Sometimes when you cover a story for a newspaper, it’s the story behind the story that can really make your day. I was covering a small dessert gathering at which Nadia, who had recently completed her stint in the Israeli army, and Tatiana, with eight months to go, were telling their story of making aliyah […]
Shavuot is for many a forgotten holiday. If you are not observant, it most likely isn’t on your radar. You might forget shul altogether. You may go to work. If you’re a bit more tuned in, you might eat cheesecake. But I’m guessing that would be it. I don’t remember doing anything special for Shavuot […]
Rabbis, community react to new hours Beginning Friday, April 1, JCC Rockland will be open for the first time ever past sundown and the beginning of Shabbat. That change, along with the addition of Saturday hours, was passed overwhelmingly by the organization’s board of directors in early March. It marks a new chapter for the […]
Organization to create new allocations model by Marla Cohen In a move designed to raise the profile and relevance of its giving in the eyes of the community and donors, the Jewish Federation of Rockland County will begin allocating to local organizations through a grant-based process responding to the compelling needs of the community. The […]
by Marla Cohen There were three things Rosen wanted to do before he died: return to Israel, participate as an honoree in JFS’ fall gala, and see the birth of his newest grandson. He was able to do all three, participating as the sandek at his grandson, Evren’s bris. Michael J. Rosen, a man deeply involved […]
Corey Gradin needs new lungs. It’s not the usual thing to find on a 14-year-old’s wish list, but through the genetic luck of the draw, this is Corey’s lot. I only became acquainted with Corey recently, through Facebook, then email. She is funny and opinionated and writes like someone wise beyond her years. She shares […]
Founding RJFS gave Federation a way to change lives by Masada Siegel November 12, 2010When Rockland Jewish Family Services began in 1987, it was as a committee of the Jewish Federation of Rockland County. Forming it was a way to help meet community needs, which at that time focused on resettling Jewish immigrants from the […]
After 25 years, organizers reflect on work Marla Cohen Along the way, it founded and funded an Education Center and a newspaper. And it gave support to the Holocaust Museum and Study Center and local day and Hebrew schools and a campus Hillel at Rockland Community College.It may sound like putting the cart before the […]
by Sara Gilbert From the outset, the founders of the Jewish Federation of Rockland County wanted a newspaper as a way of informing and connecting the community, and giving Rockland what no other Jewish newspaper was doing – a steady diet of local news. They gave the community just that five years after forming the Federation […]
by Sara Gilbert When the need to establish a Jewish presence on the campus of SUNY Rockland collided with Rockland Jewish Family Service seeking to do outreach work with student populations, a new beneficiary of the Jewish Federation of Rockland County was born. The youngest of the philanthropy’s agencies, Hillel/The Center for Jewish Life at […]
