Originally Published 3.18.2019
Visions is the Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy Annual Campaign Event. This year’s dinner took place on Thursday, March 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Alpert Jewish Community Center on the Weinberg Jewish Federation Campus.
The event delivered another wonderful evening as women from throughout our community gathered to share fellowship and reaffirm their commitment to raising funds for local Jewish organizations and others around the world.
We had an exciting speaker this year, Sharon Rennert. Sharon is the granddaughter of Holocaust hero Tuvia Bielksi, one of the leaders of the Bielski Partisans. She had a fascinating story to tell. Tuvia, along with his brothers Zus and Asael, took their fate into their own hands during the Holocaust. They formed the Bielski Partisans and established a thriving shtetl hidden deep within the forests of western Belarus while also conducting sabotage missions against the Nazis. When WWII ended, over 1,200 Jewish survivors emerged from the woods. Today, that stalwart group has over 15,000 descendants from all around the world. Their story is the inspiration behind the Hollywood film Defiance starring Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski, the group’s commander. Sharon was proud to share glimpses of her life as a descendent from the Bielski clan with our community, as well as her upcoming documentary, Becoming Bielski, which will focus on her family's rich history.
Additionally, we honored 13 Women of Vision, nominated by local Jewish agencies and synagogues for their outstanding dedication, leadership, and volunteer work.
Photos Credit: Stephen Abraham and Jessie Butler