CAJE, Federation offer scholarship opportunities for teen travel to Israel 

The Central Agency for Jewish Education and the Jewish Federation of St. Louis announce the availability of the following scholarship opportunities for teen travel to Israel:

• A merit-based scholarship is available to teens currently in grades 9-11.  Twenty-four teens traveling to Israel this summer will be awarded $1,250 grants. The award will be based on a short essay, activities in the Jewish community and a willingness to serve as an Israel travel advocate. The application deadline is Jan. 27.

• The Stuart I. Pessin Fund will award $1,250 to two students in grades 9-12 participating on an Israel program in the spring, summer or fall of 2014.  The awardees will be selected based on an essay, their activities in the Jewish community and commitment to continued Jewish education.  The application deadline is Jan. 27.

• Need-based scholarship funds are also available for teens traveling to Israel in 2014. Scholarship awards typically range between $250 and $2,000 depending on length of trip and financial need. The application deadline is Feb. 10.

Applications are available at www.cajestl.org or by contacting Karen Rader at 314-442-3756 or [email protected]. 

Jewish Federation of St. Louis names Pereles campaign director

Andrew Rehfeld, president and CEO of Jewish Federation of St. Louis, announced that Rachel Pereles has been promoted to the position of Campaign Director and Associate Director of Development. Since September, Pereles has been serving in the role of interim campaign director. Before that, she was a development officer.

“I have been singularly impressed with the way that Rachel has moved our campaign efforts forward,” said Rehfeld. “She is creating the kind of culture that we want to have here—lots of communication, enthusiasm for the work and empowerment of her team.  Her ideas for revamping our efforts going forward show innovative thinking, creativity and boldness of the kind that I believe are critical for our long-term success.”

The director of development position for Federation will be posted soon.

One Happy Camper program announces camp T-Shirt Day

St. Louis is having its inaugural “Wear Your Camp T-Shirt to School Day” on Jan. 23. This day, sponsored by One Happy Camper, includes the participation of all of the St. Louis Jewish day camps and residential camps that St. Louis youth attend.  Organizers encourage campers and camp alumni to show their camp pride on by wearing their camp T-shirts and posting pictures on their camp’s Facebook page.  One Happy Camper provides $1,000 non-need based grants to campers attending Jewish residential camp for the first time.  For more information, contact Beth Koritz at 314-442-3776 or [email protected].

St. Louis Moishe House seeks furniture donations

Moishe House, an international organization that plans programs for young adults in their 20s, is currently searching for new furniture. Moishe House is seeking chairs, tables and couches. For more information email [email protected].

JCC, St. Louis Rabbinical Association announce the inaugural Jewish Mystic Jam

The St. Louis Rabbinical Association (SLRA) and the Jewish Community Center present the Jewish Mystic Jam, an interactive smorgasbord of music, stories, kabbalah and more, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Performing Arts Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. 

The event will include storytelling, havdalah, jazz, a drum circle, niggunim, klezmer, poetry and more. Entertainers and facilitators include Andrew Bolinger and Leslie Caplan, Rabbi James Stone Goodman, Robert Fishbone, Rabbi Suzanne Brody, Alan Nemes, Kim Portnoy, Howard Schwarz and Will Soll.  

“It promises to be a magical evening of Jewish music, spirituality and entertainment with something for everyone,” says Rabbi James Stone Goodman, current president of SLRA and rabbi at Neve Shalom Congregation.

Purchase tickets ($15 advance, $20 at the door) at brownpapertickets.com, which include wine and nosh. For more information, contact Diane Maier 314-442-3190 [email protected].  Coordinated in part by JCC Helene Mirowitz Center of Jewish Community Life and co-sponsored by Central Agency for Jewish Education and the Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library.

YPD invites young adults to attend TribeFest

Jewish Federation of St. Louis invites area young adults (in their 20s and 30s) to attend TribeFest, an entertaining, interactive and educational celebration to be held in New Orleans March 16-18. More than 1,500 Jewish young adults from across North America will gather to connect with their own Judaism and become a part of a community.

TribeFest offers Jewish young adults the opportunity to connect with national and international organizations, network, explore passions and avenues for action, celebrate the many rich aspects of Jewish life, hear dynamic speakers and participate in meaningful service projects and make a difference.

Registration costs $450 until Jan. 20 and $499 after. That price includes most meals and access to all sessions and events. A very limited number of subsidies are available for local attendees.

For more information, go to ypdstl.org/tribefest or contact Lee’at Bachar at [email protected].

NORC seeking  volunteers 

If you’re handy or computer savvy, consider volunteering with St. Louis NORC, a non-sectarian neighborhood program whose mission is to help older adults remain living at home. The program is in need of handy volunteers to assist with minor plumbing, electrical and handyman home repairs, as well as those able to help in training older adults to use a computer or troubleshooting computer software or hardware problems. 

You determine your own schedule; even an hour a month is welcome. If you can help, contact Roberta Gartenberg at 314-442-3808 or [email protected].