By Carl Zebrowski
Editor

You know the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, but how well do you know it, all that it does for our community and others, how it’s able to pull all that off. Have you ever felt like your grasp of the details has made you less than fully confident when talking with a community member about volunteering and donating?

Instilling confidence to that end was a goal of the Taste of Federation event that kicked off the community night on November 5 that culminated with a presentation by Israeli American comedian and educator Benji Lovitt. Iris Kramer, chair of the Jewish Federations of North America National Women’s Philanthropy, came to explain what it is that we at the Federation do, why we do it, what we’re trying to convey when we’re talking with people about the Federation, what the Federation is doing at this particular time, and what it hopes to do tomorrow as we encourage our younger generations to follow in our footsteps. 

Carol Bub Fromer, past chair of the Lehigh Valley Women’s Philanthropy, welcomed the crowd of major donors to the Jewish Federation presentation. “This is a small but poignant snapshot of our Lehigh Valley community,” she said. She went on to explain that the Federation is here to “ensure that our Jewish identity does not become watered down and extinct. Most importantly, we bring Jews together in person.”

One thing to know about our local Federation right up front is that 70% of all the funds that it collects stay right here in the Lehigh Valley to support critical elements of life in our community: the JCC, Jewish Day School, Jewish Family Service, and synagogues; events that bring together our Jewish neighbors from one end of the Lehigh Valley to the other; and assistance for those who need it. 

Everyone in the room that night figured into this. “I’d like you to think about why you play the role that you do,” said Kramer. 

That role happens to be just one of many in a Jewish Federations of North America that serves as an umbrella for 141 local Federations, including the Lehigh Valley’s. This umbrella organization was established soon after Israel became a nation in 1948 and has grown from there. “It evolved into a sort-of safety net for Jews in North America and everywhere,” Kramer said.

The national organization got involved in large-scale operations right away. It moved Jewish people from dangerous places in the world to safer ones, like to the United States from the Soviet Union in the 1980s and from Ukraine after Russia invaded in early 2022. “We have been in the business of rescuing and supporting Jews for decades,” Kramer said.

Most recently, the Federations together led the way to provide various forms of support, relocation and rebuilding, and other essentials since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. “The money the Federations raised in the Israel Emergency Campaign made us the organization most able to keep Israel functioning,” Kramer said. The Lehigh Valley effort chaired by Israel and Valeska Zighelboim contributed over $1 million to that effort. Hundreds of organizations in Israel are still receiving money from the campaign.

Kramer’s recent experiences traveling to Israel with a Federations group gave her a chance to witness the impact of the emergency campaign up close. Evidence started to turn up immediately on arrival. “The Israeli drivers who picked us up at airport called us the pillars of their existence,” she said.

Kramer initially came to the national Jewish Federations of North America through Women’s Philanthropy in her native Florida, particularly drawn to the Lion of Judah group. “I aspired to become a Lion of Judah after reading all the stories in our local Jewish newspaper,” she said.

Women have a distinct way of giving, Kramer pointed out. “There’s a difference in the way men and women make philanthropic decisions,” she said. Studies have put a fine point on that, which she summed up succinctly as: “Women give twice as much as men do.” And they’re the deciding voice in 90% of household donations.

Yet everyone in the room that night plays a key part in supporting Jewish communities here, in Israel, and everywhere. “You have been the future of this community,” she said. 

That needs to continue. And expand. “Are we being the ancestors that our descendants need us to be?” she asked. “Do you have a pipeline of passionate future leaders? Will they continue to live your philanthropic values?”

She suggested that each person put what’s important to them about the Federation down on paper. “Write about your values,” she said, “and talk with your family and your community about supporting local Jewry. Your words will make your feelings and actions immortal.” 

Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley President Bill Markson closed this portion of the community evening. “It’s really important for all of us to be reminded of our global group that helps Jews around the world,” he said. “Yet 70% of the money raised stays right here to strengthen Jewish life in our backyard.”

“The Federation is convener and connector. We assure Jewish continuity. One gift makes a difference in all facets of Jewish life.”

You can talk about making that one gift to make a difference right now by contacting Aaron Gorodzinsky, Jewish Federation director of development, at 610-821-5500 or [email protected].