Development News

Online Auction Extended through March 31, 2010

Victoria Cangelosi — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:12:19 -0400

We’re off to an exciting start with JRF’s online auction! More and more people are learning about the auction and visiting the site, and we appreciate all your help in spreading the word. We have decided to extend the auction so that more people will have a chance to see our great spread. The auction will now run through March 31, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST.

Have you checked out our great auction items yet? We have books, beautiful jewelry, specialized services, vacation and travel packages, and much more! Here's your chance to snag some great deals while supporting JRF.

Click here to donate items for our next auction.

Thank you in advance for your support! We look forward to your online bids.

Click here to shop JRF's online auction

Good luck!

The JRF Auction is Now Open!

Victoria Cangelosi — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:50:51 -0500

Now’s your chance to snag some great bargains and support a worthy cause. The first ever online auction of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation is now open! Up on the auction block are jewelry, books, vacation packages, professional services, and much more! Check it out.

Looking for other ways to help make our online auction a huge success?
Donate items to our auction.
Refer friends to our auction so they can place bids too.

auction

Victoria Cangelosi — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:06:06 -0400

We Were Like Dreamers: Honoring Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat

Gari Weilbacher — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:16:38 -0400

Click here to download the digital tribute book. It may take a village, a youth movement, an education program and a camp to raise a Reconstructionist child but when it comes to honoring Rabbi Jeff Eisensat it takes a continent – and five events. And you can be sure that the Reconstructionist child has been touched by Rabbi Jeff personally along the way.

Jeff Eisenstat write:

"Hayinu K’Holmim-We were like dreamers" write the psalmists and my family knows all too well just what a dreamer I tend to be. Camp JRF has seen the transformation of hundreds of children, staff, faculty, parents, grandparents and donors through the vision and hard work of so many who dreamed along with me. I am truly honored by the way in which the movement has embraced the excitement and growth of camp and I am humbled by the effort JRF has established in presenting me as their first national honoree.

Over the course of 3 months, Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat, Director of Special Initiatives has been feted in New York, Illinois, Maryland, California, culminating with a national multi-generational celebration in Westchester, NY on June 4th at the home of Lisa Messinger, Rabbi Jeff’s sister in law. Donors and supporters of JRF and Camp JRF came together to appreciate Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat’s seminal contribution to the future of the movement by raising up the next generation of connected and highly identified Reconstructionist Jews…and were excited by the work and possibilities that lie ahead.

Rabbi Jeff exemplifies the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt: “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” He connects our young people with experiences that foster within them a curiosity and appreciation for their Judaism. As the founding director of Camp JRF, he established an experiential Jewish education curriculum based on Reconstructionism’s “Values of Spiritual Peoplehood” that makes Judaism fun and resonates with our youth. Rabbi Jeff was instrumental in helping to establish Camp JRF as one of the “Top Ten” Jewish overnight camps in the United States.

In his new position as Director of Special Initiatives, Rabbi Jeff takes his show on the road to JRF congregations across the country, supporting and furthering JRF’s strategic vision for developing the Next Generation of Reconstructionist youth and the future of Reconstructionist Judaism.

In keeping in line with environmental and sustainable values, JRF printed only one tribute book to present to Rabbi Jeff on June 4th. Instead of distributing the book widely, we offer a version of this tribute book online alongside a special academic paper Rabbi Jeff presented with Rabbi Jeffrey Schein.

Helping Individuals, And Strengthening Jewish Communities, In Times Of Great Economic Stress

Dan Cedarbaum — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:04:23 -0400

M'Dor L'Dor - From Generation to Generation: JRF Midwest Region Honors Three Generations of the Saposnik Family

Jennifer Glowacki — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:07:33 -0400

Alan, Rubin and Isaac SaposnikRegister Online Now

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Please join the JRF Midwest region at M'Dor L'Dor - From Generation to Generation, a special program and dinner honoring Rubin, Alan and Isaac Saposnik. The event will be held at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, 303 Dodge Avenue, Evanston, IL.

5:45 p.m. Registration and tour of the congregation’s new building.

Cost: $100 per person.

