Chesed Home Open House this Week

Raising American Jews Through an Israeli Lens

Written by: Jennie Starr (Founder and Director of the Tarbuton Israeli Cultural Center)

My daughter was born, and we didn’t know what Synagogue we’d belong to, or if she’d go to Jewish Day School, but we knew we wanted her to be “Happily Jewish” and strongly connected to Israel from our home far away in San Diego, CA. We’d do Shabbat at home, celebrate the Holidays with friends and send her to Jewish Summer camp. But, she needed her own Jewish friends for it to be meaningful. Not just our friends, but hers. I was raised by an Israeli father who did not want to go to Synagogue. He’d had enough in the Israeli Orthodox orphanage camp he was raised in as an immigrant during the war and wanted no part of it; though he filled our home with Jewish tradition at holiday time, i.e. Shabbat every Friday, he read us the Megillat Esther at Purim, built a Sukkah each year among other things, and, lucky me, made Israeli food and music staples in our home.

I was recently asked why I built the Tarbuton, and it’s not an easy answer. Why did I spend the last 7 years of my life, volunteering 40-60 hrs/week building an Israeli Cultural Center for Americans and Israelis with Israeli culture, Modern Hebrew and Jewish Education at its heart? I didn’t feel I had a choice. I could not hope someone else would do it for me. I knew no one would. My youngest was turning 3, and I had a son on the way. They needed these programs and it couldn’t wait.

I had terrible Synagogue Sunday School and Jewish Day School experiences, though I’m sure there were hard working, underpaid, Jewish professionals behind these programs. The experiences were bad enough that even my American mother, an educator, agreed to pull me out when she observed the lack of substance, failures of discipline and unhappy kids. We never found a suitable program for any extended period of time, though my mother was motivated. I didn’t want my kids to be dragged by an unsatisfied parent, which I seemed also destined to be, in and out of different Jewish programs, with different kids, never quite finding a Jewish community of their own.

In addition to all those things, I wanted their Jewish life to be filled with educators and a community passionate about Israel. I could not stomach putting my children into a Jewish environment that would “undo” our work to inspire our children’s connection to Israel. Several real life experiences provide illustrations. In the first, a Synagogue Sunday school teacher asked me for introductions to an Israeli who served in the IDF and believed in conscientious objection so she could teach her elementary aged Sunday school students that people can opt not to serve in the military. I couldn’t understand why this subject was relevant in a Sunday School, let alone as part of her Israel education unit. In the second, I had heard that a local Rabbi gave a beautiful gift of a trip to Israel to a bar mitzvah boy but warned from the pulpit, that the family should use the ticket when it was “safe to go;” a public, chilling and conflicted message indeed. 

I wanted my kids instilled with a love and passion for Modern Israel, a deep and lifelong connection filled with positive images and visits. I wanted my kids to understand Israel and Israelis. Much of our family lives in Israel. I couldn’t accept anything less. And Hebrew was very important too. I couldn’t speak Hebrew, but I knew I wanted my kids to. I wanted them to feel at home, because they could understand and engage in everything around them when in Israel, something I hadn’t been able to do as a child when we visited and I was left out unable to participate in family conversations in Hebrew. 

Silly, I know. We weren’t planning to make Aliyah. I still don’t know if we will. But, I wanted them to be so connected to Israel that they would tell you, “I’m an American, but I am also passionate about Israel, and let me tell you how amazing Israel is.” I looked at our Synagogue and JCC options and while they were filled with dedicated Jewish professionals and multitudes of programs, the programs were filled with songs I didn’t recognize, few if any in Hebrew, there was little if any Israel or Israelis in their programs, knowledge of Modern Hebrew in their staffing, and none gave me hope they would ever want or be able to provide these things.

For the last 7 years, my children have attended the Tarbuton Israeli Cultural Center program where they have made American and Israeli friends who are passionate about Israel, they have studied Modern Hebrew in a high quality program taught by Israelis, studied Judaism with admired and respected teachers, and celebrated Jewish Holidays with a core group of many of the same friends experientially, usually outdoors, and with Israeli music. They’ve done so conveniently in classes at our Center, but also in Tarbuton classes offered after their bell at their elementary public school in what we believe may be one of if not the first District’s Enrichment program. 

They sing and dance in Tarbuton performing groups at the Yom Haatzmaout Festival and at our House of Israel sharing their passion for Israel with the public. My kids are, I’m very grateful to say, so far, “Happily Jewish”. We visit Israel every summer and the kids love Israeli music, are hummus and schwarma connoisseurs, and discerning Israeli visitors to their favorite historical and modern sites, beaches, and restaurants. The kids understand Hebrew well enough to feel comfortable in “their Keitana”, the summer camp they call their own, in Israel, and to respond in Hebrew when they need to with a passably authentic Hebrew “resh.” It hasn’t been easy, and it’s not always perfect, but it has been and continues to be our privilege to enrich our children and the community’s lives on this Jewish journey through an Israeli Lens. 

