By Laura Rigge
HAKOL Editor

Take the 60 Day Challenge and double your impact!

The Federation is once again asking the community take make their pledge to the Federation’s Annual Campaign by Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This year, all new gifts and increases pledged by Dec. 1 will be matched dollar for dollar. Last year, we were able to raise over $2.3 million that went toward helping Jews across the Lehigh Valley and across the world.

As conflict continues to simmer in the Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of Jews are stranded in a country still being torn apart by violence. Because of your donations, the Federation and its overseas partners like the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee have been able to provide food and services to those whose lives have been devastated by the conflict, giving hope in even the most difficult of times. Because of you, we are there.

Here in the Lehigh Valley, Jewish Family Service was able to feed over 500 families and provide emergency relief to families struggling to make ends meet. The Jewish Day School continues to provide an excellent Jewish education thanks in part to donations from people like you. Family life education programs at our synagogues thrived because of Federation donations, and our children were able to experience Israel and Jewish summer camps. Because of you, we are there.

As the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley kicks off its 2016 campaign, we are again reminded of the increasing needs of Jews here in the Lehigh Valley, in Israel and around the world. But we are also able to reflect on how much we can do, even as a small community, when we come together and give of ourselves.

This campaign year will again feature a full slate of programs, beginning with our Campaign Kick-off on Oct. 1. Our featured speaker will be Dr. Josh Green, the co-chair of National Young Leadership of the Jewish Federations of North America. A graduate of Penn State University, Green is also a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Federations of Sarasota-Manatee.  

We will also continue to honor members of the Silver Circle, a society that honors those who have given every year for 25 or more years. 

In 2016, we’ll hear from fascinating speakers on world affairs, health and politics. We’ll continue to build connections to each other and to our Jewish institutions and work hard to make sure that every gift counts. 

If you haven’t gotten involved with one of the Federation’s programs or the annual campaign, make this the year. Jews everywhere need you now more than ever. Let the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley be your connection to a whole world of community, social activism and doing good.