As we prepare for the New Year, 5783, it was wonderful to come together as a community for the dedication of the Marty Einhorn Pavilion at the Sandler Family Campus on Sunday, September 18 (see page 6). Marty joins a list of leaders who are honored through namings on our campus, many who are no longer with us. Their leadership, as well as the leadership of so many others, have brought us to where we are today.
Where are we today?
We continue to be a strong community, a strong people, with immense generosity and a strong commitment to our Tidewater Jewish community, our broader community, and communities we assist around the world. This was never more evident than this past year as the community contributed more than $4,838,000 to our 2022 annual community campaign, more than $800,000 in additional funds to support programs of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC, approximately $700,000 to support the humanitarian needs of Ukrainians through our overseas partners, and approximately $100,000 so far to honor Marty Einhorn through the building of a pavilion bearing his name.
First, thank you!
Second, what’s the impact of this generosity?
Our community is impacted through the funding of Jewish education at our day schools and religious schools; through PJ Library and children and family programs throughout our community; through Jewish camping experiences; through teens participating in synagogue youth groups, BBYO programming, conventions, and trips to Israel through multiple organizations; through the work of our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and Holocaust Commission to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate through advocacy and education; through programming in our synagogues; and through our commitment to the security of our Jewish community through funding of our Secure Community Network (SCN) partnership. This is only a partial list—the community’s generosity extends into so many more areas.
I firmly believe the past two and a half years have made our community stronger. I am proud of our passion, our commitment, and our generosity. While we have many successes, much work remains to maintain and improve our strong community.
So, as the New Year 5783 approaches, may we all continue to stand together to continue strengthening our Tidewater Jewish community and take care of one another, kol yisroel aravim zeh b’zeh—both locally and globally.
L’shana tova tikatevu, wishing you and your families the sweetest of New Years.
Betty Ann Levin is executive vice president/CEO of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC.
–Betty Ann Levin