Jewish Federation of Las Vegas Annual Report, Building a Community, 1996

Building A Community A N N U A L R E P O R T 1996 * 3909 South MarylanJde Pwarikswhay ,F Seuditee 4r0a0 t?i Loans V eogfa sL, Naevsa dVae 8g91a19s- 7520 ? 702-732-0556 PRESIDENT'S REPORT ELAINE GALATZ, President As I look back on my first year as your President I feel a tremendous sense of accomplish-ment for what has taken place. It was a year filled with incredible challenges as well as wonderful opportunities and I want to thank my Board for their support during this pivotal time in our development. This year was a year of new beginnings for our community...a year when our agencies came of age and began developing significant programs to meet the growing needs of our people. The Jewish Family and Children's Service under the direction of Dr. Jill Margolis has significantly increased its service to the Jewish community of Las Vegas. This agency has demonstrated what a "community of caring" is all about and we look forward to assisting them with their mission of helping those who are most vulnerable. Our Jewish Community Center also took a major leap forward as it reached out to provide quality recreational, social and educational programs. In a community like Las Vegas where many people are newcomers, having a JCC is critical to developing a strong sense of community. In addition we moved closer to creating a full-scale Hillel program for our college students at UNLV. The synagogue community continued to strengthen and grow with the addition of yet another congregation to our growing family of spiritual institutions, another sign of our explosive growth. The most significant new beginning for our community was the creation of a new agency, one that will help ensure the future of our Jewish community long into the next century. The Jewish Community Day School of Las Vegas was incorporated this past March and will open its doors for its first school year in August. We are so proud of the individuals who worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality and we know that our children will now be receiving the finest Jewish and secular education in the County. This year also saw the opening of the Weinberger Museum of Jewish Culture which will keep our vibrant history alive and allow us to move ahead with the knowledge of what has been accomplished by those who built the foundations of our Jewish community. We have a great deal to do in the years ahead. I look forward to working with you in creating a Jewish community second to none. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT RONNI EPSTEIN, Executive Director "The reward is according to the effort"... a phrase that signifies for me this past year. It was a year filled with difficult challenges, which required extraordinary efforts but in the end the rewards were great. In the fastest growing Jewish community in the country we are asked every day to find the resources to meet what often seems to be insurmountable needs. We are a new and emerging community. Our task is to create a vision that will help us provide the programs and services we so desperately need for our exploding Jewish population. We have come a long way towards creating that vision and this year was definitely a turning point. Under the leadership of Elaine Galatz we were able to create a much needed institution that will provide a quality Jewish and secular education for our children. The Jewish Community Day School of Las Vegas will be the foundation upon which our future will be assured... a center of learning not just for our young people but an educational resource for all of us who wish to gain the knowledge of a rich Jewish tradition. Our synagogues, JCC and Jewish Family Service Agency are continuing to thrive and grow, with new facilities and expanding programs, yet our Campaign is not yet sufficient to provide them the full measure of support they need to assist with their educational and social service programs. Without a committed and giving community we will not be able to expand these services. We now have a completed Demographic Study and Needs Assessment that will serve as our blueprint for the future. This document contains information that will make it possible for us to "do the right thing" for our community. We now know who we are, where we live, what we want and what we need. We must now find ways to significantly