Ellen Mandler OF BLESSED MEMORY
Presented by The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Ellen Mandler OF BLESSED MEMORY
Ellen Mandler liked to refer to herself as a “professional volunteer.” She took her responsibilities seriously and spent numerous hours organizing, attending meetings and raising money for various Jewish organizations. Ellen was deeply committed to Jewish causes. The majority of her time was spent first with Hadassah and later with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, but she was also active in American Jewish
Federation Tuesday 1978, Ellen standing on left
Congress, Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs, and other organizations which sought to protect American Jews and Israel. Ellen was great at fundraising for Jewish causes. She always told me that the hardest but most rewarding job as a professional volunteer was raising money. Golda Meir, the former Prime Minister of Israel, in her biography gave credit to the countless Jewish women of America who helped provide funds to help
establish and keep going the State of Israel. Ellen was one of those unsung heroes who spent most of her adult life quietly raising money to safeguard Jewish life and to ensure Israel’s survival. Ellen’s first major roles as a Jewish leader occurred in 1966- 1967. She helped establish a South Dade Chapter of Hadassah
known as Aviva. By 1971, she was Vice President of Hadassah (Florida) and became President of the Hadassah Florida Branch in 1972. At this time, Hadassah’s main goal was to raise money for Hadassah Hospital in Israel. Ellen’s tenure as a leader of Hadassah was during a time of conflict in Israel – first the 1967 war and then the 1973 Yom Kippur War. As part of her fundraising efforts, Ellen was featured in a 1972 ad which aired on Channels 7 and 4 from Hadassah Hospital, and in the Miami News for the Combined Jewish Appeal in 1974. Being
Ellen standing on left, 1991
active in Hadassah meant many trips to Israel to visit the hospital and meet with Israeli leaders. In fact, she kept her notes from a private meeting with Shimon Peres, at that time the Deputy Prime Minister of Israel. In her last years I asked her what was the hardest thing she ever did, and she told me it was visiting Hadassah Hospital after the 1973 Yom Kippur War and trying to give support and love to the wounded Israeli soldiers. After finishing her tenure as President of Hadassah of Florida, Ellen was looking for another challenging position. It was at this time that she started getting involved in Federation. In 1974,
she went on a Federation mission to Iran, Israel and Holland. Her good friends, the Smiths and Schaecters, also went on this mission.
In 1975, Ellen agreed to chair Human Rights Day sponsored by the Women’s Division. The theme was Women’s Plea for Soviet Jews. The plight of Soviet Jewry was a major issue for Ellen in the 1970’s. She spent the next few years raising consciousness of the plight of Soviet Jewry, went to Washington numerous times to lobby legislators, and raised a lot
New Gifts Chairwomen, 1984 Ellen third from the right
of money to help Russian Jews relocate to Israel. As a backdrop, this was at a time when Russia would not allow Jews to practice Judaism or leave Russia for Israel. If Jews applied to leave, they were removed from their jobs and left in limbo of no work, but not allowed to leave. In 1977, she went on a mission to the USSR. She explained how they were briefed to locate and meet dissident Jews in Moscow. She kept a pamphlet, “Briefing Kit for Travelers to the USSR” and two (2) memoirs of people who also went to Russia at this time, one by Michael and Lois Krop (May 1977). Ellen claimed they did things to make sure they were not followed and met the “refuseniks” in secret locations. She often talked about this trip as one of the most meaningful in her life.
In the late 1970’s and 1980’s, Ellen was a coveted speaker at Federation events. She addressed 750 women at the Deauville Hotel as part of the Women’s Division annual education day, spoke at Women’s Division, Federation Tuesday in 1977 and 1978, gave a Middle East update in 1980 to 250 women, was Guardian Chair in 1981, spoke at the Lion of Judah luncheon in 1982, addressed Interfaith Day for the Southeast Board of
Women’s Division in 1983, and spoke at many other events during this time. She kept copies of many of her speeches. Regrettably, we only have still photos and newsclips of those events. Ellen’s role as an officer at Federation started around 1977, when she became Parliamentarian, but she quickly became active in fundraising. For example, in 1981 she was Headmistress on Campaign Training Day. In 1982 and 1983 she became the Campaign Vice President (Women’s Division). In 1984, she was the New Gifts Committee Chairwoman, and in 1985 she
Ellen and Bernard at 1986 Pacesetter Dinner
rose to Women’s Division Campaign Chair, a position she held until 1987. Ellen always stated that Campaign Chair was the hardest job she held in Federation, involving countless hours of meetings, phone calls, direct solicitations and, of course, working on Super Sunday. Although she found this work difficult, she also spoke of how rewarding this experience was. In 1987, Ellen became Women’s Division Chairwoman (Aaron Podhurst was President at this time), and Amy Dean was her Vice President. She spoke at numerous events and parlor meetings,
and kept up a hectic pace during her two (2) years in office. Ellen was active as a Board member in Federation until her demise at the age of 89. Many new Presidents and Campaign Chairwomen sought her advice on leadership, fundraising and speaking before groups as she continued to foster new women leaders. She was a mentor and role model for many Jewish women in Miami. Written by Jeffrey Mandler, Esq., Ellen’s son
Temple Beth Am AND Rambam Day School
Presented by The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs