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Jewish Community News
News: December 2006
Janet Berg to be honored at Federation
Annual Dinner January 20
Janet Berg, a 30-year-long employee of the Jewish Federation of Silicon
Valley, will be honored at the Federation's Annual Dinner, to be held
on Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Levy Family Campus. Berg has been a longtime
mainstay, resource, historian and friendly face throughout the local
Jewish community.
She began at the Federation in April 1975 and worked straight through
to the completion of the Gloria and Ken Levy Family Campus.
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.
Also, during her years, the Federation grew to incorporate
thousands of new constituents. And most notably, the Gloria and Ken Levy
Family Campus was completed. Below are Janet Berg's reflections.
JCN: How do you feel about being honored?
Berg: I feel that the honor was mine. Really, I’m
not just saying that. I SO enjoyed my job, it wasn’t like a job
to me. It was like being an active part of the community, and the community
is one that I love. I feel so fortunate to say that I had a small part
in the growth of this Jewish community.
JCN: What were some of your favorite parts about working
at Federation?
Berg: It was wonderful to work with the people I did,
who were so good, and so philanthropic. Truly I met the best people. Also,
in what other job do you get to meet world leaders, Golda Meir, prime
ministers, President Gerald Ford and so many great people.
JCN: How do you feel being retired?
Berg: When I retired, I wondered for awhile who is Janet without Federation?
But people were really wonderful and really caring and they have not let
me feel that I am no longer a part.
JCN: How does it feel to see your daughter working on
the new campus, and your grandchildren in school there?
Berg: I feel that everything I’ve worked for has
come to a pinnacle with my children being so involved. Stephanie works
for the JCC/Club One. Joey has been teaching at Emanu-El for 10 years.
And my grandchildren... Zachary is in Kindergarten at Yavneh and Alexis
is at the JCC preschool. They run around this building like they own it.
That’s something I’ve dreamed of. Who would have thought that
this building would become an actuality and my grandchildren would be
a part of it.
JCN: Is there anything else you want to say?
Berg: I am so proud of Jyl (Jyl Jurman is CEO of the
Jewish Federation of silicon Valley.) I’ve known Jyl since she was
a teenager. When she was hired as the young adult worker I thought ‘isn’t
that nice.’ And she has grown and matured so much and I’m
proud that she’s CEO and I hope I had a teeny weenie bit of mentoring
there.
For more information about the Annual Event Dinner on January 20, 2007
visit www.jvalley.org or call (408) 358-3033.
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