By Reporter staff

The Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton will hold its Campaign 2023 Kick-off Brunch on Sunday, September 18, at 10:30 am, at the Jewish Community Center. There is no charge for the brunch due to a generous donation from the David and Virginia Eisenberg Fund. The theme for the 2023 Campaign is “We Create Community.” Rivkah Slonim, associate director at the Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life at Binghamton University, will speak on “The Importance of Community and the Federation” during the brunch. Those attending will also have the opportunity to make their pledge to Campaign 2023. Registration for the event is requested and can be made here or by calling Shelley Hubal, executive director of the Federation, at 724-2332, so that enough food can be prepared. 

Hubal encouraged people to pledge early and/or volunteer to help make calls. “We have fewer volunteers to make solicitation calls, so it would be helpful if people made their pledge early by either using the form on page 5 and mailing it to the Federation, or visiting the Federation website to make their pledge,” Hubal noted. “People can also make their pledge at the brunch. Anyone interested in volunteering to make calls should contact me at the Federation office.” 
Marilyn Bell, the Campaign chairwoman, is pleased that the Federation will be holding a brunch this year. “I feel it’s very important for us to gather and be together again as a community,” Bell said. “I look forward to welcoming friends and newcomers. Come and see what makes our community a great place to live.”

Slonim, who will discuss the importance of community, is an internationally known teacher, lecturer and activist. Her lectures address the intersection of traditional Jewish observance and contemporary life. She is the editor of “Total Immersion: A Mikvah Anthology” (Jason Aronson 1996, Urim 2006) and, with Liz Rosenberg, the editor of “Bread and Fire; Jewish Women find God in the Everyday” (Urim 2008). She also serves on the Editorial Board of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute and is co-author of one of JLI’s most popular courses, “Fascinating Facts.”
Hubal added, “Even with the pandemic, we’ve run a large number of successful programs that brought together old and young members, which created new interactions within our community. Organizing community events and helping our local organizations to create community is what we plan to accomplish this year. Join us at the September 18 event for a delicious brunch and a chance to schmooze with old friends and make new ones.”