Announcing the second 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.
 
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 2020 Annual Campaign)

Nominations are open until August 17, 2020, 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 a virtual wine and cheese reception in September.

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

Shema: A Virtual Listening Session with Local Black Leadership

On behalf of the new Goldring Family Foundation Center for Jewish-Multicultural Affairs (CJMA), a program of the Jewish Federation of the Greater New Orleans, we are proud to share with you a recording of our recent incredible event "Shema: A Virtual Listening Session with Local Black Leadership." With over 400 people tuning in live via Zoom and Facebook, it is clear that our Jewish community understands the need for a real, substantive movement for justice for African-Americans and is ready to be a part of that movement.
 
Thank you to the ADL South Central Region and the National Council of Jewish Women Greater New Orleans Section for co-hosting the event, and a special thank you to our own Davida Finger, a CJMA Advisory Council member, for serving as moderator. And most importantly, thank you to our impressive and accomplished speakers, who identified a number of impactful action steps that we as members of the Jewish community – individually and organizationally – can undertake in the coming days, weeks, months, and years to effect meaningful change of/in many of the systemic challenges facing the Black community.
 
We hope you have an opportunity to watch this extraordinary program and heed the call to action. The Federation and its CJMA, which officially launches October 1, are looking forward to working with you to turn our speakers' words into deeds.

Bradley Bain and Ina Davis
Co-Chairs | Goldring Family Foundation Center
for Jewish-Multicultural Affairs 

GiveNOLA Day 2020

Everything is different now. Everything. We weren't sure what to expect from this year's GiveNOLA Day, but we were cautiously optimistic.

Today we are incredibly humbled by your support.

Our goal was to raise $100,000 from at least 200 household gifts during Give NOLA Day’s 24-hour timeframe. Because of you, we eclipsed both marks, receiving $133,766 from 282 donations, and placed fourth overall in amount raised. Because of this, we will receive an extra $1,000 from the Greater New Orleans Foundation which we can use to further our efforts here in our community.

For more than 100 years, we've stood at the forefront of social justice advocacy and philanthropy here in New Orleans - because of you. You make our work possible.

A special thanks to our generous sponsors: Brian and Lisa Katz, Bill and Susan Hess, Arnie and Susan Fielkow, Robert Force, Sherri Tarr, Maury Herman, Russ Herman, Robert Force, and Mara and Joshua Force.

Thank you.