Nearly 240 community members attended the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Annual Meeting on Sept. 17 at the Hilton Philadelphia City Ave. A significant milestone for the organization, this was the first in-person Annual Meeting in decades. The event, themed “Embrace Our Present, Honor Our Past and Build Our Future,” brought together leadership, agency representatives, and loyal donors to celebrate past achievements and set the stage for the year ahead.
During the program, the Jewish Federation President and CEO Michael Balaban emphasized the organization’s commitment to high-quality Jewish education, strengthening the unrestricted campaign, expanding the endowment and creating a leadership pipeline for future leaders.
Co-chaired by former Board Chair Susanna Lachs Adler and current Board Chair Michael Markman, the two leaders opened the meeting by highlighting key initiatives, such as the launch of a new Annual Campaign and its theme, “Here As One.”
Lachs Adler and Markman explained how the theme reinforces the Jewish Federation’s mission to support the community in times of crisis and calm.
“No matter your relationship with the Jewish community – through crisis and through calm – we are Here As One,” Markman said when explaining the new Annual Campaign theme. “At the Jewish Federation, we are the collective force that keeps Jewish life thriving every single day. And together, we are building a world-class philanthropic vehicle to create the greatest impact to care for those in need, support Israel and global Jewry, and secure a vibrant Jewish future.”
The event also paid tribute to individuals who passed away and included the Jewish Federation in their estate plans, honored Legacy Society members and inducted new members, recognized the next generation of Young Leadership Award winners, and thanked incoming and outgoing leadership.
After a challenging year, met with both unprecedented Jewish hate and Jewish pride, the event provided a welcomed opportunity to reflect and re-energize for the upcoming year.
Reflecting on Fiscal Year 2024, the Jewish Federation was proud to raise nearly $16 million for the Israel Emergency Fund, over $25 million in endowment contributions and future legacy commitments, and more than $22 million for the Annual Campaign.
These funds have enabled significant community impact, including launching the new crisis platform, RUVNA, to keep 6,000 students and staff at 22 local Jewish day schools and preschools safe, distributing approximately 1 million pounds of food to nearly 6,700 clients through the organization’s Mitzvah Food Program, and providing $560,000 in need-based scholarships to 45 day and overnight camps to help students strengthen their Jewish identities.
“As we head into Rosh Hashanah, I encourage you all to be excited for this sweet new year ahead of us. And together, with your generosity, we can support this work to ensure a thriving and unified Jewish community,” Lachs Adler closed. “Here As One, in the spirit of l’dor v’dor, we make our Jewish world brighter and stronger – not just for today, but for generations to come.”
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The evening was a powerful reminder of the community’s resilience and the importance of unity. Nearly 240 community members attended the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Annual Meeting on Sept. 17.
Jewish Federation Board Chair and Event Chair Michael Markman kicked off the evening and later welcomed in the new leadership, including the new Jewish Federation Community Council, the Board of Ambassadors, and the Agency Forum as well as the 27 Board of Directors.
The Jewish Federation’s Event Co-Chair and former Board Chair Susanna Lachs Adler welcomed the attendees and spoke about the incredible successes of the organization over the past year.
(L to R): The Jewish Federation celebrated the outstanding contributions of the next generation by presenting the Young Leadership Awards to Jessica Katz in memory of Josh Katz, z”l – recipient of the Jack Goldenberg Young Leadership Award, Allison Goodman, recipient of the Myer and Rosaline Feinstein Young Leadership Award, and Shelby Zitelman, recipient of the Blanche Wolf Kohn Young Leadership Award.
The Jewish Federation’s Immediate Past Board Co-Chair Gail Norry presented the Young Leadership Awards, marking 66 years of coming together to honor Greater Philadelphia’s young leaders who are making a remarkable impact in the region.
The Jewish Federation’s President and CEO Michael Balaban thanked outgoing leadership, giving special recognition to Immediate Past Co-Chairs Gail Norry and David Adelman and former Board Chair Susanna Lachs Adler for their service.
Board of the Rabbis Co-Chair Rabbi David Ackerman of Congregation Beth Am Israel led a memorial service, honoring the 23 individuals who passed away in the last year and left an enduring legacy to the Jewish community through their estate plans.
(L to R) The Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Foundation Co-Chair Karen Kramer and past Jewish Federation Board member Ben Kirshner honored Legacy Society members and inducted new Legacy Society members. The new members inducted at the event have made new endowments or increased endowments totaling more than $13 million.
(L to R): Ezra Avis, Sarel Daniel and Yisrael Epstein of Mesivta High School, which receives support from the Jewish Federation in partnership with the Foundation of Jewish Day School, sang “Hatikvah.”
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Thank you to NBC10 for covering the Annual Meeting.
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To see more photos from the event, click here.