The Jewish Federation Of Sarasota-Manatee Inc

TO STRENGTHEN JEWISH LIFE AND IDENTITY IN OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDE FOR JEWISH PEOPLE IN NEED AND PROMOTE SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL.

ISRAEL, OVERSEAS, ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS: THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA-MANATEE (JFSM) WORKS TO ADDRESS HUMAN AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN ISRAEL AND OVER 70 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FUNDED INCLUDE: * THE HELLER COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE (CRC) WAS ESTABLISHED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH COMMUNITIES TO ADVANCE COMMON INTERESTS THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY. THE CRC WORKS WITH OUR PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE FOR PEACE AND SECURITY IN ISRAEL, INCREASES COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF ISSUES AFFECTING THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ISRAEL; RAISES CONSCIOUSNESS OF, AND ACTIVELY CONFRONTS ANTISEMITISM ON A LOCAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL; AND, DIRECTLY ADDRESSES ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVITIES IN SARASOTA-MANATEE. ** FEDERATION STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS BUILD PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLERGY, CIVIC, AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ** THIS INITIATIVE HAS SPONSORED NUMEROUS SPEAKERS AND PROGRAMS AND FIVE INTERFAITH MISSIONS TO ISRAEL.UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE CRC, GULF COAST HILLEL CONTINUES TO WORK ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES OF NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA AND RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART + DESIGN TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF ANTISEMITISM AND ANTI-ISRAEL RHETORIC. THE BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS (BDS) MOVEMENT IS QUICKLY GROWING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES UNDER THE GUISE THAT IT IS A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS. THROUGH MEETINGS WITH COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR STUDENTS, GULF COAST HILLEL PROVIDES A POSITIVE AND ACTIVE PRESENCE ON OUR LOCAL CAMPUSES AND HELPS TO CREATE FUTURE JEWISH LEADERS. * THE WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE IS MADE UP OF WOMEN IN THE SARASOTA-MANATEE AREA WHO ARE DEDICATED TO FUNDING PROJECTS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN ISRAEL. MEMBERS MAKE A CONTRIBUTION AND HAVE A VOICE IN DETERMINING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. HAVING JUST COMPLETED ITS EIGHTH YEAR, THE CIRCLE HAS 68 MEMBERS WHO IN 2022 AWARDED NINE ORGANIZATIONS A TOTAL OF $39,146. AS AN EXAMPLE TWO OF THE RECIPIENTS WERE RUACH DROMIT (SOUTHERN WIND), AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING COMPLIMENTARY TREATMENT FOR NEGEV CITIZENS FIGHTING CANCER, SPECIFICALLY, CHILDREN, AND KAIMA NAHALAL PROJECT STEP UP, AN INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES FOR HIGHLY TROUBLED GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN IN ISRAEL'S PERIPHERIES. * IMPACT THEATRE BEGAN IN AUGUST 2021 AND IS A COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL EFFORT THAT CONNECTS AREA JEWISH AND AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENS TO BOTH HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND ELDER MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHO LOVED DURING SEGREGATION. INSPIRED BY THE LEGENDARY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND RABBI ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL WHO TOGETHER MARCHED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, IMPACT THEATRE EFFORTS THEREBY STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITIES IN SARASOTA-MANATEE AS HISTORY HAS CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS A STRONG SHARED LEGACY BETWEEN THE TWO. TRAINING FOR THE TEENS WAS PROVIDED, AND 10 JEWISH TEENS INTERVIEWED 10 AFRICAN AMERICAN ELDERS, AND 10 AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENS INTERVIEWED 10 HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS. OVER 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR, THE INTERVIEWS TOOK PLACE, MONTHLY MEETINGS WERE HELD FOR THE TEENS TO DEBRIEF WITH THE STAFF IN ORDER TO PROCESS THEIR FIRST-HAND LEARNING FROM THESE SURVIVORS WHO BORE WITNESS TO THE SUFFERING FROM THE OPPRESSION, SEGREGATION, AND PERSECUTION. AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, A CULMINATING INTERPRETIVE PERFORMANCE PRESENTATION OF EACH THE 20 STORIES WAS HELD. IN EARLY SPRING, 2023, A DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM OF THE PROCESS WAS FINALIZED AND SCREENED, IN ADDITION TO A WALL MURAL THAT WAS DESIGNED BY THE STUDENTS AND PAINTED BY STUDENTS, SURVIVORS, ELDERS, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE ROSEMARY DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN SARASOTA. * OVERSEAS GRANTS: ** AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISRAEL: THIS GRANT PROVIDED A TRUCK TO MAKE FOOD PICKUPS AND DELIVERIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND ALSO SUPPORTS A PROGRAM THAT DELIVERS HOT MEALS TO VULNERABLE SENIORS LIVING IN GOVERNMENT HOSTELS. ** NEVE MICHAEL CHILDREN'S VILLAGE: THIS GRANT PROVIDED PERSONAL ARRIVAL PACKAGES FOR THE NEVE MICHAEL CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY CRISIS CENTER. CHILDREN TYPICALLY ARRIVE THERE WITH ONLY THE CLOTHING ON THEIR BACKS, AND OFTEN TIMES IN THEIR PAJAMAS. THESE PERSONAL APPROVAL PACKAGES PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH NEW PAJAMAS, UNDER GARMENTS, CLOTHING AND TOILETRIES. ** DVI: DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN ISRAEL: THIS GRANT PROVIDED FREE DENTAL CARE FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEE YOUTH IN ADDITION TO PRE-IDF AND VETERANS' CHILDREN. DVI 'ADOPTED' A UKRAINIAN CHILDREN'S HOME FOR THOSE TO RESETTLE IN ISRAEL. DVI PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY DENTAL CARE AND ORAL HYGIENE ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET BY USING DONATED DENTAL SUPPLIES AND INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DENTISTS.

