The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community
www.jewishlehighvalley.org
| Issue No. 499 | July/August 2026 | Av/Elul 5786 AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977
Community celebrates Jewish Federation award winners, volunteers, leaders, and donors at annual meeting. p4-5
Houman Ahdieh, new Maimonides president, aims to rekindle Israel exchange, and recruit members. p6
FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p3 LVJF TRIBUTES p11 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p12-13 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p14 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p15 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p23
2027 Campaign kickoff
Pulitzer pundit to bring insight on Israel, Jewish America to the Lehigh Valley By Carl Zebrowski Editor The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley will officially launch its 2027 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs with an invitation-only Major Gifts Reception with a communitywide presentation to follow featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Bret Stephens on Thursday, September 17, at Muhlenberg College. The evening will celebrate the generosity and leadership of the Federation’s major donors while marking the beginning of the annual campaign that sustains essential programs and services for the Jewish community locally, in Israel, and around the world. Following the Major Gifts Reception, Stephens will present “The Future of the Jewish
Community in America,” offering timely insights on Israel, antisemitism, American Jewish life, and the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish people today. “We are honored to launch our annual campaign with a speaker whose thoughtful insights will force us to look beyond today’s challenges and toward a vibrant Jewish future,” says Aaron Gorodzinsky, Jewish Federation director of development. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Mr. Stephens to the Lehigh Valley and to begin our campaign inspired by his vision for a strong, confident, and enduring Jewish community.” A veteran of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Stephens is widely recognized for his commentary on foreign policy, national security, and global affairs.
He has become one of the nation’s leading voices on Israel, antisemitism, and the future of American Jewish communities. “As our community launches this year’s campaign, Mr. Stephens brings a message of resilience and renewal,” Gorodzinsky says. “His willingness to speak with moral clarity about Israel, antisemitism, and the defense of democratic values has made him one of the most respected voices in American journalism. He reminds us that investing in Jewish education, philanthropy, and communal responsibility is how we strengthen Jewish life for generations to come.” Attendees can expect Stephens to share his latest perspectives on developments in Israel and their impact on Jewish communities in the United
States, along with his analysis of the evolving landscape of Jewish life in America. Following the Major Gifts Reception at 5:30 p.m., the community presentation and dessert reception will begin at 7:15 p.m. in Muhlenberg College’s Miller Forum in Moyer Hall. The 7:15 p.m. event is open to all members of the Jewish community who make a pledge to the 2027 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs. The registration fee for the community presentation is $36. Register by September 3 and make your 2027 campaign
ence was a powerful reminder that P2G is about far more than programs—it is about the people, friendships, and shared commitment that connect our communities. Our visit began in Yoav, where we reviewed the many initiatives made possible through our partnership, including Shared Journey, Hebrew Together (Ivrit Together), and retreats for Israel Defense Forces reservists. We met with regional council head Nati Lerner and reconnected with photographer Erez Kaga-
novitz, whose Humans of October 7 exhibit remains on display at the JCC. We also began exploring an exciting new collaboration for the future. One of the most moving experiences was visiting Kibbutz Revadim and learning about the Ariel Chuka (Home) project, created in memory of Ariel Ohana, who was killed defending Kibbutz Be’eri on October 8. Meeting Ariel’s father and seeing how the project is transforming grief into hope was unforgettable. Supported by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, the initiative includes housing for lone soldiers, a community memorial garden built by volunteers from across Israel, and the Mehubarim (Connected)
program, which helps young people from conflict-affected communities build resilience, connection, and belonging. At Kibbutz Beit Guvrin, we met Maccabit Meyer, the aunt of Gali and Ziv Berman, who shared her family’s emotional journey until they were reunited after more than 700 days in Hamas captivity. Her story reflected both unimaginable pain and extraordinary resilience, reminding us how deeply October 7 continues to
Bret Stephens
pledge online. The evening promises to be both an inspiring launch to the Federation’s annual campaign and an opportunity for the community to come together around a shared commitment to a strong Jewish future.
LV mission and Yoav share remembrance, renewal in Israel
By Lee Kestecher Solomon Director of Community Engagement I had the privilege of traveling to Israel on June 14 as part of a delegation from the Lehigh Valley through our Partnership2Gether (P2G) program. We spent a meaningful week with our partners in the Yoav Regional Council, strengthening relationships, participating in collaborative meetings, and visiting projects supported by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. The experi-
Non-Profit Organization
of the Lehigh Valley 702 North 22nd Street Allentown, PA 18104
of the Lehigh Valley
of the Lehigh Valley
of the Lehigh Valley
U.S. POSTAGE PAID Lehigh Valley, PA Permit No. 64
affect families and communities across Israel. We also spent time in Beit Shemesh learning from fellow Partnership2Gether communities and discussing projects for the coming year before visiting the site where an Iranian ballistic missile struck a residential neighborhood and synagogue.
LV and Yoav continues on page 8