increase our resources both financial and human to make these programs and services a reality. It will take hard work and commitment but the rewards will be great. We will reap those rewards when our Jewish day school graduates its first class of committed and Jewishly knowledgeable students, when our synagogues are overflowing, when our elderly have a place to live out their lives with the dignity they deserve, when our JCC becomes the central meeting place for our fellow Jews, when UNLV has a full-service Hillel, and when we have all the funds and facilities we need to provide the highest quality services for our people here and in Israel. These are great tasks but they are achievable if we all give of our time and money to make it happen. It has been a pleasure for me this year to work with our President Elaine Galatz. Her sense of reason and understanding have been invaluable for all of us. I also want to thank the Campaign team, under the leadership of Jerry Turk, and the Women's Division under the leadership of Leslie Simon, Joan Zimmerman and Reesa Niznick for their tireless efforts on behalf of our Jewish community. I thank my staff for their hard work and all of you for your continued support now and in the future. Elaine Galatz Ronni Epstein CAMPAIGN REPORT JEROME H. TURK, Campaign Chairman Our Campaign this year was somewhat disappointing. We did however, achieve our objective of educating Las Vegas' Jewish community as to the importance of the Federation in the Las Vegas Valley. We were also able to reach out to a significant number of new people within the community and have them become involved with the Federation. However, the amount of funds we raised was not significantly greater than the prior year. The Campaign began with a well attended reception for those families that gave $10,000 or more to the Federation. Our speaker was the minority leader of the U.S. Senate, Tom Daschle. On the other end of the spectrum, in an effort to reach first time givers to the Federation, as well as those which had not given in the past, we undertook new Gifts Outreach Coffees in different areas of the Las Vegas Valley. We also added two new "affinity" divisions this year, Financial and Real Estate, which are two of the fastest growing professions in Las Vegas. Each of these divisions held a reception with a noted speaker, and each of these events were well attended. As always, the other divisions of our Campaign continued to reach out and involve the community in the important work of the Federation: raising the funds necessary to fund the programs that ensure the strength of the Jewish community here in Las Vegas, in Israel and throughout the world. A special note must be made of the Women's Division and its campaign leadership of Reesa Niznick and Joan Zimmerman. Once again, this division exceeded all expectations and once again, set a record for funds raised. I personally would like to thank those individuals, who are too numerous to mention, who helped in this year's Campaign, and all the people who responded and made a commitment to our community. A special thanks to those individuals who devoted significant time by either chairing a division, chairing an event or hosting a New Gifts Coffee, for without your dedication and hard work, the Campaign would not have achieved even the financial results that it did. Clearly, we have laid a foundation for future campaigns, however, the progress that needs to be made cannot be made without the total involvement of all people within the Federation. I strongly encourage each member of the Federation to become involved, not just with their money, but with their time, so that future campaigns can achieve the results necessary for our ever growing Jewish population here in the Las Vegas Valley. WOMEN'S DIVISION REPORT LESLIE SIMON, President REESA NIZNICK AND JOAN ZIMMERMAN, Campaign Co-chairmen Women's Division had a most successful year thanks to the tremendous dedication and commit-ment of the Board of Directors and over 800 caring women in our community. The Women's Division has had a record-breaking campaign. Last year (1995) Women's Division raised $466,156. For 1996, the campaign grew to $549,341 reflecting a 17.8% card for card increase. First time gifts were made by 235 women. How proud we are to announce that Women's Division has acquired twelve new Pomegranates and three new Lions. Thanks