by Marilyn Silverstein
NJJN Bureau Chief/PMB

December 16, 2008

Despite the toughest economic climate in years, United Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks raised $190,973 at its annual Super Sunday phonathon Dec. 7, surpassing a goal of $180,000 and exceeding last year’s Super Sunday total of $173,501.

“I’m thrilled,” said Lisa Smukler, federation’s vice president for the campaign, as she monitored the numbers midway through the day. “I expected it to be a tough day, but people are being very generous. I’m thinking that people will rise to the occasion. They know the need is greater, and they will give as much as they can.”

Some 150 volunteers brought a caring spirit to the all-day event, which began at the Merrill Lynch complex in Hopewell and ended with a special calling session at Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction.

Among the volunteers was Kurt Levy of Plainsboro, who has been out of work for the past nine months; he was very much on the job as he made calls asking donors for pledges.

“I think now, more than ever, people have to help other people out. We have to keep our chins up,” said Levy, who staffed the phones with his two sons, as he has done for the past several years.

“As tough as the situation is that I’m in, I know there are people less fortunate than I am,” Levy said. “It’s about people helping people. You don’t know what it’s like until you’ve been there yourself.”

Federation president Daniel Brent described himself as “cautiously optimistic” as he watched the color rise on a hand-painted fund-raising barometer nearby. “It’s going great, actually,” he said. “We’re ahead of last year at this time. The number of people cutting back [on donations] is smaller than we feared.”

Emily Josephson, associate campaign chair for federation, also sounded a note of optimism. “It’s definitely a tough year — but we cannot let our fellow Jews down. The goal, in my mind, is to bring the community together and to understand that our ultimate mission is to raise funds for Jews in need.”

Federation executive director Andrew Frank said he was “pleasantly surprised and happy” about how the day was going. “We’ve got one of the most energetic groups of volunteers in memory — a great turnout,” he said.

Nevertheless, given the economic climate, he had been worried about how the day would go, Frank said.

“But what I’m finding as we make these calls is that people are making an effort to be as generous as they can,” he said. “It gives me a lot of hope for the campaign this year. It just makes me feel very good that the Jewish community is stepping up to the plate when it’s not easy to step up to the plate. It makes me feel very good about being part of a caring community.”

‘Teens on the front lines’

Educating the younger generation in the art of being a caring community was very much on the mind of Lynne Azarchi as she coordinated the teen component of Super Sunday for the second consecutive year. As she prepared the 50 teens who had volunteered for the day, she had them watch a video about the way Israeli teens in Sderot are coping with the constant threat of rocket attacks from Gaza.

“I wanted them to see teenagers on the front lines,” said Azarchi, who is executive director of the Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum at the College of New Jersey in Ewing. “I wanted to bring it to life — that same sense of Jewish community, that sense of sacrifice.

“These are teenagers on the front lines,” she said, indicating the teens working the phones on every side. “We thanked them for being the kind of kids who are willing to sacrifice their Sunday afternoon to make a difference.”

One of those teens was 15-year-old Leah Pepper of West Windsor, one of several confirmation students from Beth El Synagogue in East Windsor making calls.

“I’m really glad I got to come this year. I feel really good about being able to help,” said Leah, a sophomore at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North. “It’s really rewarding when somebody gives you a donation.”

Another was 15-year-old Jonathan Sanders of Robbinsville, a sophomore at Robbinsville High School. “I’ve raised about $300, and that money is going toward Jewish charities, and that will be very helpful,” Jonathan said. “It’s a good feeling to be doing something for the community.”

For Levy’s sons, volunteering their time on Super Sunday took on a special meaning this year. “It’s a great feeling, because I’m helping out the Jewish community,” said 17-year-old Ethan Levy, a senior at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South.

“Right now, more than anything, this is really helpful for people,” he said. “So many people are out of work. It makes me feel good that I’m helping out and making a difference.”

“I’m happy that it’s helping people not just in our community, but also around the world,” added his 13-year-old brother, Josh, an eighth-grader at the Grover Middle School.

“I’ve raised about $1,000,” Josh said. “Every year, it makes me feel good. I think it’s going to help a lot of people, because every penny counts.”

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