PRESENTS
Evy Lipp People of the Book Cultural Event SAVE THE DATE Wednesday, February 25, 2015
The Anti-Defamation League’s results of an unprecedented worldwide survey of anti-Semitic attitudes. See page 15.
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: 3 Women’s Cultural Alliance 4 Men’s Cultural Alliance 5 Community Focus 8 Jewish Interest 14 Business Directory 16 Israel & the Jewish World 21 Tributes 22 Commentary 23 Rabbinical Reflections 24 Focus on Youth 26 Synagogues 27 Organizations 30 Community Calendar 31 Community Directory
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June 2014 - Iyar/Sivan 5774
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Vol. 23 #10
“Blooming Into Spring” Federation Women’s Division Luncheon “Thank You” from Nancy Greenberg and Carolyn Roth, Event co-Chairs
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e want to thank everyone who sponsored and attended the Jewish Federation Women’s Division Luncheon at Grey Oaks Country Club in April. We had a wonderful turnout of 152 guests, a fabulous speaker in Julie Shifman, a delicious lunch, and entertaining music played by Michael Mendelsohn. A huge thank you goes to Adria Starkey and FineMark National Bank & Trust for generously underwriting our event. In addition, we would like to thank Bigham Jewelers for donating a beautiful bracelet and earrings ensemble for our raffle, as well as Mitchell Dannenberg, who donated a decadent Norman Love “Chocolate Lovers” Basket
5 Jewish community Yom HaShoah Observance
16 18 Israeli inventions that could save your life
that was also raffled off to a lucky winner. Thank you to our local florists who graciously donated centerpieces that dazzled our room: Garden District, Cathy’s Herbs & Botanicals, Eastfork Orchids, Gene’s 5th Ave Florist, and Marcy’s Florals; with contributions from Marcy Aizenshtat-Bigel, Jane Purdy Berger, Stacy Braverman, Stephanie Heuer, Dana Jaffe, Phyllis Maizlish and Terri Nies. Our wonderful goodie bag was filled with surprises donated by Cathy’s Herbs & Botanicals, Driftwood Garden Center, LTCi Marketplace, Marissa Collections, Ooh La La Jewels Du Jour and W. Atlee Burpee & Co. Thank you to Gwen Greenglass, who photographed the luncheon for all to remember. And finally, the biggest “thank you” to our incredibly dedicated committee: Marcy Aizenshtat-Bigel, Jane Purdy Berger, Estelle Price, Linda Hyde and Phyllis Seaman; and of course…David Willens, Iris Doenias, Deborah Vacca and Jill Saravis from the Jewish Federation office. We hope to see you all next year and hope that you find the Jewish Federation’s Women’s Division Luncheon the place to be each spring.
“Blooming Into Spring” AT THE
Women’s Division Luncheon MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING:
BIGHAM JEWELERS Centerpieces donated by Naples leading Florists
GARDEN DISTRICT
CATHY’S HERBS & BOTANICALS EASTFORK ORCHIDS GENE’S 5TH AVE FLORIST MARCY’S FLORALS And contributions from the following MARCY AIZENSHTAT-BIGEL JANE PURDY BERGER STACY BRAVERMAN STEPHANIE HEUER DANA JAFFE PHYLLIS MAIZLISH TERRI NIES CAROLYN ROTH Favors CATHY’S HERBS & BOTANICALS DRIFTWOOD GARDEN CENTER LTCi MARKETPLACE MARISSA COLLECTIONS OOH LA LA JEWELS DU JOUR W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO.
25 Rising young star: Adam Roth
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GWEN GREENGLASS MUSIC BY MICHAEL MENDELSOHN
Photos (clockwise from top left): Carolyn Roth and Nancy Greenberg Marcy Aizenshtat-Bigel and Heather Aizenshtat Julie Shifman, Nancy Greenberg, Lois Cohen Grey Oaks ballroom Karen Ezrine and Helene Gordon Julie Shifman, Sally Aaron, Janis Siegel Photos by Gwen Greenglass
27 National Council of Jewish Women luncheon
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
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Federation Star June 2014
JEWISH FEDERATION
Luxury Knows No Limits.
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ou’ve probably seen it. A less-than-two-minute video produced by Andrea Gardner showing a blind and homeless man sitting by the side of a building hoping for some spare change from passersby. His hand-lettered sign reads, “I am blind. Please help.” Few people seem to notice or care and only a few coins are put in his tin cup. Then a smartlydressed young woman walks by, stops, kneels down and writes something on the sign and leaves. Suddenly, the homeless man’s fortunes change and he is almost overwhelmed by the generosity of people passing him. His cup, literally, overflows. When the woman returns, the man, who” recognizes” her from her shoes that he had touched earlier, asks her
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what she had done to his sign. She tells him that she didn’t do anything to his sign but simply used different words. As she walks away, we see that the sign now reads, “It’s a beautiful day and I can’t see it.” The power of words. When we tell people that we make our home in the Naples area (not simply that we “live” here), we convey the thought that we are firmly a part of a larger community that we care about; that we recognize that while our community has many assets and virtues, it also has problems and challenges and, to the extent that we can, we want to respond to them – because it is our home. And because we know that we can’t have a good home in a bad community. Your Jewish Federation of Collier County provides support – financial and non-financial – to organizations and programs that seek to meet the humanitarian, educational, cultural and social service needs of the Jewish community, all with an objective of making Collier County the best home it can be for all of us.
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A golf event for all skills and ages to benefit young Jewish children and teens to experience Jewish Summer Camp and travel to Israel. For more information about the event and hole sponsorships contact Kevin Aizenshtat at kevin@gcipnaples.com.
he Council of Presidents of our synagogues and Jewish organizations met in early May to plan the Jewish Community Calendar for the 2014-15 year…and if you thought this past season was full of wonderful activities and programs…you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! The Jewish Federation of Collier County is planning the following lineup of events for next season: a Community Chanukah Celebration on December 18 at the Mercato in Naples; and with our assistance on Marco Island on December 21; the Annual FED CUP Golf Outing has been rescheduled for December 21. In January we will host our annual Klezmer Band Concert in celebration of Florida Jewish History Month. We are planning a Major Gifts Event; our Annual Community Celebration Event is scheduled for January 31 at Wyndemere; a fundraiser/friend-raiser on Marco Island; and a Women’s Division event. Federation members, please hold the date of Wednesday, February 25,
2015, for our annual Evy Lipp People of the Book Cultural event. A very unique speaker is being planned. These are just some of the “major” events in store for you when you return next season. There are also plans on the drawing board for events by our Israel Advocacy Committee, the Kristallnacht Convocation from the Catholic/Jewish Dialogue of Collier County, and so many more wonderful events that will be presented through, or by all the local synagogues and Jewish organizations. Our 2014 Federation Campaign is strong. We have recorded many new gifts and increased giving so far this year, which broadens our donor base and involves more people in our many community-building and humanitarian endeavors. Todah Rabah – our thanks go out to all of our generous donors. If you have not made your gift to the 2014 Federation Campaign, there is a clip-and-mail form on page 29 of this issue for you to make your pledge of support. Otherwise, we will start wrapping up our campaign at the Jewish New Year and close by the end of December. So while you are away or just loafing here in town, we’ll be busy planning all our events and activities to please you this coming season. Have a great summer and rest up. We’ll see you in the fall.
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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. ABG World............................13 Beth Adelman, Realtor®.........14 Kevin Aizenshtat, Realtor®......2 CallSaul-YourPersonalDriver.14 CapitalRock..........................15 Classic Transportation...........14 Coni Mar Designs..................14 Entertainment Direct..............17 Dr. William Ertag, FAAN.......14 FGCU......................................5 Fuller Funeral Home.........14,18 Dr. David Greene...................10 Gulfcoast Foot & Ankle.........13 Hodges Funeral Home...........10 Home Care Assistance.............7 Jewish Museum of FL-FIU....17 A. Stephen Kotler, Attorney....14
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3 Federation Star June 2014 JEWISH FEDERATION
June 2014 Federation Star
WOMEN’S CULTURAL ALLIANCE
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www.WomensCulturalAlliance.com / 215-820-6697
WCA’s branches continue to bloom! By Susan Pittelman, WCA Publicity Director
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he WCA branches provide a way for members of the Women’s Cultural Alliance to “take WCA home” after the season ends. Through our local branches, women can continue the fun and the friendships that began in Naples. Some of the leadership of the branches has changed, so it is very important to send your branch leader your contact information (including your email address). This will ensure that you receive information about upcoming gatherings and programs – and that you don’t miss out on any of the fun! There are WCA branches growing in eight geographic areas throughout North America: The Metro Boston Branch serves women from throughout New England. Branch Leader Rolly Jacob reported that in March, members went to Fenway South to watch a spring training game. (WCA and MCA members were invited to join them, under the condition that they cheer for the Red Sox!) Special thanks to Arlene Sobol for organizing this event. The branch has a fantastic afternoon planned at Neiman Marcus on Monday, June 16 that includes lunch, makeovers and wine! Rolly encouraged everyone to sign up and commented, “In the past the branch has had cocktail parties, museum outings and lunches – whatever else is being planned is sure to be terrific!” The Connecticut Branch has been meeting for two and a half years and has approximately 25 members. The branch had several delightful lunches, hosted by members in both Naples and Connecticut. Last summer the branch organized a private docent tour at the new Yale Art Gallery and viewed the Herb and Dorothy Vogel art collection, followed by a lovely lunch. This winter, Chet Rivel invited branch members to her home, where she showed a foreign film, followed by a lively discussion and coffee and dessert. Branch Leader Linda Hofbauer said, “We are currently planning our summer get-together where we
will welcome our new members.” The Illinois Branch encompasses Chicago proper and the surrounding northern and western suburbs. An “Art Encounter” tour of art galleries (or private homes) that will include lunch is being planned for a July weekday in Chicago. Branch Leader Roberta Ury commented, “This will be an exciting adventure for the WCA Illinois Branch. I anticipate a great turnout.” “The Michigan Branch is a loosely formed group,” explained new Branch Leader Ruth Anne Lippitt.” The branch held a successful luncheon last year with the help of former branch co-leaders Judy Hocher and Rosalie Gold. The women had fun and enjoyed getting to know each other. Ruth Anne is planning a lunch for the members of the Michigan branch – but said that she needs your email addresses to be able to invite you. WCA New York City/New Jersey new Branch Leaders Judy Isserlis and Carole Weinberg are in the process of re-organizing the branch, building on the strong foundation that had been created by former branch leader Marvelle Colby. They are looking forward to hearing from the women from Metro New York and New Jersey. Judy declared, “Let’s plan a great program of culture, fun and friendship in the other “seasons” of the year. Carole added, “The Big Apple is our oyster – let’s crack it together! The branch is off to a great start, with member Gail Nizin planning an art tour in Chelsea for Wednesday, June 11. This very special outing will begin with coffee at the new High Line Hotel and conclude after lunch. What was once known as the Toronto Branch is now Oh Canada because the branch warmly welcomes women from other parts of Canada. A walk on the berm, a visit to the Holocaust Museum, a tour of historic Palm Cottage, teas and lunches – these are just some of the exciting activities experienced by the enthusiastic Canadian contingent in fabulous Naples. About
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30 women participate in the activities of the “Oh Canada” branch of WCA. They span Canada from Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Windsor with most from Montreal or Toronto. Branch leader Leslie Springman said, “You just have to be friendly and enjoy having fun to join outings organized by our group!” The branch hopes to meet in Toronto in June at Spadina House, a historic and beautiful home, for a tour and tea. Stay tuned for future events! The Ohio Branch thanks Lourene Rapport for her help in organizing the Ohio members and welcomes Marcia Schonberg of Columbus as the new branch leader. Marcia looks forward to the summer events that are being organized to attract WCAers throughout the state. She explained, “I hope to facilitate activities for members who cluster in major localities as well as plan a central gathering to accommodate all of us. I’m eager to research various possibilities and to hear from participants to build our database and get fresh ideas.” The Washington, DC/Maryland/ Virginia Branch includes women from the Maryland and Virginia suburbs of Washington as well as from the Baltimore area. Deedee Remenick has assumed the leadership of this group from Jeani Haven. (Thank you, Jeani, for helping to create the branch two years ago!) Branch members are touring the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore on Friday, May 30. Deedee is planning a tour of the Philip Ratner Museum in Bethesda and is also looking into a visit to The Mansion on O Street,
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a unique bed and breakfast where everything in the house is for sale! The group is also talking about hosting a luncheon at “an interesting place.” It sounds like a very exciting summer! The branch has about 25 members, and new members are welcome. If you live in one of these areas, take the fun and joy of being part of WCA back home with you! Get in touch with your branch leader(s) today: ¡¡ Connecticut: Linda Hofbauer l.hofbauer@cox.net ¡¡ Illinois: Roberta Ury robertaury@comcast.net ¡¡ Metro Boston: Rolly Jacob rollyj10@verizon.net ¡¡ Michigan: Ruth Anne Lippitt ralippitt@gmail.com ¡¡ NYC Metro/NJ: Judy Isserlis and Carole Weinberg wcanewyork@gmail.com ¡¡ Oh Canada: Leslie Springman lspringman@sympatico.ca ¡¡ Ohio: Marcia Schonberg msviews@gmail.com ¡¡ Washington, DC/Maryland/ Virginia: Deedee Remenick drddan1@aol.com Is there a WCA Branch for your area? If there is, contact the Branch Leader(s) to get your name on the list; if not, consider starting one so that you too can enjoy the benefits of WCA year round! If you are not a member of WCA – this is one more reason to join! Complete the WCA membership application below today. For more information, visit www.womensculturalliance.org.
Bruce B. Rosenblatt National Senior Housing Expert You can also read Connections on your tablet. Search for “Collier Connections”.
Women’s Cultural Alliance Membership Form Please check one: r New r Renewal For more information: Linda Simon, lgsimon2947@yahoo.com
Please make your check payable to: Jewish Federation of Collier County and mail with this form to: WCA Jewish Federation of Collier County 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd, Ste. 2201 Naples, FL 34109
www.SeniorHousingSolutions.net
Membership: $60 for the year includes all programming and Federation membership. r My information below contains new items.
In Southwest Florida: r full-time r part-time (from ________ to ________) Name: _________________________________________________________ Spouse or Partner Name, if applicable: ______________________________ Local Address: _________________________________________________ Community: ___________________________________________________ City: _____________________________ State: _____ Zip Code ____________ Email: _________________________________________________________ Florida home phone:____________________________________________ Cell phone: ___________________________________________________ Northern Address: ______________________________________________ City: _____________________________ State: _____ Zip Code ____________ Northern home phone: __________________________________________
Your membership check is your permission for Women’s Cultural Alliance to take and use photographs/videos for appropriate purposes in accordance with WCA’s mission.
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Federation Star June 2014
JEWISH FEDERATION
Sun Power author The Federation Thanks Our to address MCA luncheon Office Volunteers For 2013-2014 By Jeff Margolis
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oted solar power advocate Neville Williams is slated to address the December season opening MCA Luncheon. Williams’ recently published book, Sun Power (c.2014 Macmillan Pub. Co.), deals with the current energy revolution and how the use of solar power will play into America and the world’s future energy needs. The luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, December 11 at the Cypress Woods Country Club. Williams’ presentation is just the first of many scheduled informative luncheon events that will surely pique the interest of MCA members. The planning committee has also tentatively obtained Jerry Bond for the Thursday, January 8 meeting. Bond is a decorated World War II veteran who fought both on D-Day and in the Battle of the Bulge. The committee members have been busy lining up other speakers and luncheon venues in expectation of
a banner 2014-2015 season. MCA committee members have also been developing new activity groups for next season. These included bocce at Vineyards Community Park, Tai Chi, a writing workshop, and a private docentled tour of the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida. We are also looking to schedule a visit to the newly reopened Collier Car Collection and a tour of the Collier County 911 Emergency Center. Members are always encouraged to recommend new activities and groups, and the club is always looking for those who agree to facilitate these new programs. Members are also encouraged to renew their membership so as not to miss out on a great season. A 20142015 Membership Renewal Form can be found below. Please tell your friends about MCA and invite them to join our growing and vibrant organization.
MEN’S Cultural Alliance Membership Form Please check: r New
r Renewal
r I want to be listed in the MCA membership roster For more information, email Steve Brazina at sbrazina@aol.com Please make your check payable to: Jewish Federation of Collier County and mail with this form to: MCA Jewish Federation of Collier County 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd, Ste. 2201 Naples, FL 34109
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Federation VP & Campaign Chair ost of you are already at your summer residences or travels and I want to wish all of you a wonderful summer! I also want to remind you that while you’re away there is a lot of planning and work going on here in Naples. The needs of our people continue to exist here, nationally, in Israel and in over 60 countries around the world. I’d love to see a day when we didn’t have to help anyone and could close up shop. With that said, all of you know that the news out of Ukraine grows worse daily. Last month, our Federation allocated $2,500 through The Jewish Federations of North America to go directly to the JFNA Emergency Fund for Ukraine Assistance. I have tried to reach out to my wonderful guide Julia, from my JFNA mission to Odessa and Israel two years ago. Hopefully, I will hear back soon and will be able to keep our community involved. Each day brings more news of the rise in anti-Semitism both here in America and abroad. We can’t keep our heads in the sand and ignore what is happening. We have to not only help our people, but also be involved in our community and educate. Our Federation is already doing just that. We are very involved in our secular community in Naples and elsewhere as much as in our Jewish community. Here are some of our commitments of funds
Essie Barg Diane Block Harvey Brenner Maxine Brenner Judie Klein Marciadee Newman Harold Rappaport Arlene Sobol
ConneCt with your Jewish Community www.facebook.com/
facebook.com/jfedsrq JewishFederationofCollierCounty
Membership: $56 or $64 (includes name badge) minimum
donation for the year, and includes Federation membership. Additional donation to the Federation is voluntary and encouraged. Name as you’d like it to appear on badge: ____________________________ In Southwest Florida: r full-time r part-time (from _______ to _______) Name: __________________________________________________________ Spouse or Partner Name, if applicable: _______________________________ Local Address: __________________________________________________ City: ______________________________ State: _____ Zip Code ____________ Email: __________________________________________________________ Florida home phone:_____________________________________________ Cell phone: ____________________________________________________ Northern Address: _______________________________________________ City: ______________________________ State: _____ Zip Code ____________ Northern home phone: ___________________________________________
See you in September Phyllis Seaman
The board and staff of the Jewish Federation of Collier County would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers who helped us at the Federation offices welcome visitors, answer phones, take reservations for events, and assist with special projects as needed. It is our pleasure to thank them publicly for their interest and commitment to the Jewish Federation of Collier County. We are truly grateful for their assistance in our ever growing organization.
this past year: ¡¡ Greater Naples YMCA after the fire ¡¡ Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) conducts outreach through education, information and programing ¡¡ The Catholic/Jewish Dialogue, whose mission is to advance mutual understanding and appreciation of both faith communities ¡¡ Human Needs Award to deserving community-based social service organizations ¡¡ “Stand Up For Justice” Educator Grant to foster projects that teach respect in our public schools ¡¡ The Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida As you can see, we try hard to fulfill “tikkun olam” – to repair the world. I hope I have added some more reasons that might encourage you to consider a commitment to our Annual Federation Campaign or an additional or increased gift. You really didn’t think I would let you get away for two months without asking for money, did you? As you know, the needs are great and we are doing some pretty amazing things for a small city Federation. I’m very proud of our community and to be a part of it, and so should you. Even if you’re only here seasonally, you are a part of the big picture. If you have already made a gift or pledge for 2014 – Thank You! If not, please consider your gift NOW. We are trying extremely hard to reach our $1.5 million goal. The more we raise, the more we can allocate. Please be a part of our success story. No Gift Touches More Lives!
