Campus dedicated

Ceremony, annual meeting held at new site

BETH OLSON
Staff Writer

The Valley's Jewish community was welcomed to the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus at a dedication ceremony Oct. 27.

The ceremony, held outdoors with the new 114,000-square-foot facility as a backdrop, drew approximately 350 attendees.

Ron Bookbinder, chairman of the campus task force, welcomed the community to the event, thanked the donors who made the project possible and summed up the feelings of many members of the community in three words: "We did it."

Following Bookbinder's remarks, an official proclamation was issued by Gov. Jane Hull, presented by George Weisz, the governor's deputy chief of staff.

Bill Levine, donor of the 30-acre site, then addressed the crowd and shared his memories of Jewish community centers as gathering places for his family. He implored the community to take advantage of the campus, named for his late wife, Ina.

He said the success of the campus requires "a commitment from all of us - membership. We need to use this facility and care for this facility."

Additionally, Levine donated 100 Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center memberships, half to be used for single-parent families, and the other half for low-income families.

Following the speakers, Rabbi David Rebibo led the group in the recitation of the Shema before affixing the mezuzah to the doorpost of the new facility.

Following the dedication ceremony was the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix's annual meeting, chaired by Natalie Lang. The meeting honored several community members, including Vicki Cabot, incoming federation president, and Lanny Lahr, outgoing federation president.

Awards included the Medal of Honor, presented to Judy Ackerman; the Sy Clark Young Leadership Award, presented to Philip Shein-bein; the Lee Amada Young Leadership Award, presented to Audrey Zucker-man; the Belle Latchman Community Service Award, presented to The King David School, Kivel Campus of Care and Phoenix Hebrew Academy for their "Dor L'Dor: Connecting the Generations" program; and recognition of Drew Alyeshmerni and Madeleine Wells, recipients of the "Teens Make a Difference Award."

Contact the writer at beth_olson@jewishaz.com

Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix 2002-2003 officers

President: Vicki Cabot
Vice Presidents: Mim Bottner, Howard Cabot, Steve Geringer, Berry Sweet
Treasurer: Ted Zinman
Secretary: Joel Kramer

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