Federation is here, each and every day, impacting lives in Rockland, Israel and throughout the world!
In 2014, over hundred new families became members of Rockland synagogues or enrolled in Hebrew schools through the efforts of our Rockland Jewish Initiative (RJI) and RJI's New Member Grants. RJI also distributed 62 free tickets to High Holiday services, and over 600 Rockland synagogue brochures were distributed in the Kosher food aisles of local supermarkets. RJI is currently undertaking the first major study of Jewish Rockland and we urge you to take the survey.
Our
PJ Library program received a generous grant, allowing us to send free Jewish books and music on a monthly basis to even more children in Rockland. Presently, about 300 children in our community are enrolled in the program and we look forward to welcoming many more. PJ Library's Chanukah book fair was a great success this year as well!
Federation's Leadership Development Institute (LDI) graduated another eight students in June, bringing the total number of LDI grads in Rockland to sixty. These individuals are now serving in communal leadership roles to strengthen our Jewish community. Our sixth LDI class is underway with a strong committed group, ready to make their mark!
Each year, dozens study in our Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning and Midreshet Rockland educational programs. On November 16, Federation hosted the Global Day of Jewish Learning which brought 115 participants through the doors in a single day, to study our sacred texts. And registration is now open for 2015 Midreshet Rockland adult education courses!
We brought our Federation community shlicha, Timna Mekaiten from Israel to Rockland for a second year! Timna has strengthened the bond between the Rockland community and Israel through her work at Hebrew schools, RCC Hillel, RJA, JCC and beyond! Check out Timna's blog to read more about her work and life here in Rockland County. Through missions, programming, education and fundraising, Israel remains at the core of Federation's mission.
We are so proud of the overwhelming support that Rockland residents showed for Israel and its citizens during
Operation Protective Edge this summer. Through our rallies at the New City Courthouse, at the Jewish Community Center and through other fundraising efforts, Rockland Federation was able to send over $115,000 in aid to our homeland, to help Israelis receive respite and recover from the trauma of war. Our work is far from done!
During two missions to Cuba in 2014, the Jewish Federation of Rockland County delivered much-needed donations and supplies, including medicines, to the Cuban Jewish community. On our website you can read all about our
February mission to Cuba and our November
Havana mission. And this March we head to
Morocco to meet with the Jewish community and see how our funds make an impact.
Through our overseas partners we are right now providing life-saving winter relief for Ukraine's Jews. Our international allocations are also helping to meet gaps in aid in countries hardest hit by the Ebola virus. And we are helping to educate Ethiopian students and their parents who have recently made aliyah to Israel. Just a few examples of the worldwide impact our collective dollars make.
When you make your year-end gift you will insure that we can continue our important work in 2015. Only donations made by December 31 are tax-deductible for the 2014 calendar year. We thank you for your support!
Wishing you a 2015 filled with health, joy and happiness.
Andrea Weinberger and Robert Grosser, Co-Presidents,
Jewish Federation of Rockland County
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