Federation Star - July/August 2016 by Jewish Federation of Collier County

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Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County, Israel and the World

Federation Star Published by the Jewish Federation of Collier County serving Naples, Marco Island and the surrounding communities

www.JewishNaples.org  July/August 2016 - Sivan/Tammuz/Av 5776  INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 4 6 7 12 14 17 17 20 22 23 24 25 27

Men’s Cultural Alliance Women’s Cultural Alliance Community Focus Tributes Jewish Interest Israel & the Jewish World Business Directory Commentary Focus on Youth Synagogues Organizations Community Calendar Community Directory

9 The Israeli Olympians are coming to Naples!

17 800 Jewish mothers from 10 countries at Israel event

Vol. 25 #11

Celebrate Israel event a huge success By Jeffrey Randall, Event Coordinator

he Israel Advocacy Committee of the Jewish Federation of Collier County extends its sincere thanks to the speakers, exhibitors and attendees who made the admission-free multicultural celebration of Israel’s 68th anniversary of independence at the Mercato a consummate success. There were 19 exhibitors – seven represented Israeli organizations and the remainder represented Jewish organizations from Naples and from Florida east coast locales that support Israel. The celebration also included speakers Rabbis Ammos Chorny, Adam Miller and Fishel Zaklos; Congressmen Curt Clawson and Mario Diaz-Balart; Amy Snyder, Executive Director of the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida; Gayle Dorio, co-President of the Collier/Lee Chapter of Hadassah; Sara Gold Rafel of StandWithUs; and Mark Kotler of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. In addition to the exhibitors and speakers, live Israeli music and songs were performed throughout the after-

2016 Federation Annual Campaign

noon by Music by Simcha, Cantor Donna Azu (Temple Shalom), and cantorial soloist Hari Jacobsen (Marco Island Jewish Congregation); teenagers from BBYO showed us all how to do Israeli dancing; Temple Shalom provided arts and crafts activities for children; a Mount Masada rock climbing wall was provided for more adventurous children and adults; and Magen David Adom showcased a mobile intensive care ambulance unit which is now on its way to Israel. And although you may not have noticed, ample security was provided by Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.

A shout-out to Stage Deli Fine Foods for providing delicious sandwiches and thirst-quenching water, with all proceeds from their sales donated to the Federation. We are in the planning stages for an event next year that will showcase Israel as a nation of innovation for its contributions to medicine and health, energy, technology, agriculture and the environment for the benefit of humankind. Hopefully, we will be able to arrange a date for next year’s event during season so more of you can attend. Stay tuned!

Approximately 300 people attended the Celebrate Israel event throughout the afternoon at the Mercato

See page 11 for more photos from this event

Stand Up for Justice educator grants awarded By Beth Povlow

$1,100,000 $833,625* 18

$600,000

FIDF mission spans Jewish history

$300,000 $100,000 22

*as of 6/8

Preschool of the Arts scientists

Jewish Federation of Collier County Inc. 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201 Naples, FL 34109

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he 2016 Stand Up for Justice educator grant awards have been decided. Stand Up for Justice was established in the wake of an unfortunate incident known as “Kick a Jew Day” at a Naples middle school in late 2009. The Jewish Community Relations Council has sponsored the grant awards from its inception. The grant awards celebrate educators who can demonstrate effectiveness in sensitizing kids to respect each other

narrow it down to one, so we had two recipients this year. Second place went to Victoria Peterson, an eighth-grade English Language Arts teacher at Oakridge Middle School who introduced the Holocaust to her students in a way that affected them profoundly. Her students read books by author Myra Roberts that included The Faces of Anne Frank and Project Tolerance. She took her students to the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida, where they looked at multi-media collages, created by Myra Roberts, depicting the horrors of that horrific time. Then she invited Mrs. Roberts and Holocaust survivor Steen Metz into her classroom, where they discussed the power of the individual to stand up for justice and to recognize and reject Beth Povlow (at left) with first-place winner Lake Park Elementary School teacher Kristin Merrill, principal Christopher Marker and several students bigotry and bullying. no matter what differences exist beHer students wrote powerful letters tween them. Each year has brought forth of thanks to Mrs. Roberts, and their amazing grant winners and this year emotional words are impactful. “It was was no exception. The judges could not continued on page 3

Federation Star July/August 2016

JEWISH FEDERATION

Renee’s community program & events corner Commemoration, Community-wide Chanukah Celebration, Human Needs Award Ceremony, Stand Up For Justice Award Ceremony, Martin Luther King Jr. Parade participation, Jewish Community Festival of Learning, Celebrate Israel, Israel Scouts/Friendship Caravan, Evy Lipp People of the Book Cultural Event, Naples Klezmer Revival Band Concert, and Jewish Book Festival, just to name a few! I also work closely with the five synagogues in Collier County, numerous Jewish organizations and community members to coordinate events and programs. I coordinate certificates and tzedakah boxes for the B’nai Mitzvah students. I am the Federation’s website

Renee’ Bialek

Community Program Coordinator

s the Community Program Coordinator for the Jewish Federation of Collier County, I am involved with the following groups: JCRC, CJD, IAC, JRCA, MCA, WCA, Mix and Mingle, Jewish Professional Group, Cardozo Society, and Jewish War Veterans. I help coordinate the following: Yom HaShoah Program, Kristallnacht

and Facebook administrator, and help coordinate the weekly Federation eblast. Please make sure you are receiving the weekly eblasts and check out our website at www.jewishnaples.org. I am also the JFCC Volunteer Coordinator, and would like to thank ALL the wonderful helpers who come in to answer the phones, file or help at the events. Thank you volunteers!

Creating a new Federation mission statement Alvin Becker Federation Board Chair

e n y a l e

r e a lto r

239.293.7802

helayne.frankel@sothebysrealty.com

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This month’s advertisers This publication is brought to you each month thanks to the support of our advertisers. Please be sure to use their products and services, and mention that you found them in the Federation Star. Barsky Team, Realtors®..........15 CallSaul-YourPersonalDriver.17 Chellie Doepke, Realtor®.........9 Entertainment Direct..............10 Margot Escott, LCSW..............6 FGCU......................................8 Helayne Frankel, Realtor®........2 Fuller Funeral Home................8 Claire Goldhagen.....................9 Gulfcoast Foot & Ankle........18 Stacy Hersha, CPA.................17 Holocaust Museum & Ed. Ctr..3 Jewish Museum of FL-FIU....19 A. Stephen Kotler, Attorney....17

mission statement is defined as a one-sentence statement describing the reason an organization exists. It is used to help guide decisions about its priorities, actions and responsibilities. Research on the subject reveals that with a clear and effective mission statement, a non-profit can clarify its purpose, help potential donors understand the organization’s reason for being, and increase public transparency. That research also suggests that a good non-profit mission statement should be concise and designed to communicate what the organization does in such a way that people can remember it and

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communicate it to others. Recently, a committee of your Federation’s board, under the chairmanship of member Stephen Coleman, embarked on a review of the Federation’s mission statement and recommended a revised statement that was adopted, and is now the official mission statement of the Jewish Federation of Collier County: “To enhance and enrich the quality of Jewish life by recognizing and supporting the charitable, educational, humanitarian and social service needs of the Jewish community locally, nationally, overseas and in the State of Israel.” In approving the statement, your board concluded that it fully met the criteria of a good mission statement: it communicates our purpose, defines what groups we serve and how we plan to do so. What do you think? Please let me know.

Change Jeﬀrey Feld

naples resident 30 years

Frankel

JFCC Office Volunteers are needed to answer the phones at the Jewish Federation office. If you can volunteer a few hours a week and you like to greet people, please call me today at 239.263.4205. Come volunteer in a fun and happy atmosphere. Also call me if you would like to volunteer at a special event.

“

Federation President/ CEO

hange” is a word that elicits reactions from people. Generally, the first thought is, “How is this change going to affect me?” The Jewish Federation of Collier County is constantly dealing with change. The officers, board of directors and staff are always looking for ways to make our Federation better and to make our Jewish community better. In an article in this edition of the Federation Star, board chair Alvin Becker identifies the changing of our mission statement. With that change, we are now able to identify our purpose and our intent in a single sentence. It is a simple change, yet one that helps us to better focus on our goals. Our leadership has recognized that we need to do a better job of expressing our appreciation to all of those individuals who support our Jewish community through the Annual Campaign. We are making a change so that we can be better at saying “thank you.” There is another article in this issue that specifically identifies our new Donor Appreciation Program. Our purpose is to thank you for your support that allows us to do what our mission statement describes. Please allow us the opportunity to thank each of you publicly and personally. In an effort to be more effective and

efficient, the Federation is changing to a new Donor Management System. As I write this article, we are in the process of changing over to Donor Perfect. This is a change we believe will help us to serve you better. The next time that you come to the Federation office, you may notice another change. The carpet in the David G. Willens Community Room and the Board Room has been replaced. Although cosmetic, this was a necessary change. We want everyone to feel comfortable being in our facility for meetings and programs. We have all heard projections that the greater Collier County community is going to be growing over the next few years. We expect that the Jewish community will grow at least proportionately. This is another change. As a result, the Jewish Federation of Collier County is taking steps to determine what our Jewish community is going to look like and what the needs of the community are going to be, and what we need to do in order to meet those needs. This is in anticipation of change. We are in the process of gathering information and planning so that we can continue to have a vital and vibrant Jewish community. If you have any questions about any of the changes identified here, please contact me at the Federation office. If you have suggestions for other changes we should consider, again, please contact me. We need everybody’s help and input to make our Jewish community the very best possible. Thank you and have a wonderful summer! Evy Lipp People of the Book Cultural Event Wednesday, February 17, 2016

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Visit www.issuu.com Enter “Federation Star” in the search box and click on the cover image of the issue you’d like to read. Then simply scroll through the pages.

This event is sold out! If you need to cancel your reservation, please contact Renee’ ASAP at rbialek@jewishnaples.org or 239.263.4205 so we can allow those on the waiting list to attend. If you are attending, please be sure to bring your ticket with you.

Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County, Israel and the World

Federation Star Published by the Jewish Federation of Collier County serving Naples, Marco Island and the surrounding communities

www.JewishNaples.org INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

9A Men’s Cultural Alliance 4A Women’s Cultural Alliance 10A Community Focus 14A Tributes 18A Jewish Interest 23A Business Directory 24A Israel & the Jewish World 27A Commentary 29A Focus on Youth 31A Synagogues 32A Organizations 34A Community Calendar 35A Community Directory 1B Jewish Happenings 6B Jewish Book Festival

February 2016 - Shevat/Adar 5776

Vol. 25 #6

“Shop with a Sheriff”

The Jewish Federation and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office partner to make the holidays brighter for 90 deserving children and their families. By Joel Kessler

member of the Jewish Federation of Collier County who wishes to remain anonymous made a generous $9,000 donation so that children could team up with Collier County deputies and shop for their parents and siblings. The donor’s goal was two-pronged: to help families in need enjoy the season and to give children an opportunity to interact and spend quality time with deputies. Federation President/CEO Jeffrey Feld and Federation Board Chair Alvin Becker were in attendance on Monday, December 14, when 45 Golden Gate

students shopped with deputies. Each child was given $100 to spend at a local Kmart. The children and deputies then enjoyed snow cones and popcorn at the Golden Gate Community Center where volunteers wrapped the gifts. A simultaneous shopping trip had an additional 45 deserving East Naples students accompanied by deputies who serve the East Naples community. Jeffrey Feld was quoted as saying that the anonymous donor was looking forward to continuing “Shop with a Sheriff” each year during the holiday season as an ongoing program.

4A “Dining Out” – a favorite WCA pastime

6A Major Gifts and Lion of Judah event

At the “Shop with a Sheriff” event at the Kmart in Golden Gate: Joel Kessler, Federation President/CEO Jeffrey Feld, Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, Lt. J.J. Carroll, Stephanie Spell (Chief of Community Engagement Collier County Sheriff’s Office), Federation Board Chair Alvin Becker (photos courtesy Ted Epstein)

Phyllis Seaman to receive Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award 16A 20th Annual Women’s Hanukkah Tea

24A 15 Israeli wearable techs that will disrupt our lives

he Jewish Federation of Collier County is proud to recognize Phyllis Seaman as the first Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award recipient from our community. The award, a prestigious, internationally-recognized honor to a Lion of Judah, is given to a woman who demonstrates the highest ideals of women’s leadership and involvement. The award was established in recognition of Norma Kipnis-Wilson and Toby Friedland (z’l), co-founders of The Jewish Federation of North America’s Lion of Judah Program. Phyllis more than exemplifies the

Jewish Federation of Collier County Inc. 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201 Naples, FL 34109

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spirit of the Lion of Judah, far exceedmany board leadership positions including the recommended criterion considing Vice President. erations for the prestigious During the last 22 years, award. Phyllis has chaired or co-chaired When Phyllis Seaman Jewish Federation of Collier relocated with her husband, County campaign events – the Michael, from New York to annual Community Dinner and Naples in 1992, she started Major Gifts/Lion of Judah – volunteering on social funcmany times and has sat on nutions at the Jewish Federamerous committees. tion. In 1994, her family went Phyllis was Campaign Chair on a Federation community from 2010 to 2014, and started Phyllis Seaman family mission to Israel, which sparked writing a monthly article in the Federaher desire to join the Federation board tion Star to keep donors informed as to and her commitment to Federation in continued on page 2A

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JEWISH FEDERATION Stand Up for Justice...continued from page 1

as though I was there, standing among the mangled bodies of the Jews... The whole situation burned a hole right h through us... I wish I had been there r to embrace them… The genocide, the devastating pain, the lifeless eyes of the t Jews... It was as though I had stepped n back into the door of that time... It made me weak and my heart literally broke... It made me realize that there had always been more than what you find in some history book.” First place went to Kristin Merrill, a fourth-grade English Language Arts teacher at Lake Park Elementary. Because of a plethora of saddening stories, she decided to create a different foundation for her students this year, one not built upon test scores or reading proficiency, but on love and respect for done another. She believes some teachers nteach curriculum but that she teaches dstudents! She told her students that they create w their own reputations and guided them through lessons about the past to encour-age them to one day change the future. dThey learned about bullying by reading the book One, and how it only takes one person to stand up for what’s right. They ylearned about segregation and about the lives and discrimination of Native

Americans who lived in Florida. They learned about Jackie Robinson’s struggle. They learned about the Holocaust. They read The Dot and talked about the ways they could make a mark on their school, community and the world. Every day before her students leave for the day she reminds them to be kind and to “make a mark” on someone. There were so many hands-on activities that stimulated their minds and opened them up to understand that the way they think of equality has not always been. It was this total effort that took over Kristin’s classroom and changed the students. We surprised the winners in their classrooms one day in front of their students. Another day we had a special presentation, celebration and reception at the Jewish Federation of Collier County office, where their families and their guests were invited. In both instances, adorable students explained what they learned this year and what it meant to them, which was inspiring enough. But a real surprise was that four of Kristin Merrill’s students surprised her and us by spending that day writing a recipe for treating others with love and respect that was truly awesome to all who witnessed it.

e : s

July/August 2016 Federation Star

JCRC wraps up another season By Betty Schwartz, JCRC Chair

oel Pittelman has retired as chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) after three years of dedicated leadership. During Joel’s tenure, the JCRC has increased efforts to promote good relations between the Jewish community and the general community of Naples and Collier County in many ways, including informing and engaging with community leaders, the Collier County School Board, and others of the Jewish community’s position on issues of interest and concern. The Council’s award program is a particularly important and satisfying function. With the Human Needs Award, we are proud to continue to recognize two organizations every year that benefit the community, with a cash award and certificate of appreciation. This year’s recipients were the Children’s Advocacy Center and Naples Music Club. Our appreciation goes to Gail Smith and Ida Margolis of the Human Needs Committee for their dedication to selecting worthy groups for this award. The other award program is the Stand Up for Justice educator grant program, headed by Beth Povlow. Please read Beth’s article in this issue for details. Those of us who attended the award ceremony left feeling very optimistic about the future because of these wonderful teachers and their students.

Thanks also to Ruth Dorfman, Melissa Keel and Jane Kiester for their help. This year was the Council’s first time participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade by marching with our Federation banner and distributing Federation literature. Next year we hope to increase participation in this event. Ida Margolis deserves kudos for her work in organizing the second One Book SWFL in cooperation with the Collier County Public Library. This year’s book was The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal. There were many thought-provoking discussions, and a stimulating panel moderated by David Praeger. The keynote speaker was Mark Weitzman of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The success of this program is due to Ida’s enormous skills and determination. There are so many more activities that could be written about, but there really is not enough space. Next year we hope to continue and increase our community involvement and programs, building on the foundation that Joel has helped establish. Fortunately, Joel will remain on the Council, heading our committee dealing with anti-Semitism. Our appreciation and thanks to Joel for his service. As the incoming chair, I will rely on his advice and support.

ConneCt with your Jewish Community

Beth Povlow (at right) with teacher Victoria Peterson (center), principal Kimberly Lonergan (top row at left) and students at Oakridge Middle School

www.facebook.com/ facebook.com/jfedsrq JewishFederationofCollierCounty

13th Annual Holocaust Education Seminar The Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida July 27-29, 2016 8:30am - 4:00pm

Teacher Kristin Merrill and students at Lake Park Elementary School

Get involved with the Jewish Professionals group By Andy Singer

ll of us have one thing in common: we are Jewish. As such, the Jewish Federation of Collier County’s Jewish Professionals group is a great way to leverage that important connection. When I was living in New England, there was a strong commitment to bringing Jewish professionals together, and we all benefited from those connections. Many of you may have been involved with Hillel, a Jewish fraternity, a Jewish sorority, or your synagogue. At times, we often don’t put any effort into finding other Jewish professionals, yet there are immense and tangible benefits to doing so. Being involved in a Jewish Professional organization can help you in many areas of your life. Not only can there be excellent networking opportunities, you may find new business associates, business mentors, friends, spiritual support, or even dating opportunities. The Jewish Professionals group is what you make it. There are unlimited

opportunities, but to make the most of it, all of us need to be involved, engaged and actively participating. The more each of us participates, the more all of us exponentially benefit from a thriving, local Jewish professionals population. We are all members of “the tribe,” and by attending and participating in events, we help other Jewish professionals, the Federation, the local community and ourselves. After you have enjoyed the summer, consider how you can be more involved in the Jewish Federation of Collier County’s Jewish Professionals group this coming fall. Consider not just attending events, but bringing a friend or two along with you. Let us know what events you would like to see and what we can do to help you and to help each other. See you at an event next season! For more information or to be included in the Jewish Professionals group, contact me at andy.singer@singer executivedevelopment.com or Renee’ at rbialek@jewishnaples.org.

Open to: 4th - 12th grade educators in public, private and home school settings. Theme:

"Teaching WWII and the Holocaust Through Music"

Receive:

Classroom ready materials, in service points and daily refreshments!

Cost:

$45 Registration Fee due by July 18th

Explore the Museum's summer exhibit, Calypso: Wartime Through Song, use the Echoes and Ref lections resource guide, and hear from local Holocaust Survivors and WWII veterans. For more information and to register, please contact Amy Snyder, Executive Director, at 239-263-9200 or Amy@HolocaustMuseumSWFL.org. 4760 Tamiami Trail North Suite 7 Naples, FL 34103 239.263.9200 www.holocaustmuseumswfl.org

This program is supported by the Jewish Federation of Collier County, the Merrill Kuller Educator Fund and the Florida Department of Education Commissioner's Task Force on Holocaust Education

Federation Star July/August 2016

JEWISH FEDERATION

2016 Campaign – Where your money goes Neve Michael Children’s Village in Pardes Hanna, Israel

ere is a recent email from Hava Levene to Harvey Brenner, Federation Campaign Chair, and his wife Maxine, giving us an update from Neve Michael. June 1, 2016 Dear Harvey and Maxine, You and your Federation are very much a part of Neve Michael. That is why I thought I would share with you a few very special things that have been going on at the home. You will under-

stand even better why working there makes my day and why Neve Michael (NM) is really a haven for the boys and girls that must live there. THIS IS ABOUT THE HEARTBEATS OF NEVE MICHAEL. Last Shabbat we hosted 70 children from a non-profit organization for chronically and terminally sick children. This program takes the children away for weekends now and then in order to give the families a break and respite.