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS:THE FEDERATION WORKS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT JEWISH-THEMED PROGRAMMING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FUNDED INCLUDE: * EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES: THE FEDERATION PARTNERS WITH COEXISTENCE, INC. AND PAYS A PORTION OF AN EOD EDUCATION STAFF POSITION, EACH YEAR TO PRESENT THIS INTERNATIONAL OUTDOOR ART EXHIBIT. THE EXHIBIT PROMOTES THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY, THE BENEFIT OF INCLUSION AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ACTIVE REJECTION OF HATRED AND PREJUDICE. PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN, GRADES K-12, ARE TRANSPORTED TO THE EXHIBIT FOR FREE EACH YEAR - SINCE 2004, CLOSE TO 2.5 MILLION STUDENTS HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THIS FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.

JEWISH EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING:THE FEDERATION, IN COOPERATION WITH AREA SYNAGOGUES AND ORGANIZATIONS, OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF INSPIRING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENABLE TEENAGERS, ADULTS AND FAMILIES TO BECOME CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE LIFELONG JEWISH LEARNERS. THE FEDERATION PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF JEWISH PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE TWO-COUNTY AREA. THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES PROGRAMS CELEBRATING JEWISH HOLIDAYS, OUTREACH EFFORTS TO THE UNAFFILIATED AND ADULT PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES AND INTERESTS. LOCALLY, THE FEDERATION CONDUCTS OUTREACH WITHIN THE JEWISH AND GENERAL COMMUNITIES, FOSTERING ISRAEL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS AND PROVIDES A FORUM FOR DEALING WITH ANTISEMITISM.EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FUNDED INCLUDE: * YOUTH GRANTS ** JEWISH SUMMER OVERNIGHT CAMP GRANTS: STUDIES HAVE PROVEN, OVERWHELMINGLY, THAT JEWISH CAMPING EXPERIENCES SERVE AS A CRITICAL TOOL IN JEWISH CONTINUITY EFFORTS. IN AN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE AREA FAMILIES TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO JEWISH CAMPS, AND DESPITE THE SCARE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA-MANATEE WAS THRILLED TO AWARD $64,039 TO 28 STUDENTS IN INCENTIVE GRANTS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS IN 2021. CHILDREN FROM SARASOTA-MANATEE ATTENDED JEWISH OVERNIGHT CAMPS SUCH AS CAMP RAMAH DAROM, CAMP BARNEY MEDINTZ, CAMP JUDEA, CAMP COLEMAN, CAMP BLUE STAR AND KUTZ CAMP. ** S.K.I.P. SCHOLARSHIPS TO SEND KIDS TO ISRAEL PROGRAM: A SUBSIDY OF $20,500 WAS AWARDED TO ENSURE TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO ISRAEL, THIS PROGRAM IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FEDERATION'S COMMITMENT TO CONTINUITY AND IDENTITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. ** RELIGIOUS SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS - FEDERATION PROVIDED 50 RELIGIOUS SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $29,350. ** COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS - FEDERATION PROVIDED 9 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $36,330. * FEDERATION-SPONSORED COMMUNITY-WIDE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS ENSURE A STRONG JEWISH IDENTITY AND TO HELP BUILD A DYNAMIC AND ENGAGED JEWISH COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. PROGRAMS FEATURE SPEAKERS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS. * SINCE ITS INCEPTION THE FEDERATION'S PJ LIBRARY PROGRAM HAS ENABLED OVER 500 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 6 MONTHS TO 12 YEARS TO RECEIVE A MONTHLY MAILING OF JEWISH CHILDREN'S BOOKS, CDS, OR THE OCCASIONAL PARENT BOOK, FOR ONE YEAR. EACH BOOK AND CD CAME WITH GUIDES TO HELP FAMILIES USE THE SELECTION