On Monday, Dec. 4, around 50 Lion of Judah and Pomegranate level donors gathered for an annual recognition event at the Indiana Art Center with the theme of “Be The Light.”

The first part of the evening was an opportunity to thank and honor new Lion of Judah and Pomegranate level donors and highlight donors who have endowed their annual gifts. A highlight of this section of the evening was a short presentation by Linda Maurer and Shayna Gordon Cohen, who shared about their recent trip to Poland and Hungary with the new Maurer Koach program.

Linda shared how she and her husband Todd developed this idea through involvement with a Jewish Federations of North America program called Fisher Flight. Visiting a concentration camp on the same day as her eldest daughter was marching in support of Israel in Washington, D.C. was an exceptionally powerful memory. Gordon Cohen shared an excerpt from her journal, written on the day that the group visited Auschwitz- Birkenau. She wrote an incredibly moving poem from the experience and shared that participation in the Maurer Koach program has strengthened her connection to Judaism and her desire to get involved with the Jewish community.

Annual Campaign Chairs Sandy Nachlis and Karen Rothbaum spoke powerfully about the work of Federation. Without the support of donors, the Federation could not respond as quickly as they did after Oct. 7. Federation is the convener, the hub of Jewish Indianapolis. They reminded everyone that Federation is there for the community whether you are a child, a Holocaust survivor, and everyone in between. No other organization can do what the Federation does because no other organization is committed to addressing the entire community’s needs.

Everyone had an opportunity to create, schmooze and literally be the light and brighten someone’s day. Attendees had the chance to make their own candles with Circle City Candle company. There was also a station to make Chanukah cards that have been sent to Partership2Gether colleagues in Israel for distribution to soldiers and community members. A third station gave everyone the chance to record a greeting that will also be sent to friends in the Western Gaililee.

Many thanks to Lisa Frank, Barb Leventhal, Megan Maurer, Emma Law Oppman, Lori Schankerman and Marina Grabovsky for planning this meaningful evening. This event was originally scheduled for Oct. 9 and 10, with a different format. The events of the war in Israel caused the Federation to cancel that event, and are deeply appreciative of this group’s ability to pivot and plan a new evening. The Federation is looking forward to planning more women’s gatherings in 2024.