Message to Lions of Judah: Everyone has the power to make a difference

Jewish Federation President Joan Benstock, Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair Ilona Kossoff, Guest Speaker Gail Norry, Lion of Judah Campaign Chair Jeanie Abelson Each person has the ability to have a positive impact on the world — whether its a mammoth project such as helping orphans in Rwanda or a local effort to bring Jewish education to special needs children — a national Jewish Federation leader told women gathered for the annual Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties Lions of Judah Luncheon.

Guest speaker Gail Norry described for the 29 women in attendance some of the Jewish Federations’ worldwide involvement including the ongoing rescue and resettlement of Ethiopian Jews and the swift action when Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf region.

A member of the Jewish Federations of North America Board of Trustees (formerly United Jewish Communities), Norry also serves on the National Women’s Philanthropy Board as co-chair of the Training, Education, Consulting and Help Team.

But Norry primarily concentrated on how individuals — with vision, strength and determination — make a difference in so many lives.

One such story was about Anne Heyman. In 2005, Heyman learned of the millions of orphans created by the Rwandan genocide. With the help of the American Joint Distribution Committee, Heyman created the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village for high school age orphans in Rwanda, using an Israeli residential school for orphans as a model.

“The goal is for every child in the village to realize their potential by healing themselves and then do something for someone less fortunate,” Norry said. “These children learn that it is incumbent upon them to give back to society, and end up restoring hope to entire communi- ties. This is Tikun Olam – repairing the world, and it was driven by an American Jewish woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer, and wears a Lion pin.”

Lions of Judah, founded in 1972 at the Miami Jewish Federation and now numbering 17,000 women worldwide, represent the highest level of giving by women making a separate gift to the annual Jewish Federation Campaign. To become a Lion, a woman must make a minimum $5,000 annual campaign donation.

Norry related her own lifechanging experience the day she learned her 2-year-old son was autistic. She had planned for her children to attend Jewish preschool and continue on to Jewish Day School, but there was not an area day school with accommodations for kids with learning differences.

Working with the headmaster of a local Philadelphia day school, Norry and her husband partnered with their Jewish Federation to found OROT — the Hebrew word for lights — a special needs initiative that now has almost 50 children enrolled on a yearly basis in five of Philadelphia’s Jewish Day Schools.

Like her own experience, “I believe that each of us has the opportunity to make an impact on our community,” she said.

“Although many of us are facing challenging economic times, please keep in mind that we are the fortunate ones. We are able to touch so many lives; to build a stronger future for Ethiopian olim and orphans in Rwanda, and to provide a Jewish education for children right here in Pinellas and Pasco.”

Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair Ilona Kossoff addressed the significant increase the local Jewish community has seen in the number of individuals and families in need of basic services such as food, clothing, shelter and medical supplies; and for social services, geriatric assessments, counseling, and scholarships.

Federation’s Campaign helps to fund these services, and its substantial decline this past year creates a great challenge— how does the community continue to provide them?

“In order to reverse a portion of the past year’s loss and enable us to begin restoring needed programs and services, the Federation’s campaign leadership and major donors created a Challenge Grant,” said Kossoff. “Any new or increased donations from the community will be matched by funds from this grant.”

Mindy Solomon, Lion of Judah Endowment Chair, echoed Norry and Kossoff ’ as she stated the need for Lions to not only increase their annual donations, but to create a lasting legacy by endowing their campaign gifts for perpetuity.

“I know that many of us had a tough economic year. But let’s remember who we are and keep that in perspective,” she said.

Speaking from her own personal experience this year, Solomon noted, “I opened a new business this year and still committed to increase my pledge. You need to do the same.”

A total of $52,850 was raised at the luncheon, held at the home of Sherry Schwartz. In addition, the Lions donated $400 in grocery store gift cards for Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services to hand out to needy families in the community.

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For more information about Lion of Judah or any women’s programs or events, contact Barbara Kessler at the Federation, 530-3223 or bkessler@jewishpinellas.org.