co-sponsored by NCJW and ten community partners
held on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 was the first forum after qualifying
and provided New Orleans voters with a good introduction to the candidates for mayor.
Twelve of the thirteen Candidates who qualified for
 Mayor of New Orleans participated in the forum.
Thank you to Xavier University, Norman Robinson, WDSU Channel 6, WWNO 89.9FM
and all of our partners for their support.

Sponsored By:
           Common Good* EngageNOLA*
      The Links, Incorporated, Pontchartrain Chapter*
      National Council of Jewish Women, Gr New Orleans Section*
      The League of Women Voters*
The Junior League of New Orleans*
         NCBW 100*Urban League of Greater New Orleans*
Young Leadership Council*
         Committee for a Better New Orleans/Metropolitan
Area Committee

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***NCJW's "A BEANBAG AND A BOOK" Project!***
On Saturday, December 5th, our New Orleans NCJW celebrated an early Channukah. The most wonderful part was that while we gave away beanbags and books to New Orleans children, WE received the best gift of all. Our joy was the evidence that our commitment to the future of the children of our city and our belief in action was impacting our community. Ina Davis, her husband Rick and his partner Murray Valene arranged for 200 beanbag chairs to come to town, and these were given to local 
             branches and at the
  main branch of the Public Library.

Each child who came to the Main Library and presented a library card signed a contract - designed by Sarah Covert - promising to read, along with the accompanying parent, for 5 minutes a day,  The child then, with very serious study, chose a book from among a huge selection. Then the child selected a beanbag chair from a mountain of cushions. Parents and children were invited to linger and play with professional drummers. In spite of the early winter chill, the crowd was huge, the children adorable and the volunteers amazing!
 
The lights in the eyes of the children affirm the spirit of the Festival of Lights and
celebrate the People of the Book.
                                  
                                                                                                                                                              
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Federation and NCJW Partner to Host
a Women's Luncheon
 on engaging with the Ethiopian National Project
 The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and the National Council of Jewish Women co-hosted
a women's luncheon, Friday, January 8
"Ethiopians in Israel - Engaging with the Ethiopian National Project"

The luncheon welcomed guest speakers Dr. Nigist Mengesha and Grace Rodnitzki of the Ethiopian National Project.

The Ethiopian National Project (ENP) is a unique endeavor that unites organizations assisting the Ethiopian-Israeli community, in true cooperation and partnership with the Ethiopian community in Israel itself. ENP is a partnership between the Jewish Federations of North America, the Government of Israel, representatives of Ethiopian Jewish Community Organizations,
 the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee in Israel (JDC-Israel) and Keren Hayesod-UIA.
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