THIS WEEK IN JEWISH LIFE Dec. 23, 2022

Shabbat Shalom CT and Happy Hanukkah!

This week, I get to share my most meaningful Hanukkah message, courtesy of Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Resource Center.

On Hanukkah in 1932, just months before Hitler rose to power, Rachel Posner took this photograph of the family’s menorah against the backdrop of Nazi flags adorning the building across from her home in Kiel, Germany.

This is a photograph of her menorah and her view.

On the back of the photograph, Rachel wrote the following in German:

"Death to Judah"

So the flag says

"Judah will live forever"

So the light answers.

As violence in the city intensified, Rachel and her husband, Rabbi Dr. Akiva Posner, decided to leave Germany, arriving in Eretz Yisrael in 1934.

Today, both the Posner family’s menorah and the photograph are on permanent display at the Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum. But each year, the menorah is returned to the family for one week when Rachel and Akiva’s descendants continue to light the Hanukkah candles using the same menorah that was brought to Israel from Kiel almost 90 years ago.

Every object tells a story.

Every story represents a life. This menorah tells the story of light shining through the darkness, and a family living with hope in the face of despair.

Stay warm, stay dry and stay safe.

Shabbat Shalom,

Carin Savel, CEO

Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County

carin@shalomct.org

Thinking about your year-end strategies for charitable giving?

There are several strategies that will ensure that your dollars are directed to the Federation or one of our programs you care passionately about, while providing you potential tax savings. Before embarking on any of these strategies, please consult your accountant and your financial advisor.

Your contribution to the annual campaign is the gift that does it all. Through our network of partners and effective programs, we address the full range of community needs with compassion and foresight, today and into the future. You can use personal or business checks (dated 12/31/2022 or prior), credit card, or give online at shalomct.org.

Making your annual campaign gift via charitable stock contributions enables you to deduct the full market value of the stock that you are donating, without paying capital gains tax. If you are 70-1/2 or older, you may use your IRA distribution and designate the Jewish Federation as a recipient of your charitable contributions up to $100,000.

If you have a Donor Advised Fund, you may designate the Jewish Federation as a recipient of your allocations. With a charitable gift annuity, you will receive a safe and stable income stream for the rest of your life (and the life of another person, if you choose), while securing the financial future of the Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County.

If you are interested in leaving a lifelong legacy in the community, reach out to Carin for more information on starting a new endowment fund or supporting an existing one, enabling our programming to continue for many years to come.

You can make a contribution in memory or honor of a loved one, to send well wishes, honor a special occasion, or recognize the care that a family member received. When a tribute gift is made, the amount is kept confidential. A card acknowledging the gift will be sent to whomever the donor wishes.

Love to shop on Amazon? You can support us by going directly to our link on smile.amazon.com and shopping as usual. It’s easy!

Did you know that you can become a sustaining donor? By making a recurring monthly donation, you make a lasting commitment to the Federation. It's a great way to help ensure the stability and effectiveness of all Federation programs and initiatives. Contact Janet for more information.

As 2022 comes to a close, we want to thank you for all your Federation support this year. Your donations helped us help our community- here and around the world.

FEDERATION. HERE FOR YOU. HERE FOR GOOD.

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PJ Library Celebrates Chanukah Around Town!

We had a blast on the first night of Chanukah -- reading PJ Library books, doing Chanukah crafts, and meeting families at Temple Israel’s World Famous Chanukah Extravaganza and Chabad of Fairfield’s Chanukah Village in downtown Fairfield.

Happy Hanukkah from our family to yours!

CLICK HERE FOR COMMUNITY MENORAH LIGHTINGS!

December 14 was an extraordinary evening at The Westport Library, featuring clips from Ken Burns's The U.S. and the Holocaust and a panel discussion with series co-director & co-producer Sarah Botstein, Dr. Glenn Dynner of Fairfield University, and Dr. Chris Vials of UConn, who drew eye-opening comparisons between the rise of fascism leading up to World War II and the threats to democracy today.

Many thanks to our event partners, Connecticut Public and The Westport Library.

WATCH A RECORDING OF THE PROGRAM HERE.

#GetLit!

Post a photo of your menorah-lighting on social media and use #GetLit to spread the light!

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Our partners at Project Kesher Belarus transformed the Sandy Breslauer Beit Simcha Center for Progressive Judaism in Minsk into a Chanukah wonderland!

In Ohio, ‘zoombombing’ a religious service can now net jail time, thanks to advocacy by Jewish groups

(JTA) — In its closing session, Ohio’s legislature passed a law imposing penalties of up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for “zoom-bombing” religious services, a practice that antisemites have used to intimidate Jews.

The law, “Increasing Penalties for Disturbing a Religious Service,” passed last week unanimously in the state Senate. It had previously passed in the state House, 95-1.

Photo credit: A family takes part in a Zoom shiva. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

READ THE ARTICLE

Calling young adults! Apply for Jewish Changemakers' Winter-Spring 2023 Session

Changemakers is Jewish Federation's leadership-development initiative for Jewish young adults, ages 20-25. Participants gain leadership skills, an anchoring in the broader Jewish community, and the tools, inspiration, and connections to make change.

The spring session will meet virtually each week Feb. 6-Apr. 3.

For more information: jewishchangemakers.org