Federation Impact Spring 2022

FEDERATION

IMPACT

You give our Jewish community a better future

SPRING 2022

jewishcincinnati.org

YOU TEACH SOLUTIONS TO EXTREMISM AND HATE —Story on p. 2

“Anytime you are inclined to engage, pause first, and ask yourself: do I want to shame and attack? Or check my own assumptions?”

—Dr. Peter Coleman

FINDING LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO HATE Your Gift Teaches Leaders How to Talk Across Divides

Dr. Peter Coleman of Columbia University, the final speaker for the Leaders in Light Institute, was the most anticipated. Why? Because this leadership program is trying to solve arguably the most crucial issue of our time: how to fight extremism and hate. And that is Coleman’s life work.

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), a part of the Federation, created this two-year-long institute, the first of its kind. The first cohort of 27 leaders is halfway through.

After teaching the cohort, Coleman spoke at the Mercantile Library on evidence-based methods for reducing toxic polarization. In part, he said:

“The 27 extraordinary civic leaders who constitute the 2022 cohort represent a powerful healing force in the community.”

–Dr. Peter Coleman

1. Don’t shame or attack—it doesn’t work.

2. You have to believe the other side is open to change.

3. Don’t see issues as only having two sides—to allow for multiple sides refutes the logic of polarization.

Coleman remained optimistic, telling the cohort: “You’re like a group of superheroes.”

You Make 200 Years of Jewish History in Cincinnati Come Alive Cincinnati Museum Center Hosts One-of-a-Kind Exhibit

One of the stories in the Our Shared Story exhibition is about Cincinnati Reds announcer Harry Hartman, who coined the phrase “going, going, gone!”

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Have you heard of Frank’s RedHot Sauce? The American Israelite?

The Cincinnati Reds? Standard Textile? Federated Department Stores? Fleischmann’s Yeast? How about the polio vaccine or the Heimlich maneuver? Each is important to Cincinnati’s story, and each has Jewish connections. For Jews, Cincinnati has been home for 200 years, and the Jewish Bicentennial Committee, organized by the Federation, is helping everyone to celebrate.

The Cincinnati Museum Center, in collaboration with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC) and the Jewish Bicentennial Committee, is hosting a one-of-a-kind exhibit celebrating 200 years of Jewish Cincinnati, starting April 29.

It is the biggest public event of the year-long Bicentennial celebration.

“From the creation of the Chestnut Street Cemetery in the 1820s to the diverse and growing community we have today, the city we love has been and will continue to be deeply influenced by the Jewish community,” said Sarah Weiss, CEO of the HHC, and one of the curators of the exhibit.

YOUR GIFT

Your Federation is Built for This

We have raised over $550,000 to help Ukraine You, as a donor to the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, which is part of a system of 146 Federations, are helping Ukrainians in crisis.

Approximately one-third of every dollar given to the Annual Campaign goes to Federation’s partner agencies abroad. In addition, our Federation’s special Cincinnati campaign has raised over $550,000 for Ukraine relief.

helps Ukrainian Jews

“What is surprising,” says Federation CEO Danielle V. Minson, “is that we are getting donations from all over the country. People are looking for a safe, efficient way to help Ukraine.”

After a tour of the Poland/Ukraine border, leaders of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) recently spoke to the strength of the Federation system: “Our ability to respond to these challenges is a direct result of the investment we make year in and year out in the infrastructure of the Jewish community,” wrote Mark Wilf, Chair, JFNA Board of Trustees, and Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO, JFNA.

RISE UP, DO GOOD

“There is no doubt in our minds that our amazing Federation system will be there every step of the way, as we already are. We will respond to

“The most difficult thing is to explain to my 3-year-old daughter that the war has begun.

We’re scared, yes. So, I’m very grateful to all the Jewish organizations in Ukraine” —Vitaly, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee professional, Kyiv

the humanitarian needs, we will help bring as many new olim [immigrants] to Israel as possible, [and] we will lobby our governments to accept all Ukrainian refugees of all faiths.”

The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati joins global effort: We are committed to helping the Jewish community in Ukraine. Please help by donating at: jewishcincinnati.org/Ukraine.

Ukraine hotline: The Jewish Family Service Ukraine Hotline, at (513) 766-3333, helps connect family and friends living in Cincinnati with the resources available to help those overseas. “This situation is very real and very personal to our clients and coworkers with family members in Ukraine.

Many are people we helped resettle in our region as they fled antisemitism in the former Soviet Union.

This hotline is the first of many steps we are taking to provide help.” –Liz Vogel, CEO, JFS. Action steps: Our national umbrella organization, the Jewish Federations of North America, is calling on Congress for next steps to welcome support for 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. You can take action and find out more here: jewishfederations. |3 org/crisis-in-ukraine2022

You are needed.

The deadline to give to the 2022 Annual Campaign is May 31.

Get the match—give today. give.jewishcincinnati.org

Some Feel-Good News Dear friends, In this spring issue, I want to share with you some feel-good news—the story of community members Scott and Trish Joseph.

The Josephs are both doctors and moved here for a work opportunity for Scott. His position at the VA gave him evenings and weekends off, allowing him to take an active role within the Jewish community.

“I used to say Scott’s hobby was being Jewish,” joked Trish. “He was involved in so many things.”

Scott and Trish Joseph in Israel, celebrating the wedding of Amit Bachar, the first of two Chaverim m’Israel they hosted.

“I’d say that 90 percent of my social life is with Jewish people surrounding Jewish activities. And so I’ve gotten a lot from the community, and donating and creating a legacy gift is our way of giving back,” says Scott.

were brothers. “Their family has become our family, and they will be the first ones we visit once COVID allows,” said Scott. Scott concluded, volunteering is “an incredibly gratifying experience. As soon as you find your niche, it’s easy to become active.”

“My real passion,” said Scott, “is the P2G [Partnership2Gether] Committee at the Federation. I spent 13 years, and six-and-a-half of them as cochair, on that committee.”

Thank you to each of you—volunteers, lay leaders, Annual Campaign donors, and legacy donors—for all that you do for our community. I hope you enjoy the blossoms, the longer days, and the warmer weather.

The couple considers Israel a second home. “That never would have happened without P2G,” said Scott. The program strengthens the communities of Cincinnati and Netanya, Israel, by creating ongoing, reciprocal people-to-people connections. Through P2G, the Josephs have hosted two of Cincinnati’s Chaverim m’Israel, or Friends from Israel; young emissaries from Israel, who

Tamara Harkavy Chief Development Officer Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

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