My Last Liptalk

It is hard to believe that this is my last Liptalk column and I will officially retire at the end of the year. For almost 40 years, I have had the honor and pleasure to work with, and get to know, so many wonderful and caring volunteers, community members, and dedicated professionals who help fund and provide the excellent services and programs that serve both the Jewish community and community at large. Youngstown will forever be known as “the best small Jewish community in North America.” I am thankful for the opportunity to have been part of this incredible community for almost my entire professional career and I would not have wanted it any other way. I have many relationships and friendships that will not end when Hilari and I officially move to Columbus at the end of the year. We plan on visiting Youngstown often.

There are far too many people to thank for their support since I arrived in Youngstown as a 26 year old skinny young man with a mustache and afro, but I wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for Sam Kooperman, of blessed memory. Sam hired me to be the JCRC director and women’s division director in 1985. I have had many mentors over the years, both lay leaders and professionals, and I am grateful for their encouragement and advice along my professional journey.

I would be remiss if I didn’t state how humbling it was to see so many community members come out for my retirement bash on October 14. I thank those volunteers and professionals who worked hard to make the event so meaningful to me and my family. 

I also want to thank the Federation for establishing the Andrew L. Lipkin Tikkun Olam Fund, which provides up to $1,000 to local non-profit organizations engaged in initiatives to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate. One more person I want to acknowledge is Lisa Long, who coordinated the entire retirement event and has worked side by side with me for the past six and a half years. Our community will be in great hands when Lisa takes over as your CEO on January 1.

The following is my remarks from the October 14 event. I thank you all for your support over the years. At the end of the year you can contact me at my new email address: allipkin12@gmail.com.

       “I can’t tell you how touched I am to see so many people here tonight, and for those who have travelled a long distance to be here, and to those joining us on Zoom. To be clear, I don’t officially retire until December 31 at 11:59 p.m. and 59 seconds. That’s 78 days from now, so I haven’t cleaned out my desk just yet. A special thank you to those who have contributed in my honor to the Andrew L. Lipkin Tikkun Olam Fund which provides up to $1,000 to local non-profit organizations engaged in initiatives to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate. A special welcome to my immediate family: my wife Hilari, my son Sean, my daughter Rachel, my son-in-law Scott, and my two adorable grandchildren Milo and Griffin. Also, I am so pleased that my sister Beth and brother-in-law Andrew are here from Harrisburg.

       First things first, a happy and healthy new year to everyone. As we welcomed in the Jewish new year 5785 just 12 days ago, we look back on a year filled with heartbreak and grief. Just a week ago, we marked the one-year anniversary of October 7, a year marred by a devasting war and loss of life, with 101 hostages still being held in Gaza, and how many of them are alive is uncertain. Hezbollah rocket attacks, which immediately followed the October 7 attack, continue to fall from Lebanon and rain down daily on our brothers and sisters in the north, which comprises our partnership region. And to make the situation even more complicated, Iran on October 1 fired more than 180 ballistic missiles indiscriminately at Israel’s civilian population centers. We pray in this new year for the release of the remaining hostages and a real and lasting peace in Israel.

       If anyone wondered how I became involved with Federation, as well as Rachel in Columbus and my sister Beth in Harrisburg and my late brother Jeff (who worked for a number of Jewish organizations), this all started from our parents. Almost every evening after dinner our parents were out volunteering in the Jewish community, whether it was temple, brotherhood, sisterhood, Jewish War Veterans, Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary or any number of other organizations. In fact, my father and Hilari’s dad were both commanders at the same JWV chapter, and who would have thought years later that we would all be family, when Hilari and I married in 1983. Our brother Jeff also had a huge influence on both Beth and me, not only following him to college at SUNY Buffalo. He inspired us to make the Jewish non-profit field our chosen profession. In fact, Jeff interviewed in 1985 for the campaign director’s position in Youngstown, but after returning from his interview, he mentioned to me a JCRC/women’s division opening here. Hilari and I had recently discussed moving out of the New York metropolitan area, which led me to call Sam Kooperman, of blessed memory, and a short time later I interviewed in Youngstown in September 1985. Sam offered me the job during my interview process, and I accepted the position after returning to Long Island and talking with Hilari. I started working for Federation on November 18, 1985, Lisa Long’s, our next CEO’s, seventh birthday. Some of you will remember my first weekend in Youngstown when we celebrated the Federation’s 50^th anniversary with a Saturday night dinner and musical performance at SCCC, and the annual meeting with over 250 people on Sunday in this exact room, the Multi-Purpose Room. Thirty nine years ago, I knew not one person, today, there are very few Jewish events that I don’t know everyone in attendance.

