March 2010 Issue of The Speaker Newspaper!
February 2010 Issue of The Speaker Newspaper!
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Upcoming Community Events Schedule

CHILE EARTHQUAKE !!!

Our hearts go out to the people of Chile and, as we have recently done in Haiti, the Joint Distribution Committee will leverage our strong partnerships in the region, including the local Chilean Jewish community, to provide a quick and effective response to the needs of those affected,” said JDC CEO Steven Schwager. “We are receiving up-to-the-minute reports from JDC’s Latin America team on the ground, including the impact of the earthquake on Chile’s Jewish community.

FUNDS BEING COLLECTED FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHILE BY THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

HAITI EARTHQUAKE !!!       **** Haiti Earthquake Update & Haiti List of Donors 03/04/10 ****

Shalom everyone:

As you know, there has been a devastating earthquake in Haiti. The Federation system is working with the Joint Distribution Committee to assess the situation on the ground and begin providing immediate assistance.

Make a donation to aid relief efforts for the victims of this overwhelming disaster.  Alternately, send a check to:  775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Please specify in the memo of the check:  “Haiti Crisis”. 

EVERY DOLLAR of your donation will go directly to Haitian relief efforts. Thank you for your kindness and compassion.

Diane Naar

‘People-Raising’: Behind the scenes

A message from the Jewish Federation president Ed Tolman
Special To The Speaker

The most visible activity of our Jewish Federation is its multiple and varied fundraising efforts. These are, of course, not ends unto themselves, but the means by which the Federation supports various agencies and organizations locally, in Israel, and around the world which feed, house, care for, support, and educate our fellow Jews and those in the communities in which we live. This visible and ongoing fundraising is one means of “people-raising.”

Less obvious and behind the scenes, the Federation also engages in other forms of “people-raising.” I use the term Federation editorially, since these activities are really the work of the Federation staff and, in particular, of our executive director, Diane Naar.

Diane’s background and extensive hands-on experience in key management roles in health and human services agency service, planning, and administration, and as a United States Congress district director and municipal, county, and state official makes her uniquely qualified to conduct these unapparent activities. These efforts go a long way to improving and making easier the quality of many peoples’ lives.

The assistance provided are varied in their strategies, goals, and outcomes, but are vitally important to the support of our Jewish community and the community in which we live. They include transmitting personally tailored information and referral about the complex array of available social services in our state, concrete daily living services, and immediate responses to crises, education and, in general, helping people find their way forward. In the following, I present examples of these activities, but in no way does their order of presentation reflect on their relative level of importance. This often unnoticed, and more often underappreciated work of our executive director and her staff, conducted in addition to the function of fundraising on behalf of our agencies and at risk populations, is in itself a significant contribution to the strength of our Jewish community.

Very recently, there have been a number of bias incidents in the Somerville area. Anti-Semitic graffiti was painted on areas very visible to the public. Diane was in immediate contact with local authorities and police, the Anti- Defamation League, the Holocaust and Genocide program at Raritan Valley Community College, and the Board of Education to begin dealing with this problem in an appropriate manner. She also responded to varied press inquiries in an expeditious and educational manner.

The Federation offered to provide programming in the schools, in concert with our Holocaust and Genocide program, which has been our partner for more than 28 years, helping to educate more than 100,000 middle and high school students and their teachers about prejudice and the injustice of hatred, which unfortunately continues today in parts of the world. Unfortunately, Diane and the Federation have had to deal with a number of similar bias and security incidents in the past few years, whether they involved a synagogue, a nursing home, or public properties.

Handling such incidents appropriately is vital to preventing a panicked response on the part of innocent victims, providing local authorities with the information they need to correctly handle the incident, and educating those who might think lightly of these atrocities. Diane also works routinely with local governmental bodies, school officials, agency officials, and our general community to sensitize and educate them on the needs of our Jewish community. She also uses her background and understanding of all four levels of government to help secure grants for our community and our agencies, and routinely interacts with both elected and appointed officials on our behalf.

