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THE 80’s

  1. In the early 1980s, several members of the Jewish community recognized the need for a local organization to coordinate non synagogue related Jewish charitable contributions, fund raising and local Jewish social and educational activities. Discussions to form a Jewish Federation for Tallahassee and surrounding areas began. The effort was spearheaded by Bruno Linder and Art Cooper with able legal assistance provided by Bill Linder and Jeff & Lila Abrams. The organization, known as the Apalachee Federation of Jewish Charities, was formed and included representatives from the two synagogues, as well as representatives from each of the Jewish organizations in the community at the time: Hillel, National Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah and B’nai Brith. It also included community members at large.The new organization became “official” when Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Florida Dept. of State on August 4, 1983. The By-Laws of the Federation stated that the primary purpose of the organization is “to solicit and collect funds and endowments for distribution . . . for Tzedaka-charity, righteousness, justice- and Hesed, loving kindness and to further Jewish education.”
  2. Dr. Bruno Linder, first president of the Apalachee Federation of JewishCharities, takes office in 1983. As described by Dr. Linder in an article written in 1993, “The Federation made its debut with a gala affair at the then newly restored old Capitol Building of the state of Florida.”
  3. Miss Ruby Diamond makes a generous bequest to the Federation in 1983 followed by decades of exemplary support provided by the Ruby Diamond Foundation.
  4. Partnering with Catholic Social Services (CSS), Federation in 1983 provides emergency assistance (rent and utilities payments) to eligible members of the Tallahassee Jewish community. The partnership with CSS continues for many years.
  5. Beginning in 1983 and continuing to the present, Federation provides scholarships for area Jewish youth for Jewish camp and Jewish educationalopportunities locally, nationally, and internationally.
  6. Parlor Meetings to kick off annual fundraising campaigns begin in 1984—and continue to the present—with speakers generally provided by UJA and the Jewish Federations of North America, as well as other sources.
  7. At another gala event sponsored by the Federation, this time at the Civic Center on January 26, 1985, a testimonial dinner is held for Al Block to recognize his “involvement in Jewish charities, his love and support for Israel, his fight against bigotry, and his strong Jewish identity.” Among the 400 attendees are Congressman Claude Pepper and Governor Leroy Collins.
  8. On March 26, 1985, Federation receives its 501(C)(3) designation from the IRS.
  9. Throughout the 80’s and continuing to the present, Federation hosts the Israel Consul General on several occasions.
  1. Federation Presidents:

Bruno Linder (1983-1985)

Art Cooper (1985-1987)

Irwin Kantrowitz (1987-1989)

Lois Friedman (1989-1991)

 

THE 90’s

  1. As part of Operation Exodus (in which North American Federations raised $1 billion to rapidly resettle more than a million Soviet Jews in Israel and North America), two Jewish families from the former Soviet Union—the Bayevskys and the Bergmans—are brought to Tallahassee in June 1990 by the Apalachee Federation to start a new life here. A third family arrives later in 1990. The Bayevsky family will next year celebrate their silver anniversary of residency in Tallahassee.
  2. Beginning in 1993 and continuing to the present, Federation issues Position Statements and conducts meetings with School Officials onReligion in the Schools, focusing on ensuring the fair and respectful treatment of Jewish students in the school system. In addition, Federation prepares and distributes to the school system and to local colleges a 2-year calendar of Jewish holidays and observances.
  3. Beginning in 1993 and continuing to the present, Federation Focus debuts as the Federation newsletter.
  4. On September 12, 1993, Federation holds its 10th Anniversary Dinner & Annual Campaign Kick-off event at Annella’s Restaurant. Keynote speaker for the occasion is Congressman Pete Peterson.
  5. Partnering with the Tampa Holocaust Museum in February 1994, Federation brings “And There Was A Train Full of Children” art display to Governors Square Mall.
  6. Throughout the 90’s and continuing to the present, Federation provides significant financial support to local organizations and institutions, including the FSU Holocaust Center, Holocaust Educational and Resource Center and FSU Hillel.
  7. Beginning in the 90’s and continuing to the present, Federation donates educational materials on Jewish subjects to the Leon County Library System.
  8. Federation sponsors “An Evening of Jewish Study” from 1995 to 2000.
  9. In 1996, Federation creates and sponsors Camp Shalom—the brainchild of Drs. Rhea and Louis Schwartz—to provide a one week Jewish summer day camp experience for preschoolers to high schoolers. The camp, held at Temple Israel, is later extended to a 2-week session and is currently in its 18th year of operation.
  10. Federation raises more than $25,000 in 1999 for Flights to Freedom, an effort to rescue Jews from the former Soviet Union, enabling them to resettle in Israel.
  11. In November 1999, Federation sponsors the creation of the Big Bend Jewish Genealogical Society.
  12. On October 31, 1999, James Streem, Professor of Piano at FSU, presents an all-Chopin recital as a benefit for the Federation’s Flights to Freedom project. In subsequent years, Professor Streem  continues to present recitals for Federation benefiting a variety of Israeli charities.
  13. In 1999, Apalachee Federation of Jewish Charities is renamed “Tallahassee JewishFederation”.
  14. Federation Presidents:

