By Arielle Levy

Shalom Austin Women’s Philanthropy, in close partnership with Shalom Austin Adult 60+ Programs and Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service, helped the adult 60+ members of the community celebrate the Rosh Hashanah holiday this year. Typically, the Adult 60+ program hosts a luncheon to bring this demographic together and the women of Women’s Philanthropy (i.e. any woman who wants to participate in the Jewish community) volunteers at this program. 

During these unique times, they got creative and around 30 volunteers raised their hands to help. More than 200 individuals received handwritten postcards, 120 people received fresh honey cakes, and approximately 100 adults received Happy New Year phone calls. 

Congregation Kol Halev’s Sunday School also provided support, sending postcards. Women’s Philanthropy extends a heartfelt thank you to the volunteers. The High Holidays are a special time and it is important for community members to know that community members at Shalom Austin are thinking of them.

Save the date Oct. 20, when Women’s Philanthropy hosts the 2020 L’dor V’dor learning series on The Senses of Judaism. This session will focus on “seeing” at 7 p.m. Staff-led by Shalom Austin Chief Learning & Engagement Officer Rachel Stern and lay-guided by Julie Franklin, L’dor V’dor Ladies is a special time for women of all ages to come together, learn and really get to know one another. It is an extremely welcoming space, and all women are invited to join.

Lynn Krasnow and Val Newberg.

Julie Waltzer, Suzanne Newberg and Marsha Fein.

Looking ahead to November, Women’s Philanthropy continues its online programming with the premiere event of the fall, Book Lovers Luncheon, Thursday, Nov. 12 at noon. This program features Myla Goldberg of Feast Your Eyes and is co-chaired by Katie Dochen and Dana Shapiro Spaeth. Tickets are $18 to support the work of Shalom Austin and are available online now at shalomaustin.org/booklovers. 

The following week, Coffee & Conversation returns Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 9 a.m., featuring local community leaders Courtney Manuel, I Live Here, I Give Here CEO and Shalom Austin campaign chair and Christina Gorczynski, Impact Austin executive director, to discuss “The Power of Women in Philanthropy.”

To sign up for this program, visit shalomaustin.org/wprsvp. ■