Unclaimed Property Older Missourian Education Initiative
Carolyn Epstein was researching the cost of an emergency response system. “I’m getting older and I have a disabled son,” she says. “If I fall, he might not be able to get me help.” So the 75-year-old member of Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) was thrilled to find out she had unclaimed property held by the state that will help her pay for the system. “It’s found money, so I thought I would put it to use for good.” Federation is joining Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel in a partnership in the...
read moreMaking Connections in a Vibrant Community
April Levison thinks the St. Louis Jewish community is a wonderful place to raise her children. “It’s like an extended family,” says the mom of 5-year-old twins Cole and David and 2-year-old Spencer. With three active boys, it helps that there are a lot of activities in which the family can take part. “We swim at the JCC, participate in day camps in the summer, read books from the PJ Library program, send our kids to Shirlee Green Preschool at Shaare Emeth Congregation, and the twins will attend Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School in the...
read moreBracelets Encircle Israeli Girls with Love
Women’s Philanthropy “Shower Our Community With Love” Wednesday, April 17, 7pm @ Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School Bracelets Encircle Israeli Girls with Love Diane Katzman knows that one volunteer can make the world a better place, especially when it comes to the most vulnerable. “After my most recent trip to Israel, I knew my involvement was making a difference,” she says. One program in Israel that Katzman, president of Diane Katzman Design, was moved to help is Orr Shalom. Orr Shalom is Israel’s largest...
read moreRuth Mariam
From time to time, Ruth Mariam drives by the house she moved out of eight years ago and thinks, “I miss you.” But Ruth realizes now that it wouldn’t be a good place for her. “I would be lonely,” she says. “I would just be sitting around looking at four walls.” Instead, 88-year-old Ruth lives an involved and social life at Covenant House/CHAI Apartments. “Keeping busy and having friends is what keeps me alive,” she says. “Originally, I thought no way am I going to move in with these old people, but Covenant house has been good for me.” The...
read morePhil Frischer
Forging Connections that Strengthen Leadership and Friendship Phil Frischer thought there could be value in participating in the Millstone Fellows, a high-level, select leadership program for emerging and established leaders run by the Millstone Institute for Jewish Leadership. What he found opened his eyes to the whole Jewish community. “The Fellows program widened my focus and my friendships,” says Frischer, Senior Vice President at Lockton Companies. “The main thing I got out of the program was meeting a good group of people, a wide...
read moreThe Karen Solomon Young Adult Service Initiative
Orli Pinsberg feels strongly about the tenet of Tikkum Olam, repairing the world, so she engages in it by volunteering through the Karen Solomon Young Adult Service Initiative, a project of Jewish Federation of St. Louis. Participants in this collaboration of the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Jewish Community Center and Next Dor connect their volunteerism with their Jewish faith by helping at Gateway 180: Homelessness Reversed, an emergency shelter in the city of St. Louis with a mission to provide a safe, nurturing environment and...
read moreRuth Lehrman
When Ruth Lehrman was a young mother, the preschool at the Jewish Community Center was a lifesaver. New to St. Louis, Ruth had come from Atlanta, where she had been unable to find daycare or preschool for her daughter, Tanya, then 3. Ruth, who was attending St. Louis Community College for radiological training and working after classes in a hospital, felt relieved when she found the JCC and its preschool. “We became members right away,” she says. It was really essential. I didn’t know anyone in St. Louis.” As her children grew, they...
read moreNicki Kruger
When Nicki Kruger, 45, and her husband moved to St. Louis from Iowa, she didn’t know a soul. With three young children, Gabi, 10, Benjamin, 6, and Shauni, 4, Nicki knew it would be important to find a community that her family could join. And she wanted that community to be part of the Jewish community. “Our first step was to search on Google and find a synagogue,” she said. The family joined B’nai Amoona and learned about the Jewish Community Center and Jewish Federation. Friends Nicki met at the JCC gave her name to Jayne Langsam,...
read moreJewish Loan Association
Need a Loan? Turn to the Jewish Community for Help Through JF&CS, Federation’s Jewish Loan Association gives zero-interest loans to Jews in our community and to employees of Jewish agencies on the Millstone Campus. Bob L (not his real name) needed a loan quickly. He was working in a sales job strictly on commission. When the company began to falter after the economic recession, Bob’s sales began to stagnate and he struggled to pay monthly bills. His wife tried to augment their income with a part time day care center job. However, they...
read moreStephen Fisher
Stephen Fisher survived the Joplin tornado, but lost everything, including his job. Jewish Federation came to his rescue. Our community also raised more than $52,000 to help victims. It’s just one of the many services Jewish Federation does best – to convene the community to act during any type of emergency or humanitarian crisis. The Hurricane Sandy relief effort is no exception. In just one week after Jewish Federation of St. Louis started accepting donations to provide humanitarian aid for victims Sandy, nearly $20,000 poured in from the...
read moreMichelle Siler
Two mornings a week, Michelle Siler, 49, drops her father, Merle Friedman, 86, off at the Adult Day Center at the JCC at 9 a.m. Her husband, Patrick, picks him up at 4 p.m. The JCC Adult Day Center gives Michelle, a costume designer, some relief during the day. With its social and recreational programs in a safe, fun and friendly community, her father stays active and Michelle gets peace of mind. Michelle is well aware that caring for an elderly parent can be challenging. Fourteen years ago, she moved back to St. Louis from Chicago with her...
read moreMichelle Hoberman
Michelle Hoberman, CEO and President of Effortless Events by Michelle, is a huge fan of many of Jewish Federation’s programs, projects and activities for our children and families. One of her favorites is the PJ Library program which sends free monthly Jewish-themed books to her kids. There are so many good aspects to the program, she said. When her kids, Lily and Ari receive a book or CD in the mail, it excites them. And every time they get that book or CD, they know it’s their little piece of a Jewish connection that reinforces their...
read moreEmily
Two years ago, Emily, 34, was laid-off from her high-paying health care job. At the same time, her husband was fired. Severely depressed, he walked out on Emily and their two kids. Soon after, Emily lost her house in Chesterfield and couldn’t afford to feed the kids. She panicked until mustering the courage to call the Jewish community for help. A Jewish Family & Children’s Service caseworker placed Emily and the kids in individual and family counseling – which costs $110 for a 60-minute session with a therapist – and sent them to...
read moreJeff Hubbell
Jeff Hubbell, 24, never considered himself religious… and neither was his brother. However, Jeff’s brother returned from a Birthright Israel trip with an enlightened attitude about Israel and Judaism. This encouraged Jeff to sign up for the St. Louis trip. He also thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to meet other young Jews from St. Louis and a good learning experience. And like his brother, Jeff now professes a newfound respect for the Jewish religion and Israel –a result of his interactions with the Israeli people — the...
read moreBen Feldman
A life well lived, a great attitude, and a community full of family and friends that adore him at Covenant/CHAI is what gives Ben Feldman, 101, the strength to look forward to his upcoming 102nd birthday in December. Ben moved to Covenant House 37 years ago. In 1991, he lost his wife to cancer. Although alone now, he keeps busy surrounded by friends and using the many programs and services subsidized housing offers — classes, religious services, hot kosher group meals, housekeeping services and more. He said, “Covenant House keeps you...
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