The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund is sponsored by Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ (JCFNJ). This fund provides grants for educational institutions in Israel to offer scholarships to Israeli women in need.

Alisa Fund - The Jewish Community Foundation Of Greater MetroWest NJ (JCFNJ) The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund Official Site of the Alisa Fund since 2024 Providing scholarships for women to study in Israel The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to encourage young women to enroll in programs of study in Israel.

The fund is dedicated to the memory of Alisa Flatow z”l , a 20-year-old woman who was learning in Israel before she was murdered in a terrorist attack in April 1995. The Fund provided financial awards to over 150 students between 2001-2016. The fund is able to provide scholarships and grants in 2024 and beyond thanks to a generous legacy gift from Edith J.

Lowen z"l , in honor of Pearl P. Stein z"l . Edith was a woman of independent spirit and means who wanted women to have access to an array of educational opportunities.

The fund provides two types of awards: Scholarships for women residing or attending school in Greater MetroWest New Jersey to pursue the study of traditional Jewish texts in a full-year program located in Israel. Learn more Grants for educational institutions in Israel to provide scholarships to Israeli women in need. Learn more Alisa Flatow died on April 10, 1995 as the result of a terrorist attack in Israel.

Alisa had taken a semester off from Brandeis to study at Nishmat in Jerusalem. A few days before the Passover holiday, Alisa traveled to a resort in Gush Katif because, as she told her father, "I want to get a few days in the sun." While on the public bus, a suicide bomber drove his van loaded with explosives into the vehicle.

During Alisa's early years, the Flatows belonged to a synagogue and observed some traditions, but they did not immerse themselves significantly in Jewish life. At just under five years old, Alisa announced to her parents that she would not be attending the local public school but, instead, would be going to a local day school.

From that moment on, Alisa was the driving force for Yiddishkeit, Torah observance, and spirituality in her family. Alisa loved the State of Israel. She made her first trip at the age of eleven and fell in love with the country and its people over the ensuing five visits.

Alisa's legacy did not end with the terrorist’s bomb. By establishing the Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund in their daughter’s memory, Stephen and Roslyn Flatow have encouraged students to pursue transformational Israel experiences, thereby sharing in Alisa’s excitement at living in Israel and in her passion for Torah learning. We welcomed Alisa’s perception and her sense of humor...

She was endlessly patient and amusing, encouraging and yet seriously conscientious. — A friend at Nishmat Grants for Educational Institutions [click here] Three or more grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded annually to educational institutions in Israel. The grants must be used to provide scholarships to Israeli women in need.

The institutions may be religious or secular, academic or vocational, and may offer degrees or certificates of completion. Grants will be competitive and will require submission of a proposal.

Applications opened mid-July 2025 Proposals due by November 4, 2025 Download a List of Prior Grantees Scholarships for Young Women of Greater MetroWest Three or more scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded to young women residing or attending school in the Greater MetroWest catchment area (Essex, Morris, Sussex, Union and parts of Somerset counties) who intend to study full-time at a post-high school or post-college institution in Israel at a program dedicated to traditional Jewish studies.

Please note the following additional requirements: Awards will be made for the first year of study only. Programs that combine secular and religious study, or religious study and work/internship will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Acceptance to a program is not required in order to apply.

The institution must have a 501(C)3 tax exempt status and must have an American affiliate mailing address. Scholarships are competitive and will be awarded to female students who demonstrate that traditional Jewish study will make a difference in the trajectory of their lives. In the application, the applicant should articulate how intensive learning will impact on her connection to Judaism, the land of Israel and the people of Israel.

Each applicant must submit an application with essays* and two letters of recommendation. Applications due by February 23, 2026 Reference letters due by March 13, 2026 Applicants will be notified of decisions in early summer 2026 Which person or event has most influenced your Jewish development? How does the existence of the modern State of Israel and the ability of the Jewish people to freely return there impact you?

Torat Chesed is exactly what Alisa embodied... she learned with such an attitude of kindness and consideration for those around her. — A friend at Nishmat The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund is administered through the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey.