SAVE THE DATE
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Federation’s Community Gala Event: Saturday evening January 31, 2015
NY
September 7-10, 2014
THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS TIMES SQUARE Experience the power and impact of the Lion of Judah. SAVE THE DATE for The Jewish Federations After the success of the 2012 International Lion of Judah of North America’s 2014 International Lion of Conference, don’t missJoin your the chance to join us again Judah Conference! most dedicated, New York City! women in the passionate and inphilanthropic Secure yourgather spot today for the inspirational 2014 International world as we for three days Lion of Judah Conference. Hear from world-class speakers, of learning and sharing. celebrate our philanthropy and change the world. For more information andWe to register, We Are. We Can. Do. visit www.lionconference.org. To learn more about being a Lion of judah or attending the 2014 conference, please contact Ilene Fox at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org.
5 Federation Star June 2014 COMMUNITY FOCUS
June 2014 Federation Star
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JFCS update Dr. Jaclynn Faffer
Published by
JFCS President/ CEO 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 President: Alvin Becker Vice President: Kevin Aizenshtat Vice President: Phyllis Seaman Vice President: Berton Thompson Secretary: Wallie Lenchner Treasurer: Jerry Sobelman Immed. Past President: Judge Norman Krivosha
Board of Trustees Joshua Bialek Harvey Brenner Stephen Coleman Amanda Dorio Michael Feldman Alan Gordon Neil Heuer Ben Peltz Joel Pittelman Dr. Tracey Roth Jane Schiff Arlene Sobol Michael Sobol Dr. Daniel Wasserman Beth Wolff Barry Zvibleman
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 Roger Blau Rosalee Bogo Rabbi Ammos Chorny Stuart Kaye Rabbi Edward Maline Rabbi Adam Miller Suzanne Paley Rabbi James Perman Dr. Arthur Seigel Neil Shnider Rabbi Sylvin Wolf Rabbi Fishel Zaklos
Executive Director David Willens
Staff Jill Saravis, Community Program Coord. Iris Doenias, Administrative Assistant Deborah Vacca, Bookkeeper 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 • Community Relations Committee • Educational & cultural programs • Long Range Planning for expected community growth • Publication of the Federation Star, our monthly newspaper; Connections, our annual resource guide; and Community Directory • 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
The work of the Jewish Federation of Collier County represents both our community and our community’s most generous tradition – to give to others even in the most difficult times.
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lthough Passover is long behind us, this year the Jewish Family & Community Services of Southwest Florida (JFCS) annual “Seder-in-a-Box” program provided boxes of Passover necessities such as matzo and gefilte fish, as well as goodies such as cookies and candy, to 80 Jewish individuals. Once again, in partnership with Beth Tikvah Congregation, the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island, and Temple Shalom, JFCS raised funds to enable those Jewish individuals who use the JFCS Food Pantry to celebrate a “sweet” Passover. Each Passover
“box” also included a $25 Publix gift card to allow for the purchase of fruit, vegetables and meat. JFCS also provided Easter dinners, through our “Easter in a Basket” program, to 55 individuals. It is always heartwarming to know that through the generous support of our community, JFCS can help those who are struggling with food insecurity to enjoy the holidays. And speaking of food…with our snowbird supporters enjoying the cooler weather up north, summer is often the time that the JFCS Food Pantry runs low on food. In fact, last summer was the first time in my knowledge that we actually had to shop to fill the shelves in the pantry. Please keep us in mind as you shop and come across those great BOGO deals! Happily, this year we are partners of the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Our partnership not only enables us to get food
from the food bank on a donated basis, but if we really run low we can “shop” there at much reduced prices. And, did you know that if you make a donation to the food bank you can designate it to JFCS? This designation comes to us as a “credit” for when we are in the position of purchasing food. Our programs continue to grow, and we have just started a support group for men with early to mid-stage dementia. If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact our case manager, Donna Levy, RN, at 239.325.4444 or dlevy@jfcsswfl.org for more information. The Senior Center is now open three days a week and weekly luncheons are averaging 100 participants every Wednesday. And our pre-teen and teen outreach programs are reaching out into the community. As always, thank you for your support!
Faffer awarded Harvard scholarship
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ewish Family & Community Services of Southwest Florida (JFCS) has been notified that President/ CEO Dr. Jaclynn I. Faffer has been awarded a scholarship to attend a summer program of the Harvard Business School. The week-long program, to be held in July, is entitled “Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management.” The $5,000 scholarship is provided by the Harvard Club of Naples and will cover the full cost of the program plus
room and board. Dr. Faffer has been in her current position with JFCS since the summer of 2011. During that time, Faffer has been responsible for the transition of JFCS to an independent agency and for the tripling of the agency’s annual budget. Under Faffer’s leadership, JFCS has opened the first Senior Center in Collier County. In addition, she has been responsible for expanding the agency’s clinical programs.
JFCS is a non-sectarian, human services agency serving children, families and older adults in Collier and southern Lee counties. JFCS receives annual funding from the Jewish Federation of Collier County as well as a variety of other sources. JFCS is as member of the Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies, and the Community Foundation of Collier County.
Naples Jewish Caring Support Group now at JFCS offices
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he Naples Jewish Caring Support Group has been meeting for over five years at Temple Shalom. The group was founded by Florette Kahn when she and her friends watched illness attack their loved ones. Feeling isolated by the job of caregiving, they sought a safe place where they could discuss their distress and find ways to handle difficult situations. The confidential group environment provided support, comfort
and encouragement. We are honored that the founders of the Naples Jewish Caring Support Group have asked Jewish Family & Community Services to facilitate the group that has helped so many. The Naples Jewish Caring Support Group will move to the JFCS offices at 5025 Castello Drive, where it will be facilitated by Donna Levy, RN, the JFCS geriatric case manager. Ms. Levy is a psychiatric
nurse with extensive experience in helping individuals and groups cope with the struggles of caregiving and loss. Group meetings will begin on June 9 and be offered the second and fourth Mondays of each month from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The group is offered free of charge. Please contact Donna Levy at 239.325.4444 or dlevy@jfcsswfl.org for more information.
Jewish community commemorates Yom HaShoah By Jeff Margolis
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t is called Yom HaShoah. It is a day set aside each year to honor the memories of those men, women and children who perished during the Holocaust. It is also a time to honor the liberators and those righteous gentiles who rescued the remnants of European Jewry. This year, the Yom HaShoah program of Collier County was held at Beth Tikvah synagogue. Organized by Rabbi Ammos Chorny, spiritual leader of Beth Tikvah, the program included traditional liturgical prayers to honor and commemorate the six million Jewish souls obliterated by the Nazi regime. The program also featured the showing of the film Tak for Alt, which chronicles the story of Judy Meisel, whose experiences during the Holocaust in a ghetto and then a work camp inspired her to become a teacher and an advocate for civil rights. Tak for Alt, which is Danish for “Thanks for Everything,” is a documentary that portrays both hope and despair. The film also pays tribute to the people of Denmark, who risked their own lives to smuggle its Jewish community to neutral Sweden during World War II. The Yom HaShoah commemoration was co-sponsored by the following organizations: Beth Tikvah of Naples, Naples Jewish Congregation, Temple Shalom of Naples, Chabad of Naples, The Catholic/Jewish Dialogue of Collier County, GenShoah of Southwest
Florida, the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island, the Jewish Federation of Collier County, and the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida. Also participating this year were students from St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School. “We shall teach our children to preserve forever that uprooted Jewish spirit which could not be destroyed.”
GenShoah members and Rabbi Ammos Chorny light memorial candles during the community Yom HaShoah Observance at Beth Tikvah (photo by Jeff Margolis)
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Federation Star June 2014 HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & ED CTR OF SWFL
COMMUNITY FOCUS www.holocaustmuseumswfl.org / 239-263-9200
Holocaust Museum update Amy Snyder Executive Director
ecently, I have been reflecting on the stories of our survivors and liberators, and the message that they impart to our young people through their testimonies. I’d like to share some of their thoughts. From Abe Price: I am speaking and writing about the Holocaust in order for people to know the truth and what the Nazis and their collaborators did to
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innocent civilians during World War II. Abe was always faithful to the story and dedicated to truth. Although many today believe that truth is relative and situational, we know in our hearts that there is an ultimate standard of behavior, and that persecution and destruction of the innocent violates that standard. The intention and actions of the Nazi Regime continues to be an affront to human dignity as we see it reflected in other totalitarian regimes around the world. In honor of the Holocaust survivors we know, it is our duty to stand up for truth when we are able. From Rob Nossen: Sharing my story puts a personal face on the Holocaust, which both students and adults
seem to relate to. There are basic factors that seem to contribute to [genocides], namely, lack of tolerance for minorities and anyone who is different. For students, this is often exhibited in the form of bullying and racial/ethnic slurs. Meeting someone who lived the Holocaust makes it real for our students and allows them to visualize themselves in the story. This is how we can create empathy that leads to real change. The personal connection is central to making history meaningful and we are so thankful for the survivors and liberators who are willing to share their lives with students. From Rosette Gerbosi: First – cherish your family; second – value the
freedoms we have in this country; third – respect your differences, we are all different – color, religion, gender – but we are one race and that is the human race. The reminder seems simple, but how often we forget! It is not until we have lost something that we realize how precious it is – a family member, a friend, a belief, freedom. All of these are gifts and all need nurturing. The stories of the Holocaust continue to be relevant in our lives in so many ways. We are grateful to the Southwest Florida community for its support of the Holocaust Museum, giving us the ability to make sure these stories are heard and remembered.
Why is GenShoah Southwest Florida different from other GenShoahs? By Ida Margolis
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short time before Passover, the steering committee of GenShoah Southwest Florida began planning programs for next season. As we were discussing what programs would be most appropriate for our group, I was thinking about the uniqueness of our group. Last fall I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the first “Generations of the Shoah International (GSI) Conference” and “25th Annual World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the Holocaust and Descendants” joint gathering. One of the workshops I attended was titled “What works and what doesn’t work in our local groups?” The main thing that I came away with
from that workshop was that throughout the country, local GenShoah groups are very different, so that what works for one group does not necessarily work for another group for many reasons. Some groups are located in areas where there are still many survivors as well as many second- and thirdgeneration individuals. Other communities have a small number of second generation but their numbers remain consistent throughout the year. Some groups allow only second generation to come to meetings while others allow anyone who has been impacted by the Holocaust. A few groups are associated with a local Holocaust Museum or Holocaust Resource Center, while others
To Life!
are independent groups. There are a variety of reasons why GenShoah Southwest Florida is unique. During season there is an increase in the number of children and grandchildren of survivors in our region. In an area that does not have a large Jewish population, we have an incredible resource, the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida. The number of visitors to this little gem attests to the fact that there in an interest in the history of the Holocaust in this area. In the past, when GenShoah Southwest Florida presented programs, many individuals who were not children (2g) or grandchildren (3g) of survivors have asked to attend, and the steering committee agreed that not only should they be permitted to attend, they should be welcomed. On the GSI website, this group of 2g and 3g of survivors is described as “a worldwide network of children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, linked together with the common goals of preserving and honoring our legacy, sharing resources and programming ideas, providing emotional support to
our members, and tackling issues of mutual interest.” GenShoah Southwest Florida, taking into account the uniqueness of our area and the interest expressed by visitors and snowbirds, describes itself as “a group for children of Holocaust survivors and others interested in promotion of Holocaust education, preservation of memories of the Holocaust, connection of second generation with one another, and support of the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida.” If you are a person who has any of the above interests, please consider yourself invited to become a member of GenShoah Southwest Florida. There are no dues and no forms to fill out. Simply email me at ida.margolis2@gmail.com and ask to be put on the GenShoah Southwest Florida email list. You will receive information about all meetings, events and activities. Also, be sure to read this newspaper about upcoming events, including films presented by program chair Steve Brazina, as well as outstanding speakers and discussion groups.
Heading North? If you’re heading north at the end of the season, we’ll miss you! So let’s stay in touch. Please help us update our files by providing us with your northern address.
Please choose one of the following methods to provide us with the information below:
Interested in your family’s history?
• call us at 239.263.4205 • email your information to info@jewishnaples.org • complete this form and fax it to 239.263.3813 • complete and mail this form to: Jewish Federation of Collier County 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 2201 Naples, FL 34109 Thank you! Name: ____________________________________________________
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 meeting of the Jewish Genealogy SIG (Shared Interest Group) at the Jewish Federation of Collier County offices (2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 2201, Naples) on Tuesday, June 10 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.
Northern Address: _________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Northern Phone: __________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________________ Leaving SW Florida: _______________________________________ Returning to SW Florida: ____________________________________
7 Federation Star COMMUNITY FOCUS June 2014
June 2014 Federation Star
7
Dr. Matusitz on “How Culture Shapes Terrorism”
2014 hurricane season – Be prepared…have a plan
By Gene Sipe, VP Southwest Florida Chapter ZOA
By David Willens, Federation Executive Director
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his is a friendly and important reminder, that as we enter the 2014 hurricane season, there are several things you need to do to protect yourself and your property from an impending storm. The most important action you can take is to “have a plan.” This means to plan for what to do, should you decide to hunker down or to evacuate. In the past, I’ve reminded you of several things – and I will remind you again to: XX Have plenty of fresh water available XX Have an ample supply of prescription medicines that you take. XX Keep your cell phones charged (get a car charger should you lose
he Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) of Southwest Florida in conjunction with Sam and Judith Friedland are proud to cosponsor Dr. Jonathan Matusitz, university professor, author and lecturer, on Thursday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Chabad Jewish Center of Naples, 1789 Mandarin Road. Dr. Matusitz’s presentation will be on the topic “How Culture Shapes Terrorism.” His most recent book, Terrorism & Communication: A Critical Introduction, was published in 2012 by SAGE. He currently is a tenured associate professor in the Nicholson School of Communication at the University
of Central Florida (UCF). He has over 100 academic publications and over 100 conference presentations to his credit, and he taught at a NATO-affiliated military base in Belgium in 2010. In 2012, he was honored with a prestigious teaching award by the College of Sciences at UCF. He has also been reproached by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for the content of this presentation. The program is open to the public and tickets are $10. RSVP to the ZOA Southwest Florida Chapter by email to info@zoaswfl.org or by mail to Jerry Sobel, 4003 Upolo Lane, Naples, FL 34119.
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electricity) XX Fill up your car with gas and your propane tanks as well XX Have some cash available XX Organize and secure important documents, especially your homeowner’s insurance policy, and have them ready to take with you should you decide to evacuate XX Secure your valuables. Move your furnishings away from windows and doors. And don’t forget to secure family photos and memorabilia – they cannot be replaced. XX Include your pets in your plan. If you evacuate, have a list of lodging facilities that take in pets.
For a continuously updated community calendar, visit www.jewishnaples.org. Beth Tikvah
JEWISH PRISONER OUTREACH (not affiliated with Beth Tikvah Conservative Synagogue)
Temple Judea
11486 A & W Bulb Road 239-433-0201
Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan returns to Fort Myers. This will be the Scouts’ third appearance in Fort Myers. The Scouts put on an energetic performance. They sing and dance on stage and with their audience. The teenagers who participate in Caravan come from all throughout Israel. They go through an extensive selection process and are chosen based on their maturity and the fluency of their English, as well as their ability to sing and dance. Each caravan is comprised of ten 16 and 17 year olds, entering their senior year of high school, plus two advisors who are post-army service.
The program in Fort Myers is sponsored jointly by Temple Judea, Temple Beth El and the Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties.
Jewish Prisoner Outreach in our area has been conducted for about 30 years (before 2002 it was under the umbrella of B’nai B’rith and Jewish Prisoner Services International). In order to continue this initiative, support is needed in providing anonymous responses to mail from lonely and forgotten men and women. Work can be done from your own computer. Jewish Prisoner Outreach provides a wide assortment of Judaica to those lacking the funds to make their own purchases. We welcome donations of dormant Judaica (used tefillin, Chumashim, Tanakhim, Hebrew readers, Siddurim, tallaisim, etc.) from individuals and congregations. Through directed giving, we provide kosher edibles at holiday times. We also provide pre-entry and post-release support and counseling for Jewish offenders and their loved ones who request it. Much of our time and energy is devoted to combating rampant anti-Semitism in Florida’s prison system.
We seek a volunteer director to assist in day-to-day outreach programs. For more information, call 239-566-7702 or email skleiner@comcast.net.
