It might have been the camaraderie of more than 200 women and men gathered at The Cable Center on September 24 for lunch and laughter.
It might have been the words of Iris Kraemer, Chair of National Women’s Philanthropy for Jewish Federations of North America.
Perhaps it was the message brought by Liz Hirsh Naftali who has met regularly with world leaders since her niece was murdered by Hamas terrorists and her great-niece Abigail was abducted to Gaza on October 7.
It may have been the eloquence of Adriane Greenberg, Chair of JEWISHcolorado Women’s Philanthropy, as she described the work of JEWISHcolorado in the community.
It most certainly was the generosity of the family of Ruth Malman who was honored with the 2025 Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award.
Whatever it was, the 2024 Lion/Pom Luncheon showcased the power of women’s philanthropy beyond a doubt. Clearly, when women come together in force, they move hearts and minds and, yes, they move dollars to make the world a better place.
Renée Rockford
JEWISHcolorado President & CEO Renée Rockford welcomed everyone to the Lion of Judah and Pomegranate Luncheon and acknowledged the event co-chairs: Diana Zeff Anderson, Sheryl Feiler, and Jackie Sprinces Wong. Lions of Judah contribute gifts of at least $5,000 annually and Pomegranate Society Donors provide $1,800 gifts annually.
Rockford set the tone for the event by telling the story of an actual training exercise in the Israeli army called “Under the Stretcher.”
“The whole point of the stretcher drill is to drive home that we are part of something bigger than ourselves,” Rockford said. “No one carries a burden alone and no one gets left behind. There is no one who knows better how to buoy a community than women.”
Rockford also acknowledged previous Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award winners including Elaine Asarch, Nancy Gart, Essie Perlmutter, Robin Chotin, and Jackie Sprinces Wong and invited those who were present to lead the Ha Motzi, the blessing over bread.
Adriane Greenberg
Greenberg reminded the room that National Women’s Philanthropy is the fastest growing campaign of Jewish Federations, representing more than $200 million in annual giving across the Federation system.
Greenberg also talked about the ways that support for JEWISHcolorado translates into support for the community—through PJ Library, Jewish Connection Clubs in high schools, the work of the Jewish Community Relations Council, and the Safety & Security Initiative.
“None of this happens without the work and the dollars provided by JEWISHcolorado, made possible by your support of the Annual Campaign,” said Greenberg. “While it is provided free to the community, it is not cost-free to bring to all of you.”
Iris Kraemer
In addition to her role with Jewish Federations, Iris Kraemer has been a member of the National Women’s Philanthropy Board for the past four years, and she sits on the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America.
Kraemer talked about how the work of 146 Federation communities “touches more Jewish lives than any other organization in the world.”
“To a large extent, the power of Women’s Philanthropy across giving levels helps us keep the sacred promise that we will never turn away from people in need,” Kraemer said. “Our support for Jewish Federations allows each one of us to play an essential role in repairing the world.”
Honoring Ruth Malman
Rabbi Rachel Kobrin from Congregation Rodef Shalom honored Malman by comparing her to her Biblical namesake.
“I am inspired by your graceful, no-nonsense commitment to the welfare of all children, to feeding the hungry, and to caring for the Jewish people,” Rabbi Kobrin said. “You have faced the grief and trauma of this past year with compassion, humility, and authenticity—working actively to support, care for, and uplift our Jewish people both in Israel and here in America. You are a lifelong learner who spearheads change through careful and steadfast acts of kindness. And you inspire other people to find their voice, to be their best selves, and to lead from the heart.”
Jackie Sprinces Wong, the 2023 recipient of the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award, also paid tribute to Malman.
“Ruth’s commitment to chesed (loving kindness) and tikkun olam (repairing the world) shines through in every action,” Sprinces Wong said. “Her leadership has not only been felt within JEWISHcolorado but in the many lives she has touched along the way.”
Malman accepted the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award by turning the attention back on the men and women in the audience.
“While I receive the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award here in Colorado, I honor all of you,” Malman said. “I am constantly amazed by the power and endless energy of women. I am humbled by the women in our Colorado community who do daily acts of kindness for their family, friends, and community. As women, we bring our hearts and souls to whatever we do and we bring our treasure as we can. We use our compassion and resources to practice tikkun olam, repairing the world, because we have learned that this is a way to live a meaningful life.”
To honor Malman’s 40th year of being a Lion of Judah, Ruth and her husband, Michael Opatowski, generously offered a challenge match for gifts made at the luncheon.
Liz Hirsh Naftali
Liz Hirsh Naftali is a bipartisan Hostage Release Advocate and Humanitarian Ambassador, driven by a deeply personal mission. She is the great-aunt of Abigail Mor Edan, a three-year-old who was held hostage in Gaza for 51 days after being kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
She is the author of “Saving Abigail: The True Story of the Abduction and Rescue of a Three-Year-Old Hostage.”
Hirsh Naftali recounted the horrific story of how Abigail survived after both her parents were murdered at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, how she crawled out from under the body of her father covered in blood and ran to the home of a neighbor only to be kidnapped and taken to Gaza with the neighbor’s family. She described how Abigail’s six- and nine-year-old siblings hid in a closet for 14 hours, talking with their grandmother in Bulgaria and convincing her that their mother was dead by sending a video of her body.
“An important insight emerged from this waking nightmare,” Hirsh Naftali said. “No matter how bad things got or how hopeless and confusing the days after Oct. 7, I began to realize I had something I could do. I could tell people what had happened, I could tell people what Hamas had done to my family, to Kfar Aza, to the entire country. This could be important work because the denial of the Oct. 7 atrocities began the very next day.”
Abigail was released after 51 days, but Hirsh Naftali reminded her audience that there are still more than 100 hostages even as the world approaches the first anniversary of Oct. 7.
Speaking to leaders from all sides of the political spectrum, Hirsh Naftali has lobbied tirelessly for the hostages and for an end to terrorism, speaking with international leaders including President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and sharing the message that families and countries cannot move forward until their loved ones are home.
“Terrorism anywhere is not acceptable,” she said. “To say, ‘Oh, this happened in Israel’ is a failure of our humanity. The terrorist attack that took place is the most gruesome and unacceptable one in the history of Israel. But it could happen anywhere. We must join together, no matter our religion or race, to fight terrorism.”
To learn more about becoming a Lion or a Pomegranate, please contact Director of Women’s Philanthropy Roberta Witkow at RWitkow@JEWISHcolorado.org.