For more information, contact Pam Greenwood, Fund Coordinator, at pgreenwood@jfedgmw. org or (973) 929-3005. Donate to a JCF Fund or Program Register for Online Access 901 Route 10, P.

O. Box 929, Whippany, NJ 07981-0929 (973) 929-3113 | (973) 947-7567 (fax) Jean Mandell helps clients achieve their financial goals as a Financial Advisor. Prior to joining Stephanie Sherman and Associates in 2009, Jean was a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, Vice President of Investment Services at Krasney Financial, LLC and Vice President at Lynch, Jones and Ryan.

She is a member of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Society New York, the CFA Institute and the Financial Planning Association. She is a founding member of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Community Foundation, the Mack Ness Fund, Women’s Philanthropy and the HealthCare Foundation of New Jersey.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Rutgers College and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from the Stern School of Business at New York University. She holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, Series 7 and 66 registrations, as well as Life and Health Insurance Licenses.

David is a Senior Advisor, having been a principal of Tetragon’s investment manager and a member of its Investment and Risk Committees until December 2019. He joined Tetragon upon its formation in May 2005. David was previously a managing director and head of European and Asian Hedge Company Client Management for the Fixed Income, Rates and Currency (FIRC) division at UBS AG in London.

He chaired FIRC’s Global Hedge Fund Committee, was co-chairman of the European Distribution Committee and a member of the European Management Committee. Prior to these positions, David was European co-head of UBS’s Banks/Insurance Credit Fixed Income Sales and global head of Short Duration Sales, responsible for the distribution of financing, money market and short-term fixed income products.

Previously, he served as global head of Fixed Income Collateral Trading/Financing in London, global head of Money Markets and Repurchase Transactions in New York and was treasurer and head of trading for UBS (Canada) in Toronto. Prior to joining UBS, he was head of Short Date Derivatives for Midland Montagu. David holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Vermont.

He is based in New York. Mindy Kirshner – “The Power of Community” Our Jewish Federation and community have been there to support Mindy Kirshner and her family for her entire adult life. “I purposely wanted to raise my children in a vibrant, multi-layered, multi-faceted community,” explains Mindy.

Our strong Jewish community suited Mindy specifically because of the infrastructure already in place to support a growing family such as hers. As life continued, Mindy found that she turned more and more to the Jewish Federation for support during difficult times. “I had no idea I would come to need this community as much as I have,” stresses Mindy.

“You never plan for these things. But they happen. ” And Federation stepped up with support every time.

When her two-year-old son was newly diagnosed with a speech-delay disability, Mindy agonized about how he would know that he was a Jew. A unique camp program at the MetroWest JCC for children with special needs assuaged her fears. As she watched her son learn the hand motions for Bim-Bam through the viewing window at camp, Mindy had an epiphany.

“For the rest of my life,” she realized at the time, “I knew that I would always support our community because they supported me when I needed them most. ” After Hurricane Sandy, our Federation found out that Mindy’s sister lost her home in the newly adopted community of Union Beach. Stacey Brown called Mindy right away to find out ways in which they could help.

Volunteers checked in on Mindy’s sister and arranged for the correct professional help to support her in rebuilding from the storm’s damage. Upon needing to relocate her elderly father to Greater MetroWest, Mindy’s family chose Federation housing for him because it offered the Jewish lifestyle that was most familiar.

When he needed special medical accommodations after suffering an accident, the Board of Directors at Daughters of Israel gave special dispensation to allow Mindy’s father to stay there indefinitely. “With the enablement of our community, I was able to do right by him,” states Mindy. Without the help of Federation over the years, Mindy may not have been able to give the care to her family that they needed.

“We are not wealthy,” Mindy says, “but we are not what you envision what a person in need would be. But you do not know when you need the organized efforts of a community. There are certain situations that, without the existence of organized community, you would not be able to solve an issue.

” With all her gratitude for the past support from Federation Mindy did not hesitate when asked to be a part of the New Century Fund. “It is a concept whose time has come! ” says Mindy.

