2017 Annual Report

2017 Annual Report

5000 Corporate Woods Dr. Suite 200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757.965.6100 | info@ujft.org | Facebook.com/UJFTidewater www.JewishVA.org

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater

Mission & Vision Statement Our Mission

The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater strengthens and perpetuates Jewish lives. Through the generosity of your donations, we develop human and financial resources to meet the evolving and vital challenges of our Tidewater and worldwide community, partnering with local, national and global organizations.

We allocate resources to assist Jewish agencies providing healthcare, social services and education, and aid organizations which improve human relations and provide Jewish cultural programs.

We care for those in need, rescue Jews in danger, enhance Jewish security and champion the State of Israel.

By accepting responsibility for one another, we improve the world with acts of righteous giving and social justice.

Our Vision The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater nurtures a vibrant, engaged, inclusive and caring Jewish community whose collective action is guided by our values.

Our Values • Kol Yisrael: We are one People, responsible for one another.

• Tzedakah: We have an obligation to share our resources with our fellow human beings.

• Tikkun Olam: We are to actively participate in repairing the world.

• Gemilut Chasadim: We have a responsibility to perform acts of loving kindness.

• Torah: We are committed to lifelong Jewish learning.

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Letter to the Community 2017 Annual Campaign Gifts received July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 Dear Donors, As our Tidewater Jewish community continues to evolve, what remains constant is a proud community filled with caring, committed, and inspirational individuals.

As a donor to the 2017 United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Annual Campaign, your generosity represents our values and strength, and demonstrates our power to make an impact on the world. Over the past 12 months, you have made possible innumerable acts of chesed – loving kindness for those in need, both near and far. Our community also continues to recommit itself to the love, pride, and solidarity we share with Israel.

Although it would be impossible to list every mitzvah accomplished through your support of the 2017 Annual Campaign, because of you: • 7,720 Meals-on-Wheels were delivered to elderly and homebound community members.

• 17,000 Jews on college campuses, including University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and George Mason University, strengthened their connection to Israel through exchange and living-bridge programming.

• Over 4,600 students in Israel’s peripheral communities were given access to cutting-edge science and math opportunities, affording them the opportunity to reach their full potential.

• 1,500 youths connected to their Jewish identity through Jewish summer camp throughout Eastern Europe and locally at Camp JCC. The Tidewater Federation, through our partnerships with the Jewish Federation of North America, our overseas partners, and partner agencies, is protecting, strengthening, and empowering Jewish futures here at home and around the world.

Thank you for your continued support, because with it we are able to make the world a better place.

Please support the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2018 Annual Campaign.

Laura Gross

John Strelitz

Harry Graber

Campaign Chair

Federation President

Federation Executive Vice President

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What You Make Possible Thanks to your generosity, in 2017 the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater was able to make an impact in the lives of Jews around the world in the critical areas of education, identity, rescue, and welfare. Here at home, throughout Virginia, in Israel and other overseas communities, the lives of Jews were made better, safer and more abundant because of your unwavering support.

EDUCATION • 50 students received scholarships to attend the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater.

• 1,734 middle and high school students explored their ideas of moral courage, prejudice, and the danger of indifference through the Elie Weisel Writing and Visual Arts Competitions.

• 4,600 young students in Israel’s poorest communities were provided access to cutting edge, hands-on educational opportunities.

IDENTITY • 39 scholarships were awarded for local children to attend Camp JCC. • 84 Jewish college students at Virginia Tech were provided a trip to Israel.

• 1,500 young Jews from communities around Easter Europe were provided access to Jewish summer camp.

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RESCUE • 30,594 Olim received Aliyah services including housing, employment and absorption support into Israeli life and culture.

• 3,489 Jews in crisis have been rescued from anti-Jewish governments like in Yemen, Iran, Tunisia, Venezuela, Turkey, and Morocco.

• 105 Jewish institutions in 28 communities around the world received funding to fortify their security.

WELFARE • 510 families and 912 children received support services from Jaffe JFS in Budapest, Hungary.