GIVING IS NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING A DONATION, IT IS ABOUT MAKING A BETTER WORLD Vickie & Truly Nolen’s $10,000 Challenge Grant for the Federation’s 2016 Campaign Vickie & Truly Nolen matched dollar for dollar any first-time contributions and increased contributions from last year up to $10,000. We asked. You gave. We secured the Nolens’ matching challenge grant. We also met and surpassed our first anonymous challenge grant of $10,000 for 2016 very quickly. And our $25,000 challenge grant from two anonymous donors was fulfilled last month. As of June 8, our Annual Campaign stands at $833,625. Thank you for supporting our Annual Campaign. We have a lot of momentum and need your help to continue toward our goal. The more money we collect, the more we can give back to our beneficiary agencies in Collier County, Israel and over 65 countries around the world, besides funding for our ongoing local programs.

The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida in collaboration with the Jewish Federation of Collier County is hosting:

Olympic-Bound Synchronized Swimming Israel Team 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro

We invite them every year as a gift to these children. It is also important for NM to give, and for our children to help others as well. Recently, our children in the Sulamot Philharmonic program – music for children in risk – performed in Tel Aviv. I heard that it was amazing. Remember, we have kids that have even played solo with Zubin Mehta. It is a miracle when one remembers why and how they came to NM. I am so proud of them. I admire these boys and girls who have had such a hard beginning in their homes. Our Bar and Bat Mitzvah group is continuing to help Holocaust survivors in the area – buying food, cleaning the home, taking them for walks, going to the doctor, and just sitting and talking to them. Our children have bonded with these survivors, and Holocaust Day now has an entirely different meaning for them. Some of the survivors will be coming to the big Bar/Bat Mitzvah event at the end of June, and those who do will be our guests of honor. Last week we hosted a lovely group of young adult girls with special needs – 18 years old and up – all from abroad. It was moving and meaningful, especially to see how our children and staff welcomed them. The girls didn’t want to leave. For me it was a great day… making others feel good. And in a few weeks, a group of NM children are going to Euro Disney as part of a Make-a-Wish Israel project. This

WWW.NEVEMICHAEL.COM program is taking 50 very sick children in the country, each with a chaperon, and medical staff. There was a request that children-at-risk come as well to help the sick children and to be their buddies during this journey. I am so proud that a group of NM kids was chosen, accompanied by our own psychologist. They have already met the children and are eagerly looking forward to this. So you can see why Neve Michael makes my day! And our dedicated staff could never do what they do without wonderful people rooting for us and helping! We are lucky to have you and the support of the Jewish Federation of Collier County. Love, Hava

MCA gears up for a stellar season By Jeff Margolis

hile many MCA members are away from Naples at their northern addresses, members of the planning committee and board are busily planning for the upcoming season. Meir Kehila has secured great venues and tasty menus for our monthly luncheon meetings. Program chair Steve Brazina is working diligently to obtain noteworthy speakers who will address current topics, including the state of the economy and the 2016 Presidential election. With over 150 members now living here full time, MCA is expanding its all-year activities. They include pickleball, bocce, kayaking, bridge, bird watching, The New Yorker group, Couples Date Night and Jewish genealogy. There is even a breakfast group meeting at Perkins Restaurant on Pine Ridge Road every other Thursday. For

more information about these ongoing events, please contact Morris Binder at morrisb8@gmail.com. New for next season will be the MCA Pot Luck Movie Discussion Group. More information for this exciting activity will be forthcoming. If you are interested in starting a group or activity for next season, please email us at mcanaples@aol.com. Just a reminder that MCA’s new year begins July 1 and dues are now due. Please join us for an exciting and dynamic new season. Annual dues are $70 and include membership in the Jewish Federation of Collier County. Simply complete the membership form on page 6. Also, please note that the MCA eblast will be published every other week throughout the summer. The 2016-17 MCA Program Guide will be published at the end of August.

Jewish Community Festival of Learning

Let’s give a big warm welcome to the two swimmers, Evgenia Tetelbaum and Anastasia Gloushkov-Leventhal (pictured above), along with their head coach, Tatiana Tsym. They arrive in Naples on July 9 and depart August 3. We have scheduled four events for the community to watch the synchronized swimmers at the T2 Aquatics Pool at 13275 Livingston Road (just north of Pine Ridge Road). Please join us.

XX XX XX XX

Welcome Reception on Sunday, July 17 at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 27 at 11:30 a.m. Good Luck Reception on Sunday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact Marina Berkovich at jhsswf@gmail.com or Renee’ Bialek at rbialek@jewishnaples.org.

n Sunday, March 19, 2017 the Jewish Community Relations Council will be bringing a Jewish Community Festival of Learning (JCFL) to Collier County. A committee has been formed to plan this event, which is modeled after Limmud, Jewish learning experiences that take place in 40 countries throughout the world. The mission of the JCFL is to celebrate Jewish life and learning by connecting Jews of all backgrounds and traditions to their heritage. Similar to the Limmud concept, this event will be organized and staffed almost entirely by volunteers. Our Jewish community is fortunate to have many active, engaged and intellectually curious residents, and this day of learning should be a perfect fit for our area. In addition to two keynote presentations, there will be a great variety of talented and knowledgeable people

from within and outside the community who will be sharing their expertise. Attendees will have a choice of many sessions to attend. There will be something for everyone, from presentations on “Jewish Perspectives on Writing an Ethical Will,” to “Jews in the Entertainment Industry: From Yiddish Theater to Present Day,” to “Jews in Baseball” to “Bearing Witness: A Story of Holocaust Survivors as Told By Their Daughters.” Plan on joining us at Temple Shalom on Sunday, March 19, 2017. Watch for more information on the Jewish Community Festival of Learning in future issues of the Federation Star. There will be many volunteer opportunities for those who would like to become involved in this exciting day. For the opportunity to volunteer or for more information, contact co-chairs Ida Margolis and Betty Schwartz at info4JCFL@gmail.com.

The Federation Star is a monthly nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and the Jewish Federation of Collier County.

JEWISH FEDERATION

July/August 2016 Federation Star

Donor Appreciation Listings By Jeffrey Feld, Federation President/CEO

Published by

2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 2201 Naples, Florida 34109-0613 Phone: (239) 263-4205 Fax: (239) 263-3813 www.jewishnaples.org Email: info@jewishnaples.org Officers

Board Chair: Alvin Becker Vice Chair: Kevin Aizenshtat Vice Chair: Jane Schiff Vice Chair: Phyllis Seaman Secretary: Wallie Lenchner Treasurer: Jerry Sobelman Immed. Past Chair: Judge Norman Krivosha

Board of Directors Joshua Bialek Rosalee Bogo David Braverman Harvey Brenner Dan Carp Stephen Coleman Karen Deutsch Dr. Ed Ezrine Michael Feldman Alan Gordon Neil Heuer James Knafo Joel Pittelman Marc Saperstein Arlene Sobol Michael Sobol Steve Strome Dr. Daniel Wasserman Beth Wolff Edward Wollman

Past Presidents

Gerald Flagel, Dr. William Ettinger, Ann Jacobson, Sheldon Starman, Bobbie Katz, Rosalee Bogo

Board Members Emeritus Hans Levy Shirley Levy

Synagogue Representatives Cantor Donna Azu Sue Baum Rabbi Ammos Chorny Rabbi Mark Gross Phil Jason Rabbi Adam Miller Suzanne Paley Rabbi James Perman Dr. Arthur Seigel Rabbi Sylvin Wolf Rabbi Fishel Zaklos Debbie Zvibleman

Federation President/CEO Jeffrey Feld

Staff

Renee’ Bialek, Community Prog. Coord. Julie Hartline, Donor Relations Coord. Stacy Hersha, Business Oper. Mgr. Federation is the central Jewish community-building organization for Collier County, providing a social service network that helps Jewish people in Collier County, in Israel and around the world. As the central fundraising organization for Jewish communal life in our area, strength is drawn from organized committees of dedicated volunteers. Programs include: • Annual Campaign & Endowment fund • Educational & cultural programs • Israel Advocacy Committee • Israel Scouts • Jewish Book Festival • Jewish Community Relations Council • Jewish Russian-American Cultural Alliance • Men’s Cultural Alliance • Publication of the Federation Star, Connections and Community Directory • Strategic Planning • Women’s Cultural Alliance • Women’s Division • YAD – Young Adult Division • Youth Activities Committee – sponsoring youth education and scholarships for Jewish Summer Camp and the Israel Experience

o all Jewish Federation of Collier County donors, we say, “THANK YOU, TODAH RABAH, MERCI, GRACIAS, GRAZIE, SPASIBO,” and we really appreciate you supporting our efforts to create a vibrant Jewish community in Southwest Florida. The Board of Trustees has decided that it is time to say “thank you” in a more formal way. We wish to show the community how much we appreciate each and every one of our donors by publicly thanking them in publications, namely the Federation Star and our yearly report. This means that starting

this fall – in October, November and December – we will be publishing the names of the people who have made a commitment to the Jewish Federation of Collier County 2016 Annual Appeal. In the annual report to the community, which will be published in early 2017 for the 2016 appeal, there will be levels of giving, and names will appear within the levels, without any specific amounts. We know that some people prefer to not be listed or just listed as anonymous. In order to facilitate this, there are three ways to opt out: 1. Complete and send in the form below

2. Email Julie Hartline at jhartline@ jewishnaples.org 3. Call the Federation office at 239.263.4205 and ask for Julie Hartline We know that you are as proud of your gift as we are grateful to be the community-building organization that accepts your gift on behalf of our entire community, locally and internationally. We all share this pride and love of our community. Again we say “THANK YOU, TODAH RABAH, MERCI, GRACIAS, GRAZIE, SPASIBO,” and we really appreciate you!

Form to OPT OUT of Jewish Federation of Collier County Donor Appreciation Lists Please remove me/us from recognition in any published format. I/we understand our gift is appreciated, but we prefer no public recognition. Please submit this form no later than Name(s) _____________________________________________________ Monday, August 15, 2016. Address______________________________________________________ Mail it to: Jewish Federation of Collier County City________________________ State_____ Zip Code________________ Attn: Julie Hartline Email _______________________________________________________ 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road #2201 Preferred Phone Number ________________________________________ Naples, FL 34109

Jewish community has serious stake in Collier County School Board election By Joel Pittelman

ducation has been one of the core values of Judaism since time immemorial, and public education has been key to the success of the Jewish people in America. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants all people the freedom to worship their religions, grants all people the freedom from having to worship others’ religions, and assures us that the State will not establish nor show preference for a particular religion. Enforcing these Constitutional protections has not been an easy task. There has been continual litigation, primarily over stopping religious content in the public schools. The Jewish community achieves substantial unanimity on precious few social issues, but on this issue – the Separation of Church and State – Jews have been in nearly full agreement for over 100 years. Our fight for freedom from other people’s religions is a constant battle, and right now, right here in Collier County, that freedom is again under attack. The upcoming Collier County School Board election has two open seats. Depending on results of that election, control of the public schools could easily pass to people who advocate for prayer at the school board and the Christian Bible in the classroom. There are four candidates for the two open seats. Two of those candidates understand and support the Constitutional separation. If only one of the other candidates is elected, he or she would join two current board members who have previously voted to include prayer at the school board. Together, those three will hold a majority of the five-member school board. They might try to change the way the Collier County Public Schools will function on other issues related to faith and theology, the content of teaching materials and practices, as well as many other educational processes. It is important to understand that school board elections are non-partisan. And this is not a discussion about political party positions. It is neither a Republican nor a Democratic party matter. But just as religions want to be free from government, so too should governing bodies (including school boards) be free from religious direction. With this article, it is my intent to alert you to these constitutional concerns and to urge you to seek complete information about the candidates from other sources. Here are some sources to view

online: lwvcolliercounty.org, sparkerssoapbox.blogspot.com and C4QPE.org. You may cast two votes. Your vote is critical! Your educated vote must be counted! Tuesday, August 30 is Election Day in Collier County. The U. S. Post Office DOES NOT FORWARD vote-by-mail ballots. If you will be away on August 30 and also during the early voting period from August 20-27, please provide the Collier County Supervisor of Elections with your summer address. 1. Go to www.colliervotes.com. 2. On the left column of options, drop down to Vote-by-Mail and then select Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request. 3. There you will find easy instructions

to request your Vote-by-Mail ballot by phone, mail or via online access. 4. Ballots are mailed approximately four weeks prior to the election and require first class postage. 5. To ensure your ballot will be counted, your signature must match the one on record. (See your voter registration card.) Voter registration for the August 30 election closes August 1. There are two non-partisan candidate forums coming up: • Monday, July 11 at 6:00 p.m. at the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island • Monday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Golden Gate Community Center

Jewish Book Festival: summer reading list By Ted Epstein, Jewish Book Festival Coordinator

n late May, Jewish Book Festival co-chairs Susan Pittelman and Robin Mintz, and I attended the Jewish Book Council (JBC) Network Conference in New York City. In addition to meeting other book festival coordinators and lay leaders, and taking several classes on running successful events, we heard approximately 200 authors present a two-minute pitch for themselves and their books. JBC members (our Federation is one) are able to bring these authors to their communities without an honorarium. For those of you who attended the first annual Jewish Book Festival, if you thought we had a great lineup of authors, this year’s group is even more impressive. During the conference and at dinner, Susan, Robin and I reviewed and compared our notes about the authors. While we had several differences of opinion, there were numerous authors we all agreed on. When we returned to Naples, we met to consolidate our choices and to put together a potential schedule. Our top list of 65 authors quickly became 40 and then 30. We then organized these top authors by the subject matter of their books. As you recall, most of our Festival events had two authors speaking on related topics. The next Festival will follow the same format for a majority of the events. After meeting with several Festival committee members, I submitted our requests to the JBC for 17 authors across nine events. In early July, I will find out which authors can come to Naples on

the dates requested. I will then submit replacement and/or additional author requests to fill out our schedule. More on this in the September issue. For now, Susan, Robin, Phil Jason (Jewish Book Festival co-chair and expert reviewer) and I have put together a recommended summer reading list. The following books are currently available, they’ve been highly recommended by Festival committee members who previewed/reviewed them, and their authors are on our request list. Even if an author is not able to make it to our 2nd Festival, you will still enjoy these books. Happy reading!  Mrs. Houdini by Victoria Kelly (fiction)  Modern Girls by Jennifer Brown (fiction)  Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (fiction)  Pumpkinﬂowers by Matti Friedman (Israel/memoir)  The Bridge Ladies by Betsy Lerner (relationships/memoir)  Mother, Can You Not? by Kate Siegel (relationships/memoir)  The Nazi Titanic by Robert Watson (Holocaust)  Jewish Lunacy by Eric Golub (humor)  A Land Twice Promised by Noa Baum (memoir)  Living with a SEAL by Jesse Itzler (memoir)

Federation Star July/August 2016

JEWISH FEDERATION

www.WomensCulturalAlliance.com / 215-820-6697

WOMEN’S CULTURAL ALLIANCE

WCA – There’s nothing like it! By Elaine Soffer, WCA President, and Susan Pittelman, WCA Publicity Director

he word on the grapevine is that the Women’s Cultural Alliance (WCA) is the envy of communities throughout the country. No other Jewish community has an organization quite like it! In fact, WCA is even being used as a criterion in deciding where to retire. At least one couple reported that they chose Naples over other locations in Florida because of the Women’s Cultural Alliance. The woman felt that being part of the organization would help her to more easily make friends and to immediately feel a part of our community. Anyone looking through the WCA Program Guide will quickly see that WCA offers its members the opportunity to continue to be active adult learners, enhancing their education while providing new experiences. Through WCA, women can participate in a wide variety of classes, fine arts programs, and interest groups – something that many women were unable to do while they were pursuing their careers and/or raising families. This past season, for example, WCA offered monthly docent-led tours of the

Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida with the opportunity to hear from a Holocaust survivor. WCA outings included visiting unique art galleries in both Naples and Miami. WCA’s renowned speaker series, class offerings, and numerous special interest groups provided ways for our members to not only to expand their minds, but to also improve their physical wellbeing. Interest groups ranged from book groups to bike riding, bird watching to Foodies, as well as canasta, mah jongg and bridge. In addition, the wide variety of class offerings addressed such topics as technology, photography, Spanish, French, Tai Chi and Chair Yoga. As women participate in these events, friendships naturally follow! In addition, WCA’s monthly New Member Coffees and Ladies Who Lunch programs make it easy to meet new people and form friendships. (At Ladies Who Lunch events, members are randomly assigned to tables so they automatically meet new women.) When we asked our membership to complete the sentence “If it weren’t for

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WCA...” several women commented over 1,300 women and thereby enhance on the opportunities WCA provides to and enrich the quality of Jewish life here further their education; expand their in greater Collier County. The Jewish intellectual curiosity; enrich their lives Federation is very appreciative of the with art, music, lectures; and provide WCA for all it does to enhance and grow them with chances to try a wide variety our community.” WCA is also a strong supporter of of new activities. But even more notable JFCS of Southwest Florida. JFCS Presiwere the responses that explained that dent/CEO Dr. Jaclynn Faffer remarked, through WCA, women have been able “JFCS is grateful for the support that to develop a “family” of friendships – we receive from WCA. Not only do we a feeling of connection and a sense of receive a generous contribution each belonging. year from WCA’s Welcome Back LunHelping to build community is an cheon, but this year WCA also helped to important part of the mission of WCA. support our efforts to reduce food inseAs an affiliate of the Jewish Federation curity in Southwest Florida by making of Collier County (JFCC), we are proud a generous donation to the JFCS Food to be an active part of our larger JewPantry in honor of each of the guest ish community. We wholly supported speakers in its Speaker Series. Thank the Celebrate Israel event in May, and you, WCA!” took advantage of the opportunity to sponsor the fiction event at our comOur members bring a wide variety munity’s Jewish Book Festival. WCA of experiences and interests to our WCA offers financial support to JFCC through community. They come from the East our annual dues and by contributing Coast, Midwest, West Coast, Canada the proceeds from our annual 50/50 and numerous places in between; they drawing to help fund the much-needed are permanent residents and snowbirds; scholarships granted by the Federation, they are working and are retired; they although these contributions do not beare married, single, windowed and digin to support all the services that WCA vorced; mothers, grandmothers, aunts and sisters. receives from Federation. Thank you Federation President/ If you are not already part of our CEO Jeffrey Feld, Community Program WCA community, we encourage you Coordinator Renee’ Bialek, Donor Reto join today. You will be glad you lations Coordinator Julie Hartline, and did! Simply complete the membership form below or go to www.Womens Federation Star Editor Ted Epstein. And thank you to all of the wonderful CulturalAlliance.com to print out the volunteers who so warmly welcome form. Dues need to be received by Friday, August 1 for you to be included in our members when we walk through the WCA Membership Directory. Don’t the Federation door. WCA could never delay – “due” it today! be the organization that it is without your assistance and support. Jeffrey Feld, commented, “The mission statement of the Jewish Federation of Collier County begins with, ‘To enhance and enrich the quality of Jewish life.’ That is exactly what WCA does. Through all of its activities, WCA WCA members Loris Dallal, Michelle Christides and Linda Simon is able to engage at the Celebrate Israel event

Women’s Cultural Alliance Membership Form Our Membership year runs from September 1 to August 31. Dues for members who join after March 1st will cover the next season.

Men's Cultural Alliance of Collier County 2M0e1n '6s -C2u 0 17 Membership Form ltural Alliance of Collier County

New Member____ Renewal____ Is there a change in your information from last year? YES___ NO___ ___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Name

Spouse/Partner Name

___________________________________________________________________

Please check ___________________________________________________________________

Email Address (very important) FL Street Address, City, Zip

_________________________________ Community in which you live

The membership year 2 0 1is 6 - 2from 0 1 7 MJuly e m b e1r suntil h i p F June o r m 30 of the next year. The membership year is from July 1 until June 30 of the next year. Dues received after April 1 will be applied to the next season. Dues received after April 1 will be applied to the next season.

