JFS strives to help when life presents periodic or chronic challenges. We try to alleviate these challenges through a relationship-based model of care that maintains the personal growth and dignity of each individual, couple, and family served.

Our most utilized service is the Virtual Food Pantry. Through the Pantry, we distribute gift cards from various supermarkets in the area, including Midwest Kosher & Deli, Martin's, Meijer, and Walmart. Additionally, to aid our clients, we also distribute gas cards from either Speedway or Marathon. This allows the client to purchase exactly what is needed without any waste. At present, we are distributing approximately $1900 a month to our clients.

Another of our services is our transportation program. This is geared for seniors who need rides to shopping, doctor appointments, etc. Since September, between our Benton Harbor satellite and ourselves, we have given over 130 rides.

Visiting and speaking with seniors in their homes is an especially meaningful part of JFS. We have the opportunity to spend quality time with our seniors and, through our discussions and updates, allow them to remain part of our extended community. Many enjoy catching up on the local news while reminiscing about how things were when they were more active. As I have written in the OCN, I’m not certain who benefits more from these visits, the senior or myself, as I get a new perspective on what South Bend was like and how it is now. When the back story is heard, a lot of things come into better focus.

As part of our Wellness program, we coordinated with our Programming department and brought in Lisa Levin who spoke about “Breathing as a way to relieve stress” as well as “The Emotion Code.” Lisa is a licensed Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, BCD, CAS, CECP. It was a great lecture and well attended.

Finally, JFS offers a Life Coaching service. This program is tailored to the client’s needs. This program helps the client realize their potential. We help with creating or tweaking a budget, learning how to deal with stress, interview skills, etc.

These are just a few highlights into what JFS is doing. If you’d like more information or would like to volunteer, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

The expression of gratitude, conveying our sincere thanks and appreciation, is essential to our Jewish identity and tradition. The first words of our morning prayer, Modeh ani, impel us to start each day with a grateful heart by saying:

“I thank you.”

At Federation, we have many reasons to say, “Toda.”

We are thankful for a Shana tova—a good year. That assessment of a successful year begins with programing because programs serve as the heart of the Federation’s work. With each heartbeat—with every implementation of our thoughtfully and deliberately designed programs—we send oxygen and nutrient-rich, life-sustaining blood circulating through the Jewish community. The strong pulse and steady beat of our programing stands as a significant vital sign of our Federation’s strength. The wellbeing of the integrated and interdependent systems of Jewish Michiana flows from Federation programs such as our holiday, Yoms, CRC, Partnership, and community events.

These programs are not randomly devised and delivered. Rather, they reflect and give life to our vision, mission, and values. They are aligned, by the Federation staff, with our twin core goals of:

• K’lal Yisrael: Creating Jewish unity and solidarity across the community regardless of religious views; and

• Bayit Chazak: Strengthening our home as the Fed continues to reinvent itself through strategic and intentional choices to serve as the central hub of Jewish life in the region.

I’m also thrilled to report that through the participation of more than 260 individual donors, we achieved the ambitious goals we set for the Federation’s annual campaign. At a time of rising costs and other economic pressures, we successfully raised—through your generous giving—the funds needed to keep the heart of the Jewish Federation beating with consistent vigor and strength. Your magnanimous support of the annual campaign, JFS Virtual Food Pantry Appeals, and JFS itself, powers the Federation’s efforts to care for our fellow Jews in Michiana and around the world. Again, thank you!

This year’s fundraising represents a community-wide effort. You, our dedicated volunteers, and the extraordinary team of Jewish communal professionals at the Fed, make a difference in Jewish lives every day.

Together, we put food on the table and gas in the tank with JFS assistance cards for individuals and families with financial needs. We offer comfort and companionship for older adults and lend a helping hand to ease some of life’s challenges when they arise.

This past year, we also opened our doors for sumptuous Kosher Date Night dining experiences, expanded the product offerings of our camper-run Friday market—Shi'Shuk, received rave reviews on the 13th Annual Michiana Jewish Film Festival, and immersed ourselves in community-building conversations about the values and aspirations that will ultimately define our future.

Toda Raba. I thank my amazing professional staff and board, and, in turn, we thank you on behalf of the community we serve for all that we’ve accomplished together. And we thank you in advance for your investment in the essential work that lies ahead.

