it’s a wrap Leigh Baltuch receives Endowment Achievement Award
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ach year, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the organization that unites Jewish Federations and independent Jewish communities throughout the world, presents outstanding leaders with the Endowment Achievement Award. This award is to honor the recipient’s dedication to their community and tikkun olam. The Tidewater Jewish Foundation works closely with JFNA in this process and nominated a member of its board of directors, Dr. Leigh Baltuch. The following was submitted to JFNA for consideration: A New Jersey native, Leigh Baltuch, M.D. is a successful psychiatrist and committed philanthropist. Leigh and wife Linda have been members of Temple Israel for over 20 years, and he has worked tirelessly during this time to create permanent resources to ensure their Temple’s future. Leigh is a past president and treasurer of Temple Israel, and is currently president of the Temple Israel Foundation and a Board member of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation. He is a valued member of the Temple’s Men’s Club and the Seaboard Region Federated Jewish Men’s Club and a recipient of the Blue Yarmulke Man of the Year Award. In addition, Leigh also continues to serve the community as a volunteer with the American Red Cross as a Disaster Mental Health Supervisor. Hampton Roads is fortunate to have such a dedicated member serving its community, and we are delighted to honor Leigh with this award.
Leigh Baltuch and Philip Rovner.
On Temple Israel’s future, Rabbi Michael Panitz says, “While still serving our long-time members and enjoying their participation, we are increasingly engaging a new and younger generation—a generation interested in a Jewish life of learning and caring, of socializing as well as of spirituality. Thus our past gives us direction for our future.” The time and energy Baltuch has dedicated to the Temple Israel Foundation has secured the future for the next generations of Temple Israel congregants. Baltuch was presented the Endowment Achievement Award at the June 11 meeting of TJF’s board of directors.
HAZAK at The Chrysler by Dorothy Zimmerman
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pproximately two years ago, Congregation Beth El formed HAZAK, a group to bring together senior congregants interested in synagogue-based events, as well as cultural offerings. The HAZAK committee meets monthly to plan and organize programs. So far a variety of experiences have been offered, including a tour of an orchid conservatory, a talk by a political analyst and a demon-
stration by a renowned glass artist who specializes in Judaica. On June 12, 26 participants (the size of the group was limited) toured the Chrysler Museum with Dr. Jefferson Harrison, chief curator. It was an opportunity to view the renovated premises with in-depth explanations of the reasoning behind the redesign of the galleries and the new spaces. The group saw how the displays have been enhanced with more contemporary and less cluttered galleries. The flow from one
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Kids helping Kids: Mitzvah moments to help young children transition into foster care. Students used the tzedakah funds they collected throughout the school year to purchase the backpacks and then solicited contributions from all the Strelitz preschool families to fill them. Generous donations In June, the Strelitz preschool’s four-year-old class donated several backpacks to the Up Center of Hampton Roads. These backpacks were filled with essential and comforting piled into the classitems to help young children transition into foster care. room, resulting in enough supplies to fill seven backpacks to by Lorna Orleans, incoming director, the brim—four for infants and three for Strelitz Early Childhood Center children ages three and four. Representatives from the Up Center hile watching television one spring day this year, Strelitz preschool stu- visited the students in June to accept the dent Conner Drohobyzcer was moved by donations. As this mitzvah evolved, Connor and a commercial about under-privileged children. He immediately wanted to send them his classmates learned many life lessons his toys to make them feel better. Connor’s such as the meaning of foster care. They parents, Alex Drohobyzcer and Shawn also learned that their concerns and ideas Mollen, saw a teachable moment and seized may be put into action when working as the opportunity. The two were involved a team—and how those actions can have in training at the Up Center of Hampton tremendous positive impact on children Roads, an organization that provides foster and others in times of great need. Never underestimate the power of a care and adoption services for children. A plan was hatched, and Connor enlisted the Strelitz preschooler to change the world. Strelitz Early Childhood Center is a reciphelp of his four-year-old classmates. Connor’s class spearheaded a project to ient agency of United Jewish Federation of supply the Up Center with backpacks filled Tidewater. with both essential and comforting items
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space to the next is much improved. Gone are the small rooms with walls, which created obstacles for easy passage. The glass collection, one of the best in the nation, shines. The major pieces are highlighted, each one stands out and allows the viewer easy access. Other sections of the museum have also benefited. Harrison has been with the museum for more than 30 years, and worked with Walter Chrysler, who was the moving force and the major contributor to the collection. Zan Salzburg, who took the tour, says, “My wife Diane and I have been to the museum many times. However this visit
was special. Jeff Harrison was extremely informative and at the same time amusingly witty.” After the tour, several people had lunch in the relocated restaurant, “Wisteria.” Its location right off Huber Court, the main lobby of the museum, is a great improvement and now offers an outside patio. Cuisine and Company continues to manage the restaurant, and the food is excellent. The tour of the Chrysler with an outstanding guide was a success and HAZAK members are looking forward to the next program.