(PLEASE fill out the form completely and PRINT CLEARLY!) check one: New ☐ Renewal ☐ fill out the form completely and PR one:Please New ☐ Renewal ☐ (PLEASE Is there a change in your information from last year? Yes ☐

No ☐

you checked no, just print your name, fill in payment info, Yes sign event waiverNo and mail to MCA/JFCC. Is there a change in Ifyour information from last year? ☐ below,☐ _______________________________

Print Name:

FL Home Phone

If you checked no, justEmail print name, fill in payment info, sign event waiver below, and mail to (veryyour important): ______________________________ ____________________________________ Cell Phone

Northern Phone

Print Name: ___________________________________________________________________

Local Address: City: State: Florida phone: Cell or alternate phone: Northern Address: City: State: Zip: In Southwest Florida: full-time ☐ part-time ☐ (from to

Zip:

Email (very important): In FL: Full Time______ OR Part Time______ From _________________________ to _______________________ Local Address: ) Membership Dues are $90.00 (US Funds), which includes a $36.00 donation to Federation City:$90.00 State: the year; includes $36 donation to the JFCC.) Membership dues: $70 (US Funds only, Minimum for Cell Florida phone: or alternate phone: I am also including a voluntary donation to the Federation in the amount of $_________________ I am also including a voluntary donation to the Federation in the amount of Northern Address: Total enclosed or authorized $__________________ Total enclosed or authorized ____I will be paying by check. (Please make your check payable to JFCC/WCA.) Please make your check payableState: to JFCC/MCA I will be paying by check. City: Zip: ☐ ____I will be paying by credit card: Card Number_________________________________________________________ I will be paying by part-time credit card. Card Number ☐ full-time In Southwest Florida: (from to ☐ ☐ Northern Street Address, City, State or Province, Zip

Expiration Date

Exp. Date_______________ Name on Card________________________________________________________

$ $ $

Name on Card

70.00

Zip

)

NAME BADGES

You must sign the waiver below, and return this completed form with your check or credit card information. To be included in the WCA Directory, we must have this information by August 1.

name badge be issued to you at no charge for if youthe are ayear; NEW member. (USwill Funds only, Minimum includes $36 donation to the JFCC.) Membership dues:AI want $70 a replacement name badge: Yes ☐ No ☐ Fee: $8. If you checked yes, submit a total fee is $78. name as you want it to appear on theto namethe badgeFederation in the amount of I am also includingPrint a voluntary donation ____I would like to volunteer for WCA by Chairing or Co-Chairing a program. ____I would like to be a speaker or lead a workshop on these topics: If checked, list topic(s)_______________________ Mail with this SIGNED form (with your check, or credit card number) to:or authorized Total enclosed ____I would like to volunteer in some capacity, but I am not yet sure what. MCA/ Jewish Federation of Collier County Rd, Ste. 2201 Please sign Event Participation Waiver: As a participant in a WCA event, I, acting for myself, my executors, Please make your check payable to JFCC/MCA by Vanderbilt check.Beach ☐ I will be paying 2500 Naples, FL 34109 administrators, heirs, next of kin agree as follows: I waive all rights, claims, courses of action, of any kind whatsoever that

by credit card. Card Number would like to volunteer my services/expertise and would be willing to chair or co-chair a meeting/outing on the ☐ I will be paying Ifollowing topic or topics:

I or my heirs or my legal representatives may claim to have against The Jewish Federation of Collier County, The Women’s Cultural Alliance, or their agents, servants, and/or employees, for any loss, injury, or damage sustained by me while participating in a WCA event. This waiver and release shall be construed broadly, under the laws of the State of Florida. Your membership payment is your permission for Women’s Cultural Alliance to take and use photographs/videos for appropriate purposes in accordance with WCA’s mission

Expiration Date

Signature_________________________________________________ Date__________________________

Name on Card

EVENT PARTICIPATION WAIVER. By signing below, I accept the terms of this waiver.

NAME BADGES

As a participant in an MCA event, I , acting for myself, my executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin agree as follows: That I waive all rights, claims, cause of action, of any kind whatsoever that I or my heirs, legal representatives may claim to have against either The Jewish Federation of Collier County, and or the Men’s Cultural Alliance of Collier County, their members, agents, servants, and or employees, for any loss, injury, or damage sustained by me while participating in an MCA event. This waiver and release shall be construed broadly, under the Laws of the State of Florida.

Please mail this form (with the signed waiver) and your check or credit card number to:A name badge will be issued to you Jewish Federation of Collier County, 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. #2201, Naples FL 34109. I want a replacement name badge:

at no charge if you are a NEW member. Yes ☐ No ☐ Fee: $8. If you checked yes, submit a total f Signature Date Print If you prefer, you may complete this form online at www.WomensCulturalAlliance.com and then print name off the as you want it to appear on the name badge

form, sign the waiver, and mail it to the Jewish Federation (at the above address) with your payment.

For more information: Contact Les Nizin, mcanaples@aol.com

COMMUNITY FOCUS

July/August 2016 Federation Star

We are celebrating… and so should you!

Book one of these 2016 voyages and receive a $400 Shipboard credit per suite. Book any other 2016 voyage and received $200 shipboard credit per suite.

Valid until August 31, 2016

Date

Nights

From/To

Shipboard Credit Per Suite

Aug 24

Vancouver - San Francisco

$800

Aug 24

London - Stockholm

$800

Sep 5

Stockholm - Copenhagen

$600

Sep 12

Copenhagen - Stockholm

$800

Sep 22

Stockholm - London

$900

Oct 4

London - Barcelona

$1200

Oct 4

Monte Carlo - Athens

$400

Oct 12

Athens - Venice

$1200

Oct 21

Montreal - Miami

$900

Nov 9

Barcelona - Dubai

$400

Nov 15

Roundtrip Miami

$800

Nov 26

Roundtrip Miami

$900

Dec 1

Cape Town - Miami

$1300

Additional Departures Available.

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(239) 261-1177 (800) 523-3716

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*See terms & conditions. Fares are per person based on double occupancy. Applies to new bookings made by August 31, 2016. FREE Roundtrip Air includes ground transfers, applies to coach, roundtrip flights only from select airports. Airfare available from other gateways for additional charge. FREE Roundtrip Air includes airline fees, surcharges and government taxes. Airline-imposed personal charges such as baggage fees may apply. For details, visit exploreflightfees.com. FREE 1-Night PreCruise Luxury Hotel Package applies to guests 1 and 2 in Concierge Suites and higher and is not available for new bookings made within 60 days of departure. FREE Unlimited WiFi applies to all suite categories and is for one log-in per suite. Ships’ Registry: Bahamas and Marshall Islands. ©2016 Regent Seven Seas Cruises®

Federation Star July/August 2016 HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & ED CTR OF SWFL

COMMUNITY FOCUS www.holocaustmuseumswfl.org / 239-263-9200

New exhibit: Calypso – Wartime Through Song

his summer, thanks to a grant from the Naples Children’s Education Foundation (NCEF), Founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, students will have the opportunity to learn about World War II history from an unlikely source – Calypso music! The NCEF grant funded the creation of this summer’s unique education programming, which is based on the Museum’s new exhibit, Calypso – Wartime Through Song. Our second annual Summer Institute program in conjunction with Grace Place for Children and Families will also host young people from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collier County and other summer

youth programs. Using the lyrics of popular Calypso songs of the day, students will discover important aspects of World War II history. They will learn why Trinidad, the home of Calypso music, was strategically important to both the Allied and Axis powers during the war. They will uncover the fact that World War II military battles took place in the Caribbean and off the coast of South America. A variety of interactive experiences are also planned. Budding “Calypsonians” can even create and perform their own songs, using actual Calypso instruments like the “Tamboo Bamboo,” a tall bamboo wood instrument and, of course, a steel drum! It will be a lively summer in the Museum! The exhibit is on display through Sunday, October 2. Calypso highlights how, during the early to mid-20 th century, Calypso music became an important source of news and political commentary for people in the Caribbean and beyond. The talented musicians

Record label with the song “Joe Louis” (credit: Bear Family Records)

Record label with the song “The Invasion of Poland” (ceedit: Bear Family Records)

Amy Snyder Executive Director

and songwriters known as “Calypsonians” had an influence which spread far beyond their small island over the years. They adopted bold stage names such as “Roaring Lion,” “Attila the Hun” and “Lord Invader.” They performed on stages and under tents, and held lively head-to-head competitions known as “Calypso Wars.” Calypsonians developed a free style of verse known as Extempo, a technique similar to today’s rap. Lord Invader created one of the most famous songs of World War II – “Rum and Coca-Cola.” A version of this song was illegally produced by the American singers, The Andrews Sisters. Lord Invader sued for copyright infringement and won his case in 1948. Songs covered everything from daily life under colonial government to sports to sharp international political commentaries. The song “Joe Louis” by The Caresser captured the famous 1936 Joe Louis/Max Schmeling fight and its political undertones which would emerge more fully during their 1938

Calypso musicians during a show

rematch. A little known fact about the German fighter is that his long-time manager was Jewish. Despite his fame, and at great personal risk, Schmeling protected and hid his manager’s sons during Kristallnacht. The Museum will again offer its popular Holocaust Education Seminar for area educators currently teaching in public and private schools, and home school programs. The three-day seminar will take place July 27-29 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided daily, and all participants will receive classroomready materials to bring home at the conclusion of the seminar. For more details and to register, please contact Education Special Sam Parish at Sam@ HolocaustMuseumSWFL.org. Enjoy your summer, and we hope to see you at the Museum! For more information on our summer education programming, the Calypso exhibit, and the 2016 Educator Seminar, please contact the Museum at 239.263.9200 or visit www.Holocaust MuseumSWFL.org. P.S. In mid- to late-August, we anticipate being closed to the public for several days to complete our annual “housecleaning chores.” Please call or visit our website in July for the exact dates we will be closed to the public.

Summertime and the living’s not easy Dr. Jaclynn Faﬀer

JFCS President/ CEO

ummer will officially arrive on June 21, but as I sit at my desk at JFCS of Southwest Florida on June 3, I know what everyone else who has lived in Naples knows…summer is already here! There is the good news like the ability to walk into a restaurant without reservations, find a parking spot at the beach, and not have to reserve a movie ticket a week in advance. Then there is the “bad news” such as torrential downpours, blazing sun, and temperatures and humidity in the mid-90s. This is also the time of year when I am frequently asked by friends and colleagues, “Have things slowed

down?” My response is always the same. Unfortunately, things do not slow down at JFCS or the Naples Senior Center. The needs of those we serve are the same as they are in season. The challenges faced by those we serve are not seasonal. The large majority of individuals and families served by JFCS are here year-round. A spouse or a parent receives the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia in July just as frequently as one would in February. Their caregivers bring them to JFCS for one of our three respite support groups. A Holocaust survivor loses a spouse of 50 years and our licensed clinical social worker supplements the case management already received with grief counseling. An isolated senior living on the East Trail, in an apartment that has been “home” for 20 years, feels even more isolated as his neighbors leave for the summer. His JFCS-provided

Stay connected at www.jewishnaples.org

volunteer “friendly visitor” finally is able to encourage him to join the Naples Senior Center. The numbers of people needing assistance from the JFCS Financial Assistance Program and the JFCS Food Pantry do not decrease in the summer. In fact, the only thing that does decrease in the summer is the number of people who donate much needed food to the JFCS Food Pantry because they are simply not here to stop in with a bag of groceries. The food on the shelves of our Pantry is already diminished. However, the utilization continues to increase. For those of you reading this article while still in Southwest Florida, please check our website, www.jfcsswfl.org, and see

what our most needed items are, and think about stopping by with something for the JFCS Food Pantry shelves. It will be received with much appreciation. Our services and our planning for the future continue throughout the summer at the same pace as during season. That is the nature of what we do. As our mission states, we empower individuals and families by giving them tools to address life’s challenges. And, we do it every day throughout the year. Of course we are able to do this with your support and the support of our very generous community. Have a great summer and, as always, thank you for helping us help so many!

Correction: The date for JFCS’s 5th annual signature fundraising event, An Evening for Better Tomorrows, is Saturday, January 14, 2017. “Dancing, Doo Wop and Rock and Roll” will take place at Grey Oaks. Due to an editing error, the wrong date was published in the June issue.

Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies Dedicated to educating all sectors of society about Jewish civilization, the Holocaust, and genocide through: • scholarship • outreach • inquiry • sharing knowledge • preserving the record • helping teachers • encouraging students

“Serving the Jewish Community for Over 14 Years” Traditional Jewish Services

Visit www.fgcu.edu/hc/ Dr. Paul Bartrop, Director

July/August 2016 Federation Star

COMMUNITY FOCUS

The Israeli Olympians are coming to Naples! Marina Berkovich JHSSWF President

hen Coach Tatiana Tsym and her family decided to relocate to Israel after working with the National Team of Greece over several years, her daughter, Anastasia Gloushkov, was only six years old. Little did these two women imagine that they will be the faces of Israel’s Olympic Synchronized Swimming, and ever more unimaginable then was their 2016 pre-Olympic training in Naples, Florida. “Israel’s synchronized swimming was not a serious sport in those days,” says Tatiana Tsym, Head Coach of Israel’s Synchronized Swimming. When Anastasia won in the 2000 Mediterranean Games in Jerusalem, earning gold medals in both the solo and the duet events, she was only 15. That same year she qualified for the Olympics in Sydney, Australia, but Israel’s Swimming Federation had no allocation for synchronized swimming. “Not yet!” adds Tsym, “Since then we worked hard and Anastasia will be representing Israel in her fourth Olympic Games: Athens 2004, Bejing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro now. We are all very ex-

cited – the country, our Jerusalem swimming club and, of course, her family.” Anastasia’s dad, Sergei, once upon a time a competitive swimmer for USSR, had passed away in 2013, the same year Anastasia decided to take a break in the sport and gave birth to her son, Tom. “But I was back in competition when my son was five months old. I felt I could still represent Israel through one more Olympic season,” says Anastasia. Anastasia’s forte is the Solo Programs, but to compete in the Olympics, she must be part of the Duet. Her threetime Olympic Duet partner, Ina Yoffe, retired after London 2012, so Anastasia trained with two new partners. It was understood from the start that the best of them would be going to the Games. Anat Lisman and Evgenia Tetelbaum took their training very seriously, with Anat always just a little ahead. So at the beginning of this year it seemed that she was in, and Evgenia would be the alternate. A fluke accident during practice brought Anat’s Olympic aspirations to an end – she broke her thumb, and had to sit this year out. “No worries,” she said to Tsym, “I really should be focusing on my University studies.” Anat was in Rio during the Olympics qualifications in March 2016, but will not be returning there for the Games. It was Evgenia Tetelbaum and Anastasia Gloushkov-Leventhal, who placed a respectable 12th during quali-

fications, and will be marching in the opening ceremony on Friday, August 5. “We are looking forward to training in Naples,” says Tsym, who had come scouting this location two years ago. “It is friendly, warm, and only a one-hour time difference with Rio. I am hoping our new friends here will help set the Duet onto the steady path, both physically and emotionally, to meet this challenge.” The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida is proud to be the facilitator of the historic visit of Olym-

Anastasia Gloushkov-Leventhal, Coach Tatiana Tsym and Evgenia Tetelbaum at the 2016 London Worlds

pics-bound Israelis to Naples. Four exhibitions are planned in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Collier County. To become an event sponsor, volunteer or in-kind services provider, please contact us at jhsswf@gmail.com. Exhibition Schedule: We have scheduled four events for the community to watch the synchronized swimmers at the T2 Aquatics Pool at 13275 Livingston Road (just north of Pine Ridge Road). X Sunday, July 17 at 11:30 a.m. (Welcome Reception) X Thursday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. X Wednesday, July 27 at11:30 a.m. X Sunday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. (Good Luck Reception) To register for an event, please call 239.566.1771. Become a member, sponsor, business associate and/or donor of the Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida, and help support events such as this one. Contact us at: The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida 899 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 116, Naples, FL 34108 239.566.1771 www.jhsswf.org The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida is a section 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions are deductible to the extent allowed by law.

How GenShoah selects ﬁlms for public programs and why they are expensive Ida Margolis GenShoah President

am very pleased that so many people in our community attend the programs and the films that GenShoah SWFL presents as part of its public programs. Included in the mission statement of this group is the promotion of Holocaust education and human rights. GenShoah Program Chair Steve Brazina researches major Jewish film festivals and related websites to read about new releases that are consistent with our mission. Steve then reads the reviews, watches the trailers, and does extensive research to contact the distributer of the film for a preview copy. If after viewing the preview, Steve thinks that the film is worthy of showing, I will watch the preview, summarize the film and contact members of the steering committee for their input. The steering committee has surveyed GenShoah members and found that they generally prefer films that

tell a Holocaust-related story of which they were unaware or those that are inspirational. If the film fits all of the categories, Steve will then contact the distributer to find out the cost of showing the film in public. Even though the films are shown for small groups without an admission charge, a public performance fee must be paid. How much is the fee? It depends upon the distributer of the film. The cost usually ranges from $200-$500. Some distributers charge even more. Why pay this fee since the film is for educational purposes and no admission is charged? Because unless the distributors have granted free public performance rights to an educational group or the movie is out of copyright, there is a law that requires payment. The Motion Picture Licensing Corporation, a real agency, has the power to impose fines up to $150,000 for a copyright violation. In addition, it is the “right thing to do.” People worked and invested to make films. If we choose to show films in public, we will pay for them the same way we pay for any product. However, rights do not need to be paid in order to show a film in your home for your friends. All that is required is

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to purchase the DVD. GenShoah has purchased some DVDs that will be available for home viewing only. Steve and the steering committee have selected films that we hope people will find informative and a stimulus for discussion, and Steve is in the process of securing the public performance rights. How do we pay for the films? A number of individuals have made donations to GenShoah and this is greatly

appreciated. These tax-deductible donations enable us to continue to include films in our annual programming. GenShoah programming also includes speakers and book discussions. Fortunately, we have had extremely inter-

esting and highly accomplished individuals who have donated their time and expertise to speak for Gen-Shoah, and we have already scheduled some excellent presenters for the 2016-2017 season. The GenShoah program schedule for 2016-2017 will be announced soon in the Federation Star and the GenShoah e-newsletter. If you would like to receive the newsletter or get more information about GenShoah, email genshoahswfl@icloud.com. GenShoah SWFL is a group associated with the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida. In addition to promotion of Holocaust education and human rights, the mission of GenShoah SWFL also includes: preservation of the history and memories of the Holocaust, connection of the Second Generation with one another, and support of the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida. Donations to help GenShoah continue to present public programs may be made to GenShoah, in care of the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of SWFL, 4760 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, FL 34103.

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CLAIRE.GOLDHAGEN@COMCAST.NET or call 239-823-5231

Federation Star July/August 2016

JEWISH RUSSIAN CULTURAL ALLIANCE (JRCA) of the Jewish Federation of Collier County ЕВРЕЙСКО-РУССКИЙ КУЛЬТУРНЫЙ АЛЬЯНС JRCA Mission: To offer a community base in Collier County to the First Generation Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union and their families. The following are the dates for JRCA community gatherings and social events for the upcoming season. All events take place from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the David G. Willens Community Room at the Federation office.  Sunday, October 2, 2016  Sunday, December 25, 2016  Sunday, March 5, 2017  Sunday, May 7, 2017 Registration is required to participate. Email JRCAGroup@gmail.com.

Interested in your family’s history?

Do you have a similar photo in your home? Who are these people? Are they related to you? Do you know where your forebears came from? How do you find out? Do your grandchildren know who these people are? Researching your family genealogy can help you find the answers to all these questions. And the answers to questions you don’t even know to ask yet. Want to ﬁnd out how to get started? Come to the next meetings of the Jewish Genealogy SIG (Shared Interest Group) at the Jewish Federation of Collier County offices (2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 2201, Naples) on Tuesdays, July 12 and August 9 at 10:00 a.m.

Seating is limited. RSVP to genresearch13@yahoo.com. You will receive an acknowledgement that you have a reservation. Bring a notebook and pen with you to the meeting.

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COMMUNITY FOCUS

Mix & Mingle – Jewish senior singles update

eason may be over, but we are busy planning for 2016-2017 as well as putting together some events to carry us through the long, hot summer. Please be sure to watch for eblasts and flyers so that you don’t miss out! On Wednesday, June 22, a group met at Giovanni’s Restaurant for an Italian dinner. Then everyone was off to see the Israel Scouts perform at Temple Shalom. Two fun activities and both in air conditioning! Summer plans will also include an evening of laughter at Off the Hook Comedy Club, a dinner at 21 Spices, and a visit to the Conservancy for a boat ride and tour of the campus. Our next M&M column in the September issue will offer “save the dates” for the upcoming season. Calendars fill up quickly and we don’t want anyone to miss out on our special events. Do you want to catch the new exhibit at the Baker Museum? How about a visit to the Shy Wolf Sanctuary? Have you toured

Palm Cottage and the Norris Garden? What about a bus tour to Shark Valley and/or the Native American Museum? Who can resist a taste of the Chocolate Festival at the Fairchild Botanic Garden? These are just a few of the activities in the works. It takes more than just a steering committee. We need each and every one of you to help M&M continue to

be successful. Your participation is welcomed and appreciated. Please direct any questions or comments to Judi Palay at judipalay@aol.com. As a reminder to new members, annual dues of $10 are payable to JFCC. Send your check to the attention of Renee’ Bialek at the Jewish Federation of Collier County, 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Ste. 2201, Naples, FL 34109. Our membership is now at 85 and growing!

