December 10, 2021
6 Tevet, 5782
Dear Friends–
Shabbat Shalom!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Hanukkah! We enjoyed friends and latkes in our home, and I also learned a valuable lesson when it comes to gift-giving for Nora…do not give everyone the same gift ideas. This year Nora was the lucky recipient of 12 new pairs of pajamas…it’s the gift that keeps on giving! As I told her, it’s the thought that counts and now we can have pajama fashion shows the rest of the month.

I read an interesting article this week on www.heyalma.com that is weighing heavily on my mind. It is entitled “As a Working Class Jew, I’ve Always Felt Slightly Out of Place,” by Rachel Rosen. The article details with Rosen's Jewish journey. From being on scholarship at Jewish Day School, to not being able to go to summer camp - she did feel the same connection to Judaism due to her position in life. I read the article and was saddened and inspired at the same time. And while there is nothing I can do to bring happier memories to her childhood, there is something WE can do for Jewish children here in Birmingham.

Every year, you are asked to give to the Federation’s annual campaign. Your dollars not only go to help fund our agencies, but a portion also goes to provide scholarships for students at the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School and to families needing assistance at the Levite Jewish Community Center. This has been a very fruitful year for many in our community and we are grateful for your generosity- but yet, as a community I think we can do better.  

Studies have proven that starting children in Jewish activities at an early age, be it preschool, day school or camp, plants the seeds for a long-lasting affinity for being Jewish. There are children in our community that need financial assistance to partake in Jewish activities. Unlike the author of the article mentioned above, I hope that no Jewish child in Birmingham feels differently because of their economic status and that we as a community can bridge the gap in their families’ ability to pay.

If you haven’t made your gift to this year’s annual campaign there is still time to do so, so that we can continue to invest in the Jewish future of our children. Additionally, we have many opportunities for you to create life-long legacies by starting endowment funds providing scholarship and programming dollars to support PJ Library, Jewish summer camp, and tuition to Jewish educational programs. If you are interested in creating an endowment, please contact me and I will be glad to set up a personal visit with you, myself, and The Birmingham Jewish Foundation. Like Nora’s pajamas, an endowment is a gift that keeps on giving.

Wishing you a restful Shabbat and a wonderful week ahead.

B’Shalom,

Danny 
Agency Spotlight
Spotlight On Our Future:
Hillel Connections
Hillel Connections is a program designed to attract Jewish college students to Birmingham, allowing them opportunities to develop personal, mentoring, and professional relationships with our community at large. An eight-week immersive summer internship program enables them to envision living in Birmingham as a young professional, and to consider looking for employment opportunities here after graduation; BJF feels this is a cornerstone of ensuring our Jewish future.

We are grateful to the Birmingham Jewish Federation, Birmingham Jewish Foundation, The Grafman Endowment Fund of Temple-Emanu-El, the Levite Jewish Community Center, and several visionary individual donors who have invested in our future by previous and current support of this program. Of the 20 students that have completed the program, 4 continued to work during the following school year, seven currently live in Birmingham, and seven are still in school or in post-grad programs and have expressed interest in returning (with the potential to bring at least 3 Jewish significant others with them).

Each week, we will “showcase” student(s) interested in joining our HC 2022 summer program; EMPLOYERS are needed to offer summer internships. Please review and reach out if you can help NETWORK on behalf of these talented students. They are bright, efficient, and willing to work!

If you know of a potential employer for these students, please have them reach out to us at hillel.connections@gmail.com or text Roxanne at (205) 907-2531. A detailed resume and further information can be provided if that would be helpful before you make the contact.

Prospective Intern Information

Alanna G. is a Junior at the University of Alabama from Atlanta, GA. She is majoring in Marketing with a minor in International Business. She is a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, and Delta Sigma Pi, a co-ed business fraternity. She is also actively involved with Bama Hillel and serves on the student board as secretary. This past summer she lived and worked in Tel Aviv with a start-up travel company. She is interested in a marketing position related to the travel industry.

Micah H. is a UA sophomore from Chattanooga, TN with a GPA of 3.98. Micah is majoring in Operations Management with a minor in Supply Chain Management. During his time as a style consultant at Target, Micah enhanced the accuracy and efficiency of a complex inventory system containing 9,000+ items through constant maintenance and extreme attention to detail. As treasurer of Alpha Epsilon Pi, he consulted with experienced professionals to develop a plan for growth while maintaining the chapter's values and assuring low financial risk. Micah is looking for opportunities in logistics and supply chain management.
Upcoming Programming
Our Magnificent Maestro: A Musical Evening to Honor Paul Mosteller
Saturday, December 11 at 7 PM
Israel Unplugged
Info session Sunday, December 12th, 2021, from 10 - 11 AM
Standing Up To Hate:
How Attorneys General Prosecute Hate
December 14, 2022, at 6 PM CST
The Greater Miami Jewish Federation and JEWISHColorado are co-hosting a
bi-partisan conversation with the attorneys general of their respective states on Tuesday, December 14 at 6 PM CST

The Honorable Ashley Moody and Philip J. Weiser will share how they prosecute hate crimes and use legal tools to combat BDS.
Annual Meeting and Board Installation
January 23, 2022, 1- 3 PM
Jacobs Camp
First Time @ First Session
Summer 2022
Community Programs
Quicklinks
The Federation and Foundation have been having issues with our post office box. Please send all correspondence to our physical address at 
The Birmingham Jewish Federation

@jewishbirmingham