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Jewish Community News
News: April 2006
Berg retires after 30 years at Federation
Janet Berg has always teased friends and coworkers that she would stay
at the Federation until she could work one day in the new campus—and
then she’d retire. Janet mostly kept her promise. ”I worked
a few days more than one and that was just a thrill for me,” she
said.
After 30 years holding every conceivable position at the
Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, Associate Executive Director Janet
Berg has retired. She began in April 1975 when Don Glazer was the executive
director, and the entire staff consisted of a secretary and a bookkeeper.
She worked straight through to the completion of the Gloria and Ken Levy
Family Campus.
“Janet has provided invaluable stability and historical
memory during
her 30 years with Federation,” said past Federation president Bonnie
Slavitt Moore.
During her term, Congregations Shir Hadash, Beth David,
Am Echad and Ahabat Torah were born. Jewish Family Services of Silicon
Valley, the Jewish Community Relations Council and Hillel of Silicon Valley,
each once committees of the Federation, were spun off as independent agencies.
The Federation grew to incorporate thousands of new constituents. And
most notably, the Gloria and Ken Levy Family Campus was completed.
“I really, really love that I had a small part in
the growth of this entire community,” said Berg. “It was a
wonderful life for me; I loved every minute of it.”
Berg is known as a mainstay, resource, historian and friendly
face throughout the local Jewish community. “She was so many people’s
first contact with the Jewish community,” said Executive Director
Jyl Jurman. “I am sad to see her go but excited for her to enjoy
her retirement years.”
Berg, too, is excited about retirement. She says she is
looking forward to lunch dates with friends, playing mah jongg and spending
more time with family. “This morning I woke up and thought, ‘what
am I going to do today?’” After recently being hospitalized
for nearly three weeks, Berg said she felt reassured about her thoughts
of retirement. “Life is too short,” she said.
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