JPro Breakfast: Graceful Transitions & Navigating Change

On Wednesday, November 12, more than fifty professionals attended the second Jewish Professional Network (JPro) breakfast. The breakfast, dubbed Graceful Transitions and Navigating Change, featured former CEO of Jewish Family Service, Jill Borg Spitzer, and current CEO Michael Hopkins. The colleagues spoke candidly to the audience about their experiences— separately and as a team— transitioning into their respective leadership roles, the start of their Jewish professional careers, and discussed lessons they learned along the way.

The breakfast convened with an opening speech from Moderator, Rabbi Matt Earne of Temple Beth Am, who discussed the necessity of change in Jewish life while highlighting connections to the week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah. Through his connection to the matriarch of Judaism, Rabbi Earne, emphasized purposeful and meaningful life transformations—both personally and professionally.

Change wasn’t the only topic in agreement between the past and present CEO’s, both speakers, discussed the importance of treating all organizational staff in a way that they would want to be treated one day; providing on-going professional and leadership development opportunities for Jewish communal professionals; and keeping the ‘talent’ within the local Jewish community.

In addition to sharing several viewpoints, Hopkins and Spitzer credited their Jewish summer camp experiences as instrumental to their careers in the Jewish non-profit world. Hopkins and Spitzer both said they were guided to be in the positions that they are in today, highlighting the importance of connecting and mentorship; hence, the JPro Network.

In light of the 20^th annual San Diego Jewish Book Fair, the breakfast concluded with a few words about a book that affected both speakers throughout their careers. A Responsible Life: The Spiritual Path of Mussar— the book chosen by Spitzer— was referred to as a guide to lead an ethical, fulfilling, and more pragmatic life. Hopkins discussed Strengths Finders, a book that his allowed him and his staff to discover their assets, which has become an invaluable team building, leadership, and organizational resource.

The Jewish Federation of San Diego County is proud to promote and sponsor the JPro Network. The third JPro event, “Lighting the Way to the Future” will take place on December 14^th, with exciting details coming soon.

About JPro:

The Federation supported JPro Network aims to empower San Diego Jewish communal professionals with innovative ideas and best practices to impact the sector through community-wide educational and leadership programs. To learn more about JPro and future events visit their Facebook page.

A Sha'ar HaNegev Update: Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism

Sha'ar Ha'Negev and Bedouin residents at a community breask-fast

Throughout the summer during Operation Protective Edge, residents of southern Israel faced trying times as they attempted to go about their everyday lives all while protecting themselves from rocket fire and living under the constant sound of sirens. Kehillat Sha’ar HaNegev, led by student-Rabbi Yael Karie, stepped up to the plate to provide programming and guidance to those most in need. The most vulnerable populations in this situation, as can be expected, included young children, elderly populations, immigrant populations, emotionally challenged populations, and those of lower socio-economic means. 

Rabbi Yael, first and foremost, focused on keeping “business as usual” as much as possible by continuing to hold regular Shabbat services, which were attended by hundreds of the Sha’ar HaNegev kibbutzim and moshavim residents. A special Shabbat service was held in Kibbutz Dorot with IDF soldiers serving in and near the Gaza Strip throughout the summer. For many of these young men and women, this was the first time they had ever experienced a Reform service. Some of the Shabbat Service attendees grew up in traditional Jewish households, where modern Orthodox practices were common. On the other hand, some attendees grew up in completely secular households, where religion was not present and exposure to prayer was limited.

In light and in spite of the naturally tense situation in the region, Yael decided to hold a Ramadan break-fast with the Bedouin community in Rahat (a Bedouin community in the Negev), which fell right at the height of the Operation. Despite the fears surrounding tension between residents of the Sha’ar Ha’Negev regional council and the Bedouin residents of the Negev, the event was very well attended and was filled with good spirits. The participants spoke about their specific concerns, the general relationship between Jewish and Arab communities in Israel, and about ways to make peace. All sides walked away from the program with renewed energies and a desire to move forward following very difficult weeks.

The past summer was characterized by a constant repeat of the announcement “color red, color red”, which indicated a rocket had just been launched and instructed people to take cover within 10 seconds. In an effort to maintain a positive image of the color red, the community in Sha’ar HaNegev began a Facebook campaign called “HappyRed, which invited people to post positive red images and positive images associated with the color to a designated Facebook photo album.

Additional activities included: musical events at Be’er Sheva hostels; programs with the elderly in Kibbutz Dorot; acupuncture for the elderly; a day of fun activities for staff, children, and doctors at the Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva; and Reform Rabbi solidarity missions. Throughout the summer, four JFNA solidarity missions had arrived in Israel. The mission’s participants got to visit with Yael and members of her community.

Yael’s resilience proved unprecedented, as she led her community through this tough period, continuing to lead Shabbat services while significantly enhancing programing for her community members. All of this could not have been done without the support of the Federation Israel campaign along with the on-going and enhanced support of the IMPJ headquarters staff. It was a true statement of Jewish solidarity when it was most necessary.

For more information, please contact David Bernstein, IMPJ director of development and overseas relations at davidb@reform.org.il or +972-54-779-1101.

San Diego’s Ed Samiljan Wins the 2014 JCamp 180 Outstanding Philanthropist Award

Last week at the 2014 JCamp 180 Annual Conference in Springfield, Massachusetts, Ed Samiljan, San Diego mensch, former Federation Board Member, and Jewish camp visionary, received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award for his hard-work, dedication, and personal contribution to Camp Mountain Chai in San Diego.