• 1,000 free trips were provided to senior adults for medical appointments and social activities at the Simon Family JCC. • 7,720 meals were delivered to the elderly and homebound through Jewish Family Service’s Meals on Wheels program.

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EDUCATION IDENTITY RESCUE WELFARE Your support made possible continued access to Jewish education through scholarships that ensure all our local families are able to provide their children with a Jewish education; and in Israel, you provided educational opportunities that ensure all children are given the chance to learn, challenge themselves, and secure a bright future.

Through your gifts, Tidewater’s support of World ORT Kadima Mada’s YOUniversity Centers of Excellence program was expanding to Kiryat Yam providing students from ages 9 to 16 years access to experiential, hands-on activities in science and technology studies. The YOUniversity program offers a variety of year-long courses made up of weekly sessions that take place in ten of the city’s elementary and high schools. To date, approximately 200 students are enrolled in the program with growing participation as World ORT Kadima Mada’s policy is to never turn away any student, regardless of their inability to pay.

Kiryat Yam’s YOUniversity Centers of Excellence program currently offers courses in: • Combative Robots & Robotics • Young Ambassadors & Doctors • Space & Astronomy • Photography • Applications Development • Physics & Rocketry • Website Building & Marketing

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Max, 5th grade student at Or Avner: I think YOUschool is very important because the teacher tutors us personally and we mostly practice the material that I find hard. I had difficulty with verbal problems so the teacher brought work pages and puzzles and explained how to approach and solve them. In the last test, I felt that I managed to deal with the verbal questions and overcome my problem with them.

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EDUCATION IDENTITY RESCUE WELFARE With your gift, the next generation was inspired and excited to engage in Jewish life throughout Israel because of pluralism initiatives; and young Jews throughout Eastern Europe ignited their Jewish identities and empowered the reemergence of a Jewish future from countries devastated by the Shoa and Communism.

Through our partnerships with The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), we are able to fill a vast funding void created by a lack of government and in-country support for pluralism services.

In an effort to foster Jewish pluralism and strengthen diverse expressions of Jewish life in Israel, we support Reform, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox organizations to help them attract new participants who would otherwise be disengaged from Jewish life.

Uri Price, whose son goes to the nursery school of the Reform Movement in Holon (known as Congregation Kodesh v’Hol), participates in Reform Movement activities supported by JAFI. “When we were about to have our fourth child, we looked for an open community in which we could share out approach to Judaism. In Congregation Kodesh v’Hol, we found exactly what we were looking for,” he says. Uri continues: “We found a community that shows children a pluralistic approach to Judaism, and approach that we wanted to impart to our children. We are so thankful for the connections we make by joining the community, and the education system that our childen have been part of in the last few years”.

With your support, each of the religious streams in Israel has the resources they need to achieve measurable objectives, including: • Developing a regional model for Israel’s periphery • Solidifying and guiding young congregants • Providing early childhood resources and programming for families • Providing counseling and therapeutic services for at-risk youth

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EDUCATION IDENTITY RESCUE WELFARE You gift provides the critical resources to respond at a moment’s notice ensuring that Jews in danger anywhere in the world are rescued; and you ensured the protection and safety for Jewish communities’ synagogues, day schools, and other targeted facilities; and with this you brought hope to the most needy Jews.

Your dedication to Jews across the globe- people very different from you, whom you have never met- has brought sustenance, care and hope. Their lives may be marred by poverty and the shadow of communism, yet you recognize their human spirit, and you feel the bond of shared heritage and responsibility.

May 2017 marked the anniversary of a dramatic chapter in Jewish history-Operation Solomon- a covert 1991 operation by Federation partners The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and others to airlift more than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 36 hours. There were dozens of flights, thousands of people, few personal items and five newborns delivered during Operation Solomon. This mission altered the future of thousands and generations to come. Now, 35 years later these passengers are growing families and making dreams a reality in Israel.

