By Nancy B. Greer
President & CEO
One of the most important threads in the fabric of our Jewish community is the stories that we tell each other—about family, faith, memory, the world around us, our oys and joys, and, of course, food. Always food! Stories are how we connect with each other and form relationships that are at the heart of community.
By joining us at Connections, co-chaired by Shelley Bensussen and Barrie Galanti, on January 26, you can hear firsthand from one of the great Jewish storytellers of our time—Alana Newhouse, Founder and Editor of Tablet Magazine. Alana will share with us about her experiences as a Jewish woman in journalism—her insights about fighting antisemitism and her reflections about building community, including production of her acclaimed 2019 book, The 100 Most Jewish Foods: A Highly Debatable List.
For those of you who have been coming to Connections for years, I can’t wait to see you again! For those of you who are new to our community, Connections is the largest philanthropic gathering of Jewish women in the Pacific Northwest. The Federation’s annual fundraiser brunch is an outstanding opportunity to meet up with old friends, make new friends, be inspired by amazing women making a difference, and to support Federation’s work ensuring Jewish continuity. Connections is one way that your Federation provides experiences that create and sustain lasting people-to-people connections through a Jewish lens.
And yes, men are welcome to attend!
In addition to hearing from Alana, having good conversation with friends, and enjoying a tasty brunch together, we’ll have the privilege of honoring Naomi Newman with the prestigious Althea Stroum Woman of Distinction Award. This is an award that isn’t granted every year; it is a rare honor conferred on women who have rendered exceptional service to our community through long and active involvement. Naomi perfectly exemplifies that spirit of extraordinary dedication to Jewish life that is so important for Jewish continuity. It is our privilege and joy to honor her. Come celebrate Naomi with us!
Connections is for people who care about community, who are changing lives, making an impact, and bringing their bright light to Jewish life. People like YOU! If you haven’t yet registered for Connections, there’s still time! I’d love to have you in the room—please join us!
