President’s Message
by Rebecca A. Gold
I am inspired daily by the women I know through Women’s Philanthropy – young and old, near and far. Jackie Levine, now in her 90s, is one very special woman from within our Greater MetroWest Women’s Philanthropy family who was on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement and has worked tirelessly for nearly 70 years to fight for social justice on behalf of Jews, women, African Americans, and others. In 1963, Jackie joined her rabbi, Civil Rights activist Joachim Prinz, on the March on Washington, where he addressed the crowd immediately before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. In 1965, she marched with Dr. King from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. In 2017, it was Jackie who inspired many of us to go on the Women’s Philanthropy Civil Rights Journey to Atlanta and Alabama, where we could imagine what she experienced firsthand.
While Jackie was not well enough to join us on the Civil Rights Journey, we were thrilled that her daughter, Ellen Levine Cramer, co-chaired the Mission in her honor. Ellen was in kindergarten when she accompanied her mother to picket Woolworth’s lunch counters for not serving African Americans, and she impressed upon us Jackie’s bravery and determination, and the Jewish ideals that drove her mother to take action throughout her life.
The Civil Rights Journey was a highlight in my 15 years of volunteering with Women’s Philanthropy. I was struck, once again, by how thoughtful, just, and smart our women are. The 41 other women I traveled with embodied what first drew me to Women’s Philanthropy back in 2002. I experienced these same shared values when we had a festive dinner with the women of Montgomery’s Jewish Federation. It amazes me that we can go anywhere in North America and Israel and feel so connected to one another!
In this eNewsletter, several of our most articulate “sisters” describe what the Civil Rights Journey meant for them and how justice is a central reason why they are engaged in the community work we do together. I always consider the fact that the word tzedakah literally means “righteousness” and not just “charity” as a moral obligation for Jews.
Throughout our trip I wondered, “What would I have done?” Would I have put myself in harm’s way to stand up for Civil Rights, advocating for the African-American community and for every individual who was suffering injustice? Today, from where we live in the relative safety of our corner of New Jersey, we can stand up for others’ rights and for communities in need easily. We can send aid to Jews at risk without ever having to be in the trenches with them – with little threat of physical harm to ourselves or to our families. We also have invaluable resources right in MetroWest to help our local community. Why then is it so difficult to reach more Jews here and enlist their support? Why do so many in our midst turn the other way? Speaking up and speaking out is a great start, and being ambassadors for our community here and worldwide through our Jewish Federation is certainly an excellent way to unite and be most impactful.
You women are my inspiration and I look forward to another incredible year of tzedakah and philanthropy with all of you. I am certain we will continue to inspire one another to do the right thing and to share what is so precious to us – safety, freedom from oppression, and the ability to make our world one of equality and justice. Here’s to many more journeys together!
Enjoy your summer and thank you, thank you, thank you!
Kulanu B’yachad – All of Us Together,
Rebecca A. Gold