Click here to view a slideshow from the event!

On Nov. 2, more than 250 community members gathered at the Federation's Grand Event at the Virginia Historical Society and heard Israel advocate
Alan Dershowitz deliver a passionate and compelling message for supporting Israel and the Annual Campaign.

The Grand Event is the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond's signature event of the 2009 UJA Jewish Welfare Fund Campaign. The campaign focuses on the growing needs of the Richmond Jewish community, the Federation and her partner agencies, Jews in Israel and around the world.
Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor and notable criminal lawyer,  is one Israel's most visible defenders and the author of numerous books and articles about Israel, the Mideast, and Jewish affairs. He told the audience that Federation events were special for him since he met his wife, Carol, at
a Federation dinner more than 30 years ago.
"Not all Jewish communities hold events like this one tonight. You are the spirit and backbone of the Richmond Jewish community and I commend you for your efforts. You have a big heart, and are a jewel of a community,"  he said.  As a Brooklyn native, he said he felt at home with many "friends"
from his old neighborhood. He said that both his wife and he believed strongly in making separate gifts to the Annual Campaign, but they also discussed as a family the vital needs.

At the first Jewish Community Relations Committee meeting on Oct. 27, Jonathan Schanzer,  a Middle East affairs and terrorism analyst, outlined four of the key issues facing the next president concerning Israel. Schanzer, director of policy for the Jewish Policy Center in Washington, D.C., told the more than 60 community members that it did not matter who was elected president, the same challenges would be faced. He acknowledged that U.S. ­ Israel relations were never more important.

Former Richmonder Joy Sisisky recently came back to speak to the Lion of Judah, Pomegranate and Young Adult Division (YAD) groups about her recent year as a Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) Goldman Fellow.
During this year, she spent time in Ukraine and Ethiopia working with the Jewish communities. Goldman fellows participate in JDC's global programs through a range of unique assignments that respond to the changing needs of Jewish communities around the world.

From September 17 to 23, a group of 30 Jewish community members and JCFR staff participated in the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond's Sherry Rose Mission to Israel.
Here are a few reflections from several community members on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the impact the Jewish people have had on world culture.

WARSAW, Poland - Polish officials marked the border of the former Warsaw Ghetto on Wednesday with plaques and boundary lines traced in the ground to preserve the memory of the tragic World War II-era Jewish quarter.

As I review the pages of this issue of the Reflector, I am made more aware of the good things that go on everyday, in part, because of all of you and the funds you contribute to our annual campaign. We all know that our economy is in a real and constant state of flux at the moment.  Your support of our UJA Jewish Welfare Fund Campaign will bring help and hope to so many who may find themselves in need of a helping hand this year.
Our Annual Campaign is approaching $2 million toward our aggressive goal of $3.4 million.  There are three weeks remaining for us to canvas the community and raise the funds that are truly needed this year. We all can feel that sense of urgency, especially in these economic times, and we need to find a way to answer the call for help.
Federation is meeting with key beneficiaries to identify any observable changing trends in service requests and any potential challenges on the horizon as regards budgetary items for our agencies in the coming year. It is a challenging time but I know that we are up to the challenge!