Written by Raquel Rosenblatt, Director of Development at Mayyim Hayyim
When my older daughter Naomi turned five, her birthday fell on Rosh Hashanah. Sitting in the children’s service in temple that afternoon, she was ecstatic to learn that she shared a birthday with none other than the WHOLE WORLD. Now nine years old, she understands that the Hebrew and secular calendars do not always match up, but we both feel a special connection to this holiday of beginnings and change.
This year, I am excited to be a part of the changes taking place at Mayyim Hayyim. As the new Director of Development, I will be working on a new fundraising strategy to sustain Mayyim Hayyim as we embark on our second decade. In order to focus energy on building a larger community of individual donors, the Board of Directors has decided that rather than produce two fundraising events every year as we have in the past, we’ll limit ourselves to creating one truly spectacular event. The first one will take place in November 2012, and you can be sure that it will be a moving, powerful and joyful experience.
When people ask me when it’s my “slow season” as a fundraiser, I laugh. “Never!” I say. “It’s always busy.” That’s because there is always an opportunity to make a connection with someone who has been touched by Mayyim Hayyim.
Of course, it feels wonderful when I ask someone for a gift and he or she says yes. But it’s also incredibly gratifying to get to know people and understand their personal connections to this special, sacred space. Regardless of whether you turn right and head to the mikveh, or left and enter the Paula Brody and Family Education Center and art gallery, or whether you connect online with Mayyim Hayyim or have participated in one of our national programs, you are a part of the movement to create a more welcoming, accessible Judaism.
At this season of change, gratitude, beginnings—and birthdays—please take a moment and think about what makes Mayyim Hayyim special and sacred for you—and then click here to make a gift so we can continue our work in the coming year and for many years to come.
Thank you and shana tovah umetukah – a good and sweet year to us all.
Raquel Rosenblatt , Director of Development joined Mayyim Hayyim in May 2011. Prior to that, she worked for 12 years in the Development and Alumni Relations Office of Brandeis University. Since 2001, she staffed the President of Brandeis, supporting him in his fundraising work with the University’s top donors. Since 2003, Raquel served as Executive Director of Donor Relations, leading a team responsible for Presidential gift acknowledgements and formal stewardship of donors to more than 900 endowed funds. She also managed a major gift portfolio of her own prospects. At Mayyim Hayyim, Raquel oversees all aspects of the fundraising cycle, with a particular focus on strengthening our major gifts program. Raquel received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and a Master’s Degree in Social Work.