Belz executive urges a more active Jewish community

Friday, May 24, 2002 | 9:48 a.m.

Although he was in Las Vegas for the International Council of Shopping Centers' spring convention, Andrew J. Groveman of Belz Enterprises took time earlier this week to address members of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas.

Groveman, senior vice president of marketing and administration and president of the Memphis company's Factory Outlet division, discussed the need for a more active Jewish community in Las Vegas.

"A Jewish community is defined not necessarily by the number of Jews living in a city, but by its Jewish infrastructure," Groveman said to an audience of about 200 at the federation's business luncheon. "Las Vegas has a lot to be proud of -- you have a number of synagogues and a federation that is finding its legs. But you also have a lot of challenges. You have a great deal to accomplish, and I believe you can do it by working together."

Groveman said the Jewish community in Memphis numbers 9,000 and raises about $3.3 million a year -- half of which goes to the government of Israel.

"There can be no Jewish community in this country that can ever feel safe, or that can feel that deep sense of being Jewish, without a strong and secure Israel," Groveman said.

Beth Miller, public relations director for local federation, said Las Vegas' Jewish community has about 75,000 residents and raised $1.6 million last year.

The federation has raised $156,500 over the last six weeks to benefit Israel, including nearly $13,000 donated at the May 21 luncheon.

"We have migrated away from the principle of the collective response, and that has hurt us as a Jewish community nationally, internationally and within each local federation," Groveman said.

He urged additional support for Jewish-based schools, homes for the elderly and a community center that would provide members with " a sense of place."

"A great way for each of us to look at what we can do in the Jewish world is to be entrepreneurial givers," Groveman said. "We do it in our business lives, we do it in our home lives -- each of us makes sacrifices for our priorities."

On June 5, the federation's annual meeting will feature Yuval Rotem, Israel's consul general, as keynote speaker.