Amit Magazine Summer 2006.qxd

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INTERVIEW QA & 14 You just made a generous gift through the Jewish Funders Network. How did you learn of this opportunity? I saw an ad in the Jewish Daily Forward which alerted me to a unique program matching gifts to Israel-related causes cosponsored by the Sacta Rashi Foundation and the Jewish Funders Network. We are grateful to the Sacta Rashi Foundation, the largest private funder of programs in Israel. They stepped up to match our gift – along with many, many others – dollar for dollar. I also wish to thank the Jewish Funders Network for the idea of a matching gift program to inspire younger givers to participate in a bigger way. Do you come from a family where philanthropy is a key value? Absolutely. Our parents have always taught us that it was critical to be generous with our time and resources and they led by example. How did it come about that you selected AMIT for your donation? My mother, Mona Solomon, was president of Margalit, our Kew Garden Hills QUESTIONS FOR… David Solomon Teaching Children To Fish AMIT chapter. Although I was only six or eight years old, I vividly recall her co-chairing the Queens Fresh Air Fund Luncheon. I even visited a local plant nursery with her to make sure every detail, such as the flowers, was just right to ensure a successful AMIT function. Even then I was impressed with her devotion to the organization. The funds will be used to provide tutoring and counseling at AMIT Kiryat Malachi Junior and Senior High School. Why was this of particular importance to you? Kiryat Malachi is one of the poorest towns in Israel. The tutoring and counseling provided by AMIT is one of the highest forms of tzedakah (charity) as it teaches our children to fish, rather than just providing them with sustenance. AMIT gives children from the poorest, most challenged homes, the opportunity to learn a profession or trade. This helps them to support themselves and their families, ultimately benefiting the communities in which they live, and Israel as a whole. The plaque that hangs in AMIT Frisch Beit Hayeled honors many of your family members, including those who perished in the Holocaust, z”l. How does it make you feel that you can honor their memory in this fashion? I can think of no greater tribute to our relatives who were murdered al kiddush Hashem (sanctifying God’s name) than to help underprivileged children, especially those from some of the toughest neighborhoods and difficult family circumstances. They will have a chance in artzeinu (our homeland) to grow and become productive members of Israeli society. You work in the fastpaced world of high finance. Does an act like this have an influence on your every day business dealings? Certainly. First, I work at a firm that is incredibly involved in the community. Secondly, getting involved in projects like this gives me perspective as to what life is truly about. In addition, I am able to utilize skills that I have honed in a professional context to help bring our community in Israel and the Diaspora to greater levels spiritually and economically. You are only 33 years old. Do you think more young people can add to the quality of their own lives by helping Israeli children in need? Absolutely. The only reason I agreed to do this interview is to show other young people that they are capable and indeed best positioned, to accomplish great things benefiting AMIT and other Israel related causes. AMIT welcomes with open arms the ingenuity, input, time and precious resources of young donors. Jewish organizations need young blood to take things to the AMIT <strong>Summer</strong> 2006 www.amitchildren.org
next stage. To all you young people out there: I cannot express what type of impact these commitments will have on your lives. I guarantee you will not regret it. There are many good causes out there. Why do you think the work of AMIT is so important? I believe in the aforementioned concept of “teaching children to fish,” which I think really is the bedrock of AMIT. There are many worthy causes deserving of support, particularly as Jewish poverty and the dire need for social services, compounded by the horror of terrorism, has gotten acutely worse in Israel over the last few years. AMIT is working on longterm solutions to these problems, utilizing education, training and counseling to give students the opportunity to earn a living to provide for their families without reliance on public aid. In my mind there is no comparison between giving someone a fish versus teaching them to fish for themselves. How does it resonate for you knowing that because of your generosity, children will receive the tutoring and counseling they might not otherwise have? There is no greater feeling in the world. Do you have children and do they know how you are helping those less fortunate? Miriam and I have a wonderful eight month old son named Menachem. God willing, we look forward to integrating Menachem into the communal work we are involved in. This is the chinuch (education) with which our parents – and our grandparents before them – have entrusted us. In addition, our parents have always given their unconditional love and moral support, and the Almighty has showered us with blessings. Do you plan to visit Kiryat Malachi to see the results your gift made possible? We absolutely plan to visit Kiryat Malachi in person to witness the dramatic, impactful work that AMIT does every single day in our holy land. —Nancy Kroll Margolis It feels better just to talk about it. After-School Programing That’s why we’re here. Our staff is made up of caring and sensitive individuals. Together, we can help you explore your options. We can refer you to recognized professionals for counseling, legal advice or help in finding a safe environment. We can also put you in touch with some very special Rabbis. But in order for us to reach out to you, you must first reach out to us. INTERVIEW There are AMIT schools where no afternoon programs exist, and schools where the programs need additional funding. Students attending an AMIT after-school program receive help in academic subjects with which they are having difficulty. Others have an opportunity to use computers since they do not have them at home. Some receive their only hot meal of the day. All of these children are given a safe place to spend three to four hours after the school day ends. The tutoring they receive helps them to pass their matriculation exams, which opens the door to success in Israeli society. If you are interested in learning more about after-school tutoring or counseling, please contact our Development Department at 212-477-4720, 1-800-989-AMIT, or visit our website at www.amitchildren.org. Confidential Hotline (Toll Free) 888.883.2323 (NYC Area) 718.337.3700 Do it for yourself. Do it for your children. Shalom Task Force is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. POB 137, Bowling Green Station, NY, NY 10274 uWxa, .he ,Whnt 15
Page 1 and 2: Summer 2006 | Kayitz 5766 | Vol. LX
Page 3 and 4: HONORARY ADVISORY BOARD* David Berg
Page 5 and 6: When we think of AMIT, what comes t
Page 7 and 8: “Knowledge has power. It controls
Page 9 and 10: cate, and most of these did so with
Page 11 and 12: The Journey of Professor Jacob Klei
Page 13: Assyriology, Klein now had to find
Page 17 and 18: “Mediation is not just a way to f
Page 19 and 20: Signs of Intelligent Life in the Un
Page 21 and 22: Science Prodigy Tenth Grader Doron
Page 23 and 24: Affair,” by Nidra Poller (Comment
Page 25 and 26: Looseleaf Anna Olswanger, a Life Me
Page 27 and 28: A Different Mind Set The lessons fr
Page 29 and 30: THE 80 th ANNIVERSARY YEAR: WE’VE
Page 31 and 32: DevelopmentNews After School Progra
Page 33 and 34: Hands, Heads and Hearts Photos by D
Page 35 and 36: Davids’s Playground: The Gift of
Page 37 and 38: Queens, NY: AMIT members in the Tri
Page 39 and 40: $100,000+ Ellen and Meyer Koplow

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