Block, spiritual leader of Beth Am for the past 12 years and newly appointed executive director of the World Union for Progressive Judaism in Jerusalem, will receive the FAMMY for motivating his congregation and the Peninsula Jewish community to welcome Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union.
After a 1989 trip to the USSR, Block collected furniture for new homes, invited newcomers to holiday celebrations and helped emigres learn English and find jobs.
The motto of the Theta Delta Xi sorority is “To have a friend is to be a friend.” It has produced an annual series of professional fashion shows, theater previews and outings to sporting events to raise money for its philanthropic fund.
Over the years it has contributed more than $500,000 to benefit such causes as JFCS’ campership fund and Dream House, an Israeli children’s hospital, Ronald McDonald House and the National Association for the Visually Handicapped.
Kantorova emigrated from Ukraine in 1996. She found an apartment through JFCS and volunteered as a receptionist for the agency’s emigre department.
Through her volunteering she has found her future vocation: social work.
“JFCS helped me learn that what I like best is to communicate with people and help them,” she says. “I’m determined to turn my dream for a social work career into victory. In America, you can do what you want.”
The event, titled “Imagine…Create…the Circle of Community,” benefits Emigre Resettlement, Dream House, Seniors At Home, Parents Place and JFCS’ Disabilities Project.
Tickets are $200. For reservations, call Amy Schandler at (415) 561-1264.