From left, Rosh Ha'ayin Mayor Moshe Sinai, Music Conservatory Executive Director Meir Serrouya and City Councilman Arnon Ben Amram. They arrived Sunday for tonight's program. They were hosted last night by Sheryl and Jon Kimerling. Also pictured are Alex Kimerling and his fiancee Whitney Henry. The Kimerlings are long-time benefactors of Rosh Ha'ayin.

By Richard Friedman, Executive Director

For me, tonight's Birmingham Jewish Federation/Foundation/Israel Bonds community event at Temple Beth-El will be a mosaic -- with many beautiful and unique tiles; it also will be an evening that will inspire me personally for many reasons.

I hope every one of our Birmingham- area Update readers joins us. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a light reception at 5 pm and the program will begin at 6:15 pm. RSVPs are not necessary. There will be babysitting. (Contact Lauren Pyle Klinner at The BJF at laurenp@bjf.org to make arrangements.)

Among the many satisfactions I've had as Executive Director of The Birmingham Jewish Federation, being one of the people who 30 years ago helped launch our partnership with the Israeli city of Rosh Ha'ayin remains among the most gratifying.

Lisa Engel, who I worked with 30 years ago at The Birmingham News, and I were among a group of "kids" in our community who helped get this project started. Lisa's going to talk about that tonight and reflect on the remarkable three decades of partnership that we have enjoyed with our friends in Rosh Ha'ayin.

To further symbolize the partnership between The BJF and Rosh Ha'ayin, the Mayor of Rosh Ha'ayin, Moshe Sinai, will be with us tonight. I know him well and, having the long view, remember his two predecessors. Mayor Sinai has done a great job of evolving and cementing the Birmingham-Rosh Ha'ayin partnership.

With us tonight also will be Birmingham Mayor William Bell. Mayor Bell has visited Rosh Ha'ayin, loves Israel and talks movingly about his connection to Israel. Mayor Bell and I go back a long way. As the Birmingham News' City Hall reporter, I covered his first race for City Council more than 30 years ago. In fact, I am smiling as I write this, thinking how in the end -- as the saying goes -- everything is connected!

ESPECIALLY PROUD

I'm also especially proud of my three friends who will be honored tonight. Lisa will receive our Federation's Susan J. Goldberg Distinguished Volunteer Award, Hilary Gewant will receive our Federation's Joanie Plous Bayer Young Leadership Award, and Pat Weil will receive our Foundation's N.E. Miles Lifetime Achievement Award.

I am blessed to enjoy wonderful friendships with each of these outstanding recipients; they are remarkable women who continue to lift The BJF, and me personally, everyday in so many ways.

The presenters are special to me as well. Susan Greene, an outstanding Jewish community leader and past president of The BJF, who I've worked closely with for 20 years, will present the award to Lisa. Montgomery's Jake Aronov, a longstanding friend who I met in 1976 on my first trip to Israel, will present his niece, Hilary, with her award. And Andy Saag, who was born just two days after my own son, and who is now on our board of directors, will present the award to his grandmother Pat Weil, also a member of our board. Andy and Pat exemplify The Birmingham Jewish Foundation's message of L'dor V'dor -- from generation to generation.

"WONDERFULS"

Now, what could be better -- wonderful friends presenting wonderful awards to wonderful friends as we celebrate the wonderful partnership between Birmingham and Rosh Ha'ayin?!

Well, there are two more "wonderfuls." Jimmy Filler, a volunteer leader who's had his arm around my shoulder for 30 years, and who, as BJF president, has been an amazing partner the past two and a half years, will be speaking tonight. Jimmy's pride in being president of The BJF continues to inspire me and it will inspire you.

And Sheryl Kimerling, who will be chairing the evening along with her husband, Jon, also will be speaking. Sheryl and Jon continue to astonish me with their unending generosity and, in particular, their passion for The BJF and Rosh Ha'ayin. Other members of the Kimerling family -- including Joe, David and Mary -- also have been avid supporters of The BJF and Rosh Ha'ayin. In addition, Sheryl is now distinguishing herself through her leadership as a member of National Women's Philanthropy, which is part of Jewish Federations of North America.

All in all, it's going to be a great evening. And, yes, I'm going to speak as well -- briefly, like the others. "LIFT" is my topic and it stands for Leadership Initiatives For Tomorrow, a culture that Jimmy and other volunteer leaders have introduced at The BJF.

LIFT means building for tomorrow; it's predicated on our belief that we are at a singular moment in Federation history; a moment where we have the potential to strengthen our organization significantly for decades to come. Come tonight and enjoy what we've accomplished the past 30 years -- and hear about our vision for our next 100 years!