Rabbis Brooks Sussman, left, Sally Priesand, and Kenneth Greene recited a blessing over the new mezuza on the doorpost of the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County in Freehold. The museum, which will officially open in the fall, was the site of the June 24 annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County.
Photo by Jill Huber
July 8, 2008
An economic downturn and the growing competition for philanthropic dollars formed the backdrop for the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County.
Despite the challenges, however, attendees were eager to emphasize new approaches to meeting the ever-increasing needs of local and overseas Jewish communities.
“The past year has been one of achievement and challenge,” said federation executive director Howard Gases at the June 24 event, held at the new home of the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County in Freehold. “The federation is in the process of addressing these challenges by finding creative ways to ensure our overall mission of Jewish survival and Jewish identity.”
A key approach, said Gases, is promoting fund-raising that combines the annual campaign with “supplemental giving,” such as direct giving, planned giving, and endowments.
“More and more donors are interested in giving directly to programs,” said Gases. “Their federation’s leadership must provide for supplemental giving not only here in Monmouth County but also in Israel and throughout the world.”
Six months into a campaign scheduled to close in January, the federation announced it had raised $1,355,851. During the 2007 campaign, supplemental giving reached $53,092 and endowments equaled $5,675,360. The supplemental giving and endowment amounts for 2008 are still being tabulated and are not ready for release, Gases said.
The federation’s 2007 campaign raised $2,336,846.
‘Enriched life’
The meeting also marked the installation of the federation’s executive board and board of directors. Elise Feldman of Farmingdale, formerly an executive board vice president, assumed the board presidency, replacing Robert St. Lifer of Colts Neck, who now serves as board chair (See story, page 7).
“I want to thank Bob St. Lifer for his commitment and dedication,” said Feldman. “He was a great mentor. And now, as we go forward, we’ll continue to strengthen Jewish identity and face the challenges that lie ahead.”
St. Lifer said his association with the board has been a rewarding journey.
“The federation has done so many important things,” he said. “The missions to Israel and Ethiopia, our participation in the Israel Emergency Campaign, the Yom Hashoa observances, and our involvement with senior citizens in the Jewish community are just a few of our many achievements.
“I continue to learn a lot and my life is enriched by being part of this dedicated board.”
Others who were installed for two-year terms on the executive board include vice presidents Joe Hollander of Holmdel, Todd Katz of Wayside, Toby Shylit Mack of Marlboro, and Jerry Marks of Holmdel. Also installed were Sheri Tarrab of Holmdel as campaign chair, Andy Krantz of Wayside as secretary, Alan Winters of Long Branch as treasurer, Lauren Reich of Manalapan as president of Women’s Philanthropy, Sheryl Grutman of Manalapan and Holly Weiss of Freehold as campaign cochairs of Women’s Philanthropy, and Stu Abraham of Manalapan and Bob Grossman of Manasquan as immediate past presidents.
Installed as executive board members-at-large were Stephanie Ackerman of Marlboro, Wendy Marks of Holmdel, and Joel Krinsky and Marty Weiss, both of Manalapan.
Named to three-year terms on the federation board of directors were Eric Abraham, Bobbi Krantz, and Beth Krinsky of Manalapan; Jonathan Barofsky, Albert Bloomfield, Rabbi Michael Goldstein, and Rick Isaacson of Ocean; Richard Krupnick and Cheryl Markbreiter of Wayside; David Chalnick and Leah Todres of Marlboro; Judy Premselaar and Laurie Sussman of Manalapan; Charles Bernstein of Long Branch; Hy Pardes of Wanamassa; Robin Parness of Morganville; and David Rivkin of Rumson.
The federation presented a service award to Chaya Friedmann, outgoing director of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County in Marlboro. Friedmann, who joined the staff as school director in 1988, left at the end of the school year to pursue new career options. The school is a federation beneficiary.
“The federation is a driving force in shaping many initiatives, such as Holocaust education and Mitzvah Day,” said Friedmann. “I take pride in the partnership the school has with the federation. That partnership will continue to benefit the school and the community.”
Prior to the meeting, the museum conducted a dedication ceremony, at which time a mezuza was affixed to the doorpost. Rabbis Brooks Sussman of Congregation Kol Am in Freehold; Sally Priesand, rabbi emerita of Monmouth Reform Temple in Tinton Falls; and Kenneth Greene of the Freehold Jewish Center recited the blessing for affixing the mezuza, which was donated by Charlotte Kruman of Rumson, one of the museum’s founders.
The facility is scheduled to officially open in the fall.
“We’re proud that the federation wanted to hold its annual meeting here,” said museum president Michael Berman of Freehold. “When the museum is ready to open in the fall, we’ll have timeline exhibits, interactive multimedia displays, and artifacts from the 1700s to the present day. We’ll show the fabric of the Jewish community in Monmouth County, as the museum itself becomes part of the community.”
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