Sherry & Alan Leventhal Center for Interfaith Families Announces Community Grant Program for Interfaith Programming

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and grant requests may be fulfilled up to $2,000

                                     
A 2020 Pew study notes that over 60% of marriages in the Jewish community since 2010 are interfaith marriages - and that diversity in the Jewish community is increasing year by year. The Sherry & Alan Leventhal Center for Interfaith Families is pleased to announce the creation of a groundbreaking Interfaith Programming Grant Program, designed to empower community organizations by facilitating brand new programming and outreach initiatives for interfaith households.
 
These micro-grants - $2,000 yearly maximum - create opportunities for synagogues and other faith-based organizations to identify and invest in new experiences that connect interfaith individuals, couples, families, and children to one another and to their faith communities. Funding must be used for new programming targeting the interfaith community, and may be used for a single event or ongoing programs. Funding is open to Jewish and non-Jewish organizations.

"With ongoing thanks to Sherry and Alan Leventhal for their generosity, we are delighted to announce the Leventhal Center for Interfaith Families micro-grants," said Leventhal Center Co-Chairs, Teri Hunter and Alex Gershanik, in a joint statement with Arnie Fielkow, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. "These grants of up to $2,000 per year will offer opportunities for synagogues and other organizations to further the impact and reach of the work of the Leventhal Center for Interfaith Families. For those who already are creating intentional space for programming and connection for interfaith couples, individuals, families, and children, we hope that these grants will be an inspiration to continue to do so in ever deepening and impactful ways. For those who are not yet providing such experiences, we hope that these grants will be a catalyst to do so. We are excited to offer these grants as a means to identify and invest in new experiences that help interfaith families connect to each other and to their community."
 
We invite any organization in the greater New Orleans community to apply for funding as outlined in the application (linked below). Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed monthly. 
 
Contact Erica Golden, Leventhal Center Executive Director, at erica@jewishnola.com with questions or for more information.

Announcing the third annual Oscar J. Tolmas L'dor V'dor Award

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is proud to open nominations for the third annual Oscar J. Tolmas L’dor V’dor Award.

Born in 1920, Oscar was a lifelong New Orleanian. He graduated from Tulane in 1941 with a bachelor’s degree and, again in 1943, with a law degree. After law school, he served as a naval officer during World War II before embarking on careers spanning law to real estate development to even horse racing.
 
Oscar was raised to believe in the Jewish value of tzedakah, which encourages charitable giving to those most in need—so much so that, upon his death in 2013, his entire estate was left to the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust. Led by Vincent Giardina and Lisa Romano, the Trust supports numerous local organizations in their quest to help better our community.
 
The Oscar J. Tolmas L’dor V’dor Award celebrates the unsung heroes of the Greater New Orleans Jewish community, who quietly and consistently aid in repairing the world around them. Those nominated for the award should reflect the values of tzedakah and tikkun olam, within the Jewish community and/or across the broader New Orleans community alike. Previous award winners are Hal Shepard and Gail Chalew.
 
Anyone may submit a nomination, but to be eligible for the award, a nominee must:

be a member of a Jewish household (which includes interfaith members)
be a member of the Federation (having made a gift of any amount to the 2021 Annual Campaign)

Nominations are open until October 29, 2021, and the recipient will be chosen by a committee consisting of the trustees of the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, as well as Federation lay leadership. The award will be presented at the Jewish Federation's Annual Celebration on December 8 at the Jerome S. Glazer Audubon Tea Room.

Ready to nominate a deserving person? Click the button below to fill out the nomination form.