In honor of Israel’s 65^th birthday, members and friends of the Jewish Federation of NEPA had the pleasure of listening to two speakers who shared their recent experiences visiting the land of Israel.

Jeanne Blom, of Hallstead PA, mesmerized the group of close to 50 with her story as a volunteer on an Israeli army base as part of the Volunteers for Israel/ Sar-el  organization which arranges with volunteers from all over the world to give time and energy to relieve the soldiers of the Israeli Defense Force from some mundane duties so they can stand in readiness to defend and protect the Jewish State. Jeanne’s engaging and candid style did much to enhance her presentation as did an array of beautiful and telling photos of her trip.

As Jeanne had said to the audience, “I am not Jewish but I love the people and the land and it was a chance of a lifetime to do something for the soldiers of the IDF.” Jeanne’s 17 year old son, Jacob, accompanied her on her trip which was another special component of the experience.

Brad Smertz, of Clarks Summit, then regaled the audience with both story and photos of his first visit to Israel as part of the Scranton JCC’s Teen Israel Experience, co-sponsored by the Federation. His youthful enthusiasm and delightful pictures of beautiful scenery and active teens gave everyone the feeling that all young people should have a chance to visit and volunteer in Israel.

The evening began and ended with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner and Hatikva led by Cantor Vladimir Aronzon

A small collation following the program featured a cake in the shape of the Israeli flag, blue and white cookies and fruit. Guests were able ask questions and talk to our speakers. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our Jewish homeland.

Cong. B’nai Harim second annual GOLF OUTING

DATE:  Monday June 27

Pocono Farms Country Club.  7000 Lake Road, Tobyhanna, PA 18466.

Dinner following at Lake Naomi Club in Pocono Pines, PA 18350

Cost: $115 includes round of golf, cart, prizes and dinner for the golfer.

Dinner only $45 pp

Contact : Ira Miller 570-355-5350.  cut off date June 19, 2013

For reservation mail check to:

Congregation B’nai Harim

PO Box 757

Pocono Pines PA 18350

Include number of golfers and if you wish to be paired with any particular person(s).

For dinner only please note.

With a growing number of Orthodox Jewish families frustrated with the high cost of living in major cities, many are prepared to make the move to “out of town” communities. The struggling economy has taken its toll on these families and some are out of work. Real estate and tuition costs in day schools in the big cities are sky high, and the pressures of “keeping up with the Cohens” are a reality they must face daily. As a result, many families want and need to make a change. They seek a warm environment with amenities suitable to their Orthodox Jewish lifestyle such as kosher food, a Hebrew Day School, a mikvah and synagogues. They also look for houses they can afford and for new job opportunities to support their families.

Recently, the Orthodox Union (OU) created a wonderful opportunity for such families and smaller Jewish communities to network – The OU Jewish Communities’ Home and Job Relocation Fair. Now in its fourth year, this year’s Fair was held on Sunday April 21, 2013 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan. Forty smaller communities were represented, some for the first time – including Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Organizers of the event were anticipating over 1,000 people to attend. They were not disappointed.

The Scranton Jewish community decided to get involved to see if it could grow the community with young families whose children would consider attending the Scranton Hebrew Day School thereby adding to the vibrancy of the Orthodox community as a whole. A new website was created for this Initiative (www.jewishscranton.org) highlighting all the reasons that make Scranton a wonderful place to live. Visitors to the Scranton Booth at the Fair received a brochure on the Orthodox community to take home as well as sample newsletters from our synagogues, the Scranton Hebrew Day School, the JCC and the Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania.

Elisheva Lorber created a sheet of real estate listings with photos and financial information which was very informative as many people are looking for a more affordable community.

Approximately 100 persons visited the Scranton Booth at the Fair with sixty (60) leaving e-mail contact information thereby enabling us to invite them to a forthcoming Shabbos program in Scranton.

