He’s no historian, said Rabbi Shmaya Shmotkin, a board member of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and director of the Jewish Youth Foundation of Lubavitch of Wisconsin, as he delivered the invocation at the MJF’s annual meeting celebrating its 100th anniversary on July 24. But Shmotkin has no doubt “that the federation was created because there was a need that Jews somewhere had … and so a group of people came together to answer that call….”
Recounting numerous disasters and joys during the last 100 years, such as the Holocaust, birth of the state of Israel and “the sorrow we are encountering in Israel and America today,” Shmotkin reminded the 200 attendees at Congregation Shalom that throughout these times, “Jews have been there for each other, and the federation has been at the forefront: to comfort, to support, to protest, to plead, to celebrate…. To do what Jews have done throughout history and reflect what we really are. A single body, with lots of different, beautiful and absolutely necessary parts.”
In his last address as federation president, Allen L. Samson applauded those who have worked to bring the federation to where it is today, and called on the young leaders in the community to step forward to help carry on its important work.
Further, he praised Jody Kaufman Loewenstein, chair of the federation’s Community Campaign 2002, for her tenacity after Sept. 11. “She could have used that day [and its aftermath] as a crutch, but instead used it to propel the community to give,” he said.
And he credited past president Steven L. Chernof with putting forth “enormous energy” on behalf of the proposed renovation of the Karl Jewish Community Campus in Whitefish Bay.
“Two years ago when I assumed the presidency,” said Samson, “I thought the project would be completed by now. There is still a lot to do, and I hope Judy [Segall Guten, incoming MJF president] will be able to hold her final meeting there two years from now.”
Carrying through on the evening’s theme of “Creating Jewish History” in the past and for the future, Samson cautioned, “We can’t rest on our laurels of the past 100 years. Our stature in the community is based on what happens today. The people who need our help won’t be helped by our past accomplishments. If you love our community and Israel and are proud to be a Jew, we need to face the future with the same intelligent risk as we do in other aspects of our lives.”
New exhibit
The anniversary celebration also included a tribute to the past presidents of the federation and its immediate predecessor, the Milwaukee Jewish Welfare Fund. Twelve of the 13 living presidents attended.
And it marked the unveiling of an historical exhibit mounted by the Milwaukee Jewish Historical Society, a program of the federation. The exhibit comprises 24 panels featuring photos, newspaper articles, invitations, annual reports and correspondence that highlight 100 years of federation activities.
“I think everyone got a kick out of the exhibit,” said Beverly Schuminsky, who with Elaine Appel and Helga Levings volunteered to sort through boxes and files of artifacts. “We wanted to feature as many people as possible who have been active in the community. I heard lots of laughter [by those viewing it], so it seems that people really enjoyed seeing the old memorabilia.”
The exhibit is displayed in the atrium of the Helfaer Community Services Building on Prospect Ave.
In addition, attendees responded to the request to donate a family photo or other memorabilia to the historical society.
Kathie Bernstein, historical society director, said, “We were especially pleased to receive a Washington High School yearbook from 1944 from Elaine Friedman, with commencement and reunion invitations. And Ludwig Kahn added to his collection at the historical society by bringing a photo of a German army field hospital from WWI showing his father. These are examples of the kinds of things we are always looking for.”
Campaign achievements
In other action, continuing Community Campaign chair Loewenstein reminded attendees that, “The campaign is the most important way to build a Jewish community here and to sustain Jewish life throughout the world. That we raised nearly $7.9 million through the 2002 campaign, and an additional $2 million through the Israel NOW and the Israel Emergency Campaigns, is an amazing accomplishment, and I thank all of you who worked on the effort.”
In positioning the community “to provide leadership and support for the next 100 years,” Richard H. Meyer, federation executive vice president, said that the federation’s priorities will include launching a strong outreach program for 20-40 year-olds; renovating properties to maximize programming; and continuing to respond to Israel’s immediate needs while strengthening the long-term relationship through partnership programs.
And, while offering the nominated slate of officers and board members, Penny Deshur, president of the Women’s Division, noted that for the first time in federation history the two highest positions — president and campaign chair — will be held by women.
Officers include Judy Segall Guten, president; Jerry Benjamin, Penny Deshur, Robert L. Habush, Jody Kaufman Loewenstein, Gerald Stein and Marci Taxman, vice presidents; David J. Lubar and Scott Sampson, treasurers; Bradden C. Backer and Stanton J. Bluestone, secretaries; Bruce Arbit and Frederick R. Croen, officers-at-large; and Melvin S. Zaret, executive vice president emeritus.
In accepting the top spot, Guten said, “The past is only valuable if you learn from it. The focus must be on the future. To go forward, we have to look forward as we write ‘our’ history for the next generation to look back at in 100 years.”
Co-chairs of the event were Cheryl and Mark Brickman.
(Chronicle executive editor Vivian M. Rothschild contributed to this report.)
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