MJF campaign event celebrates unbroken chain of community
Blue and white ribbons connected the more than 550 Milwaukeeans who attended the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Campaign Celebration Event Monday, Nov. 3, at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center.
As the participants held the ribbons in long rows stretching across the ballroom, Jerry Benjamin, chair of the federation’s Israel and Overseas Committee, explained the ribbons’ symbolism. “Each and every one of you is proud to be a part of this unbroken chain,” he said.
“But the chain, this ribbon, extends far beyond Milwaukee,” he continued, as he shared true composite stories of Jews whose lives have been changed or saved because of help they received from campaign contributions.
Kayla and Aaron Bentzionoff from Bobruysk in the former Soviet Union. “They lived without much food or medical care. But thanks to the many contributions from this community, they’re proud to hold onto this blue and white ribbon,” Benjamin said.
Marina Kagan from Argentina. She was a law clerk when the economy collapsed. After losing two jobs, she ended up with no money and no home. “One day she wandered into the Jewish community and asked, ‘Is there any way you can help me eat?’ They not only helped her eat but found her a job. Now she’s an English teacher at a JCC in Argentina.” Kagan, said Benjamin, now feels connected to the Jewish community.
Marc Hazzani, a young graduate of the Sorbonne in Paris, “took a look around him at what was happening in France,” left for Jerusalem and will join the Israel Defense Force in March.
And Ruthie from Tiberias in Milwaukee’s Partnership 2000 Region, who had swallowed a coin, was saved by a security system in her kindergarten that was established with funds from the Milwaukee Jewish community.
Then Benjamin instructed the group to stretch out an additional, red ribbon. “Each and every one of us is fortunate to live in one of the greatest Jewish communities of all time,” he said, as attendees now held ribbons of red, white and blue.
“It is our connection to each other that connects us back to Ruthie, to the couple in Bobruysk, to Marina in Argentina, to Marc in Israel. It is this red, white and blue that our campaign also celebrates through the strength of our community and how we live together at this time.”
Making miracles happen
Others echoed that sentiment of pride during the evening. Event co-chair Joan Lubar opened the celebration by noting her pride in being part of the Jewish community and thanking the “strong leadership” that helps make the community so strong.
And Penny Deshur, general campaign chair with her husband, Jim, directed her pride to the work of the federation and its constituent agencies. “We feel there is no other organization you can contribute to that will help the hundreds and thousands of Jews locally and overseas. Without the federation, there would be no organized local Jewish community.”
And with our constituent agencies, she said, we provide a lifetime of programming — through our preschools, our education programs and youth groups, on through our programs for the elderly.
Jim also noted, “As I look around this room, I realize how many people I know, and it’s because of being involved in the federation. It really has made my life a much more fulfilling one.”
Of the $8 million goal for the Community Campaign 2004, Penny said, the community has raised $3,660,831 to date, and “needs an 8-10 percent increase to make up for attrition.” But she added, the Lubar Family Foundation will match increases in gifts to the campaign, dollar for dollar, through its $100,000 challenge grant.
“We are here to celebrate making our campaign gifts, and up to now we have been doing great,” said Jim. “But we have to be careful not to become complacent and to follow through on helping others to make their gifts or to make our own gifts if we have not yet done so.
“Your gift helps make miracles happen,” he reminded the attendees. “It helps many, many thousands of people all over the world.”
The evening was topped by a rollicking performance by political satirists The Capitol Steps.
For more information about MJF’s Community Campaign 2004 or to make a donation, contact 414-390-5700 or www.milwaukee jewish.org.
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