to the wonderful initiative of Betsi Steinberg as Education Vice President, the Education packets, CLAL breakfast sessions, and an outstanding Education Day brought Women's Division to new heights. Education Day, chaired by Judge Fran Fine and Eva Kallick, had an extraordinary response and was attended by 750 men and women from all over the Las Vegas community. The Sands graciously donated the ball room for the unique opportunity to present the Emmy and recent Oscar award winning documentary "One Survivor Remembers". We were honored to have producer Kary Antho-lis, and Gerda and Kurt Klein (parents of Leslie Simon) whose story is the subject of the documenta-ry, in attendance making the Education Day event one that will long be remembered. Outreach Co-Vice Presidents Maria Letizia and Carole Turk arranged Coffee and Conversations in the homes of Irene Perer, Debbie Perlman and Susan Smith for newcomers in the Las Vegas community. This was an exceptional effort on the part of Maria and Carole, and contributed greatly to the success of Women's Division. Cari and Vivica Marshall co-chaired our Lion of Judah event at Piero's restaurant with guest speaker author Erica Jong. It was a memorable afternoon. Our Pomegranate luncheon chaired by Wendy Plaster, Jane Schorr and Susan Smith was held at Treasure Island's Plank restaurant. Susan Weidman Schneider, editor of Lilith magazine, was guest speaker for our growing Pomegranate Division. The Main Event luncheon held in the Rio Hotel's Copa Cabana room was an attendance record breaker of over 200 women and featured TV personality Monty Hall. The event was chaired by Suzanne Einhorn, Debbie Ginsburg, Barbara Kaplan and Carole Pockey. The new concept of utiliz-ing table captains contributed greatly to this highly successful event. To everyone who was part of this "winning team," I can honestly say that these exceptional results could not have happened without your dedicated participation. We can all take pride in Women's Division's achievements this year. I know it will continue to expand and flourish under the care and guidance of our new president Carole Turk and her Board. Leslie Simon Reesa Niznick P R - ?r. | m 'ss, Joan Zimmerman JEWISH FEDERATION OF LAS VEGAS 1995-1996 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sheldon Adelson Rabbi Sanford Akselrad Daryl Alterwitz Jessica Anes Shelley Berkley Brian K. Berman Michael A. Cherry Dr. David R. Cohen Judge Fran Fine Mark Fine Executive Committee President First Vice President Second Vice President Campaign Chairman Secretary Treasurer Executive Director Women's Division President Women's Division Campaign Co-Chairmen Board of Directors Judy Frank Gene R. Greenberg Danny Greenspun David Gross Eva Kallick Ron Kirsh Dr. Stephen A. Kollins Jay Moss Emily Novick Michael J. Novick Past Presidents A1 Benedict Dr. Allan N. Boruszak Dorothy Eisenberg Phil Engel David Goldwater Senator Bill Hernstadt Lloyd Katz* Jerome D. Mack Arthur Marshall Hal Ober Dr. Marvin Perer Arne Rosencrantz Nate Adelson* Mel Exber Neil G. Galatz Stan Mallin Michael J. Novick Dr. Marvin Perer Elaine Galatz Sandy Mallin Gary Zimmerman Jerry Turk Amy Boruszak David Dahan Ronni Epstein Leslie Simon Reesa Niznick & Joan Zimmerman David Ober Irene Perer Dr. Neville Pokroy Milton I. Schwartz Lenard E. Schwartzer Sharon E. Sigesmund Deanne Stralser Douglas Unger Dr. Harris J. Waters Edythe Katz-Yarchever Past Campaign Chairmen Leonard Rosen* Irving Steinberg Dr. Leon H. Steinberg Jean Z. Weinberger* William Weinberger Eli Welt Audrey Abramow Miriam Adelson Erica Berent Bonnie Berkowitz Karen Borgelt Amy Boruszak Debra Cohen Helen Edell 1995-1996 WOMEN'S DIVISION BOARD Executive Committee President First Vice Presidents, Campaign Second Vice President, Education Third Vice Presidents, Outreach Secretary Treasurer Parliamentarian Publicity Immediate Past President Immediate Past Campaign Chairman Women's Division Directors OF DIRECTORS Leslie Simon Reesa Niznick & Joan Zimmerman Betsi Steinberg Maria Letizia & Carole Turk Carol Spiegel Cheryl Miller Sharon Sigesmund Arlene Blut Sandy Mallin Emily Novick Suzan Loeb/Melanie Bash (as of 4/1/96) Suzanne Einhorn Rene Feinstein Susan Fine Barbara Fischbein Jody Fonfa Nancy Gerson Geri Gilman Debbie Ginsburg Board of Directors Rhonda Glyman Eva Kallick Barbara Kaplan Lillian Kronberg Susan Langsner Judy Mack Cari Marshall Vivica Marshall