Friday, March 15, 2024 | 5 Adar II 5784

Light Candles at 6:51 PM

Dear Nicole,

Good morning.

RE: CHOOSE ABUNDANCE - Monday, March 11th

Thanks to the Siegel JCC, community leadership and professional staff were invited to a special learning session, Choose Abundance: Building A Community's Culture of Philanthropy, presented by Mark Shapiro, President & CEO of the Milwaukee JCC. We learned how to commit to the extraordinary by having a growth mindset.

RE: JCRC ISRAEL UPDATE - Monday, March 11th

The Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) welcomed back David Horovitz, Founding Editor of the online newspaper The Times of Israel for another series of online briefings. In the briefing, Horovitz provided an update about the latest events happening in Israel and the Middle East.

RE: INVESTMENT COMMITTEE - Wednesday, March 13th

Jewish Fund for the Future's Investment Committee met on Wednesday morning under the leadership of Chair, Suzanne Grant. We reviewed the asset allocation strategy as well as the review of implementation within domestic equities. We currently manage assets near $32 million.

RE: AGENCY ROUNDTABLE - Thursday, March 14th

I met with our five Beneficiary Agency Executives on Thursday morning for our monthly Agency Roundtable meetings. Meeting regularly provides agency updates, improved communications, as well as providing a peer-to-peer platform for building community. This is one of the many examples how We Grow Stronger TOGETHER.

RE: PEOPLE2PEOPLE CONNECTIONS - Thursday, March 14th

Thanks to Community Leader, Lisa Dadone-Weiner, I had a surprise visit from former Delaware Shaliach, Dana Berman, and her mother who were in Wilmington visiting. Dana is working for Check Point, an American-Israeli multinational provider of software and combined hardware and software products.

RE: ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND

Please support the Israel Emergency Fund and help our brothers and sisters in Israel. Thanks to YOU, Delaware has raised $1 million thus far.

100% of your generous support will provide…

• Basic Needs
• Evacuation, Housing, Respite, and Support for Frontline Communities
• Funds for Victims of Terror
• Trauma Relief and Psychosocial Care
• Emergency Medical Services and Healthcare
• Special Populations
• Support for Evacuees

Am Yisrael Chai!

We Grow Stronger TOGETHER.

Shabbat Shalom,

Seth J. Katzen

President & CEO

From the Ground in Israel: Rabbi Arnold Bender

SUNDAY, MARCH 17TH AT 10:30 AM

VIA ZOOM

Join Rabbi Arnold Bender as he discusses what he sees in Israel, how Israelis are coping, and how we as Jewish people are coming together.

This program is co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Delaware's Jewish Community Relations Committee and the Rabbi Jacob Kraft Educational Foundation of Congregation Beth Shalom. Registration required.

For more information, contact Ellen@ShalomDel.org.

Film Screening: Who Are the Marcuses?

SUNDAY, MARCH 17TH AT 2 PM

SIEGEL JCC - KEHILLAH LOUNGE

Discover the story of Lottie, Howard and their daughter Ellen Marcus, remarkable family that changed the future with the single largest donation ever made to the State of Israel. The screening will be followed by a talkback to learn more about the film and how the Marcuses gift impacted Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the State of Israel.

Master of Ceremonies: Neil Hockstein. Event Co-Hosts: Nina Appel and Carol Rothschild.

Kosher catering by Deluxe Catering, with dietary laws observed.

Click here for the Official Trailer.

For more information about this event and A4BGU Delaware Chapter opportunities, contact Claire Winick at claire@a4bgu.org.

Solidarity Mission to Israel

SUNDAY, APRIL 7TH - FRIDAY APRIL 12TH

Friends and family of our Delaware Community: So many of you have asked when we can visit Israel to help our brothers and sisters during this difficult time, as many other communities are doing. Now is your chance. The Jewish Federation of Delaware in partnership with Authentic Israel will be conducting a solidarity mission to Israel from Sunday, April 7^th through Friday, April 12th.