When the planes arrived in Israel, a young boy had no idea he would be a track runner pushing himself, not only to the finish line, but toward the dream of an Olympic medal. The voice of a young singer is strong and confident in the spotlight on a stage, her parents could only wish for their daughter before arriving Home.

A female soldier could now join the Israeli military forces and focus on training, while a teacher a short distance away can give the tools and education to a first generation high school graduate. The tune of a children’s orchestra played for a proud audience as a small girl smiles ear-to-ear posing for a photo with her cello. A group of youth accept applause graciously for reaching a milestone.

The future of these families changed forever in those 36 hours in May of 1991. The Federation, in partnership with the JAFI and JDC made this mission a world-renowned accomplishment and your contributions made it possible.

Its moments like these and the anniversary of Operation Solomon that we as a community work toward every day.

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EDUCATION IDENTITY RESCUE WELFARE Your commitment to the Annual Campaign ensured our ability to provide the community’s most vulnerable members access to medical care, healthy kosher meals, and dignity they deserve.

A 40-year-old Jewish woman named Melanie* went to Jewish Family Service of Tidewater (JFS) for counseling to help cope with her marriage of 15 years ending in divorce. She went for weekly individual therapy for about a year, made improvements, and then moved out of the area to live closer to family. Melanie returned to JFS and Tidewater about five years later. She said she called JFS for help because she “knew JFS would be understanding and help me.” She was very depressed and medically ill and had been in and out of the hospital for two months.

As a result of her multiple illnesses, Melanie lost her job because of missing work, and was now a single parent with two young children, receiving minimal child support payments. The family went to JFS for counseling to help cope with the woman’s illnesses, the children’s lack of contact with their dad, and the stresses of mounting unpaid/overdue bills.

JFS was able to provide individual and family counseling to each member of this family. They were also given financial assistance to help with medical bills and rent and received food from the JFS Milk and Honey Food Assistance program. Because they were receiving services during the fall and winter months, Melanie was informed about JFS’s Annual Chanukah Gift Program for children in need. After giving JFS a modest “wish list,” Melanie didn’t know what to expect. Imagine her surprise to find that donors had given her children four boxes filled with new clothes, toys, books, winter coats, and games. Melanie wrote the following note: “You have made a HUGE difference for us this year!!!! It has been such a hard and hopeless year for us and to actually be able to enjoy the holidays is a HUGE blessing! Sometimes we feel like we are forgotten, and to have strangers do so much is really amazing and encouraging….it means the world to someone needing help, as a mother and as a Jew.” *Name changed to protect client confidentiality

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The Federation Impact Continues to Grow Spotlight on a new constituent agency: Minds in Motion

In fiscal year 2017, your contributions provided a unique opportunity for children in Israel through a program called Minds in Motion (MIM). Founded by the Richmond Ballet as a new educational initiative in 1993, Minds in Motion, is a program that provides interaction with groups of students and professional dancers on a long-term basis. The organization was motivated by the belief that it is important for the company to provide services beyond the normal range of performances.

The program began with Jewish students at Beit Yitzhak elementary school and then expanded into a collaborative experience with Arab-Israeli students at Al-Salam in the village of Qalansuwa. After years of dancing separately, the two classes performed together in a culminating performance for an audience of 1,500.

They danced together. As one.

Cat Studdard, the Outreach Director at the Richmond Ballet stated, “At Richmond Ballet, we have a saying, ‘a little up’. It points to our desire for improvement and evolution. We use it as a practice in all of our efforts.

In Minds In Motion that manifests through our understanding of the transformative power of dance. We teach the technical skills of dance alongside a specific theme asking our young dancers each day for ‘a little up’. They move towards a culminating performance which in Israel becomes a shared experience between two different cultures that opens the door for community connections. The students lead the way in uniting their communities through dance.”