Temple Shalom events open to the community

For more information on these events, call 239.455.3030.

habbat on the Beach and potluck dinner – Friday, July 1 at 7:00 p.m. – Lowdermilk Park Temple Shalom will provide the delicious fried chicken and dessert. Please bring something to drink for yourself and a dish to share. If your name begins with A-I, please being an appetizer, J-S please bring a salad, and T-Z please bring a side dish. Plan on bringing enough to serve 8 to 10 people. RSVP to Temple Shalom at 239.455.3030. Don’t forget a beach chair! *** Torah Talk Join us the first Shabbat morning of the month for a volunteer-led discussion of the week’s Torah portion. On July 2 the portion is Shelach. On August 6 the portion is Mattot/Massei. There will be a light breakfast at 8:15 a.m. with discussion to follow at 8:30 a.m. There is no

charge and all are welcome. *** Men’s Club Breakfast at Wimbledon – Sunday, July 10 at 9:00 a.m. Join the Men’s Club in the social hall of Temple Shalom to enjoy bagels and lox while watching the Men’s Finals on a large screen. There is no cost for paid-up members of the Men’s Club. For nonmembers and guests, the cost is $10. RSVP to Steve Sacknoff at ssacknoff@ gmail.com by July 3. *** Tuesdays with Torah – August 16, 23 and 30 at noon Join Rabbi Adam Miller for exciting learning. Past topics have included God, questions about the afterlife, and Israel. You bring your lunch and Rabbi Miller will bring the texts to spark an interactive discussion rooted in the tradition of Judaism.

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For a continuously updated community calendar, visit the Federation’s website at www.jewishnaples.org.

COMMUNITY FOCUS

July/August 2016 Federation Star

Celebrate Israel event â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May 15, 2016 Photos courtesy Ted Epstein

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For more photos from the Celebrate Israel event, go to https://www.facebook.com/ JewishFederationofCollierCounty/

Federation Star July/August 2016

Tributes

Tributes to the Jewish Federation Campaign To:

Karen Sloane In memory of Dr. Jack Sloane From: Melanie Schwartz To:

Dr. Ira and Barbara Kushnir In memory of your daughter, Melanie From: Helene & Alan Gordon To:

Elaine Soffer and Family In memory of your husband, Lee From: David Willens Nina & Stephen Iser Karen & Curt Posner Jeff & Ida Margolis Amy & Bob Hirsch Judge Morton & Mae Riefberg Geraldine Feldman & David Epstein Barbara & Steve Suden Dena & Jerry Robbins

COMMUNITY FOCUS Tributes require a minimum donation of $18.

Debi & Michael Greenberg In memory of your father, Irving Lassoff From: Phyllis & Michael Seaman

To place a Tribute in the Federation Star in honor or memory of someone, please contact Julie Hartline at the Federation office at 239.263.4205 or jhartline@jewishnaples. org. Tributes require a minimum donation of $18. A note will be sent to the person you are honoring. Tributes help further the work of the Jewish Federation of Collier County.

To:

Elaine Soffer and Family In memory of your husband, Lee From: Avra & Ed Schwab Deborah Kohler Jamie Ross Merle Crystal Joni Zalasky Kathy Schneiderman Stacy Sokol Susan Garelick

The Jewish Federation of Collier County extends condolences to: • • • • •

Lee Henson on the passing of your sister, Kathleen Frank Dr. Ira and Barbara Kushnir on the passing of your daughter, Melanie Elaine Soffer on the passing of your husband, Lee Susan Seiden on the passing of your husband, David Bernalee Winter on the passing of your husband, Charles

GIVEYOUR YOURBUSINESS BUSINESS GIVE GROWTHPOTENTIAL. POTENTIAL. GROWTH ADVERTISE ADVERTISEWITH WITHTHE

Federation’s Annual Community Celebration Saturday, January 31, 2015

Read the Federation Star on your tablet!

Visit www.issuu.com Enter “Federation Star” in the search box and click on the cover image of the issue you’d like to read. Then simply scroll through the pages.

Federation Star Contact Ted Epstein at 239.249.0699 or fedstar18@gmail.com.

It’s that simple!

Robin Leonardi • 941.552.6307 • rleonardi@jfedsrq.org www.TheJewishNews.org

If your information has NOT changed, you do not have to do anything. If your information HAS changed or if you are NOT listed in the 2016 edition, complete and return this form.

Tributes to the Women’s Cultural Alliance

To:

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THIS SEASON’S TWO BIG EVENTS:

* * * * *

Evy Lipp People of T the Book Cultural Event SOLD OU Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County, Israel and the World

Federation Star Published by the Jewish Federation of Collier County serving Naples, Marco Island and the surrounding communities

www.JewishNaples.org INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 4 6 7 14 20 23 23 25 28 30 30 32 34 35

Men’s Cultural Alliance Women’s Cultural Alliance Community Focus Jewish Interest Israel & the Jewish World Tributes Business Directory Commentary Focus on Youth Rabbinical Reflections Synagogues Organizations Community Calendar Community Directory

6 WCA’s “Season” is off to a resounding start!

8 Subject of Israeli best-seller visits Naples

January 2015 - Tevet/Shevat 5775

Federation President

28 Naples BBYO teens at Regional Kallah

later in life. First, he became a scientist and worked in the field of ecology. “I would have preferred studying the humanities, but Jews in the former Soviet Union (f.S.U.) weren’t allowed to be historians or philosophers.” Utilizing his fluency in English, he often acted as a tour guide for American ambassadors and members of congress. He took them to Babi Yar, the infamous ravine in Kiev where, in two September days in 1941, German forces and local collaborators massacred nearly 34,000 Jews. As a rabbi, he says, “I get to combine all of these disciplines, because a rabbi is not only a teacher but also a scientist and a tour guide.” In addition to Judi Palay at Temple

Shalom, another local connection is the Jewish Federation of Collier County, which currently provides a grant to a Jewish preschool in Kiev. The rabbi detailed a wish list of ongoing “pockets of need,” for donations from people he meets on this talking tour who desire their own connection to Jews in Ukraine. “We need money for mundane expenses, like rent for premises and salaries for professionals. We also train lay leaders to conduct Shabbat services and do congregational work. We want to sponsor summer and winter camps that provide education promoting Jewish self-identification.” Noting that in Judaism the primary unit is the family,

continued on page 2

Jeffrey Feld, Steven D. Goldberg, Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny, Judi Palay, Rabbi Adam Miller

The case for giving at the beginning of the year…and for giving more Alvin Becker

Israeli artist to exhibit at Estero Fine Art Show

Vol. 24 #5

Kiev rabbi makes connections By Carole J Greene

eing a journalist provides me opportunities to connect with fascinating people. When Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny visited Naples on November 12, I enjoyed the privilege and pleasure of chatting with him about the challenges and successes of the Progressive Jewish Congregations (i.e. “Reform”) of Kiev, Ukraine. He is chief rabbi of the present 47 (!) congregations, an impressive increase from the eleven existing when he began. As we talked, the word “connections” came up multiple times. Rabbi Dukhovny came to the U.S. to foster connections with American Jews and forge new ones. Temple Shalom’s Judi Palay is one of the former connections and she opened her home to the rabbi, whom she’d met when traveling in Ukraine. When he spoke that evening at Temple Shalom, he likened his role on this whirlwind “talking tour” (if it’s Wednesday, this must be Naples) to fertilizing seeds of Progressive Judaism sown by others in Ukraine. “American rabbis plowed the soil. I’m the fertilizer because I know the culture, the language.” Although he knew all his life that he was a Jew, he came to the rabbinate

number of organizations have as their priority to support the most vulnerable people in our community – children, the aged, and those suffering humanitarian emergencies. Other groups seek to keep Israel safe, strong and prosperous. Still others support Jewish practices and perspectives that enrich our lives and draw us closer to family, friends and community. Finally, some promote advocacy to

Jewish Federation of Collier County Inc. 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201 Naples, FL 34109

Prsrt Std US Postage Paid Permit #419 Ft Myers FL

ensure that our voices are a prominent force in policy decisions. But ONLY the Jewish Federation of Collier County includes all of these priorities in its work as an important force in our community – creating, building, supporting and strengthening much needed groups here and elsewhere. Please see page 3 for a list of organizations and programs that were supported, in part or in whole, by Federation dollars last year. I am confident that you will find one or more groups or programs that strike a responsive chord

in your supportive thoughts. Note that the list is long – but so are the needs. And those needs are immediate and continue to grow. Don’t wait to make a contribution to the Jewish Federation of Collier County until later in 2015. The beginning of the year is a wonderful time to be part of a caring community that gives back. Donate now. Volunteer now. Make a difference now. You’ll have the whole year to feel good about what you’ve done. Happy New Year!

GIVE GIVEYOUR YOURBUSINESS BUSINESS GROWTH GROWTHPOTENTIAL. POTENTIAL. ADVERTISE ADVERTISEWITH WITHTHE Federation Star Contact Jacqui Aizenshtat at 239.777.2889 Robin Leonardi • 941.552.6307 • rleonardi@jfedsrq.org or jacqui1818@gmail.com. www.TheJewishNews.org

You can also read Connections on your tablet. Search for “Collier Connections”.

Jewish Community Directory

Our Jewish community continues to grow. To help everyone keep in touch with one another, your Jewish Federation of Collier County will be publishing the 2017 Community Directory. Free copies will be made available to all. But first...

We need your help!

We’re gathering information now so we can distribute the new Directory in December 2016.  If your information has NOT changed from what appears in the 2016 edition, you do not have to do anything. We will print the same information in the next edition.  If your information has changed, or if you are not listed in the 2016 edition, complete and return this form by mail or by fax. All requested information is optional.  If we do not hear from you by October 31, we will assume we have your permission to publish your name(s) and contact information as we currently have them in our files.

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY 2017 The Jewish serves 3,200 Jewi Federation of Collier County sh households in Naples, Marc and the surroundi o Island ng communities and addressin by recognizing g the charitabl e, educational, humanitarian, cultural, and social serv ice needs of the in our commun Jews ity and around the world.

Jewish Federat ion of Collier 2500 Vanderb County ilt Beach Road , Suite 2201 Naples, FL 34 10 9 239.263.4205 www.jewishna ples.org

Copies of the 2016 Directory are available at the Federation office.

Please check one of these boxes

{

 Yes! Please include me/us in the 2017 Directory. Only include information you’d like in the Directory.  No, please do not include me/us. Please provide us with your name(s) and address.

Contact information: (please print clearly)

(M) Male

(F) Female

First Name(s): (M) ____________________(F)____________________Last:_____________________________ Florida Address: _________________________________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________________ St: ______ Zip: ___________________________ Phone: Local: _________________________________ Northern: __________________________________ (M) Cell: __________________________ (M) Email: ____________________________________________ (F) Cell: _________________________ (F) Email: ___________________________________________

Additional information:  full-time resident  part-time resident: we arrive in SW Florida on: _____________________ we head north on: _____________________________

Please return by October 31, 2016.



Fax your completed form to: (239) 263-3813 or mail it to:

 Jewish Federation of Collier County

2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201 Naples, FL 34109

COMMUNITY FOCUS

July/August 2016 Federation Star

SEPTEMBER 7 DEADLINE

Order Your High Holiday Greetings Today! This High Holiday season, say “L’Shana Tova” to your friends and family in Southwest Florida! The Federation Star will be publishing your High Holiday greetings in the October 2016 issue. Order your greeting today! Complete the form below or call the Federation oﬃce at 239.263.4205 to reserve an ad using a credit card. Sign up now for the October issue of the Federation Star for as little as $18 per greeting. Choose from these sample greetings.

5777

It’s easy! Just select your ad(s), then complete and return the form below! L’Shana Tova

L’Shana Tova

5777

Harvey & Maxine Brenner

Michael & Phyllis Seaman

#1A: $18

#1B: $18

#1C: $18

Wishing you and those you love a sweet New Year of happiness, contentment & peace.

Michael & Phyllis Seaman

Make your ad stand out with COLOR for only $10 extra per ad! (One color, our choice)

May you have a good and sweet year.

L’Shana Tova Umetukah Harvey & Maxine Brenner #2A: $36

The Start of the New Year May the sounds of the Shofar signal peace and unity for Israel and good health and contentment in our lives.

Harvey & Maxine Brenner

#2B: $36

#3A: $50

ORDER FORM

I want to place the following High Holiday greeting(s) in the October 2016 Federation Star. PRINT your family name(s) on the lines below, in the exact order you would like them to appear: ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

Enclosed is my check for $_____ made payable to the Jewish Federation. Mail to: Jewish Federation of Collier County 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 2201, Naples, FL 34109

FORM & PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

CHECK YOUR AD CHOICE(S) BELOW: ____ #1A ($18)

____ #2A ($36)

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SPECIAL! Your family’s name and other ad details in COLOR for only $10 additional per ad; color our choice. COLOR ____ Yes ____ No

Federation Star July/August 2016

Mikhail Gebelev, hero of Minsk

JEWISH INTEREST

Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle “It’s Showtime!” By Yoni Glatt

Difficulty Level: Medium

By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD

n July 20, 1941, 75 years ago this month, the Nazis established a ghetto in Minsk, the capital and largest city in what was then called the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic – today’s Republic of Belarus. The ghetto was to be managed by a Nazi-appointed Jewish Council (Judenrat). It was one of the largest in Eastern Europe and was cerDr. Paul Bartrop tainly the largest in the territory of the Soviet Union at that time occupied by the Germans. It ultimately accommodated nearly 100,000 Jews, most of whom would perish in the Holocaust. One of those caught in the Nazi net was Mikhail Gebelev, who became an anti-Nazi resistance leader in the Minsk ghetto. Born on October 15, 1905 in the Jewish shtetl (village) of Uzliany, he later moved to Minsk and worked there as a clerk and public servant. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union and occupied Minsk on June 28, 1941, Gebelev went into hiding. He had good reason. Within days of the occupation, two thousand Jewish leaders and intellectuals were massacred by Einsatzgruppen squads; additional murders of Jews henceforth became a daily occurrence. Within the first few months of the German occupation, at least 20,000 Jews were slaughtered. At this time, the total population of the ghetto was about 80,000, of which some 50,000 were pre-war inhabitants; those remaining were refugees forcibly resettled by the Germans from smaller villages nearby. In August 1941, activists led by Isay Pavlovich Kazinetz, a Jewish engineer, established an underground group in which they forged documents, set up a radio receiver, and aided Soviet resistance in the area. This was one of the earliest expressions of Jewish resistance after the invasion of the Soviet Union. Having escaped the clutches of the Nazis, Gebelev made contact with Kazinetz, who appointed him as liaison officer between the communist resisters on the “Aryan” side of the ghetto and the ghetto fighters inside, whose leader was a Polish Yiddish writer from Białystok, Hersh Smolar. Together with another resistance leader, Matvey Pruslin, Gebelev quickly emerged as the unstated head of the ghetto underground due to his charisma and ingenuity, and he played a key role in Kazinetz’s plans to stage largescale simultaneous uprisings throughout Minsk to drive the Germans out and hold the city until the Red Army arrived. These uprisings would be conducted by communists, ghetto fighters, and Soviet prisoners of war incarcerated in the city. The proposed rebellion did not take place, however, owing to its plans being leaked to the Nazis. Kazinetz was among those ultimately hunted down. Before he was taken, he shot two Germans. Wounded and captured, under torture he then held out and refused to reveal any names or information, even

after one of his eyes had been put out. On May 7, 1942, Isay Kazinetz and 28 other underground fighters were publicly hanged in the center of Minsk. It is recorded that his last words were “Death to the Nazis!” Despite this huge setback, the resistance movement in the ghetto remained largely intact owing to Gebelev’s leadership and the support of the head of the Judenrat, Moshe Yoffe. In the period that followed, Gebelev organized mass escapes from the ghetto to the forests outside Minsk, where they formed (or joined) partisan units. The underground’s main objective was to save as many Jewish lives as possible, realizing that all were condemned to death in any case. At night, under extremely dangerous conditions, couriers led small groups of prisoners out of the ghetto. There were as many as three hundred active members of Gebelev’s underground organization, and through their efforts perhaps up to 10,000 Jews achieved their objective of escaping the Minsk ghetto, with many joining the partisans. It was said of Gebelev that on the numerous occasions he was encouraged to flee his reply was always that “I am here in the line of duty!” In August 1942, however, he was arrested by local collaborators as he was preparing the escape of a group of Soviet prisoners of war. He was handed over to the Gestapo, and, like Kazinetz before him, brutally tortured while at the same time refusing to provide any names or information. On August 15, 1942, he was hanged in the Nazi prison in Minsk. The ghetto itself was liquidated on October 21, 1943. Those Jews still remaining in the city at this time, including Moshe Yoffe and Mikhail Gebelev’s 80-year-old father Liev, were murdered, with most being deported to the extermination camp at Sobibór. Several thousand were massacred at a camp that had been established on the outskirts of Minsk, Maly Trostenets. By the time the Red Army retook the city on July 3, 1944, there were only a handful of Jewish survivors left. Hersh Smolar did manage to escape just prior to the final liquidation of the ghetto, and in 1946 produced a memoir of Minsk, Fun Minsker geto (published in English in New York as The Minsk Ghetto: Soviet-Jewish Partisans against the Nazis, 1989). In this, he described Gebelev’s role in the resistance movement in some depth, highlighting both his initiatives and his heroism in the face of immense obstacles and constant danger. There is much to recall in this story of Mikhail Gebelev’s heroic acts in and around Minsk during the Holocaust. Perhaps the most important of these is that he was more concerned with the saving of Jewish lives than with the taking of German ones. The tens of thousands of descendants of those he saved can testify to the truth of the maxim: Am Yisrael Chai! Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of History and the Director of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. He can be reached at pbartrop@fgcu.edu.

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Editor: YoniGlatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com Across 1. Show about an Israeli import of the 1930s? 5. Locale of a last stand 11. “...and the bush ___ not consumed” (Ex. 3:2) 14. Slurpee alternative with many flavors certified by the OU 15. Gives a public d’var Torah 16. Marx follower? 17. Show about David when he worked for Saul? 19. Magen David Adom letters 20. Natalie Portman’s role in “Goya’s Ghosts” 21. Dolph Schays in 1948 23. Rare striped kosher animals 26. Hillel and Yirmiyahu (Abbr.) 28. Noun suffixes (or an anagram of 20-Across) 29. Judean sound? 30. Sacrificial sound? 31. What many Nazis traded the Alps in for 32. Show that teaches 5-Down when to hit and when to speak? 36. Title group in Elle King’s 2015 hit 37. Anderson who often casts Jason Schwartzman 38. Work by Samuel Bak 39. “Prelude ___ Kiss” (Craig Lucas play) 42. Yeshiva University based show? 45. C Lanzbom sometimes uses them 48. Capp and Capone 49. What one often does after a blessing 50. Newly nuclear country 51. Israeli director Nesher 52. He famously played 5-Down 54. Pet Einstein lovingly (in “Back to the Future”) 56. Dwelling for Abraham 57. Org. for Dershowitz 58. Joseph’s show about his relationship with Pharaoh? 64. Impersonated (Woody Allen) 65. Roth’s work, compared to Spielberg’s 66. Rabbi Akiva, for much of his life 67. Koufax was one, once 68. Spewing false information about Israel, on many college campuses 69. Show about how many times G-d said he’d flood the Earth?

