Volunteering and Good Deeds
"Jewish Songs for All" - that's my startup project. I'm translating the top Jewish songs from Yiddish and Hebrew to English and Russian. www.jSongs.org
Walter Kin
Browse Giving Back Stories
UJA-Federation
This summer I had the privilege to intern at the UJA through the Collegiate Leadership Internship Program (CLIP) run through the Bronfman Center at NYU. When I was placed as an intern at UJA I was excited to reconnect with a community that had given me so much growing up. Throughout my middle/high school years I was involved with programming at my local NJ federation, sleep away camp-NJY camps, youth group, Israel programming, etc. I have always felt a strong connection to the Jewish community but I was unsure of how that could be transferable into my work experience. This summer I have explored what it means to be a Jewish professional and more specifically a young Jewish New Yorker.
Emily Schaerf
Volunteering and Good Deeds
My dad was wounded in the 6 Day War. After removing shrapnel’s from his head, the doctors decided to leave fragments in his jaw as the risk of removal far exceeded the benefit. In the early 70s he travelled to the US. When he reached NY one of his teeth began to ache. Even though he was broke he made an appointment with a Jewish dentist. The doctor questioned my father why his jaw was lined with black dots. My father shared his story of the 6 Day War. The doctor, honored to help my father, refused to take money from an “Israeli Hero”. So my dad saved the money he didn’t have and learned a lesson about Jewish peoplehood and the meaning - kol Israel Arevim ze laze- All of the Israelites support each other.
Ariel Magal
Philanthropy
From both my JDC days and my Baltimore days, it had become clear to me that as goes the New York Jewish community, so goes the Jewish world; that this is the key to the whole international and continental approach to Jewry; and that an integrated, well-developed New York UJA-Federation was essential to realizing a number of the international and national objectives that I felt were essential for Jewry to come to grips with in the latter part of the twentieth century. *Comments taken from Oral History, recorded on June 13, 2001
Stephen Solender, Executive Vice President of UJA-Federation, 1986-1999
Philanthropy
I looked up UJA in the telephone book and they had an office in Mt. Vernon. I called them and introduced myself. I said, "Nobody has called me for my UJA contribution and I'd like to give $125," which was a lot of money then. There was sort of a dead silence, and I said, "By the way, is there any work I can do?" About 15 minutes later, there were two professionals in my living room and I was the chairman of everything in sight -- not what I had planned. *Comments taken from Oral History, recorded on August 19, 1985
Elaine Winik, President of UJA of Greater New York, 1982-1984
UJA-Federation
I have the ability to motivate and to organize--using my own background to a very large degree: this is what happened to me. If not for UJA, I wouldn't be here today. *Comments taken from Oral History, recorded on March 18, 1986
Ernest Michel, Executive Vice President and Campaign Director of UJA of Greater New York, 1970-1986
UJA-Federation
Federation was sort of half born in our house. Every Saturday at lunch, we ate with my parents, and the about-to-be-executive heads of Federation almost always ate lunch with us on Saturdays. They discussed the problems that would be arising as they tried to set up Federation. So I felt as if it were born in our house. *Comments taken from Oral History, recorded on February 18, 1982
Helen Buttenwieser, daughter, wife, and mother of a Federation president
Volunteering and Good Deeds
I spend much of my time volunteering at the Mid-Island Y JCC in our NNORC program (Naturally Recurring Retirement Community). I am there on a regular basis coordinating volunteers and so much more to help seniors in our community with basic needs. The NNORC program provides services like: Transportation to medical appointments, assistance with food shopping, supportive counseling, minor home repairs and so much more. NNORC is a lifeline for many seniors who live in the Plainview-Old Bethpage and Syosset communities. The help they receive enable seniors to live independently for as long as they can in their own homes. My number one goal is to make a difference in the lives of as many people as possible. Before I started volunteering, my kids went to the nursery school and camp at the JCC. It has always been a part of our lives and we feel compelled to give back to such a wonderful agency so that we can make a difference in the lives of as many people as possible.
Harriet Blatt
Philanthropy
We lost my dad, Herbert Henig, in April of last year. He was 93 and his body gave up on him before he gave up on it...He loved life and living, and a big reason he felt he lived so long was because of swimming, it was his life. And the MIYJCC was the center of that life for him, and for us, especially after he passed. Dad was a presence at Mid Island, everyone knew him, loved him, and took great care of him. The pool was his home. As a way to honor and remember him, and to turn his passing into something that would be positive, into an act of love and remembrance that he too would have treasured, the Y helped set up a fund in his honor that would support an existing swimming program for kids with disabilities. Dad would have adored this. It was a way for us to give back to the Y, for friends and family to help honor his fun and unique spirit, and it was a way to help another generation of swimmers in the pool, where he himself found love and a cherished home.
Pete Henig
UJA-Federation
“You are truly a UJA success story,” is a phrase that I have heard my entire life. My parents met in the Inbal Hotel elevator on a UJA mission trip to Israel 30 years ago, and because of that, they will always be grateful for UJA’s work. Throughout my childhood, my parents have ingrained in my head the value of UJA’s mission and to “get involved.” Not exactly sure what that meant, as a young adult, I took matters into my own hands and tried to carry out these values. This past year I was a Shapiro Fellow and joined REX Next. And, in a professional context, the majority of my past internships and employment sites are at agencies which are funded by UJA. Looking back, it is clear that UJA’s work has impacted all aspects of my life: familial, personal and professional. The same way UJA has been there for me, UJA serves people in need, not just during times of crisis but in their everyday lives.
Lauren Newcorn
UJA-Federation
When my family started the plumbing company "Smolka Plumbing Company" over a century ago, their goal was to provide personalized customer service, satisfaction , quality, and distinctive products for the kitchen and bath. This goal became a reality and led the company to grow tremendously, serving clients such as The NY Mets, Empire State Building co. and other prominent organizations. Growing up in Eastern Europe, they never forgot where they came from and the struggles which had been placed upon them and the Jewish community as a whole through the early part of the 20th century. This led them to give back, through organizations such as UJA and help raise millions through their vast and grown network. Recently, my Great Aunt was the only family member alive from this generation and at this point in her life, she had run out of money to help pay her rent/aid. UJA heard, remembered how our family took care of them and helped my Aunt live out her days in peace. Thank you UJA!
David Palatin
Volunteering and Good Deeds
In 1989 I came to New York from California to visit my best friend. We went to volunteer at the Hebrew Union College soup kitchen where I met a very cute rabbinical student. 18 months later we were married. Volunteering is so worth it!
Rebecca Katz-White
Volunteering and Good Deeds
In the days immediately after superstorm Sandy hit New York, I was sent to Staten Island on behalf of UJA-Federation to get a sense of community need. The person that the JCC of Staten Island designated to drive me around – because of his knowledge of and volunteer work in the local communities that were hit – is now my husband. We were brought together at a time of desperation and perseverance. And we are grateful that the Jewish community was there for the residents of Staten Island.
Elisabeth Kostin
Philanthropy
Growing up, I wanted to be the first in my family to attend college, but the cost was scary. My family didn't have the means to pay, so I hoped to secure a scholarship. There weren't many opportunities or dollars available and there was a lot of competition. It wasn't until someone suggested that I contact UJA that I began to have hope. They worked with me and recommended me to the 92nd street Y. With the support of UJA, I received a $500 per semester scholarship from the 92nd street Y, and I was on my way to college. When the tuition went up in my third year, UJA and the 92nd street Y came through without having to ask and increased my scholarship. UJA and the 92nd street Y gave me a tremendous opportunity and I’m proud to support UJA as I promised to do.
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