Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids

Rregistration is now open for Limmud Michigan. Join them for ‘a day of unexpected Jewish learning’ at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. There will be more than 50 presentations during the day, with presenters (and attendees) from near and far on a wide variety of topics related to Jewish life.

Learn more at the link below:
http://www.limmudmichigan.org/

We're experiencing an increased rate of email delivery issues with our Shabbat newsletter, so we thought we would share with our community all of the amazing programs coming up that you should be a part of.

You can also learn all about these in our weekly Shabbat podcast, going over everything you need to know to stay up to date on Grand Rapids Jewish Events.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJNB2LzhyY4

Please join us on, Sept 27 at 4-5:30pm, at Loosemore Auditorium (Pew campus, DeVos center, GVSU) there's a keynote lecture by Prof. Edward Westermann (Texas A&M University) about German soldiers, alcohol, and the Holocaust. Prof. Westermann is an award winning scholar for his book Drunk on Genocide: Alcohol and Mass Murder in N**i Germany (Cornell University Press, 2023), and he was a fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial and Museum in Washington D.C. The lecture is open to everyone.

There's more about the conference (other keynotes and panels), including the entire program, here:

https://www.gvsu.edu/glhc/

For more information contact Professor Jason Crouthamel at [email protected]

Great Lakes History Conference Explore the history of drugs in warfare at the 2024 Great Lakes History Conference.

Jewish Theatre is holding auditions for the play "H*tler's Taster"

Casting four women ages 20s and 30s

Audition Dates: Sept 8 @ 2:00 & Sept 9 @ 7:00

Location: "The Vine" First Place Building - 207 Fulton E 49503

There is free parking located in the back of the building

For more information: go to https://www.jtgr.org/participate/auditions

We have plenty of amazing events coming up here at JFGR that we would love for you to be a part of. Take a look at the events below and make sure to reserve your spot!

Jewish Federations are devastated at the news that Hamas has killed six more hostages, among them the American Hersh Goldberg-Polin z”l, whose story we have come to know so well through the tireless advocacy of his parents Rachel and Jon.


We mourn the loss of these innocents, Hersh, Eden Yerushalmi z”l, Carmel G*t z”l, Almog Sarusi z”l, Alex Lubnov z”l, and Ori Danino z”l.

Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, may they be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. We pray that the remaining hostages will soon be returned home safely.

Join us on August 28 for an important webinar with Barak Ravid, an Axios political reporter, CNN analyst and author. Barak will discuss the complexities of Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas and Hezbollah, hope for a hostage deal and more.

Barak will be joined by Nati Szczupak, Director of The Jewish Agency’s Campus Israel Fellows program, as well as a college student and Israel Fellow who will provide insight into the current reality of life on campus for Jewish and Zionist students as the war continues.

Register:
https://jewishagency.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ebc1d32e685234fa94d016cef&id=efd52ed992&e=53a022e813

Join us for our Campaign Kickoff 2024 on September 24th! This year, we'll be hosting an Israeli Wine Tasting event at Cascade Hills Country Club. All community members over the age of 21 are welcome to join. The program is $36 per person and includes wine, vegetarian charcuterie boards, and desserts.

Link to RSVP:
https://forms.gle/XtcgrRPTzaxYAejx8

Our Tales From Home community event will be held on Sunday, September 8th, at 12:30pm. Please join us and our Sister Community of Kibbutz Ein Dor for a unique opportunity to meet five Israeli women artists of different cultures and faiths. A light lunch will be served. RSVP to [email protected]

A Message from Israeli President Isaac Herzog:

A message from President Herzog to Jewish communities around the world As Israel faces threat of attack, President Herzog sends a message to Jewish communities around the world

Join us on Thursday, November 7th for a discussion and book signing from Mark Oppenheimer, an author and researcher in religious studies. He will be coming to Grand Rapids to discuss his newest book covering the Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting.

More information to come.

Don't forget to RSVP to our special lecture on the History of N**i Germany and the Road to the Holocaust, hosted by GVSU professor Jason Crouthamel. RSVP at the link below:

https://forms.gle/oVCrw8FTKVy5nUGX6

Tuesday, October 22nd, at 10am hosted in Temple Emanuel

A word from the Jewish Federation of North Jewish Federations of North America

__________________________

Dear Friends,

In a horrific terror attack yesterday evening, a rocket fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon landed on a soccer field next to a playground in the town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights killing 12 Druze children and youth and injuring dozens more, several seriously. An 11-year-old boy remains missing, and efforts are underway to locate him. The IDF has described Saturday's rocket strike as "the deadliest attack on Israeli civilians" since Hamas’s brutal attack on October 7th which triggered war in Gaza.