Turning to the future, we look with unsparing, but also hopeful and inspired eyes, to what comes next for the Jewish community of Michiana. We embrace with determination and confidence the challenge and opportunity of crafting a new narrative, an inviting and innovative vision for what can be. We will be judged, as every generation is, not so much by what we’ve accomplished in the past as by the foundations we lay for an even brighter future.

With this in mind, we will endeavor, in this coming year, to create an intentional, evidence-based, and opportunity-focused master plan for the future of Michiana’s Jewish community. We will be guided in this process by insights and ideas from our current community members, the experience and expertise of others engaged in dynamic and innovative community building, and the vision and aspirations of the next generation of Jewish leaders—especially those who might pursue those dreams in Michiana.

The master plan will be systemic, holistic, and integrated. That is, it will weave together, within a big-picture vision of Michiana’s Jewish future, specific objectives for creating a dynamic and welcoming Jewish community, one that offers opportunities for us to attract and retain young people to engage and connect with Jewish Michiana on terms that reflect their passions, interests, and models for belonging rather than through the paradigms of the past.

The Federation will stand at the center of this process and, I believe, at the core of the Jewish future that emerges from our collective, community efforts. We will be the heart that keeps the blood flowing to our diverse yet interdependent and mutually affirming facets of Jewish life and living. We are grateful for that opportunity and grateful for your partnership in this sacred and profound process. Toda raba!

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A year ago, I received the “metaphorical gavel” from Mike Kirsch when I became the president of the Jewish Federation’s Board. Mike, Moshe Kruger (who had the misfortune of becoming the Executive Director right at the start of the pandemic), the Federation’s board, and the staff members had the near-impossible task of navigating the complexities of COVID-19. With their leadership and the support of the community, the Jewish Federation survived this period.

Since then, the Federation has reopened its doors to many exciting events that proved to our members that we will continue to be a center for the entire Jewish community. Some of our most successful events were the Fall Fest, which created a traffic jam in the Federation’s parking lot, the Women Leading a Dialogue event, which brought together women from different sectors of the Israeli map, and the Yom HaShoah program, which showcased youth education outside of Jewish our community about the Holocaust. We must not forget the amazing Memorial Day and Independence Day celebrations for the State of Israel. At each of these events, the turnout was incredible, with over 100 attendees.

The above-mentioned events and the day-to-day running of the Federation could not take place without the support of the entire Federation staff. Moshe Kruger, with his contagious enthusiasm and his continued dream of a strong future for the Jewish community, was the architect behind the three sessions of Fed Talks. The idea behind these meetings was to discuss some critical questions about the state of our community to allow us to engage in a dialogue about our future together. I could not imagine how the Federation would be today without Moshe.

Rabbi Fred Nebel, the man wearing many hats, serves as Director of Jewish Family Services. With the help of Nancy Kennedy, they have done an amazing job keeping us connected to individuals who are in need. He often provides transportation and acts as the Mashgiach for our Kosher kitchen in his free time.

Bob Feferman is our sage CRC Director. His community relations leadership is vital to the community, as is his involvement and steady hand in the Federation’s shlilchut and Partnership2Gether programs. Bob’s dedication and good-natured personality make a positive difference in the many communities he touches.

Dan Ravitch, Programming Director, and Shirlee Greenwald, Israel Program Director, have worked closely together to plan different events for the entire community across the age spectrum. Through their creativity and long hours, they have set a high bar for anyone in the future. They have forever transformed Camp Ideal and created the Shi'Shuk Market, open every Friday afternoon in the summer to sell baked goods the campers made. Sadly, for us, Dan and Shirlee will be departing at the end of this summer to continue with new and exciting endeavors. Dan Cossman, who is the Federation’s Operations Manager, has many roles and is the ultimate team player. From paying bills to managing security, facilities and event logistics, Dan’s steady hand helps the Federation run smoothly.

This year, we have been fortunate to have a few new additions to the Federation’s staff. Last October, Steve Lotter became the Federation’s Director of Community Engagement. Steve joined us after many years of working at Big Idea Company. He has done an amazing job keeping the community informed through our newsletter, emails, and website management. He is also our “tech guru” and has helped all our programs run smoothly. Steve is working on an exciting mix of innovative community engagement programs, including leadership development, Israel engagement, social impact, and other aspects of Jewish life.

