MAZEL TOV TO JFAR’S 2015-16 ARKANSAS GRANT ALLOCATIONs RECIPIENTS

The Jewish Federation of Arkansas is pleased to offer grant support for Arkansas projects and services that accord with our Mission Statement. We had a record number of applications for grant support in 2015-16.

Congratulations to the following organizations and projects that received assistance. JFAR is proud and honored to support the crucial work you do in our Jewish community and beyond:

ARKANSAS HOLOCAUST EDUCATION COMMITTEE (NORTHWEST ARKANSAS)

• Annual Holocaust Education Conference (November 5th-7th): “Victim, Perpetrator, Bystander, Rescuer...Who will you be?”

The mission of the Arkansas Holocaust Education Committee (AHEC), Northwest Arkansas, includes: providing historically accurate information on the Holocaust; encouraging teaching of this history; and modeling good pedagogical strategies when teaching the Holocaust. The committee developed the following objectives for those attending the conference: increasing participants’ understanding of the Holocaust and its implications for contemporary society; learning rationales, strategies, and approaches in teaching and learning about the Holocaust; and translating their understanding into responsible behavior when confronted with violations of human rights.

ATI’DAY YISROEL EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER (LITTLE ROCK)

• Scholarships for Jewish Students
• Jewish Education and Enrichment

Ati’Day Yisroel Early Childhood Center’s mission is to nurture and educate children ages six months to five years in a Jewish environment. We welcome children and families of all faiths into our community where Jewish values and customs are woven into the fabric of classroom experiences and practices. Our carefully crafted program is
based on the belief that each child is a unique individual who requires a loving and stimulating environment in which to develop emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially.

PROGRAM IN JEWISH STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS (FAYETTEVILLE)

• “Discussion with Holocaust Survivor George Abraham”
• Lecture by Dr. Evan Katz, University of Cincinnati, on “French Antisemitism, Jewish-Muslim Relations”
• “Introduction to Judaism” taught by Dr. Jacob Adler

The Jewish Studies Program and minor introduces students to Jewish history, thought, and lifeways, through the millennia and around the globe. Students take courses introducing them to the basic tenets of Judaism, to fundamentals of Jewish languages (Aramaic, Biblical Hebrew, Modern Hebrew, and Yiddish), and to major strands in European, American, and Middle Eastern Jewish thought. Affiliated courses will cover Jewish literature; religious dialogue and history; current politics; ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern Jewish history; and discourse on gender, multiculturalism, and social justice. Jewish Studies o!ers a broad interdisciplinary context of coursework that can complement most programs of study.

TEMPLE SHALOM (FAYETTEVILLE)

• Jewish Summer Day Camp

Our mission is to provide an enriching Jewish summer day camp to the Jewish children of Northwest Arkansas as well as to nurture and grow Jewish identity.

CONGREGATION B’NAI ISRAEL (LITTLE ROCK)

• Religious School Scholarships
• Junior Youth Group Retreat Transportation

Congregation B’nai Israel embraces a lifelong understanding and pursuit of Jewish identity, commitment, and values. Our congregation strives to instill knowledge of and pride in Jewish heritage including Torah, tefillah and mitzvot, leading to activate participation in Jewish life.

FULBRIGHT JUNIOR HIGH (BENTONVILLE)

• “Teaming Up to Make the World a Better Place: A Study of Human Rights through Literacy and History Classes”

By May 2016 students in History and English classes will have worked in collaboration every day to gain a better understanding of the rights all people deserve, and they will be able to use technology through Problem Based Learning (PBL) to demonstrate to the community the deserved human rights of all individuals. Our last nine weeks will focus on Jewish history and Holocaust Education, into which all our previous studies will be tied.

GLOBAL DAY OF JEWISH LEARNING (LITTLE ROCK)

• “Love: Devotion, Desire, and Deception” (Sunday, November 15th)

This international day of study program was developed in 2010 by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz in Jerusalem to encourage Jews around the world to devote at least one day each year to the study of foundational Jewish texts in a communal setting. We have been part of this exciting project from its outset, providing the program for the Jewish community of Little Rock as well as for Jewish learners throughout the state. Last year we had about 70 participants from around the community. We pulled teachers from a variety of Jewish perspectives to teach using the materials provided by the Aleph Society, the foundation promoting Rabbi Steinsaltz’s ideas for world-wide text study. The event has always succeeded in bringing the community together, fulfilling the stated goals.

HENDRIX COLLEGE HILLEL (CONWAY)

• 2015-16 Programs and Activities

Hendrix Hillel aims to unite Jewish students and faculty, as well as non-Jewish students and faculty who are interested in Judaism, in the celebration of Jewish faith and culture and to make Hendrix College (and, where possible, the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock) more welcoming and accessible places for Jewish students now and in the future. It plans activities to inform the college community about Jewish traditions and to encourage multiculturalism and interfaith dialogue.

LUBAVITCH OF ARKANSAS

• Camp Gan Israel
• Hebrew Academy

The goal of Camp Gan Israel is to provide a safe and joyous environment for Jewish boys and girls to have spirited camp fun with music, swimming, sports, arts and crafts and trips. The goal of Hebrew Academy is to provide a richly balanced Jewish and secular education for today’s Jewish youth, allowing them to become responsible, productive and engaged members of tomorrow’s Jewish community.

UNITED HEBREW CONGREGATION (FORT SMITH)

• Hebrew School

The mission of the school at UHC is to inspire in students a commitment to avodah (prayer and spiritual growth), to Torah (study), and to tikkun olam and gemilut hasadim (repair of the world and of caring) through the learning and experience of Jewish texts, rituals, values, and history. The philosophy of the school is reflected in all aspects of its operation and is based on the philosophy of the individual/collective commitment to repair the world and make it more compassionate, just, and peaceful.