The 175 people gathered in Siegal Hall at Congregation Beth Israel were silent as photos of past community builders alternated across the screen during the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s annual meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 10.
“Thank you for being a community … that has sustained us all for so many years. From you we learn the importance of taking care of our Jewish family,” said Judy Kaplan, daughter of community-builder Esther Cohen, as the photos continued to change. “We hope to honor your memory by seeing your vision through.”
In addressing their family members and other community builders, Kaplan and co-presenter Daniel Kohl, grandson of Max Kohl, expressed the motivation and significance of the community’s proposed capital campaign.
Judy Segall Guten, who completed her two-year term as president, also spoke of the future. “We have set the stage, paved the way, created the foundation. Now we must build — build in terms of bricks and mortar. Build in terms of programs and services. Build our endowments so that future generations can sustain our visions.”
MJF executive vice president Richard H. Meyer agreed, noting that “the single most important task and opportunity before us is literally to build for the future.”
This task is consistent, Meyer said, with the federation’s mission: “To enhance the quality of Jewish life and build a strong and unified Jewish community in Milwaukee, Israel, and throughout the world.”
Meyer emphasized the importance of setting goals for the federation, saying that they “reflect our ability to meet core Jewish needs, while responding to requirements of our ever-changing community.”
And he outlined the federation’s three strategic goals for this fiscal year: capital planning, strengthening overall resource development, and community planning.
In her remarks, Guten named several highlights of her two-year tenure, including a successful legal resolution in Whitefish Bay and the green light to expand the Karl Jewish Community Campus; increased funds to the Annual Community Campaign; and last November’s MJF Partnership Mission, which brought 80 people to Israel.
And Guten reiterated her hope for the community: “ I envision a Jewish community that each and every member knows that he or she can come to in a time of need.” To continue this vision, she said, “We must deepen and strengthen our mutuality of concern for one another’s success.”
To create the “deep, abiding concern for each agency’s success,” Guten counseled, “Let’s get passionate about curiosity — not allow our obstacles to decide our future for us.”
Guten said that we must “be curious about not only what will happen, but also what we can make happen. And then we need to do it.”
Guten’s presidency was lauded by many speakers, including event co-chair and a past federation president Stephen L. Chernof, who called Guten “the most effective president we’ve had for a number of years.”
Guten, who will now chair the federation’s capital project steering committee, also thanked the officers and executive committee for their “extraordinary time and effort” over the past two years, and said, “I look forward” to sitting on the “other side of the table, “led by [new MJF president] David J. Lubar, with whom Guten said we can “make our great dreams become reality.”
“I don’t believe we’ll miss a step when David takes over,” agreed nominating committee chair Robert L. Habush, while presenting the committee report.
Lubar, in assuming the presidency, noted the past while focusing on the future. “I take great comfort that our community has so many great volunteers and I am following in the footsteps of so many capable past presidents.”
“I truly appreciate the trust that you have shown in me,” he said. “We have much to accomplish, but together we will get it done.”
Women’s Division president Marlene Lauwasser honored Young Leadership award recipient Laura Eder, who received the Ann Agulnick award, and Daniel Sinykin, who received the Benjamin E. Nickoll award.
Officers and board members were elected during the meeting and will serve with Lubar, including Mark E. Brickman, James E. Deshur, Penny Deshur, Robert L. Habush, Moshe Katz, Marlene Lauwasser and Abigail J. Nash, vice presidents; Bruce Arbit, treasurer; Richard Ruvin, assistant treasurer; Frederick R. Croen, secretary; Bradden C. Backer, assistant secretary; and Jerry Benjamin, Jody Kaufman Loewenstein, and Scott Sampson, officers-at-large.
Board members beginning a two-year term include Judith B. Coran, Idy Goodman, Donald Grande, Jeanne Jacobs, Phillip Katz, Michael Lappin, Joan Lubar, Leigh Maxon, J. Lewis Perlson, Susan Pittelman, Todd Richheimer, Marci Taxman and Ruth Wallace.
The evening, co-chaired by Chernof and Elaine Appel, concluded with a presentation by ComedySportz.
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