Additionally, Judy Sassler became the Federation’s Administrative Assistant. Not only does Judy help run the office, but she has also become our chef. Judy has prepared feasts for all our recent events. Her food and its presentation have been nothing short of a 5-star meal – as Moshe calls it “an Ooh La La Feast!” Finally, Jon Ravitch became the Federation’s Facility Associate. He does an excellent job making sure the Federation looks its best. Following the last Fed Talk, Jon became my drill sergeant and made sure that we left the room spotless.

Being Board President, to say the least, has been quite overwhelming for me. I have only survived thanks to the support of the Executive Committee. Cristyne Porile and Sarah Nerenberg have kept us organized and have paid close attention to detail. Mara Boettcher has continued to be the “financial guru.” Mike Kirsch is always there to answer my questions (and I think he has the entire set of bylaws memorized). Allen Stenberg has brought his broad knowledge of marketing and communication to the Board. I wish there was a way for me to say how much I appreciate all of the Board members. They have been so supportive over the last year and were not afraid to give their opinions when needed. I would like to personally thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for all the help you have given me.

For the first time since COVID-19 brought chaos to our lives, the Federation will be hosting a new Shaliach from the Jewish Agency. As I mentioned before, Dan and Shirlee will be leaving us at the end of the summer, but not before they get some quality time training Omer Karavani. Omer will arrive in South Bend around mid-September. I hope our community will open up their homes so we can make his stay in South Bend memorable.

On behalf of the Federation, I want to thank all of you for the help and support you have given us.

Highlights

• 🙌 Moshe expresses gratitude for the dedicated and passionate professional staff of the Federation.

• 🌟 He highlights the accomplishments of the Federation’s programs and services over the past year.

• 🏢 Temple is going through a transition, and the Federation has extended a helping hand.

• 🌍 Moshe discusses the challenges faced by the Jewish community at large, including a shortage of Jewish professionals.

• 💡 He emphasizes the need for adaptation and innovation to address the changing landscape of Jewish life.

Video Transcript

And here's how I'd like to begin; I see that Dan Cossman is in the room in the back with his camera. Dan you just want to wave really quick to the folks. I'm just going to run down my staff list. Dan Ravitch, probably out by the fire. John Ravitch, out by the fire. Judy, I believe is in the kitchen. Nancy is probably up in Southwest Michigan. Rabbi is in the kitchen. Shirley is somewhere on the Federation campus. Steve is behind the tech desk. And I know Bob Feferman and his wife are in Israel.

And here they are, fine people, the finest. Team Fed. I got to tell you they're impressive. So, I began my state of the Federation remarks with a grateful heart, grateful because we are incredibly fortunate to have a professional staff that possesses a love for the Jewish people, who serves our community with passion, creativity, and I might say with a roll up your sleeves, old-fashioned, get it done work ethic. They're amazing and a joy to work with. Please join me in showing them our heartfelt appreciation.

I could not be prouder of them and their accomplishments over this past year, from Camp Ideal to our community relations work.

Date night, the Yom’s, our holiday programming, Bagels & Dragons, the PJ Library Pajama Party, the Holocaust Education Speakers Bureau, with over 60 classroom presentations this year. And then of course we had the amazing 13th Annual Michiana Jewish Film Festival, NEXTGen, FED Talks, the Jewish Family Services fundraising appeals, Partnership events, educational classes, and so much more.

For example, the Mother's Day brunch and concert with the South Bend Symphony String Quartet, some of you were there. In short, with programs and services that appeal to diverse interests and needs, I will tell you this, the Federation is getting better at bringing people together and making our community stronger. So tonight, I want to talk about three things relative to our future: where we are, why we can't stay where we are, are you with me? And three, what the change drivers are shaping our community and Jewish communities around the country. In brief, where we are, we are in transition.

Temple has sold their home on Madison Street and are contemplating next steps. Sinai is also actively contemplating their future, and our good friend Rabbi Friedland has publicly used the "R" word, retirement. And our Orthodox community is enjoying new leadership at HOC and MTC. And of course, we have other segments in our community who are wrestling with their own unique challenges. But let me focus on Temple for just a minute.

Like a good neighbor, Federation extended a hand to Temple as they navigate their next chapter, and I'm happy to report that phase one of the Berman-Brenner Family Sculpture Garden installation is complete.

The garden sculptures have been relocated to the Federation campus from Temple Beth-El. But we still have some finishing work to do, including some landscaping. Now, did you notice the sculptures as you were driving in this evening? They are located in the grassy area out in our circular drive, in front of the building. And once the work is done, a rededication invitation will go out to the community.