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JEWISH INTEREST
Federation Star June 2014
Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle
A lot of history By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD
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By David Benkof, DavidBenkof@gmail.com Across 1. Prepare at the last minute for Israel’s bagrut exam 5. “Heritage: Civilization and the Jews” narrator 9. Entrepreneur and House member Polis (D-Colo.) 14. Steak sauce certified by the Orthodox Union as kosher 15. ___ Mare (ancestral home of Satmar Hasidim) 16. Kind of oil used to light the Temple’s Menorah 17. Famous Biblical convert 18. “With its lone floors where reverent feet once ___” (line from an Emma Lazarus poem about The Touro Synagogue) 19. Place name for Jerusalem that can be an abbreviation for the city 20. City founded in 1950 whose name means “House of the Sun” 23. “Chanukah” only has one, but “Hannukah” has two 24. Bar Refaeli, by some men’s evaluations 25. First king 27. LA’s Skirball Museum is a good place to see some 30. ___ kanfot (“four-cornered” garment to which tzitzit are attached) 32. Composer Shemer and author Wolf 36. Rend one’s garment, e.g. 38. Died like Lenny Bruce 40. Old Jewish ___ (kind of role played by Walter Matthau) 41. Islamic caliphate under which Jews mostly flourished 44. Oskar Schindler actor in “Schindler’s List” 45. Comedian Blumenfeld of MTV’s “Pranked” 46. “I’d like to order ___ pastrami sandwich...” 47. Memoirist Eve (“In the Body of the World”) 49. “Ken” in shiluach haken (mitzvah of sending way a mother bird) 51. Tel Aviv-Mecca dir. 52. Jai ___ (sport many Florida Jews enjoy) 54. “Curly” player of Abe Saperstein’s Harlem Globetrotters 56. Coll. for quarterback Aaron Murray 59. He said Holocaust denial was a major achievement of his presidency 64. Mubarak predecessor 66. Kind of transportation used by participants of “Burning Bush Adventures” trips in Maine 67. How jelly might come out of a Chanukah donut 68. Egypt status 69. “Every,” in Yiddish 70. It’s used to affix a mezuzah
Solution on page 20
71. Harold who directed “National Lampoon’s Vacation” 72. Rebecca Rubin, part of the “American Girl” collection 73. Part of a dreidel game Down 1. One of many to be concerned about for dieters eating challah 2. Shylock, perhaps 3. ___-Defamation League 4. Conductor Zubin 5. A whole megillah 6. Pianist Daniel 7. Scientist Lise Meitner helped discover how to split one 8. Kind of Modigliani painting 9. He “fit” the Battle of Jericho 10. “___ recherche du temps perdu” (Proust work) 11. Nudge 12. ___ Ha’ezer (part of the Shulchan Aruch) 13. Sens. Brian Schatz and Ron Wyden 21. Some parts of the former Soviet Union 22. Koufax who famously wouldn’t pitch game one of the 1965 World Series 26. Part of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union 27. “You can’t shoot ___ in the tail like a quail” (“Annie Get Your Gun” lyric) 28. He played “Jakob the Liar” 29. James Levine might conduct them 31. Part of a recipe in “Passover Made Easy” 33. Jewish Enlightenment philosopher Mendelssohn 34. Bissels 35. Jule of “Gypsy” 37. Famous Israeli prison site 39. Former Democratic governor of Pennsylvania 42. Abraham’s wife 43. Second word of the “Dayenu” verse about the Torah 48. Brings nachas to 50. Jerusalem outreach professional Jeff 53. It might be said on Tisha B’av 55. Helmsley about whom Newsweek devoted the headline “Rhymes with Rich” 56. Birthplace for Mila Kunis 57. Type of fundraiser for a Jewish school 58. An apple was named after him 60. It’s used to answer the phone by some Israelis 61. Rivers of comedy 62. “I hope I don’t get ___ on my bar mitzvah...” 63. Order from a Jerusalem Post editor 65. Israeli singer Toledano
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n 1966, Israeli historian Jacob Robinson observed that “the usual course of any particular community is even and uneventful; ordinarily, little of historical significance takes place,” except in “those rare times when a peak of military, political, intellectual and moral activity is reached.” The era of Nazi oppression, however, was quite different. Robinson notes that then, “in the span of only twelve years, Dr. Paul Bartrop every single Jewish community in Europe perforce was faced with the greatest crisis possible to a group – the crisis of existence.” Given that, he concluded that the history of the Holocaust was “as eventful and rich as that of a thousand years.” The month of June 1944 was most definitely one such month. While this short piece cannot chronicle every event that took place during the Holocaust, some are worthy of general note. In June 1944, the Holocaust in Hungary continued. Jewish communal leader Rudolf Kasztner had begged Adolf Eichmann that some of the Hungarian Jews remain in Budapest, but on June 3 Eichmann informed Kasztner that “I have to clean up the provincial towns of the Jewish garbage. I must take this Jewish muck out of the provinces. I cannot play the role of the savior of the Jews.” That same day, at Auschwitz, a train arrived from Lyon, France. The world was to learn later from a survivor, Freda Silberberg, that she was arrested by French authorities, not the Germans. At Birkenau, the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele selected Freda for his experiment pool. On June 4, U.S. forces successfully entered the Italian capital, Rome. By this stage Italy was effectively out of the war, but the German army in Italy continued to fight right up until the Nazis’ final capitulation in May 1945. June 6 was one of the most momentous days of World War II. Operation Overlord, the code name for the Battle of Normandy, saw the start of the Allied invasion of Germanoccupied Western Europe. This was D-Day: a 1,200-plane airborne assault preceded an amphibious assault across the English Channel, in which thousands of vessels ferried nearly 160,000 American, British and Canadian troops onto the French coastline. By the end of August, more than three million Allied troops were in France, and the long fight to destroy Nazism was now starting its final phase. On that same day, June 6, 1944, the Germans rounded up 1,795 Jews in Corfu, Greece. Some fifteen hundred of them were gassed at Birkenau. The month of June also saw the capture of a young Jewish resistance leader, Hannah Szenes (Senesh). In 1943, in Palestine, she had joined the British Army and volunteered to be parachuted into Europe in order to help the Allies make contact with local resistance groups. Sent to Yugoslavia in March, on June 7, 1944, at the height of the deportation of Hungarian Jews, she crossed into Hungary. On June 9, she was arrested by Hungarian police,
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tortured repeatedly over the next several months, and this martyr for the Jewish people was ultimately executed by a firing squad on November 7. At her death, she was only 23 years old. On June 12, the Nazi Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories, Alfred Rosenberg, ordered what became known as the “Heuaktion,” or “Hay Action,” in which approximately 40,000 Polish children, aged between ten and fourteen, were kidnapped for slave labor in Germany. These were not Jewish children. Their kidnapping led to enormous hardship (sometimes death), the loss of identity, and was a further attempt at destroying a Polish future – even though the war in the east was by this stage clearly lost. Reinforcing the idea that Jews were by this stage not wanted even as slave labor, on June 16 a call was made in the Lodz Ghetto for volunteers who were prepared to perform labor outside the ghetto. Those who reported were, instead, destined for the death camp at Chelmno. At this time, with Germany’s war effort in tatters, the Holocaust was still very much in evidence. On June 17, SS General Edmund Veesenmayer notified Berlin that 340,000 Hungarian Jews had been deported to their deaths since April 29. On June 19, a further 500 Jews were transferred from Birkenau to Dachau (with another thousand on June 22), and on June 23 wholesale deportations of the Jews of Lodz began. On average, 3,000 Jews were deported from Lodz to Chelmno each week in an operation that did not come to an end until July 14. At Birkenau, on June 24, a young Jewish woman named Mala Zimetbaum escaped from the camp through an airlock in the gas chamber waiting room. She had already spent nearly two years at the camp, where she had been working as an interpreter and courier. She and the man she had come to love, a Polish prisoner named Edward “Edek” Galiński, were soon recaptured, and returned to Auschwitz, where they were tortured prior to their execution. Sentenced to be hanged in public, Mala produced a razor blade and slashed at the veins on her upper arms. While she did not die immediately, by the time she was dead, aged just 22, her defiance was already legendary among prisoners, and has since become an inspiration for young Jews everywhere. The month ended with a further trainload of Jews sent to Birkenau from Corfu on June 30. Nearly all were murdered. The month of June 1944 was one which was, as Jacob Robinson would remind us, “as eventful and rich as that of a thousand years.” It is instructive, perhaps, to note that this was repeated, over and over again, with variations as to scale and intensity, across the 149 months of the Third Reich, a period which only included 58 months of total war. 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.
How do I get items into the Federation Star? Email your articles and photos to fedstar18@gmail.com. What are the Federation Star deadlines? Items are due the 1st of each month. If the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day. Where can I get a copy of the Federation Star? If you’re not on our mailing list, please send an email to iris@jewishnaples.org with your name and address. Copies are also available at several local synagogues and the Federation office. How do I place an ad in the Federation Star? Send an email to jacqui1818@gmail.com or call Jacqui at 239.777.2889. For a media kit, visit the Federation Star page at www.jewishnaples.org.
9 JEWISH INTEREST Federation Star June 2014
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. A Real Cinderella Story California Chrome, the winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby (held on May 3), is a for-real Cinderella story, as are his owners and trainer. The horse is owned and was bred by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, who live, respectively, in a small city in far Northern California and in a small Nevada town near Lake Tahoe. Neither earns much money as an engineer and press operator, respectively, but they took a chance and bred two horses, worth $10,500 together, and got a foal (California Chrome) that showed early promise. When Chrome was two years old, they told ALAN SHERMAN, 45, a trainer based part-time in the San Francisco area, about the horse. He talked to his father and boss, trainer ART SHERMAN, 77, and they agreed to train him. Coburn told a Sacramento newspaper that he chose Art Sherman because, “He’s a regular guy. He doesn’t have a huge barn. He can spend quality time with every horse. You can tell Chrome likes him, and he really loves this horse.” Like Chrome, Art Sherman had modest beginnings. He was born in Brooklyn, where his father, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, scraped out a living in construction. Sherman told me, in a recent telephone interview, that his father’s brothers were doing a bit better in Los Angeles so they moved there when he was 7 (1945). His father opened a small Los Angeles barber shop. The family wasn’t religious, Sher-
man said, but they sent him to Hebrew School for a while. He left when a rabbi/teacher hit him and never returned. Meanwhile, Art was only 5’2” when he was 15, so a barber shop customer encouraged him to become a jockey. Nobody he knew rode horses, but he found his way to a track and found out he could learn what he needed by working at a nearby ranch that trained jockeys. Art only had modest success as a jockey. In 1980, he became a full-time, licensed trainer and gradually became pretty successful. But until Chrome, he never had a really big-time thoroughbred. Chrome won five big races in a row before the Derby and entered the race a heavy favorite. Pundits say that he has a good chance of being the first horse since 1978 to win the Triple Crown – the title accorded to a horse that wins the Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes (NBC, Saturday June 7, 4:30 p.m.). (NOTE: This item was written just before the Preakness Stakes was run on Saturday, May 17.) Art Sherman was loath to predict about the Triple Crown. He said he is just enjoying the attention that is going to the oldest trainer, ever, of a Kentucky Derby winner. “I have been photographed more times in the last few days than in my whole life. People on planes are asking for my autograph,” said Sherman. Meanwhile, Art’s other son, STEVE SHERMAN, 47, is having a banner year as a trainer at a Northern California race track. No, Art Sherman didn’t become a
June 2014 Federation Star
9
Interested in Your Family’s History? Ten years of doing a Jewish celebrities column has turned Nate Bloom (see column at left) into something of an expert on finding basic family history records and articles mentioning a “searched-for” person. During these 10 years, he has put together a small team of “mavens” who aid his research. Most professional family history experts charge at least $1,000 for a full family tree. However, many people just want to get “started” by tracing one particular family branch.
So here’s the deal: Email Nate at nteibloom@aol.com, tell him you saw this ad in the Federation Star, and include your phone number (area code, too). Nate will then contact you about doing a “limited” family history for you at a modest cost (no more than $100). No upfront payment. religious Jew with age. His wife of 53 years, Faye, isn’t Jewish. Still he’s a “pretty Jewish guy” – mentioning how much he loves eating lox and eggs with one of the several Jews who own horses he trains. He also fondly recalled that he, his wife and his nieces loved their trip to Israel two years ago. Dorfman Lookin’ The new season of The Bachelorette, on ABC, began on Monday, May 19. ANDI DORFMAN, 27, who publicly rejected the titular star of last season’s The Bachelor program, is the first Jewish woman to be the star of The Bachelorette. Dorfman is usually described as beautiful and very smart. She is an assistant district attorney in the county that includes Atlanta. Fields About to Head Ford On May 1, Ford Motor Company confirmed that MARK FIELDS, 53, currently the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ford, would replace Alan Mulally, 58, as Ford’s Chief Executive
Officer (CEO). The transfer of power is scheduled for July 1. Fields will be the first Jew to hold the top corporate position at one of the ‘big three’ American car companies (Ford, Chrysler, GM). There is some irony that Ford Motor is first. The company’s founder, Henry Ford, was a notorious and vocal anti-Semite who bankrolled hate-filled publications. However, his grandson and successor, Henry Ford II, spent a lot of his time and money pursuing sincere efforts to make amends to the Jewish community for his grandfather’s sins. Fields earned the CEO position via his outstanding performance as head of, successively, Ford Argentina, Mazda Motor, Ford’s luxury car group, and its North American business unit. In 2012 he was named COO. Fields was born in Brooklyn, and was raised in Paramus, New Jersey. His family belonged to a Conservative synagogue and he had a bar mitzvah.
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Federation Star June 2014
JEWISH INTEREST
A contemporary legal thriller set against a Holocaust background of betrayal and denial By Philip K. Jason, Special to the Federation Star
Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida
Florida is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the preservation of the Jewish history of this region. Currently, the organization is seeking individuals interested in serving on the Board of Directors. For more information, email jhsswf@gmail.com.
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his dazzling debut by a Chicago trial attorney takes chances and manages to survive them. Told largely in the words of an 83-year-old Holocaust survivor who has led a quiet life in Chicago, it follows Ben Solomon’s pursuit of justice. Convinced that he has discovered his boyhood friend, a man who became Phil Jason a Nazi soldier, Ben confronts powerful tycoon and respected philanthropist Elliot Rosenzweig and insists on bringing him to justice for crimes in Poland during WWII. At a posh event at the Civic Opera House, Ben approaches the man he believes to be Otto Piatek, who was raised in the Solomon home for many years. Rosenzweig bares his concentration camp tattoo and insists that Ben is confused and that he, Elliot, is actually a Holocaust survivor. Ben, who holds an empty Luger pistol to Elliot’s head, is arrested but soon released. Ben convinces a reluctant lawyer to explore his case. She wants to know what hard evidence he has, but Ben insists that she must hear the long, winding story of his growing up in Poland, the relationship between the Solomon and Piatek families, the effects on their lives of the Nazi rise to power, Otto’s return to his mother and father,
and his re-emergence as an SS officer. compelled by Ben’s We admire the sympathetic, The lawyer, Catherine Lockhart, once story. Liam’s love caring nature of Ben’s parents, a fast-track attorney but now rebuildfor Catherine, slowthe glow of Ben’s growing love ing her damaged career, is a hard sell. ly acknowledged and for Hannah as both of them cross Eventually, she succumbs to Ben’s returned, becomes an from childhood to adulthood, the story, his dedication to his mission, and even greater driving sturdy moral nature of Hannah’s his personality. force in his decision. father, the generous and couraAlthough taking this case leads In the closing geous risk-taking of many indiCatherine to lose her job, it also makes section, Ronald H. viduals who make the survival her come alive. She is doing something Balson’s legal experof Ben and others possible. that she believes in and that can make tise is put to excellent We struggle to understand the a difference. use. The author develops a fully engagstrange transition of Otto from a boy One of the many chances the auing, meticulous picture of how the case who calls the Solomons his true family thor takes is to present so much in one against the celebrity philanthropist is to a Nazi instrument of cruel dehumanvoice within a third-person narration. constructed. He gives almost as much ization and devastation. The dialogue would seem to overdetail to the schemes and threats of The story of the two boys is a miwhelm other story-telling devices, the Rosenzweig’s minions. crocosm for the broader story of all action held inside of Ben’s narration. Throughout the novel, the possibilthose times and places when and where ity of failure is kept dangling. Perhaps Mr. Balson’s skill allows him to get people of different persuasions and traaway with this decision. He finds the Ben is deluded and has identified the ditions lived in harmony...until somewrong man. If he is on target, perhaps right breaks in the story – breaks that thing corrupted their shared world. his team will fail. How Balson balthe reader needs (often formal chapter Balson’s book is divided into three ances these possibilities against the divisions) and breaks occasioned by sections: “The Confrontation,” “Ben Catherine’s need to get sympathetic reader’s hopes and the Solomon’s Story,” and “The progress of the intricate case is a cause other things done that she Lawsuit.” In the final secfor admiration. has let slide. tion, Liam, Catherine’s More importantly, the Also to be admired is Balson’s long-time good friend, turns strength of Ben’s story is portrait of today’s Chicago. But this into a major player as the so compelling that those review must end! legal battleground becomes of us vicariously listening Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus one in which he and Cathof English from the United States Naas Ben speaks to Catherine are pitted against the val Academy. He reviews regularly for erine can barely let ourenormous clout of the law Florida Weekly, Jewish Book World, selves put the book down. firm representing Otto/ElSouthern Literary Review, and other Balson has fleshed liot. As Catherine’s primary Ronald H. Balson publications. Please visit Phil’s webout the Poland in which investigator on this case, site at www.philjason.wordpress.com. his imaginary personalities lived durLiam risks losing the big-firm clients ing the rise of Hitler and the near-dehe has attracted. However, he too is mise of the Nazi regime’s scapegoat population. Within the carefully researched and magnificently rendered historical setting, he has built a group of credible and highly individualized characters whose destiny is intrinsiThe Jewish Historical Society of Southwest cally linked to time and place.
US-41
Once We Were Brothers, by Ronald H. Balson. St. Martins Griffin. 378 pages. Trade paperback. $15.99.
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JEWISH INTEREST
Federation Star June 2014
Interview with The Denier By Marina Berkovich with the assistance of Carole J. Greene and Alexander Goldstein
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n response to “What is the Holocaust,” a Google search returns 43,700,000 results in .51 seconds. We live in the instant information era. The first page of Google answers starts with this paid item from The Holocaust Center: “The Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews including 1.5 million Jewish children in Europe by the Nazi regime and its collaborators that took place between 1933-1945.” It is highly unlikely that an average Google searcher will proceed to page 2. Total page 1 results include organic holocaustcenter.org, history.com, Wikipedia.org, ask.com and others, with at-a-glance key words like “Shoah” and “Six Million.” These entries make the reader understand the reliability of this well-vetted information. However, there is very little likelihood that an average American or European will scroll to the very bottom of Google page 1 to read this from the ADL: “Holocaust Denial is an anti-Semitic propaganda movement active in the United States, Canada and Western Europe that seeks to deny the reality of the Nazi regime’s systematic mass murder of six million Jews during World War II. It generally depicts historical accounts of this genocide as propaganda, generated by a Jewish, or ‘Zionist,’ conspiracy.” As an American Jew, I know what is true and false about the Holocaust. As a Jew who was born and raised in the USSR, a country of denial, and Kiev, the city of denial, I carry the entire Holocaust event on my conscious mind. Always measuring up to “What if it happened to me?” and “What would I have done?” I never had to scroll to the bottom of page 1 to seek the definition of “Holocaust Denial.” Until the afternoon
of April 9, 2014. My husband and I were munching on our cookies at the Hilton during the Honor the Free Press Day at about 12:30 p.m., when we received an urgent assignment. We were directed to make arrangements for a six-hour drive on April 10 to interview a person of interest following a BBC sensational on-air reveal that same evening. A prime Russian network was interested in the sensational spin of this story, and we are the go-to Russian correspondents in Florida. Quickly kissing the event honoree Peter Thomas, a WWII Purple Heart veteran and Nordhausen Concentration Camp liberator, on both cheeks and thanking him for a beautiful speech, we drove away pondering on the workings of life – to receive a call like that while at an event like this – how do these two parallels meet?! On Wednesday, April 9, BBC aired a reality TV segment claiming Eva Braun’s DNA results prove she was Jewish. The man we were being sent to interview was said to own Hitler’s locks. Russians were interested in Eva Braun’s roots, but we were not. We thought that providence, if not of the Divine, then of the Universal kind, was presenting us with an opportunity to expand the interview as much as the interview subject would let us squeeze out of him. Fascination with Hitler is not our usual area of exploration, and had this interviewee been a ransom collector or a weirdo, we would not have even bothered to think beyond the scope of our assignment. But this was no ordinary collector. During the six-hour ride of unprecedented contemplative intensity, Alex was conversing with our producers in Moscow, and I was busy wrapping my mind around the unfathomable
conversation I was about to become a party to. We are professionals and we have interviewed many people whose opinions we did not share and whose ideas we’d never subscribe to. At times, controversial topics are raised during the interviews and we deal with the outcome as it happens. This, however, was a situation of an entirely different kind, which would top all of my vast prior exposures to anti-Semitism. If you use the word “famous” or “notable” to Google search for Holocaust deniers, this man’s name always appears on the list. In fact, he made his career gathering, organizing and disseminating information about Adolf Hitler, whose birthday he celebrates annually with blogs to his followers, and whose staff members and many comrades and their families, The Denier knew and loved. Now we were climbing his staircase, not really knowing what to anticipate.
