Photo is of Jon and Sheryl Kimerling meeting with Greece's then-Prime Minister George Papandreou (center of photo) during JFNA'S Prime Minister's mission. (Photo by Robert A. Cumins)

Birmingham Jewish Federation volunteer leader Sheryl Kimerling continues to make her mark on the national level. Sheryl is Campaign Vice Chair for National Women's Philanthropy, a division of Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the parent organization of local Jewish Federations. In addition, she was recently elected to serve on JFNA's board.

In September, Sheryl and her husband, Jon, went on JFNA's Prime Minister's Council Mission to Greece and Israel, where they, and a small group of national Jewish community volunteer leaders, met with dignitaries and toured sites. In October, Sheryl was on a National Women's Philanthropy trip to Chile. She wrote the below for Update.

By Sheryl Kimerling

It feels so good to come home to Birmingham with a renewed passion and commitment for the important work being done by the volunteers and staff of our Birmingham Jewish Federation. The funds raised by our BJF support many of the programs that we visited and insure that we stay connected to Jewish communities overseas.

In September, Jon and I were privileged to travel to Greece and Israel with the JFNA Prime Minister's Council Mission. We visited Jewish sites in Athens and Thessaloniki and were greeted by Greece's then-Prime Minister George Papandreou, Israel's Ambassador to Greece Arye Mekel, US Ambassador to Greece Daniel Smith, and Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

We learned about the history of the Greek Jewish community. Before World War II, there were 100,000 Jews living throughout Greece. Today, there are 5,000, many of whom survived the Nazi era with the help of their Christian neighbors. We spent a day in Thessaloniki, where the surviving "Hidden Children" (see below link) are actively maintaining a vibrant, yet small, Jewish community.

Repeatedly, we heard from members of the Greek Jewish community how much they appreciate their relationship with Israel, the US and the JFNA agencies.

From Athens, we traveled to Jerusalem where we met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the next few days, we were honored to have intimate dialogues with President Shimon Peres, Leader of the Opposition and Member of the Knesset Tzipi Livni, Israeli Air Force Commander in Chief General Ido Nechushtan, and US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro.

Jon and I are grateful to JFNA for an amazing experience and to our 30 fellow travelers, who represent Federation leadership from across the country.

JEWS OF CHILE

In October, I was honored to join 15 fellow travelers to Chile representing the National Women's Philanthropy Board. In Chile, we visited Jewish sites in Santiago, Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. We spent valuable time with some of the 19 Chilean Lions of Judah (women who give at least $5000 to their campaigns) and learned about their community. We met with First Lady of Chile Cecilia Morel de Pinera, Israeli Ambassador to Chile David Dadonn, and US Ambassador to Chile Alejandro D. Wolff.

There are 15,000 Chilean Jews who are facing increasing episodes of anti-Semitism and increasing Palestinian power in a country that does not have anti-defamation laws. Chile has the largest Palestinian population outside the Middle East, numbering 400,000.

We visited Jewish day schools, a home for mentally challenged elderly Jews, a job center, and we volunteered with a local service organization packing food supplies for the needy. We heard, "Please don't forget me," and, "I feel that I am carrying the weight of the Jewish community on my shoulders."

After seeing first hand how great the needs of the Jewish communities are throughout Greece, Israel and Chile, I am reminded that we are all responsible for one another, and, the work we do in Birmingham impacts so many communities who continue to reach out to us.