So, in addition to being a new home for the sculptures, from all accounts, I'm hearing that Temple's hybrid Kabbalat Shabbat services and onegs in this community room have been lovely, really lovely, as has the coordinated programming we've done with Temple Sisterhood, the Simon Foundation and the Simon Fund for Holocaust Remembrance.

So, in speaking of Temple events at the Federation, keep this date in mind: mark your calendar for Friday, July 21st for a special Temple Kabbalat Shabbat community service, which will feature community musicians, who will add, I'm sure, great ruach or spirit as we say, to make this Shabbat service both memorable and enjoyable, and weather permitting, we will have an "Ooh La La" oneg out here on the patio. Oh! Did someone mention patio?

I'm pleased to report our patio and campus sidewalks and building have just had a long overdue washing. The campus is now clean, bright and inviting. So please join your friends on Friday, July 21st. The service begins at 5:30. Now, as Alon remarked in his report, it's been a remarkable year for the Federation, and I could not agree more we are building momentum, and I think people are taking note.

You know we've come a long way since the Jews first set foot in North America in 1654, just 34 years after the Mayflower arrived in Massachusetts, and by the late 1800s, Jews started trickling into what we now call Michiana. If we fast forward to 2023, the American Jewish population is estimated at approximately 7.6 million, which accounts for about two-point four percent, more or less, of the total population in the United States. But if you zoom out to the worldwide population, we are a very minuscule, 0.2 percent, and yet astonishingly, did you know this fun fact? Jews have won approximately 22 percent of the Nobel prizes. To say that this is astonishing is, in my view, an understatement.

Of course, there are many interesting metrics we could examine regarding the Jewish people, but the metric that the Federation is most interested in is measuring the health and well-being of our community right here in South Bend Michiana. In our own little Jewish world, the community vital signs I would say are mixed. As previously mentioned, on the south side we are seeing new leadership and growth in our Orthodox community. That's good. In our other local synagogues, we do see their great spirit and teamwork, but I think we'll agree we also see long-standing membership and building and financial, and yes, even leadership challenges.

I would go on to say that the denominational framework which once provided the scaffolding for Jewish life and congregational affiliation is no longer quite as compelling or relevant, at least according to the Pew research of 2020. Overall, about a quarter of U.S Jewish adults, that say about 27 percent, do not identify with the Jewish religion. However, the bright spot is that they do consider themselves to be Jewish ethnically and or culturally, or by family background. They may have, of course, Jewish parents or were raised Jewish, but listen to this, they answer the question about their current religion by describing themselves as an atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular, rather than as Jewish. And among Jewish adults under 30, 4 in 10 describe themselves this way. So, what does this portend for us here in our beloved community?

I'll come back to that question in just a moment. But I'd like to splash, if you will, a little bit more paint on our "where we are" canvas. Most of us in this meeting hall tonight are old enough to recall The Six Day War, when Israel was the most exciting feature of Jewish life, infusing Jewishness with dignity and energy, joy and purpose and commitment. However, the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians and the challenges of building a Democratic Society are taking a toll on Zionistic interests and commitment. If in the past the answer to the question why Israel was clear for many Jews, today we might say that the Jewish homeland struggles to find and redefine its role in the lives of North American Jews. And this is why our partnership program with the Western Galilee region in Israel is so important. It brings us this one-of-a-kind, person-to-person connection, as we saw when the women's delegation visited us here in South Bend.

And, as an aside, I'll be joining other Federation executives and lay leaders who partner with our Western Galilee folks in Fort Worth, Texas for a four-day strategic powwow next week and joining me on that trip will be our co-chair of Partnership, David Ravitch, and what we'll be exploring is what the heck is going on in America and in Israel. Because the way of being together, our way of organizing our collective lives, you may agree has changed, and has evolved as the world has transformed. And although this concept of community is so central to Judaism, and I would say to the ethos of the Jewish people, we face unparalleled challenges as U.S Jews. In fact, many would say that our communal organizations are in crisis.

We live in a world where many of the old patterns of behavior and affiliations and identity have changed. And moreover, our Jewish community problem is further aggravated because right now there are not enough professionals to fill open positions across our broad Jewish landscape. We faced shortages, acute shortages in some instances, of rabbis and educators and cantors, organizational leaders, camp staff, chaplains, youth leaders, and yes, even lay leaders. And as Alon mentioned, here at our Federation we too are experiencing challenges in finding a new program director.