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he disheveled large individual who came to the door was polite and non-aggressive, though very anxious to get right to it. He tried to tidy up as he moved. For the last several years he has been given use of a tiny apartment in an old wooden home of a Floridian descended from a probable WWII Russian Nazi sympathizer. The two rooms The Denier occupied were dirty. Unmade bed, broken glass swept into the corner of a dirty kitchen floor, a couch, which I had to quickly declutter so that The Denier could sit down to be wired. As this was happening, we talked continuously and I had a few minutes to take in the surroundings. All shelving and floor space were occupied by stacked boxes of his books, allowing only for narrow, crooked walkways. His desk and countertops had piles of strewn
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papers, including sales invoices of items listed by title at $35 each, which I had no trouble perusing while I was clearing his couch. He told us that he had just returned after an intense two-month-long book and lecture tour of the United States, and complained about the hardships he had to endure daily, loading and unloading heavy boxes of books onto a rented truck and driving coast to coast alone. He was looking for sympathy and was, as most loners, happy to receive rare visitors. Even if they were Jews. We never said we were and we did not have to. The Denier is a practicing Jew-identifier and we are discernibly Jewish. To start with, he showed us printouts of a cottage he’d purchased in Scotland, where he can continue his work in peace. So what, exactly, is his work? When asked whether he identifies himself as historian or historical writer, The Denier answered “writer” in Russian – very “cute” since the Russians told us he does not speak Russian or had ever visited Russia. “Did you ever visit Russia?” I asked. “Yes, I was there three times. The first in 1977, when Colonel… let me into the KGB archives for a book I was researching. You know, Russians have many of his things. They were the ones to find him. This is an item I was recently offered.” He leaned over to his desk and pulled out another printout. It was a copy of an archival slide with Russian lettering and two samples tagged “Braun (vertebra)” and “A.H. (rib).” In 1977, only selected individuals gained access behind The Iron Curtain. Even narrower was the number of foreigners who had access to the Soviet
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13 Federation JEWISH INTEREST Star June 2014
June 2014 Federation Star
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continued from previous page Archives, least of all to KGB. How he came to be there then is not my story. The Denier does not have with him any originals of anything he owns, but he gave the impression that he is ready to produce them for the right amount. He showed us copies and downloaded several files onto our flash drive. Writing about the Nazis and dealing Nazi “merchandize” seems to be his full-time occupation, and his reach is notorious. The Denier is not merely fascinated with Hitler; he worships him, maybe the way Hitler was worshiped during his reign. A persona non grata in several countries, The Denier confided to us, during an hour-long interview, that this may very well be his last visit to the United States. He went through the details of his visa problems and recent deportation from a transit point in Canada. I silently wondered if this is how it happened during the Nazi regime – a Jew sitting across from a Jew-hater, almost like a rabbit in front of a snake, prey in front of predator without a way to escape. Except I was not his prey and I was determined to make him mine. All my life, when confronted with antiSemitism, I failed to exhibit strength and control of the situation by becoming overly sensitive, emotional and, thusly, losing from the get-go. This time, this Denier was mine to use, mine to expose, mine to dominate, if not for myself and my family, for others, helpless and powerless then and now. And so I became his predator by staring and nodding, by encouraging him to continue and allowing him to just be himself. About 20 minutes into our oncamera conversation, The Denier felt quite at ease and started gesturing in my direction every time the word “Jew” or “Jewish” came up. And it came up a lot. “Was Eva Braun Jewish?” I asked,
taking the initiative to introduce the “Jewish” word. He did not seem to care, even after I informed him that the DNA results positively identified this. “Was Hitler Jewish?” however, evoked an absolute, immediate and fierce denial. The Denier previously was in possession of a strand of hair he purchased from one of Hitler’s barbers. He later sold this strand for a large sum. However, now, on camera, he stumbled inside the story of its origin and ownership. It was beginning to be evident to me that only The Denier’s stories were true, and
“What about the Gypsies?” “I even have the letter Hitler signed not to kill the Gypsies. Here, you see. He gave it to Himmler after a meeting... But it was somewhat late.” We talked at length about Hitler’s absolute innocence and naïveté. “He was so easily deceived,” The Denier said, commiserating with the misunderstood Führer. I noted, but only to myself, that this father of five, sitting in front of me, is about my mother’s age. My mother is a gullible one; she grew up under Stalin, even cried when I silently wondered if this is how it happened he died. So did millions during the Nazi regime – a Jew sitting he destroyed. And now across from a Jew-hater, almost like a in Russia, Stalin once rabbit in front of a snake, prey in front of again is being admired by some, just as The Depredator without a way to escape. Except nier sitting across from I was not his prey and I was determined to me and intellectually make him mine. enjoying this interview, reveres and will coneveryone else’s were concocted out of tinue to revere Hitler, no matter what. desperation to be closer to Hitler. People who never lived under Later, Alex told me he felt exactly Stalin or Hitler are now stepping up to the same. Through this interview, Alex replace the deniers – a new generation and I had no opportunity to speak to of Hitler’s fans is in training to step up each other. The Denier ignored Alex in the ranks. “Was my subject grooming completely, so Alex just stood behind someone to step in when he’s gone?” I the camera, silently signaling for me wondered, as he continued to substantito keep at it. Alex later summarized ate and validate this point by sidestepThe Denier’s on-camera behavior as ping into “The Boys from Brazil” thesis, “wanting very much to come across as assuring me, and the viewers, that he a really nice guy.” is very much afraid that some powerhungry person will attempt to use the Hitler hair strand for cloning, like in the nd then the moment I dreaded film. “That,” he says, “would be tragic.” since I arrived there happened. “What about the Holocaust?” I “Hitler did not hate the Jews,” asked to return him on track. “You are The Denier said matter-of-factly. “I can a known denier, isn’t it so?” give many instances when he saved He does not like the word “HoJews. He saved his mother’s doctor and locaust.” He acknowledges that Jews his chauffer. It was Himmler, and the did indeed die, but in smaller quantiparty was split because of the two difties, somewhere around 1.5 million. ferent roads they took. Hitler was only He asserts they partly contributed to interested in military warfare; Himmler, this extermination themselves, always in the purification of the race.”
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putting themselves out as “the chosen” and striving to succeed and gain prominence. As the interview progressed, and The Denier’s palm would unfold in a very courteous manner toward me as “The Jew,” I was overwhelmed by my atypical calmness. It was as if I was there to ask for those who could not – how can a human being do this to others and think himself still a member of humanity?! But I knew that confrontational questions would remain unanswered and – worse – he’d throw us out, as he is known to do. So I sat there calmly, asking questions that revealed, little by little, the essence of him and, through him, those he worships. The sincerity with which he describes Hitler’s final day, as told to him by Hitler’s adjutant and his four secretaries, was not faked – he was moved to the verge of tears. The reverence with which he complimented Eva’s ascent from lower-class nobody to the status of First Lady of The Third Reich was that of a Beatlemania-era teen girl. It also brought up an Evita association in me. Is he an Eva Peron fan, too? I wondered. He has a Jewish publisher. The Denier’s daughter used a Nazi spoon in front of his Jewish publisher to eat her cereal. His wife no longer lives with him, and I read in the Wikipedia article that his brother dates The Denier’s proNazi sentiments to the abandonment by their father during WWII, when the young Denier loved to scream “Heil Hitler” and pretend he was a Nazi. I thought that maybe a good Jewish analyst is what was missing in his journey. Perhaps as a child, he was wishing he could be a Nazi, so that his father could be punished for abandoning them. And then he grew up to become one of the most famous Holocaust Deniers. Was
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Federation Star June 2014
JEWISH INTEREST / BUSINESS DIRECTORY
continued from previous page this still a game for him?! Absolutely not. It is his full-time occupation, his profession, his love, the essence of his life and legacy. On his websites, a visitor may purchase any of his books and explore other information, which The Denier keeps hidden or semi-hidden, as he is fearful of many “cyber attackers.” We live in the era of instant destruction – an entire website may be destroyed by a stroke of the hot key, and The Denier, who is in a constant state of being hunted, knows that his websites are going to be shut down very soon, just as he is almost certain that the U.S. will not grant him a visa next time. But he will still be in the U.S. for most of this summer. He wanted to take us to a nearby beach for a lovely moment, but I thanked him for his time, really appreciating that he did not attempt to
shake hands. I then helped him carry his Internet orders down a steep set of slippery outdoor steps. He is, after all, old enough to be my father, and I was brought up to respect my elders and all humans.
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n August or September, The Denier will be taking a group of his followers on a tour of concentration camps, as he usually does in the summers. It will very likely be a lovely day in Poland. Blue sky, barracks, ashes, crematorium… In his summer capacity of paid tour guide, a sideline The Denier established to supplement his income, he may point out that there was no “Arbeit Macht Frei” at the gate of Majdanek, but the gas chambers are well preserved and are in an excellent state, even 70 years after the war. He will glorify German engineering, Nazi
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organization and efficiency. I remember visiting Majdanek as a girl of 15, who was raised in the country and city of Holocaust denial and revisionism, and learning that mostly children were murdered there. A total of 1.5 million Jewish children were murdered during the Holocaust, according to official counts. Who really ever knows how many were not counted? I remembered Father Patrick Desbois’ visit to our community a couple of years ago and his efforts to uncover the uncounted graves amid the hostility of modern day Ukraine. The Denier is not admitting to rewriting history, only to writing his version of it, with “vulnerable and human” Hitler at the helm of his Third Reich and as successful a leader as Alexander the Great, who annihilated some of the nations he conquered. “I’d love to visit Naples,” The Denier says as we part. “How do you plan to go there? I always take 75 to 29 and then cut through Everglades City to Old 41. I enjoy nature.” It was a sunny Florida afternoon and we drove the six hours back in almost complete silence, overpowered by the reality of the task we’d just accomplished. We took 41 all the way. Everything around us was beautiful, and we were admiring nature through the eyes of the six million of our people who died during the Nazis’ deliberate efforts to eradicate all Jews. The Russians aired the segment we shot the next day. The Denier did not
get as much airtime as Hitler’s long lost son. The story’s focus – Eva’s Jewish roots – morphed into the similarities of father-son Hitler. Several days later, The Denier, in a BBC interview, promised to file a lawsuit to recover the strand of Hitler’s hair, which he alleges he only lent to the show. The morning after our interview, as I drove to a large gathering of Jewish women, I decided to make this information public. There are people all around us, who will step up as the old or even new phalange of the same old anti-Semitic persecution, from which I escaped to the land of the free, representing Kiev Jews who did not make it out of Babi Yar. The very desire to eliminate all Jewish people on the basis of just being Jewish is how I define a Nazi. I wish people would stop misusing this word and diluting its designation. On camera, The Denier did not confirm Nazi party membership. A Google search I conducted on April 20, 2014, while working on this article, returned the following worldwide estimated population – 14 million Jews and 7 million Gypsies. Marina Berkovich was born and raised in Kiev, USSR, and arrived in the U.S. as a refugee. She is a non-practicing CPA with twenty years of public and private experience. Formerly, Dean of Administration at Bramson ORT College. Marina is a published author and award-winning documentarian. Her most recent film is Naples, Florida REDEFINING PARADISE.
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June 2014 Federation Star
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ADL poll of over 100 countries finds more than one-quarter of those surveyed infected with anti-Semitic attitudes
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ew York, NY, May 13, 2014 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today released the results of an unprecedented worldwide survey of anti-Semitic attitudes. The ADL Global 100: An Index of AntiSemitism surveyed 53,100 adults in 102 countries and territories in an effort to establish, for the first time, a comprehensive data-based research survey of the level and intensity of anti-Jewish sentiment across the world. The survey found that anti-Semitic attitudes are persistent and pervasive around the world. More than one-in-four adults, 26 percent of those surveyed, are deeply infected with anti-Semitic attitudes, representing an estimated 1.09 billion people around the world. The overall ADL Global 100 Index score represents the percentage of respondents who answered “probably true” to six or more of 11 negative stereotypes about Jews. An 11-question index has been used by ADL as a key metric in measuring anti-Semitic attitudes in the United States for the last 50 years. “For the first time we have a real sense of how pervasive and persistent
anti-Semitism is today around the world,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “The data from the Global 100 Index enables us to look beyond anti-Semitic incidents and rhetoric and quantify the prevalence of anti-Semitic attitudes across the globe. We can now identify hotspots, as well as countries and regions of the world where hatred of Jews is essentially nonexistent.” Made possible by a generous grant from the New York philanthropist Leonard Stern, the ADL Global 100 Index constitutes the most comprehensive assessment ever of anti-Semitic attitudes globally, encompassing 102 countries and territories in seven major regions of the world and accounting for about 88 percent of the world’s total adult population. Available through an interactive website at http://global100.adl.org, the survey will give researchers, students, governments and members of the public direct access to a treasure trove of current data about anti-Semitic attitudes globally and how they vary widely along religious, ethnic, national and regional lines. The survey also ranks
countries and territories in numerical order from the least anti-Semitic (Laos, at 0.2 percent of the adult population) to the most (West Bank and Gaza, where anti-Semitic attitudes, at 93 percent, are pervasive throughout society). “The level of anti-Semitism in some countries and regions, even those where there are no Jews, is in many instances shocking,” said Barry Curtiss-Lusher, ADL National Chair. “We hope this unprecedented effort to measure and gauge anti-Semitic attitudes globally will serve as a wake-up call to governments, to international institutions and to people of
conscience that anti-Semitism is not just a relic of history, but a current event.” At the same time, there are highly encouraging notes in the ADL survey. In majority English-speaking countries, the percentage of those with anti-Semitic attitudes is 13 percent, far lower than the overall average. Protestant majority countries in general have the lowest ratings of anti-Semitic attitudes, as compared to any other majority religious country. And 28 percent of respondents around the world do not believe that any of the 11 anti-Semitic stereotypes tested are “probably true.”
The full ADL press release can be found at www.adl.org/press-center/. For an incredibly detailed interactive website, visit http://global100.adl.org.
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Federation Star June 2014
ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD
18 Israeli inventions that could save your life As Israel marks its 66th year of statehood, ISRAEL21c takes a look at 18 lifesaving innovations from the startup nation. By ISRAEL21c Staff, www.israel21c.org, May 1, 2014
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very day, ISRAEL21c reports on Israeli innovations that are making life easier and better across the globe, from medical and agricultural advances to social-action initiatives and high-tech wonders. To celebrate the 66th Israel Independence Day on May 6, we bring you 18 innovations from Israel specifically designed to save lives – some already on the market and some coming soon. In Hebrew, the number 18 corresponds to the word “chai” (“life”). We’re sure you will share our pride in Israeli ingenuity benefiting humankind everywhere. 1. The First Care Emergency Bandage (also known as the “Israeli bandage”), invented by an Israeli military medic, is used to stop bleeding from hemorrhagic wounds in trauma situations. Credited for saving the life of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in a 2011 shooting, the bandage is widely used by military medics and civilian first-responders the world over. 2. A fatal car crash can happen in a split second. That’s why Jerusalembased Mobileye technology for identi-
fying and alerting to driving hazards is being built into virtually every new vehicle in the world. Mobileye is the larg-
est private high-tech company in Israel and the world’s largest R&D center for artificial vision. 3. SensAheart, a product made by Israeli diagnostic technology company Novamed, can be used at home and in the hospital to detect a heart attack coming on. 4. Tel Aviv’s Cheetah Medical invented the NICOM non-invasive cardiac output monitor to prevent sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection that
causes one in four hospital deaths and is one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Using a patented technology, the NICOM monitors hemodynamics – the movement of blood from the heart to the body’s organs – via four sensors and enables medical professionals to better diagnose and treat the patient. 5. The adjustable, disposable Lubo Airway Collar by Inovytec is a novel airway management and cervical collar device for cases of severe trauma to the neck and spine. It is the first-ever non-invasive device that can open an airway by imitating a jaw-thrust maneuver while protecting the cervical spine en route to the hospital. 6. The Agilite Instant Harness, the world’s smallest Class II rappelling
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harness, saved the lives of South African miners trapped underground in 2013. The same Israeli company also makes the Injured Personnel Carrier, a novel hands-free device that allows one rescuer to carry an incapacitated person like a “human backpack.” 7. The Babysense breathing monitor by HiSense alerts parents of respiratory cessation (apnea) in babies. The
Israeli breakthrough technology has helped protect more than 600,000 babies from crib death around the world, and has been copied by numerous other manufacturers. 8. XSight Systems’ award-winning FODetect advanced runway sensors keep runways around the world safe from foreign object debris (FOD), birds and wildlife with a unique hybrid optical-radar remote-sensing technology. Direct damage to aircraft caused by FOD is estimated to cost the aviation industry some $4 billion each year. FOD-related damage caused the supersonic jetliner Concorde to crash in 2000, killing 113 people. 9. Hyginex makes a smart bracelet to be worn by every staff member in a hospital to make sure that all personnel wash their hands after contact with
patients. Clean hands can practically eliminate most hospital-borne infections. Nurses, doctors and even candystripers know it, but Hyginex enforces it. 10. When the iMayDay iPhone app senses that your car has been in a collision, it sets off an alarm and emails five pre-determined addresses (or generates up to 50 SMS messages) to inform emergency workers and/or loved ones about the accident. It works anywhere in the world. 11. PerSys Medical’s Blizzard Survival line of products, including blankets and jackets, leads the market in hypothermia care. The Blizzard Jacket was pivotal last March in the rescue of a mother and son by the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team in Wales. The lifesaving wraps withstand temperatures as low as -4 F/-20 C. 12. Micromedic Technologies specializes in developing and commercializing novel and innovative cancer diagnostic kits enabling early intervention. The company’s portfolio spans cancer and cancer-related indications including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, and diagnostic tools for personalized treatment. 13. It started out as a rescue “spider” in 2005, and today the Israelimade Skysaver is deployed to help evacuate skyscrapers in emergency situations. The device is worn like a backpack and includes a fire-resistant cord that can rappel rescued people to safety. 14. The NowForce smartphone
app uses GPS crowd-sourcing tech to rally first-response teams quickly. NowForce was developed jointly with United Hatzalah, a Jerusalem-based non-profit that trains thousands of neighborhood volunteers to respond to emergencies on foot or ambucycle before ambulances arrive. United Hatzalah teaches its model of communitypowered call centers throughout the world. 15. Wearable devices are becoming the rage for doing everything from counting calories to counting reps at the gym. The Oxitone watch is a wearable device that could save your life by measuring blood oxygen levels and alerting to a potential heart attack well before it happens. It’s expected on the market within a year. 16. Autotalks – maker of the world’s first automotive-grade chipset for series-production for vehicle-to-
vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication – aims to keep drivers and passengers safer by allowing cars to exchange data. The technology analyzes data transmitted by the on-board processing units of nearby vehicles and warns drivers of any imminent danger. The Israeli company expects all car manufacturers will integrate its systems by 2015. 17. BiondVax has completed trials of its universal flu vaccine first developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Pending commercial agreements with governments around the world to continue development, the vaccine could be in the market within two years. Influenza can be deadly. Between 1976 and 2006, flu-associated deaths in the United States alone were estimated to be in the thousands, possibly as many as 49,000. The 1918 flu pandemic killed three to five percent of the world’s population at the time. 18. Wherever disaster strikes in the world – be it natural or manmade – Israel is always among the first to send medical and search-and-rescue teams and supplies, even when it lacks diplomatic relations with the country in crisis. Governmental and non-governmental agencies (including Israel Flying Aid, IsraAID, Israeli Humanitarian Aid-Latet, Israel Trauma Coalition, ZAKA, Magen David Adom, Tevel B’Tzedek and many others) have been among those on the scene saving lives after disasters including: The 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka; Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005; the 2007 earthquake in Peru; the 2008 cyclone in Myanmar; Philippines typhoons in 2009 and 2013; the Haiti earthquake in 2010; a 2010 hospital fire in Romania; the Japan earthquake and tsunami and the Turkish earthquakes in 1999 and 2011; and Hurricane Sandy on the U.S. East Coast in 2012. Israel also set up a field hospital on its border to treat victims of the Syrian civil war, and continues to provide – without charge – lifesaving treatment of wounded Syrian civilians at its northern hospitals.
