Federation Impact Winter 2021

FEDERATION

IMPACT

You give our Jewish community a better future

WINTER 2021

jewishcincinnati.org

HOW YOU HELP:

JCC Meal Program Delivers Record Number of Meals During Pandemic Cont’d on page 2

“You never know who will be impacted. You go into some of these homes to find the cupboards bare.”

—Chris Ellison, Assistant Director, 60 & Better Senior Center

JCC MEAL PROGRAM DELIVERS RECORD NUMBER OF MEALS DURING PANDEMIC

“We give people so much more than food through these meal deliveries—we give them hope, and being part of that is an amazing feeling.”

—Chris Ellison This “new normal” that COVID-19 has created is likely going to continue for the next several months.

The Mayerson JCC is helping seniors adjust to that new normal by making sure that all people who need help with nutrition are receiving it.

JCC staff and volunteers are leaders in the region when it comes to meal distribution.

Mayerson JCC’s 60 & Better Senior Center’s Director, Susan Bradley-Meyer, and Assistant Director, Chris Ellison, understand how imperative their meal delivery services are for the community. Through your gifts to the Federation, the Mayerson JCC is able to provide two impactful services: Meals on Wheels and Congregate Meals. The number of meals delivered to clients’ homes almost doubled from 2019 to 2020, increasing from an already significant 59,721 to 97,323 meals delivered.

Ellison spoke about how critical these services are and explained, “We give people so much more than food through these meal deliveries—we give them hope, and being part of that is an amazing feeling.”

Your Help Brings Our Community Together Women’s Philanthropy Not Stopped by COVID

“IT’S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO REACH OUT AND HELP OTHERS, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME.” —Alison Caller, chair of Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s Women’s Philanthropy

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Women’s Philanthropy, a part of the Jewish Federation, has accomplished many projects to help the community, and bring women together safely, despite the difficulties of gathering during COVID. These include: • teaming up with Most Valuable Kids to help their Girls with Pearls program, which helps potentially isolated girls have regular special themed packages to look forward to.

• helping supply the Jewish Family Service Heldman Family Food pantry with fresh challahs for the High Holidays.

• creating a new event for the holidays, the Honey Cakes Mitzvah, where they purchased and delivered honey cakes to every Jewish senior resident of Cedar Village and The Kenwood.

• safely accomplishing an annual signature event, their Thanksgiving Mitzvah, which gives a free Thanksgiving meal to those in need. They created more than 100 packages, both kosher and non-kosher.

College Students Get Help with Stress, Isolation of Pandemic Cincinnati Hillel and Hillel at Miami University Protect Young Adults and Teen Mental Health

YOUR GIFT

helps young Jewish adults facing the stress of isolation and depression.

The pandemic has disrupted everyone’s lives.

But it’s been especially hard on those who are just venturing out into adulthood. Teens and young adults can suffer due to social isolation and financial hardship. That’s why the COVID-19 Relief Fund, led by the Federation, funded special programming at Cincinnati Hillel and Hillel at Miami University.

Rachel Kaplan, the Executive Director of Cincinnati Hillel, said, “Even before COVID, one of the top mental health issues facing college students was loneliness. COVID has amplified that to the tenth degree. Many freshmen are feeling isolated, having met few other students in person and having to do at least 80 percent of their classes online. This funding enables students to choose connections and support—from art therapy to group Jewish learning.”

IN BRIEF

Whitney Fisch, the Executive Director at Hillel at Miami University, concurred, saying, “College students during this time of COVID are being

Sherri and Adam Symson—our new Annual Campaign Chairs—have embraced the Cincinnati Jewish community since moving here 17 years ago.

Students such as these from Hillel at Miami University are actually at higher risk of stress and isolation than Jewish seniors in our community.

required to do everything we told them not to do—hole up inside, stare at a screen all day, and deprive yourself of face-to-face interactions. [Now we can] train peer educators to help students provide concrete tools for anxiety relief and stress management.”

“Cincinnati is a world-class Jewish community by design, and a lot of hard work. It’s on all of us to continue that tradition.” —Adam Symson He and his wife Sherri are the chairs of the 2021 Annual Campaign.

“COVID-19 is just as new for the therapists as it was for the clients. Our staff have become experts in telemedicine, all while having to care for their own families and deal with their own fears.” —Leslie Brody, Director of Care Management, Counseling & Crisis Intervention, Jewish Family Service “COVID-19 fatigue is real! Some strategies: Get up and move. Be gracious to yourself. Keep your sleep schedule regular. Make an effort to stay connected. Find time for gratitude.” —Ann Stromberg, Emotional Wellness Counselor, JVS Career Services |3

Please renew or give again today.

2:1 MATCH

Every new or increased gift will be matched at 2 to 1—so your $100 becomes $300.

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Robert and Marcy Klein: “Little Scars that We All Share” Dear friends, I want to share with you this story Robert Klein told about recent losses for him and his wife, Marcy: “My parents taught me so much about their Jewish values, the things worth valuing, how to view your community, how you treat others,” he said. He followed their example.

“I have a simple place in the community,” said Robert, “but I’ve always done what I can for it. I don’t hide in a corner. Instead, I raise my hand and say, ‘How can I help?’”

COVID has been hard. Tragically, Robert lost both of his parents last year shortly after the lockdown. “We lost my mom first,” Robert said. “It was heartbreaking. My dad was at that funeral, and we couldn’t even throw dirt on my mom’s grave. It sounds trivial, but it’s a simple moment that we couldn’t have. We couldn’t comfort each other.” Hospice would not allow the family to visit his mother until the very last day.

Robert lost his father two months later. “[Despite the lockdown,] we were allowed to come in. We were able to be with him during those last few days.” Although neither passed away from COVID, not being able to mourn his parents in the same way was painful.

“I’m very, very sympathetic to anyone that’s going through this,” Robert said, “but those memories will be 4|

Robert and Marcy Klein (with sons Jay and Jonathan) are passionate about our Jewish community.

there permanently. They’re like little scars that we all share, that somehow bind us all together.”

But Robert can see a silver lining: “I’m overwhelmed by how many people have reached out. It just reinforced everything Marcy and I knew about our community. We are so grateful to be a part of this.”

Robert and Marcy, know that we share your sorrow, and are moved by your bravery.

To everyone who has suffered loss recently— our hearts are with you.

Please, stay safe, and be well,

Danielle V. Minson President Jewish Federation of Cincinnati