Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County
Federation Star Published by the Jewish Federation of Collier County serving Naples, Marco Island and the surrounding communities
www.JewishNaples.org Y info@jewishnaples.org Y April 2012 - Nisan/Iyar 5772 Y Vol. 21 #8 INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
3A Community Relations Comm. 5A Community Focus 6A Women’s Cultural Alliance 12A Tributes 13A Jewish Interest 17A Commentary 19A Synagogues 21A Organizations 24A Business Directory 26A Community Calendar 27A Community Directory 1B Recent Event Photos 5B Focus on Youth / Passover 8B Israel & the Jewish World
4A Israel Affairs Forum: Israel Today Part II
25A JCMI’s 30 anniversary celebration th
3B Evy Lipp People of the Book event
4B Holocaust Museum gala
With my thanks Rosalee Bogo JFCC President
I
n the years I have been president of this Federation, I have written approximately 60 articles for this newspaper. This is probably my most difficult to write as it will be my last. I usually take my message from the annual meeting and use it as my article before the summer break. What special message do I want to share this time? I think I should acknowledge the incredible people with whom I have worked. A leader needs a strong support group, and I have had the best in the Trustees of the Federation Board with whom I have served. The Executive Committee evaluates the issues and brings its recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Much thought is given to every decision. Since I have led this group for six years, it is too difficult to list each name, but each one of those dedicated people made an impact on this community and they took this very seriously. There were lots of meetings, attendance at events, chairing of many committees, and a real dedication to growing and strengthening our Jewish community. I must acknowledge the many volunteers from the community who have stepped up to serve on committees for various programs and events. As you look through this newspaper each month and you see the programming that is offered to you, most of this is done by volunteers. They chair the committees, make the needed arrangements and promote the programs. They are ably assisted in their needs by our office staff, and our office staff is assisted by volunteers, for which we are most appreciative. It has been a privilege to work with the community rabbis and to have them as well as the synagogue
Jewish Federation of Collier County Inc. 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201 Naples, FL 34109
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presidents attend our monthly Board of Trustees meetings. To build a strong Jewish community, we need to work together and support each other. The support from the other organizations in the community must be acknowledged. It has been gratifying to have various groups from the community use our Community Room, which was our intent in having this space. Our Executive Director, David Willens, is the catalyst that makes it all work. He has an incredible work ethic and dedication to his job. He is dependable, trustworthy, detailoriented, organized, interested in everything in our community, available to all who need him, pleasant, and has a sense of humor, which is very helpful in this job. He has an unequaled knowledge of the residents of our community, Jewish and nonJewish organizations, and leaders in both. We have worked well together through the years and we have learned leadership techniques from each other. He is a true professional. Melissa Keel does an outstanding job as the Community Program Coor-
dinator for the Federation. She is active behind the scenes for every event that we offer, organizing the information needed and securing volunteers. She is assisted by Iris Doenias, who joined our staff last year and lends her skills wherever needed in the office. Deborah Vacca is our bookkeeper and quickly adapted to our organization and is knowledgeable in her field. Our staff is small, but competent and professional in their jobs. Nothing that was accomplished these last few years would have been possible without you, the donor. Your support has allowed us to enrich and enhance the lives of Jews locally and around the world. I hope our community reaches the one-million-dollar goal for 2012 so we can continue to do the work of the Federation, which is tikkun olam, repairing the world. I will miss my role as your president. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in this capacity and to help in the growth of a vibrant Jewish community in Collier County. Thanks to all who were by my side on this journey.
Annual Community Celebration - see section B for 28 more photos
Happy Passover Passover is a time for family gatherings and happiness as we commemorate the story of the Exodus. The Jewish Federation of Collier County would like to wish your family a happy and healthy Passover.