For daily news stories related to Israel & the Jewish world, visit www.jewishnaples.org.
17 Federation ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD Star June 2014
June 2014 Federation Star
17
BRIEFS ON ITS 66TH BIRTHDAY, ISRAEL’S POPULATION NEARS 8.2 MILLION
Arab Christian and Druze women have a fertility rate of a little above two. (Paul Morland, Jewish Chronicle-UK)
Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics released a report on May 1, estimating the country’s population at 8.18 million. There are 6.135 million Jewish residents – 75% of the total population – and the Arab Israeli population stands at 1.694 million, or 20.7%. Approximately 345,000 people (4.2%) are non-Arab Christians or people of other religions or no religious affiliation. 178,000 babies were born this past year and 24,000 new immigrants and returning residents arrived. Fourteen cities have populations of more than 100,000 and six have more than 200,000. (Lidar Grave-Laz, Jerusalem Post)
CHINA HELPING TO BUILD RAILROAD THROUGH ISRAEL LINKING RED SEA WITH MEDITERRANEAN
HIGH ISRAELI BIRTHRATE UNIQUE IN DEVELOPED WORLD
Israel and China are forging ahead with a new freight rail link through Israel that could provide an alternative to the Suez Canal. The project would connect the 300-plus kilometers between Eilat on the Red Sea and Ashdod Port on the Mediterranean. The Israeli cabinet recently decided to fast-track the RedMed project. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “It’s the first time we’d be able to assist the countries in Europe and Asia to make sure they always have an open connection.” Ilan Maor, a former Israeli consul to Shanghai, says China’s involvement in the project “shows the Chinese government [and] Chinese companies believe that Israel holds a significant potential for business cooperation.” The EU is China’s number-one trading partner, so easy access to the continent is very important. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Egypt’s political uncertainty has left the Sinai Peninsula a “lawless zone for jihadists and Bedouin militias,” highlighting a rocket-propelled-grenade attack last August on a Chinese-owned container ship in the Suez Canal. Lloyd’s insurance market has even recommended that ships take the 6,000-mile route around South Africa instead. (Deutsche Welle-Germany)
In the 1990s, Israeli Jewish women were having on average a little over 2.5 children. Today, when other advanced populations in the Mediterranean area have seen fertility rates plummet, the average Israeli Jewish woman has a little over three children. By international comparison, this is astonishing. It is twice the level of Greece and more than twice the level of Italy, Germany or Spain. In no developed country besides Israel does the level approach three. Meanwhile, the family sizes of Israel’s neighbors have started to fall, rapidly. Egyptian fertility rates are now about the same as those of Israel and falling. Today, Iranian women have CHINA-ISRAEL TOURISM more than one child fewer than Israeli UP 30 PERCENT IN 2013 Jewish women. In the 1960s, Israeli The number of Chinese tourists to IsCLASS Muslim women were still WORLD having nine rael rose 30% in 2013 to 30,000 and children. Today, Muslim Israeli women~ SOUND ENTERTAINMENT & LIGHTING they spent more than travelers from have around three and a half children.
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other countries, Israeli Tourism Ministry director general Amir Halevi told Xinhua. “We are preparing to receive more Chinese visitors, providing special tour services and recruiting more Chinese guides,” he said. (Xinhua-China)
UKRAINIAN JEWS IMMIGRATE TO ISRAEL AMID GROWING UNREST Nineteen Ukrainian Jews immigrated to Israel on Sunday, May 4. According to the Jewish Agency for Israel, almost 800 people arrived from Ukraine in January-April 2014, and over 200 have signed up for May. (Times of Israel)
RECORD NUMBER OF BIRTHRIGHT PARTICIPANTS COMING TO ISRAEL THIS SUMMER 32,000 young Jews from 42 countries are expected to participate in free ten-day trips to Israel through TaglitBirthright Israel this summer, organizers announced on May 7. (Sam Sokol, Jerusalem Post)
LUTHERAN NUNS END JERUSALEM MISSION TO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
Beit Avraham (House of Abraham), run by the sisters of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in Jerusalem’s Talpiot neighborhood, is closing down. Since 1961 it has served as a guesthouse for Holocaust survivors. But with so few survivors still alive, the nuns have decided their work has come to an end. The sisters had originally come to Israel in 1957 to work as nurses in Israeli hospitals as a way of doing practical repentance for not only what the Nazis had perpetrated, but also for “the 2,000 years of Jews’ suffering because of Christianity,” as Sister Gratia puts it. “We as Christians had to do something in Israel. We couldn’t continue as though nothing happened.” Sister Gratia, 71, who arrived in 1975 from Austria and became an Israeli citizen two years ago, has no plans to leave the Holy Land. (Renee Ghert-Zand, Times of Israel)
continued on next page
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Federation Star June 2014
BRIEFS continued from previous page
THE ROCK AND ROLL BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL For the last ten years there has been an ongoing attempt to promote a cultural boycott of Israel. While this campaign has achieved very few actual victories, it has received widespread attention and media coverage disproportionate to its success. Once one scratches the surface of any given concert cancellation, one quickly concludes that ideology, conscience, and support for the Palestinian cause have very little to do with it. The true factors leading to a cancellation are usually online bullying, threats of damaging an artist’s reputation and sales, disrupting concerts, sabotage letters, deceit and explicit death threats. More often than not, the so-called “success” the boycott movement has enjoyed never happened. Just because a pro-boycott site claims that an artist or band has boycotted Israel, doesn’t necessarily mean that this is true. Overall, the cultural boycott of Israel appears to be losing ground. The biggest names in the world of music continue to frequent Israel. As Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones recently said: “We’ve been slammed and smacked and twittered a lot by the anti-Israeli side; all I can say is: anything worth doing is worth overdoing. So we decided to add a concert.” (Adam Shay, Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)
INTEL TO INVEST $6 BILLION TO UPGRADE ISRAELI FACILITY Intel Corp. will invest $5-6 billion in upgrading its Kiryat Gat computer chip production facility. Intel Israel currently has four development centers and two production plants in Israel with 9,855 employees. Intel VP and Intel Israel CEO Maxine Fassberg said, “In 40 years, Intel has exported goods worth $35 billion, mostly from its production centers in Kiryat Gat and Jerusalem.” (Adrian Filut, Globes)
ISRAELI MACHINE MAKES DRINKING WATER FROM THIN AIR The Israeli company Water-Gen has developed an Atmospheric WaterGeneration Unit using a heat exchanger to chill air and condense water vapor to produce drinking water from thin air. “Air conditioning is extracting water from air. But the issue is to do it very efficiently, to produce as much water as you can per kilowatt of power consumed,” said co-CEO Arye Kohavi. The system produces 250-800 liters of potable water a day, depending on temperature and humidity conditions, and uses two cents’ worth of electricity to produce one liter of water. Developed primarily for the IDF,
Water-Gen has already sold units to militaries in seven countries. For India, Kohavi says Water-Gen’s units can produce a liter of water for 1.5 rupees, as opposed to 15 rupees for a liter of bottled water. Water-Gen has also developed a portable, battery-operated, water purification system that fits into a backpack and filters what was undrinkable water into potable water. (Giovanna Rajao and Michael Schwartz, CNN)
IDF SOLDIERS WITH AUTISM APPLY SPECIAL SKILLS IN INTELLIGENCE UNIT Within the IDF’s Special intelligence Unit 9900 are a group of highly-qualified autistic soldiers who have remarkable visual and analytic capabilities which they use to interpret aerial and satellite photographs. They can detect even the smallest details, undetectable to most people. Col. J, the commander of Unit 9900, said the success of the project exceeded the expectations of its initiators. (Israel Defense Forces)
INTELLIGENT “WRAPPING PAPER” HEALS BROKEN BONES IN HALF THE TIME The time it takes to heal a broken bone may soon be cut in half thanks to an intelligent “wrapping paper” from Israeli company Regenecure. The “wrapping paper,” technically called a membrane implant, enables bones to heal faster and more evenly by attracting healing stem cells and fluids while keeping soft tissues from growing around the broken bone. The membrane looks and feels like plastic wrap, it can be cut with a pair of scissors to fit any bone in the body, and is naturally absorbed into the body after 10 months. The material has already been used in dental procedures to replace bone grafts. (David Miller, Yahoo)
ISRAELI COMPANY DEVELOPS BELT THAT PROTECTS AGAINST NUCLEAR RADIATION The Israeli company Stemrad has developed a belt designed to block harmful gamma radiation. “StemRad’s tested...technology protects hematopoietic stem cells from the toxic effects of gamma radiation, providing affected individuals with an increased chance of survival in the event of inadvertent exposure...from a nuclear catastrophe such as an explosion or reactor leak,” the company said. StemRad has received orders from Israel, Japan and Russia. (World Tribune)
ABOARD AN ISRAEL NAVY PATROL BOAT PROTECTING ISRAEL’S GAS RIGS
¡¡ The Israel Navy’s high speed patrol boats are tasked with helping to protect Israel’s natural gas infrastructure in the Mediterranean. Two huge platforms rise from the sea,
ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD the Mari B rig and the Tamar platform. The Navy must also deal with hundreds of vessels offshore from Gaza, mostly fishing boats, under the cover of which terrorists gather intelligence for planning attacks. ¡¡ In recent weeks, Lt. Col. A. was on a patrol boat that disrupted arms smuggling from Sinai. “We saw two Gazan boats enter Egyptian waters and reach a beach in Sinai. Later, loaded with equipment, they headed back to Gaza camouflaged as fishing boats. A few hundred meters from the Gaza coast, we opened accurate fire at them. When so much munitions explode, you can see it from kilometers away. I saw two fireballs that lasted until the dawn.” ¡¡ The Navy’s central command system has the “ability to indicate the precise location of every vessel in Israeli waters at any given moment, mark threatening vessels in red, unidentified vessels in purple, and identified and unthreatening vessels in green. It has many other features that help the Navy control Israel’s waters, which is double the size of the country’s land area.” ¡¡ Even a waterskier a few hundred meters from shore is marked on the system’s screens, and will be closely monitored. “At any given moment, there are between 300 and 1,300 vessels in our waters. We identify all of them, and if necessary, we check them.” (Yuval Azulai, Globes)
AN IDF SOLDIER FACES ANTI-ISRAEL HATRED IN THE U.S. When I served as a soldier in the West Bank, I got used to having ugly things said to me, but nothing prepared me for the misinformation, demonization of Israel, and the gut-wrenching, antiIsrael, anti-Semitic hostility expressed by many students, professors, church members and even high school students in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. At a BDS event in Portland, a professor from a Seattle university told the crowd that the Jews of Israel have no national rights and should be forced out
of the country. When I asked, “Where do you want them to go?” she calmly answered, “I don’t care. I don’t care if they don’t have any place else to go. They should not be there.” I responded that she was calling for ethnic cleansing. My experiences in America have changed me. I never expected to encounter such hatred and lies. I never believed that such anti-Semitism still existed, especially in the U.S. (Hen Mazzig, Campus Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest chapter of StandWithUs, Times of Israel)
ISRAELI TECH TURNS JELLYFISH INTO PAPER TOWELS
Cine’al Ltd., an Israeli nanotechnology start-up, is developing technology to turn jellyfish into “super-absorbers,” suitable for use in diapers, tampons, medical sponges, even paper towels. During spring and early summer, millions of jellyfish appear near Israeli beaches, making swimming next to impossible. “One-third of disposable waste in dumps consists of diapers,” said Ofer Du-Nour, president of Cine’al. Highlyabsorbent products are made of synthetic materials. The challenge was to find a bio-degradable material that was at least as absorbent. TAU researchers found the solution in jellyfish. Using nano-materials, jellyfish are converted into Hydromash, which absorbs high volumes of water and blood in seconds. The process also adds nano-particles which allow for the addition of anti-bacterial and tissuehealing attributes, flexibility, colors, scents and more. The result is a product that absorbs several times its volume, bio-degrades in less than 30 days, and can compete with synthetics on price. (David Shamah, Times of Israel)
THE MYTH OF THE THIRSTY PALESTINIAN
The President of the European Parliament caused a minor scandal when he accused Israel of denying water supplies to the Palestinian population.
continued on page 20
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June 2014 Federation Star
Federation Star June 2014
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Federation Star June 2014
BRIEFS continued from page 18 However, when one examines the relevant data, it becomes clear that, under Israeli rule, the Palestinian water supply has become larger, more technologically sophisticated, of higher quality, and much easier to access, almost entirely due to Israeli efforts. At the end of Jordanian rule in 1967, the West Bank Palestinians received 65 million cubic meters of water per year. Five years after the Israeli takeover, the water supply grew by 50%. By the time the Oslo Accords were signed in 1995, the Palestinian water supply reached 120 million cubic meters per year. By 2010, water consumption had reached 190 million cubic meters per year. Some 97% of the Palestinian population is now connected to the territory’s water system, for the most part, directly to their own homes. According to the Accords, Israel is required to supply 31 million cubic meters per year to the Palestinians. In 2012, Israel provided 53 million cubic meters to the Palestinian water supply. (Akiva Bigman, The Tower)
TOURISM TO ISRAEL BREAKS RECORDS According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, a record-breaking 385,000 visitor entries were recorded in Israel in April 2014, 9% more than April 2013. In January-April 2014, 1.16 million visitors arrived in Israel. (Israel Ministry of Tourism-IMRA)
A PALESTINIAN STUDENT DEFENDS HER VISIT TO AUSCHWITZ In March, I was one of 27 Palestinian students who visited the AuschwitzBirkenau death camps with Professor
Mohammed S. Dajani Daoudi. When we returned from Poland, the condemnation of our trip was deafening. Extreme Palestinian nationalists accused Professor Dajani of “selling out” to the Jews. It is impossible for me to make believe that there was no human tragedy perpetrated against millions of Jews and non-Jews during the Second World War. The Holocaust is a fact, and we all have a sacred responsibility to ensure that it never happens again to Jews or any other group. Many Palestinians link what happened to the Jews during World War II with the Nakba, the term Palestinians use to describe the events of 1948. Those who argue that the injustice Palestinians currently face is of the same magnitude as what happened to Jews in Nazi-controlled Europe are wrong. It pales in comparison to the dehumanizing horror, depravity and evil conceived and implemented by Nazis and their collaborators. (Zeina M. Barakat, doctoral candidate at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany, Atlantic)
PM ADVISER’S BOOK ON JERUSALEM UNITY PUBLISHED IN CHINA The Fight for Jerusalem: Radical Islam, the West, and the Future of the Holy City, Netanyahu adviser Dore Gold’s best-selling book about Israel’s historical links and legal rights to a unified Jerusalem, has been translated into Chinese and will soon hit the shelves in Beijing. The book passed through the rigorous review of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s publishing house, the World Affairs Press, without being changed or edited. The foreword to the Chinese edition was written by Ma Xiaolin, a member of the Communist Party central committee’s research institute. “The timing of the book’s release is especially important with the growing interest from China in the Middle East and its future role in the region,” Gold
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JEWISH ARCHIVE FROM BAGHDAD TO STAY IN U.S. – FOR NOW
In the flooded basement of Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad in 2003, American troops discovered a trove of Jewish documents. Saddam’s mukhabarat agents had amassed Jewish religious artifacts including five-century-old Hebrew Bibles. After a wave of anti-Semitic laws in Iraq, most of the country’s 130,000 Jews fled after 1948. The Jewish books and papers filled 27 large metal trunks, which were stored inside an Iraqi freezer truck to arrest the growth of mold on the damp parchment. In August 2003 Iraq allowed the artifacts to be sent to the U.S. to be restored on condition they were returned when the project was complete. Earlier this year the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Obama administration to renegotiate the agreement with the Iraqis. The senators argue that the archive belongs first and foremost to the descendants of the exiled Iraqi Jews, the vast majority of whom now live in Israel. “Under no circumstances should these artifacts be handed back to Iraq,” said Sen. Chuck
Schumer (D-NY). On May 14, Lukman Faily, the Iraqi ambassador to the U.S., announced that the archive will stay in the U.S. for now. (Raf Sanchez, Telegraph-UK)
WINEMAKING RETURNS TO JUDEAN HILLS AFTER 2,500 YEARS
In his latest wine guide, Israel’s top wine critic, Daniel Rogov, has six top picks from the Judean Hills. Yatir Winery took the No. 1 spot this year with grapes grown in the Judean Mountains near Mount Hebron. Yatir’s vineyards are situated nearly 3,000 feet above sea level in the Yatir Forest, Israel’s largest planted forest, a project of the Jewish National Fund begun in 1964. JNF regional forest director Amir Mazor said excavators in the area had uncovered ancient wine presses and storage vessels dated to 2,500 years ago. “When the wine-making history of the area was uncovered and linked to biblical times, it made sense that winemakers were going back to their roots and producing wine again,” Mazor said. (Kate Shuttleworth, USA Today)
To reach the editor of the Federation Star, send an email to fedstar18@gmail.com.
