Event, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Western Mass, set for June 5.
Philanthropist Diane Troderman is one of the participants in "13 Extraordinary Women Share Their Secrets" on June 5 in Holyoke.
Anyone taking notes at the event called “13 Extraordinary Women Share Their Secrets” might want to bring a recorder. The program features a diverse group of area women summing up “formulas for success in their personal, professional and Jewish lives” in a three-minute format.
“We have so many amazing women in our community, and we wanted to showcase and honor them and inspire other women to reach higher levels in their work, volunteering and community,” said Deborah Peskin, communications director for the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, whose women’s philanthropy is sponsor of the event on June 5 at 7 p.m. at Mill 1 at Open Square, 4 Open Square Way, Holyoke. Cost is $20, plus a pledge of any amount to the federation’s 2013 campaign.
The women come from throughout the Pioneer Valley and range in age from late 20s to sixties. Their professions are also wide ranging, and Amherst resident Cynthia F. Gensheimer is among those who will share hers of being an economist as well as an independent scholar studying the social services contributions of Jewish women.
Gensheimer, who holds a doctorate in economics and who worked at the Congressional Budget Office in D.C., said it is important in life to be flexible, to be able to apply skills acquired in one setting to another area and to enjoy what one is doing. She also said supportive family and friends are key.
Her study of Jewish women’s benevolent work in the United States in the 19th century focuses on the period from the Civil War to about 1900.
At that time, throughout the United States Jewish women banded together to form societies to support one another, their synagogues and needy people in their communities.
“Government was playing a limited role so religious groups tended to help one another when necessary,” she said, noting that orphans were often cared for in Catholic, Protestant or Jewish orphanages.
Jewish women, in their societies, promised to help one another if they got sick, and they had visiting committees to tend to the sick and to sit at the bedside of the dying, she said.
“What gets me excited about this time period is their sense of enthusiasm for their work and the degree to which they created community,” Gensheimer said.
Because social services have since been professionalized and government has taken more of a role in social services, “a distance between people receiving assistance and those providing assistance” has been created, she said, adding that there is an increasing trend to personalize or create connections between donors and the individuals they help.
Besides, Gensheimer, the other participants are:
Amy Dane of Longmeadow, global photographer, lecturer and travel agent
Dalia Davis of Longmeadow, Jewish educator, dancer and choreographer, founder of Beit Midrash in Motion;
Susan Weiss Firestone of Longmeadow, president of Plastic Packaging Corp., local and national Jewish community volunteer
Betsy Gaberman of Longmeadow, community activist/volunteer
Susan Jaye-Kaplan of East Longmeadow, co-founder of Link to Libraries Inc.
Esther Kosofsky of Longmeadow, Jewish education
Lynne Krushell of Longmeadow, foster mom
Joy Ladin of Hadley, teacher, writer and first openly transgender employee of an orthodox Jewish institution
Catherine Portuges of Amherst, director of the film studies program as well as professor of comparative literature at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst
Emily Rosenfeld of Florence, designer of jewelry and Judaica
Laraine Shore-Suslowitz of Longmeadow, psychotherapist, licensed Phoenix Rising yoga therapist, and vice president of the Pioneer Valley Project
Diane Troderman of Longmeadow, philanthropist
The event features a kosher dessert buffet. Seating is limited. R.S.V.P. by sending in a check for $20 per person, along with a pledge to the 2013 Federation Annual Campaign if one hasn’t already been made.
For more information about this event, contact Peskin at (413) 737-4313, ext. 121, or dpeskin@jewishwesternmass.org
Carpools are available; contact Michelle Everett at (413) 737-4313, ext. 137, or meverett@jewishwesternmass.org for more information about transportation.