The two-week, immersive Minds in Motion residencies in Israel begin with two teaching artists and two musicians, who collectively bring the MIM experience to other the Jewish-Israeli students and the ArabIsraeli students. No matter the cultural setting, Minds in Motion offers students a positive experience with dance and performance. By helping students discover important life and learning lessons, the program fosters: • The development of expressive participation skills concentrating on creativity, self-confidence, focus, and dedication • The improvement of interpersonal skills, building on the values of cooperation, mutual respect, and self-awareness • Relationships between children of all backgrounds • The breaking down of social boundaries and lay the groundwork for collaborative dialogue

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Partner Agencies Allocations Through your generous contributions, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is able to provide life-changing funds to agencies and organizations here at home and around the world, including:

Locally, and in Virginia

Berger-Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village BINA Girls High School Hebrew Academy of Tidewater | Konikoff Center of Learning Hillel at UVA, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, George Mason Jewish Agency Israel Fellow at George Mason University and Virginia Tech Jewish Family Service of Tidewater Simon Family JCC Strelitz Early Childhood Center Synagogue/Temple Youth Groups Toras Chaim United Hebrew School of Tidewater United Jewish Ferderation of Tidewater Community Campus United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Committees & Programs: Community Relations Council Holocaust Commission Maimonides Society Society of Professionals Synagogue Grants Tidewater Together Women’s Outreach Young Adult Outreach Va’ad HaKashrus of Tidewater Yeshivas Aish Kodesh Talmudical Academy

Nationally

Anti-Defamation League Association of Jewish Family & Children’s Agencies Foundation for Jewish Culture Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Jewish Braille Institute Jewish Community Centers Association of North America Jewish Council on Public Affairs

Jewish Education Service of North America Jewish Telegraphic Agency National BBYO National Conference on Soviet Jewry National Funding Council National Hillel

Israel and Overseas

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) Atidim Balint JCC in Budapest Birthright Israel Center For Young Adults, Kiryat Yam Disability Services, including Center for Independent Living, Tel Aviv, Israel Early Childhood Center, Hadera-Kiryat Yam, Israel Elderly Services for Vulnerable Jewish Population, Romania Family Summer Camp, Cristian, Romania Hunger Relief and Other Welfare Programs for Jewish Citizens, the Former Soviet Union JAFI: Pluralism Jaffe Jewish Family Service, Budapest, Hungary The Jewish Agency for Israel Minyanim-Poland Integration Program Mechina Programs for Youth from Kiryat Yam, Israel Minds in Motion Neve Michael Children’s Village Welfare for Elderly Holocaust Survivors, Not Eligible for German Restitution, the Former Soviet Union World ORT World ORT-Dropout Prevention Program, Kiryat Yam, Israel World ORT-Science Lab Renovations at Abiryakov Youth Village School, Nahariya World ORT-YOUniversity, Kiryat Yam, Israel Pardes Katz, Israel Youth Programs in New Bucharest JCC

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Allocations Fiscal Year 2018 Made possible by the generosity of 2017 Annual Campaign donors and sponsors

Local & National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,621,425.60 Israel & Overseas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,279,804 Reserve & Special Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $535,470 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $173,300 Total Funds Allocated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,610,000

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United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Leadership Committees 2016-2017

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers

Jay Klebanoff, President Stephanie Calliott, Secretary Alvin Wall, Treasurer Miles Leon, Immediate Past President

Directors

Marc Abrams Susan Alper Jody Balaban David Brand Bonnie Brand Hugh Cohen Robert Copeland Barbara Dudley Martin Einhorn Andrew Fink Mona Flax Adam Foleck Alan Frieden Leslie Friedman Robert Friedman David Gilbert Steven Gordon Laura Gross Jason Hoffman Abbey Horwitz Karen Jaffe Nathan Jaffe Evan Kalfus Melissa Kass Gary Kell Eddie Kramer Ron Kramer Cindy Krell David Kushner Kevin Lefcoe David Leon Miles Leon Amy Levy Janet Mercadante Jerry Miller Laura Miller Tehilla Mostofsky Joel Nied Andrew Nusbaum Barbara Parks Stephanie Peck Sandra Porter-Leon Howard Rosen Art Sandler 12