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21 Federation Star June 2014 TRIBUTES
Tributes
Tributes to the Federation Campaign To: Nancy Greenberg In your honor From: Phyllis Strome
To: Delores Siegel Wishing you a full & speedy recovery From: Maxine & Chuck Shapiro David Willens To: From:
June 2014 Federation Star
Chris Frank & the Children With deepest sympathy we mourn the passing of Dr. Max Frank Dr. Judith & Samuel Friedland
To: Phyllis Seaman In honor of your dedication to serving the community From: Jennifer Singer To: Dena & Jerry Robbins & Family In memory of your beloved grandson, Max Robbins From: Corky & Dr. Alan Kaplan To: Connie Krotick & Family In honor of your new granddaughter, Sarah From: Bunny Levere To: Nancy Kaplan & Family In memory of your beloved husband, Hal Kaplan From: David Willens Phyllis & Michael Seaman JoEllen & Len Rubenstein Cookie Kimmel Judy & Dr. Robert Sommerfeld Rosalee & Jerry Bogo Gracia Kuller Lois & Dick Janger Harriet & Merlin Lickhalter
To: From:
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Tributes require a minimum donation of $18. Janis Siegel & Family In memory of your beloved husband, Dr. Saul Siegel Corky & Dr. Alan Kaplan
To: Erica & Jerry Silverman In memory of Hilda Brett From: Debbie & Pete Smith To: JCC Kansas City Extending our sympathy From: Nanda & Joel Pearlman
To: Dr. Paul Rosofsky & Family In memory of your beloved wife, Deana Rosofsky From: David Willens Phyllis & Michael Seaman Dr. Judith & Samuel Friedland
To: Yale Freeman In your honor as outgoing president of Temple Shalom From: David Willens
In memory of my beloved wife, Deana Rosofsky From: Dr. Paul Rosofsky
To: Howard H. Simon Best wishes on your 80th birthday From: Rita Bernstein & Mort Sapkin
To: Dr. Edward Rosenthal In honor of your special birthday From: JoEllen & Len Rubenstein
Tributes to the Evy Lipp People of the Book Cultural Event
To: Rennie Spanier & Family In memory of your beloved husband, Donald Spanier From: Bunny Levere
To: Nancy Kaplan & Family In memory of your beloved husband, Hal Kaplan From: Louise & Bill Warshauer
To: Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Fishbein In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of your grandson, Zane From: Bunny Levere
Friends of the Federation Star
To: Gloria Schaffer In memory of Todd Moore From: Bunny Levere
Thomas Cabrera (Reporter)
The Jewish Federation of Collier County extends condolences to: • • • • •
Condolences to Dr. Paul Rosofsky & Family on the passing of his beloved wife, Deana Rosofsky Condolences to Terry Hentoff & Family on the passing of her beloved husband, Melvin Hentoff Condolences to Nancy Kaplan & Family on the passing of her beloved husband, Harold Kaplan Condolences to Harriet Spirer & Family on the passing of her beloved husband, Eric Spirer Condolences to I. Neil Moss & Family on the passing of his beloved son, Stuart Brian Moss
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Federation Star June 2014
COMMENTARY
Give Ukraine a chance By David Harris, Executive Director, AJC, April 24, 2014
T
he Ukraine crisis continues. At this stage, no one can safely predict where the country will be a month from now, let alone a year down the road. Nonetheless, a few things appear crystal-clear. First, history will record this as a high-stakes, even defining, crisis. What happens in Ukraine matters – first and foremost, of course, to the Ukrainian people – but it doesn’t stop there. The reverberations can already be felt across the region and beyond. No, 2014 is not 1938, and Russia today is not Germany then. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t echoes of the past in the present – Crimea as Sudetenland? Ukraine as Czechoslovakia? Other Russian-speaking areas, such as Transnistria, to follow, based on assertions they are being persecuted by “neo-Nazi” regimes wielding power in capitals from Kiev to Chisinau to who knows where, and whose residents allegedly clamor for salvation from Moscow? Second, this is a test of America’s global leadership. From what I learned on my visit to Kiev earlier this week, which overlapped with the arrival of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and a Congressional delegation, it is abundantly clear that Ukraine is looking to Washington for significant help. This includes direct assistance to bolster the country’s perilous economic condition, reduce its vulnerability to Russian energy dependence, and strengthen its security capabilities. And it means standing up unflinch-
ingly to Russia, something that only the U.S. has the capacity to do. Third, this is a critical test for the European Union. The EU may not have America’s hard power, but it has no shortage of soft power that, in its political, economic and moral weight, is not inconsequential. Ukraine borders on four EU countries – Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania – which together effectively constitute the regional bloc’s eastern border. Moreover, the Maidan protests, lasting months and costing the lives of over 100 Ukrainians, were triggered by popular anger at the policy u-turn of President Yanukovych, who, at the last minute, spurned an historic deal with the EU that his own government had pursued, and turned instead to Moscow. Will the EU stand by those Ukrainians who aspire to a pro-European future for their nation? The fourth key point has to do with Ukraine itself. Here is the chance for the country to prove it can pull itself together, even in the midst of the crises in its southern and eastern districts, and create a “new” Ukraine – anchored in democratic values, tackling endemic corruption and the need for administrative reform, affording equal opportunity and protection to all its citizens within its multi-ethnic society, and winning the battle against the lingering demons of anti-Semitism and xenophobia. To be sure, Ukraine has a painful history of anti-Semitism that dates back centuries.
But, and this is a big but, since the rebirth of Ukrainian independence in 1991, many have struggled to create a receptive new environment for the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian Jews – and there’s much to show for the effort up the present day. Anti-Semitism hasn’t totally disappeared, especially among ultra-nationalist, far-right groups (and also, it must be said, among those outside the country who currently seek to destabilize it by cynically playing the anti-Semitism “card”). At the same time, Jewish life in Ukraine has been revitalized, Jewish groups abound, relations with Israel are excellent and, currently, a Deputy Prime Minister is Jewish, one of the 450 members of Parliament wears a kippah, and a few governors and mayors are also Jewish. Many Jews outside Ukraine may find it difficult to acknowledge these changes. Their views of Ukraine are essentially frozen in time, based on their own, or their families’, tragic experiences. While entirely understandable, it would nonetheless be a mistake to fail to recognize the changes that have occurred, the opportunities that have been created, and the potential that exists for still more progress. Indeed, there are certain similarities here to the positive evolution, or perhaps even revolution, in the relations of Jews with Germany, Poland, the Baltic states and the Catholic Church. A few in the Jewish world, including AJC, saw the opportunities early
on and pursued them relentlessly; others opposed their every move; and still others were, shall we say, asleep at the wheel. More broadly, there are those who argue that Ukraine isn’t worth a confrontation with Russia. It’s too risky. It’s the wrong time. It’s much ado about very little. I beg to differ. While no one should seek diplomatic confrontation for its own sake, and Russia remains an absolutely key country in many important respects, if we don’t stand up now we almost inevitably risk having to do so later – and at a still higher price. No, it’s never the right time, but such moments are rarely of our choosing. And no, it’s not about very little, but actually about quite a lot. Like other countries, Ukraine and its people should have the right to choose their own destiny as a sovereign, democratic nation. Their borders should not be violated, their land annexed, and their government intimidated by a saber-rattling neighbor. That’s not the kind of 21st-century world we want to live in, and Moscow needs to understand that it will pay an escalating diplomatic, political and economic cost if it insists on playing by its own rules. We either make that point now, convincingly, or take our chances. Here’s hoping we make the right choice. For more information, visit www.ajc. org.
Another Gaza-type government in Judea and Samaria By Gene Sipe, VP Southwest Chapter ZOA
T
he Arab-Israeli conflict continues to perplex Westerners, frustrate Israelis and impoverish Israel’s Arab populous. From Western perspectives the U.S. peace initiative should have worked. After all, the U.S. was willing to throw in unimaginable amounts of funding and hand over huge bits of Israel’s real estate. Knowing full well that this was a futile exercise, Israel’s leadership was, for the sake of a possible peace accord, willing to acquiesce to what many deemed unreasonable demands. Why not, once the war was over the British coexisted with the American revolutionaries, the Mexicans coexisted with the Texans, the Europeans and the Germans now comprise the EU, etc. From a Western perspective, let’s get it done and move forward. The Middle Eastern perspective is nowhere nearly as easy to comprehend. Israel exists as a Jewish homeland and intends to continue to do so. This is completely unacceptable to its Arab population. Since the 1940s, these people have
been told only what they wanted to hear by their leadership and are unable to understand that their self-serving, corrupt and/or unqualified leaders are completely responsible for their condition. Their leadership refused statehood when it was offered by the League of Nations. In the last half of the 20th century, every offer of statehood was outright rejected by Yasser Arafat. In the first decade of the 21st century, they rejected a state at the 2007 Annapolis Accord, and in 2009 during President Obama’s first term. Unable to self-determine, gangland-style wars ensued between the Fatah and Hamas organizations. Despite huge amounts of funding from both the surrounding Arab nations, the UN and the sympathetic West, the Palestinian infrastructure continues to deteriorate, the populous lives in substandard conditions, they are unable to make payroll or even pay their electric bill (which Israel continues to underwrite). Somehow though, funding exists for small arms and rockets, and senior leadership’s private bank accounts swell. Once again their leadership has failed to acknowledge their own incompetence and self-interest. Mahmoud Abbas has publicly acknowledged that his Fatah party is unable to maintain a stable government and would lose control if elections were allowed. Rather than demonstrating true leadership and work toward statehood through diplomatic means and not appear to capitulate to the West or Israel, he opted to flout Israeli and U.S. efforts with evermore unreasonable demands and attempts to circumvent the negotiations by taking his demands directly to the UN. He then went further and entered into a reunification agreement with Hamas. The Fatah and Hamas
agreement appears to fall into the category of the Middle Eastern tactic of temporarily joining forces against a common enemy. The primary commonality of the two organizations’ charters is the call to destroy Israel. Within a week of the termination of the peace initiative, both parties commenced a huge propaganda campaign at a festival honoring the Sbarro suicide bombers by calling for armed strikes on Tel Aviv and revenge against Israel. This was intended to demonstrate a united family, however, according to senior Hamas official and co-founder Mahmoud Al-Zahar, Abbas is a weak leader and will lose an election when the Unity
government forces elections. It appears that the Unity agreement served Fatah by preventing them from committing to anything that might be construed as peaceful overtures, and Hamas in setting them in prime position to reenact the 2005 elections in Gaza. Israel’s leadership knows that it is untenable to have another Gaza-type government in Judea and Samaria. What they need now is full-on support and encouragement from American Zionists to encourage Washington to block UN interference in their policies and support measures they must take to defend their very existence.
Just a figment of our imagination By Stephen M. Brazina, co-Chair Israel Advocacy Committee
A
s co-chair of the Israel Advocacy Committee of the Jewish Federation of Collier County, I feel compelled to respond to a small, but misleading article entitled “Don’t buy the Israel boycott hype” on page 22 of the April 2014 edition of the Federation Star. Apparently, this is a summary of a longer article written by David Rosenberg in the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Rosenberg assures us that the boycott campaign against Israel is nothing to be greatly concerned about, as the Israeli economy keeps chugging along and the BDS ( Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) group is getting nowhere with its efforts to isolate Israel. Admittedly, this is very comforting reassurance from Mr. Rosenberg. However, I seem to remember similar comforting assurances in the past from Jewish and world leaders regarding dangers faced by our people, which led to complacency and resulted in unimaginably tragic consequences. Of greatest concern is that Mr. Rosenberg totally ignores the pervasive hostile attitude towards Israel on
our college campuses and in many of our mainstream church and academic groups. According to Rosenberg, “the boycott is nothing more than a creature of the media’s imagination.” Try telling that to pro-Israel students on our college campuses! Let’s make no mistake about it, the purpose of the BDS movement is clearly the delegitimization and demonizing of the Jewish state. Let’s also be clear that the survival of Israel requires a positive relationship with the United States and that the BDS movement is focused on influencing this relationship by brainwashing our future leaders on college campuses. David Rosenberg may take comfort that the BDS movement has not adversely affected the economy of Israel to this point, but I say “Don’t buy Rosenberg’s misleading hype,” and resolve to fight this growing BDS threat to the future security of Israel and the Jewish people to the best of our ability by exposing their lies and true agenda. The Israel Advocacy Committee welcomes your comments at Israel advocacycommittee@gmail.com.
23 Federation Star RABBINICAL REFLECTIONS June 2014
June 2014 Federation Star
23
The Sinaitic moment and its impact upon humanity Rabbi Edward M. Maline, D.D.
C
hances are that if you have been to Israel you did not go to Mt. Sinai. Why? Because we really don’t know where it is. It could be in the Sinai Desert but it also could be in Saudi Arabia or Jordan. Sinai is not the loftiest of mountains compared with Mt. Herzl, Masada, Mt. Scopus and Mt. Moriah, which have geographical certainty. Our rabbis actually believed that
Sinai, as a place, was less important than Sinai as a moment in time when revelation took place – when new knowledge and new insights were transmitted, and new discoveries were made. There is discussion today about the possibility that Israel might develop a vaccine to prevent cancer. If such a cure is discovered in a laboratory at the Weizmann Institute or at Hadassah Hospital or at the Jerusalem Institute for Technology, that place will be the moment of SINAI – a breakthrough in medical science. Sinai is, therefore, an ever-recurring moment in human history when revelations of new truth lead to progress in the world.
The greatest Sinaitic moment in Hebrew history was the moment of revelation of Torah; a Corpus of Law different from the laws of ancient civilizations that antedated the Hebrews – laws that made ethical advance over prior laws among the ancients. Hebrew law had distinguishing features and principles. One such principle was Dina d’malchuta dina – the law of the land is the law. This is to be contrasted with the attempt today on the part of radical Islam to impose Sharia law on Muslims living in other lands. Another principle in criminal law is that three eyewitnesses are required to convict someone of a capital crime and to impose the death penalty.
Jewish law is evolving with the Responsa Literature – answers to new questions that could not have been conceived in the Biblical Rabbinic periods. A vast compendium of law has emerged and continues to the present day as rabbis who are experts in the field of law give answers to perplexing questions that arise in modern society. Examples are autopsy, organ transplants, terrorism, the non-affiliated and their rights, rights of criminals, etc. The concept of justice – it is better to acquit the guilty than to convict the innocent – was recently mentioned in an American court of law. The Torah – Jewish Law – was God’s gift to the Jews, but also a contribution to humanity.
Being Jewish has no boundaries Rabbi Adam F. Miller
W
hen we talk about prayer, it usually conjures up images of time spent in the sanctuary or perhaps blessings being said at home over candles and wine on a Friday night. Our ancestors prayed through sacrificial offerings, while today we rely primarily on the words of our lips and hearts. Some pray through forms of meditation or physical movement. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel described marching in the Civil Rights movement as, “Praying with my feet.” This month I will be heading to Camp Coleman, the regional camp of the Union for Reform Judaism, to spend two weeks on faculty. Last time I was there, I witnessed a unique form
of prayer beyond even that of Heschel – prayer through sand. In addition to having the lake, pool, ropes course, sports and creative arts one expects at a camp, Coleman campers also participate in prayer. One morning, my assigned unit of 3rd and 4th graders traveled to the lakeside beach. Each bunk was assigned one prayer, and instructed to express the meaning of the prayer in question by way of building sand castles. I watched in wonder as each group set about its task. Some went with obvious themes – the Shema castle was a single solitary structure representing the oneness of God, while others were more abstract, representing the Yotzer prayer for Creation with the six days of Creation arranged in the form of a Star of David, and symbols of Shabbat at the center. Praying through sand castles may not be a regular form of prayer, but I have no doubt that the campers who participated in that program gained new insight into those prayers. That experience reinforced the positive message of
Jewish summer camps – that Judaism and Jewish experiences are an accessible and meaningful part of one’s life as a Jew. Located in the hills north of Atlanta, Coleman provides campers with a unique environment in which they are able to develop, explore and express their Jewish identities. For campers, it is the one place, other than Israel, where being Jewish means being part of the majority. We are blessed that the Jewish Federation of Collier County recognizes the important role of Jewish camping, and provides scholarships for children in the community to attend Coleman, as well as other Jewish camps. Jewish children today primarily learn about Judaism in their homes and at their synagogues. But Jewish identity transcends those locations. Our Judaism is a part of who we are, wherever we may be. Camps like Coleman enable children to nurture their Jewish identities, and to recognize the importance of Jewish values in their everyday
activities – from how they interact with peers and parents, to their sense of responsibility for the world around them. Jewish values and lessons are woven throughout the fabric of the camp experience from the core values through unit programming. Older campers attend electives such as: “What Does it Mean to Honor One’s Parents?” and “Does God Have a Facebook Page?” Israel education also plays a significant role in camp life. Israeli staff members take it upon themselves to share their love of Israel. Sitting on that beach building sand castles, those campers were doing more than experiencing prayer or playing with their friends. Those children were etching into their minds the understanding that Jewish experiences and values are all around us – in the places we expect like synagogues and homes, as well as on the playing fields, beaches and everyday activities. Camp teaches that being Jewish does not depend on where we are, it is simply who we are.