Jennie Starr is the Founder and Director of the Tarbuton Israeli Cultural Center in San Diego. She advocates for Hebrew Language Charter Schools, introduced Hebrew classes in elementary public schools and serves on her District DELAC Board, for English language support (ESL), and encouraging maintenance of Heritage language skills too. The Tarbuton was recognized this year by Slingshot as a top 50 innovative Jewish organization in North America. The Tarbuton is also proud to be part of the new Nitzan network. The Tarbuton is a recipient of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County Innovation Grants 2011, 2012 and of the Leichtag Foundation 2011, 2012. If you are interested learning more about our Center and programs, contact us at info@tarbuton.org

via http://www.nitzan.org/blog.html   

Your Dollars Make the Difference - Israel Terror Relief Report

The Jewish People respond in times of crisis. The moment that Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense was launched seven weeks ago, Federations from across North American rallied together to create an Israel Terror Relief Fund (ITRF) of $5,000,000, including over $50,000 donated from our incredible community. Seven weeks ago, the crisis was crippling Israel’s South, holding its citizens under siege and causing untold harm, in particular to vulnerable populations. This immediate and generous response funded programs across the impacted region bringing help and hope to thousands of Israelis while garnering praise for the collective work of our Federations. 

In partnership with JFNA, we are pleased to provide you with detailed material about the allocation process and the programs that were funded. You can read about those programs here.

Among the resources provided, you will find an overview of the process, documents outlining the various rounds of allocations, specific grant amounts, grantee details, program descriptions, and geographical locations in which programs were implemented. Our commitment to transparency and efficient use of your donation is paramount; we hope that you, our generous donors, will find this information interesting and useful. After all, it is YOU who made it all possible.

We are truly proud and inspired anew by our system’s efficient and effective response, and by the awesome response of our community. Together, WE can do extraordinary things.

Let us hope that our emergency protocols will not be activated again for a long time to come.

Slingshot San Diego: Strengthening Community - February 12

If you are interested in learning more about innovative responses to the changing needs of Jewish people in San Diego and communities across the U.S., please save the date Tuesday, February 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. to be part of a Slingshot San Diego gathering. Hosted by the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, New York based Slingshot and the 2030 Project, and cosponsored by Congregation Beth Israel. Slingshot San Diego is designed for all San Diegans who are excited about innovation as a strategy for increasing Jewish engagement, caring and connection to Israel.

The New York based Slingshot, which was created to ensure that Judaism remains relevant and engaging in the 21st Century, annually produces a respected resource guide recognizing the top 50 Jewish innovation projects in North America. Facilitated by Will Schneider, Slingshot Executive Director, this gathering of members of the San Diego Jewish community including investors, board members, professionals and Federation grantees, will provide participants an opportunity to align their values with promising organizations and projects dedicated to strengthening Jewish life. At the end of the convening, participants will decide where to grant $10,000 to support innovation locally and nationally.

Slingshot San Diego will also be held in partnership with Congregation Beth El, Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Congregation Beth Am, and Temple Solel. If you would like to learn more about the 18 innovation projects supported by the Jewish Federation and outstanding organizations nationwide, please RSVP to leew@jewishfederationsandiego.org. Please list the Jewish organizations with which you are most closely involved with, if any. 

This event will be held at Congregation Beth Israel at 9001 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, CA, 92122. Space is limited with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Light kosher refreshments will be served.

Be the change that strengthens our community!

Gift From IRA Could Mean Tax Benefits – For You!

Congress reinstated the IRA Charitable Rollover for 2012 and 2013 as part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) passed on January 1, 2013. If you are 70.5 years or older, you may make a gift up to $100,000 per year to the Jewish Federation of San Diego County from your IRA with no federal income tax impact. To obtain the benefits of the IRA Charitable Rollover for the 2012 taxable year, you must do one of the following:

• If you received a distribution from your IRA in December 2012, you may make a cash gift to Federation no later than January 31, 2013 and elect to qualify this transfer for exclusion from your 2012 income as a direct qualified charitable distribution pursuant to the provisions of ATRA.
  
• If you did not instruct your plan administrator to make a qualified charitable distribution in 2012 (in the hopes that Congress would pass this law), and you would like to do so now, you can instruct your IRA plan administrator to transfer up to $100,000 directly to the Federation no later than January 31, 2013, and it can be a qualified charitable distribution for the 2012 taxable year.

The IRA Charitable Rollover is available through 2013. If you make a qualifying IRA Charitable Rollover in January 2013 and report it as an IRA Charitable Rollover for the 2012 tax year, you are still eligible to claim up to an additional $100,000 in IRA Charitable Rollover contributions in 2013.

We urge you to act soon to take advantage of this opportunity to make your Annual Campaign gift or to create an endowment to support the Annual Campaign or another charitable area for which you are passionate.

Call Lance Yeamen, Donor Services Manager, at 858-571-3444 for additional information. Of course, we encourage you to seek the advice of your professional advisor before you make a charitable IRA Rollover gift.

