DINNER AND A MOVIE
JEWISH/ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL

Sunday, March 21
"Someone to Run With"
Temple B'rith Sholom
6:30 pm Hot Dog Dinner - $5.00
7:30 pm Movie

Sunday, April 11
"Grey Zone"

GALA WINE TASTING

Saturday, April 17
6-9 pm
Maldaner's
$20 per person

SJF Adult Education & Hadassah Presents

Esther Carmel-Hakim, Ph.D.
"Visionary Women in Pre-State Israel: Contribution & Legacy"

Thursday, May 13

Culture & Family Presents

LAG B'OMER CELEBRATION & FINAL DAY OF B'RIT YISRAEL RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Sunday, May 2
Lincoln Memorial Gardens

SHALOM TV PROGRAMMING IS AVAILABLE ON "COMCAST ON DEMAND"
http://www.shalomtv.com/

Go to Channel 1 On Demand>
TV Entertainment>Shalom TV

JOIN US FOR CHAVERIM!

For only $3 ($5.50 for under 60), you can enjoy a wonderful meal and occasional entertainment.
Every Tuesday at noon at Temple Israel.

Photo of Sharon Snyder leading a sing-a-long at Chaverim.

TO: FEDERATION EXECUTIVES
FROM: STEVEN SCHWAGER

RE: JDC ACCEPTS DONATIONS FOR CHILE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

DATE: March 1, 2010

JDC provides technical assistance to many Latin American countries including Chile. As we have done recently in Haiti, we will leverage our strong partnerships in the region, including the local Chilean Jewish community, to provide a quick and effective response to the needs of those affected. We are receiving up-to-the-minute reports from JDC's Latin America team on the ground; they are conducting a full and rapid assessment of the situation by working closely with Chile’s Jewish community to determine critical next steps based on immediate needs of the hardest-hit areas, which also include the impact of the earthquake on the Jewish community.

Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews make up Chile’s diverse Jewish community. Most live in Santiago, with Jewish families also living in affected cities like Conception and Valpariso-Vina. The community supports a JCC, two Jewish day schools, and synagogues; we learned that Purim festivities were cancelled as a result of the disaster.

JDC relief efforts are part of our International Development Program (IDP), which provides immediate relief and long-term assistance to victims of natural and manmade disasters.

Should members of your Federation's community wish to make a donation, please share the following details:

Online: https://www.jdc.org/donation/

By Phone: 212-687-6200

By Mail: check payable to
JDC-Chile Earthquake Relief
P.O. Box 530
132 East 43rd St
New York, NY, 10017

Life in Israel for elderly Ethiopian immigrants is especially difficult.

While adjusting to a new environment is never easy, particularly for the elderly who are accustomed to a completely different culture and lifestyle, getting their bearings in their new home, often when they are unemployed, is often fraught with emotional lows. As a result, many feel lonely and like a burden to society.

Until now.

"Roots – Community Agriculture for the Elderly," a joint initiative of Hinneni and the Lakhish Research and Development Agricultural Center, gives Ethiopian immigrants (ages 45+) from the region surrounding Kiryat Gat a second chance at a meaningful life through light agricultural work.

Launched in 2009, "Roots" started with 20 elderly Israeli-Ethiopians (one is even in his 80s!) with some traditional agricultural knowledge, who were given 1.5 acres (6 dunams) of land for cultivating and planting fruits, vegetables and herbs. The products were distributed to their family and friends and for the needy in their community. Through the Lakhish research and Development Agricultural Center, the group was exposed to modern agricultural technologies. The end results were remarkable: Participants found a healthy way to contribute to their family and community and their days became filled with meaning. Their status has improved among their families since the elder returns home at the end of the day with not just fruits and vegetables, but also stories to share. And on school holidays, their grandchildren are able to join them at the field, which gives them a chance to educate the younger generation and regain their status in the family. Beyond the emotional benefits, there are health benefits from such light physical activity.

"Roots" is supported by the local community garin (in Hebrew: Seed), young families – the majority of whom are Ethiopian - who as educators and academics with advanced degrees, can live anywhere they want but because of their commitment to social change, choose to live among the periphery of the country to empower the local community from within. Every garin runs a variety of social and educational programs for children, youth and the elderly.

Hinneni is a nonprofit Israeli organization originally established in 1998 whose goal is to empower Israeli-Ethiopians in Israel. Today, "Hinneni" operates in 9 locations across the country, and is constantly widening its activity to other locations.

Hinneni supports emerging communitiesbby giving their staff professional guidance and support.

Since the "Roots" program has been so successful, the goal is to expand its activities throughout the entire region, to develop a greenhouse and to create a regional educational center for youth, which would include a science classroom, a history of agricultural techniques, and demonstrations of water saving irrigation techniques.

For full details of the Gallup poll, visit http://www.gallup.com/poll/126116. For more information on travel to Israel, visit www.goisrael.com.