The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community
www.jewishlehighvalley.org
| Issue No. 467 | July/August 2023 | Tammuz/Av 5783 AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977
Trexler Middle Schoolers pack ‘Holocaust suitcases’ to honor victims. p8
Lehigh Valley and Yoav leaders meet in Israel to celebrate 20 years of Partnership2Gether and plan the future. p5
FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p3 LVJF TRIBUTES p8 JFLV 2023 CAMPAIGN HONOR ROLL p9-11 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p17 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p14-15 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p27
New task force will help older adults age at home
By Rabbi Allen Juda Chair of the Older Adults Task Force
Cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead once wrote, “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” We are fortunate to have many caring members of the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, and one group has been working diligently since last summer to “change the world” for those aging in place. There is evidence from across the country that older adults prefer to remain in their own homes as long as possible rather than enter a long-term care residence. But people may need some help doing so. Fortunately, our communal leaders recognize the need to provide more services to our growing population of older adults. In the spring of 2022, Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Fed-
eration of the Lehigh Valley, invited Debbie Zoller, executive director of Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley, to collaborate on the formation of an Older Adult Task Force. As I was completing five years as JFS president, I was honored that they asked me to serve as the chair. I have been interested and involved in local older adult issues for over 40 years. Since October 2022, task force members, each of whom brings a unique perspective to the area of aging, have been researching best practices and programs for older adults who are aging in place in other JFS and Federation locations around the country. In order to be successful, we are rolling out services in one area at a time to further assess need and usage. The task force agreed that the new initiative would be the formation of the JFS@ Home program. The first pilot program is
Home Repairs and it has two components:
2. Leaf raking this fall If you need assistance with leaf raking, JFS will organize volunteers on Sunday, November 12. The Hillel organizations at Lafayette Col-
lege in Easton, Lehigh University in Bethlehem and Muhlenberg College in Allentown have generously agreed to have their students help you. We will keep you updated as we research more programs and services. Thank you to our task force members and generous donors for their commitment to enhancing services for Jewish older adults in the Lehigh Valley. The task force plans to hold some focus group meetings this fall to hear directly from our older adults what additional services and programs they most need. In addition to these new programs, JFS offers other specialized older adult services. Our case management program connects individuals to services and programs in the areas of transportation, food insecurity, socialization and
in-home supports. Please contact Carol Wilson, older adult social worker, to inquire about ways JFS may assist you. Call her at 610-821-8722 Monday through Thursday or email her at cwilson@jfslv.org. As the Psalmist wisely implores, “Do not cast us away as we grow old, Do not desert us as our energy wanes.” The Federation and JFS are working together to make sure that no older adult in our community feels cast off or abandoned.
ago, he served as president of the Federation’s board. “I had a great experience with the Lehigh Valley Federation,” he said, mentioning that he enjoyed working with Mark Goldstein, the executive director who died in 2018. That solid relationship continues with Jeri Zimmerman, current executive director. “I really like working with her,” Grey said. “She’s done a terrific job.” It was the Federation that brought Grey and World ORT together, particularly Taffi
Ney, a member of the Federation’s professional staff for 28 years before retiring in 2014. Grey wanted to get involved with international Jewish education, and Ney put him in touch. Grey said his years with the organization founded in 1880 to provide education for Jewish boys in czarist Russia have been exciting. He’s worked hands on in various aspects of its efforts, including leading a mission to Ukraine in 2017. “One thing led to the next,” he said, “and they suggested that I might start as board chairman.” Today, World ORT provides supplemental Jewish and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education opportunities for more than 200,000 Jews and non-Jews in more than 30 countries, including Israel. It runs some schools outright and is affiliated with others, training teachers and providing resources for those. “The real appeal for me,”
Grey said, “is that World ORT is operating in underserved areas. It’s an inspiring program that helps meet the needs of those it serves.” Heading into the future in his new leadership role, Grey first wants to make sure World ORT’s current efforts are well supported. “I believe organizations do their best when the leadership structures work the best,” he said, looking to enhance the role of the board. One focus will be Ukraine. “After the war there ends,” he said, “we’ll have to think through what kind of role we can play.” Ukrainians will continue to resettle in other countries. “We’ll want to strengthen our roles with our affiliate schools,” he said, including sending missions to make sure goals are being met. In his professional life, Grey is a partner at the multinational law firm K&L Gates. He also teaches a seminar on energy law at Columbia Law School and is on the advisory boards of Columbia College
and Emory Law School. A serious art collector, he serves on the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Photography Council as well as on the advisory board of the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College. He and his wife, Sue, have two children and four grandchildren. They maintain a residence in Allentown, and he said he’ll remain involved with the Federation. “I really enjoy the people on the board,” he said, “and I look forward to continuing my relationships with them and with the professional staff as well.”
1. Home maintenance referrals After extensive research into local home maintenance resources, professional services are available for those in need of a minor home repair. JFS will provide the names and contact information. If you prefer not to be alone in your home with the home maintenance professional, a JFS volunteer can be assigned to stay with you during the first scheduled meeting, and during follow-up appointments upon request. Limited financial assistance may be available if you meet eligibility criteria.
JFS @ H ME
JFS @ H ME
LV community’s Bob Grey voted chair of World ORT
By Carl Zebrowski Editor
Robert Grey has been elected as the new chair of World ORT, making him the chief lay leader of this global education network guided by Jewish values. Grey, an honorary board member of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, has been with World ORT since retiring several years ago from his position as general counsel at the utility company PPL in Allentown. About 20 years
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