In honoring three generations of Saposniks – Rubin, Alan, and Isaac – the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation is essentially honoring two JRF congregations - Skokie, IL congregation Ezra Habonim, the Niles Township Jewish Congregation (EHNT) – one of the first congregations in the Reconstructionist movement, where Rubin Saposnik has been actively involved for many years – and JRC (Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation), which under Alan Saposnik’s leadership is becoming the first Reconstructionist synagogue to receive a LEED Green Environmental Certification. The program will feature the youth of the Reconstructionist movement, whom Isaac Saposnik has served as national director of No’ar Hadash—the Reconstructionist Youth Movement and as assistant director of Camp JRF.

Make a Difference with Your IRA

Lisa Tuttle — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:01:52 -0400

Has your IRA benefitted from years of growth? Consider this simple, easy way to make a gift to your congregation and the Reconstructionist movement.

If you are over age 70 1/2, you may annually gift any amount up to $100,000 of your IRA to charity. It's very easy to make the gift by directing your custodian to transfer a portion of your required minimum distribution directly to charity.

Visit www.jrfplannedgiving.org to learn more.

Unique Ways to Celebrate Simchas

Lisa Tuttle — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:30:11 -0400

Mezuzzah by Camp JRF CamperAre you looking for a wonderful gift to celebrate a simcha or honor an important person in your life? JRF offers a variety of opportunities to pay tribute to milestones and loved ones. Consider one of the following options:

Scholarships:
- Provide a scholarship for the next No'ar Hadash Summer Israel Experience
- Provide a scholarship for a child to attend Camp JRF

Special Programs:
- Sponsor a Reconstructionist Jewish Value at Camp JRF*
- Sponsor JRF's Online Silent Auction, where your congregation and JRF can work together to raise needed funds*
- Sponsor the forthcoming JRF Web-based Curriculum Project*
- Sponsor your congregation becoming a partner in promoting planned giving through JRF Interactive Planned Giving Website, debuting this fall at www.jrfplannedgiving.org
- Sponsor a section of Reconstructionism Today (RT)*
- Dedicate a JRF Book Shelf to your synagogue, campus Hillel or Camp JRF. Available titles include: Siddur Kol Hano'ar: The Voice of Children and the Kol Haneshamah prayerbook series. Each book will include a dedication bookplate commemorating an occasion, or honoring or memorializing a loved one. Or, dedicate an upcoming JRF Press Title!

Visit jrf.org/development for further details, or call JRF's Development Department at (215) 885-5601, ext. 19.

*Denotes a proposed new JRF program or initiative - call for details.

Hey! Take a Sneak Peek at JRF's New Planned Giving Website

Lisa Tuttle — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:01:00 -0400

In partnership with affiliated congregations, JRF is about to officially launch the fully interactive JRF Planned Giving Website. This educational website is intended to help congregations and havurot start or grow their endowments through promoting the giving of bequests, beneficiary gifts from IRAs and life insurance, and creating life income plans like charitable remainder trusts.

The site features:
- educational illustrations regarding various options for planned giving
- donor stories modeling why others are supporting their congregations and/or the Reconstructionist movement
- E-Newsletters for those interested, targeted to professional advisors or those simply interested in learning more about planned giving and endowment
- Resources including information about estate planning

Visit www.jrfplannedgiving.org. To learn more about this entire project, go to jrf.org/development_planned_giving.

For further information about planned giving, feel free to contact Barry Nove, JRF's director of development at 215-885-5601 ext. 19 or email bnove@jrf.org.

Camp JRF Meets Challenge and Receives Matching Funds Dollar-for-Dollar

Lisa Tuttle — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:41:25 -0400

Rabbi Jeffrey Eisenstat, director of Camp JRF, and David Nerenberg, president of the Reconstructionist Camping Corporation, announced on October 1st that Camp JRF met the "Ultimate Match Challenge" raising $300,000 by the September 30, 2007 deadline. The Challenge was initiated by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation of Springfield, MA. Upon meeting the Challenge, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation awarded Camp JRF a bonus check in the amount of $10,000. In addition, an anonymous donor, who established a $100,000 Incentive Challenge this summer to increase the match to nearly dollar-for-dollar, is shortly awarding that gift to Camp JRF. The funds raised through this Challenge were effectively doubled.

Kudos to all the donors and Camp JRF leadership for helping to meet the Challenge.

For further information about supporting Camp JRF, contact the JRF Development Department at 215-885-5601 x 19 or via email to Barry Nove, Director of Development at bnove@jrf.org or visit jrf.org/development.