Additional Details: Unlike a cash withdrawal from your IRA, your direct contribution will be excluded from income for federal purposes and not taxed. It will not be eligible for a charitable tax deduction, but it will not count toward the annual percentage limitation on your other deductible gifts. Your direct contribution cannot be made to donor advised funds, supporting organizations, split-interest trusts or in exchange for gift annuities. Your qualified distribution may be includable in your income for state and local tax purposes, and an offsetting charitable deduction may not be available.

The views expressed here are not intended, nor may they be relied upon, as legal, accounting or other professional advice.

OPTIONS 2013 Hosts a Record Breaking Evening

Campbell Brown

The energy of volunteerism and spirit of generosity were contagious at OPTIONS 2013. Nearly 1,000 San Diego Jewish women of all ages and backgrounds gathered at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on Sunday, January 13, 2013 for an incredible evening of philanthropy, community and sharing. Mothers and daughters, sisters, and friends came together to celebrate Women’s Philanthropy and learn what more could be done for both the local community and our Jewish communities overseas.

Generously underwritten by Pauline Foster and the Foster Family Foundation, this year’s OPTIONS opened the communal tent by inviting younger women to attend at a significant discount. “We are so excited to be here,” commented Leah Newman and Katie Franko, “six of us carpooled here!” Leah, the Assistant Director of Hillel at UCSD, noted that it was nice to see “intergenerational women coming together for the same cause, and we appreciate the underwriting that allowed us to be here and meet so many leaders in our community.”

Federation board President Claire Ellman was thrilled with the turnout, observing that there were so many new people taking advantage of the wonderful opportunity for Jewish women to get together. “We are honored to have Pauline Foster and the Foster Family Foundation underwrite this event, and we are grateful for her vision of encouraging young people who haven’t attended in the past to take this opportunity to learn about the Federation and celebrate its work in the community.”

Laura Tauber, Pauline Foster, Jessica Effress, Leslie Fastlicht Russo, and Danielle Shulman, Lori Polin

Co-chaired by Jessica Effress, Leslie Fastlicht Russo, and Danielle Shulman, the evening featured remarkable stories on how the Federation’s financial and emotional contributions, both in Israel and San Diego, have helped two very different women overcome their challenges. Tzipi Zipper, a young Israeli woman who had served as a commander in a special combat unit in the Israeli Defense Force, was confined to a wheelchair following a car accident. She spoke of how she found new meaning in her life and a new career path after volunteering at the Center for Independent Living, an agency in Israel established by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and supported by the Federation. Local community member Alexandra Hirschhorn, originally from Mexico City, discussed her Federation involvement not only through her own contributions, but also through the services her family receives from the Friendship Circle, a Federation-supported group. With a daughter with cerebral palsy, Alexandra and her family relocated to San Diego to seek out support for her daughter’s physical health. What they discovered when they arrived was the crucial support for her daughter’s heart and soul that Federation helped to provide. 

Tzipi Zipper shares her story

The meaningful words of Tzipi, a stranger but also a friend, displayed Federation’s vital work in Israel to support people young and old, whatever they may need. Alexandra’s story showcased part of what makes Federation’s work so significant for local families: a family that receives what they themselves can not provide, but also gives back to the Federation so that others may benefit as they have.

The evening concluded with some personal words from special guest speaker Campbell Brown, both a journalist and a woman who has come to love and embrace the Jewish community as her own. Commenting that OPTIONS was the largest Federation group she had ever spoken to, Ms. Brown discussed her conversion process prior to her marriage to Dan Senor, author of Start-Up Nation. She described how concept of tikkun olam, healing the world, is what struck her in all her learning, observing that “nobody understands this [value] better than the people in this room.” Ms. Brown reinforced that philanthropy is a strength of the American Jewish community, and this strength, plus love, can be a power for good in our larger communities both near and far.

OPTIONS was not only a celebration of values such as tikkun olam but also an example of them. The evening’s attendees were asked to bring new children’s pajamas to be collected at the door that will be distributed to G’mach – Jewish Gift Closet, Jewish Family Services, and the children of Sha’ar Hanegev, San Diego’s partner city in Israel. The Social Action Committee of Women’s Philanthropy, chaired by Belinda Feldman and Samantha Cohen, organized the pajama drive.

“This is absolutely amazing,” remarked Andrea Oster, chair of the first OPTIONS event 20 years ago. “The evening has doubled in size due to the generosity of Pauline Foster and her family. We focused on targeting people under 40, and it worked. This is what we need to build our community.”

Yasher Koach to OPTIONS co-chairs Jessica Effress, Leslie Fastlicht Russo, and Danielle Shulman on a beautiful and meaningful evening. The Federation and all who were in attendance are also deeply grateful to Pauline Foster and the Foster Family Foundation for their vision of a thriving and active Jewish community of all ages, and their continued generosity in working towards that goal.

For more great pictures of the event, check out our Facebook: Step and Repeat, Options 2013 

FIDF Music Ensemble in San Diego January 20