By Carl Zebrowski
Editor

The Lehigh Valley already knows that Dr. Carol Bub Fromer has set a high standard for philanthropy and volunteerism during her lifetime of commitment to the Jewish world. Now she’ll get international recognition for that as the Lehigh Valley’s 2024 Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award winner.

Fromer will receive the award at the 2025 annual International Lion of Judah Conference in Atlanta in January. Lion of Judah is part of the Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federations of North America, volunteering and raising funds for Jewish needs locally, nationally, and around the world.

“Carol has earned this special award and recognition for her long-standing dedication to Women’s Philanthropy as well as her leadership in our community,” said Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. “It is well deserved.”

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley encourages Lions and future Lions (i.e., daughters, granddaughters, and friends of Lions) to attend the conference to join in honoring Fromer in front of the large audience, while gathering alongside the others in attendance to learn about and discuss the most pressing issues facing local, national, and global Jewish communities and envision together how to initiate change heading into the future.

“Being a Lion means being part of a special ‘pride,’” said Fromer, a doctor at Lehigh Primary Care in Allentown who has been treating patients “from the nursery to the nursing home” for 28 years in the Lehigh Valley. “Jewish philanthropy has always been a priority in my life, but the powerful bond of philanthropic women and the sustained altruism that creates such strong friendships, connections, and respect among women continues to amaze and motivate me.

“This communal strength nurtures my Jewish pride and drives my convictions in the face of antisemitism and adversity. I was born in South Africa, where my grandfather lived on one herring a day to save money to rescue my grandmother and their families from the Nazis. He was a modest and humble man, but when it came to being Jewish, he stood tall. From him I learned that in a world rife with antisemitism, embracing Jewish values, Jewish customs, and commitment to family are our most meaningful endeavors. Jewish pride in everyday life and in support of Israel is our best defense.”

The Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award was created as a tribute to Norma Kipnis-Wilson and Toby Friedland, both of blessed memory, who co-founded the Lion of Judah program in 1972. Fromer is one of more than 18,000 Lions around the world who contribute $5,000 or more annually in their own names to their local Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

Eileen Ufberg was the last local winner of the Kipnis award. Fromer was in the audience at the December 2023 conference in Phoenix when Ufberg was honored. “We are excited that Carol will represent our community again and receive this award at this year’s International Lion of Judah Conference,” said Lee Kestecher Solomon, the Lehigh Valley Federation’s director of community engagement.

If you’re a Lion or are planning to become one, please consider attending the 2025 conference in January. Get more information.