• Federation will hold its annual Lemann-Stern Leadership Development Program alumni event on Tuesday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Bruce and Ellie Wainer. The guest speaker will be Dr. Brenda Brasher, who, in keeping with Federation's Centennial theme, will offer a talk entitled "Choosing Transformation: 100 Years of Federation." Dr. Brasher will speak about her work researching the history of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, which is celebrating 100 years of collaborative Jewish philanthropy in New Orleans in 2013. Dr. Brasher made a brief presentation at January’s Centennial Jubilee, and this talk will expand on the themes she introduced at the time—in particular, how Federation has responded to the upheaval, crises and changes in identity it has faced since incorporating in 1913. This event is only open to graduates of the program. To learn more, please contact Sherri Tarr, Development Director, at 504-780-5609 or at sherritarr@jewishnola.com. Click here to RSVP and pay.
  
  
• AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps will host its second annual Partners in Justice Jazz Brunch, honoring Bruce Waltzer and Anne Levy, and celebrating AVODAH's five years in New Orleans, on Sunday, June 2 at 11:00 a.m. at Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation. Anne Levy survived the Holocaust as a child and has committed her life to sharing her story. She repeatedly confronted David Duke, a Holocaust denier and former Klansman, during his run for political office in Louisiana, and was a catalyst for the countermovement that ultimately defeated Duke. Bruce Waltzer is an attorney who started his career by taking part in the civil rights movement and has continued to represent underserved communities and causes over the past several decades. A  kosher brunch will be served. To purchase tickets or make a donation please call 504-861-1067 or visit www.avodah.net/annual-events.
  
  
• The community is invited to celebrate with the 2013 graduates of the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning on Tuesday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Goldring-Woldenberg Jewish Community Campus in Metairie.  After two years of dedication and study, graduates will become the 10th graduating class and will receive the prestigious Certificate of Judaic Studies from the International Melton Centre of Hebrew University in Jerusalem. A dessert reception will follow the ceremony. For more information about this program or about the Florence Melton School Adult School of Jewish Learning, interested parties should call the Jewish Community Center at 504-897-0143. Additional information can be found on the JCC website at www.nojcc.org.
  
  
• Save the date for the 100th Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana. The meeting will celebrate Federation's centennial with special guests and presentations, and will be held on Wednesday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Uptown Jewish Community Center. The City of New Orleans will be conducting road work along Jefferson Avenue during that timeframe, so evening parking will be made available next door to the Uptown JCC at De La Salle High School. More information will follow later this summer.
  
  
• Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, October 2, when Federation will welcome Noam Shalit to New Orleans. Noam Shalit is the father of Gilad Shalit, the Israel Defense Forces soldier kidnapped and held in captivity by Hamas. Shalit and his wife crusaded tirelessly for five years for their son's release (and celebrated their son's return to them last year). Shalit will speak at the Uptown Jewish Community Center at 7:00 p.m. Kosher refreshments will be served, and there is no charge to attend. The City of New Orleans will be conducting road work along Jefferson Avenue during that timeframe, so evening parking will be made available next door to the Uptown JCC at De La Salle High School.

Announcements

• The Jewish Children's Regional Service (JCRS) is celebrating PJ Library's seventh year of operation in the Greater New Orleans area. PJ Library is a highly acclaimed national Jewish outreach and engagement initiative that partners with local communities to provide a treasury of free Jewish books to children aged 6 months through 8 years. Every month, each participating child receives a gift book in the mail--specially selected by early childhood experts--that is age-specific and includes a variety of Jewish themes, such as holidays and folk tales. The engaging stories and pictures are ideal for parents and young children to cuddle up with at bedtime. As of now, 261 Jewish children in Greater New Orleans receive a monthly PJ selection through the JCRS.  The PJ Library has expanded nationally every year since its inception in 2005, with PJ Library books now reaching more than 100,000  children per month in 185 communities throughout the United States and Canada. In Greater New Orleans, The PJ Library is administered by the JCRS through the generosity of the Goldring Family Foundation and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. All Jewish children in the Greater New Orleans area are invited to participate. Babies may be registered at birth. For information about enrolling your child, please contact Bonnie Lustig at JCRS at 504-828-6334 or nolapj@jcrs.org.
  
  
• The Jules Lazard Post 580 of the Jewish War Veterans of America is pleased to extend a free one-year membership to newcomers who served on active duty at any time. Post 580 is the fastest growing Post in the country. For more information, contact Judge Sol Gothard, Post Commander, at 504-887-3570 or at judgesol@cox.net.  
  
  
• Interested in learning Israeli folk dancing?  Classes are held every Monday from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Starlight Dance Studio (5050 West Esplanade Ave.).  Everyone is welcome to attend!