Dear Friends of DJCF,
What can we learn from each other? I’m in a LiMOOD:
I was delighted to present recently at Limmud, Dallas’ first annual Festival of Jewish Ideas, bringing together the Jewish community for a day of study, conversation and exploration. This event, expertly produced by my friend Rabbi David Singer, was made possible by a generous gift to the JFGD Center for Jewish Education from the Paul R. and Renee Stanley Family Endowment Fund, facilitated by DJCF.
The 300 community members in attendance could select from 40 different peer-led sessions, ranging from “Magic in the Bible and in the Ancient Near East” and “From the Shtetle to the Smoker: A Jewish-Texan History of Brisket” to “Situational Awareness Training” and “Uncovering Your Own History’s Mysteries” – see the full list of speakers and program topics here. Emily Hargrove, Executive Director of the M.B. and Edna Zale Foundation and DJCF Trustee, joined me in leading a discussion about multi-generational tzedakah, and how strategic philanthropy is evolving as the next generation takes a leading role in family giving.
It was one of the most meaningful local events that I’ve participated in, largely because of the intersectionality of the attendees and the incredible talent of our neighbors! Each session that I attended was interactive, engaging, and insightful, with representation from all walks of Jewish life in Dallas.
Peer teaching promotes collaboration and social learning by encouraging personal interactions, fostering empathy and understanding, enhancing teamwork skills, improving communication and promoting a sense of community. While I usually greet the concept of “a group project” with an eyeroll and a groan, a growing body of research suggests that peer learning and collaboration are proven to be effective ways of driving positive impact.
While I was a business major, I also earned a minor in psychology from Indiana University, where I first learned about “Social Constructivism” in Sociology class, the idea that knowledge is actively built through social interaction, primarily thriving where cultural, language and environmental context is provided to promote critical thinking and independent learning.
Critical thinking and social-based learning have deep roots within our Jewish tradition! Nancy Parkes and Dr. Jeffrey Kress argued in their 2018 article for eJewish Philanthropy “that much can be gained from organizing and consolidating efforts around common values and social and emotional learning (SEL)…. Judaism’s teachings focus on the development and growth of the self, how we connect with community, and how we conduct ourselves in the world. This focus, though longstanding, has gained momentum with exciting, emerging initiatives around thriving, shleimut (wholeness), flourishing, or reaching one’s full human potential.”
Perhaps you are familiar with the Aesop fable The Four Oxen and the Lion – it is the origin of the phrase that has been repeated in both the Christian bible and by our own country’s founding fathers – “united we stand, divided we fall” – The story describes a Lion that prowled about a field in which Four Oxen lived. Whenever he came near, they turned their tails to one another, so whichever way he approached them, he was met by the horns of one of them. Over time, however, they argued among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field. In the end, the Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end to all four.
For many, the modern Jewish experience feels like the lions are circling – amid rising antisemitism, the ongoing plight of the hostages, and differing opinions about how to achieve peace domestically and abroad. We cannot afford to ‘pasture alone’ – we must find unity and protect each other against the lions who wish to affect our demise. One easy way to do that is to immerse yourself in community, and we are all so fortunate to be here at this moment. Our Dallas Jewish community is vibrant, creative, and supportive, and yes – at the same time, it’s also messy and inefficient, frustrating and challenging to be part of. Some days, we may feel like we would be better off going our own way – but we owe it to each other and our own chance of survival to stay invested and empower one another. Limmud Dallas was an incredible example of the power of coming together with the intent to work toward social constructivism, and I’m grateful to have been part of it.
In case you’ve been living under a rock (not that I’m judging!!) you might be aware that market volatility and global instability is causing strife amongst investors. I started my career in financial services in 2008, came back to work from maternity leave in March 2020, and am no stranger to “unprecedented times.” In his 2017 letter to shareholders, Warren Buffett wrote: “There is simply no telling how far stocks can fall in a short period.” But should a major decline occur, he continued, “heed these lines” from Rudyard Kipling’s classic poem If circa 1895:
“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs… If you can wait and not be tired by waiting… if you can think – and not make thoughts your aim… if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you… yours is the earth and everything that’s in it.”
