Jewish Press of Pinellas County

Advancing our connection with Israel; opening our hearts to help Ukraine



 

 

I am writing this column as I’m sitting under a tent in the parking lot of the Greensboro Jewish Federation at the Partnership2Gether Joint Steering Committee. Here, with 30 of my colleagues from the Southeast Consortium and our partners from Israel. A combination of professionals and lay leaders, we meet and discuss how our partnership can increase Jewish identity and foster relationships, forming the living bridge across the ocean.

The Jewish Federation is part of the global Jewish partnership with Israel at its heart. Our relationship with Israel is not strictly donor to recipient, but one of people to people. Our solidarity with one another is expressed through financial contributions, as well as various mutually beneficial personal exchanges that serve to educate, celebrate our culture and heritage, and develop a strong sense of identity.

The bond between American Jews and Israel is eternal and constantly evolving. Over the years, the Jewish Agency for Israel – JAFI – has paired Israeli cities with communities in the diaspora. The partnerships share human and financial resources to enhance and improve Israel, its people and Jewish communities throughout the United States.

Partnership2Gether has become the paradigm for successfully partnering global Jewish communities directly with Israeli communities – the Southeast consortium/Hadera-Eiron partnership connects us communally, organizationally, and personally. The primary goal of P2G is to develop programs that will build bridges in the area of education, tourism, economic development, and volunteerism.

During this time together we had the opportunity to be updated on the situation in Ukraine from Roman Polonsky, managing director of the Jewish Agency in Israel, who is the head of the unit for Russian speaking Jews. He’s been on the ground in Poland helping with the humanitarian aid for those being forced from their homes in Ukraine. We got to hear first-hand what is being done by the Jewish Agency in conjunction with JFNA and the JDC to assist in this crisis.

Alina Gerlovin Spaulding, a current resident of Greensboro, who was born in Ukraine, told us her moving story of her family leaving the Soviet Union (Kharkov, Ukraine) when she was a child and coming to the United States. She’s a dynamic speaker and I hope to bring her to our community for you all to hear.

The generosity of our community coming together to help those whose lives are in peril is astounding. Our community alone has raised nearly $50,000 to help in this effort. We will continue these efforts and keep everyone updated on the situation. Please go to our website, www.jewishgulfcoast.org, sign up for our email blasts, and follow us on social media. The Federation is here for you and here for good.

Please feel free to reach out to me at the Federation office, on social media, or email – mkaufman@jewishgulfcoast.org.

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