Solution on page 19

Down 1. Ramah or Moshava supervisor-tobe, briefly 2. Israeli brother 3. It comes at the end of Shavuot? 4. Like many athletes in Israel 5. See 52-Across 6. Ben Canaan and Gold 7. Casspi’s team, on the scoreboard 8. Shekels dispenser 9. Bubbelehs 10. Comes ___ surprise (Like Billy Joel selling out the Garden) 11. Show about Haman? 12. Strive to play like Perlman 13. Tests given in a Scientology scam 18. Verse opening for G-d? 22. Tref sound 23. There are 6.5 million Jews in Israel, ___ (approximately) 24. Three-time New York mayor 25. Sounds while having a good shvitz 26. ___ HaDerech 27. Rolled items 30. Community or band 31. When Tevye sings “Tradition” 33. Has the rights to (like Israel of the Golan) 34. Give a heter 35. Theodore Bikel’s rock metal? 39. “... and it is a rare thing ___ the king requireth” (Dan. 2:11) 40. Director Preminger 41. Part of the IFA 42. Skye of “Say Anything” 43. High Priest with disappointing sons 44. Police in “Casablanca” 45. One might ruin your Shabbat nap...every 17 years 46. Language on many Israeli signs 47. Show about an annual Israeli occurrence on 5th Avenue? 51. Son of Zilpah 52. 1991 Harrison Ford title role 53. Lang. on many Israeli signs 55. Mark from a Jerusalem Post editor 56. Made like Samson with fox tails 59. Before, to Bialik 60. All Jews, in a sense 61. Minority in Israel, with “Jews” 62. Paul Newman in “Cars” 63. Esau feels it for Jacob

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July/August 2016 Federation Star

JEWISH INTEREST

A stunning immigrant tale of identity, inheritance and transformation

Book review by Philip K. Jason, Special to the Federation Star Don’t Let My Baby Do Rodeo, by Boris Fishman. Harper. 336 pages. Hardcover $26.99.

his novel ties together an exploration of the immigrant experience, the roots of personal identity, and the possible shapes of families. It is an episodic quest narrative that attempts to answer the question: “What makes eight-yearold Max Rubin so strange?” This is the question that has been growing larger and larger in the mind of Phil Jason Maya Shulman Rubin, the woman who with her husband Alex adopted the infant Max. The quest is a journey to the Montana home of Max’s birth parents, where Maya feels the answer must lie. For Alex, Max doesn’t seem quite so strange; his reluctant agreement to take the journey grows out of his need to soothe a range of stresses in the marriage. That is, he wishes to satisfy his wife – somehow. Alex and Maya live in suburban New Jersey. The son of Russian immigrants, Alex met Maya when she came to the U. S. from the Ukraine as an exchange student. They are both children of Jewish parents whose sense of Jewish identity, while strong, does not include active involvement in Jewish ritual or community life. Alex, who had struggled for a defining career, has ended up working for his father’s import business. Maya’s dreams of becoming a chef gave way to a job as a medical technician. Seemingly infertile (we learn late in the novel that their childlessness had to do with Alex, not Maya), she ironically meets breasts daily while taking mammography images. Maya’s insistent need to be a mother leads them, in their mid-thirties, to adopt. Their steps in taking this action seem flawed – or at least naïve. The Montana couple, not yet out of their teens, needs to meet the adopters, and they deliver the child to the Rubins rather than use professional intermediaries. They give up all rights. It is the birth mother, Laurel, who utters the title phrase: “Don’t let my baby do rodeo.” She has seen how rodeo has torn

up her husband. The point of attack is eight years later. Maya is approaching her 43rd birthday. The Rubins’ situation as a family is not what they hoped it would be. Moreover, there is some kind of wildness in Max. He enjoys sleeping in a tent behind the house, collecting and perhaps consuming grass samples, and communing with animals. He doesn’t fit in at school. He doesn’t make friends. One day, when he is supposed to board the school bus for his return home, he gets on a public bus and disappears. After he is discovered and brought home, and after professional help toward understanding Max’s behavior proves ineffective, the family begins the journey to Montana. The 2,000-mile journey is a new beginning (perhaps actually the first beginning) of their American lives, which until now have been highly restricted. This is especially true for Maya, who came to the U.S. when she

erie.) Laurel suggests that Max’s wildness is not some eruption of genetic traits but rather the restless vibes he has picked up from Maya – the true, if repressed, wild one. Though they come from different color palettes, Maya and Max have become profoundly related. Though the Rubins, returning to New Jersey, are not fully transformed, they seem far more capable of transformation. They seem capable of self-creation – of forging (such a double-edged word) identities more vital than the immigrant cloaks they have been wearing. As middle age approaches, they are finally growing up. I came to love this book more and

more as I stayed in it. The expository matter that prefaces the trip to Montana can drag a bit, though it is necessary. Fishman’s wit is not so fully on display here as in A Replacement Life, but you’ve got to like a guy who knows that the perfect car model name for this quest is the Ford Escape. Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus of English from the United States Naval Academy. He reviews regularly for Florida Weekly, Jewish Book World, Southern Literary Review, and other publications. Please visit Phil’s website at www.philjason.wordpress.com.

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was many years older than Alex was upon his arrival and thus is not as fully acclimated. Still, they have been living inside of the older Rubins’ immigrant family patterns and still seem like they have not yet grown up. The journey is an informal education in American openness, as well as other qualities symbolized by the immensity and variety of the landscapes they move through. Once again, it’s like they have moved to a foreign country – but this time they are much faster learners. They are tested over and over again, with mixed success, but always with personal growth. Again, Maya is more dynamic than Alex in these travel chapters, just as she is throughout the novel. Thus her eyes are opened more widely and she learns much more about herself. An affair assists her education, as does a comment made when she finally engages Max’s birth mother again. (This scene has a dreamlike quality and might be taken as a dream or rev-

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Federation Star July/August 2016

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Contributing Columnist Editor’s note: Persons in BOLD CAPS are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of the column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in a faith other than Judaism – and don’t identify with a faith other than Judaism as an adult. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish. On Your Favorite Viewing Platform The 8th season of Comedians in Cars Getting Coﬀee, hosted by JERRY SEINFELD, 62, began on June 16 on the website Crackle (which can also be streamed to your TV by devices like Roku). A new episode is released each Thursday and can be viewed when you want for months thereafter. Guests scheduled to appear this season include SNL creator and producer LORNE MICHAELS, 71, and producer/director JUDD APATOW, 48. The weeks they will appear have not yet been disclosed as I write this. A new series with a Jewish connection that will play into July is Maya & Marty. MAYA RUDOLPH, 43, and Martin Short, 66, co-host a live variety show (music and sketches). New shows air Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. on NBC. Rudolph, a former SNL star, made a moving appearance earlier this year on the PBS series Finding Your Roots. Her father, music producer DICK RUDOLPH, 69, is Jewish. Her mother was Minnie Riperton, the late African-American pop star. Maya said she knew almost nothing about her Jewish family roots because Dick’s father cut virtually all ties to his family, including his parents. You really have to check out this delightful program full of top notch stars. (The season ends July 12). Also catch Murder in the First (TNT, began June 19, new episodes air Sundays at 10:00 p.m.). This show’s “gimmick” is that each ten-episode season covers one distinct murder investigation. Taye Diggs, 45, who was

long married to IDINA MENZEL, 45 (they split up in 2014), stars as a San Francisco detective who leads the investigation with his female partner (Kathleen Robertson). This season begins with the murder of a star pro football player. In season one, STEVEN WEBER, 55, had a big recurring role as Wilkerson, the driver and confidant of a rich guy suspected of murder. Weber returns this season as Wilkerson. Exactly why Wilkerson is involved in this new case is not yet clear. Weber works constantly, but I suspect most veteran TV watchers know him best as the younger pilot on the hit TV series Wings. Also on TNT is Animal Kingdom. It began on June 14 and new episodes air on Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. This tenepisode show stars ELLEN BARKIN, 62, as the matriarch of the Codys, a crime family. Barkin’s character’s first name is Janine, but everybody calls her “Smurf.” And here’s a shout-out for Aquarius, a good, if not great series starring DAVID DUCHOVNY, 55, as Hodiak, a 1960s Los Angeles police detective. It began its second season on June 23 (new shows air Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. on NBC). The sixth season of the hit USA cable series Suits begins on July 13 (new episodes air Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m.). The previous five seasons focused on law firm partner Harvey Spector and his shady associate Mike Ross. The last season ended with Ross in jail and the firm falling apart. Can Spector pick up the pieces? Starring as Spector is the handsome GABRIEL MACHT,

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JEWISH INTEREST

Interested in Your Family’s History? Nate Bloom (see column at left) has become a family history expert in 10 years of doing his celebrity column, and he has expert friends who can help when called on. Most family history experts charge $1,000 or more to do a full family-tree search. However, Bloom knows that most people want to start with a limited search of one family line.

So here’s the deal:

Write Bloom at nteibloom@aol.com and enclose a phone number. Nate will then contact you about starting a limited search. If that goes well, additional and more extensive searches are possible. The first search fee is no more than $100. No upfront cost. Also, several of this newspaper’s readers have asked Bloom to locate friends and family members from their past, and that’s worked out great for them. So contact him about this as well. 44. His father is STEPHEN MACHT, 74, a hard-working, mostly TV, actor you will almost certainly recognize if you Google his name. The elder Macht has become a pretty observant Jew in the last decade. At the Movies Friday, July 1 features the opening of BFG, a new STEVEN SPIELBERGdirected film. The basic plot: a girl named Sophie encounters the (monstrous looking) Big Friendly Giant. He turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is not liked by the other giants because, unlike them, he refuses to eat children. Friday, July 22 finds the next “rebooted” Star Trek film in theaters. ANTON YELCHIN, 27, returns as Ensign Chekov. By the way, Yelchin (like Chekov) was born in Russia. His parents were stars of the Leningrad ice

ballet, but weren’t permitted to skate in the 1972 Olympics (either because they were Jewish or simply because the Soviets didn’t trust them to travel). They gave up a good life to immigrate to America in 1989. The Los Angeles Times interviewed them shortly after they arrived and they pointed to their then-infant son (Anton) when asked why they came to America. [Editor’s note: Late-breaking news: Yelchin was killed on June 19 in a tragic auto accident.] MILA KUNIS, 32, whose highlyeducated parents also fled the former Soviet Union, stars in the comedy Bad Moms, which opens Friday, July 29. Kunis plays a “perfect mom” who overloads and looks for a way out with other moms.

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July/August 2016 Federation Star

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

800 Jewish mothers from 10 countries celebrate Israel journey at Mega Event

EL AVIV, Israel, May 17 – More than 800 Jewish mothers from 10 countries around the world celebrated a life-changing journey to Israel this month, at a Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (JWRP) Mega Event on Monday, May 16, in partnership with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. Headlining the Mega Event was Minister of Diaspora Affairs Naftali Bennett, who discussed the future of the Diaspora-Israel relationship, the role of women in strengthening ties between the Jewish state and the Jewish people, and current issues facing Israel. The Mega Event took place at the Wohl eCentre, Bar Ilan University. “Being a Jew has a meaning – we e

have a mission – to fix the world,” he told the gathering. And “Israel is an exemplar to the world.” The Jewish mothers journeyed to Israel from Australia, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Germany, Mexico, Panama, South Africa and the U.S. Some Israelis also participated. Featuring the theme “Beginnings,” the “Momentum Mega Event” launched the JWRP’s specialized “Momentum” trips for hundreds of Jewish mothers, while culminating the journey for hundreds of others. The entire experience empowers the women, inspiring them to engage with Israel and Israelis, connect to their Jewish identities, develop new leadership skills and, ultimately, to build their communities

back home. The Momentum trips stretch from the mystical Galilee city of Safed to the ancient desert mountaintop fortress Masada, and feature extensive itineraries and curated curricula from Jewish values to contemporary Israeli society. JWRP Founding Director Lori Palatnik, referring to the Momentum participants, said: “We always say the last day of the trip is the first day of their journey. For the very first time, we will be saying “l’hitraot” to 400 Jewish mothers finishing their trip, while welcoming hundreds more who literally just landed. There are no words to describe the power of 800 Jewish mothers under the same roof, with all

of the energy, emotions and inspiration. They return to their families ready to lift them into a new commitment to Israel, their Jewish values and their home communities.” The JWRP and Ministry of Diaspora Affairs recently announced an historic partnership to dramatically expand the JWRP’s life-changing trips for over 5,600 Jewish mothers from 26 countries around the world. The landmark partnership for 2016 and 2017 will also allow JWRP and the Ministry to involve women from Jewish communities facing increased threats of anti-Semitism and economic hardship, especially in Argentina, Cuba, the former Soviet Union, France, the U.S. and Canada. Since 2009, more than 7,300 Jewish mothers from 150 partner organizations in 26 countries spanning several continents including Australia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America have experienced the Momentum trips. Participants commit to getting involved in activities when they return home, including community events, Israel engagement programs, Jewish education, global learning, leadership development, and Momentum Israel missions for husbands. Also speaking at the Mega Event was Sivan Yaari, the founder and CEO of Innovation Africa, and Zohar Raviv, the international vice president of education for Taglit Birthright Israel. About JWRP The Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (www.jwrp.org) was founded in 2008, with the mission of empowering women to change the world through Jewish values. Its major project is “Momentum,” a nine-day, highly subsidized life-changing journey to Israel, experienced by over 7,300 women from 150 partner organizations in 26 countries worldwide. Since 2014, the JWRP has partnered with Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.

e . e s r r

Some of the 800 women at the Mega Event

JWRP Founding Director Lori Palatnik (2nd from left) with city leaders and guides at the Mega Event

The group of 10 Cuban-Jewish women in Jerusalem before joining the Mega Event (photos by Aviram Valdman)

Israeli Minister of Diaspora Aﬀairs Naftali Bennett with JWRP Founding Director Lori Palatnik

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Federation Star July/August 2016

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

U.S. liberators, Holocaust survivors and Israeli soldiers unite at Auschwitz, possibly for last time

ifty Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) supporters from across the U.S. returned from an unprecedented delegation to Poland and Israel with Holocaust survivors, G.I. liberators, and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. Led by FIDF National President Peter Weintraub and FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir, the mission spanned Jewish history, from the darkest moments to the most inspiring. The American and Israeli soldiers and survivors accompanied the FIDF supporters on a trip across Poland, beginning at Tarnow, once home to thousands of Jews, and traced their steps, from Krakow’s Jewish ghetto to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camps. The delegation then flew on an Israeli Air Force transport jet from Poland to Israel, where they commemorated Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for

fallen soldiers and victims of terror, and celebrated Israel’s 68th Independence Day. “This one-of-a-kind delegation spanned the modern history of the Jewish people by uniting Holocaust survivors, American liberators of concentration camps, and IDF officers,” said Gen. Klifi-Amir. “It told the story of our near-extinction in Europe, the creation of a Jewish homeland, and the new generation of a Jewish army that watches over our legacy today, making sure that ‘never again’ and ‘never forget’ are not just phrases, but rather promises. By marching with our brave IDF soldiers into the dreadful AuschwitzBirkenau camps we sent a message to the world that we remember, and that the Holocaust cannot, and will not, ever happen again.” Joining the delegation were Holocaust survivors from Israel: Martha Weiss, who was interned at Auschwitz

shortly after her tenth birthday; and Giselle Cycowicz, who survived five months in Birkenau. Alongside them were three former American soldiers who liberated concentration camps during WWII: Sid Shafner, 94, of Colorado, who was one of the first U.S. soldiers to enter Dachau with the 42nd Infantry Division and was awarded two bronze stars for heroism; Cranston Rogers, 91, of Massachusetts, who liberated Dachau with the 45th Infantry Division on April 29, 1945, and retired as a colonel; and William Bryant Phelps, 90, of Texas, who liberated Mauthausen-Gusen with the 11th Armored Division and retired as a lieutenant colonel. One of the most unforgettable moments was an emotional reunion on an Israeli Air Force base between Shafner and Dachau survivor Marcel Levy, who now lives in Israel. After Levy escaped Dachau, he traveled with Shafner’s unit as a cook. Shafner and Levy became good friends and have stayed in touch since 1945, and, before this week, last saw each other 21 years ago at Shafner’s granddaughter’s bat mitzvah in Jerusalem. In Israel, the delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. Also joining the delegation to Poland and Israel was former Ambassador of Israel to the U.S. and current Member of the Knesset Michael Oren. “This mission was one of the last opportunities for survivors and liberators to share their stories together,” said Weintraub. “It was a very emotional

experience for everyone involved. I can’t imagine a more bittersweet moment than walking through the gates of Poland’s most notorious death camp surrounded by those who suffered within its walls, those who helped set them free, and those who must make sure they are not forgotten.” About Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF): FIDF was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors as a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization with the mission of offering educational, cultural, recreational and social programs and facilities that provide hope, purpose, and life-changing support for the soldiers who protect Israel and Jews worldwide. Today, FIDF has more than 150,000 loyal supporters, and 16 regional offices throughout the U.S. and Panama. FIDF proudly supports IDF soldiers, families of fallen soldiers, and wounded veterans through a variety of innovative programs that reinforce the vital bond between the communities in the United States, the soldiers of the IDF, and the State of Israel. For more information, please visit www.fidf.org.

(Back row) An FIDF supporter bearing the American flag; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; American liberator Col. (ret.) Cranston Rogers; Head of Israel’s Helicopters Air Division Brig. Gen. Yaron Rozen; Lt. Col. (ret.) William Bryant Phelps; an IDF officer bearing the Israeli flag; (middle row) Auschwitz survivors Giselle Cycowicz and Martha Weiss; (front) Sid Shafner

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BRIEFS NASA HOPES TO REACH MARS IN 2030s WITH ISRAEL’S HELP

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NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, in Israel recently to receive an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University, said that NASA hopes to reach Mars in the 2030s and looks forward to working with Israel, whose “incredibly innovative people on the cutting edge of technology” can help with the mission. “We are excited about ongoing relations with the Israel Space Agency and what we can do together on the International Space Station,” said Bolden, who himself made four trips into space as an astronaut. (Menachem Rephun, JP Updates)

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Since last Independence Day, 29,715 immigrants from more than 90 countries have arrived in Israel, according to the Immigrant Absorption Ministry. 7,054 came from France, 6,880 from Russia and 6,306 from Ukraine. Immigration from English-speaking countries was 4,627: U.S. - 3,072, Britain - 692, Canada - 466, South Afri-

ca - 236, Australia - 153, and Ireland - 8. Two immigrants came from Indonesia, and one each from Cambodia, New Caledonia and Mauritius. (Judy Maltz, Ha’aretz)

20,000 PEOPLE WALK WITH ISRAEL IN TORONTO

A record 20,000 people participated in UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s 46th annual Walk with Israel event on May 29 in Toronto. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement noting, “Canada has been a friend of Israel for almost seven decades, through triumph and tragedy. We will continue to stand with Israel, one of our closest friends and partners, thanks to our shared values and the presence of a dynamic and thriving Jewish Canadian community.” (Daniel Koren, Canadian Jewish News)

PUTIN HAILS TALKS WITH ISRAELI PM, WANTS TO STRENGTHEN TIES

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, June 7, in Moscow, saying, “We spoke about

continued on next page

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

BRIEFS continued from previous page

the necessity to pool efforts to counter international terrorism. Israel knows only too well what it means and it is fighting against terrorism. In this sense, we are unconditional allies.” Putin also said Russia and Israel will pool efforts to counter attempts to revise the history of World War II. “Our peoples fought together against Nazism and paid a huge price for the victory. That is why we must and will Ikeep the memory of the heroes and victims of that war, we will counter attempts to revise its results, to forget the -tragedy of Holocaust.” (Tass - Russia)

ISRAEL: A GROWING DESTINATION FOR INDIAN TRAVELERS

When Samuel Reddy was planning a business trip to Israel, hoping to learn about the famous drip irrigation tech) nology used there so as to adopt it on e his dry farms in Rayalaseema, his wife insisted on accompanying him; spa tourism was on her mind. His mother, too, wanted to come along; her wish: a s religious tour of Jerusalem. Reddy and his family are among many Telugus 0 [numbering 74 million people in India] who have found an ideal travel destina. tion in Israel. , Israel saw the number of Indian d travelers rise from 20,300 in 2006 to 40,000 last year and the number is d expected to go up to 50,000 by year d end. “Since Israelis also travel to India e in droves, the special bond is always , there,” says Sharon Pelleg, a seasoned tour guide. (Bappa Majumdar, Times of India)

METHODISTS VOTE TO CUT TIES WITH ANTIISRAEL GROUP

United Methodists, voting at their General Conference, have called on their church’s mission agency to withdraw from the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation in a 478-318 vote. Critics see the group as more antiIsrael than pro-peace. “Blaming only one side while ignoring the wrongdoing of Hamas, Hizbullah and Iran will not advance the cause of peace,” a petition asking for the agency’s withdrawal said, naming groups that have stated their aim to destroy the Jewish state. (Emily McFarlan Miller and Lauren Markoe, Religion News Service - National Catholic Reporter)

ISRAEL BOYCOTT IS FAILING WHEN MEASURED BY MAIN ECONOMIC GAUGE

Foreign investments in Israeli assets hit a record high last year of $285.12 billion, a near-tripling from 2005 when the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement was started by a group of Palestinians. Money managers, economists and government officials say Israeli assets are an attractive alternative to weak performers elsewhere. The country’s economy is slowing but growing faster than those of the U.S. and Europe and its interest rate is higher. Plus, many reject the notions driving the boycott – that investing in Israeli innovation and natural gas violates Palestinian rights, and that Israel’s misdeeds are so exceptional that they justify singling it out for censure. Israeli startups raised $3.76 billion last year from non-Israeli investors, the highest annual amount in a decade. Foreigners spent an additional $5.89 billion acquiring them. A survey of nine Israeli companies with ties to settlements showed major non-Israeli holdings have increased or remained largely unchanged over the past three years. The increase easily made up for

a handful of divestments such as Barclays Plc’s sale of its 50,000 shares in Elbit Systems in 2014, worth about $3 million. One fund manager said that while state pension funds in northern Europe have opposed investing in companies linked to Israeli activities in the West Bank, many others in China and elsewhere simply want assets with good management, high dividend yields and healthy balance sheets. (Sangwon Yoon, Bloomberg)

