Page 4 - The Jewish Voice - June '22

Page 4, The Jewish Voice

LocaL happenings

Chai Society Raises Local Jewish Leaders Convene desire from young Jewish leaders to engage in hands-on advocacy

$2.1 Million for in DC to Combat Antisemitism, to strengthen the Jewish community and effect change at such a
critical time. The conference was hosted by Jewish Federations
JFS Essential Services All Forms of Hate of North America (JFNA) National Young Leadership Cabinet,
National Women’s Philanthropy, and Advocacy Corps.
Ferd & Gladys Alpert Two leaders from “With the alarming rise in antisemitism and hate, the
Jewish Family Service the Palm Beach Jewish war in Ukraine, and the urgency to increase our nonprofit
recently hosted the community recently security funding, it was empowering and educational to
organization’s 13th Annual joined with other lobby for bipartisan support for these vital issues,” shared
Chai Society Gathering at leaders, experts, and Beth Wayne, who also serves on JFNA’s National Young
Club Colette in Palm Beach. changemakers from Leadership Cabinet. “I am proud to be part of such an impactful
More than 60 Alpert JFS around the country in organization making real change.”
Chai Society members and Washington, DC, for Mark Wilf, chair of the Board of Trustees of JFNA, shared
guests joined together to the Jewish Federations during the conference, “I still remember lobbying with my
celebrate the raising of $2.1 of North America’s peers at the Washington Conference 30 years ago when I was
million for the agency. Chai prestigious Washington just beginning my path of communal leadership. I saw then the
Society members and major Conference. During the Kedra Singer, Yosi Shwedel of impact that individuals can have when they make their voices
donors enable Alpert JFS to two-day event Kedra Miami, Abby Goldstein of St. Louis, heard on Capitol Hill and I am proud to return today in this
provide hope and healing Zelda Mason, outgoing Singer and Beth Wayne Beth Wayne leadership position to continue to advocate for issues that will
to more than 12,000 people board chair and president joined with hundreds affect the Jewish community and humanity at large.”
each year. of Alpert JFS and founding to network, train, and advocate for some of the most During the conference, members of Congress as well other
Zelda Mason, who is the chair of the Chai Society; pressing issues facing our global Jewish communities, thought leaders and public officials addressed the participants.
Board chair and president and Gary Hoffman, incoming from humanitarian needs in Ukraine to securing our Jewish Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) vowed to
of Alpert JFS as well as the board chair and president of communal spaces locally. During the conference, attendees met increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
Chai Society founding chair, Alpert JFS with dozens of members of Congress and the Senate to urge “Together we will continue to push for that $360 million [in
them to combat antisemitism and hate crimes, and increase nonprofit security funding]. We all know how greatly this
funding for Jewish communal security. funding is needed, with antisemitism unfortunately on the rise.”
The historic Washington Conference debuted in 1978 and has
revived after a 14-year hiatus. Its return was propelled by a strong Local Happenings on page 5

Experience Dentistry with a Woman’s Touch

Cosmetic & Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry

Drs. Sheldon and Arlene State of the Art & Same Day Restorations
Dr. Robert and Renee Gordon Bearman
Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation Available

Joanne Green, D.D.S.

10887 N. Military Trail, Suite 6
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561) 622-2815 • www.joannegreendds.com

Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry - Cum Laude
Hospital of the University of Penn - General Practice Residency Training
Harvard Dental School - Former Instructor
Boston Brigham and Women’s Dental Group - Staff Dentist
Event Co-Chairs Bruce and Event Co-Chairs David and
Socki Berg Ruth Naftaly

and event co-chairs Socki
and Bruce Berg and Ruth
and David Naftaly, were
honored for their leadership,
passion, and collective vision.
“The evening was a festive
celebration of our most
treasured supporters. I am
so grateful for all that they
do, so that Alpert Jewish
Family Service can be there
for thousands of our friends
and neighbors in their time of
need,” said Mason. “Because Dr. Alan and Judy Shuster
of them, we can be a lifeline
for our community.”
The Alpert JFS Chai Society includes more than 100
families — eight of whom are new and/or returning — who
each year give $5,000 or more to Alpert JFS. These funds
support more than two dozen essential programs and services,
including counseling, psychiatry, food insecurity, Holocaust
survivor assistance, addiction recovery and support,
mentoring for kids, domestic abuse, supportive residential
living, and many other service programs that help individuals
and families through challenging times.
“Our Chai Society members allow our organization to
serve as a lifeline to the thousands of individuals and families
who turn to us during the most challenging times in their
lives,” said Marc Hopin, chief executive officer at Alpert JFS.
“We are so grateful for our donors’ continued generosity and
I enjoyed celebrating with them at this year’s Chai Society
Gathering.”
Photos by Capehart Photography