[by Stew Bromberg, Vice President and CDO]

Jewish Federation of Louisville
Winter officially begins this week. All over the country people are experiencing different extremes of cold and blustery weather, even in places where the temperatures rarely drop below 50 degrees.

Many scientists and theorist point to global warming for our weather experiences, and others believe we live in an environment with weather cycles and the longer we keep track of the weather, the more accurate our predictions may be based on a series of these cycles.

So why am I talking about the weather? It is all about cycles.

Our lives are based on cycles. In the Jewish community we always make reference to lifecycle events. These are the milestones of our lives and memories we hold onto. We remember the births of our children, the bris and naming ceremonies and celebrations, our and our children’s’ b’nai mitzvah and marriages. We also remember when our loved ones pass on and other less pleasant lifecycle events.

But what about those who look to us for support and services in the community? What do you think their memories consist of? Perhaps they remember the first time someone introduced them to the Food Pantry at JFCS and they were able to prepare a meal for their family. Maybe they remember being welcomed at their first Senior Adult congregate lunch at the JCC.
For some it may have been their first day attending the JCC Preschool. Imagine the look on a child’s face when they receive their first Jewish storybook from PJ Library, or finding Hillel on their college campus and having the opportunity to gather to celebrate and socialize with other Jews on campus.

These are some of the memories we help create.

There are other experiences that would not be possible without the community’s support through our Annual Campaign:

• Jewish overnight camp scholarships for Jewish children;
• Jewish summer programs in Israel that give our Jewish teens life changing experiences and connect them with teens from across North America and throughout the world;
• Shalom Louisville for newcomers and Shalom Baby for our newest youngest Jews to welcome them to our Louisville Jewish community; and
• BBYO and Teen Connection that provide activities and leadership training and experience to our Jewish middle and high school students in Louisville.
• We and our constituent agencies provide many gateways to our Jewish community. I encourage you to be engaged and experience the wonderful programs and service we offer you. Take advantage of the facilities in the community and have meaningful conversations and experiences with the friends you see and the strangers you welcome to join us. Plan activities for others to let them know what makes our community relevant to your lives.

As the end of the tax year approaches, you have an opportunity not only to make a tax deductible donation to the 2014 Annual Campaign, but to make a difference in the lives of others. Please help us provide services, programs and gateways to the community. Please give generously to the 2014 Jewish Federation of Louisville Annual Campaign. To make a donation, please go to www/jewishlouisville.org/donate or call our Development Office, 238-2739.

Together we do extraordinary things!