Many thanks to the Organizing Committee and to those who represented Scranton at the Fair. They included Rabbi Yisroel and Aviva Brotsky, Dr. Joel and Leah Laury, Meshulem and Rivky Epstein, Stuart and Elisheva Lorber, Rabbi Dovid Rosenberg, Rabbi Arye Jacubowicz and Dassy Ganz ………… and a special thank you is extended to those whose financial backing made this project possible – especially the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Please find the response card as an attachment.
We invite you to join us in celebrating

25

years of the
Annual Teen Symposium on the Holocaust
as we honor

SEYMOUR AND KATHY BROTMAN
MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY
and TOVA WEISS

for their visionary commitment to and partnership in
successful Youth Holocaust Education

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 6:00 pm
The Jewish Community Center, Scranton

The Holocaust Education Resource Center
of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania

Cocktail buffet and dessert                          Couvert $36 per person

Please RSVP here online
or by phone:
570-961-2300 ext 4
Make checks payable to:
HERC
601 Jefferson Avenue
Scranton, PA 18510

Spring Networking Breakfast

Is your HR department like a revolving door?

We Have THE Solution…

Join us for a breakfast, networking, and a presentation from:

Eric Weinberg
Dream Manager

Sponsored by:
DAJ Solutions

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29TH, 2013
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

AT

The Radisson Hotel
700 Lackawana Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503

RSVP Today:

Becky Schastey
becky@blswebstrategies.com
Rae Magliocchi 961-2300 x-4

Or Online Here:

RSVP NOW

Mark Silverberg, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, has announced that the Federation will once again join the thousands of marchers in the annual Celebrate Israel Parade, this year on Sunday June 2, 2013 (time to be announced)

The theme of this year’s parade is PICTURE ISRAEL (THE ART AND THE CRAFT). In keeping with the theme, our Federation’s banner will reflect the mosaic of diversity in the Jewish population of the State of Israel. We thank Becky Schastey, our Federation webmaster, for creating a photographic mosaic superimposed over the flag of Israel.

Cost to participate in this always exciting program is only $10.00 per person with a family cap of $25.00. This covers snacks, the official parade T-shirt and, of course, a day trip to New York City and a stop in Teaneck, N.J. for shopping and dinner.

Pick up points- Scranton JCC, Budget Inn, and Suites Stroudsburg

Call or email with your reservation to Dassy Ganz 961-2300 x2 dassy.ganz@jewishnepa.org

On Tuesday, May 21^st, and Wednesday, May 22^nd, 2013, the Jewish Federation of NEPA in conjunction with Marywood University will be hosting a series of major Holocaust educational programs recognizing the 25th anniversary of our annual Holocaust Symposium. The events will be held at Marywood University and the Scranton Jewish Community Center.

The programs are in recognition of 25 years of the Holocaust Education Resource Center’s (H.E.R.C.) annual Holocaust Symposium that has involved thousands of high school students and teachers from throughout Northeast Pennsylvania focusing attention on this important historical event.

The 25^th Anniversary Symposium will feature Holocaust survivors and death camp liberators from throughout the country, guest speakers of international renown, a film titled: “Children Remember the Holocaust” narrated by actor Keanu Reeves, private group sessions where Holocaust survivors and liberators will interact with teachers and students, the Keynote Address, and a Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening event.

The Holocaust has, in some in some parts of the world, become a subject for debate and is revoltingly called a “hoax perpetrated by the Jewish people.” Our 25th year represents a tremendous opportunity to memorialize this human tragedy and to educate youngsters on its significance and the lessons to be learned from it.

We are currently seeking sponsors for this year’s 25^th anniversary. Your sponsorship will be recognized prior to and during the Symposium and during the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program that will follow it, and there are significant benefits that accrue from each level of sponsorship.

Should your organization be interested in sponsoring these events at some level, please make your check payable to:

Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania
601 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510
MEMO:   25^th Holocaust Symposium Program

Please help us undertake this important event.

Each year, this program has hosted between 1,000 and 1,200 students, teachers and dignitaries and we expect this, our 25^th year, to be no exception.

Your sponsorship would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark Silverberg, Executive Director
Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania

Sponsorships

Sponsors will receive the following benefits based upon their sponsorship category.