NETANYAHU THANKS CUOMO FOR FIGHTING ANTI-ISRAEL BOYCOTTS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to express “my deep personal appreciation” for his executive order barring state agencies from doing business with companies that support a boycott of Israel. “An executive order by the governor of one of America’s most important and influential states demonstrates to the world and to Israel that we do not stand alone and that our American friends are behind us.” He praised Cuomo and New York for showing “exceptional moral leadership” against BDS and bolstering the “strong American front against this hateful campaign.” (Carl Campanile, New York Post)

ISRAEL’S SPECTACULAR CHAMPIONS

Hapoel Beersheba recently clinched the championship of Israel’s premier soccer league, its first championship since 1976. Team owner Alona Barkat took over an unsuccessful, second-division team and built it into a champion, demonstrating that there is no glass ceiling for women in Israel, neither in the business world nor in the sports world. Seeing a female owner being celebrated by all the male coaches, managers and players demonstrates a beautiful side of Israel. Next we look to the players. The team’s roster includes Jews, Muslims and Christians, from different races. All came together with respect and friendship to win this championship. All stood side-by-side as the national anthem was sung before games. What better example demonstrates what we are as a Jewish state, where minorities and members of different faiths are given equal opportunity and equal rights? (Dov Lipman, Jerusalem Post)

JEWISH FERTILITY SURPASSES ARAB FERTILITY IN JERUSALEM

July/August 2016 Federation Star

COMMENTARY BRIEFS THE ARABS’ REAL GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE JEWS

As Arabs, how many of us have the courage to admit that waging war after war against the Jews in order to deny them the right to exist, and refusing every reasonable solution to the conflict, has led to the current situation? Our message to Jews, throughout history and particularly when they had the temerity to want to govern themselves, has been clear: we cannot tolerate your very existence. Yet the Jews demand the right to exist as equals on the land where they have existed and belonged continuously for more than 3,000 years. We Arabs pretend that our lack of respect for the right of Jews to exist is

Solution to puzzle on page 14

not the cause of the conflict. We would rather claim that the conflict is about “occupation” and “settlements.” The Jews see what radical Islamists are now doing to Christians and other minorities who were also in the Middle East for thousands of years before the Muslim Prophet Mohammed was even born: Yazidis, Kurds, Christians, Copts, Assyrians, Arameans and many others. Where are these indigenous people of Iraq, Syria and Egypt now? Persecuted, run out of their own historical land, and slaughtered by Islamists. Jews know that this is what would have happened to them if they did not have their own state. The real Arab grievance against the Jews is that they exist. We want the Jews either to disappear or be subservient to

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Susan Miller: Testament in Stone

On View Through September 11, 2016

Susan Miller “sees” through stone. She has the ability to perceive and reveal, through the density of weighty blocks of marble, a form that communicates human dignity and energy. Miller’s sculptures express her spirit and the beauty of the human body. The subjects of the pieces are connected to names from history, mythology and the Old Testament. Biblical passages, poetry, and prose accompany the works.

The fertility rate for Jewish women in Jerusalem is now 4.3 children, compared with a fertility rate among the city’s Arab women of 3.3 children, according to the Statistical Yearbook of Jerusalem, published by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies. At the same time, the city’s overall Arab population has continued to grow while the Jewish majority has shrunk. This is due to Jewish migration from the city stemming from a lack of available housing, as construction has fallen off due to international political pressure. (Nadav Shragai and Efrat Forsher, Israel Hayom)

Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle

Susan Miller, Leah Rejected, 20 x 15 x14”

Cinema Judaica: The Epic Cycle (1947-1971) On View Through October 23, 2016

Hollywood films in the three decades after WWII portrayed 4,000 years of Jewish historical identity and, in some of the biggest box office hits of all times, transformed the image of the Jew from embattled to triumphant. Flamboyant posters and bold advertising materials for films are featured in this blockbuster exhibition. Sins of Jezebel (1953), 16 x 38”

Exhibition sponsored by the Robert Arthur Segall Foundation. On loan from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Curated by Laura Kruger.

Federation Star July/August 2016

COMMENTARY

Why history matters: The 1967 Six-Day War By David Harris, CEO, AJC, June 1, 2016

ention history and it can trigger a roll of the eyes. Add the Middle East to the equation and folks might start running for the hills, unwilling to get caught up in the seemingly bottomless pit of details and disputes. But without an understanding of what happened in the past, it’s impossible to grasp where we are today – and where we are has profound relevance for the region and the world. Forty-nine years ago this month, the Six-Day War broke out. While some wars fade into obscurity, this one remains as relevant today as in 1967. Many of its core issues remain unresolved. Politicians, diplomats and journalists continue to grapple with the consequences of that war, but rarely consider, or perhaps are even unaware of, context. Yet without context, some critically important things may not make sense. First, in June 1967, there was no state of Palestine. It didn’t exist and never had. Its creation, proposed by the UN in 1947, was rejected by the Arab world because it also meant the establishment of a Jewish state alongside. Second, the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem were in Jordanian hands. Violating solemn agreements, Jordan denied Jews access to their holiest places in eastern Jerusalem. To make matters still worse, they desecrated and destroyed many of those sites. Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip was under Egyptian control, with harsh military rule imposed on local residents. And the Golan Heights, which were regularly used to shell Israeli communities far below, belonged to Syria. Third, the Arab world could have created a Palestinian state in the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip any day of the week. They didn’t. There wasn’t even discussion about it. And Arab leaders, who today profess such attachment to eastern Jerusalem, rarely, if ever, visited. It was viewed

as an Arab backwater. Fourth, the 1967 boundary at the time of the war, so much in the news these days, was nothing more than an armistice line dating back to 1949 – familiarly known as the Green Line. That’s after five Arab armies attacked Israel in 1948 with the aim of destroying the embryonic Jewish state. They failed. Armistice lines were drawn, but they weren’t formal borders. They couldn’t be. The Arab world, even in defeat, refused to recognize Israel’s very right to exist. Fifth, the PLO, which supported the war effort, was established in 1964, three years before the conflict erupted. That’s important because it was created with the goal of obliterating Israel. Remember that in 1964 the only “settlements” were Israel itself. Sixth, in the weeks leading up to the Six-Day War, Egyptian and Syrian leaders repeatedly declared that war was coming and their objective was to wipe Israel off the map. There was no ambiguity. Twenty-two years after the Holocaust, another enemy spoke about the extermination of Jews. The record is well-documented. The record is equally clear that Israel, in the days leading up to the war, passed word to Jordan, via the UN and United States, urging Amman to stay out of any pending conflict. Jordan’s King Hussein ignored the Israeli plea and tied his fate to Egypt and Syria. His forces were defeated by Israel, and he lost control of the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem. He later acknowledged that he had made a terrible error in entering the war. Seventh, Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser demanded that UN peacekeeping forces in the area, in place for the previous decade to prevent conflict, be removed. Shamefully, without even the courtesy of consulting Israel, the UN complied. That left no buffer between Arab armies being mobilized and deployed and Israeli forces in a country one-fiftieth, or

two percent, the size of Egypt – and just nine miles wide at its narrowest point. Eighth, Egypt blocked Israeli shipping lanes in the Red Sea, Israel’s only maritime access to trading routes with Asia and Africa. This step was understandably regarded as an act of war by Jerusalem. The United States spoke about joining with other countries to break the blockade, but, in the end, regrettably, did not act. Ninth, France, which had been Israel’s principal arms supplier, announced a ban on the sale of weapons on the eve of the June war. That left Israel in potentially grave danger if a war were to drag on and require the resupply of arms. It was not until the next year that the U.S. stepped into the breach and sold vital weapons systems to Israel. And finally, after winning the war of self-defense, Israel hoped that its newly-acquired territories, seized from Egypt, Jordan and Syria, would be the basis for a land-for-peace accord. Feelers were sent out. The formal response came on September 1, 1967, when the Arab Summit Conference famously declared in Khartoum: “No peace, no recognition, no negotiations” with Israel. More “no’s” were to follow. Underscoring the point, in 2003, the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. was quoted in The New Yorker as saying: “It broke my heart that [PLO Chair] Arafat did not take the offer (of a two-state deal presented by Israel, with American support, in 2001). Since 1948, every time we’ve had something on the table, we say no. Then we say yes. When we say yes, it’s not on the table anymore. Then we have to deal with something less. Isn’t it about time to say yes?” Today, there are those who wish to rewrite history. They want the world to believe there was once a Palestinian state. There was not. They want the world to believe

there were fixed borders between that state and Israel. There was only an armistice line between Israel and the Jordanian-controlled West Bank and eastern Jerusalem. They want the world to believe the 1967 war was a bellicose act by Israel. It was an act of self-defense in the face of blood-curdling threats to vanquish the Jewish state, not to mention the maritime blockade of the Straits of Tiran, the abrupt withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces, and the redeployment of Egyptian and Syrian troops. All wars have consequences. This one was no exception. But the aggressors have failed to take responsibility for the actions they instigated. They want the world to believe post-1967 Israeli settlement-building is the key obstacle to peacemaking. The Six-Day War is proof positive that the core issue is, and always has been, whether the Palestinians and larger Arab world accept the Jewish people’s right to a state of their own. If so, all other contentious issues, however difficult, have possible solutions. But, alas, if not, all bets are off. And they want the world to believe the Arab world had nothing against Jews per se, only Israel, yet trampled with abandon on sites of sacred meaning to the Jewish people. In other words, when it comes to the Arab-Israeli conflict, dismissing the past as if it were a minor irritant at best, irrelevant at worst, won’t work. Can history move forward? Absolutely. Israel’s peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 powerfully prove the point. At the same time, though, the lessons of the Six-Day War illustrate just how tough and tortuous the path can be – and are sobering reminders that, yes, history does matter. For more information, visit www.ajc.org.

The AJC West Coast Florida office, located in Sarasota, can be reached at 941.365.4955.

Pursuing a meaningful peace By Gene Sipe, VP SWFL Chapter ZOA

“

eace in the Middle East” has become one of the most highly sought after and politically convoluted objectives that have existed since long before the founding of the State of Israel. There was conflict prior to the state, there has been turmoil through the 68 years of her existence, and the United Nations continues to insist that Israel is the cause. For more than seventy years, Gene Sipe that organization and its predecessor have failed miserably at maintaining stability in the region, and continue the same ineffective approach of imposing pressure on Israel in the name of resolving the matter. Historically, the British Mandate delineated a Jewish homeland and an Arab homeland. This sounds to our western sensibility like an ideal solution. It didn’t work then and it is not working now. In 1946, the Arabs formed what is currently known as Jordan, and in 1948 the Jews formed their state, Israel. The Arab League immediately attacked the fledgling country. What this is about is tolerance. The western outlook has come to terms

with compromise, whereas the Middle Eastern position refuses conciliation. A western understanding person would tend to think that the outcome of the Arab Spring would result in people having resolved their conflicts, whereas the result has only deepened the chasm. The Shiites can’t live with the Sunnis, the Turks can’t live with Kurds, and the Islamic State seems to be at war with everyone. Where is the Jewish element to this problem? And, what insanity allows the UN to perpetuate that by Israel giving their Arab population a state, it will make all of this go away? Iran’s direct involvement in the Syrian conflict, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon appears to be the most prominent destabilizing factor in the region. The UN seems to be willing to overlook these “skirmishes” to prevent a nuclear arms race, all because Iran’s aspiration toward nuclear armament is terrifying to the Sunni states and the major world powers. Iran is blatant in its intent to destroy Israel, and Israel’s continued survival is in its ability to defend its borders and protect its people. The Israeli government and a growing percentage of its population are coming to the understanding that the solution will come from within rather than reliance on the U.S. and the UN’s dictating continua-

Opinions and letters printed in the Federation Star do not necessarily reflect those of the Jewish Federation of Collier County, its Board of Directors or staff, or its advertisers.

tion of its failed policies. As such, we are seeing a shift and a restructuring of the Israeli coalition government. We are seeing new alliances with world and regional powers, and restructured alliances with the neighboring states of Egypt and Jordan as their leadership and power bases shift. Israel will resolve her internal issues herself, without the United Nations’ misguided edicts. For the UN to continue to have any relevance in the region, it must address the needs of the Arab citizens calling themselves Palestinians in Israel’s neighboring countries. Their starvation in Syria, their exclusion from certain jobs and businesses in Jordan, and rape and torture in Lebanon are not presented in the western media nor are they admonished by the UN.

Israel needs the next U.S. administration, regardless of who acquires residency in the White House, to use all of its influence to counteract the United Nations in its debilitating Arab-Israeli Peace Process. What you can do for Israel is support candidates who will do just that and encourage them to allow Israel to find its own solutions with partners who actually have an interest in pursuing a meaningful peace. The Southwest Florida Chapter of the ZOA encourages you to stay informed by subscribing to the ZOA newsfeeds at http://zoaswfl.org/?feed=rss2 and at our local chapter site at www. zoaswfl.org. If you have questions or would like to be involved in our chapter, email us at info@zoaswfl.org.

July/August 2016 Federation Star

COMMENTARY

The summer s’ﬁrah Rabbi Mark Gross

e are embarking soon onto the poignant season of the summertime s’firah. But unlike the spring s’firah between Passover and Shavuot, which linked the drama of the Exodus with the adventure of Revelation at Sinai, the three weeks of the summertime s’firah constitute a painful countdown through trauma to tragedy. It was at this season in the midsummer of 586 BCE, the Second Book of Kings in the Bible tells us, that the invading armies of the Babylonian empire overran the siege-weakened city of Jerusalem, and brought an end to Israelite national independence. On the 17th of Tammuz, the Babylonians broke through the city walls and overran the starving and exhausted defenders; three weeks later, on the 9th of Av, our people were taken away in chains to exile “by the waters of Babylon” while the victorious invaders began the systematic dismantling of the Jerusalem Temple so that (as they viewed it) the God of the Jews would be as homeless as His People. We still mark the three-week period between 17th of Tammuz and Tish’ah b’Av as a period of partial mourning today, nearly 2,600 years later. It is customary not to schedule weddings during this somber period. Any affirmative celebrations that do take place, are restrained affairs; and we traditionally refrain from eating meat as a sign of mourning – if not for the entire three weeks, then at least for the first nine days of Av. It may go against our grain as Americans, a vibrant and forwardlooking people, always to be looking back at the past. And the loss of Jewish national autonomy may be hard to relate

BRIEFS

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our whims, but the Jews refuse to bend to our bigotry, and they refuse to be swayed by our threats and our slander. Who in his right mind can blame them? (Fred Maroun, Gatestone Institute)

CANADIAN INDIAN ACTIVIST ADVOCATES FOR ISRAEL’S “NATIVE” RIGHTS

Indigenous rights activist Ryan Bellerose, a Metis from northern Alberta, Canada, recently returned from his second trip to Israel. “Indigenous status means that your people had a coalescence and a genesis on the land,” says Bellerose, co-founder of Calgary United with Israel. “Everything that makes Jews Jewish – their spirituality, their traditions, their culture, their language, everything – it stems from Israel.” “I write about the commonalities of indigenous struggles, so going to Israel and seeing a place where indigenous people have managed to gain self-determination is massive for me.” “I feel compelled to fight the idea that Israel is a colonialist state, that the Jews are colonizers from Europe, and the entire invalid and false Arab narrative that has been spread since the 1960s. This ridiculous inversion of history has been accepted... Coming from an Indian from Canada... I have a unique perspective. I have lived through colonization, and Israel is not even remotely colonialist.” “You are Jews from Judea. Your entire history is in the earth you walk on. Some of you were displaced and

to today, when we have the unspeakable privilege of living in an era when the State of Israel is reborn. Irving Greenberg admits that he used to have the bad habit on Tish’ah b’Av of approaching those who were keening the destruction of Jerusalem a little too loudly, and of murmuring in their ears: “Why be so unhappy? For $600, El Al can have you there tomorrow!” It is, nonetheless, significant for us to take note of the three-week summer s’ﬁrah. For us as Jews, the past is a compellingly important aspect of our shared corporate identity. As such, the remembrance-dates in our calendar that recall happenings “on this day in history” are the patent of our spiritual nobility, defining who We (with a capital “w”) collectively are. What is compelling is that, of all the numerous tragedies that have befallen our people in our long and glorious – but also too often painful – history, there is only one day in the entire calendar dedicated exclusively to confronting those traumas. This one day of Tish’ah b’Av is the occasion to recall not just the destruction of the Temple, but the depredations of every murderous oppressor throughout the years, from Hadrian to “Hep Hep” and from Chmielnicki to Hitler. From this one day we draw the courage to confront the nature of evil. On this one day we lament the victims of our people, and proclaim their unfinished lives to be our legacy. By means of this one day we solace one another on having had to endure these oppressors, and also celebrate with one another that we as a People have outlived them all. It is one of the glories of Judaism that we have the summer s’ﬁrah as a lesson in dealing with pain and loss and disappointment. May we be inspired by it never to let anguish and dismay become the defining realities of our lives – in summertime, or any other season. Rabbi Mark Gross serves at the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island. you fought for 2,000 years to return to the land of your forefathers. You do not need to be apologetic for doing something that is the goal of every indigenous people.” “You are a great example to my people and to all indigenous people of what indigenous peoples are capable of. You were a damaged, fractured people who had the entire world against you, yet you not only regained your ancestral lands, you rebuilt them and you built a thriving, powerful nation without losing touch with your ancestral roots. Tell me that’s not a powerful story and example.” (Lisa Klug, Times of Israel)

THE MEANING OF TRUE INDEPENDENCE

 For 68 years Israelis have fought again and again to defend their independence against enemies who would subjugate their country. No other nation has struggled so long and so hard, surrounded by such unyielding hostility.  Israel’s right to exist is not to be sanctioned by the peoples of the Middle East or by the leaders of the Western world. It is to be determined only by the Jewish people who, down the millennia, have fought, suffered and died for that inalienable right.  It means that Israel is not to have its borders imposed by international bodies or by foreign states, no matter how powerful they might be. It means that Israelis are not to be dictated to about where they can and cannot settle in their land.  It means that Israel is not to be told how it may or may not defend the lives of its people under the sovereign independence of the law.

Summertime, and the living is Shliach-like Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

t’s summer, a time when we have opportunities to travel out of our comfort zones, or if we’re lucky, to visit exotic places. I remember something my father often said, something that had a great impact on me. He used one word that left a lasting message: “Fishel, remember you are a Shliach”. My father reminded me of this before I went to summer camp, whenever we traveled, and before I went as a rabbinical intern to Nepal and Vietnam to lead Passover Seders. Shliach literally means messenger, but his implication was that I should keep in mind where I come from and remember whom I represent. Even though I heard the word often, as a child I couldn’t really appreciate it. However, today, as a father and rabbi I want to share my understanding of this special word with you. I believe it is an empowering concept that we always should take to heart and mind. From the time we wake up in the morning this word can inspire us throughout each day to lead our lives with joy and beauty. There is a beautiful prayer we recite every morning immediately upon arising, called Modeh Ani. We thank G-d for restoring our soul and granting us another day. The passage ends with the words “Rabba Emunatecha,” which literally means, “We have great faith in You.” My father had his own interpretation: Your (G-d’s) faith in us is great. By granting us another day, by giving us life, He is telling each one of us how much He believes in us. In a time that the rat race of life has us competing for clicks, likes and comments, clamoring for our 15 seconds of fame, struggling to be noticed, the

world tells us we are not good enough but G-d tells us, “You are my Shliach! You have my divinely-gifted powers. You are amazing!” That’s the meaning of Shliach. Wherever we go, whatever situation life throws at us, we must be aware that we are empowered by G-d to be a beacon of light, to change our surroundings positively rather than be negatively affected by them. As an ambassador bringing light into the darkness as G-d’s agent, we possess His power, His freedom, His goodness, His light and His infinity. Although it seems very difficult, we are never stopped for we are Ambassadors in every situation, every moment and every place. Each of us has our own unique greatness, and throughout our lives we receive signals or prompts from heaven, calling upon us to rise to ‘our moment’ and embark on a certain mission specific to our abilities, talents, resources and influence. The questions we ask ourselves when we wake up in the morning are, “What can I do today to live up to G-d’s image of me? How can I become a better person? How can I have an impact on my family and my community? Especially now in the summertime, which often offers us the scenic route, visiting exciting places, encountering different people and experiencing new environments, this is not a time to withdraw and say, “I’m on vacation.” Rather, this creates opportunities for us and for our children who are always observing and learning, to utilize the powers and talents we have and share them with the world. Whether you use my father’s term Shliach, or you prefer empowered, ambassador, courageous or self-assured, the message is the same. Regardless of how we see ourselves we must be aware of the treasure chest of potential we have been given by Hashem, and then we must wake up and utilize it. Rabbi Fishel Zaklos serves at Chabad Jewish Center of Naples.

What do you think? The Federation Star wants to know! Send your letters and comments to fedstar18@gmail.com. Letters Policy Include your name, full address and daytime phone. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. We reserve the right to edit for length and/or accuracy. Letters do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the Jewish Federation of Collier County, the Federation Star or its advertisers.

It means that Israel is not to be lectured or scolded about human rights by those that have no glimmer of understanding of what human rights truly are.  The civilized world has an obligation to respect this independence just as it respects the independence of other free, democratic nations.  Israel has shown mankind how a besieged nation – against all odds – can survive and flourish, decide its own destiny, and unwaveringly retain its honor, its decency, its dignity, its integrity and its compassion. (Col. Richard Kemp, former commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, Israel Hayom)

HOW INDEPENDENT IS ISRAEL?

Israel has indeed grown dramatically – in population, wealth and military prowess. But has Israel seen a comparable growth in its independence? Has there been a comparable expansion of its ability to take the independent action it must take if it is to protect its interests and survive as a Jewish state? Or has

Israel grown less independent over time, especially with the deepening of its relationship with its principal ally, the United States? After 1967, as successive U.S. administrations concluded that leverage could be achieved only by drawing Israel into the American orbit, the first step was to sell it Phantom fighter jets, and the rest followed. Over time, in the race to maintain its “military edge,” Israel has been given access to the world’s best military hardware. The tradeoff, however, is that in becoming ever more reliant on the U.S., Israel has sacrificed some measure of its freedom of action. This was evident in October 1973, when, deferring to U.S. pressure, Israel desisted from preempting an imminent Arab attack. This has been the general pattern ever since: Israel is expected to show “restraint,” if not to make concessions, in return for hardware and diplomatic backing. Being independent is a process, not a moment. That process is still unfolding. (Martin Kramer, president of Shalem College in Jerusalem, Mosaic)

Federation Star July/August 2016

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Preschool of the Arts update By Ettie Zaklos, Preschool Director

he decision to put your child in another’s care is one of the biggest decisions parents have to make. We are always humbled and grateful to our incredible parent body for trusting us with this responsibility and are so thankful for their ongoing support. Parent participation is an integral component of the Naples Preschool of the Arts experience. Throughout the year we invite parents and grandparents to become our partners in their children’s education by always welcoming them into our school, including them in holiday celebrations, and encouraging them to visit classrooms to share their areas of special interest and expertise. We cherish the warm relationship we enjoy with our parents that is regularly nurtured throughout our many events throughout the year. In keeping with our school’s philosophy, we appreciate how our parents’ partnership enriches our program and the lives of our children. A strong

home-school connection demonstrates to children that we are all working toward the same goals, and makes the lessons we impart at school even more significant and enduring. And when we talk about a partnership, it is 100% a two-way street. We welcome and encourage parent participation in our program, and consider our partnership with parents pivotal in shaping and enriching the early childhood experience. Continuous communication is the cornerstone of this relationship which heavily relies on reciprocal dialogue. In many ways, we educate our parents about our unique educational philosophy and keep them abreast of activities in their children’s classrooms. Parents learn precisely how we weave the educational disciplines together through written descriptions of activities and photographs of their children engaged in learning throughout the day. In return, we have been blessed with the most supportive, positive and

active parent community that we could have ever imagined. Yes, our teachers educate, our students learn, and our specialists enhance – but without parents offering their vital support and involvement, our circle of community would not be sustainable. We place a great emphasis on our community. In order to foster this formation within our preschool and woven through our larger community, we diligently integrate innovative events and programming that allow our parents to give their input. With the end of the school year and the start of the summer months, this relationship becomes even more pronounced as the sense of community and camaraderie increases through the joyous celebrations that this time of year brings. Our parents openly share how Preschool of the Arts has not only been a home away from home for their children, but even more so for them as parents – a supportive family of fellow parents creating strong bonds of friend-

ship and supporting one another. With their kind words, their support of our programs, and as staunch advocates for their children, our parents are paving a way not only for excellence in education, but shaping our future through the children of today. Together, we aim to infuse our children with the passion to become lifelong learners with an insatiable quest for learning and an understanding of the world. At Preschool of the Arts, children build the foundation to support all of their future endeavors as well as sustaining our past and its values. Join our community! Our innovative programs and incredible staff are an open Naples secret, and our award-winning preschool has grown exponentially every year. Our many preschool alumni even make sure to come back summer after summer for our one-of-a-kind camp. Get a taste of what makes Preschool of the Arts so popular at our unique six-week Summer of the Arts experience! Our widely acclaimed program for children ages 18 months to 11 years integrates various creative arts and educational themes in a safe, multi-sensory and Jewish-spirited setting. Each week, our program offers children opportunities to experience music, swimming, art, culinary arts, sports, gymnastics and science through exciting, stimulating, hands-on activities. Younger children enjoy outdoor and water play, and older children are taken on weekly trips to the beach and other fun Naples attractions. For more information or to register, please call 239.262.4474.

Meet the Preschool of the Arts scientists

Temple Shalom Preschool Top 10 Reason TSP Rocks!

Our Science Lab Lab Our one-of-a-kind one-of-a-kind Science Our support support of of St. St. Jude’s Jude’s through through Our our annual annual Trike-a-thon Trike-a-thon our

Our super super fun fun Camp Camp Shalom Shalom Our & super super adventurous adventurous Camp Camp Einstein Einstein & Our creative creative Art Art Studio Studio & & Art Art Show Show Our

Our Magical Magical Storyland Storyland Our

B Our community service Our community service Health and Safety Day Our community service Health and Safety Day Health and Safety Day

Jewish Bedtime Stories & Songs for Families

The PJ Library program supports families in their Jewish journey by sending Jewishrelated books and music on a monthly basis to children for free.

Sponsered by

Our state-of-the-art Tech Lab Our state-of-the-art Tech Lab Our state-of-the-art Tech Lab

Our emotional and moving Our Pre-K emotional and moving Graduation Our Pre-K emotional and moving Graduation Pre-K Graduation

Our incredible Music Program Our incredible Music Program Our incredible Music Program

Our celebration of Shabbat Our other celebration Shabbat and Jewishof Holidays Our celebration Shabbat and other JewishofHolidays and other Jewish Holidays

Did I say 10? I cannot forget our awesome and amazing Teachers Did I say 10? I cannot forget our awesome and amazing Teachers B Did I say 10? I cannot forget our awesome and amazing Teachers

Arthur & Susan Karp

Family Charitable Foundation, Th e PJ Library is Inc A Supporting Foundation of brought to the Collier The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee County community the Federation website to sign up! byVisit JFCS of Southwest www.jfedsrq.org Florida. For more information, call Follow us at facebook.com/pjlibraryofsarasota 239.325.4444.

Wishing you and your family a happy and safe summer! Seyla Cohen, Preschool Director, Temple Preschool Wishing you and your family a happy and Shalom safe summer! Wishing you and your family a happy and safe summer! 239-455-3227 Seyla Cohen, Preschool Director, Temple Shalom Preschool

July/August 2016 Federation Star

SYNAGOGUES

www.bethtikvahnaples.org / 239-434-1818

BETH TIKVAH

Beth Tikvah update

e e , e s g

Phil Jason President

t was so much fun to enjoy the good fellowship and the great burgers, t hot dogs and varied accessories at our Lag B’Omer picnic. From Arleen Sivakoff’s hearty and homemade pareve e potato salad to Arlene Levin’s array of r super baked goods, the eats were amazn ing. Thanks to all who brought portions y of the meal (and that means almost

l e m s -

Harvey Rosenthal at the grill with Ben Kaye, his relief man

, everyone in attendance) and to my dear wife for working so hard making all those delicious patties. Grillmaster d ,

r e . ,

Harvey Rosenthal did his usual spectacular job, spelled by Stuart and Ben Kaye. Rabbi Ammos Chorny entertained and educated us with a delightful program. He won’t miss a chance to inspire and instruct, this time with a light touch that left people smiling. Speaking of food and Rabbi Chorny, I can’t get over our marvelous kosher community Seder at which over ninety folks enjoyed an inspiring, smoothrunning holiday experience. Our rabbi did his usual efficient, uplifting job as leader. Our Seder chairperson, Sue Brown, who oversaw all the planning, food ordering, room set-up, and whatever else needed to be done, made sure it was done to perfection. Our heartfelt thanks to both the rabbi and Sue. Since the Federation Star does not have an August issue, I thought it might be wise to look ahead, past the summer, into the High Holiday season a bit. We will give more details in the September issue. High Holiday ticket order forms can be obtained by emailing bethtikvahnaples@aol.com. Fortunately for us, Rabbi Chorny will again be joined by Cantor Nathan

Brian Wine for the High Holidays. We were so pleased with the cantor’s performance last year that we were eager to have him return to our community. Cantor Wine has served congregations in Pinecrest, Florida; Miami Beach, Florida; Thousand Oaks, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. He is a B.A and M.A graduate of The University of Miami School of Music, with specialties in Vocal Performance, Studio Music, Composition, and Orchestration & Arranging. Though we have entered the quiet zone of our synagogue calendar, a lot is going on. One activity in full swing is the selection of films to be shown at the 2017 edition of our Naples Jewish Film Festival. The Festival will return to the Sugden Community Theatre on a schedule similar to the most recent edition, which sold out quickly. Details should be firm around Thanksgiving time. If you are interested in joining the Judy Rosenthal Memorial Chevra Kadisha, please contact Rabbi Chorny at rabbi@bethtikvah.us. To contribute, send a check (payable to Beth Tikvah and marked “Chevra Kadisha Fund”)

to Beth Tikvah of Naples, 1459 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL 34109. A reminder: The fast day of Tisha B’Av commemorates the destruction of both the First Temple and Second Temple in Jerusalem, which occurred about 655 years apart, but on the same Hebrew calendar date. Tisha B’Av is never observed on Shabbat. If the 9th of Av falls on a Saturday, as it does this year, the fast is postponed until the 10th of Av (evening of August 13). The Book of Lamentations is read in the synagogue. Religious services schedule Friday services begin at 6:15 p.m.; Saturday services begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude with a Kiddush luncheon. Sunday 9:00 a.m. minyan resumes in late fall. We regularly convene Yahrzeit minyanim upon request. Please join us at any service. Our participatory worship services and most other events are held at 1459 Pine Ridge Road, just west of Mission Square Plaza. For more information, call 239.434.1818, email bethtikvahnaples@aol.com or visit www.bethtikvahnaples.org. You can reach Rabbi Chorny directly at 239.537.5257.

www.naplestemple.org / 239-455-3030

TEMPLE SHALOM

Temple Shalom update Debbie Zvibleman President

hen most of us think about July 4th, we think about the fireworks, picnics, grilled food and apple pie. We forget that it was originally a celebration of the Declara-

tion of Independence and separation from England. Today we celebrate diversity and our freedom to worship as we please. As American Jews, we don’t take freedom lightly. While the 4th of July is not a Jewish holiday, it is a time for introspection, a time to remember what our ancestors fought for and realize how lucky we are to be Americans. Also remember that in August we have an upcoming election, and it is our fundamental right to vote and be heard.

NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION

As you are looking for things to do this holiday weekend, on Friday, July 1 at 7:00 p.m., we invite the community to join our congregation for a beach Shabbat at Lowdermilk Park. The temple will supply fried chicken and dessert. You just need to bring a side dish that will feed 8-10. It is important to RSVP to 239.455.3030 by June 27, so that we will have enough food. Bring your beach chairs and enjoy the sunset. Meet new people, enjoy the service and share a Shabbat dinner.

While it is a bit quieter in the summer, our regular Shabbat services will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday nights and at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings. Also, on Sunday, July 10, the Men’s Club will be having its Breakfast at Wimbledon from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Temple Shalom. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer.

www.naplesjewishcongregation.org / 239-234-6366

Naples Jewish Congregation update By Suzanne L. Paley, President

ave the date! On February 9 and 10, 2017, Naples Jewish Congregation will present to the greater Naples community our Artist/Scholarin-Residence program. Be sure to mark your calendars because you won’t want to miss this exciting event. This past season we brought stand-up comic Rabbi Bob Alper back to Naples for a sold-out performance on the first night, and a sanctuary with standing room only on the second night. Just wait until

you hear what this year’s two-night event will be! High Holiday tickets Naples Jewish Congregation will be providing complimentary tickets for the High Holiday services to those who are new to the community or have not worshipped with us previously. For others who wish to purchase tickets, they are available at $100 per person. We hope that many of you will choose to join us in worship. We know you will feel the

welcoming spirit and the enthusiasm of our leaders and congregants. Please contact Steve McCloskey at 724.747.3359 to arrange for either purchased or complimentary tickets. Summer Shabbat services Please remember that during the summer months we only hold Shabbat services the last Friday of the month through August. In September we will resume our weekly worship services. Our Shabbat services begin at 7:30 p.m.

JEWISH CONGREGATION OF MARCO ISLAND

and we gather at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greater Naples, located at 6340 Napa Woods Way. Please join us for a Shabbat service and find out why “NJC is a place for you to belong!” An Oneg always follows our services, which gives everyone a chance to greet, meet and chat. For further information about Naples Jewish Congregation, please call 239.431.3858 or visit www.naples jewishcongregation.org.

www.marcojcmi.com / 239-642-0800

JCMI announces a new program to name honorees of the synagogue By Sue R. Baum, President

e frequently receive compliments recognizing the strength of the congregants in their support of the synagogue’s many events. From serving as chairs, committee members or doing the menial jobs, which make the success of the programs, the synagogue members offer their services with willingness and enthusiasm. The synagogue will recognize the

efforts of these volunteers by naming honorees annually, as the Man and Woman of the Year. The first honorees, for the year 2016, receiving the title of Man and Woman of the Year, are Bert and Joan Thompson. Both Bert and Joan offer their many talents voluntarily. Joan has been Sisterhood President, has used her highly skilled computer knowledge to enhance the office technology or whenever fly-

ers and signs are required, and has been an important factor in the success of Monday Night Bingo and the Deli Fest Committee since its inception. Joan is also a member of the Oneg Committee, an important part of Friday evening Shabbat services. Bert is one of the JCMI Chefs who serve excellent Shabbat and specialoccasion dinners. He is a past president of the synagogue, a longstanding

member of the Monday Night Bingo Committee, a member of the synagogue’s Wish Committee, and serves as the synagogue’s expert on sound. He is also a leader in the synagogue’s drive for food for the needy. Thank you, Joan and Bert! We are fortunate to have you as members of JCMI.

Federation Star July/August 2016 COLLIER/LEE CHAPTER OF HADASSAH

ORGANIZATIONS www.hadassah.org / 239-370-6220

Hadassah convenes a new Coalition for Women’s Health Equity

Gayle Dorio Collier/Lee Hadassah Co-President

et’s talk about health and wellbeing! Do you wake up and “take inventory?” How do you feel? What hurts? Are you in tip-top shape? Hadassah is VERY involved in health, and especially in women’s health. I enjoy reading the Hadassah magazine each month. This is from last month’s issue: *** Ellen Hershkin, our National President, recently said: “Most diseases affect men and women, but clinical studies have always focused disproportionately on men – impeding our understanding

of how gender affects prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcome.” Leading women’s health care experts and advocates came together in Washington, D.C., on May 12 for a panel presentation at the inaugural event of a new Coalition for Women’s Health Equity, convened by Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. The coalition, which launched last month to address pervasive disparities in women’s health care and treatment, currently has 16 members, including the American Heart Association, the Society for Women’s Health Research, the Black Women’s Health Imperative and the National Organization for Women. Panel participants noted that women, for example, make up only one third of cardiac research participants, even though heart disease is the number one killer of women. And doctors,

JEWISH WOMEN INTERNATIONAL

they said, are more likely to attribute a woman’s pain to stress or psychological conditions, but attribute a man’s pain to physical or neurologic causes, often resulting in under treatment of women. Officials at Hadassah, which focuses on domestic policy issues as well as supporting Hadassah’s two hospitals in Israel, said they convened the coalition in response to pervasive gender disparities throughout the health care system in order to create a well-coordinated and unified force to advocate for women’s health equity – from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and cure. *** Hopefully, you feel well! Hopefully, you are feeling on top of the world. Hopefully, you are a Hadassah woman with get-up-and-go – someone who DOES MORE! Hadassah offers several missions Did you know there are several mis-

sions that you can go on? Do you love to travel? Ruth Stockinger is going on a mission to Cuba. Ask her about it. In Hadassah magazine, there are descriptions of these missions. Visit hadassah. org/missions to learn more. Here is a description of the next one: “Modern-day Israel is a vibrant cosmopolitan hub with the best in international fashion, art, wine and cuisine. This mission will be a treat for all your senses: private showings with cuttingedge fashion designers, a behind-thescenes tour of the Israel Opera House, cuisine featured in an upcoming PBS documentary, a luscious workshop with one of Israel’s finest chocolatiers, and visits to delightful wineries. Come experience contemporary, sophisticated Israel. August 30 - September 11, 2016.

www.jwi.org / 239-498-2778

JWI’s Interfaith Coalition unites to protect domestic violence and stalking victims

Millie Sernovitz JWI Past International President

n May 18, people from diverse spiritual backgrounds called, emailed and tweeted congressional representatives and senators, urging them to close a dangerous loophole in current gun laws. This call to action was spearheaded by JWI’s Interfaith Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence – a group of 36 faiths united in efforts to end violence

against women and girls. Their letter to Congress, which asked for improved protections to keep victims of abuse and stalking safe from gun violence, was signed by 500 clergy and national faith-based organizations, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Baha’i. Under federal law, individuals convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors against a current or former spouse are prohibited from purchasing or possessing guns. Yet perpetrators convicted of misdemeanor stalking or misdemeanor domestic violence against a dating partner can still freely access firearms, despite posing a significant risk to the safety of the victim. JWI CEO Lori Weinstein issued the

ORT AMERICA – GULF BEACHES CHAPTER

following statement: Whether she’s gone on five dates, been married for five years, or had five children with him – a woman is not safe when her abuser has access to guns. The law’s narrow definition of intimate partner relationships leaves a dangerous loophole. We know that over half of all women killed by intimate partners were murdered with a gun, and nearly half of all intimate partner homicides were committed by a dating partner. Faith leaders, Republicans, Democrats, and gun owners support this legislation. It’s not controversial; it’s commonsense, and we need it now. Women’s lives are depending on it. More must be done to protect

victims of dating abuse and stalking from further violence. The Interfaith Coalition is united in support of H.R. 3130: the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act, and S. 1520: the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act. For more information about how JWI’s Interfaith Coalition asks 500 clergy and faith organizations to tell Congress to close dangerous loopholes or other JWI endeavors nationally, please contact Millie Sernovitz at 239.498.2778 or millie@sernovitz.com. Also, please visit the JWI website at www.jwi.org or its companion website for Jewish Woman magazine at www. jwmag.org.

www.ort.org / 239-649-4000

ORT to eternity

Marina Berkovich ORT Gulf Beaches President

RT has influenced the Jews and the World since 1880 in many unheralded ways. (continued from the June issue – last in a series) Part X. 21st century ORT The Alex and Betty Schoenbaum Science, Educational, Cultural and Sports Campus in Kiryat Yam, Israel, recently premiered its new planetarium, one of only three in Israel. Alex was educated by ORT. The planetarium offers an opportunity for the people of Kiryat Yam and the surrounding communities to explore space travel, to stimulate school children’s imaginations, and to spark an interest in the pursuit of science and research. The planetarium seats 80 people in recliners around the perimeter and on floor cushions. Children can gaze up onto the stunning images projected across the domed ceiling using NASA technology. A memorial to Israeli astronaut

Ilan Ramon was unveiled at the opening ceremony to coincide with the Ilan Ramon Science and Space Memorial Seminar, staged annually by ORT on the anniversary of his death in the Columbia shuttle disaster on February 1, 2003. Ilan Ramon wrote that the future of space exploration is solely in the hands of today’s young people. Onboard the Columbia space shuttle, seven astronaut crewmembers were able to complete 80 experiments during their 16-day mission, working in shifts continuously. As part of the Israel Space Agency’s agreement with NASA, a few experiments created by Israeli researchers were also conducted, including an

Ilan Ramon, NASA

experiment planned and prepared by students from ORT Kiryat Motzkin Middle School. In this experiment, called the Chemical Garden, the students studied, by way of the mission’s crewmembers, the difference between growing crystals in space as compared to growing them on Earth. Some of the results and conclusions of the Israeli experiments were lost with the shuttle, but some were broadcast and transmitted in real time to Earth, and they continue to serve scientists to this day. Ilan Ramon, born Ilan Wolferman on June 20, 1954, was a Colonel (Aluf Mishne) and a fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force. He was the first Israeli astronaut for NASA, the space shuttle’s payload specialist, and the oldest member of the crew at 48 years of age. Ramon remains to-date the only foreign recipient of the United States Congressional Space Medal of Honor, which was awarded posthumously. His father and his family fled Nazi persecution from Germany in 1935. His mother and grandmother were from Poland, and survived Auschwitz. Seven pages from the diary Ramon was keeping while in orbit survived the crash and were returned to his widow, Rona, who has shared two pages with

the Israeli public in a display at Jerusalem’s Israel Museum. One page, contains Ramon’s notes, and the other is a copy of the Kiddush prayer. “The diary survived extreme heat in the explosion, then atmospheric cold, and then was attacked by microorganisms. It’s almost a miracle that it survived – it’s incredible. There is ‘no rational explanation’ for how it was recovered when most of the shuttle was not,” the Museum’s Director said. Inscribed in black ink and pencil, the pages cover the first six days of the mission. The papers remained white even though, exposed at high speeds 37 miles (60 km) above the Earth, they should have burned. Yet they live on, as does Ramon’s legacy in ORT and beyond. *** ORT provides scholarships to 300,000 students annually in over 60 countries. GulfBeaches ORT Chapter 2016 fundraising efforts benefit ORT in Israel. Please help us with our financial challenge by mailing your renewal or donation check, payable to ORT America, to Hella Amelkin, 3200 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., #307, Naples, FL 34103.

