FEDERATION • NEWS

FOOD, FUN AND FROLIC....
ISRAEL@60 CELEBRATION AT THE JCC

(Scranton, PA, March. 14, 2008) the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the Scranton Jewish Community
Center, is planning a spectacular celebration commemorating the founding of Israel sixty years ago. Called Israel @ 60, this exciting extravaganza will be held at the Jewish Community Center on Sunday afternoon, May 18th, and will feature fabulous food, exciting entertainment, fun kids activities, pleasant camaraderie, plus the opportunity to shop for all sorts of goodies at a genuine Israeli shuk (marketplace). (Read more ..... CLICK HERE)

NORTHEASTERN PA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL - PHOTO GALLERY POSTED

(Scranton, PA, December. 14, 2007)

Today, on the Website of the Northeastern PA Jewish Film Festival, a large thumbnail photo gallery has been posted which photographically covers the event which took Scranton by storm on October 20-21, 2007. CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY

By all accounts the first ever Northeastern Pennsylvania Jewish Film Festival was an enormous success. With scores of volunteers and over a thousand people attending, from all over the country, tremendous excitement was generated. Featuring six fabulous films with Jewish themes and special guests including Eli Wallach, Richard Berge and Harvey Chertok, this event will be remembered for many years to come.... at least until the next NEP Jewish Film Festival scheduled for 2009 (stay tuned for details).

PHOTOS FROM 2007 ISRAEL MISSION ONLINE

(Scranton, PA, December. 13, 2007)

On October 28, 2007, 28 representatives of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Jewish Federation, Led by Federation Executive Director, Mark Silverberg and Travel Agent extrodinaire, Jay Weiss, traveled to Israel on an eight day mission, to tour the country, to get a true sense of its history, and, to see first hand, the advances made by the State of Israel, culturally, socially, economically, spiritually, agriculturally and scientifically. Pictured on the left is Scranton native tour guide extraordinaire, Lee Glassman. You can view photos of the Mission by Clicking HERE .

(Scranton, PA, November. 29, 2007)

With input from Temple Hesed Publicity Director, Richard Mates, the Temple Hesed website has undergone a major revision. The revision was three fold. First, the website has received a new web adress with its own unique domain name: www.templehesed.org. Second, the site has had a total cosmetic makeover including artistic backgrounds and more colorful photos. And third, the site has reincorporated its interactive online calendar through Yahoo.com. During the next few weeks, the website will also be in the process of having its data updated. So please, visit the New Temple Hesed website at www.templehesed.org.

LOCAL BUSINESS LEADER SETH GROSS RECEIVES
AMOS LODGE #136 B'NAI B'RITH 2007 MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

(Scranton, PA, November 11, 2007)

Seth Gross, a prominent Northeastern Pennsylvania Businessman and Civic Activist received today, the Amos Lodge B'nai B'rith Man of the Year Award at a Brunch in his honor at the Scranton Jewish Community Center. Over 175 attended the prestigious morning event. Master of Ceremonies of the event was Attorney David Fallk. Amos Lodge president, Allan Davidson, opened the proceedings with the pledege of allegiance. Rabbi Joseph Mendelsohn of Temple Israel followed with the traditional H'amotzi. Special guest speaker was Mark Silverberg, Executive Director of the NEPA Jewish Federation. In accepting the award, Seth spoke eloquently on the importance of volunteerism.

ABOUT SETH GROSS:
Seth. Gross, who is associated with Chamberlain and Reinheimer Insurers Inc., joined his father, Abraham, his mother, Lillian, and his uncle, Bernard Gross, in Gross-Brown Associated Agencies Inc. in 1966 and remained with Gross-Brown until 1994, when it merged with Chamberlain Insurance.

He received the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation in 1967 and the Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 1970, was past president of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of CPCU, and has taught classes for the CPCU designation.

Mr. Gross has served as president of the Scranton Lions Club, Lackawanna Audubon Society, Jewish Family Service of Lackawanna County, Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Temple Israel of Scranton and the Scranton Jewish Community Center. He is president of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He serves on the boards of Jewish Family Service, the JCC and Temple Israel. He served on the board of the Scranton Hebrew Day School, when his daughters attended the school, was on United Way Allocations panels for three years and was chairman of allocations for two years. He has also worked on the Pennsylvania Film Festival/Scranton Tomorrow Committee and the First Night Celebration.

Mr. Gross received the Scranton Jewish Community Center Young Leadership Award in 1981, its Man of the Year Award in 1990, and its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

He is married to the former Sheryl Jacobowitz of Pittsburgh. They have two daughters, Rachel Gross, who is married to H.P. Baker, and Shoshana Gross, who is married to Sandy Bodzin; and three grandchildren.

TEMPLE OF ISRAEL OF DUNMORE
EXPANDS THE SHABBOS KIDDUSH

(October 29, 2007)

President Isadore "Izzy" Steckel of Temple of Israel of Dumore www.jfednepa.org/tid has made the executive decision to improve and expand the Shabbos morning kiddush. Now in addition to a spread of bagels, cream cheese, herring, wine, schnops, coffee, juice and cookies, you can also find, most mornings, Nova Scotia lox. "We want Shabbos at our Temple to be special," Steckel said. "It is hard to get a Minyan in Dunmore every Shabbos at 7:30 in the morning, and having a special breakfast kiddush is the very least we can do. We have been having Shabbos services here non stop since 1924, and all our members believe it is important that we do what it takes to keep our shul going for as long as we can."

Temple of Israel of Dunmore (also known as the Dunmore Synagogue) is located on the corner of Truman and E.Drinker Streets in Dunmore. For further information, call Izzy at 570-344-3011.