IN THEIR HOMES. BOOK AND MUSIC LISTS WERE CHOSEN BY THE FOREMOST EARLY-CHILDHOOD EXPERTS. THE LIST INCLUDES THEMES SUCH AS JEWISH HOLIDAYS, FOLKTALES AND JEWISH FAMILY LIFE. * THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL, THE JEWISH FEDERATION'S LARGEST SINGLE OUTREACH PROGRAM, PROVIDES SCREENINGS OF FILMS AND EVENTS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY ON TOPICS THAT APPEAL TO A BROAD RANGE OF INTERESTS, AGES AND POINTS OF VIEW. MORE THAN 2619 TICKETS WERE SOLD IN THE 2022 JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON. * THE FEDERATION HONORS ITS COMMITMENT TO HOLOCAUST EDUCATION THROUGH: ** THE SPEAKERS BUREAU, WHICH ADDRESSES ISSUES PERTAINING TO HOLOCAUST EDUCATION IN LOCAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS; ALONG WITH SPEAKING AT ROTARY CLUBS, TEMPLES AND CHURCHES REACHING HUNDREDS OF ADULTS AND STUDENTS. ** THE ANNUAL CHANUKAH SURVIVORS LUNCHEON, TREATED OVER 100 LOCAL AREA HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS TO A BEAUTIFUL CHANUKAH CELEBRATION LUNCHEON AS WE PAID TRIBUTE TO THEIR INNER STRENGTH, COURAGE, STAMINA, AND REMARKABLE DEDICATION TO OUR TRADITIONS. ** AND FEDERATION-SPONSORED HOLOCAUST EDUCATION PROGRAMS ANNUALLY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A KRISTALLNACHT COMMEMORATION, A YOM HASHOAH HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY PROGRAM, AND AN INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY PROGRAM. IN 2022, DUE TO THE AFTERMATH OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THESE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS WERE HELD VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM.

SARASOTA-MANATEE JEWISH SAFETY NET PROGRAMS:THE FEDERATION WORKS TO ENSURE THAT BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD AND SHELTER ARE MET, AS WE WORK FOR THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF JEWS IN SARASOTA-MANATEE.EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FUNDED INCLUDE: * JEWISH HEALING PROGRAM: THE FEDERATION PROVIDES A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE FUNDING FOR THE JEWISH HEALING PROGRAM, WHICH IS IMPLEMENTED BY JFCS. EACH MONTH VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE DIRECT COMMUNITY SERVICES TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BIKKOR CHOLIM (VISIT THE SICK), BEREAVEMENT SERVICES, COMMUNITY RELIGIOUS OUTREACH (TO SENIORS IN NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES), PRISON MINISTRY AND DOULA (END-OF-LIFE) SERVICES. MORE THAN 1,000 CONTACTS WERE MADE WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, HELPING THE MOST AT-RISK AND ISOLATED TO RECEIVE SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND MUCH-NEEDED HUMAN CONTACT. * DIRECT SUPPORT FOR 120 HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS: THE FEDERATION UNDERWRITES THE COST OF ONE CASE MANAGER AT JFCS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO OUR AREA HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS. * RELIGIOUS OUTREACH: JEWISH HOLIDAYS: THE JEWISH FEDERATION FUNDED JEWISH HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHICH WERE HELD IN PERSON AND VIA ZOOM FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES WITH MORE THAN 250 PARTICIPANTS; THIS PROGRAM IS RUN BY THE COMMUNITY CHAPLAIN AND JFCS VOLUNTEERS. * COMMUNITY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND: THE FEDERATION PROVIDED $30,386 IN EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR 145 LOCAL JEWISH CLIENTS IN NEED FOR RENT, UTILITIES AND FOOD. THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH JFCS. * CARING FOR THE JEWISH ELDERLY: THE FEDERATION PROVIDES BASIC HUMAN NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, MEDICINES AND HOME CARE FOR THOUSANDS OF ELDERLY JEWS IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION RECEIVE THROUGH THE JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE.