Jackie Stern's Family Turned To The Federation When They Needed it Most
- By Stephen Maloney
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- 15 Aug, 2022
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Connected By Gratitude
New Orleans, LA - August 2022 - Jackie Stern’s early life was defined by the lofty heights her family achieved before her father left. If it weren’t for the compassionate services offered by the Jewish Federation of New Orleans, Jackie says her family may not have made it through that dark time.
“I quickly went from entitlement to the bottom of the bottom,” Jackie said. “We were very poor. And at that point, I noticed that the agencies in New Orleans, the Jewish agencies, stepped up and they started doing lots for us.”
Thanks to the Federation, Jackie and her three siblings received material donations from across the community to keep them going.
“I was able to go and my siblings were able to go to camp, Jewish camp at Henry S. Jacobs,” she said. “I then was able to go to LSU for college. Otherwise, I’m not sure what I would have been able to do.”
The compassion inspired a deep gratitude in Jackie that she said drives her commitment to the Federation today.
“I think my survival, emotionally, had a lot to do with these Jewish agencies,” she said.
After marrying and having five kids of her own, Jackie said she realized how much she had learned from the Federation and the kindness of the community. She worked hard to pass the idea of serving the community on to her daughters, who have all gone into professions that allow them to help the less fortunate.
The values underlying that compassion were instilled by the Federation and through the donations and care Jackie’s family was fortunate enough to receive. That’s where Jackie said she learned to be a good person, and it’s that idea of service and gratitude for others who serve that Jackie feels is the best thing she has been able to pass along to her children.
“I feel like the values that my husband and I have developed have come down to them,” Jackie said.
For anyone considering becoming active in the Jewish Federation of New Orleans, or those considering becoming more active in the Federation’s services, Jackie said your time and donations will have a much bigger impact than you can possibly realize. The positive effects may even be passed down through the generations, as they were in Jackie’s family.
“You think, as Jewish Federation, that you’re just giving materially and helping people,” she said. “And yet, you’re so much more to many people, and that continues throughout a lifetime.”
--Stephen Maloney
“I quickly went from entitlement to the bottom of the bottom,” Jackie said. “We were very poor. And at that point, I noticed that the agencies in New Orleans, the Jewish agencies, stepped up and they started doing lots for us.”
Thanks to the Federation, Jackie and her three siblings received material donations from across the community to keep them going.
“I was able to go and my siblings were able to go to camp, Jewish camp at Henry S. Jacobs,” she said. “I then was able to go to LSU for college. Otherwise, I’m not sure what I would have been able to do.”
The compassion inspired a deep gratitude in Jackie that she said drives her commitment to the Federation today.
“I think my survival, emotionally, had a lot to do with these Jewish agencies,” she said.
After marrying and having five kids of her own, Jackie said she realized how much she had learned from the Federation and the kindness of the community. She worked hard to pass the idea of serving the community on to her daughters, who have all gone into professions that allow them to help the less fortunate.
The values underlying that compassion were instilled by the Federation and through the donations and care Jackie’s family was fortunate enough to receive. That’s where Jackie said she learned to be a good person, and it’s that idea of service and gratitude for others who serve that Jackie feels is the best thing she has been able to pass along to her children.
“I feel like the values that my husband and I have developed have come down to them,” Jackie said.
For anyone considering becoming active in the Jewish Federation of New Orleans, or those considering becoming more active in the Federation’s services, Jackie said your time and donations will have a much bigger impact than you can possibly realize. The positive effects may even be passed down through the generations, as they were in Jackie’s family.
“You think, as Jewish Federation, that you’re just giving materially and helping people,” she said. “And yet, you’re so much more to many people, and that continues throughout a lifetime.”
--Stephen Maloney
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