COMMENTARY BRIEFS PITY THE PALESTINIANS? COUNT ME OUT Everyone is so busy weeping over the allegedly incomparable sufferings of the Palestinians that hardly a tear is left for the tribulations of other peoples. This picture of the Palestinian plight is nothing short of grotesquely disproportionate. In Syria, untold thousands of fellow Arabs are starving, while in South Sudan, 3.7 million people, amounting to one-third of the population, are now facing imminent death by starvation. And the Palestinians? True, when they wish to go from the West Bank into Israel proper, they are forced to stop at checkpoints and subjected to searches for suicide vests or other weapons in the terrorist arsenal. But no Palestinians in the West Bank are dying of starvation. Nor is anyone facing the same fate in Gaza today. Three times in the past 15 years the Palestinians have refused offers of a state on most of the territory taken by Israel in 1967 and with Jerusalem as its capital. What they truly want is not a state of their own living side by side with Israel, but a state that replaces Israel altogether. (Norman Podhoretz, editor of Commentary magazine from 1960 to 1995, Wall Street Journal)
about Palestine. Egypt’s Nasser, who started it, said the objective was “throwing the Jews into the sea.” At no point was creating a Palestinian state even considered. Nasser failed, and the new status quo favored Israel by widening its security perimeter – with territories taken from Egypt, Jordan and Syria, not from Palestine. The demand for a return to pre-1967 borders is bizarre, to say the least. In 1967 there were no borders, just ceasefire lines drawn in 1948 – lines that symbolized an unstable status quo that led to two wars. Going back to them means returning to a situation that breeds war, not peace. The “peace process” also ignores a fact well established in human history: Every war ends with a winner and a loser; the winner dictates the new status quo and the loser grudgingly accepts. Israel is perhaps the only winner to be prevented from even thinking about cashing its chips. Each time it won a war, the UN and other outsiders intervened to put the whole thing on a different trajectory. All that the various “peace initiatives” have done is to raise Palestinian expectations beyond what any Israeli government could accept. (Amir Taheri, New York Post)
MOVING BEYOND THE “PEACE PROCESS”
WHY IT IS HYPOCRITICAL TO BOYCOTT ISRAEL
In 1948 there was no Palestine problem; there was an Israel problem, in that the Arab League wouldn’t tolerate a Jewish state in its midst. Nor was the 1967 war
Later this month, I am planning to travel to Israel to appear in the Jerusalem literary festival. As surely as night follows day, I have received an “open
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.
letter” from a group of 71 activists calling themselves the British Writers in Support of Palestine (BWIP), who “respectfully encouraged” me to boycott the event. But I am honored to have been invited to Israel, and will be proud to attend. Here’s why: ¡¡ It is my strong belief that Israel is, relatively speaking, a force for good in the world. Every country that abides by the democratic process, enshrines in law the rights of women and minorities, and conducts itself with compassion both in war and in peace – or at least aspires to do so – deserves our support and respect. ¡¡ What about Israel’s flouting of international law, I hear you ask? Very well: Britain intentionally bombed civilian targets during the Second World War, which was the last time we were under existential threat. If we were at war again, against an enemy that was able to strike at the heart of our civilian population centers, how would we behave? ¡¡ The Jewish state is roughly the size of Wales, with a ridge of high ground running along the middle of the West Bank. If Britain were surrounded by hostile neighbors at such close proximity, some of which contained terror groups bent on the destruction of the country, would we be doing any better? It is significant that a man who knows war, Col. Richard Kemp – the former commander of Britain’s armed forces in Afghanistan – testified to the UN Human Rights Council that the Israeli military does “more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.”
¡¡ From a historical point of view, Israel has been attacked repeatedly by an enemy bent on its destruction (when the Arab world attempted to liquidate the Jewish state in 1967, the settlements had not yet been built). The country has suffered terror attack after terror attack, tragedy after tragedy. Clearly, whatever the boycott activists may say, to draw a parallel with pre-1994 South Africa is ludicrous. ¡¡ And given that according to a YouGov poll, 3/4 of Britons “see no reason why British performers should not travel to Israel” – and fewer than one in five Britons believes that Israeli artists should be barred from the UK – I travel in the knowledge that I have public opinion on my side. (Jake Wallis Simons, Telegraph-UK)
continued on next page
24
Federation Star June 2014
FOCUS ON YOUTH
Preschool of the Arts update By Ettie Zaklos, Preschool Director
S
ummer of the Arts is a dynamic six-week summer program for The Minors (ages 18 months to four years) and The Majors (children ages five to eleven). Your child will be a part of a warm and nurturing environment under the professional care of experienced, well-trained and qualified teachers. The goal of Summer of the Arts is to expose children to the world around them through a fun-filled program where they get to experience the arts, music, culture, food, games, crafts, activities, yoga, sports, My Gym, and water activities. While The Minors will stay on campus throughout the program, The Majors will also get to participate in exciting field trips. To register for our incredible Summer of the Arts program, which runs from June 9 through July 18, please call 239.263.2620. You can enroll your child for the entire six-week program or week by week. 2014-2015 registration Registration is in full swing for the 2013-2014 preschool year and our classes are filling up faster than ex-
pected! Preschool of the Arts, a stateof-the-art education center with modern classrooms and playground – and the only Eco-Healthy Child Care Center in Collier County – is committed to helping children explore our Jewish and American heritages through a diverse arts program. Our curriculum includes a visual arts program, a performing arts program (music and ballet), a culinary arts program (Little Chefs and vegetable garden), yoga, My Gym and educational (and fun!) field trips. To learn more about our preschool, Winner of the 2012 and 2013 Preschool Champion Choice Awards, visit www. naplespreschoolofthearts.com. For a private tour, please call 239.263.2620. A time to reflect It’s important to take a few moments to reflect on the preschool year that is coming to an end. And it is truly wonderful and extremely fulfilling for me and my teaching team to look back and see how all the pieces of this year’s Preschool of the Arts “puzzle” have come together this past year. When you open a new puzzle, the puzzle pieces are mixed up in the box – some facing up, some facing down – waiting to be assembled into the bigger picture. This past school year, each of our preschool children has arrived with his or her personal “puzzle” and, during
COMMENTARY BRIEFS continued from previous page
THE REAL PROBLEM WITH KERRY’S “APARTHEID” MYTH It’s not just the incendiary use of “apartheid” that’s the problem, but the well-worn canard about Israel that Kerry rests his position on. The theory goes like this: Arab birthrates in Israel and the Palestinian territories will continue to be higher than those of the Jews. And at some point, Arabs will become the majority in all the areas that Israel governs and then Jews will be impelled to act like a bunch of Afrikaner Brownshirts to survive. There are two key problems with this theory: 1. The demography apocalypse isn’t happening. 2. Even if it was, it would have absolutely nothing to do
with today’s peace negotiations or the status of the territories administered by Israel. For decades Israelis have been hearing how they will be outnumbered, yet the population trends haven’t changed much. The demographic time bomb is a dud. Kerry suggests that a change of Israeli or Palestinian leadership might offer better conditions for an agreement on the future Palestinian state. This is an interesting assertion considering Fatah has been the only entity to negotiate for Palestinians, while Israel has engaged in peace talks with the Labor party, Likud party and Kadima party, and it has made absolutely no difference in the outcome. (David Harsanyi, Federalist)
What do you think? The Federation Star wants to know! Send your letters and comments to fedstar18@gmail.com.
the school year, all of the “pieces” of each child – from the inherent curiosity to the desire to learn – have come together. The children, with careful guidance and instruction, have each had the opportunity to assemble their personal “puzzles.” For the younger children, the puzzle may have been small (perhaps six “pieces”); for the older children, the puzzle may have been larger (perhaps 24 “pieces”). And because of this, the socalled bigger picture has been different for each child. Some were learning how to socialize outside their homes and how to share with their new friends, while others who had already mastered these smaller “puzzles,” were assembling their “pieces” to include new math, reading and writing skills. And that is our goal at Preschool of the Arts: For our teachers to provide the guidance and structure (the perimeter straight-edged pieces of the puzzle) and then to follow the lead of the children in assembling the inside pieces of each of their puzzles. And, just like you can’t force two pieces of a puzzle together if they’re not meant to fit, so, too, can you not force a child to do something when he or she is not quite ready to make the leap. Encouragement, support and a framework are extremely important. It is these things that allow the child to thrive, secure in the knowledge that he
or she is safe and loved, and that he or she has the potential to do great things, while being respectful of others. I wish to thank all of you who have been involved with Preschool of the Arts for the 2013-2014 school year. It has been a year of learning, personal growth and success for each of our children who have taken risks and been courageous in assembling their personal “puzzles.” My teachers and I wish you a safe summer filled with cherished memories. *** It’s time to say goodbye to our graduating students of our Pre-K Picasso Class. Many of these graduates started with us three years ago, when Preschool of the Arts first opened its doors. They have blossomed into the most compassionate and loving little human beings with surely the brightest of futures ahead. There is a Yiddish expression, “Az dos harts iz ful, gai’en di oigeniber,” meaning, “When the heart is full, the eyes overflow.” At the graduation ceremony, this expression says it all. Our pride and love for these children was clearly evident on everyone’s face. We wish for them only the very, very best on their journey to kindergarten and beyond, and know that we have prepared them well for the challenges ahead.
BBYO celebrates 90 years
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he founders of BBYO, Sam Beber and Anita Perlman, had a vision to create a worldwide fraternity and sorority for Jewish young adults that would shape lives, inspire commitment, and influence the world. Open to every Jew, regardless of denomination or education, they sought to establish a pluralistic platform from which young Jews could celebrate tradition, embrace modernity, and empower future generations of Jewish leaders. Ultimately, their vision had one long-term goal: connect Jewish young people today to ensure a thriving Jewish community tomorrow. Strengthened by visionaries like Charles and Lynn Schusterman, esteemed communal leaders from across the Jewish spectrum, professional and volunteer staff around the world and led by more than 400,000 teen leaders for nearly ninety years, BBYO builds on the impact that teen leaders make all over the world. AZA and BBG are a gift – one that instills pride, passion and purpose in each individual member
as well as a promise that the future of the Jewish world will be well tended to. Every day, teens have the honor of perpetuating the founders’ vision and stewarding a fraternity and sisterhood as they elevate the nearly century-old movement. AZA and BBG’s Founders’ Days provides a time to rally members around the world, and across generations, to celebrate all that AZA and BBG has achieved and declare all that AZA and BBG will accomplish in the future. These annual events provides the chance to champion chapters, councils, regions and countries – as well as thank those that gave the gift of AZA and BBG, and extend the gift of AZA and BBG to new Alephs and BBGs. In Naples, teens celebrated Founders’ Day within their chapters of Negev AZA and Sababa BBG. Upcoming spring events are an end of the year pool party and elections of the Fall Term board members. For more information about BBYO, contact Lory Conte at LConte@bbyo.org or 407.621.4032.
Gabby Van Slyke, Rachel Waltzer and Saige Feldman represent Naples’ Sababa BBG at Spring Regional Convention
Taylor Bollt, Jason Randall and Brandon Schwartz at BBYO North Florida Region’s Spring Regional Convention
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.
Tikkun Olam For a continuously updated community calendar, visit www.jewishnaples.org.
25 Federation Star June 2014 FOCUS ON YOUTH
June 2014 Federation Star
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Rising young star: Adam Roth By Jean L. Amodea
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dam, a junior at Barron Collier High School, is described by his mother, Carolyn Roth, as “a kid exploring who he is.” A young man with demonstrated leadership, he is active in several social and religious clubs. As a board member of the National Honor Society charged with documenting activities and organizing events, Adam is also on the board and a member of the Spanish Honor society, having studied the language from eighth grade to his sophomore year. With the Key Club, also as a board member, his position as editor includes
recruiting new members and keeping the membership informed about current events through social media. In preparation for college applications, Adam also founded an initiative, The Giving Foundation, whose mission is to collect items for donation to the Salvation Army, an endeavor he said is fun and relatively easy to accomplish with the help of fellow junior classmates. The foundation currently has 10 to 15 active members. Favoring history as his best academic subject, this summer, Adam will have the unique opportunity to study Israel’s history as a participant in a program
The Roth family: Adam, Carolyn, Dr. Tracey, Samantha, Lindsay
whereby he will attend Alexander Muss High School in Israel for six weeks. “I will be traveling alone and will meet up with other kids nationwide and be able to study Jewish history and learn about my Jewish roots. We will then have the opportunity to visit the actual historical sites. I am excited about the trip,” Adam said. Serious about the importance of Judaism and its traditions in his life, Adam attends High Holy Day services with his family at Temple Shalom, and says that someday, he would definitely like to meet a Jewish girl, marry and raise a family in the faith. “That is something that my mother and father have stressed and something that I will honor. I like being connected with other Jewish people and feel that sense of connection especially through participation in BBYO meetings and activities.” Having attended a Jewish summer camp for nine years in Ocala, Florida, Adam said he has made friends worldwide and has a best friend who lives in Costa Rica. With his goal set to attend an instate college – either the University of Central Florida, Florida State University
or the University of Florida – Adam said that while it is too early for him to settle on a major, when he gets to college he will seek out a Jewish fraternity. Even though school is the most important part of his life so far, in his leisure time, he plays roller hockey, a high school club sport, in addition to street football and basketball. Citing his father, cardiologist Tracey Roth, M.D., as his inspiration, Adam said that he values his success and ethical behavior. As far as his words of wisdom for his peers, Adam said, “Stay connected with other kids in your religion and interact with them and discover the things you have in common.” Adam resides with his parents and sisters Lindsay, a senior, age 18, and Samantha, a seventh grader, age 12. Jean Amodea, a former school principal from New Jersey is a freelance writer for the Naples Daily News and its community publications as well as director of Peter Duchin Music of Naples/Entertainment Direct. She also performs with her husband Ron’s dance band, jazz ensemble and Caribbean quartet. Reach Jean at jeanamodea@earthlink.net.
Want to see your “rising young star” featured in the Federation Star? Send an email to jeanamodea@earthlink.net with the details.
Temple Shalom Preschool update By Seyla Cohen, Preschool Director
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e will say farewell to our four-year-olds on May 23 with great pride and a bit of sadness as so many of them have been with us for three years. We are pleased that the children are so well prepared to move on to kindergarten. They have been taught phonics and sight word basics, preparing them for a solid reading foundation. Writing journals have been used as a tool to expand the creative process using imaginative thinking and phonetic sound-out words. A basis for math, emphasizing simple addition and subtraction skills, has been taught through the use of manipulative and sorting instruments. In science, these children have learned measuring, sink and float concepts, and participated in experiments using basic chemistry. Art, cultural studies, geography, current events and other higher order level teaching have provided our students with knowledge of the world around them. We are proud to say that a majority of our Pre-K students are reading or
surpassing beginning reading, writing and math skills. Our little ones have grown so big and capable of many things from when they began their preschool journey. This reminds us that time moves very quickly. Each stage of our child’s growth brings wonderful new changes, but we should try to slow down and appreciate what is happening now. Our Temple Shalom Preschool Family is so blessed to have the children and appreciate every moment we are able to be a part of their lives. So don’t wish away those sleepless nights. Be amazed at the stages your child goes through, and enjoy them all. Sit on the floor and play with them, read them a book at night, know that before long they will be able to read to you. Listen to your child tell you about their first day in school. All too soon you will hear about their first day in high school or college. Cherish and love every minute that you have with these little angels. ***
Registration is currently open for Camp Shalom, a day camp adventure for children 2-5 years of age, and Camp Einstein, a fun and fascinating academically focused journey for children 6-8 years old. Summer activities for our little ones include water play, dance, arts and crafts, foreign language, music and performing arts, with lots of special surprise visitors! Our older children will explore the wonderful world of science in our incredible laboratory, along with numerous other learning adventures. Camps begin on Monday, June 9. For more information, please call Seyla Cohen at 239.455.3227.
*** The Congregation of Temple Shalom cordially invites you to attend a service of Confirmation for the Year 5774 when our tenth-grade children will confirm their commitment to the faith and heritage of the Jewish people. Join us on Sunday morning, June 1 at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome. For more information, please call the temple office at 239.455.3030.
Are you looking for delicious kosher food? Chabad of Naples has partnered with the well-known Aroma Kosher Market and Catering of Cooper City, Florida, to bring kosher food to you. Please call the Chabad office at 239.262.4474 for an order form and instructions. Aroma Market delivers orders to the Chabad of Naples, 1789 Mandarin Road, once a week.
Temple Shalom Religious School Intergenerational Model Seder
Read the Federation Star on your tablet! Visit www.issuu.com
Sign up for The PJ Library and you’ll receive a FREE, high-quality children’s book or CD each month. The PJ Library will enrich your family’s life with Jewish stories and songs – and it’s absolutely FREE for families with children from six months up to eight years of age in Collier County.
The PJ Library is brought to the Collier County community by Jewish Family and Community Services of Southwest Florida, Inc. For more information, call 239.325.4444.
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. It’s that simple!