Levels of sponsorship are:

PLATINUM – $3,000+

• Platinum sponsor recognition from the podium during the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program. Those in attendance will be asked to stand.
• 6 free tickets to the sponsoring organization for the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program at the JCC
• Publicity in the local print media
• Honor Roll recognition (to be published, by sponsor category, as a Centerfold in the June issue of The Reporter – our regional Jewish newspaper that is delivered to 1,800 Jewish households in Pike, Wayne, Monroe and Lackawanna counties)
• Honor Roll poster (to be displayed prominently by category during the Holocaust Symposium and at the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program)
• Platinum sponsors will receive 3 courtesy advertisements in The Reporter

GOLD – $1,500 – $2,999

• Gold sponsor recognition from the podium during the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program. Those in attendance will be asked to stand.
• 4 free tickets to the sponsoring organization for the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program at the JCC
• Publicity in the local print media
• Honor Roll recognition (to be published, by sponsor category, as a Centerfold in the June issue of The Reporter – our regional Jewish newspaper that is delivered to 1,800 Jewish households in Pike, Wayne, Monroe and Lackawanna counties)
• Honor Roll poster (to be displayed prominently by category during the Holocaust Symposium and at the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program)
• Gold sponsors will receive 2 courtesy advertisements in The Reporter

SILVER – $1,000 – $1,499

• Silver sponsor recognition from the podium during the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program. Those in attendance will be asked to stand.
• 2 free tickets to the sponsoring organization for the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program at the JCC
• Publicity in the local print media
• Honor Roll recognition (to be published, by sponsor category, as a Centerfold in the June issue of The Reporter – our regional Jewish newspaper that is delivered to 1,800 Jewish households in Pike, Wayne, Monroe and Lackawanna counties)
• Honor Roll poster (to be displayed prominently by category during the Holocaust Symposium and at the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program)
• Silver sponsors will receive 1 courtesy advertisement in The Reporter

BRONZE – $500 – $999

• Bronze sponsor recognition from the podium during the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program. Those in attendance will be asked to stand.
• 2 free tickets to the sponsoring organization for the evening program at the JCC
• Publicity in the local print media
• Honor Roll recognition (to be published, by sponsor category, as a Centerfold in the June issue of The Reporter – our regional Jewish newspaper that is delivered to 1,800 Jewish households in Pike, Wayne, Monroe and Lackawanna counties)
• Honor Roll poster (to be displayed prominently by category, during the Holocaust Symposium and at the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program)

GENERAL – $75 – $499

• 1 free ticket to the sponsoring organization for the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program at the JCC
• Publicity in the local print media
• Honor Roll recognition (to be published, by sponsor category, as a Centerfold in the June issue of The Reporter – our regional Jewish newspaper that is delivered to 1,800 Jewish households in Pike, Wayne, Monroe and Lackawanna counties)
• Honor Roll poster (to be displayed prominently by category, during the Holocaust Symposium and at the Cocktail Buffet/Dessert evening program)

JCC Teen Trip Participant to Speak at Federation
Yom HaAtzmaut Event

GUEST SPEAKERS: Brad Smertz, Jean & Jacob Blom

Brad Smertz is the son of Alan and Michele Smertz of Clarks Summit, PA. He is a junior at Abington Heights High School and is employed by the Glen Oak Country Club.

Brad’s hobbies include: B’nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), National Honors Society (NHS), as well as volunteering in the community. He enjoys high school and travel baseball, exercising, traveling abroad and enjoys time with friends and family.

Brad went to Israel as part of the Scranton JCC’s teen trip this past December. When asked why he wanted to participate, Brad told us,” I wanted to go to Israel to gain firsthand experience and assimilate with the Jewish nucleus of the world. At the same time, I looked forward to enjoying and appreciating the beautiful weather, geography and history of our homeland. Of course, I couldn’t wait to spend time with the wonderful supervisors who were coming as well as my good friends.”

And now, that Brad has returned, he shared with us some of his impressions of his trip.” I got so much from my trip to Israel. I feel that I acquired leadership and social skills. Dealing with the physically handicapped and less fortunate citizens of Israel spurred an appreciation for what I have as well as a definitive initiative in giving back to the Jewish community. The extraordinary landscape and history was second to none. The historical buildings and landmarks sparked a curiosity and passion for my Jewish origins. I hope that the trip was not a once in a life time opportunity, as I would definitely love to take a trip back to Israel in the near future. “

Please join the Jewish Federation of NEPA on Tuesday April 16, 2013- Yom HaAtzmaut/Israel’s Independence Day- at 7:00 PM at the JCC when Brad Smertz will give us a chance to hear about his trip to Israel.

