Karen Robins + Stella Robins
It’s clear from the moment Karen Robins sees her granddaughter, Stella, coming down the hall, that these two have a unique connection. “We’ve always had a special bond,” Karen said, wrapping Stella in a big hug.
Stella attended the J’s Early Childhood School—”I remember making crafts with you at grandparents’ day,” Karen said—and the family has supported the J for many years through their Robins Nest Family Foundation. Recently, they funded two hydroponic gardens that provide year-round, hands-on learning opportunities (and fresh veggies!) for children in ECS. They’ve also provided support for Dinner at Our House, a program where volunteers make dinners for teens experiencing homelessness.
It’s always been important to Karen that her family understands the responsibility of giving back to their community. “It sounds old-fashioned, but charity begins at home,” she said. “The J and our synagogue have been our home base for so much of our lives and we’d like them to continue to be there for the next generations.”
Stella worked as a Summer J Camp counselor this year, helping the next generation make amazing memories. “Some of these kids are going to remember their time at camp for the rest of their lives, so I wanted to make sure their days here were great ones,” she said.
She also enjoyed reconnecting with the Jewish community. “It feels like home to me. Coming back after so long, it’s fun to see people I know from preschool but haven’t seen in years.”
Karen was delighted to hear that Stella reconnected with old friends—and the Jewish community—this summer. “I hope this will always be your community,” Karen said. “In my day, the Jewish community had to be your community. You weren’t allowed to join a country club or a sorority that wasn’t Jewish; you had no choice.”
“That’s crazy,” Stella interjected.
“It was a different world,” Karen said. “Today, it’s a conscious choice. We make a choice to stay connected to our people. It takes more effort, but it’s so important.”
How does Karen feel seeing Stella actively choose to stay involved in the Jewish community and the SJCC? She’s quick to answer, with a beaming smile: “Proud,
as always.”