She feels strongly that only Jews take care of Jews. In order to have an even greater financial impact, Mindy decided to create a “living legacy” of a cash gift now. As living proof of our Federation’s care for a family in need, Mindy knows that securing that care for the future is the right thing to do.

“I have always believed in community. I feel strongly in supporting the Jewish community. ” Modeling a Commitment to Philanthropy Modeling a Commitment to Philanthropy Two weeks before Carol I.

Cohen was to be married, she manned the phones at her local JCC, making calls to raise money for the United Jewish Appeal in order to support Israel during the 1967 Six Day War. “I also made my first gift then,” she recalls. “It would have been a very small amount at that time, but I was committed to giving whatever I could to support Israel and the Jewish community.

” It actually started even before then, as a girl growing up in Jersey City and being very active at her local JCC. She and her former husband eventually ended up in Westfield where she was a social worker, raised two sons, returned to school to study law, and eventually served as a Union County Freeholder, County Counsel, and Administrative Law Judge.

Throughout it all, Carol’s commitment to her Jewish community and the institutions she loves has been unwavering. She was one of the founding members of the JCC of Central NJ (originally in Westfield). She’s been a member of Temple Emanu-El for more than 50 years, serving on the board and “chairing almost every committee at one time.

” Her sons attended Solomon Schechter Day School and she contributes to Jewish Family Service of Central NJ. “I donate to a number of causes,” Carol said, “but I feel most strongly that we, as a Jewish people, have an obligation to support the Jewish community. And even after I’m gone, I want people to know how much I care, how committed I am to the Jewish state and the Jewish people.

” For that reason, Carol made a provision for Federation in her will many years ago. “It was a done deal long before they even came up with legacy giving. ” It wasn’t until Carol received a letter from the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) a few years ago asking Ner Tamid Society members to consider endowing their long-term gift-giving, that she reached out to JCF to let them know of her plans.

“I know many people want to leave their money to their family, but I think there’s something much more important I can leave my children and grandchildren. I want to leave them with the knowledge of how strongly I felt about my commitment to my Jewish community. ” What's Your Stradivarius?

What’s Your Stradivarius? Marty Barber was an accountant by trade. He is also a long-time community leader and fundraiser.

Serving as president of JCF, treasurer of Federation, vice president of Daughters of Israel, and president of Temple Beth Shalom, he has taken great pride in advising people on how to “do very good things with their money. ” Marty made his first gift to the UJA Annual Campaign in 1959, shortly after he was married, in the amount of $25. “That was a lot of money at the time,” he notes.

He has given every year since then, making him a Ner Tamid Society member of 61 years! In 1970 he drastically upped his gift to $500, to the dismay of his wife, Ruth z”l, who would have preferred to spend those funds on a new sofa for the living room. He did find the money to partly furnish the living room AND continued increasing his gifts to the UJA.

Several years later, he brought the entire family on a Federation mission to Israel. “From that point on, Ruth was sold too,” he said, and the two made giving to Israel – and to the Jewish community as a whole – a priority. “I recognize that everyone needs to do philanthropy in their own way,” Marty said.

Many people worry that if they give, they won’t have enough to live on in retirement and won’t have anything to leave to their children and grandchildren. “I advise them that legacy giving has a major advantage in this way. ” “I once attended a UJA fundraising training and heard a story about a donor who, while he had little disposable cash, owned a Stradivarius violin!

” he recounted. “If he had sold it or left it to his children, he would have paid more than half the value in taxes. Instead, he donated the Stradivarius to Federation and was able to receive a sizeable tax deduction and create an income stream for life!

” Of course, not everyone has a masterfully-built antique violin in their possession, but many people have something of value that they can gift through a bequest when they’re gone to perpetuate their giving. “I understand how important legacy gifts are to the Campaign, and ultimately, to the Jewish people in New Jersey, in Israel, and all around the world,” Marty said.

“We must step up to take care of one another – we can’t expect anyone else to do it for us. ” At the age of 83, Marty has much to be proud of. He just made his second bar mitzvah, in Florida, with his whole family in attendance.