Steve Sandler Lonny Sarfan Terri Sarfan Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin Miriam Seeherman Rachel Shames Ben Simon Britt Simon Linda Spindel Ron Spindel Stephanie Steerman John Strelitz Rebecca Tall Brandon Terkeltaub Steven Zuckerman Megan Zuckerman

EXECUTIVE COMMITEE Stephanie Calliott Martin Einhorn Steven Gordon Laura Gross Jay Klebanoff David Kushner David Leon Miles Leon Sandra Porter Leon Barbara Parks Art Sandler Terri Sarfan Britt Simon Linda Spindel Stephanie Steerman John Strelitz Alvin Wall

MEN’S DIVISION CABINET Alan Bartel Gary Bartel David Brand Robert Copeland James Eilberg John Feigenbaum Matthew Fine Alan Frieden Nathan Goldin Steven Gordon Frederic Gross Abbey Horwitz Robert Josephberg

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Leadership Committees 2016-2017

Stewart Kahn Evan Kalfus Jay Klebanoff Edward Kramer Ron Kramer Kevin Lefcoe David Leon Miles Leon Michael Levinson Kirk Levy Mark Lipton Richard Lombart Jerrold Miller Julius Miller Joel Nied Paul Peck Joel Rubin Art Sandler Steve Sandler Leon Sarfan Ben Simon Ronald Spindel Lawrence Steingold John Strelitz Alan Wagner Alvin Wall Steven Warsof Kenneth Weinstein Greg Zittrain

WOMEN’S DIVISION CABINET Stephanie Calliott, Chair Janet Mercadante, Vice Chair Ilana Benson Elyse Cardon Deborah Casey Charlene Cohen Lynn Sher Cohen Leora Drory Barbara Dudley Kim Fink Mona Flax Linda Fox-Garvis Alicia Friedman Sharon Goldner Randi Gordon Kim Gross Laura Gross Susan Hirschbiel Shira Itzhak Jodi Klebanoff Sofia Konikoff Anne Kramer

Cindy Kramer Amy Lefcoe Betty Ann Levin Amy Levy Ina Levy Robin Mancoll Stacie Moss Marcy Mostofsky Sara Jo Rubin Miriam Seeherman Deborah Segaloff Carin Simon Renee Strelitz Dorothy Zimmerman Ashley Zittrain

Honorary Members Dolores Bartel Bonnie Brand Renee Caplan Ann Copeland Dottie Goldman Bootsie Goldmeier Marcia Hofheimer Karen Jaffe Sheila Josephberg Mimi Karesh Phyllis Lannik Amy Levy Ellie Lipkin Karen Lombart Laura Miller Marcia Moss Pansy Perlman Barbara Rosenblum Annabel Sacks Annie Sandler Toni Sandler Terri Sarfan Cheryl Sloane Jane Stein Arlene Strelitz

YOUNG ADULT DIVISION CABINET Steven Zuckerman, Chair Morgan Bober Rabbi Levi Brashevitzky David Calliott Bern Glasser Jennifer Groves Ethan Heben

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United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Leadership Committees 2016-2017

Catherine Heben Jeremy Krupnick Ashley Lemke Eric Miller Fred Rose Jason Rosenberg Jade Rouzeau Danny Rubin Shikma Rubin Jenny Sachs Stephanie Steerman Brandon Terkeltaub Challah Terkeltaub Eliot Weinstein Monique Werby

FINANCE COMMITTEE Steven Gordon, Chair Jody Balaban Gary Bartel David Brand Stephanie Calliott Hugh Cohen Jeff Cooper Robert Copeland Martin Einhorn Alan Frieden Leslie Friedman Robert Friedman Laura Gross Jason Hoffman Abbey Horwitz Evan Kalfus Jay Klebanoff Eddie Kramer Ron Kramer Miles Leon Matt Mancoll Jerry Miller Andrew Nusbaum Paul Peck Art Sandler Lonny Sarfan Terri Sarfan Jeffrey Saunders Britt Simon Ron Spindel Lawrence Steingold John Strelitz Rebecca Tall Brandon Terkeltaub Alvin Wall 14

