Recently, our Federation’s Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy, with our newest group Community of Professional Women and alongside our Entertainment Division, hosted the latest installment of the Susan S. Pritzker Series featuring former Chairman of CBS Entertainment Nina Tassler. Our community’s most passionate women gathered in support of our Federation’s life-changing work to hear Nina’s inspirational words and connect with one another.
On Thursday evening, April 14th, as the guests enjoyed wine and hors d’oeuvres, they chatted with old friends and met newcomers. Warmth, pride, and community created the atmosphere for the thought-provoking program that followed.
Debi Graboff, Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy Co-Chair, welcomed the group to the ICM theater, highlighting the special connection between the evening and Passover. Debi also encouraged attendees to take a journey with the Federation on one of our upcoming missions and invited the women to attend the International Lion of Judah Conference, September 11-13, in Washington, D.C. Jay Sanderson, Federation’s President & Chief Executive Officer, shared an overview of his most recent trip to Israel and how our work there focuses on caring for those in need. Then Julie Platt, Chair of the Board of our Federation and longtime friend of Nina Tassler, started the evening’s entertaining and informative dialogue.
Nina, a former Chair of our Federation’s Entertainment Division and an honoree at our Centennial Celebration, shared the genesis of her book, What I Told My Daughter: Lessons from Leaders on Raising the Next Generation of Empowered Women. She outlined a childhood framed by her mother’s feminist/activist pursuits and the value-driven experiences that served as the platform for her future career. It was these lessons of support and equality that helped Nina find her place in a field that has often been considered an exclusive “boys’ club.”
Nina shared a particular moment with her teenage daughter Alice in which she comforted Alice by describing her as “consistent” and “dependable” after her volleyball team lost their tournament match. This made Nina realize that authentic wisdom is the key to empowering her daughter — and was the impetus behind her seeking advice from some of the world’s wisest women and compiling it into a book.
The evening ended with questions from the audience, one of which was particularly memorable. When asked how Judaism informs her work, Nina left the group with one last invaluable lesson — for her, the concept of kehillah, community, has always been a running theme. Throughout her career, teamwork has always been central to process and shared success. At the conclusion of a phenomenal evening, every attendee received a complimentary hand-signed copy of Nina’s book.
Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy is proud to bring together incredible women who share the responsibility to empower and ensure the next generation in Los Angeles with their philanthropy and commitment to our Jewish community.
Programs in the Susan S. Pritzker series are open to women who participate in Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy and contribute to The Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign. Special thanks to Jeanne and Tony Pritzker for underwriting the series as a loving tribute to Tony’s late mother Susan S. Pritzker. For more information, please contact Karen Sternfeld at (323) 761-8275 or KSternfeld@JewishLA.org.
