Jakobovits fund seeks donations, nominations

The UPJ, Progressive Judaism Victoria (PJV) and the Progressive Jewish Cultural Fund (PJCF) seek your support in raising funds for a perpetual scholarship in Penny Jakobovits’s memory.

Penny Jakobovits OAM z”l was president of the UPJ from 1998 to 2002, previously having been the Honorary Secretary and a very supportive member of the UPJ Executive from the early 1990s. Sadly Penny died last December after a very short illness and in her memory the Union for Progressive Judaism and Progressive Judaism Victoria will support a scholarship in her name to encourage and support young UPJ members to attend the UPJ Biennial conferences around our region. Penny was an inveterate volunteer serving Temple Beth Israel for many years, both on the TBI board and afterwards on numerous committees. She was also a treasured board member of the Council of Christians and Jews Victoria where her sensible and wise counsel was often sought. A strong supporter of Israel, Penny also served on the board of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and was a highly respected delegate at the many conferences she attended.

The Penny Jakobovits Scholarship Fund will provide financial assistance to applicants under 35 to attend UPJ conferences to encourage future leadership roles. If sufficient funds are raised, the scholarship will assist with registration, airfares and accommodation at UPJ Biennial conferences and WUPJ Connections Conferences.

Your donation to the Penny Jakobovits Scholarship Fund will be tax deductible through the Progressive Jewish Cultural Fund.

CLICK HERE to make your online donation; after filling in the donor information, select from the drop-down box “Penny Jakobovits Scholarship Fund – PJCF”.

• To make an online nomination, please use the form below.
• If you prefer to receive the donation or nomination form by email, please contact: jocelyn@upj.org.au
• If you would like your donation to mark a specific occasion (a friend’s birthday, anniversary, yahrzeit etc) please email Jocelyn Robuck (jocelyn@upj.org.au) and she will send a letter to the recipient.

With sincere appreciation for your support, Philip Bliss OAM and Dorothy Graff OAM, Penny Jakobovits Scholarship Fund Co-Chairs

INFORMATION ON NOMINATIONS: DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS 23 SEPTEMBER

Objective: To enable the learning and experience gained from attending the UPJ Biennial for a UPJ congregational or organisational member aged 35 and under. The nominee will show evidence of being a potential future leader in the Jewish community, demonstrated by evidence of community interest to date. Special attention will be given to an applicant who would find it difficult to meet the costs of attending a UPJ Biennial.

Application process: The application will be completed by the nominator after affirming the rabbi’s/president’s/spiritual leader’s recommendation and discussion with the applicant. A special feature of this scholarship is that the successful applicant is matched with a mentor who meets them before the UPJ Biennial to discuss the program and to help the person fit in from the beginning. The mentor is there at any time for the person during the Biennial to answer any questions they might have or discuss any points that stand out for the person and/or to introduce them to people who would be of interest to their development. The mentor would also be available after the Biennial to ensure transfer of their learning to their congregation/organisation.  After the Biennial, the successful applicant will make a presentation to the rabbi and president. Progress might be monitored for a year by the rabbi/president/spiritual leader/mentor at whatever interval suits the congregation or organisation. This concentrated form of development will clearly also help congregations and organisations themselves to grow with new ideas :being presented to them.

Nomination criteria

• The nominee is a member of a UPJ congregation or organisation.
• The nominee will be highly recommended by their rabbi/president/spiritual leader.
• The nominee is in the age range from post-Netzer to and including age 35.
• The nominee has demonstrated signs of leadership in volunteer roles in the Jewish and/or general community.
• The nominee has been active in Jewish life and/or religious practice and/or tikkun olam (social action).
• The nominee will commit to attending most, if not all, UPJ Biennial sessions, to be held on 7-10 November 2024 in Canberra.
• The nominee will, after the UPJ Biennial, provide their rabbi/president/spiritual leader a written report on how they intend using what they have learned in their home environment, and will consider making a presentation to the congregational board and/or members.