Jean Blom lives in Hallstead, PA and has been a lover and supporter of Israel and the Jewish people for many years.  She works as a Housekeeper at the Inn in Montrose and is a wife and a mother of two children, Jacey and Jacob.  Last year, she came upon a link that was posted on a Facebook site that supports Israel.  It told about going to Israel as a volunteer with the Sar-El program through Volunteers for Israel.   People from all over the world are partnered with one of the Israeli Defense Force Military bases to do non-combat, hands on, civilian support duties.  Jean and her son, Jacob, had the opportunity to go this past October for two weeks.  The experience enhanced her love for Israel and has encouraged her to want to share this with others.

Jacob Blom is currently a junior in the Montrose Area School District and an enlisted soldier with the U.S. National Guard.  During his time of researching which field of service he wanted to join, he became familiar with the Israeli Defense Forces through Facebook.  Needless to say, he found them to be not only admirable but highly respected throughout the world.  As part of his graduating requirements from High School, each student needed to do a senior project.  Jake chose to volunteer alongside his mother, Jean, not only fulfill this requirement but to show support for the IDF too.  This experience has been a highlight for him not only as a soldier, but a friend to Israel.

JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA:
SUPERSTORM RELIEF FUND

The tragedy of Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath has devastated the lives of millions of people in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Hundreds of thousands are without food, water, medical supplies, shelter and the basic necessities of life. Their lives hang in the balance. As Jews, we must do our part in relieving their suffering as we have always done when faced with national catastrophes like Hurricane Katrina. The lives of millions of Americans hang in the balance. We must be there for them.

Please donate……….

Tax-deductible contributions made out to the Jewish Federation of NEPA/Hurricane should be mailed to our office at 601 Jefferson Ave. Scranton, PA 18510.

You can also donate by visiting clicking this link:

This was posted by a member of the Nassau Region of Hadassah. Please read it and if anyone is willing to donate any of these items, we will get them to where they need to be. This disaster is hardly over.

Many of our members have been deeply affected by this storm and our hearts go out to those living along our coast, particularly with homes in: Long Beach, Lido Beach, Island Park, Oceanside, Baldwin Harbor, Hewlett Harbor, Rockaway Park, Inwood, Port Washington and South Freeport, Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford & Massapequa. We know that many others are still without power from all the fallen trees and wires.

In response to the need to help within our community, we are setting up a collection in association with Long Island Cares, the City of Long Beach Relief and the Town of Hempstead. Below is a list of needed items and drop off locations.

Long Island Cares:

Non-Perishable Foods, Water, Any Drinks in Plastic Bottles, Diapers and Baby Formula, Household Cleaning Supplies and Personal Care Items.

Long Beach:

Diapers and Baby Formula, Children’s Shoes, Paper Towels, Baby Wipes, Toilet Paper, Batteries, Socks, Hats, Gloves, Winter Jackets and Clothes, and Winter Weight Blankets. In addition, it has come to our attention that the family men, working in Long Beach and the surrounding area, cleaning up their homes, are in dire need of clean X-Large T-Shirts and Sweatshirts.

Hempstead :

In addition to warm clothing and blankets, the town is collecting necessities including bottled water, non-perishable food, hand sanitizer, toiletries, flashlights and batteries, portable battery-operated radios, cleaning supplies and rubber gloves

Thank you for your generosity.

Please forward this ahead to others.

The Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania was privileged to host Ms. Barbara Dexter, harpist, for our 2013 UJA Women’s Campaign Opening Event.

Barbara Dexter is a musician par excellence but more than that- she is a therapeutic harpist who spends time at the bedside of patients with traumatic brain injuries, premature babies and the mentally and physically challenged residents at St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton.  She explained the healing power of the harp particularly for those with head injuries and shared stories of recovery, which many in the audience agreed were miraculous.

Introduced in Scranton by Dassy Ganz, assistant executive director of the Federation and by Barbara Nivert, Women’s campaign chair at the Jewish Fellowship, the event was attended by young and old.

Ms. Dexter answered questions and even gave people a chance to try the harp. But mostly, she gave us all a chance to soar on the wings of her truly heavenly music.