Thousands attended today’s funerals for the victims at which several people fainted when they were overcome by emotion and the crowds.

Jewish Federations are already assisting victims’ families through our support for The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Fund for the Victims of Terror which activated immediately when news of the attack broke. Emergency grants of 4,000 NIS (approximately $1,100) will be provided to each bereaved family and the families of all of the wounded who have been hospitalized. In a later phase, additional support from the Fund will be made available for rehabilitation needs. Since October 7th, the Jewish Federations have allocated $34.1 million to replenish and expand the Victims of Terror Fund to meet this crisis, including both funds from the Jewish Federations of North America Israel Emergency Fund and individual Federation allocations.

In addition, in the last 12 hours, Israel Emergency Response Committee co-chairs Steve Hoffman and Jeff Schoenfeld approved an allocation to match funding for an initiative of the global Jewish community under the auspices of The Jewish Agency. This initiative, in partnership with communities around the world through Keren Hayesod, aims to provide urgent trauma and humanitarian support to victims and their families as well as the broader community of Majdal Shams.

Prior to this tragic incident, funds from Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Emergency Fund were allocated to a range of urgent needs within the Druze community alongside significant support from the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, UJA Federation of New York, the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey, and Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston.

In the aftermath of yesterday evening’s devastating attack, Natal – the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center is operating a special hotline around the clock in Arabic dedicated to residents of Majdal Shams and the entire Druze community. Additionally, a Druze therapist has been deployed to the town to provide immediate emotional support for all who need it. The partnership with Natal is a special initiative of the Chicago Federation begun last November.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has already landed back in Israel following last week’s trip to the United States and will be meeting with senior security officials and the Security Cabinet later today to determine Israel’s response to this egregious attack.

This attack obviously represents a significant escalation in the North. We will convene an emergency webinar this week (details forthcoming) on the situation.

Jewish Federations mourn with the people of Israel and the Druze community for those whose lives have been lost and pray for the full and speedy recovery of the wounded.

Julie Platt
Chair, Board of Trustees

Eric Fingerhut
President & CEO

We are pleased to announce our Campaign Chairs for 2024, Heather and David Alfonso.

The role of Campaign Chair is vital in driving our mission forward by fundraising and ensuring effective communication with our Jewish community, and we are delighted that the Alfonso's are up to the task!

The next Senior Lunch Bunch is announced!

Tuesday, September 10th, from 1-3pm

Save the Date: Babka Book Club!

Wednesday, September 18th from 5:00-6:30pm

Our next game night is Sunday, August 18th, from 1-3pm!

Bring your favorite game to play, snacks and drinks provided by JFGR.

RSVP with [email protected] for location.

Don't forget! Babka Book Club is next week on Wednesday at 5pm. Come for the babka, stay for the books!

Save the Date, Babka Book Club on Wednesday July 17th @ 5pm

This session, the group will be discussing Exile Music, an atmospheric and meditative novel based on an unexplored slice of World War II history, following a young Jewish girl whose family flees refined and urbane Vienna for safe harbor in the mountains of Bolivia.

RSVP to Helayne for location. Come for the Babka, stay for the book!

Dear Community Members,

There is a member of our Jewish community in urgent need of financial resources. She is a young woman who is struggling with serious medical issues and multiple recent hospitalizations. She is also a single parent of a young child. We are asking for cash donations or prepaid credit cards of any amount to assist with food, household items, transportation, utility bills and child care. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide for this family.

Donations can be mailed to JFGR at the address below or made on-line at https://www.jewishgrandrapids.org/donate and include Urgent Need in notes. Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Thank you,
Helayne

Donate | The Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids

Join us for the Senior Lunch Bunch of Tuesday July 9th!

RSVP to [email protected]

Don't forget about our "Let's Play a Game" social event next Sunday at noon!

RSVP with Helayne for details.

Join us this Wednesday at 6:30pm for our Annual Meeting, in person or virtually. Dessert reception to follow, RSVP with Evan Rossio at [email protected]

Zoom Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83863902265?pwd=d0ptdnNHMFFIcnExcy93SGZXRUlsZz09