IF I’ve learned anything in my career (and in life), it’s that worry and anxiety rarely contribute much good to an outcome. When your worst fears are realized, you’ve now experienced the pain twice – and if it doesn’t come to pass, you’re stressed for no reason! Our investment committee’s best guidance for managing investments during this time is: DO NOT PANIC – for those who’d like to learn where opportunities lie ahead in markets, we’ve included several recent publications from Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in the investments section of this month’s newsletter.
Perhaps you are looking for a diversion from increasingly negative headlines and turmoil at every turn. In addition to reading poetry like the Oracle of Omaha suggests, my advice is to DO SOMETHING GOOD. Each month in this newsletter, I highlight organizations in our community that are deserving of your support in the partner spotlight section. Your engagement can go beyond recommending a grant from your donor advised fund, maybe you want to volunteer, are looking for a board seat, etc. Our team is ready to help you on this journey – contact me today and we’ll get the conversation started.
Jewish Future Promise
You may have heard us talking about the Jewish Future Promise. You can learn more about it on our website, but don’t take it from us! Check out this op-ed from JFP’s CEO, Hadara Ishak, on how this moment is an exciting time to plan for a strong and vibrant Jewish future — and how we each can play a part.
April Nonprofit Spotlight
We will shine a light on several organizations with whom we are proud to partner – raising awareness about current needs and important work being done in our community by agencies you may not be familiar with! You can give from your fund via the DJCF Portal, or click the links below to support.
Hillels of North Texas
University of Texas at Dallas Hillel is the home for Jewish life on campus for Richardson students. Hillel is a pluralistic, inclusive organization that supports students as they continue to develop their Jewish identity during this transformative time in their lives. We meet students where they are, encourage their exploration of what it means to be Jewish, and empower them to create their own Jewish paths. University of North Texas Hillel is the home for Jewish life on campus for Denton students. Hillel is a pluralistic organization that welcomes you wherever you are from, however you identify, and we encourage you to explore what it means to be Jewish and create your own Jewish path while at UNT. Thank You for Supporting Jewish Students Today!
University of Texas Chabad House
The Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center at UT is a home away from home where ideas can flourish, where Jewish identity is found and enhanced, where the land of Israel is placed at the forefront of our consciousness, and where individuals can find community and family, as they are empowered to be the leaders of our future through Jewish education. Thank You for Supporting Chabad at UT!
Cheder Lubavitch of Dallas
At Cheder, we strive to guide and care for the whole child. Imbuing Chassidic values in a Torah environment through modern methodologies, ensuring every student is fulfilling their potential and understands their part in bringing the world closer to Moshiach. Thank You for Your Generosity to Cheder Lubavitch of Dallas!
Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas
For over 100 years, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas (JFGD) has changed lives in Dallas, Israel, and throughout the world. Proudly representing one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in America, we connect your dollars to more than 85 organizations worldwide, adding value at every opportunity. Our metroplex hosts innumerable Jewish perspectives, identities, and skill sets that it can be difficult to connect the dots. Acting as the hub for all things Jewish Dallas, the Federation proudly celebrates, defends, responds, welcomes, and kvells the strong and vibrant Jewish presence in Dallas and beyond. Donate Here: Here For You. Here For Good.
Investment Reports & Fund Statements
Please visit our newly re-launched Investments Page at Investments – Dallas Jewish Community Foundation. There, you’ll find detailed descriptions of each of our investment pools, the latest monthly performance reports, FAQs, recent news and more. Monthly fund statements are generally produced around the 20th of each month and are published to the My DJCF portal for your review.
If you’d like to revisit your funds’ investment allocation, please contact Jerry Blair at [email protected].
2025 DJCF/SWCF Scholarship Reception
Thursday, May 29, 2025 | 7:00 PM
JCC – 7900 Northaven Rd., Dallas, TX 75230
Please join DJCF/SWCF for our 33rd Annual Scholarship Award Reception celebrating growth, educational achievements, and the impact of scholarship donors on aspiring leaders, inspired by the themes of generosity in Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. RSVP today via the link below.
Represent your alma mater by coming in their apparel!
