As some of you may know, I actually have two part time jobs.
I am very privileged to be a member of the JWCAtlanta team, and I am also part of the administrative cohort at a girls high school called Temima.
We just successfully concluded our annual fundraising effort.
In the euphoric moments after we reached our goal I had two interactions.
The first was with someone who thanked me for my efforts but immediately launched into an analysis of the average gift that was given. To his point, many of the gifts were small, and even though their were many small gifts and we did reach our goal, we needed to research this phenomenon and work on raising the size of each gift.
That conversation, while well meaning, left me depleted and strangely depressed.
Fortunately, there was another interaction amongst the team members who have been in the trenches together. This team of women and students, banded together to create energy and support.
When done, we all complimented one another, said job well done, and heaved a collective sigh of relief as we celebrated the amazing students who all pulled together and made our campaign a success.
That conversation left me elated, proud and grateful, with an emphasis on hope for the future - these young women will change the world.
This evening I also had an opportunity to hear from four women who shared their thoughts about Jewish philanthropy and legacy.
As matriarchs, they are keepers of the family wisdom, and by sharing their stories, they have the opportunity to nurture future generations.
Each of the four panelists, Raya Zalik, Etta Raye Hirsch, Cathy Selig and Candy Berman, shared their unique story of philanthropic endeavors. They focused on the lessons they learned from the past and the hopes of the impact they will leave on the future.
Tzedaka, charity or philanthropy, are clearly an important driver in their lives, and the desire to pass that passion their children, is the ultimate focus.

The holiday of Purim is almost upon us. This coming Saturday night and Sunday, we celebrate the reversal of the decree of annihilation that was directed at the Jewish people.
The story of Purim took place in the Persian empire in around 350 BCE. The King Achashverosh threw a lavish party to celebrate his success. In the midst of a drunken rage, he orders the Queen Vashti killed. When he sobers he realizes he is alone and begins a nationwide beauty pageant to find a new wife. Hadassah aka Esther, is brought against her will to the palace. She doesn’t reveal her Jewish identity. Despite her desire not to be the Queen, her beauty captivates the King and she is chosen. Her uncle Mordechai tries to watch over her from the palace gates. His refusal to bow to honor the King’s trusted advisor Haman provokes Haman to such a degree that he plots to kill the entire Jewish nation. With genocide looming, Mordechai requests that Esther plead the case of her people. When things could not look any bleaker, and destruction of the Jews is inevitable, there is a complete turnaround.
Mordechai who was destined for the gallows is feted, led through the crowd on the king’s horse, being heralded by Haman himself. The gallows that were erected to hang Mordechai, become Haman’s final destination, and the war against the Jews, the one that is meant to do them in, becomes a victory battleground for the Jews and many non Jews actually convert out of awe for the Jewish people.
It’s a complete turnabout.
The time that was meant to be full of mourning, becomes a time of joy and celebration.
Everything is upside down, in the best way possible.
May the Purim miracle of sorrow turning to joy, the turnabout and the upside downness of despair to joy, become our new reality.
Everything is quite upside down now.