Past Presidents Liz Ackerman Marlyne Kirshbaum Diamond Judy Frank Carolyn Goodman Melanie Greenberg Lynn Rosencrantz Roberta Sabbath Reba Saiger Edythe Katz-Yarchever Chai Jayn Marshall Esty Rousso Sara Saltzman Jean Weinberger* Dee Ober Irene Perer Debbie Perlman Carole Pockey Esther Pokroy Bonnie Pomerantz Sonja Saltman Jane Schorr Honorarian Evelyn Bittker Phyllis Schwartz Gloria Sherwood Jan Shulman Mona Silverman Susan K. Smith Heidi Straus Jo Weingarten Janet Wellish Sustaining Dorothy Eisenberg Judge Fran Fine Myra Greenspun Shirley Kravitz Elaine Steinberg Faye Steinberg *Deceased BRANDEIS SOCIETY PETER DUBOWSKY, Chairman The Brandeis Society is a group of legal professionals within the Legal Division of the Federation who are committed to the pursuit of tzedakah?justice, and the teachings of Justice Brandeis. This year the Society held an event open to members of the division and their guests which featured Allan A. Ryan Jr., who served as the director of the Justice Department's Office of Special Investigations, and was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of Nazi War criminals in America. The Society is looking towards estab-lishing a regular "lunch-and-learn" series for the members of the Legal Division. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DIVISION DEBRA COHEN, Chairman The Business and Professional Division continues to be a valuable networking oppor-tunity as well as a means of demonstrating the Federation's commitment to addressing social and political issues important to our community. Prominent individuals who made presentations this season included Dr. Carol Harter, President of University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Senator Richard Bryan, United States Senator for the State of Nevada; Bob Stupak, Chairman, Stratosphere Corporation; Arthur Nathan, Vice President of Human Resources, Mirage Resorts; and Burt Cohen, former President, Desert Inn and Country Club. This season also saw the Division Chair passed from Dennis Stein to Debra Cohen. COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE RABBI SANFORD AKSELRAD, Chairman The Community Relations Committee is developing a plan and structure to become a pro-active force in the effort to improve relations between the Jewish and the general community. A set of by-laws has been created to provide appropriate guidelines under which the committee will function. Issues including community and media relations, the Clark County School District (which has a subcommittee chaired by Dorothy Eisenberg), interfaith activity, and cultural programs are on the agenda. FEDERATION FOUNDATION MICHAEL NOVICK, Chairman This year the Foundation worked to develop new sources of revenue. Several new philanthropic funds were created and dollars were made available through the unrestrict-ed funds of the Foundation to provide scholarships to send teens to Israel. A new struc-ture was put in place, creating a Foundation Board which will set policy and help promote the Jewish Federation Foundation. FINANCIAL DIVISION MARK MUSHKIN, Chairman The Financial Division was new to the Federation this year. Its goal is to bring together the members of our community that work in a financial related profession, and give them the opportunity to take part in the Jewish community as well as to network with each other. The inaugural event of the Financial Division featured guest speaker Kenn Wynn who talked to the group about the future of Las Vegas. GOLDBERG JEWISH LECTURE SERIES WILLIAM AND DR. DORIS SOROKY, Co-chairmen Continuing to play an essential role in the promotion of Jewish culture for our entire community, the Goldberg Jewish Lecture Series created by Alice and Harry Goldberg is enjoying its most well attended season ever. The series, co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas and the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada this year focused on Jewish oriented films coupled with lectures given by filmmakers associated with each project. The film adaptation of Issac Singer's, "Enemies a Love Story" was shown in February and Roger Simon, who wrote the screenplay, spoke afterward. "You, Me and Jerusalem" was shown in April, and Israeli director, Micha Peled, spoke after-ward. The final project for the season was the screening of a brand new work by Joan Micklin Silver who wrote and directed "Hester Street." The film "In