- April 22, 2024
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Group provides school supplies to thousands of students.
At the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties on June 22, the Ormond Beach-based association installed a new board of directors, reported on its charitable activities and welcomed Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein as the new rabbi of Temple Beth-El, 579 N. Nova Road.
The event was held at Temple Israel in Daytona Beach, which has enough room to accommodate the crowd. On display in the social hall were works of art from Israel that have been touring the country.
Rabbi Stein was ordained in 2003 from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Israel. He has a master’s degree in education and is certified to teach students up to 12th grade with special needs.
Prior to becoming a rabbi, Stein was a conductor for twenty years, leading symphonies in St. Louis, Houston and Detroit. He also worked with the Seattle Opera and Minnesota Opera.
“He is a man of many talents,” said Dr. Howard Pranikoff, president of the federation, when introducing Stein.
After being ordained, Stein joined the clergy team of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, where he was charged with overseeing social action and interfaith programming.
Stein said that the social action involved community outreach and working to help supply clothes and food to those in need. He said the activities were similar to those being conducted by the federation here.
The interfaith programming was directed at the multi-culture society of the city. He said there were many different languages spoken in nearby neighborhoods.
“Ormond Beach is more homogenous, but I would be interested in working with leaders of other faith communities,” he said.
In his address to the federation, he emphasized the importance of Israel.
“Israel and America are twin beacons of light in the world,” he said. “We must not only support each other, but also support Israel. It’s our hope.”
.But, he also said Israel is not perfect and should not be represented as such.
“No country is perfect,” he said.
Donations needed for annual school supply program
Executive Director Gloria Max gave a report on the Jerry Doliner Food Bank and School Supply Kits for students.
She said 100% of public donations go for the food or school supplies, because administrative cost is absorbed by the federation. She also said 98% of the people receiving help from the federation are not Jewish.
“We have plenty of indigent Jewish people, but our population is small,” she said.
They are currently seeking donations for the school supply program, to have them ready for the new school year. In the past 18 years, the federation has given away 74,008 school supply kits. In 2013, 4,716 were given away in Volusia County and 2,234 in Flagler County.
“We might be a small organization but we make a big difference,” she said.
She said the federation works with local schools to provide the kits to those in need. Backpacks contain notebooks, paper, pencils, dictionary, calculators, rulers and many other items. The supplies are different, depending if they are intended for an elementary or older student.
If the organization receives $15,000 in donations this year, a donor has promised to match with an additional $15,000. Max said donations can be sent to School Supply Kits, Jewish Federation, 470 Andalusia Avenue, Ormond Beach, 32174.
She said donations are also needed for the Jerry Doliner Food Bank, which gives away bags of groceries and toiletry items, including toilet paper.
“Did you know you can’t buy toilet paper with food stamps?” she asked.
She said even though people say the economy is improving, they haven’t noticed it at the federation and there is still a great need.
The federation also gives away clothes and food, and they help at natural disasters by locating and helping families, rather than sending money to larger organizations.
“You should be for yourself, but if you’re only for yourself, what are you?” she asked.
Max said her mother was often bothered by her small stature, but then a man told her to look at how small a diamond is, and how much joy it brings to people.
“That the way I feel about our small organization,” she said.
On hand at the event were Constance Hanlon and one of her sons, Cody. She said she wanted to thank Max and the federation for help that had been provided.
She said she is raising four teenage boys while working as a preschool teacher, and struggling to make ends meet.
“You are really helping,” she said “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Her son Cody, 10, also spoke.
“We would be struggling and sometimes the electric would go out,” he told the audience. “You’ve helped us so much.”
Call the federation at 672-0294 or 672-2396.
