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19 local Jews in running for national ‘hero’ award

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Message: If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/40039/full/40039/19-local-jews-in-running-for-national-hero-award/ 19 local Jews in running for national ‘hero’ award Thursday, October 1, 2009 | by stacey palevsky What does a Jewish Community Hero actually do? In the Bay Area, they teach cooking classes to children, practice law, write books, advocate for LGBT Jews and make people laugh as a stand-up comedian <img alt="Heroesmugs" class="left" height="892" src="/images/uploads/z_photos_2009/l10_02_09/Heroesmugs.jpg" title="Heroesmugs" width="129" />Nineteen Bay Area Jews were nominated for the Jewish Community Heroes award, an interactive Web initiative that seeks to identify North America’s top Jewish hero. More than 400 people were nominated as part of the campaign, which was organized by the United Jewish Communities, the North American arm of the federation system. “Never in wildest dreams did we think we would get so many nominations,” said Andy Neusner, Web content manager for UJC. “I guessed we’d get about 50 nominations. I’m happy to be pleasantly wrong on that one.” So far, more than 400,00 votes have been cast. Voting continues through midnight Oct. 8, at which point the top 20 vote-getters will be named finalists. “I don’t know who nominated me, but I was excited,” said Michelle Stern of San Rafael, who teaches kids about cooking and do-gooderism via her business, What’s Cooking. At an upcoming fundraiser Nov. 15, Stern and a colleague will teach kids how to make ceramic bowls and homemade soup, both of which will be sold for a $10 ticket. The proceeds will be donated to feed other children at the emergency family shelter of Homeward Bound of Marin. “I try to teach Jewish children that they can do mitzvahs through food,” Stern said. The online initiative aims to inspire more volunteerism and leadership in Jewish communities by highlighting longtime volunteers, leaders and unsung heroes, Neusner said. Other Northern California nominees include: • Lisa Geduldig, founder of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy and “comedy clinics” at the S.F. Jewish Home, for which Geduldig gets comics and improv teachers to interact with the residents. • Phil Kipnis, attorney and board member for the Jewish Community Relations Council, Hillel of Silicon Valley, the Jewish Community Federation of Silicon Valley and Congregation Sinai of San Jose. • Karen Erlichman, regional director of Jewish Mosaic, an organization that promotes LGBT inclusion in the Jewish community through advocacy and education. • Jordan Sills, a real estate developer and president of the Young Adults Division of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation and Hillel of San Francisco. He also founded the Young Adult Jewish Group at the Jewish Home, which brings more young adult volunteers to the facility. • Lisa Alcalay Klug, author of “Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe” and founder of the multicultural blog Tolerant Nation. • Kathy Ruiz Goldenkranz, labor activist, b’nai mitzvah tutor, and co-founder of Out in Our Faith, a coalition of faith-based organizations supporting the LGBTQ community. She also serves on the board of Temple Beth El in Aptos, the Boys and Girls Club and Dientes, a free dental clinic in Santa Cruz County. • Bonnie Slavitt Moore, education consultant specializing in staff development at Jewish schools and a board member of the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education, the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley and the School of Education at the American Jewish University. She is an active volunteer at Congregation Beth David in Saratoga. • Peter Stein, director of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. • Harol Hodes, Palo Alto woman who gives rides to and prepares meals for elderly disabled people so they can stay in their homes, and volunteers for multiple synagogue and community outreach activities. • Naomi Tucker, director of Shalom Bayit, a Jewish nonprofit that offers support services and resources to survivors of domestic abuse. • Barry Barkan, Berkeley man who with his wife co-founded the Renewal Aquarian Minyan and the Live Oak Institute, a nonprofit that give meaning, purpose and power to seniors. • Pat Bergman, active member and volunteer at Ahabat Torah, San Jose’s Sephardic synagogue. The San Jose woman also volunteers as a mikvah guide and serves on the board of Silicon Valley Hillel. • Elisa Koff-Ginsborg, social worker at Working Partnerships USA, a nonprofit coalition of community groups, labor and faith organizations seeking a response to the widening gap between the rich and poor in Silicon Valley. She also is an active member of Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos. • David Schenirer, the youngest Bay Area nominee at age 17 and co-founder of Vibe, a teen-owned and operated urban youth lounge in Sacramento where teens can go to acquire academic and vocational skills, engage in service learning and socialize with other youth. Schenirer is also on the regional board of NFTY. • Michael Lerner, founding rabbi of Beit Tikkun and Tikkun magazine based in Berkeley. • Larry Goldberg, board member of JCRC and AIPAC Pacific Northwest Region and an instructor of politics at the Fromm Institute of the University of San Francisco. • Lisa Cohen, Israel activist from San Francisco who helps raise funds to aid Israel Defense Forces soldiers and their families. • Mike Friedman, guidance counselor at Kehillah Jewish High School in Palo Alto. “I’m really honored,” Friedman said. “I don’t necessarily think of my work as heroic. It’s just something I really love to do.” At Kehillah, he’s most proud of the fact that he’s helped create a safe and supportive environment in the school’s hallways and classrooms. “Students also feel safe coming to talk to me about what’s going on in their lives,” he said. “It’s sometimes hard for teens to talk to their parents, so it’s great when they can find an adult to connect to, and who can be a sounding board.” The top 20 vote-getters will be named finalists, and a panel of judges made up of Jewish celebrities, nonprofit experts and Jewish communal pundits will select the winner. Judges will include Randi Zuckerberg, the marketing director for Facebook and the sister of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg; Jewish boxer Dmitri Salita; and Eli Winkelman, founder of the nonprofit Challah for Hunger. At press time, Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, the founder of the Jewlicious Festival, was leading the contest with 70,345 votes. The Hero of the Year will be awarded $25,000 to be used as an investment in their community project or nonprofit effort, and will be invited to and recognized at the 2009 UJC/Federation General Assembly in Washington. To vote for your Jewish community hero, go to <a href="http://www.jewishcommunityheroes.org">http://www.jewishcommunityheroes.org</a> before Oct. 8. Due to space constraints, j. is unable to print photos of all the local candidates.

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