Thank You, Jewish Michiana
Bob Feferman offers a reflection on his time serving as Director of Community Relations
As I step into retirement from my position as Community Relations Director, I want to use this opportunity to say a few thank yous to our community.
First, thank you, Marsha Brook, Barb Lerman and Ron Silverman for the honor of the Lisa Lerman Community Bridge Award. It was Lisa Lerman (z’l) who set the example for all of us for community service and building bridges of understanding.
I also want to thank Executive Director Moshe Kruger, Board President Cristyne Porile, Treasurer Mara Boettcher, and our Federation leadership for the creation of the Israel Endowment Fund in my name. This fund will help support our shaliach program and Israel programming. I am truly humbled by this honor.
As some of you know, I’m an old high school football player. I know that nothing good happens without a team. First and foremost, thank you Shoshana for encouraging me to take this job after retiring from a career in teaching.
It has truly been my honor to be part of this amazing Federation team under the great leadership of Moshe Kruger. The team includes Dan Cossman, Nancy Kennedy, Steve Lotter, Rabbi Nebel, Judy Sassler, Ben Barwick, Dr. Louise, and last but certainly not least, Omer Karavani. For the past two years Omer has been my partner for all things Israel. He has become like a member of our family to Shoshana and me.
It was also my honor to work with previous Federation Executive Directors Ben Davis, Mara Boettcher and Debby Barton Grant who hired me for this position.
A highlight of my career has been the privilege of working with many great shlichim. These young Israelis who we host here in our community represent the very best of Israel, and they connect our community to Israel in a very personal way. They are an important expression of our dedication to Jewish peoplehood.
My thanks and appreciation to the many community members who have provided hospitality for the shlichim for Friday night meals and on holidays. To borrow a phrase: “It takes a village to host a shaliach.”
Our team also includes the many volunteers that are the foundation of this Federation.
The volunteers include the Holocaust Education Speakers Bureau including Sid Shroyer and Terry Tulchinsky. They have dedicated many hours to presentations in schools to share the lessons of the Holocaust and help prevent antisemitism in our community. I am proud to say that Deena Abraham will be joining the speaker’s bureau to share the story of her grandmother.
Over the years, our Federation has been blessed to have strong leadership in our board of directors.
We should all be grateful for the tremendous time, effort and care they dedicate to our community. I have been privileged to work with great board presidents including current president Cristyne Porile and past presidents Alon Shemesh, Mike Kirsch, Lisa Lerman (z’l), Dave Ravitch, Terry Feldbaum, and Mitch Wayne.
I was also honored to work with the Parternship2Gether (P2G) committee under the leadership of Cristyne Porile and Dave Ravitch. The events we have hosted, especially the interfaith women’s delegation from Western Galilee, could not have happened without volunteers like Cristyne and Dave.
And finally, what a privilege it has been for me to work with the Community Relations Committee (CRC) under the amazing leadership of Chairperson Barbara Lerman.
Barbara is truly a great visionary who puts words into action to fulfill the mandate of CRC in advocacy for Israel, combating antisemitism and building interfaith relations. Our community can be very proud of Barbara and the CRC for the dozens of community events sponsored by this committee to fulfill its important mission.
Just two examples of Barbara’s active leadership are the unforgettable interfaith dinners she has hosted in her home and the home hospitality she and Dave have provided for many delegations from Israel. Thank you, Barbara, and Dave, for your generous hospitality.
It is also important for me to thank our community partners at Temple Beth-El for co-sponsoring many events that we do at the Federation. Together with Temple Beth-El’s Simon Foundation, currently headed by Marzy Bauer, and The Simon Fund for Holocaust Remembrance, headed by Joe Bauer, we have a true partnership that will continue to enhance the Jewish life of our community.
I want to extend my good wishes to my successor Jordan Price who I know will do a great job. His experiences having lived in Israel and his continued work with Livnot will be of great value to our community in his new position.
Thank you everyone; it’s been an honor to be of service to this community, and now I will take my place alongside you all as a volunteer.
Bob Feferman
Community Contributor