Lois Friedman (1989-1991)

Bob Cohen (1991-1993)

Alvin Stauber (1993-1995)

Rhea Schwartz (1995-1997)

Richard Greenberg (1997-1999)

Al Sulkes (1999-2001)

The 21st Century (2000-2014)

  1. In 2002, Federation co-sponsors “Senior Shmooze”. The organization’s activities include monthly discussion groups and cultural programs and continue until 2011.
  2. Israel Emergency Campaign raises $22,000 in summer 2002.
  3. In 2003, Federation co-sponsors (with Congregation Shomrei Torah and Temple Israel) theannual Israeli Independence Day celebration, an event that continues to the present.
  4. From 2005 to 2008, Federation sponsors and invites the Jewish community to its annual Purim Ball.
  5. Around 2006 and continuing to the present, Federation co-sponsors with Temple Israel and Shomrei Torah an Annual Fund Drive to Help Needy Children in Israel. Through Chanukah 2013, the Fund Drive had raised more than $12,000.
  6. In 2006, Federation helps to create the Tallahassee-Ramat Ha-Sharon Sister City relationship. Federation continues its support to the present by helping to underwrite the costs of Israeli science teachers visiting Tallahassee for the summer to work and study at the FSU Mag Lab and by providing hospitality to the teachers.
  7. In 2007 Federation creates the Teen Philanthropy Initiative, supported by a grant from the Rintels Foundation, to empower Jewish teens to help meet community needs through a process that helps them develop decision-making skills and the ability to work collaboratively. The Initiative continues to the present. As of the end of its sixth year, in spring 2014, the Teen Board had made grants totaling more than $60,000 to local and Israeli organizations.
  8. Beginning in 2008 and continuing until 2013, Federation organizes a Next Generation Initiative to engage the “next generation” of the Jewish community.   In addition to social and educational activities, the Next Gen group undertakes several initiatives and makes grants totaling several thousand dollars to support local and Israeli organizations.
  9. Partnering with the Tallahassee Film Society, Federation begins sponsoring the Jewish Film Series in 2008. Each year four to six films are shown at the cinema at Railroad Square. The series continues to the present with more than 35 films having been shown since inception.
  10. In 2009, Federation undertakes a major fundraising initiative to benefit the Ethiopian National Project in Lod, Israel. More than $50,000 is raised in the effort.
  11. Federation hires our first summer intern in 2010.
  12. In 2011 Federation creates the Big Bend Jewish Social Club (BBJSC), providing social activities for the 50+ crowd. The group gathers for “luncheons with a program”, such as joke telling, story telling, songfests, movies, and musical presentations. BBJSC programs continue to the present.
  13. From 2011 to 2013, Federation sponsors the Distinguished Lecture Series dealing with a variety of topics including “Jewish Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court” (by Al Sulkes) and “The French and Anti-Semitism” (by Dr. Jan Tanenbaum).
  14. Federation Presidents:

Al Sulkes (1999-2001)

Maurice Levy (2001-2003)

Wayne Hosid (2003)

Irwin Kantrowitz (2003-2005)

Bill Kaufman (2005-2007)

Dave Markell (2007-2009)

Jodi Chase (2009-2011)

Allen Grossman (2011-2013)

Marshall Kapp (2014-present)

Submitted by Alvin Stauber 7/3/14