Shared by David Schechter, JF&CS Board President

How did you first get involved with JF&CS?

My longtime neighbor and friend, former JF&CS Board President Alan Dana, brought Gail, my wife, and me to our first Benefit. I was moved by the video shown that night relating how the agency had helped a newly-settled, rather elderly Jewish man make friends in the community and create a new life here for himself.

What are you most looking forward to in your time as JF&CS Board President?

Working with the management staff and the members of the Board to expand the agency's connections to other organizations in our community. We will enhance and celebrate our existing collaborations and create new ones as well.

Share with us your favorite JF&CS memory.

Attending the tenth anniversary dinner of Hakalah, a program begun by JF&CS and Holocaust survivors to help other Holocaust survivors. Dr. Bob Berger shared the parable of the spoons, a story that explains the difference between heaven and hell by the way the people in each eat with a long spoon. In hell, people are unable to eat because they cannot bring the long spoons to reach their own mouth. In heaven, people feed one another from each other's long spoons. I think this parable perfectly captures the philosophy behind the endeavor of Hakalah: take care of and be kind to one another.

What is the best advice you've ever been given?

The only meaning in life is the one we create ourselves. Doing for others is, in the end, the only way to create that meaningfulness

Recommend a book.

I would recommend Atul Gawande's book, Being Mortal.