When people are new to our community, they often call the Federation first to ask for guidance, to receive an orientation to what synagogues exist, and to learn about available services and activities, as well as local support services or the school systems. This is often an important introduction to many people new to our community, or thinking about relocating to our area and is always appreciated by the recipients.

Unfortunately, many of our friends and neighbors in our community already find themselves in difficult situations, with regard to medical, financial, or emotional needs. They, too, will frequently call our Federation first, as a gatekeeper agency. The Federation works very closely and, of course, confidentially with Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties (JFS), local synagogues or other health and social programs and agencies in bringing required and appropriate aid to these callers.

Always, individuals are asked to call back if they do not receive the help they seek.

The Federation works with local food banks, transportation service providers for the disabled, local hospitals and health care officials, and many others to make sure our residents are linked with the programs they may be completely unaware of, but desperately need. The Federation has found ways for people who have not been otherwise able to afford it, to find free or low-cost medical care and vocational assistance. We also assist those who may have relatives in countries who need rescue or resettlement, are trying to secure international adoptions, or are dealing with United States immigration policy. These activities of the Federation are yet another important component of its “people-raising” work that is outside of its fundraising functions.

Students and others who wish to visit Israel to be inspired by its beauty, history, and its centrality to the Jewish people, or who wish to make aliyah, often call upon the Federation to aid and direct them in their efforts. Planning trips to Israel, providing not only travel arrangement information, but also guidance, insight, and programming during the visits is another facet of our Federation’s office work. Facilitating study abroad programs or helping travelers visit other sites of Jewish heritage around the world is yet another related activity. Mentoring students in the ways of community life and giving and providing internships and direction on b’nai mitzvah projects which directly link to Federation initiatives around the world is yet another activity of our Federation office.

As part of our fundraising efforts, we work to involve a host of community members through volunteer activities, and Federation committee work, based on their areas of talent or interest. This effort helps raise awareness especially among our younger community members about the needs of our local community and the greater Jewish community. It affords many the opportunity to experience the satisfaction of doing. It is “people raising” for both those who give (of themselves) and those who receive.

We applaud Diane Naar and her staff for all the work they do, both the obvious and the unseen. Though the behind the scenes work often is done without thanks, it is nonetheless greatly appreciated, for it adds not only to the ways by which the Federation supports its community, but it enhances, more importantly, the basic strength of our Jewish community and it’s members.

The Federation staff can be reached at (908) 725-6994.

Paula Zevin, parlor meeting guest speaker

The Guest Speaker for the Parlor Meeting will be Paula Zevin. Paula will speak about how the Jewish Federation system supported and guided her through the arduous process of leaving her native country, helping her start her new life in the U.S. and adapt to her new-found freedom and self-reliance.

Paula Zevin was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania and has called New Jersey home since 1983. She works as an Environmental Engineer for U.S. EPA Region 2, in the Division of Environmental Science and Assessment. Paula holds graduate degrees in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest and Rutgers University, New Brunswick. She has held various board and committee positions with local Jewish organizations and is currently a member of the Federation’s Campaign Cabinet. Paula and Alan, a Senior Financial Advisor for Ameriprise, make their home in Branchburg. Their son Max is a junior at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.

Jewish Federation Parlor Meeting Announcement - Monday March 22, 2010 • 7:00PM

Featuring Paula Zevin, community member, who will share her story of how the Federation system played a crucial role in transforming her life.

At The Home of Fran and Bob Taber Somerset Run Active Adult Community, Somerset, NJ.

Meet your neighbors, make new friends, have some fun, nosh on some wonderful coffee and babka while you learn about your Jewish community and how you can make a difference!

There will be no solicitations.

For more information, please contact Matt Balaban at (908) 725-6994 x238 Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties 775 Talamini Road Bridgewater, NJ 08807 www.jfedshaw.org.

