It was the Jewish Federation’s 119th Annual Meeting.

But there’s never been one quite like this.

For starters, it was the first presided over by new President Lonnie Nasatir, just the fifth chief executive in Federation’s long history. (A snippet of his wonderful State of the Federation address, which received a standing ovation, is below.)

Then there was that unprecedented surprise:

In mid-speech, Nasatir announced that this year’s Julius Rosenwald Memorial Award honoree, Bill Silverstein, and his family had made a special gift of $100,000­­-which would be shared equally by every non-profit-Jewish, non-Jewish and secular alike-that had staff at the event.

More than 1,200 witnessed the moment at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on Sept. 17. Federation leaders, of course. And representatives of many of the 100-plus agencies and programs Federation partners with. But also government officials-city, state, and federal. Members of Chicago’s consular corps, representing Israel and 14 other nations. Representatives of the United Way, Urban League, civic and refugee organizations. Catholic and other Christian clergy. And nearly 200 students from seven Jewish day schools, getting a taste of the community’s vibrance.

Wherever you turned, you were surrounded by the breadth and depth of Chicago and its Jewish community. Regardless of background, belief or political view, they were there. Together. For good.

Excerpts from President Lonnie Nasatir’s State of the Federation address; Julius Rosenwald Memorial Award honoree Bill Silverstein’s acceptance; and the speeches of the four young leaders honored, follow.

State of the Federation

President Lonnie Nasatir

Presiding over his first, and the Federation’s 119 ^th , Annual Meeting, President Lonnie Nasatir shared an inspiring vision of the Jewish future.

“…today, let us vow to listen to young people, always, with an open mind and an open heart.

With their global mindedness, generosity of spirit, creativity, and passion, I believe the Millennials and Generation Z can take our community to new heights. They have already started.

Jewish life today is dynamic and exciting-and looks different today than it did 1,000, 100, or even 10 years ago. As we pass down our heritage L’dor V’dor , from generation to generation, our traditions are reclaimed and reimagined.

A new spirit of community is emerging in these next generations and I am so proud to partner with exciting new programs that are both a part of that new spirit and helping to fuel it.

From OneTable and Moishe House to Trybal Gatherings and Sketchpad, from YLD Pride and UpStart Chicago to Honeymoon Israel and Base Hillel, young people are embracing the joy in Judaism.

They are building community one Shabbat dinner, one Israel trip, one study group, one workshop, one minyan at a time. We are at the dawn of a renaissance in Jewish life in this community-and it’s a wondrous thing.

It may be different, but we can’t be afraid of difference. We at Federation need to be nimble, relevant, and accommodating to new ideas and ways to express our Jewishness and neshamas .

Our newly launched Fund for the Future, which has now raised over $50 million, is poised to provide the appropriate resources necessary to meet the growing and potentially changing needs of our community.

What will it look like to be Jewish and act out Jewishly in the next 5 or 10 years? I’m not so sure. There may be as many answers as there are Jews-and that’s not a bad thing.

Actually, it’s a wonderful thing.

The success of Silverstein Base Hillel is one exciting example. Each Base Hillel has quickly emerged as a welcoming, pluralistic hub of Jewish life for young adults, both in college and after they graduate.

With hundreds and hundreds of participants streaming through their doors, the Base Hillels in Lincoln Park and in the South Loop are operating at capacity and serving as models for other cities nationwide. Plans are underway to open a third Base location in 2020, with the goal of five Base Hillels across Chicagoland engaging 4,000 young adults by 2024.

Let’s stop and think about that: four THOUSAND young Chicagoans enthusiastically connecting to Jewish life, Jewish community, Jewish tradition…and one another.

Base Hillel is a wonderful reminder-let’s not be afraid to talk about the joy as well as the oy…”

Watch Nasatir’s entire speech online atjuf.org/StateoftheFederation2019 .

Julius Rosenwald Memorial Award

Bill Silverstein

Former JUF/Federation Board Chair, current Jewish Community Relations Council Chair, founding supporter Base Hillel/Chicago

Our Jewish community is bigger than any individual. It is a master painting-a canvas consisting of 120 years of brushstrokes that tells a story. This painting was started by our great grandparents, and continued by our grandparents and parents, and is in the care of my generation today.

Whether as chairman of the board of JUF, or as a volunteer at The ARK, or at a committee meeting at your synagogue … or simply making a contribution to your favorite charities … each of these acts is an opportunity to add your brushstrokes to our community painting.

And I am excited for my children, and for all of our children, to grab the brush and put their stroke on our brilliant communal picture.

Davis, Gidwitz & Glasser Young Leadership Award

Stacey Dembo

Attorney, Immediate Past Chair, JUF’s Community Legal Services Clinic

“JUF was always in the air when I was growing up. My mom, Lisa, was an intern while in college. My dad, Harold, was on the JCC board. Growing up, we would deliver packages with Maot Chitim and serve meals at the Uptown Cafe. My brother and I learned through osmosis the value of serving our community and supporting JUF.

I’ve been lucky to be able to marry my professional skills with my JUF involvement through the JUF Community Legal Services Clinic. … providing pro-bono legal representation to Holocaust survivors and children and adults with disabilities. We [represent] about 100 members of our community each year. Working with JUF staff and my fellow volunteer attorneys has truly showed me what it means to be ‘together for good.'”

Davis, Gidwitz & Glasser Young Leadership Award

Josh Liss

Chair, Metro Chicago Hillel Board, and long active in JUF and the Jewish Federations of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet

“While in Budapest [on a national mission], we visited an older Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust. She was homebound and lived in a very small, dilapidated apartment. We learned how hard her life had been growing up Jewish in Hungary. We also learned that, with her current medical condition, if not for us she would not have any visitors, hot food, or medicine. She told us with tears in her eyes that we literally saved her life.

As we left, I gave her a hug and walked down the steps thinking-How many more Jews need our help, our time, our dollars? For so long, I had just given to give. It was at that moment I realized what all of this is really all about.”

Samuel L. Goldsmith Young Professional Award

Anna Hartman

Director, Early Childhood Excellence at JUF and Director, The Paradigm Project

“Those of you here today know that Jewish preschools are places where children and their families experience never-ending joy and wonder, forge relationships of true caring, and develop lasting connections to the friends, communities, and traditions that will enrich their lives for years to come. Families get this long-lasting spiritual nutrition in an environment that meets their immediate needs for childcare and high-quality education.

What you may not know is that where there is potential, the Chicago Jewish community invests. Because Jewish early childhood education is vital, JUF will lead the charge to sustain it. To paraphrase the words of my supervisor, Dr. Scott Aaron: 1) What does the community need? 2) What is a vision for getting there? And 3) Nu ? What’s stopping you?”

Samuel L. Goldsmith Young Professional Award

Rabbi Michelle Stern, BCC

Rabbi and Chaplain, CJE SeniorLife

“I opened up a Torah scroll to the Priestly Blessing in front of my students-memory care residents and adult day program clients. I told them that when the priests said, ” Yvarechecha -May God Bless You,” they were acknowledging the holiness in each person in the community-and that included them.

Restoring and reminding people with dementia of their dignity, that they matter, takes a fair amount of patience and creativity. Jewish tradition is rich with possibilities for how to do this, how to fulfill the mitzvah of Hiddur Pnai Zakeyn , glorifying elders.

May we continue as a community to lift up our older adults. As we bless our elders with our service and care, I promise you, they will bless us in return.”