the Presence of Mine Enemies" previewed in Las Vegas before its national premier, and Ms. Silver was present to discuss the film. HOLOCAUST EDUCATION EDYTHE KATZ-YARCHEVER, Chairman The Clark County School District, The Governor's Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust, The Holocaust Education Committee of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, Nate Mack B'nai B'rith, and The Nevada Humanities Committee sponsored the 1996 Holocaust Education Activity: Through the Eyes of the Young?Children Facing Cataclysmic Events held in February. The event was attended by 350 middle school students and educators. The Gertrude Sperling Library is expanding its Holocaust book collection and is preparing to go on-line with Clark County school libraries. Over 30 interviews have been conducted by the Shoah Project volunteers since October 1995. A Survivors Group has been formed through the JCC with an active membership of over 70 individuals. Other sponsored projects for 1996 included the Clark County High School Teachers Seminar for the Shtetal Program in conjunction with Channel 10 and Frontline, and The Living Voices Project presentations about Anne Frank and the New Immigrants. JEWISH STUDENT UNION ALON VENTURA, President Approximately 40 members of UNLV's JSU have been instrumental in building a Jewish student community. Once again, Dr. Hal Rothman served as faculty advisor. Chabad of Las Vegas helped students build a Succah, and provided food and entertain-ment for a Purim party. Other events were Kabbalat Shabbat services conducted by the students and special guests, Shabbat dinners prepared by students, movie nights, inter-faith activities, and bagel study lunches with area rabbis and community professionals. The JSU was represented on Super Sunday and Israel Independence Day. JSU's presence on campus is a vital link building relationships and community among our students. MAIMONIDES SOCIETY DR. DAVID R . COHEN, Chairman The Maimonides Society is part of the medical division of the Jewish Federation and is affiliated with the national Maimonides Society organization through the United Jew-ish Appeal. An event held for members and guests with Dr. Abraham Twerski, founder and medical director of Gateway Rehabilitation Center, discussed "Avoiding Burnout". This year some members of the Society participated in a national Maimonides Conclave, sponsored by the Western Region Maimonides Society, chaired by Dr. Marvin Perer. REAL ESTATE DIVISION JAY MOSS, Chairman The second of the Federation's new divisions this year is the Real Estate Division. This division was also created to bring together one of the largest groups of professionals in our community. All members of a real estate related profession were invited to an event with guest speaker Irwin Molasky?the turnout was tremendous. This division will continue to sponsor events, and work towards the betterment of our community. THE JEAN WEINBERGER MUSEUM OF JEWISH CULTURE PHYLLIS DARLING AND DR. VERN MATTSON, Co-chairmen The Jean Weinberger Museum of Jewish Culture, an endowment created in honor of the late Jean Weinberger, is a newly formed cultural institution that is operated by the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas. The museum had its inaugural dedication exhibit in April at the Marjorie Barrick Museum located on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus. The exhibit included a preview of the future permanent historical survey exhibit that will be housed in the Sigesmund Center in the Fall of 1996. The mission of the museum will interpret and present the historical and ongoing social and cultural contri-butions of the Jewish people of southern Nevada. YOUNG LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT DAVID AND CHRISTI OBER & KENT AND JANET WELLISH, Co-chairmen The Young Leadership Development program had a record number of participants who took part in the a series of programs designed to teach them about the critical issues facing today's Jewish world and an understanding of what it means to be a leader in the community. The six month program covered topics including tzedakah, social action, Israel politics, local needs, and the challenge of being a Jewish leader. Participants will now become actively involved in committees and programs of the Jewish community. $1,230,000 1996-1997 ALLOCATIONS UJA/ISRAEL NATIONAL AGENCIES: $374,000 43,000 Anti-Defamation League American Jewish Congress American Society for ALYN Hospital Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies B'nai B'rith Foundation of the U.S. (Hillel/BBYO) CAJE (Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education) Camera CLAL (National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership) CJF (Council of Jewish Federations) Hebrew Union College Jewish Braille Institute JESNA ( Jewish Education Service of North America) Jewish Theological Seminary of America National Conference on Soviet Jewry National Tay-Sachs NJCRAC (National Jewish Community Relations Committee) Project Star Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Yeshiva University LOCAL AGENCIES AND SERVICES: 469,935* Adat Ari El B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Chabad of Southern Nevada Congregation Ner Tamid NTTY/TNT Congregation Or-Bamidbar Interfaith Student Center Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada Jewish Family Service Agency Temple Beth Am Temple Beth Shalom Nate Mack Religious School Kadima/USY Pre-School Jewish Federation Programs: Business and Professional Group Community Relations Federation Foundation Holocaust Education Israel Independence Day Jewish Reporter Jewish Student Union Las Vegas Hebrew High Yom Hashoah Young Leadership Development Jewish Federation: Administration 162,047 Fundraising & Collections 205,618 Building Fund 40,400 *Includes $65,000 from the Community Reserve Fund TOTAL $1,295,000 1995-1996 JEWISH FEDERATION OF LAS VEGAS STAFF Executive Director Campaign Director Women's Division Directors Controller Program Director Jewish Student Union Director Hebrew High Director Jewish Reporter Editor Director of Marketing & Sales (Jewish Reporter) Executive Administrative Assistant Administrative Assistant Administrative Assistant Ronni Epstein Kathy Neal Suzan Loeb /Melanie Bash (as of 4/1/96) Frances Repholz Joshua Abbey Shelly Katz Cheryl Weisberg Rebecca Herren Joanne Friedland Sharon Gottlieb Bobbi Neal Chris Kirk DATES OF FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS The Jewish Federation of Las Vegas EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Federation Board Room on the following dates: September 11, 1996 December 4, 1996 February 12, 1997 April 9, 1997 October 9, 1996 January 8, 1997 March 12, 1997 May 14, 1997 November 6, 1996 The Jewish Federation BOARD OF DIRECTORS will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Federation Board Room on the following dates: September 25, 1996 December 18, 1996 February 26, 1997 April 23, 1997 October 30, 1996 January 22, 1997 March 26, 1997 May 28, 1997 November 20, 1996 The 1997 ANNUAL BOARD MEETING will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 1997. YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL SYNAGOGUES IS VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY'S GROWTH ORTHODOX Chabad of Southern Nevada 1254 Vista Drive Las Vegas, Nevada 89102 702-259-0770 Rabbi Shea Harlig Chabad of Summerlin 2620 Regatta Drive #117 Las Vegas, Nevada 89128 702-259-0770 Rabbi Yisroel Schanowitz Congregation Or-Bamidbar 2959 Emerson Avenue Las Vegas, Nevada 89121 702-369-1175 Rabbi Nissim Elmaliach Congregation Shaarei Tefilla 1331 South Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, Nevada 89104 702-384-3565 Young Israel Synagogue of Las Vegas 5712 Joshuapoint Court Las Vegas, Nevada 89120 702-454-6787 Rabbi Yitzchak Wyne CONSERVATIVE Midbar Kodesh Temple 6000 South Eastern, Suite 3B Las Vegas, Nevada 89119 702-798-4510 Cantor Robert D. Fisher Temple Beth Sholom 1600 East Oakey Boulevard Las Vegas, Nevada 89104 702-384-5070 Rabbi Earl Kideckel Cantor Simon Bergman Temple Emanu-El P.O. Box 80636 Las Vegas, Nevada 89180 702-254-3270 Parashah Maury Krasnitz REFORM Adat Ari El 3310 S. Jones Las Vegas, Nevada 89102 702-221-1230 Rabbi Gary Golbart Bet Knesset Bamidbar Sun City Mountain Shadows Community Center 9107 Del Webb Boulevard Las Vegas, Nevada 89134 702-391-2750 Syd Kliffer, President Congregation Ner Tamid 2761 Emerson Avenue Las Vegas, Nevada 89121 702-733-6292 Rabbi Sanford D. Akselrad Cantorial Soloist Bella Feldman Temple Beth Am 9001 Hillpointe Road Las Vegas, Nevada 89134 702-254-5110 Rabbi Mel Hecht Cantorial Soloist Lola Rivera RECONTRUCTIONIST Valley Outreach Synagogue 2 South Pecos Road Henderson, Nevada 89104 702-436-4900 Rabbi Richard Schachet