The candles of Chanukah herald the beginning of “Jewish Long Beach 2021: Lighting the Way Forward,” Jewish Long Beach’s annual appeal for the coming year.
As the convener of Jewish life in Long Beach, West Orange County and the surrounding areas, the organization aims to raise $1.5 million throughout the year to support its mission.
“This year, our capacity to serve the Jewish and broader communities was put to the test in more dramatic fashion than we could have imagined,” said Zach Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Long Beach. “All of us associated with Jewish Long Beach are proud of the positive impact we were able to make in helping the most vulnerable among us cope with the challenges of the pandemic while maintaining an environment where Jewish life can thrive for generations to come. The credit lies with our supporters, on whose generosity we rely completely to carry out this important work.”
The list of 2020 accomplishments include:
• Responding to the onset of the COVID-19 crisis by funding hundreds of grocery gift cards for vulnerable Jewish seniors and young families, Passover Seder meals for more than 50 Jewish households in need, meals for frontline medical personnel, and dozens of laptops and tablets for families and educators, demonstrating the power of Jewish community in a time of unprecedented challenge.
• Awarding more than $400,000 in Impact Grants to agencies, congregations, and other Jewish organizations, fueling collaborative engagement and education programs to advance Jewish identity in Greater Long Beach, West Orange County, Israel and beyond.
• Welcoming 18 emerging leaders into the Alpert New Leaders Forum, equipping them with the tools, resources, and skills to inspire change in our Jewish institutions.
• Distributing free Jewish children’s books each month through PJ Library to nearly 500 Jewish families in our community, instilling Jewish values and culture.
• Inspiring community and strengthened Jewish life locally, in Israel, and around the world.
To make a donation or learn more about the community programming and volunteer opportunities that Jewish Long Beach coordinates, please visit their website https://www.jewishlongbeach.org. Sign-up for e-blasts and follow Jewish Long Beach on social media to stay connected.
Jewish Long Beach serves the Jewish and broader communities through strategic grant-making, development of emerging leaders, advocacy, and management of the community’s philanthropic funds. The organization awards over $500,000 in grants annually to nonprofit organizations throughout Long Beach and West Orange County. It also manages approximately $30 million in assets and owns and operates the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus, which houses the Alpert Jewish Community Center and other independent Jewishly-focused community organizations.