told hose gathered at the Marlboro Jewish Center.
It was out with the old and in with the new as the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey welcomed new leaders, highlighted accomplishments, shared moments of celebration and sadness even as rising antisemitism and concern for Israel rose during a difficult year.
The annual meeting held during in December touched on ways the federation is working to combat hatred against Jews, security concerns, investing in programming to engage Jewish youth and efforts to rebuild Israel in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 and the ensuing war in Gaza.
“This is a defining moment for the Jewish people,” said Federation Executive Director Susan Antman to those gathered at the Marlboro Jewish Center. “We are facing a convergence of challenges—each urgent, each deeply felt and each demanding a unified and decisive response.”
The gathering also took time to honor community leaders lost in the last year. Jeffries Shein, a philanthropist who received many awards for his longstanding support of charitable causes, the Jewish community and Israel; Joel Krinsky, a longtime lay leader of the federation; and Alan Brodman, active in the federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council.
“We honor their enduring legacies and the impact they made strengthening our community and shaping a better future,” said Antman.
Brodman and Krinsky were also honored, along with longtime community activists Eliot and Barbara Spack who moved out of the area, for their years of leadership.
Federation President Marcia Schwartz and Dr. Marlene Herman lit a menorah as those gathered recited the blessings for Hanukkah. On a lighter note, comedian Robin Fox had the audience laughing with her Jewish-themed jokes.
“We have witnessed the extraordinary things we can accomplish as one,” said Antman.
Among them is the fight against antisemitism with the launch of CARMA (Center to Combat Antisemitism and Reinforce Multicultural Acceptance) to support students, families, educators, administrators, law enforcement and civic leaders. The federation is also pressing the state to adopt the International Holocaust Alliance’s definition of antisemitism
Wendy Tepper, the New Jersey regional coordinator of 3G, an educational non-profit organization founded by grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, told the crowd she had ongoing outreach with school districts throughout the state.
“We are the last living link to the Holocaust,” said Tepper, a Monmouth County resident, adding she had just spoken to students in Manalapan earlier that day where she talked about her “Grandpa Oscar” and how and the impact he had on her life.
Antman also said the federation acts “decisively” to secure synagogues, schools, and community centers, noting, “These are sacred spaces and protecting them is not optional.”
As part of that mission the federation provides funding and training, grant application support, security assessments and initiated a communitywide constantly monitored alert system. She also said that the federation “advocates fiercely” for protections for the Jewish community both in Trenton and Washington.
That training and work with law enforcement proved to be invaluable during a “scary” incident involving the Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Monmouth County, according to its Executive Director Leslie Kornfeld, who did not elaborate but said having that federation support makes her agency “feel so much safer.”
In her remarks, Antman also emphasized “our youth are our future and our greatest responsibility” as evidenced by the federation’s strong support of PJ Library for youngsters, teen scholarships, professional development for teachers and support for day schools and summer camps.
Two young people also expressed their appreciation for the federation’s generosity. Adina Saks received a Ruth Kroll Scholarship—presented to young women committed to service and tikkun olam to empower future Jewish leaders—for her activism in the Jewish community at Brandeis University while Ben Laufman is finding a sense of purpose and belonging through community service with federation and Friendship Circle, which provides special needs children and teens with a full range of experiences and respite for their families, engages teen volunteers and provides a sense of connection and responsibility toward the Jewish community.
“I love volunteering in our own Jewish community,” said Ben. “It makes me feel wanted, important and included.”
The meeting also highlighted the bond the local Jewish community shares with Israel and the Jewish community abroad through its partnership with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Federation has also partnered with Gvar’am, a kibbutz in southern Israel near the Gaza envelope. Although it didn’t suffer the physical damage or casualties of other kibbutzim that were invaded by Hamas, the evacuations, abandonment and psychological stress from that day have taken their toll on its 670 residents, 40% of whom are 18 and under. As part of the collaboration, assistance is being provided, joint virtual holiday events have been held over Hanukkah and Sukkot and during its April mission to Israel federation will visit the kibbutz.
Debra Rubin has had a long career in journalism writing Secular weekly daily newspapers and Jewish publications. She most recently served as Middlesex/Monmouth bureau chief for the New Jersey Jewish News. She also worked with the media at several nonprofits, including serving as assistant public relations director of HIAS and assistant director of media relations at Yeshiva University.
