This weekend, Irwin Bear passed away after a long struggle with cancer. He leaves behind a life full of success in his business, his wonderful family, and also a legacy to those whom he mentored.

Irwin was President of San Francisco Hillel from 2006-2009. He stepped into the position when our Hillel was facing many challenges. In his time he was a relentless advocate for the students of San Francisco. He was never afraid to highlight our needs and our achievements and never afraid to push the board and staff along.

Most of all, Irwin was a personal mentor to me. We met frequently and, while he pushed me to move the organization along, he was always a teacher.

Irwin was a proud alum of San Francisco State University and he enjoyed telling students of his experiences and his life story. He never spoke down to them, but sought to inspire through his own example. He often attended events and was a beloved figure in the Jewish student community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Ann, and his family. Judaism teaches that a man is measured by the good he leaves behind him. Irwin left a lot of good, and his personal example is the greatest lesson of all.

Alon Shalev

We do  many things to prepare for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.  We figure out what to wear, we scurry for tickets to services, we break out the good china for our festive meals, and we bask in the sweet smell of brisket and kugel.  But how many of us actually took the time to look within and reflect before we dipped our apples into honey?  Are we really prepared to as for forgiveness, not only of others but of ourselves as well?

 I have done my own soul searching this past week and I won't lie and say it was easy, but I do feel ready to repent and can honestly say I have identified the things I will change in 5771.  The story and questions below helped me as I hope they will inspire your reflection.  Here's to a new and improved year, Shana Tova.

Heather Erez, Assistant Director

According to Rabbi Bunim of P'shiskha, everyone should have two pockets, each containing a slip of paper.  On one should be written: I am but dust and ashes*, and on the other: The world was created for me*.  From time to time we must reach into one pocket, or the other.  The secret of living comes from knowing when to reach into each.

*Genesis 18:27 and Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 37B

1. What are the elements in my life that I'm ready to leave behind in 5770?
2. Who am I going to need to speak with to ask forgiveness?
3. For what am I going to have to forgive myself?
4. What elements are missing from my life that I want to embrace in 5771?
5. What to I want to accomplish in 5771?
6. What do I need from other people to accomplish these goals?
7. What do I need to accomplish these goals?

Life's Biggest Questions. Answered by YOU.

Thinking about last year? Your good choices?
Your bad choices? Your triumphs and regrets?

Tell yourself about it at JCF10Q beginning September 8, 2010.

May you have a happy and healthy New Year!

High Holiday Information

The kibbutz I lived on for six years isn't religious, so Shavuot there is a celebration of the harvest, fitting since a kibbutz is a socialist community that started with agricultural roots.  Every year we dress in white and wear floral wreaths in our hair as we come together as a community to congratulate all the different branches of business on a year well done.  There are booths set up for the dairy, where we taste chocolate milk and the kids pet newborn calves, one for the beekeeper where we see display of how honey is made, and then of course a taste of honey.  Our winery always has grapes and wine to drink and many of the women bring cheesecakes to see whose taste the best.

After everyone arrives we sit for the show.  The bar mitzvah class does a traditional folk dance, followed by the dance class where they present the different types of harvests.  It is my favorite, not that I love the cheesy yellow dresses, but I love the tradition of it all.  The older kids are followed by the younger ones who carry decorated baskets with flowers, symbolizing the harvest, and parade across the stage.   After more songs and dances, my favorite part comes.  The best kibbutz harvest is saved until last.  The babies!  Last year our kibbutz had 20 new babies born since the previous Shavuot, and one by one they are presented to the community.  Parents holding their new babies up, similar to the Lion King, while everyone cheers them on.  We end the evening with dairy loaded dinner and a sing-a-long.

Heather Erez
Assistant Director, San Francisco Hillel

A Jewish Journey Comes Full Circle     

When Dona Standel first enrolled as a freshman at San Francisco State University in 2005, she had few, if any, ties to the Jewish community. While she grew up in the heavily Jewish San Fernando Valley, and had an Israeli mother, Dona had no formal Jewish education and no real sense of Jewish identity. “I didn’t even know that you could belong to a temple,” Dona said. “That’s how unimportant it was in my family growing up.”

It wasn’t until she happened upon a Hillel table in the spring of her freshman year that Dona’s Jewish journey began. Although she’d always had an active campus social life,

Dona felt that something was missing. One day, while walking through campus, she came across a Hillel table. “I finally paid attention to the word Hillel, and I thought, ‘that sounds like something Jewish.’” The Hillel representative invited Dona to a Shabbat dinner, and after that first Friday night meal, she rarely missed another.

Wanting to connect with people around her Israeli heritage, Dona began attending Israel Coalition meetings. Immediately, she said, she felt a “familial connection.” By her sophomore year, Dona was a Koret Intern, helping to plan Hillel events. And now, as the Undergraduate Program and Engagement Coordinator at San Francisco Hillel, 22-year-old Dona has the opportunity to reach out to Jewish students the same way that Jewish students reached out to her.

Were it not for our funding of San Francisco Hillel, and seven other campus Hillels around the Bay Area, Dona may never have had the chance to discover her Jewish identity, let alone become a proud Jewish professional. However because of the economic recession, our ability to continue to fund Hillel – among other key communal services – at current levels, is in jeopardy. Hillel, like so many of the programs and services we support, counts on the Federation for a significant portion of its budget. We are in a crisis situation, and we are asking you to help us meet the challenge.

Thanks to the Goldman Family dollar for dollar matching grant, you can double your gift’s impact on programs like Hillel.

• Current donors under the age of 50 who increase their gift from the previous year will get a dollar for dollar match on the increased portion.

• New donors under the age of 50 who make their first pledge to the JCF Annual Campaign will have their gifts doubled.

Don’t let a future Jewish leader slip through the cracks. Please give to the Annual Campaign today.



Jennifer Gorovitz
Acting CEO, Jewish Community Federation

Our colleagues over the Bay Bridge have launched a campaign to raise funds for solar heating at the Berkeley Hillel. This made me green, partly with envy, but also a desire to raise our Hillel to a higher environmental standard.

 
So far, many of our initiatives have been one-off opportunities. When a grant allows, we purchase compostable plates and utensils. We try and use glass dishes for our smaller events, and have sought out ways to reduce our use of ink. Last year, we planted vegetables during the late summer and feasted on them at a Shabbat.

Recently, a group of us went to volunteer in New Orleans. Helping to create a sustainable garden in a neighborhood (the Lower Ninth Ward) devoid of outlets selling fresh fruit and vegetables was an eye opener on Food Justice. We returned with many ideas, but they have remained just that.

The tough staff reductions have strained our Hillel's human resources (our staff) and we are struggling just to meet the high program demands that we set ourselves. Shushannah and I are writing grants and seeking new investors just to keep the doors open and the lights on.

What I would like to see is a small group of students who are committed to raising the level of awareness among the student community, and willing to write grants or take on projects that will make us a greener Hillel.

Does this interest you? Do you know of a fellow Jewish student who might not even be involved in Hillel, but is passionate about creating a sustainable society?  Please let me know if you do, or leave any ideas you might have in the comments below.

Thanks for joining the discussion,

Alon Shalev
Executive Director
San Francisco Hillel