Super Sunday Is Feb. 22

[Archived from February 06, 2009]

Some Jewish parents dream their children will go to medical school; others hope their children will have enough to eat today.

This is the reality we face in 2009. This is the reality we must deal with as a Jewish community.

Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh. The entire Jewish community is responsible for taking care of those members in need. This is a time-honored tradition, and in 2009, it is more critical than it has been in recent memory.

The Federation Annual Campaign’s Super Sunday telethon offers two easy ways to fulfill this mitzvah obligation: Be a Super Sunday volunteer and/or live generously and give what you can when a volunteer calls.

Super Sunday 2009 is February 22, and the Super Sunday Committee is calling for many volunteers. Choose from one of three shifts: 9:30 a.m.-noon; 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. or 6:30-9 p.m. Each shift starts with a training session, so every volunteer will have the information necessary.

While the economic situation this year is very serious, and the funds raised on Super Sunday sustain our Louisville Jewish community, ensuring that help is available to those who need it, Super Sunday is also a day of fun and energy, with lots of prizes and food. Bring some friends along, and do this mitzvah together.

With the theme, “Talking about my generation: It’s OUR community,” This year’s Super Sunday Committee is calling on members of all generations – Gen-Xers, Baby Boomers, Millennials and others to step forward and do their part for the Campaign.

The Super Sunday telethon is crucial, especially during these critical times.

  • Funds raised by the Federation Annual Campaign ensure that Jewish Family & Career Services (JFCS, formerly Jewish Family & Vocational Service) can offer help to people to hone their job-hunting skills and evaluate their career choices when they lose their employment and can’t afford the fees.
  • Campaign funds ensure that Jewish families who find themselves in economic straits can receive the financial help they need to continue their memberships at the Jewish Community Center and enroll their children in JCC summer camp programs.
  • Campaign funds also help support the hot kosher lunch program for seniors at the JCC, provide Jewish educational opportunities and ensure that there is a vigorous Community Relations Council to advocate for the Jewish community.
  • Campaign funds help the children of Sderot, Israel, deal with the trauma caused by living with the daily threat of rocket attacks over the past eight years, and enable our international partners to offer a wide variety of programs to help elderly, disabled and at-risk Jews throughout Israel and around the world.
  • Campaign funds also help strengthen our connection with our Partnership with Israel region, the Western Galilee.

For Super Sunday Committee Co-Chair Howard Kaplin, in addition to raising needed funds, this year’s telethon is an opportunity to recall the good times he remembers from his high school years.

“I’m an eternal 15-year-old,” he said. “My generation had a lot of fun and camaraderie through our BBYO (B’nai B’rith Youth Organization) years, so for Super Sunday, we’re taking it back to high school good times. We’ll make sure people are laughing, hollering and having a good time.”

“Everybody is feeling the pinch of a tight economy in tough times,” added committee member Adam Neft. “Not everybody can give money, but surely everybody can contribute time or something else to the cause. It’s in the toughest times the human spirit shines brightest.”

Committee member Laurence Nibur said, “It’s important to be a part of your community every year,” he said. This year, with the changes in the Louisville Jewish community’s family of agencies and the financial difficulties presented by the national economy, he believes it is more important than ever.

“If we don’t support the Federation Annual Campaign,” committee member Jeff Feinberg added, “who will?”

On Sunday, February 22, be part of the generations that support the Louisville Jewish community and the 2009 Federation Annual Campaign. Please do your part to help.

Super Sunday Committee members are Howard and Lisa Kaplin, co-chairs; Jeff Feinberg, Deborah Goldberg, Adam Neft, Laurence, Nibur, Kim Norton and Nikki Russman.

If you can’t volunteer on Super Sunday, please live generously and support the Campaign when a volunteer calls.

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