ISRAEL & OVERSEAS Barbara Parks, Chair Susan Alper Beth Berman Bonnie Brand David Brand Barbara Dudley Mona Flax Adam Foleck Nathan Jaffe Gary Kell Jodi Klebanoff Kevin Lefcoe Shawn Lemke Mark Lipton Robin Mancoll Janet Mercadante Laura Miller Barbara Parks Shikma Rubin Annabel Sacks Annie Sandler Rachel Shames Ben Simon Linda Spindel Sara Trub

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL Steering Committee Jeffrey Brooke Barbara Dudley Andrew Fox Kevin Lefcoe Brad Lerner Amy Levy Joel Nied Shikma Rubin Ashley Zittrain Megan Zuckerman

Members

Marc Abrams Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz Marilyn Ashe Jody Balaban Dolores Bartel Michael Blachman Morgan Bober Raizel Cooke Scott Debb Barry Einhorn

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Leadership Committees 2016-2017

Harvey Eluto Susan Feit Sheldon Fineman Mona Flax Bern Glasser Bootsie Goldmeier Rabbi Sender Haber Dorothy Hughes Mimi Karesh Alene Kaufman Ronald Kaufman Brad Klavan Michael Knepler Robert Lehman Sandra Porter Leon Betty Ann Levin Scott Levin Ellie Lipkin Rabbi Rosalin Mendelberg Alyssa Muhlendorf Harry Pincus Judy Rohn Arthur Rosenfeld Bob Rubin Joel Rubin Rabbi Gavriel Rudin Ruth Schepper Miriam Seeherman Patti Seeman Fay Silverman Mark Solberg Ariel Stein Sandy Tabachnick Sharon Wasserberg Becky Winstead-Roberts Rick Yarow Greg Zittrain Rabbi Israel Zoberman

HOLOCAUST COMMISSION Rachel Abrams Paula Alperin Marilyn Ashe Wendy Juren Auerbach Lauren Barkan Joan Benas Betty Berklee Elise Berkowitz Lisa Bertini Eleanor Brooke Elyse Cardon Dana Cohen Lisa Cohn

Rebecca Dreyfus Bronia Drucker Randi Dunlap Rachel Feigenbaum Debby Fink Kim Fink Gail Flax Anne Fleder Alicia Friedman Karen Gilbert Stacey Goldman Lizzie Goulart Betty Greenspan Marilyn Hechtkopf Mickey Held Dorothy Hughes Susan Igareda Freida Igdal Dale Jacobs Carol Jason Betsy Karotkin Arlene Kessel Jodi Klebanoff Ronnie-Jane Konikoff Tom Lee Ina Leiderman Sandra Porter Leon Shelley Loeb Joan London Martin Mandelberg Vivian Margulies Elka Mednick Rena Myers Mark Nataupsky Nancy Rosenberg Abbott Saks Kitty Saks Deborah Segaloff Leslie Siegel Phyllis Sperling Sonia Stein-Bonnie Sue Ellen Teach Michelle Waterman Louisa Weintraub Valerie Brodsky White Lynn Woods Ronnie Yancey Rabbi Israel Zoberman Megan Zuckerman

HINENI

Morgan Bober Sharon Debb

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United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Leadership Committees 2016-2017

Scott Debb Michael Frieder Rachel Frieder Amy Gladstein Andy Gladstein Byron Harrell Amie Harrell Erica Kaplan Scott Kaplan Jeremy Krupnick Eric Miller Jillian Sachs Scott Sachs Jade Rouzeau

SUPER SUNDAY Brandon Terkeltaub, Chair Ethan Heber, Co Vice-Chair Eric Miller, Co Vice-Chair Rachel Kane Andrea Karelitz Amy Kurfist Sam Molofsky Pam Trompeter Paul Weiner Robyn Weiner

SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONALS Steering Committee Stacey Nueman, Co-Chair Greg Zittrain, Co-Chair Julius Miller Shira Itzhak Jonathan Rose Neil Waranch

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You are the fuel

that powers the change

that betters the world.

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