JCamp 180 aims to significantly enhance the long-term effectiveness of non-profit overnight camps and organizations that engage young people in meaningful Jewish cultural and educational experiences. Each year, JCamp 180 hosts an annual conference where Jewish camp professionals and community leaders gather to learn, network, and schmooze for a weekend of enrichment and development opportunities. On the last day of the conference, the Annual JCamp 180 Award Ceremony is held, honoring those who have demonstrated achievements over the past year in the field of Jewish Camp.

Ed Samiljan became actively involved in the San Diego Jewish community at age 48 upon moving to the west coast with his family. Although leaving the east coast behind, he didn’t forgo his strong Jewish identity, in particular, his passion for Jewish Summer camp that was afforded (barely) to him as a child. Having grown up poor, Ed recalls Jewish Camp as a “frivolous expense”, but one that his parents were able to scrape together for an unforgettable and life changing experience.

When Ed first became active in the San Diego Jewish community, he wanted San Diego to be the most welcoming Jewish community to the greatest amount of people. Feeling strongly about Jewish continuity he got involved in the Pathways to Judaism project— a program that sought to engage interfaith families in the Jewish community. It was there he realized his destiny, to lower the barriers to entry and long waitlists of Jewish Summer Camps that San Diego parents were facing.

To solve this pressing problem, Ed co-founded Camp Mountain Chai personally seeking out funds, donors, partners, and locations for a new Jewish Summer camp. Now, a short ten years later, Ed’s dedication, vision, and generosity, has brought the Jewish Camp experience to thousands of kids. Today, Camp Mountain Chai welcomes more than 500 children each summer and is open year round for Jewish retreats and programs.  No child has ever, nor will be, turned away from Camp Mountain Chai due to financial need, thanks to Ed’s vision, generosity, and kindness.

To address the future need for camp scholarship funds, Ed and his staff are in the process of developing an endowment at Jewish Community Foundation to ensure all Jewish children have the opportunity to attend summer camp, and once that is completed a “worthy legacy will be made and left behind,” as Ed puts it.

The Jewish Federation of San Diego County extends its praise and would like to wish Ed Samiljan and the Camp Mountain Chai staff who have worked to turn Ed’s vision into a reality, a huge mazel tov and toda raba!

For a link to the JCamp 180 Outstanding Philanthropist Introductory speech: click here. 

Mosad Shalom Religious School Gives Tzedakah for Evacuated Israeli Children

This fall, the Mosad Shalom Religious School of Temple Adat Shalom in North County San Diego raised $360 to provide new equipment in the Children’s Houses at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, located on the Israel Gaza border, which was evacuated during this summer’s violence. When Mosad Shalom Religious School re-convened after summer break, the shelling in Israel had just recently ceased and the summer-long war was fresh in everyone’s minds.

Kibbutz Nahal Oz and Temple Adat Shalom have a long-time partnership and relationship, signified by two friendship gardens— one here in San Diego and one on Kibbutz Nahal Oz— with plaques denoting the heverot (friendship). The friendship began eight years ago between two dedicated educational professionals, Susan Cohn, Director of Mosad Shalom Religious School, and Tami Halevi, Director of Education at Kibbbutz Nahal Oz. The two met through one of Federation’s professional exchanges nearly a decade ago. The colleagues kept in touch, spoke often, and visited each other from time to time, thanks to Federation funded travel to and from Israel. Susan had plans to visit Tami and the children this past July, but was unable when Nahal Oz was evacuated due to terrorist rockets and tunnels in the region.

Plaque on Kibbutz Nahal Oz recognizing the friendship 

The students and faculty of Mosad Shalom Religious School wanted to do something for their friends in Israel. On the first day of religious school, at the 7th Annual Pancake Breakfast, families were shown a brief slideshow of everyday life at and the realities facing families living on Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which inspired the children to donate tzedakah to help buy new equipment, supplies, and toys for the children of the kibbutz – to provide comfort on their arrival home from evacuation.

Last week on a trip to Israel, Michael Sonduck, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, had the privilege to act as an emissary to the children of Nahal Oz and hand deliver $360 to the kibbutz.

Kol HaKavod to the students and faculty of Mosad Shalom Religious Day School!

Torah & Community Program | Torach | November 14 - 23

Israel's Best Kept Secret

MASHAV is the Hebrew acronym for Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, and perhaps one of Israel’s best kept secrets. The mission of MASHAV is driven by the belief that the greatest possible contribution to developing countries can be made by a country that has accumulated relevant expertise during its own development experience, Israel, a fairly young country that has faced similar development challenges.

On Monday, November 3, Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Latino-Jewish Coalition (LJC), in partnership with the Consulate General of Israel, held a breakfast at Ohr Shalom to showcase Israel’s contributions to the socio-economic impact on the developing world. More than 40 participants had the opportunity engage in a conversation with Mazal Renford, former Director of the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center in Haifa, Israel, as she shared amazing stories of Israelis making a real difference in the world.

Below are links to the MASHAV website and an article about Mazal Renford from the Jewish Post.

MASHAV Website– http://mfa.gov.il/mfa/mashav/Pages/default.aspx

Article about Mazal– http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Taking-Israeli-womens-empowerment-global-380512

You can read more about Israel’s most recent venture into India here -http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Peres-heads-to-India-to-launch-food-security-project-380872

Feed Your Soul at JFS Brushes and Forks | November 13

www.jfssd.org/brusheshttp://www.jfssd.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=104823