Super Sunday callers net their goal

Super Sunday visitors featured Israeli educators here as part of the UJA-NNJ’s Partnership Program with Nahariya. From left are Pamela Ennis and Machla Shaffer, UJA-NNJ partnership coordinators, and educators Yaakov Amichai, Mercedes Hadad, Iris Ginat, Avigayil Weiss, Aliza Klein, and Efrat Saar. PHOTOS BY KEN HILFMAN

PARAMUS – Nearly 450 volunteers helped the UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey to reach its announced goal of $1.1 million in pledges during this week’s Super Sunday phonathon.

“This year’s Super Sunday was a tremendous success,” Dr. Zvi Marans, the chair of the federation’s 2010 campaign, told this newspaper.

“As of Tuesday morning, we’re still counting,” he added. “We’ve reached our goal of $1,100,000. We couldn’t have done it without the enthusiastic volunteers and the support of UJA-NNJ’s donors. It’s a support that reaffirms what we’ve always known: When our fellow Jews need us, no matter where in the world that need is, the people of northern New Jersey’s Jewish community step up to help in any way they can.”

Get The Jewish Standard Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

An early visitor to the federation’s Paramus headquarters here was Rep. Scott Garrett (R-5), who congratulated the phone-bankers on their efforts to gain donor support for Jewish causes locally, in Israel, and worldwide.

George Hantgan made calls for donations on Super Sunday, after more than 50 years as a volunteer.

Local officials at Super Sunday included Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, Sheriff Leo McGuire, N.J. Assemblywoman Connie Wagner, and state Sen. Bob Gordon. Hawthorne Mayor Richard Goldberg, while making calls, said, “It’s very important that we get together and raise money for our community to help education, and programs for all our people. It’s a great opportunity, and I’m glad to be here.”

During the 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. event, Super Sunday Co-Chair Jonathan Rochlin made frequent announcements regarding the total amount pledged to date, and thanked the volunteers, saying, “Keep up the good work.”

Leslie Felner of Fair Lawn was there to do a “triple mitzvah.” While she was giving blood in the Community Services Bloodmobile, she said, “Here I am, giving blood, and I just placed my name on a bone marrow registry, and I also made telephone calls for Super Sunday.”

Special visitors to Super Sunday activities included a group of six Israeli educators from Nahariya, here as part of the UJA’s Partnership 2000 Program. They were escorted by UJA coordinators Pamela Ennis and Machla Shaffer.

The week-long visit of the Nahariya educators will include visits to 15 local day and congregational schools, meetings with their “twinning partners,” teaching classes, as well as many other activities. Local educators will visit Nahariya for 10 days in the summer.

Super Sunday callers were of all ages. George Hantgan, a former Englewood resident, was the oldest. “I’m 93,” he said, “and this is my 58th year making calls for the UJA. I want to continue for at least a few more years.”

Leslie Felner did a “triple mitzvah” at Super Sunday. In addition to donating blood to Community Blood Services, she placed her name on the bone marrow registry and made telephone calls for donations to the federation.

Youngsters making calls included cousins Jessica Goldstein of Ramsey and Shira Goldstein of Bergenfield, both 16, who represented the Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies. The youngest may have been was Emma Schwartz, 11, of Fair Lawn, who represented the Jewish Youth Encounter Program in Teaneck. She served as a “runner,” picking up pledge cards.

Pledges continue to be taken at (201) 820-3900.