He’s instilled in his family an understanding of the importance of giving. He’s lived the epitome of a good life – based on Jewish values. James Shrager, President, Jewish Federation of Central NJ, 1987-1989 From Generation to Generation James Shrager grew up watching his parents enthusiastically build Jewish organizations in and around Plainfield, NJ.

With his formative years at the feet of his parents’ dedication to Temple Beth El, the Jewish Community Center of Plainfield and the Plainfield Hebrew Institute, Jim naturally followed in their footsteps. Jim took that dedication to heart when he and his wife, Bonnie, moved their family back to his hometown and quickly connected with the Jewish community, joining Federation’s Young Leadership Program in the 70’s.

“It was a terrific program, 12 couples, and then we went to Israel for two weeks. That cemented everything. ” Jim joined the board of his childhood temple and the Plainfield JCC.

He later served as president of his temple, of the JCC, and of the Jewish Association of Centers and Ys (JACY). He became president of the Jewish Federation of Central NJ in 1987. Later, in 2021, the Central Federation merged with the then MetroWest Federation to become today’s Federation of Great MetroWest NJ.

When Jim was asked to consider legacy plans at the inception of the New Century Fund , he had already set up, what he calls his charitable IRA. “I guess I was ahead of the legacy campaign because then the phone calls came in and asked if I would be willing to consider it and I said sure because I already had. ” As Jim spent his life in dedication to the Jewish community, he knew he wanted to ensure that the work could continue.

He understood that he and his family were able to benefit from the Jewish organizations in their community because generosity of past community members. Jim wanted to ensure that generations to come would similarly benefit from the organizations in the Jewish community.

“[W]hat inspired me to do it is appreciation for the fact that the past is what made my use of these institutions possible, and it was my obligation, duty, to do that for the future. ” Today, Jim remains engaged with Federation, serving on the boards of the Mack Ness Foundation, the Jewish Historical Society of NJ, and the Hebrew Free Loan Society. He is also a volunteer with the New Century Fund .

Federation has “done a terrific job and it bodes well for the future. Fundraising is strong, and we have reason to be optimistic for the future of Federation,” said Jim. “My hope is that we would stay true to our mission and 100 years from now we would still be here helping other Jews.

” Jerry Grunt often contemplates the impact of Judaism on his life. As a Conservative Jew comfortable with his Judaism, charitable giving is part and parcel of his nature: a sacred act that one should do without being asked. “I like what my people and my religion stand for,” he said.

“It was something that I was brought up with. My parents… believed in tzedakah at multiple levels… When it became my responsibility to carry on as a young adult I just did it. ” When Jerry was first solicited by a member of his synagogue, the person told him “ tzedakah is something one should give until it feels good.

” This mantra has stuck with Jerry for his entire adult life, evident as he and his wife, Barbara, have been consistently giving to the Jewish Federation for almost 60 years. They have managed their tzedakah through their Jewish Community Foundation Donor Advised Fund for over 20 years, making a legacy bequest in their will to Federation even earlier than that. “It is who we are,” Jerry said.

“It was something we did without being asked to do. To me that is the better part of tzedakah . ” While Jerry has maintained his commitment to the Jewish people with his unfailing annual UJA gift, he can thank daughter, Deborah Lubetkin, and his grandson, Josh, for his more recent understanding of Federation’s far-reaching arms.

Through his daughter’s involvement in Yoga Living Bridges in Ofakim, Israel, Jerry learned of the work that our Federation was doing with partner agencies there. When it came time for his grandson to become Bar Mitzvah, the family chose to celebrate in Ofakim, in part because of the connection that Deborah made through her experience.

Resulting from this Federation-Israel relationship and experience, Josh chose to raise money to build a new school soccer field in Ofakim as his mitzvah project. To Jerry, the dedication of the soccer field, including a plaque with Josh’s name, was one of the “most moving experiences” he had ever experienced.

Together, Josh and his mother form the living bridge that inspired Jerry to become more involved with Federation, attending more events and eventually becoming part of the New Century Fund Leadership Team. It was serendipitous when, recruiting volunteers, they were one of the first couples to be asked to be part of the New Century Fund (NCF).

The world was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and the couple was ready to give even more to charitable organizations. They took this opportunity through NCF to reaffirm their legacy commitment to Federation by formalizing the bequest in their will to ensure that the sacred act of tzedakah would continue in perpetuity.

Even though this was a new gift in the eyes of Federation, Jerry and Barbara’s gift was already committed in their hearts. “ Tzedakah is the right thing to do,” Jerry said. “ Tzedakah is as much a part of our culture as any part of my Jewishness.

” “The Jewish Future Pledge embodies the spirit of Rabbi Hillel’s quotation: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?

” As Jews, it is our obligation to strengthen Jewish communal life for future generations. It is also our obligation to carry on the Jewish commitment to tikkun olam and bolster Jewish efforts to create a better world for all.

By signing the Jewish Future Pledge, we hope to cultivate meaningful Jewish life that offers spiritual fulfillment, intellectual enrichment, and social connectivity, and to deepen the Jewish community’s capacity to live out its values. ” Robert G. Kuchner, CPA, PFS, is a Retired Partner from Marks Paneth LLP- effective January 2020.

He was a partner in its Business Management and Family Office services group. Prior to merging with Marks Paneth LLP, he was the Managing Partner of Rosenberg, Neuwirth & Kuchner, CPAs, P. C.

, a Manhattan-based accounting firm that he founded in 1990. Prior to forming Rosenberg, Neuwirth & Kuchner, he was employed at a Big Four accounting firm where he served as the director of small business services for its middle market services group He has been involved in many initial public offerings, leveraged buyouts and acquisition transactions as well as numerous consulting engagements.

He also participated in a one-year rotation as a member of the professional standards review group, which was responsible for that firm’s quality control. Mr. Kuchner has been awarded the personal financial specialist (PFS) designation by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).

He is a member of The All-Star Financial Group a national association of CPAs who specialize in financial and tax planning for clients with high-net-worth and/or unique circumstances. He attended Hofstra University and received his bachelor’s degree in public accounting. He is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, NYSS CPAs and NJSS CPAs.

He is a member of the Federation Board of trustees, Audit Committee, Jewish Community Foundation board of Trustees and Investment committee. Bob is also a Past President of the Jewish Community Foundation, Past Israel/Overseas Chair, Past Federation President- Jewish Federation of Central NJ. He is a member of the Jewish Agency for Israel budget and Finance committee and serves as Chairman of their Audit committee.

He is also Chair of the JFNA audit Committee, and past assistant treasurer, and ast member of the executive committee and continues to serve as a member of the budget and finance committee. Bob has now also taken on the role as Rutgers Hillel president. Jed Nussbaum is the founder and managing partner of Nut Tree Capital, an investment advisory firm he formed in June 2015.

Nut Tree Capital invests primarily in distressed and stressed corporate credit and special situation equities, with a focus on mid-sized companies. Prior to founding Nut Tree, Mr. Nussbaum was a partner at Redwood Capital, which he joined in 2003. At Redwood, Mr. Nussbaum acted as a deputy portfolio manager, covered a wide range of industries as a research analyst and was active in hiring and developing Redwood’s analyst team.

Prior to joining Redwood, he worked in the mezzanine debt group at Whitney & Co. (1999-2001) and in the High Yield Finance department at Chase Securities Inc. Mr. Nussbaum holds an M. B.

A. from Harvard Business School and a B. A.

magna cum laude from Tufts University. Ariel Nelson works for Geller & Company, which provides custom strategic financial advisory and wealth management solutions for businesses, individuals, families, and not-for-profit organizations. He serves as a divisional CFO for Bloomberg, LP.

Ariel and his family are members of the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston, where he has served as a board me mber and treasurer. He chaired the Kushner Academy’s Day School Affordability Committee and was a member of Livingston’s Vision 20/20 (long-range planning) and Citizens’ Budget Advisory Committees.

For the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, he served as a member of the Young Leadership Council, Arthur Borinsky Young Leadership Program, and Wexner Heritage Program. He received the Julius and Bessie Cohn Young Leadership Award. “No matter what happens to any of us, the synagogue is a constant.

” Shai Kartus has always had a special relationship to her Judaism and her synagogue, Congregation Agudath Israel in Caldwell. “I was always more connected than almost any of my peers,” she said. “I always loved going to my synagogue.

When my mom became president, it was a really big deal for my family. I was super inspired. ” Shai, now 26, became president of her USY chapter, where she met her best friends and her first boyfriend.

“It gave me my own experience of leadership apart from my parents and jumpstarted my passion for being involved in the Jewish community. ” At Binghamton University, Shai got involved with Jewish community service projects on campus through Hillel and Chabad. And when she graduated, she chose to make Jewish communal work her profession—she started her first job, at UJA-Federation of New York, the day after graduation.

And on her first day at work, she did something that surprised everyone, even her parents. “She came home from work and said, ‘I want to leave a legacy gift to Agudath Israel. I can put them as beneficiary on my insurance policy,’” Shai’s mother Esther Kartus reported.

“She had all the paperwork. My husband and I were blown away. ” Agudath Israel is one of 23 local organizations participating in Greater MetroWest’s Create a Jewish Legacy program, a community-wide partnership that helps Jewish organizations approach their donors for legacy gifts in order to ensure that their valuable work can continue far into the future.

“I hadn’t thought about speaking to Shai or my sons about a legacy gift yet—it wouldn’t have occurred to me,” Esther added. She and her husband had made their own legacy gift to Agudath Israel from their IRAs and are planning to add an additional legacy when they redo their wills. Jewish communal involvement is Shai’s family legacy—and Esther’s as well.

“Growing up, I can’t remember a time my mother wasn’t at the shul, cooking,” Esther recalled. Her mother was a past president of her synagogue’s Sisterhood and an incredible role model for volunteering, as were all of Esther’s aunts, who lived in the same town and participated in activities like cooking for seniors in the local nursing home. When Esther married and moved to Caldwell, it was natural for her to start volunteering.

And the fact that the Kartuses found Congregation Agudath Israel so warm and welcoming made it easy for them to feel a part of the community. Twenty-eight years later, after raising three children there, Esther said she still feels the same—and hears that sentiment from newcomers and long-time members alike. All three Kartus children went through nursery school and Hebrew school at Agudath Israel.

“I grew up knowing this was important,” Shai said. “I knew about Legacy Circle because my mom helped to start it after her term as president. I knew the ins and outs of what it meant to leave a legacy gift.

So that’s why it struck me right away. ” The Agudath Israel development director helped Shai accomplish her goal of creating a legacy through her life insurance policy. For Shai’s parents, it was an incredible moment.

“You want to be a role model for your children, want them to be connected to Jewish community, and you hope they’re paying attention. ” Shai still works at UJA, where she oversees a variety of leadership development and content programs, including a Third-Generation Holocaust Survivors & Supporters group. She hasn’t changed her mind and her passion hasn’t diminished.

In fact, she’s working on sharing her enthusiasm with others. “I hope it inspires other people,” she said. She has taken part in Congregation Agudath Israel’s organized Legacy Shabbats, with hopes to present the Create a Jewish Legacy program to her peers.

“It’s a philanthropic opportunity anyone can participate in, a fundraiser everyone can be involved in, because you don’t have to give money now, you can leave a legacy gift,” Shai said. “Through a legacy gift, members who might only be able to give a small amount each year can give back to the community they love so much, in a more meaningful, lasting way.

“The synagogue is the place where I was always most comfortable and always felt at home—my favorite place to be. I want to make sure that people can always feel that way at Agudath because it’s always meant so much to me. No matter what happens to any of us, the synagogue is a constant, and it’s up to our community to make sure it stays that way for generations to come.

” Aaron Weitman is the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of CastleKnight Management LP, a hedge fund management company he founded in 2020.