All this is to say that understanding where we are is creating a pervasive sense that the rules of the game are changing. The rules of the game are changing, and that the ideas and beliefs, and our institutions and experiences that were once the central building blocks of our political and religious and our social and familial and our individual universes need to be rethought, need to be reimagined, and where relevant, reinvigorated and reclaimed. Because if you were to ask me where we are is simply not sustainable.

What then in turn does this rupture in opportunity for transformation in the fabric of Jewish life mean for our local community? Well this much I know. Change happens at the pace of trust. Change happens at the pace of trust, and this is why FED Talks was created, with this idea in mind, to build trust through community conversations, while also capturing the essence and the contours of our current thinking about our shared future.

And permit me to say, whatever our direction that our community decides to go in, please, please let us listen to our youth and yield to their powers. Our youth is our future and I believe they will lead us to better solutions.

So, when we read Deuteronomy 30:19, "I put life and death before you therefore choose life." Choosing life, the most precious of all things. In fact, we are commanded to choose life. Why? So that we and our children can live. To live means having a secure future. Well, it turns out we can't take our future for granted, can we? So, our future really is a work in progress. It is up to us to define and move towards it.

Oh boy friends, the hour is getting late. So let me make my final wind up and pitch. Turning to our future, we look with hopeful and inspired eyes to what comes next for the Jewish community of Michiana, with determination and confidence we will embrace the challenges and opportunities by crafting a new narrative, a narrative that's inviting, a narrative that has an innovative vision for what we can be, and we will be judged. We will be judged, as every generation is, not so much by what we've accomplished in the past, no, but by the foundations we lay for even a brighter future. So, with this in mind, and this coming year with my new board, we will endeavor to create an intentional, evidence-based and opportunity-focused master plan for the future of Michiana's Jewish community.

Now, I just said a mouthful of fancy words. What I'm really trying to say is with joy and with harmony, and with growth to engage Jewishly, in a safe way, in a secure way, in a way without judgment, we just might have a chance. We will be guided in this process by insights and ideas from you, our current community members, and the experience and expertise of others who may know something about innovative community building. And we'll also have to listen as I've just mentioned, to the next generation of Jewish leaders, especially those who might pursue those dreams here in Michiana. Yes, the master plan will be systemic, holistic and integrated. It will be woven together within a big picture vision of Michiana's Jewish future. We will set out specific objectives for creating this dynamic and welcoming community.

And if I can flip to my next page, I want you to listen carefully to what I say next. To be sustainable, to be a sustainable community, we need to work together outside of our traditional silos and offer opportunities to attract and retain young people to engage and connect with Jewish Michiana, on terms that reflect their passions, their interests and models for belonging, rather than through the paradigms of the past, and if you heard Dan Feferman's webinar, this past weekend he spoke to some of these very same issues. Friends, we cannot simply recycle yesterday's solutions for today's challenges, period. We need bold and innovative thinking. This is the basis of what I'm calling Vision 2025, an open dialogue, an open dialogue for a three-year community plan to bring us together to work for a common cause.

A very brief story: when Theodore Herzl stood up and called for a movement to build the Jewish Nation, most people said you're out of your mind. You are out of your mind. However, a few people stood up and said yes, this will be difficult, but I'm in. This is the crux of great change, isn't it? To go against the grain, to do something audacious, and so, I submit this is the opportunity and moment we must seize. And I will guarantee you this, life will always be richer when we see the possibilities, when inspired people step up and say count me in, because they see the value in our shared future.

Tonight, as I stand before you, I am grateful. I am humbled. I'm ready to give you and this community my best effort. And in saying this, I am only able to do this because of a very special person in my life, my wife Karen Richmond, who's sitting here in the front row. I want to thank you, Karen. I want to thank Karen for all of your love and support.

So, in conclusion, we have journeyed together to reach this new season. We have not done it alone. Let's keep reaching for the stars, the Federation is counting on you to partner with us in this effort. Our community and the Jewish future depend on it. May our deliberations and actions we take, let them be blessed, and may we be blessed with the courage and the wisdom and the chutzpah to sit, to stay focused on our core values, and true to our community purpose, as we dream what is possible in fulfilling the promise of our future.