Asian American and Pacific Islander community; and testified in favor of police safety and justice reforms.

Government Affairs and Community Advocacy Hosted televised election forum and advocated for COVID-19 relief, Holocaust education and survivor assistance, anti-hate legislation, education choice, bail reform, voter security, and election accessibility.

Civic Engagement and Coalition Building Led a technology drive to connect isolated seniors and support students; cohosted a panel of housing crisis experts; and represented the Jewish community in interfaith and intercommunity conversations and coalitions.

Responded to 18 incidents of antisemitic and other hateful activity in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Convened 47 Cincinnati Jewish organizations in solidarity against antisemitism by hosting 300+ community members and civic allies “under the tent” at the Mayerson JCC. Spearheaded an anti-racism public art campaign, distributing hundreds of solidarity graphics throughout the community.

Advocated for the passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act and the Jabara-Heyer No Hate Act.

Co-founded and led the Greater Cincinnati Voter Collaborative, an alliance of 54 nonpartisan community organizations engaged in voter outreach and support during the 2020 general election.