Joint Annual Meeting

Adam Lopatin (left) presents the Edward N. Ludin Award for Young Leadership to Brian Rolfe. He was honored for his work as secretary of the Federation, a trustee of Temple B’nai Israel and investment chair of the Tampa Orlando Pinellas (TOP) Jewish Foundation. Photos by BOB CULMER PHOTOGRAPHY The Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties remains strong despite difficult economic conditions that have affected donations, outgoing President Joan Benstock said at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Federation and its Beneficiary Agencies on May 11.

“Today, because of our wonderful donors, incredible volunteers and dedicated staff, I am able to stand before you to tell you that the state of the Federation is strong,” Benstock said in her state of the Federation address.

“Although our campaign was down again this year, we were not down as much as we feared. In fact, the generosity of our community has allowed us to continue to fund the programs and projects of our beneficiary organizations at the same level as last year!,” she said.

Joan Benstock, outgoing Federation president The Federation said the total raised in the 2009-10 campaign, which just ended, was $1,202,000 compared to $1,279,000 in the previous year.”

“To say this past year has been difficult is, at best an understatement. Rich and poor alike have been hard hit by the harsh economic conditions. We have had turmoil within some of the most well established and entrenched Jewish organizations in our area. We have had major donors unable to give this year and we have had previously middle class donors ask for our assistance,” Benstock said.

The Federation helps fund a variety of local organizations including the Florida Holocaust Museum, Menorah Manor, Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, Phillip Benjamin Tower, Hillel, JCC Suncoast, the Jewish Community Center of West Pasco, the Pinellas County Jewish Day School (in transition), the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish Press. It also helps fund programs in Israel and in the former Soviet Union. “I find comfort in the fact that I leave the Federation in the capable hands of incoming President Sheldon Scheinert, a man who is passionate and committed to our mission,” said Benstock.

Controller Bill Bennett, who is retiring after 15 years with the Federation, and Judy Fix, who retired after 11 years as executive assistant, receive plaques in honor of their service. Following her two years as president, Benstock will remain on the executive committee as Vice President Chair of Personnel.

Benstock praised the Federation’s staff: Executive Director Bonnie Friedman, Financial Resource Director Stuart Berger, Women’s Campaign Associate Barbara Kessler, retiring Controller Bill Bennett, incoming Controller Brian Wachtler and Executive Assistant Randi Friedman. “It has been a blessing to to be able to work with such dedicated professionals,” she said.

Photos by COLMER PHOTOGRAPHY Bennett, who is retiring after 15 years with the Federation, and Judy Fix, who retired after 11 years as executive assistant, received plaques in honor of their service.

“With dedicated people like all of you who are here tonight, the Jewish Federation will continue to be a force for good in this community and for this I am humbled to have served as president. And so, today I say farewell by saying to you a simple and heartfelt “Todah Rabah” — thank you very much,” Benstock concluded.

Rolfe receives Ludin award

A highlight of the program was the announcement of Brian Rolfe as the winner of the Edward N. Ludin Award for Young Leadership. The award was created by Ludin’s family and the winner’s name is kept secret until the presentation

Adam Lopatin presents certificate from International Star Registry to Steve Warren. The Federation named a star in memory his late wife, Gail Warren, who was a former Ludin Young Leadership Award winner. Rolfe was honored for his work as secretary of the Federation, a trustee of Temple B’nai Israel and investment chair of the Tampa Orlando Pinellas (TOP) Jewish Foundation.

“It’s all about doing things for our fellow Jews and members of our community,” Rolfe said after he was presented the award by Adam Lopatin, last year’s winner and the emcee of the meeting.

Rolfe, a financial planner in Palm Harbor, got the award the day before his 39th birthday.

Star in memory

Matan Peled, religious school teacher at Congregation Beth Shalom, surrounded by several of his students who participated in the Jewish Lens program: Talia Sager, Mark Higger, Ahlohn Wolf, Corey Zallis and Darby Tinson. The Federation honored longtime community activist Gail Warren, who died last year. She was an active Federation leader and volunteer, long involved with the Young Leadership Division, Women’s Philanthropy and Maimonides Society for health professionals.

“She was a shining star whose presence in our community is sorely missed,” Lopatin said. “As a beacon for the future, the Federation has named a star in the heavens in her memory…. a star in the constellation Ursa Major is now registered with the International Star Registry, and will henceforth be known by this name: ‘Gail S. Warren, 1960 to 2009.’”

Jewish Lens/ March of Living

At left, Zachary Shindelman, one of four Tampa Bay area participants in the March of the Living who spoke at the meeting. Dr. Daniel Krop, who accompanied the teens, also shared photos and reflections on the trip to Poland and Israel. The program featured presentations of photos taken by students at Congregation Beth Shalom and Temple B’nai Israel as part of the Jewish Lens project to teach Jewish values, identity and tradition through photography. The Federation sponsored the local project.

Four of the six local students who took part in the 2010 March of the Living in Poland and Israel spoke of their experiences visiting Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps in Poland and then going to Israel for the Israeli Memorial and Independence days with Jewish teenagers from all over the world.

“I feel so much more connected and so proud to be Jewish,” Aaron Levine said.

“It made me grow as a person,” added Zachary Shindelman.

They were joined on the trip by Simone Wilk, Jordyn Schwersky, Rebecca Krop and Rachel Davidson.

Rabbi Daniel Treiser of Temple B’nai Israel, which hosted the meeting, presided over the election and installation of the officers and boards of the Federation and Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services. Cantor Jennifer Duretz Peled opened the program by singing Hatikvah and The Star Spangled Banner.