Jewish Federation Announces Additional Allocations
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia announced another round of grants from its COVID-19 Emergency Fund that has raised more than $950,000.
- In Greater Philadelphia, $83,000 was designated in a pool for use by these organizations:
- Kavod SHEF’s Holocaust Emergency Fund to provide basic needs services for Holocaust survivors
- Abramson Senior Care to provide food and
supplies for the homebound elderly - Jewish Relief Agency to maintain a safe and healthy work environment for ongoing food distribution
- Personal Protective Equipment to provide 1,000 masks to partner agencies while providing ongoing care to service the basic needs of clients
- Judith Creed Horizons for Achieving Independence to provide food and supplies to developmentally disabled, home-based adult clients.
In Israel, $78,000 was designated in a pool for these organizations.
- Latet Israel to help the most impoverished and isolated elderly, including thousands of Holocaust survivors
- Leket Israel, the National Food Bank, to purchase nutritionally balanced meals for high-risk individuals
- Orr Shalom, to cover the Passover expenses for the most vulnerable at-risk children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect
Jewish Federation previously made 12 grants for critical services totaling more than $200,000.
Leonard L. Hoffman Dies at 87
Leonard L. Hoffman, who was active for many years with B’nai B’rith, died March 15. He was 87.
The Philadelphia native was a Temple University graduate, served two years in the Marine Corps, then joined the Marine Corps Reserves. He spent 22 years in the reserves, retiring in 1977 as a lieutenant colonel.
Hoffman worked for Mutual of New York as a Chartered Life Underwriter and financial consultant. He was a teacher/instructor for the Purchasing Management Association and the Life Underwriters Training Council.
With B’nai B’rith, he served as the Philadelphia Council president, district officer, chairman of the International Insurance Committee and was a
member of International Board of Governors.
In addition, he served on the board of the National Alliance of Mental Illness, where he chaired its “Open Your Mind” national program, chaired the Family Training & Advocacy Center for Mental Illness and was president of the board of directors for the Consumer Satisfaction Team Inc.
He was married for 57 years to his wife Gloria (née Vaks). He is survived by his children, Karen (Don) Kaufman, Beth, Louis (Jen Davies) and Sheri (Gregg Rosenfeld) Gordon; his partner Ilene Stern; and five grandchildren.
Author, PR Consultant, Victims’ Advocate Stuart Gellman Dies at 88
Author, public relations consultant and victims’ rights advocate Stuart Bergman Gellman died April 3 of complications from a fall. He was 88.
Gellman began his career as a stringer for The Evening Bulletin, later working on the Bulletin’s copy and rewrite desk. He became front-page and sports editor of the Germantown Courier in 1951.
After an Army stint, Gellman enrolled at Rider College and graduated in 1957. He worked in Fairchild Publications’ Philadelphia news bureau, later joining the International Resistance Co. in 1959 as public relations director. He founded and ran a small financial public relations agency (Stuart Gellman Associates) from 1962 to 1974.
In 1978, Gellman relocated to Tucson, Arizona, volunteering to assist victims of crime or natural disasters and working with several area agencies. He was a frequent writer, speaker and trainer on issues of victimology, loss, grief and life choices.
In 1990, Gellman published a book called “COPS: The Men and Women Behind the Badge,” which followed a cohort of police academy cadets through their training and first year as sworn officers of the law.
Gellman returned to Philadelphia in 2009 and volunteered with the Germantown-based Northwest Victim Services.
Gellman is survived by his three children, Barton Gellman (Dafna Linzer), Alan Gellman (Arlene Zuckerberg) and Sheryl Throlson (Brad Throlson); eight grandchildren; sister Barbara Kates; and companion Mimi Kirk.
Reconstructing Judaism Offers Virtual Passover Box
With so many people conducting online Passover seders this year, Reconstructing Judaism announced that it is offering a Virtual Passover Box with “resources and innovations to enrich your experience,” including videos and web-based content.
In addition, the Wyncote-based organization is offering other Passover resources, including a downloadable copy of the Reconstructionist Haggadah.
“The virtual box was as close as was we could get to sending the Shabbat hug we know that everyone needs at this distressing time,” said Cyd Weissman, Reconstructing Judaism’s vice president for innovation and impact. “Jewish educators have a long tradition of sending a Shabbat box filled with grape juice, challah and candles to help people celebrate Shabbat. In this time of distress, we felt the urge to send that sweetness, and wisdom of our tradition to offer an extra dose of comfort and even a little joy.”
Access the Virtual Passover Box at reconstructing judaism.com.