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July/August 2016 Federation Star

ORGANIZATIONS / CALENDAR

July 2016 – 5776Get the Service you Deserve MONDAY SUNDAYlighting Candle times:

WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY 1

July 1: 8:06 July 8: 8:05 July 15: 8:04 July 22: 8:01 July 29: 7:57 3

4 INDEPENDENCE DAY 4:00pm HM Exec Cmte Mtg

10:00am TS-S Board Mtg 12:15pm BT Adult Ed 1:30pm JFCC CJD Meeting 4:00pm JFCC Exec Cmte Mtg 7:00pm BT Adult Ed

2:00pm NJC Board Meeting 6:30pm BBYO Youth Program

6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services

9:30am BT Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services

10:00am Jewish Genealogy 12:15pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm BT Adult Ed

1:00pm JCMI Bridge

12:15pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm BT Adult Ed

8:30am TS Torah Talk 9:30am BT Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services

11:00am TS Senior For’em 6:30pm BBYO Youth Program

11:30am HDH Mah Jongg / Fun Card Day

12:15pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm BT Adult Ed

6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services

1:00pm JCMI Bridge

11:30am JHSSWF Israeli 12:00pm NJC-S Book Club Synchronized Swimmers Welcome Reception

SATURDAY

9:30am HJH Board Meeting 1:00pm JCMI Bridge

6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services

4:00pm BT Board Meeting 6:15pm BT Services 6:30pm BBYO Youth Program 7:30pm TS Services 7:00pm JHSSWF Israeli 8:00pm JCMI Services Synchronized Swimmers

11:30am JHSSWF Israeli 6:30pm BBYO Youth Program 6:15pm BT Services Synchronized Swimmers 7:30pm NJC Services 1:00pm JCMI Bridge 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services

9:30am BT Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services

6:30pm JHSSWF Israeli Synchronized Swimmers Good Luck Reception

For a continuously updated community calendar, visit the Federation’s website at www.jewishnaples.org. JEWISH WAR VETERANS

239-261-3270

Jewish War Veterans update By Harve Sturm, Commander Post #202

e are the oldest active veterans organization in America, established in 1896. Our presence on Capitol Hill enables us to deal directly with Congressional leadership, holding the fate of American veterans in their hands. We serve veterans’ needs in our headquarters in Washington, D.C. Our staff studies the concerns of both the Jewish and veteran

a y , s t ’

communities and responds to them. On the local level, we meet on the third Sunday of each month from October through April. WE STAND FOR JEWISH PRIDE, IDENTITY AND AMERICAN JEWISH MILITARY SERVICE TO OUR NATION. As a member of the JWV, you will continue a proud tradition of service to

HUMANISTIC JEWISH HAVURAH

our country and to the Jewish community here and abroad. I would like to invite all veterans to add your voice and camaraderie to JWV by becoming a member. Our strength lies in the number of people we represent. A strong viable Jewish War Veterans post membership

gains the attention and respect of our community and all veteran groups in Naples. We look forward to speaking and meeting with you at your convenience. For more information, please contact me at 239.261.3270 or jwv post202@gmail.com.

www.hjhswfl.org / 239-495-8484

Jewish humanism

, e e

Paula Creed HJH President

ast month’s column cited Corliss Lamont’s book, The Philosophy of Humanism. This book was yused by Rabbi Sherwin Wine, the founder of Humanistic Judaism, while dteaching a class I attended as a new congregant of Rabbi Wine’s Birmingham Temple. This month I propose to explain o Jewish Humanism in Rabbi Wine’s rwords written for the Introduction to his TGuide to Humanistic Judaism, obtainable from the Society for Humanistic Judaism at www.shj.org, and received rwhen one becomes a member of the -Humanistic Jewish Havurah of Southewest Florida. “Are we Humanistic Jews or Jewish humanists? That question appeared very early in our development and remains

persistent. We have two powerful connections – one Jewish and the other humanistic. Which is primary? Or are they both of equal significance? People who join our movement have minds of their own. They do not easily fit into formulas that we may choose to create. Most people who join want to find a way to live their lives Jewishly with integrity. Others who enter our movement enjoy Jewish culture but the message of humanism is what motivates them to stay. Both groups are legitimate parts of our movement. Frequently, people who are members of humanist groups will challenge me. They want to know why our communities have this parochial interest in Jewish culture when they should be promoting a universal humanism. They claim that our Jewish loyalty diminishes or is incompatible with humanism. From the beginning we have been Humanistic Jews, rooted in the history and culture of the Jewish people. Our humanism has always been enhanced by our Jewish connection, because the message of Jewish experience is that

we cannot rely on the kindness of the fates. Most of us are humanists because the memories of Jewish history are ‘in our bones.’ The rabbinic establishment told us that we are the Chosen People. But our memories tell us that we are the victims of a cruel destiny. If the Jewish people survived, it was only because of human self-reliance, courage and cooperation. Our survival is a tribute to people power. We are part of the Jewish world. Even when other Jews do not share our philosophy of life, they share our culture – and we share the social fate to which all Jews are subjected when society is in turmoil. Judaism has evolved over many centuries and provides us with roots and with a distinctive place in human culture. Most cultures and religions accommodated different philosophies of life. Christianity, even though it did not begin as a nation, has roots in the GrecoRoman world, which embraced and molded its teachings. In many ways it has its own culture, independent of any specific ideology. In modern times, the

battle over the Enlightenment has splintered the church into many ideological factions. Like Judaism, it has become a culture with great ideological diversity. The main divide in religion today is between the humanists, who explicitly embrace the Enlightenment, and the fundamentalists, who reject it. In the middle lie the overwhelming majority of adherents who linger in the limbo of confusion and ambivalence, paying lip service to old creeds they have ceased to believe in and feeling apprehensive about change. Humanistic Christians find it easier to talk to Humanistic Jews than to fundamentalist Christians. Humanistic Jews find it easier to talk to Humanistic Christians than to converse with Orthodox Jews. Most humanists who choose [religious] affiliation will be Humanistic Jews or Humanistic Christians or Humanistic Buddhists. Some will choose groups with strong ideologies but shallow cultural roots. Jewish humanists may be comfortable there. But we have chosen to be Humanistic Jews.”

Federation Star July/August 2016

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Get the Service you Deserve August 2016 – 5776 SUNDAY

MONDAY 1

4:00pm HM Exec Comm Mtg

WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY 2

12:15pm BT Adult Ed 1:30pm JFCC CJD Comm Mtg 4:00pm JFCC Exec Board Mtg 7:00pm BT Adult Ed

1:00pm JCMI Bridge

6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services

8:30am TS Torah Talk 9:30am BT Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services

6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services

9:30am BT Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services 6:00pm BBYO Connect Kickoff

Tisha B’Av Observed

9:00am TS PS 1st Day 9:00am CHA PotA 1st Day 12:15pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm TS Exec Comm Mtg

9:30am HJH Board Meeting 1:00pm JCMI Bridge

11:00am TS Senior For’em 6:30pm BBYO Youth Program

12:15pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm TS Board Meeting

SATURDAY

9:00am JFCC IAC Meeting 2:00pm NJC Board Meeting 6:30pm BBYO Youth Program

12:00pm NJC-S Book Club

9:00am BT Religious School 1st Day

FRIDAY

1:00pm JCMI Bridge

10:00am Jewish Genealogy 12:15pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm BT Adult Ed

THURSDAY

1:00pm JCMI Bridge 4:30pm BT Hebrew School

4:00pm BT Board Meeting 6:30pm BBYO Youth Program

6:30pm BBYO Youth Program 7:00pm JCMI Board Meeting

6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services

6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm NJC Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services

9:30am BT Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services

Candle lighting times: 28

9:00am BT Religious School 9:00am TS Sunday School & Hebrew School 1st Day

12:15pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm BT Adult Ed

1:00pm JCMI Bridge 4:30pm BT Hebrew School

August 5: August 12: August 19: August 26:

7:53 7:47 7:41 7:34

Throughout the year, some holidays fall within the normal work week. The Federation office will be closed in observance of those holidays which are listed in all CAPITAL LETTERS.

Key: • AJC: American Jewish Committee • ATS: American Technion Society • BT: Beth Tikvah • CHA: Chabad Jewish Center of Naples • CHA-M: Chabad Men’s Club • CJD: Catholic-Jewish Dialogue • GS: GenShoah of SWFL • HDH: Hadassah • HJH: Humanistic Jewish Havurah • HM: Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida

Federation Star Publication Policy The Federation Star is a subsidized arm of the Jewish Federation of Collier County (JFCC). Its purpose and function is to publicize the activities and programs of the Federation, and to publicize the ongoing activities of the established and recognized Jewish organizations within Collier County. The goal of the JFCC is to reach out and unite all Jews of the greater Collier County area. While offering opinions and points of view do, and will continue to, exist about many issues of importance to Jews, the Federation Star will confine itself to publishing ONLY items that report the facts of actual events of concern to Jews and will only offer commentary that clearly intends to unite all Jews in a common purpose or purposes. Critical or derogatory comments directed at individuals or organizations will NOT be published.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE ADVERTISERS WHO HELP MAKE THE FEDERATION STAR POSSIBLE. Be sure to mention you saw their ad in the Federation Star.

• JCMI: Jewish Congregation of Marco Island • JCMI-M: JCMI Men’s Club • JCMI-S: JCMI Sisterhood • JCRC: Jewish Community Relations Council • JFCC: Jewish Federation of Collier County • JFCS: Jewish Family & Community Services • JHSSWF: Jewish Historical Society of SWFL • JNF: Jewish National Fund • JRCA: Jewish Russian-American Cultural Alliance • JWV: Jewish War Veterans (Adopted by the Oﬃcers and Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federation of Collier County 1/98) To avoid misunderstandings, controversies and destructive divisions among our people, the Officers and Board of Trustees of the “Federation” have adopted the following publication policy: Advertisements: All advertisements, regardless of their sponsor, shall be paid for in full, at the established rates, prior to publication. The contents of all advertisements shall be subject to review and approval of the Federation Board or its designee. Commercial advertisers may make credit arrangements with the advertising manager, subject to the approval of the Federation Board. Regular Columns: Regular columns shall be accepted only from leaders (Rabbis, Presidents, Chairpersons) of established and recognized Jewish organizations within Collier County and the designated Chairpersons of the regular committees of the Jewish Federation of Collier County.

Create a Jewish Legacy I give, devise and bequeath… Create a legacy to benefit the Jewish Federation of Collier County and our overall Jewish community in your will or trust. Call 239.263.4205. "I did not find the world desolate when I entered it. And as my parents planted for me before I was born, so do I plant for those who will come after me." -The Talmud

• MCA: Men’s Cultural Alliance • NJC: Naples Jewish Congregation • NJC-M: Naples Jewish Congregation Men’s Club • NJC-S: Naples Jewish Congregation Sisterhood • ORT: Organization for Rehabilitation/Training • TS: Temple Shalom • TS-M: Temple Shalom Men’s Club • TS-S: Temple Shalom Sisterhood • WCA: Women’s Cultural Alliance • ZOA: Zionist Organization of America

Special Announcements: Special announcements shall be accepted from established Jewish organizations within Collier County and may, at the discretion of the Federation Board, be subject to the conditions applicable to paid advertisements, as set forth above. News Items: Only those news items pertaining to matters of general interest to the broadest cross-section of the Jewish Community will be accepted for publication. Note: Items of controversial opinions and points of view, about political issues, will not be accepted for publication without prior approval of a majority of the Federation Officers and Trustees. All persons and organizations objecting to the actions and rulings of the Editor or Publications Committee Chairman shall have the right to appeal those rulings to the Officers and Board of Trustees of the JFCC.

July/August 2016 Federation Star

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY TEMPLE SHALOM OF NAPLES (Reform) 4630 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL 34119 Phone: 455-3030  Fax: 455-4361 Email: info@naplestemple.org www.naplestemple.org Rabbi Adam Miller Cantor Donna Azu James H. Perman, D.D., Rabbi Emeritus Debbie Zvibleman, President Eli Montague, Executive Director Dr. Anna Salomon, Dir. of Cong. Ed. Seyla Cohen, Preschool Director Peter Lewis, Organist/Choir Director Shabbat Services: Shabbat Eve - Friday 7:30 p.m. Shabbat - Saturday 10:00 a.m.

JEWISH CONGREGATION OF MARCO ISLAND

NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION

BETH TIKVAH

991 Winterberry Drive Marco Island, FL 34145 Phone: 642-0800  Fax: 642-1031 Email: mgr.jcmioffice@embarqmail.com Website: www.marcojcmi.com

Services are held at: The Unitarian Congregation 6340 Napa Woods Way Rabbi Sylvin Wolf Ph.D, DD 431-3858 Email: rabbi@naplesjewishcongregation.org www.naplesjewishcongregation.org

1459 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL 34109

Rabbi Mark Gross Hari Jacobsen, Cantorial Soloist Sue Baum, President Shabbat Services Friday 8:00 p.m. Saturday Talmud-Torah at 9:30 a.m. and Shachrit at 10:30 a.m. Sisterhood • Men’s Club Brownstein Judaica Gift Shop

Sisterhood • Men’s Club • Adult Education Havurot • Youth Groups • Religious School Judaic Library • Hebrew School • Pre-School Adult Choir • Social Action • Outreach

Rabbi Fishel Zaklos Dr. Arthur Seigel, President Ettie Zaklos, Education Director Shabbat Services Shabbat - Saturday 10am • Camp Gan Israel • Hebrew School • Preschool of the Arts • Jewish Women’s Circle • Adult Education • Bat Mitzvah Club • Friendship Circle • Smile on Seniors • Flying Challah • Kosher food delivery The Federation Star is published monthly, September through July, by the Jewish Federation of Collier County.

Yo, Sugar Baby! No Snickers, please. We’ve a message for you. FreshenUp, Smarties. Give a little Extra is what we’d like you to do. There are Good ’n Plenty of Goobers, Dum Dums and Zeros But we’re looking for Sweethearts and Sugar Daddys Who’ll be our heroes. Now Gummy Bear down on what we say ’Cause we know out there There’s a Milky Way. Doesn’t take a Millionaire or 100 Grand To spread a little Almond Joy Throughout the land. Even little Chicklets

Shabbat Services Friday evenings at 6:15 p.m. Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m.

Sisterhood • Men’s Club Adult Education • Adult Choir Social Action • Community Events

Youth Education Adult Education Community Events

Are real Lifesavers. Giving techniques come in Many different flavors. So start today With a real Icebreaker – A gift or bequest for Now & Later. With a Sweet Escape from the tax man’s toll You can be Carefree, you’re on a Tootsie Roll. An endowment with the Federation Is a wonderful spot To avoid a tax Crunch When your stocks are Red Hot. You can be among the stars Shining brightly, just like Mars. We’d love to acknowledge your gift… To M&Ms (Mr. and Mrs.) We’ll even send you Hugs and Kisses

Phone: 239-263-4205 Fax: 239-263-3813 E-mail: info@jewishnaples.org Website: www.jewishnaples.org

Please note our email addresses:

Editor: Ted Epstein, 239-249-0699 fedstar18@gmail.com Design: Federation Media Group, Inc. Advertising: Nancy Kuehne 239-822-6150 September Issue Deadlines: Editorial: August 1 Advertising: August 8 Send news stories to: fedstar18@gmail.com

Phone: 434-1818 Email: bethtikvahnaples@aol.com Website: www.bethtikvahnaples.org

Shabbat Services Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. May - August: services once a month

For more information on gift planning, call Jeffrey Feld, President/CEO, at 239.263.4205.

Publisher: Jewish Federation of Collier County

(just west of Mission Square Plaza)

Rabbi Ammos Chorny Phil Jason, President Sue Hammerman, Secretary

2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road Suite 2201 Naples, FL 34109-0613

Volume 25, No. 11 July/August 2016 28 pages USPS Permit No. 419

(Conservative)

Suzanne Paley, President Jane Galler, Cantorial Soloist

Candy Rapper

Naples’ only Judaica Shop

CHABAD NAPLES JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER serving Naples and Marco Island 1789 Mandarin Road, Naples, FL 34102 Phone: 262-4474 Email: info@chabadnaples.com Website: www.chabadnaples.com

(Reform)

Jeffrey Feld, Federation President/CEO – jfeld@jewishnaples.org Renee’ Bialek, Community Program Coordinator – rbialek@jewishnaples.org Julie Hartline, Donor Relations Coordinator – jhartline@jewishnaples.org Stacy Hersha, Business Operations Manager – shersha@jewishnaples.org General information requests – info@jewishnaples.org Nancy Kuehne, Advertising Account Rep – nancy.fedstar@gmail.com Ted Epstein, Editor, Federation Star – fedstar18@gmail.com

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Jewish Organizations to Serve You in Collier County (All area codes are 239 unless otherwise noted.)

Jewish Federation of Collier County Phone: 263-4205  Fax: 263-3813 Website: www.jewishnaples.org Email: info@jewishnaples.org • Federation Board Chair: Alvin Becker • Federation President/CEO: Jeffrey Feld

American Jewish Committee

• Regional Dir: Brian Lipton, 941-365-4955

American Technion Society

• Chapter Dir: Kelley Whiter, 561-395-7206

Collier-Lee Chapter of Hadassah • Co-President: Karen Cohn, 370-6220 • Co-President: Gayle Dorio, 530-8992

Friends of the IDF • Exec. Dir.: Dina Ben Ari, 305-354-8233

Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida • President: Herb Berkeley, 263-9200

Humanistic Jewish Havurah of Southwest Florida • Paula Creed, 495-8484

Israel Bonds

• Reva Pearlstein, 800-622-8017

JFCS of Southwest Florida Phone: 325-4444 • Chairperson: David Rutstein • President/CEO: Dr. Jaclynn Faffer

Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida • President: Marina Berkovich, 566-1771

Jewish National Fund

• West/Central FL Office, 800-211-1502 Uri ext 8910, Beth ext 8911

Jewish War Veterans Post 202,Collier Co. Chapter

• Commander, Harvey Sturm, 261-3270 • Senior Vice Commander, M/Gen. Bernard L. Weiss, USAF Ret. 594-7772

Men’s Cultural Alliance

• President: Les Nizin, 653-9259

Naples Friends of American Magen David Adom (MDA)

• SE Reg Dir: Joel Silberman, 954-457-9766

ORT - Gulf Beaches Chapter

• President: Marina Berkovich, 566-1771

Women’s Cultural Alliance

• President: Elaine Soffer, 431-7905

Zionist Organization of America • President: Jerry Sobel, 914-329-1024

Federation membership

According to the By-Laws of the Jewish Federation of Collier County, members are those individuals who make an annual gift of $36 or more to the Annual Federation Campaign in our community. For more information, call the Federation office at 239.263.4205.

Federation Star July/August 2016

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