       Before I continue, a few thank yous. Thank you to everyone who had a big or small part in planning this evening, our three event chairs, Samie Winick, Alice Franklin, and Nancy Burnett. What can I say, other than thank you ladies, you are all super women. Next, thank you to our Federation president Mark Huberman, Federation president-elect Michael Barr, Hannah Anderson, who designed the invitation for this event and recently had her third child, Harvey Abraham Anderson. Also, thank you to Talia Hagler for producing the wonderful video, and for those people who took time to participate with a special message for me. And last but certainly not least, thank you to our staff who helped plan this event, including Summer and Bobbi (and their crew in the kitchen), Nic Bush, Ashley Hunter, Bonnie Burdman, Elise Skolnick (and the entire marketing team), Nancy Sentelik, and others who I’m sure I may have missed. All of this was led by Lisa Long, your next CEO. 

       At this time, I would like for everyone to stand up and look to your right and to your left and say, “I made a difference.” In my professional career at Federation, each and every one of you made a difference in my life, and in turn our shared community. You may be seated.

       Since 1985, I have had the honor and privilege to work alongside many of you to build on a strong foundation that began in 1935 on Bryson Street in Youngstown. We have had many superb professionals working for Federation going back to our formation almost 90 year ago, who were led by Stanley Engel and Sam Kooperman, both of blessed memory. Even though Stanley passed before I arrived in Youngstown, I think I knew him pretty well because of the stories I’ve heard, and I think I knew him better than some people who actually met him. In addition to Stanley and Sam, I had the pleasure of working with some wonderful individuals as presidents of the Federation since I started as CEO in 2015, from Bruce Lev to Alan Kretzer to Rick Marlin to Suzyn Schwebel Epstein to Mark Huberman. One name is missing from this list, Neil Schor, who was elected president last year but never served. He passed one year ago. Neil was not only a fantastic lawyer, lay leader, and sports fanatic (like me), but a true friend.

       Time to talk about what I have called the “best small Jewish community in North America,” a phrase coined by past Federation president, Bruce Sherman. You all have probably heard me say a million times, no Jewish community with approximately 1,100 men, women, children, cats, and dogs has what we have: a 63,000 square foot JCC; Heritage Manor, a Jewish nursing home, with private rooms for all of our 72 residents (with a new rehab wing); Levy Gardens, a beautiful and thriving assisted living facility, one of the best family senior agencies in the state; Jewish Family & Community Services, where our senior outreach program has helped more than 700 seniors by connecting them with programs such as lunch bunch, caregiver café, grief groups, and tech Tuesdays. And, along with the JCC, will provide over 120,000 mobile meals this year to older adults in the community. We have a nationally recognized JCRC that is led by Bonnie Burdman, one of the most skillful community relations professionals in the country, and Akiva Academy. Hilari worked at Akiva a year after we arrived in Youngstown and taught at the school for 14 years. She recently came full circle, leading for two years an afterschool enrichment choir for third and fourth graders. Not too long ago, Akiva was struggling and had a total number of 42 students in grades k to six, and there was a feeling that Akiva was about to close. Today, we have a record 164 students in grades k to eight, of which 18 to 20 are Jewish. So we must be doing something right in that over 140 students attending our school are not Jewish. What better way to educate children and combat antisemitism in a time in our country where antisemitism continues to increase and many of our college campuses are a breeding ground for anti-Israel sentiment. Many of the families who attend Akiva also support many other programs on our campus including the JCC’s Early Learning Center, JCare, and JCC summer camp, to name just a few areas.

       I could not think of a better way to spend most of my professional life than working for our Federation. I have no regrets, only pride, in what we have collectively accomplished over the years. So what kept me here, what motivated me? You can refer to my last several Liptalk columns for a timeline of the significant events in our community and Jewish world over the past 39 years. I’m not going to review year by year, but here are some examples of what was most meaningful to me:

       I first learned about the Holocaust when I was in junior high but it wasn’t until the day JCRC held its first teacher’s conference on the Holocaust on October 27, 1987 that it all changed for me. That was the day I met Holocaust Survivor Bill Vegh. Bill never publicly spoke before that day about his experience in the Holocaust and started what became a new journey in his life speaking to students, churches, civic groups, and so many other groups over the next 25 years. Bill probably told ‘his story’ to over a half million students. Holocaust education continues to be important to the JCRC and Federation today as we now participate in Classrooms Without Borders, a program which brings teachers mostly non-Jewish, to Poland over the summer to visit a number of concentration camps along with a Survivor. Over the past three years, the JCRC and Federation have sponsored 11 local teachers who have participated on these trips. I would like to share an excerpt from one of the teachers who participated this summer: ‘I wanted to take a minute and share about the impact I’m seeing in my classroom, now that school is in session. On my first day of school, as I introduced myself to my new seventh grade students, I shared with them that I went to Poland over the summer with a group of educators, students, and Howard, a Survivor, and learned about the Holocaust. When I asked who had any prior knowledge of the Holocaust, only a few hands went up each period. I have 166 students this year, and would estimate only 15 to 20 students had any real knowledge of the Holocaust. The students that had prior knowledge immediately started asking me to share pictures and to hear about the trip. I talked about the types of camps and showed them a photo of Howard and myself. I shared Howard’s story that he shared with us when at his town’s memorial stone at Treblinka. I have students coming into class telling me they talked about Howard, the trip, and the Holocaust during dinner and their parents/guardians had questions and wanted to see the sources we’ve gathered so they could learn too. I’ve even gotten a few notes from parents saying their child is very interested and asked what I would recommend to help them learn more. I have been so incredibly uplifted by their interest, engagement, discussion, empathy, and appropriate behavior. Their thirst for knowledge is something extremely rare in my experience teaching this grade level and content. I am so inspired by their thoughtful questions and the amazing discussions we’ve had. They are asking questions about Judaism, history, and culture. Salem is a relatively non-diverse town, so I’m very grateful they are opening their minds and hearts to learn.’ Wow!

       I have traveled approximately 20 times to Israel and in 1992 Federation brought 59 young leaders for a ten day mission. This mission proved to be an important leadership development vehicle for our Federation and community as many of these individuals became chairs of our Federation agencies. In my travels to Israel, I have met many wonderful Israeli volunteers and professionals. But one Israeli family stands out! A little more than ten years ago, a family from Israel, the Siglers, moved to Youngstown to teach at Akiva. Who knew at that time that the Sigler family of five back then, six now, would become members of the Lipkin extended family? And, talking about Israel, I was accompanied numerous times to Israel for meetings of our Partnership with Myra Benedikt, past chair, and Nancy Burnett, current chair. Thank you, Myra and Nancy for your incredible leadership. Partnership, or P2G, remains one of the most impactful activities I’ve been honored to participate in.

       Following a strategic plan, which was completed a couple of years prior to COVID, we hired Rob Elston in February 2017 as our first full-time security director. We were one of the first communities our size to make security a priority. If I could highlight one specific incident that demonstrates the importance of Rob and our security team was back in 2018 when there was an arrest of a local man who made threats to attack the JCC. Thanks to Rob’s network of contacts in the law enforcement community, the man was arrested within eight hours, and subsequently sentenced to 41 months in federal prison. Rob and the Federation’s security team are present on our 18 acre campus 24/7, and regularly advise and consult with each of the synagogues in the community.

       Another significant date I want to highlight was April 9, 2018, the date both Elise Skolnick, director of marketing & communications, and Lisa Long, our first-full time FRD director were hired. Since I arrived in Youngstown, I’ve heard a million times that we are the best kept secret in town. We have always provided excellent programs and services, but we weren’t terribly successful in getting our messaging out to the community. With the arrival of Elise Skolnick and her team, that is no longer the case and is one reason we have raised over $6.5 million in grants over the past four plus years, which includes over $1.5 million in security funding. Our professional staff from all of our agencies have worked alongside Nic Bush, who we hired a month before COVID, in a newly established position of development & community relations manager, to secure these critical grants.

       In 2019 our Federation underwent a structural reorganization to protect the donor and investment assets held by Federation. This reorganization resulted in the creation of the Youngstown Area Jewish Foundation, which now manages approximately 80% of the Federation’s assets and will do so for generations to come in our community. 

One more significant date, exactly three years ago, the establishment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Cemeteries Association. Federation leaders Sam A. Roth, Bill Benedikt, Gary Clayman, and the late Paul Schwebel approached each of the temple boards to see if there was interest in coordinating with the Federation to combine the cemeteries. The temples agreed and the association was created, with the Federation contributing approximately $1.6 million in matching funds that each temple put into the association.

       Of all the people I’ve met in my 39 years, one person stands out professionally and personally, the late Mary Lou Finesilver, my adopted mother in town. Along with Mary Lou, Hilari and I also adopted sisters Beth and Diane Finesilver, adopted cousins Shelly and David Caminer, and my favorite Buckeye fan, Lyann Popio, go Bucks! With the Finesilver clan over the past 20 years, we spent most Jewish holidays together and played cards a few times a year. And if you were not careful, you could lose $1 to $2, but to be clear, Beth is our designated loser. Most recently, Alice Franklin and Bill Laslo, excuse me, Alice and Bill Laslo, the honeymooners, have joined our game.

       As many of you know, I have dealt with three major illnesses over the past five years and my Federation family was there with me. Bonnie Burdman, Dave Stauffer, and Lisa Long served as interim CEO’s as I recovered, and made sure that our agencies didn’t miss a beat. And my secretary Nancy Sentelik was there for me too, as she has for the past 10 years. Nancy has been at the Federation over 40 years, and I cannot thank her enough for her support. I will miss you, Nancy, and will always consider you a friend.

       I could go on and on but, I need to talk a little longer about your next CEO Lisa Long. I met Lisa for the first time in the early spring 2017 during our Federation Fellows leadership development program at the JCC. As fate would have it, I sat down next to Lisa prior to the program on Federation and Campaign. What I discovered that evening was that Lisa was highly experienced in non-profit and development work. I remembered the conversation that night, and when we advertised the first full-time FRD position with Federation, I thought about Lisa. I subsequently called Bruce Sherman, who at the time was our endowment chair and chair of OH WOW!, the children’s museum, where Lisa was working. I told him that I wanted to ask Lisa if she was interested in this new position and Bruce’s exact words were ‘I hate you, but I’m not going to stand in her way from applying if she wished to.’ He didn’t want to lose Lisa at OH WOW!, but knew how Lisa could be a tremendous addition to our Federation family. So, I contacted Lisa and five months later she started on April 9, 2018. As I told Lisa, I knew after she was on the job two months that she would succeed me as CEO when I retired. Lisa makes me a better professional every day and this community will be in great hands come January 1.

       In closing, I could not have done any of this without the support of my entire family, led by Hilari. We took a risk, a gamble, moving to Youngstown in 1985 and it was the best thing for our family. Hilari’s love and support, as well as Sean, Rachel, and our son-in -law, Scott, have gotten me through three major illnesses, which began two days after Rachel and Scott were married, where they spent their honeymoon at the Cleveland Clinic. Sean has been on so many calls with my doctors over the past few years, too numerous to count. My family means everything to me, and Hilari and I will miss all of you when we relocate to Columbus. We will visit often, and I know I will keep busy as Rachel has plans for me as a volunteer with Jewish Columbus. But first and foremost, I just want to be Pop Pop and I know Hilari wants to be Mimi to our grandchildren Milo and Griffin.

       Again, thank you all for coming and for supporting the fund in my name.”

My best to you and yours for a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and happy healthy New Year!

Andy

Andrew Lipkin, Federation CEO