Thanks to everyone who helped us to plan and implement this year's Federation Super Sunday!
It was a great success - thanks to all of you!

Special thanks to our staff members, Matt, Lauren and Carol, our entire Jewish Federation Board, as well as our Super Sunday Committee, Chair Dan Shanok, President Ed Tolman, and special thanks to Mark Chazin and Lil Swickle.

We sincerely thank the JCC, JFS, the Holocaust and Genocide program at RVCC, Temple Sholom and Temple Beth El, our Youth Coordinators, everyone who adopted phones, donated food or worked to make it happen.

Please click here for the Courier News article - and here for Jewish newspaper article from THE SPEAKER.

Thank you again - we could not have done it without you!

Diane Naar

Super Sunday to Partner With Somerset County Food Bank This Year! ( December 6, 2009 )

When you come this year to volunteer at our Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Super Sunday phone-a-thon, please bring with you canned food, supermarket gift certificates or bags of fresh produce for our Somerset County Food Bank.

"While you are enjoying your bagel and lox on Super Sunday, please help us to feed our community residents in need" said
Dan Shanok, Super Sunday chair.

"We are so proud of our area food banks," said Diane Naar, Federation Executive Director. "I met with Marie Scanell, our Somerset Food Bank Director the other day" said Naar. "She is appreciative of the fact that we help each and every year by bringing donations each year to the program. This year, Marie specifically also requested supermarket gift cards and fresh produce, in addition to canned goods. Because of the difficult economy, more and more people are depending on programs like the food bank to sustain them. We are proud to work with them and are so appreciative of the fine work that they do. Many people don't know that the food bank also has a wonderful program called "working wardrobe" - you can go to their warehouse at building 9E on Easy Street in the Central Jersey Industrial Park and bring gently used clothing for community residents who are job hunting, and do not have the appropriate clothes."

Please partner with the Jewish Federation by Adopting a Phone Station, Phone Station table, or by sponsoring in other ways.
(see attached flyer). Of course, we need volunteers, and we hope that everyone who is called will respond by giving a meanginful gift to the Federation annual campaign. The campaign helps to many in need - the elderly, children at risk, the disadvantaged, those in need of mental health services, the homeless, the hungry, and so many more, remarks Dan Shanok, Super Sunday chair. We work day in and day out to help our community locally, in Israel and in parts of the world you may have never even heard of. Please give us your time, and a piece of your heart on Super Sunday. Live Generously...It really does do a world of good!

Business Networking Breakfast
(Click here for more details)
Thursday January 28, 2010
7:30AM
Sponsored by:

An Open Letter to Our Jewish Community

Dear Friends,

Our federation has a long history of serving as a safety net for the Jewish community — here and around the world. In this way, we embody the enduring values of Jews taking responsibility for one another.

During these difficult economic times, members of our community may be experiencing extreme financial turmoil and emotional distress. Please remember that part of Federation’s role is to provide connections for people in need to health and social services which exist in and around our tri county area. On a routine basis, we receive calls for assistance and we have the expertise to advise you on what programs and services you may be eligible for. Please reach out to us at (908)725-6994, x 202 and we will work with you.

Every day, our local partner agencies see the ongoing impact of our economy's downturn. Unfortunately, a growing number of requests are coming from formerly middle income families who are suddenly in crisis. Here are just some of the needs we’re now seeing: 

• More requests to area food banks
• Additional need for counseling and intervention for residents without medical
  benefits or insurance
• Need for vocational guidance and job search assistance for those who are
  unemployed or underemployed
• Assistance with housing
• Legal help for those without the means to purchase this service

Your neighbors and friends need your help now more than ever. If you are able to make a donation to the Annual Campaign or to volunteer your time or services, please contact us at the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties, 775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807 or call (908) 725-6994 x 238. Once again, if you or someone you know needs help, please do not hestitate to call. 

Many Thanks!

Sincerely,
Diane S. Naar
Executive Director