By Stephanie Smartschan
Director of Community Development & Operations
Creativity and flexibility will be paramount this fall as the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley launches its 2021 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs and offers opportunities to bring the community together.
While the staff continues to operate remotely per orders from the governor, the work surely continues – and frankly, never really slowed down.
The 2021 campaign theme is “this is our moment.” And it truly is, as this moment brings an opportunity for change and a greater responsibility to provide for increasing needs and ensure that Jewish life continues in our community.
With that in mind, Annual Campaign Co-Chairs Robby Wax and Vicki Wax will be working hard to bring in pledges by the end of October. Because … we’ve got a great event planned for donors on Oct. 25!
Famed mentalist Sidney Friedman, who performed to great acclaim for a live audience in our community back in 2009, will make a return engagement to the Lehigh Valley – virtually. Friedman will engage with community members for an exclusive performance via Zoom. The program will be open to anyone who has made their pledge to the campaign or plans to make one that evening.
Leading up to the big Main Event, we will hold a virtual reception for major donors and kick off the year with programs for our Maimonides Society, Lions of Judah and Pomegranates.
Rosh Hashanah will bring some really special virtual opportunities, as we invite the whole community to join us for a PJ Library program on Sept. 13 and a holiday cooking session with James Beard award-winning chef Michael Solomonov on Sept. 14.
And kicking it all off will be our big virtual reception on Sept. 9 to celebrate the community’s third year in the LIFE & LEGACY program.
“We are looking outside of the box this year for ways to bring the community together and to leverage the opportunity that virtual programs present,” said Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Federation. “This will truly be a year like no other, and we hope to make it an exciting one. This is our moment!”