We will participate in volunteer opportunities, visit Sderot, the site of the Nova Music Festival, Kfar Aza, Hostage Square and others. We will meet survivors of October 7^th, cook meals for deployed soldiers, and visit wounded IDF soldiers at a rehab center.

Of course, we will pray together at the Western Wall, visit the famed Machaneh Yehudah Market, and share delicious meals together as we process what we have learned and seen. There will be time for shopping.

We will come home feeling closer to Israel and to each other and inspired to continue to bring light to the world.

We will be holding an informational zoom within the next few days. There will be a limited number of openings and we will let you know cost, details, itinerary, and deadlines. If you are interested in joining us and finding out more information about the trip, please email Rabbi Ellen Bernhardt, Ellen@ShalomDel.org.

People’s feedback from similar missions have been that this is a life changing experience and uniformly told by Israelis how very grateful they are for our support. 

An IDF reservist watches the sunset at the beach on the fourth day of the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas on November 27, 2023, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld via Getty Images)

Bari Weiss: The Holiday from History Is Over

Bari Weiss

The Free Press - 03.12.24

Palestinians gathering near an airstrike crater in Rafah, Gaza, February 2024

(Mohammed Salem/Reuters)

Israel Needs a New Strategy

Dennis Ross

Foreign Affairs - 03.13.24

On Jewish Character (PEKUDEI)

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, z"l

RabbiSacks.org - 03.15.24

Survey: Israelis have little faith in political institutions after Oct. 7, do trust IDF

SAM SOKOL

Times of Israel - 03.14.24

Gallant in Gaza: IDF edging closer to Rafah invasion, defense minister hints

JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Jerusalem Post - 03.13.24

Gaza Must be Deradicalized as Well as Demilitarized

GADI EZRA & AVIVA KLOMPAS

The Hill - 03.12.24

Drag Queen Bingo

SATURDAY, MARCH 16TH AT 6:30 PM

SIEGEL JCC

Get ready for a night of bingo, laughter, fabulous performances, and the chance to win fantastic prizes! Feel free to embrace the spirit of Purim by dressing up in your favorite costume – the more creative, the better! The atmosphere will be lively, fun, and perfect for a memorable night out with friends. Light snacks and a selection of beverages, including alcoholic options, will be provided to keep you fueled and refreshed throughout the event. Cost: $15 per member, $20 per non-member.

This event is for ages 21+. Register today!

For more information, please contact Katie Glazier at katieglazier@siegeljcc.org. 

Group X tri Fundraiser

SATURDAY, MARCH 9TH AT 7 PM

SIEGEL JCC

Join us for a Group X Tri Fundraiser to support the Mini & Junior Maccabi Games. We'll be running three sessions of 30-minute Circuit Training, Yoga, and Zumba classes. This event is for ages 21+. Cost is $25/member or $35/non-member. Registration fees and any additional donations will go to support the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Mini & Junior Maccabi Games hosted by the Siegel JCC of Delaware on May 5th! Register today!



For more information, please contact Ellie Walker at elliewalker@siegeljcc.org.

Jewish Living Delaware

Check out this month's issue of Jewish Living Delaware!

MARCH 2024

SHALOM Delaware 

The Community Guide to Jewish life in DE and Brandywine Valley.

2023-2024 Edition

Impact Report

to the Community

When We Come TOGETHER Great Things Happen.

2022-2023 Report

PJ Library welcomes you to sign up for Free Books to be delivered to your doorstep each month. Children 0-8 can enjoy PJ Library books and our friends 9-12 can enjoy PJ Our Way, where they can choose which book, they receive each month. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, facebook.com/PJLibraryDelaware to stay up to date on all the latest happenings. For more information about receiving books, or any PJ-related events, please email JFD Outreach Director, Samantha Grundy at Samantha@Shalomdel.org. 

Charity Navigator

The nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. Federation has maintained its Four-Star Rating the past eight years.