The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago’s 115th Annual Meeting, held Sept. 17 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, featured a keynote address by internationally recognized Holocaust scholar Prof. Deborah Lipstadt, and honored Frances G. Horwich for her lifetime of service to the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and the global Jewish community. ( Read about the afternoon luncheon program. )

The morning business meeting opened with the unanimous election of the 2015-16 JUF/Federation Board, while outgoing directors were honored for their service.

Davis, Gidwitz and Glasser Young Leadership Award

Davis, Gidwitz and Glasser Young Leadership Award winners (from left) Amy Kirsch and Michael Teplitsky. (Photo by Robert F. Kusel)

Following the election, several prestigious awards were presented to rising community leaders.

Bill Silverstein, chairman of the Federation Board, presented the 51st annual Davis, Gidwitz and Glasser Young Leadership award to Amy Kirsch and Michael Teplitsky. The award honors young volunteers who have demonstrated exemplary dedication and made significant contributions to Chicago’s Jewish community.

Amy Kirsch: Building the community

Kirsch, 35, of Chicago, the 2015 YLD campaign chair, joined the JUF Young Leadership Division Board in 2011. As campaign chair, she led one of the most successful Big Event fundraisers, raising $250,000 with over 2,400 in attendance. Kirsch previously served as YLD’s 2013-2014 executive vice president, chaired the 2013 YLD Israel Mission, and participated in the YLD Gesher leadership program. She has served on numerous JUF committees and commissions, and currently is a local co-chair of the National Young Leadership Cabinet. This past July, Kirsch was named to the 2015 YLD/Oy!Chicago annual “36 under 36” list in honor of her numerous commitments to the Jewish community.

In her remarks, Kirsch noted that Chicago’s young Jewish community is growing in strength and commitment. Young leaders provide critical support not only to Jews in Chicago, but those around the world as well.

“I have witnessed firsthand just how much our dollars impact our community,” she said.

Professionally, Kirsch is the head of investor relations for PeerRealty.

Michael Teplitsky: A parcel brings hope

Teplitsky, 35, of Highland Park, currently is campaign chair for the JUF Trades, Industries and Professions Financial Services Division. He has been a member of the YLD Board, and stepped in to serve as the 2012 campaign chair when the position was vacated mid-term. He has participated on numerous JUF committees and commissions over the years, bringing a unique perspective as an emigrant from the Former Soviet Union.

During his remarks, Teplitsky described his family’s experience as Russian Jews. His parents and grandparents were Refuseniks-Russians who were stripped of work and educational opportunities because they were Jewish, yet the government refused to give them permission to emigrate.

“In 1980, when I was born, Soviet anti-Semitism was at its peak,” Teplitsky said. In 1982, his family received one of 84,000 parcels containing clothing and Jewish religious articles from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee – a JUF overseas partner. The gift was life-changing, he said.

“That parcel gave us something that we almost lost-hope.” It was the first of numerous times his life was touched by JUF and the Chicago Jewish community.

In addition to his work with JUF, Teplitsky is the Chicago co-chair of the National Young Leadership Cabinet. His civic leadership includes Chicago Children’s Choir, Kellogg Alumni in Private Equity, and Young Professionals in Energy.

Professionally, Teplitsky is vice president of Wynnchurch Capital.

Samuel A. Goldsmith Award

Samuel A. Goldsmith Award winners (from left) Rachel Shtern and Cantor Faryn Kates Rudnick. (Photo by Robert F. Kusel)

Cantor Faryn Kates Rudnick and Rachel Shtern received the 28th annual Samuel A. Goldsmith Award, given to exceptional young professionals who have shown outstanding performance at a Jewish agency in the Chicago area.

Faryn Kates Rudnick: Advocating inclusion for those with disabilities

Rudnick, 33, of Vernon Hills, has been cantor at Temple Beth-El, Northbrook, since 2013. In addition to her pastoral work, she initiated a congregational Disability Awareness Program. Under Rudnick’s leadership, Temple Beth-El has been recognized by the Union of Reform Judaism as an exemplar congregation for its work in inclusion.

Rudnick is the incoming president of the Reform Cantors of Chicago, and a member of the American Conference of Cantors social action committee. She has chaired of the Hebrew Union College Day of Learning, and co-led a workshop on inclusion at the annual ACC convention this year. She represents the ACC on the Jewish Disabilities Network, is a member of the Synagogue Federation Commission’s Inclusion Program Planning Committee, and has been a presenter for the Union for Reform Judaism’s inclusion initiative.

Accepting her award, Rudnick said that in the past, people who were disabled often had limited responsibilities in the community.

“We have come to understand that having a disability is anything but limiting,” she said. “Becoming an inclusive community is about changing culture, changing language … so our houses are truly houses for all people.”

Rachel Shtern: Education as inspiration

Shtern, 34, of Chicago, is assistant director of Community Building and Jewish Continuity at JUF. In her position, she focuses on Jewish education in general, and day-school education in particular, and maintains positive relationships with professional and volunteer leadership at the 16 JUF-affiliated day schools.

In addition, Shtern’s leadership provided the impetus for making operational improvements to the Community Foundation for Jewish Education’s Ta’am Yisrael eighth-grade Israel program that has contributed to the program’s success. More recently, she has expanded her focus on day schools and involvement in JUF’s Orthodox community outreach.

In her remarks, Shtern said she is awed by the respect and cooperation demonstrated between day school administrators and lay leadership, in particular their support of each other’s efforts for the good of the whole.

“I love being part of our continued growth of education in our community,” Shtern said.

JUF Holocaust Community Services: Providing survivors with caring, critical support

The business meeting culminated in a showcase of the work of Holocaust Community Services, an inter-agency program between the Federation, CJE SeniorLife and Jewish Child & Family Services, with HIAS Chicago.

Founded in 1999, HCS helps ensure that Holocaust survivors can continue to live independently and with dignity, providing them with essential help such as food, medicine, in-home assistance, emergency cash assistance, and support groups and social events to create a community of survivors.

“Today, Holocaust Community Services is serving nearly 900 survivors,” said Yonit Hoffman, HCS director. “We are working together to ensure that Holocaust survivors receive support as they face the demands of aging, which are made all the more acute due to their experiences during the Shoah.”

CJE SeniorLife and Jewish Child & Family Services provide survivors with critical support, and HCS maximizes available services through relationships with The ARK, EZRA, and Maot Chitim. Alpha Omega, the Jewish dental fraternity, provides pro-bono dental care to many local survivors, and the Michael Reese Health Trust recently awarded a grant to Federation to increase the dental safety net for survivors and older adults.

“JUF plays a significant role in ensuring that Holocaust Community Services has sufficient resources. Our goal is a $5 million fund to support Holocaust survivors’ current and future needs,” said Steve Miller, JUF/Federation board vice chairman and HCS Leadership Committee chair.

HCS also receives funding from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany, which manages and distributes reparations for victims of Nazi persecution.

In addition, Federation partners with Sheerit Hapleitah, a local umbrella organization for Chicago-area survivor groups, to host the annual Holocaust memorial service; participates in the State of Illinois annual Holocaust memorial commemoration; and provides substantial support to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

“When it comes to Holocaust survivors, we believe it is incumbent upon us to make sure that their last years are lived with as much comfort, dignity and peace of mind as possible,” Miller said.