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Federation Star June 2014 CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF NAPLES
SYNAGOGUES www.chabadnaples.com / 239-262-4474
Chabad Jewish Center of Naples update Shavuot On Wednesday, June 4 we will celebrate Shavuot, the holiday which marks the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, 3,322 years ago. The Midrash tells us that before G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people, He demanded guarantors who would indeed keep the Torah. The Jews made a number of suggestions, which were all rejected by G-d. Finally, they suggested, “Our children will be our guarantors that we will cherish and observe the Torah.” G-d immediately accepted and agreed to give them the Torah. So let us make sure to bring all our “guarantors” along to the synagogue on the first day of Shavuot so they can hear the Ten Commandments and receive the Torah once again. At the shul we’ll be reading the Ten Commandments at 5:00 p.m. The service will be followed by awesome, traditional dairy treats. Partner Project A joyous crowd of over 200 Partners attended our annual Partner Appreciation Evening on May 15. This was the much
anticipated opportunity for Chabad Partners to celebrate together the continuing growth of Chabad of Naples and to learn what is being planned for the future. A Chabad Partner decides the amount of his or her own level of giving. Donations can be made in one payment, quarterly, monthly or whatever is best for the Partner. It is the commitment that Partners make to Chabad that is most important. We cherish our Partners and try to make them feel as special as they are by honoring them annually with a warm social event. Chabad of Naples could not exist without its Partners. Our Partner Project has grown to over 300 members since its inception. For more information or to receive your Partner Package, call 239.262.4474 or visit www.chabadnaples.com. Jewish Women’s Circle Our 2013-2014 Women’s Circle was devoted to the theme of “Women’s Health and Well-Being.” The final speaker was Betsy Opyt, a registered dietitian who spoke on “Allowing Healthy
BETH TIKVAH
Concepts into Your Life.” The Women’s Circle will resume in the fall. If anyone would like to assist with the planning for the 20142015 Women’s Circle, please contact Ettie at ettie@chabadnaples.com or 239.263.2620. Flying Challahs Here is your chance to bring a smile to someone’s face. If you know people who need a visit or just a little caring attention, your suggestion via a phone call will bring a freshly-baked challah flying to their doorstep. Weekly services and children’s program Join us every Shabbat at 10:00 a.m. for weekly uplifting services, and bring the kids to the incredible children’s program at the same time. A kiddush and social gathering for the family follow services. First mikvah in Naples Be a part of a stunning, elegant, stateof-the-art women’s mikvah, often seen as the cornerstone of Jewish life and the continuity of a community. Please visit Chabad Naples’ mikvah mini-site. Contact us for more information, private
tours to see our magnificent new addition, and take advantage of opportunities for dedications and memorials that are being offered. Hebrew School Graduation is May 21, following a hugely successful year at Hebrew School with monthly workshops touching on topics from a Matzah Bakery to a Shofar Factory to learning how to write a Torah to a Havdalah workshop – it just doesn’t end! Now is the time to sign up for Hebrew School for next year. Introduce your children to their heritage and ensure their meaningful participation. Varied stimulating programs include projects, activities and discussions, providing insights into contemporary Jewish life that make it come alive. Jewish story time takes place every month with large-screen programs followed by a practical lesson and activity. Hebrew School held is on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Registration starts now!
www.bethtikvahnaples.org / 239-434-1818
Beth Tikvah update By Stuart Kaye and Rosalee Bogo, co-Presidents
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ften, we use our June column to recap the concluding membership year. Coming off the high of hosting the community’s Yom HaShoah Observance, we are psyched. Though this is hardly an event to generate smiles, it can nonetheless generate positive feelings. And it did. One hundred and eighty people filled our sanctuary space for a moving, informative, and well-balanced program with participation and representation of many groups. Once again, Rabbi Chorny created a highly effective program. Looking further back, we can summarize the highlights of the past year. We began with a cluster of three films in the fall, including one in partnership with the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida. December brought our support and hosting effort for the JFCS Hanukkah luncheon for seniors and our own Latke Dinner and, of course, our ever-popular NYStyle Kosher Deli and Game Night on the eve of December 24. January offered a program innovation which we hope to repeat: the de-
lightful Yiddishkeit Night of Comedy, Klezmer and fine desserts. The month also featured an afternoon tea with Rabbi Charles Savenor, Director of Kehilla Enrichment for United Synagogue. Also, our lecture series commenced and over the three winter months brought sterling presentations by Dr. June Sochen, Joyce Schrager, Gerald Ziedenberg and guest author Dr. Ellen Rodman. We also hosted and co-sponsored with the Israel Advocacy Committee wellattended talks by Ofer Bavly, formerly Consul General of Israel’s Miami office, and AIPAC’s Brad Gordon. The centerpiece of winter programming was our Shabbaton with Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi/Doctor/ Professor David Golinkin, president of the Schechter Institute. All who participated came away with a new understanding of, and respect for how Jewish Law is created. We also provided a Purim talent show and a theater trip to All My Sons. The biggest initiative, of course, was the overwhelmingly successful launch of the Naples Jewish Film Festival.
JEWISH CONGREGATION OF MARCO ISLAND
The season concluded with Israel Night and the high-spirited Lag B’Omer Picnic. All along the way, there were book discussion group meetings and Rabbi Chorny’s courses. Adult education Rabbi Chorny offers two Tuesday courses. Jewish Perspectives, which explores contemporary issues through the lens of Jewish teachings, meets at 12:15 p.m. Liturgical Hebrew, designed to make people comfortable with the siddur, resumes in the fall. Call to confirm the schedule. Rabbi Chorny’s Conservative Judaism course is keyed to chapters in The Observant Life, an amazing compendium of information and insight valuable to Jews of all stripes. The course usually meets at 8:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, less often in the summer. Coming on June 4: “Between Grandparents and Grandchildren,” beginning on page 709. Book Group On Monday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m., join in our discussion of Gary Shteyngart’s memoir, Little Failure. “Shteyngart
traces his family history from the atrocities suffered in Stalinist Russia, through his difficulties assimilating as the ‘Red Nerd’ of schoolboy America, through the asthma and panic attacks, alcoholism and psychoanalysis that preceded his literary breakthrough.” (Kirkus Reviews) Shavuot Services will take place on Tuesday, June 3 at 6:15 p.m., combined with an end-of-school program, and Wednesday, June 4 at 9:30 a.m. with Yizkor. Havdalah on the beach Join us on Saturday, June 21 at 8:00 p.m. at Lowdermilk Park. Religious services schedule Friday services begin at 6:15 p.m.; Saturday services begin 9:30 a.m. with a Kiddush Luncheon. Yahrzeit minyanim convened upon request. Please join us at any service. Our participatory worship services and 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. Rabbi Chorny’s direct line is 239.537.5257.
www.marcojcmi.com / 239-642-0800
President’s message Roger Blau JCMI President
he “season” has finally ended and our island has returned to a calmer, albeit much warmer condition. We love the snowbirds and everything they contribute to our island’s economy including valuable jobs for people. But it’s always a relief
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to be able to get a table at your favorite restaurant and find a parking space when you shop. Those of us who live here year round experience a rhythm to our lives. We find comfort in the less crowded “off season.” But we’re relieved as the incessant heat recedes when the snowbirds return. We experience a seasonal rhythm at JCMI also. During the summer our volunteers get a break from the many labor intensive events held at JCMI during season. But, we simultaneously face new challenges as we recruit volunteers
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to deliver the D’var Torah at our weekly Friday evening Shabbat services during Rabbi Maline’s summer sabbatical which lasts until September 10. JCMI adopts a more intimate, less formal atmosphere during the summer. And we take great joy and pride in our members’ participation which allows us to continue holding inspiring Shabbat worship services along with tasty Oneg Shabbat delicacies. JCMI would not be able to manage the rhythm of our seasonal changes if not for the wonderful gift that our volunteers provide to us during the “off season.” So, we offer our enthusiastic “thank you” to our volunteers who make the transition from season to “off season” so transparent. We couldn’t possibly do it without you. See you in shul!
BROWNSTEIN JUDAICA GIFT SHOP AT JCMI Looking for the perfect gift? Choose from our many items: Mezuzahs Menorahs Travel bags Jewelry Gifts for pets Novelty aprons Designer Hand Bags Silk and Handmade Kippot Mah Jongg Jewelry, Cards & Supplies
991 Winterberry Drive Marco Island (239) 642-0800 Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:30 - 1:30 Friday Evening: Before & After Shabbat Service
27 Federation Star June 2014 SYNAGOGUES / ORGANIZATIONS NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION
June 2014 Federation Star
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www.naplesjewishcongregation.org / 239-234-6366
Naples Jewish Congregation update By Suzanne L. Paley, President
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aples Jewish Congregation has started its “summer schedule” in regards to Shabbat services. We only gather on the last Friday of each month for May, June, July and August. We will round out our events with a Pot Luck Supper, called Blintz Blast,
on Friday, May 30 in honor of Shavuot. We will have a dairy supper, complete with blintzes prepared in a variety of ways, to remind us of how precious is the “land of milk and honey” not only to generations past and present, but to so many in this day and age of tumult
COLLIER/LEE CHAPTER OF HADASSAH
in the world. If you are interested in finding out more about our congregation, please call Rabbi Sylvin Wolf at 239.234.6366, Membership Chair Peter Weissman at 239.352.4395 or me at 239.776.7559. You are invited to join us for services
where you will meet many of our friendly members. While our Board of Directors, Professional Staff and Committee Chairs are busy planning the coming year, we wish you a healthy, happy and comfortable summer.
www.hadassah.org / 239-598-1009
Hadassah update Lynn Weiner President
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hy Hadassah? Let me tell you why! As a Hadassah member or Associate (male affiliate of Hadassah) you are part of a 330,000+ member charitable organization that is now 102 years old and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize! Hadassah promotes youth activities, education and scholarships. Hadassah Youth Aliyah Villages in Israel provide a safe haven for underprivileged children-at-risk. Young Judaea, Hadassah’s youth movement, helps ensure Jewish continuity and builds leadership skills in young adults through local youth groups, summer camps, Israel trips and Israel programs. Hadassah Academic College in Jerusalem prepares adults for lifelong careers. Hadassah has many U.S. initiatives. “Every Beat Counts: Hadassah’s Heart Health Program” educates women in the U.S. about the risk factors for heart disease in women and how to reduce them, and “Sister to Sister,” an online personal assessment of risk factors for heart disease. Hadassah provides
opportunities to study Judaism, Zionism, Jewish history, Hebrew, literature and culture through study groups, speakers, online programs and Hadassah’s E-Mail Action Network. Hadassah has Leadership Programs in the U.S. including “Hadassah Leadership Fellows,” a select group that participates in a twoyear program designed to inspire and cultivate future leaders. The “CHECK IT OUT” health awareness educational program trains Hadassah volunteers to help local teenagers and adult women learn how to do breast self-exams. Hadassah encourages women to advocate on issues that impact us as Americans and supporters of Israel on a state, local or personal level. Hadassah advocates for issues such as women’s and men’s health, pay equality, domestic violence prevention, Israel security, a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and more. We also have programs for Hadassah women and men to go to their state legislature or Washington, D.C., to speak with their Senators and Representatives about issues Hadassah supports. Hadassah works with its partners Jewish National Fund and Israel Bonds. For decades, Hadassah has been the largest organizational supporter of Jewish National Fund (JNF). Currently, Hadassah is committed to planting the “Hadassah Forest” in the new Be’er Sheva River Park in the Negev in Israel.
We have also had a strong relationship with Israel Bonds over the years and we encourage you to buy Israel Bonds in the name of Hadassah for donations such as Keepers of the Gate pledges as well as for bar or bat mitzvah, wedding and birthday gifts. Hadassah provides state-of-theart medical and health care. Hadassah Hospital takes pride in the high level of medical care in all of its departments including cardiology, internal medicine, ob/gyn, oncology, rehab medicine, pediatrics, surgery and trauma. Hadassah has finished building the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower at Ein Kerem in Jerusalem with patient rooms and operating rooms. Now we need to equip and furnish it. Hadassah also responds to worldwide crisis situations and is a global leader in caring. Medical and law enforcement personnel from around the world come to Hadassah Medical Organization to learn about trauma care and treating victims of mass casualty events. Hadassah Medical Organization personnel have been “first responders” to catastrophic world events from the Asian tsunami and the earthquake in Haiti to the AIDS epidemic in Africa. So in a nutshell, that’s “Why Hadassah!” For more information on membership, please contact Donna Goldblatt at mom443@aol.com. As I just mentioned, the Sarah
Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower has been built and we now need to equip and furnish it. We welcome all donations to the Tower. As a special incentive, we are now offering the “Open Heart Pendant Necklace.” Open your heart with a $100 donation and receive a beautiful sterling silver open heart pendant and 18-inch chain. To make a donation or for more information, call 800.928.0685 or email donor services at donorservices@ hadassah.org. Your Tower donation will be credited to our Chapter’s Tower Goal. It’s not too late to register for Hadassah’s National Convention from July 21-23 in Las Vegas at the Palazzo Resort Hotel. Registration is now $625 and includes the banquet, two lunches, one light breakfast as well as all materials and sessions. There is also a special “duo” package of $1,150 for two people who register at the same time and must include one of the following: Intergenerational: Mom/Daughter, Aunt/Niece, Member/Associate, etc; Member and a First-Time Convention Delegate; Two First-Time Delegates. Hotels rates are $164 plus tax (single/double occupancy). There are specific activities for Associates, too! Please let me know if you plan to attend and be a Convention Delegate from our Chapter. For more information, visit www.hadassah.org/ convention2014 or call Suzie Burstein at 212.303.8239.
239-353-5963 / 239-354-9117
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN
National Council of Jewish Women update By Linda Wainick, co-President
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ur concluding luncheon of the season was held at the Vineyards on Tuesday, April 22. We honored Naples Printing and Envelope Company, Jewish Family & Community Services, and Redlands Christian Migrant Association. We honored our life members for their ongoing support of NCJW. Life members who were present – Iris Abel, Cynthia Bercowetz, Marcy Cotton, Sandy Gershman, Muriel Hurwich, Bobbie Katz, Judy Kaufman, Carol Klein, Wendy Riedel, Pearl Thall and Linda Wainick – were recognized and presented with plants. Their commitment to NCJW is greatly appreciated. We especially acknowledged and
thanked Jeff and Hannya of Naples Envelope and Printing Company. Their work with our newsletter is outstanding. As Carolyn Greenberg, our bulletin editor says, they always make us look great in print! Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, President/CEO of Jewish Family & Community Services, was presented with a check in support of JFCS children’s services. JFCS continues to provide mental health counseling, food pantry, support for community and teen groups, PJ library, and services to the elderly. Its Senior Center is open and is serving lunch on Wednesdays (recently 98 people were served). Other programs include computer classes, art classes,
Linda Wainick, Bobbie Katz, Jeff Silverman, Hannya Silverman
cards and mah jongg. Friendships are forming among the attendees. There is a wonderful group of volunteers, however more are needed. Call the JFCS office at 239.325.4444 for more information. Gloria Padilla, Area Coordinator for Redlands Christian Migrant Association, was presented with a check in support of RCMA early childhood programs. Ellie Ramirez, works for FND (Family Network Disabilities), a program funded by the Department of Education. Ellie is Director of PEP (Parents Educating Parents). This program offers free services to families of children with disabilities from infants on up, in Hendry, Glades and Lee counties. She works with parents to make
Bobbie Katz, Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, Linda Wainick
sure they are getting their needs met within the school system, assists with doing paperwork (which is often an obstacle), and teaching them to become advocates for their families. Ellie grew up attending RCMA, from infancy on, and received support all through school. Now she is one class away from earning a college degree. She is based in Immokalee, and loves being able to give back to her home community. Her family members continue to migrate north in spring/summer, picking watermelon and tomatoes, and return in the fall. It was wonderful to hear Ellie’s story and we thank her for sharing. We wish everyone a pleasant summer. See you in October!
Bobbie Katz, Ellie Ramirez, Gloria Padilla, Linda Wainick
The Federation Star is a monthly nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and the Jewish Federation of Collier County.
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Federation Star June 2014
ORGANIZATIONS
ORT AMERICA – GULF BEACHES CHAPTER
www.ort.org / 239-649-4000
Profile of Midge Rauch: Small-town girl discovers ORT By Helene Dorfman Fuchs
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idge Rauch discovered ORT when she and her husband Lloyd moved to Oradell, New Jersey, in 1958, a few years after their marriage. She had barely unpacked when her neighbor knocked on the door. After the usual pleasantries the neighbor asked, “You’re going to join ORT, aren’t you?” Midge asked, “What’s ORT?” Midge, born and raised in Dickinson, North Dakota (population then about 8,000), knew nothing about ORT, but she soon learned. At a new member’s tea she saw a film called The Mellah. Midge recalls her emotions at the time. “I defy anyone who saw that film to NOT join ORT. We all cried and we all joined ORT.” The film portrayed Jews in Morocco living in filth and poverty, hungry, barefoot and desperate. Then it showed ORT helping these victims with food
and clothes, but also with the promise of a new life. “An ORT education helps build self-esteem and puts people on a path to success,” Midge says. When Midge lived in Oradell, ORT was a huge presence in the New York-New Jersey area. She became an active member, serving as chair of the annual bazaar, a hugely successful fundraiser that sold only new goods – from children’s clothes to jewelry to rolls of contact paper. Held at a local synagogue, it brought in a $6,000 profit – no small feat in the early ’60s. (Lloyd, whom Midge met at Purdue when she was a freshman and he was working on an engineering degree after receiving a degree in physics at Indiana following World War II service, helped in this endeavor by asking suppliers to provide saleable goods.) Midge also was president and remained a loyal member for 54 years. After moving to Naples part-time in 1992, she became a board member of Gulf Beaches, serving as co-president for four years. A longtime Golden Circle member, she currently is tribute chair. Midge apparently inherited the “community service” gene from her parents. Her father, Herbert Mackoff, graduated Lloyd and Midge Rauch at a January 2014 ORT event from the University of North
HUMANISTIC JEWISH HAVURAH
Dakota Law School. A respected trial lawyer, he was elected the first Jewish president of the North Dakota Bar. Midge remembers him traveling to Washington, D.C., on behalf of the REA to negotiate loans for North Dakota farmers. Both parents were civic minded, Midge recalls. Her mother, Gertrude, was instrumental in founding a lecture series that brought dignitaries to Dickinson. She remembers seeing Dag Hammarskjold, second Secretary General of the U.N., standing in their living room about to give a speech to an enthralled audience. In a town with only three Jewish families and no synagogue within 100 miles, Midge’s upbringing was mainly secular. But her parents always empha-
sized that they were Jewish. Still, they were shocked when she chose to attend Camp Herzl in Minnesota, an Orthodox camp where she learned to read Hebrew. Midge spent her last two years of high school at Milwaukee Downer Seminary after she was accepted because their “Jewish quota was not yet filled.” (Jewish quotas were ubiquitous in those years, both at the prep school and college levels.) One reason Midge appreciates ORT is that it has no “quotas.” It’s an organization that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity or age. She says, “ORT works for people at all ages and stages. For example, ORT takes a man with a wife, two kids and no job and teaches him skills so he can become a productive citizen.”
ORT America (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training) Did you know that: ¡¡ ORT supports 300,000 students annually in 56 countries by providing technical education that emphasizes employable skills? ¡¡ ORT’s most famous (and least publicized) mission was to educate Holocaust victims in DP camps so they were able to move on with their lives? ¡¡ ORT America has four college campuses in the U.S., including two in New York, one in Chicago and one in Los Angeles, that serve the most vulnerable communities? ¡¡ ORT America is active in Southwest Florida? Please attend Gulf Beaches Chapter events and support ORT’s educational mission. Help ORT raise funds to save lives through education. To join/renew/transfer, please contact ORT America Gulf Beaches Chapter President Marina Berkovich at 239.566.1771, or Membership Chair Marebe Crouse at 239.263.4959. Please visit www.ortamerica.org for a virtual ORT experience.
www.humanisticjewishhavurahswfl.org / 239-398-3935
The life cycle rituals of Humanistic Jews Paula Creed President
T
here are times for celebrating significant moments in the cycle of personal life: birth, puberty, marriage and death. These passages are universal events of the human condition, but we employ Jewish identity to enrich their message. This month I will discuss Humanistic Jewish approaches to rituals at birth and at puberty, saving the topics of marriage and death for a later publication. Birth Humanistic Jews have created significant and meaningful ways to celebrate the birth of a child of either sex through child-welcoming and baby-naming ceremonies that are philosophically consistent with Humanistic Judaism. We recognize several underlying assumptions: 1) male and female children ought to be treated equally; 2) children of all intermarried couples should have
equal status, regardless of whether the mother or father is Jewish; 3) medical or moral decisions about circumcision should be considered separately from decisions about baby-naming celebrations; 4) the birth celebration should affirm the family’s connection to the Jewish people and to the human community in a philosophically consistent, meaningful way. A Humanistic birth celebration has two functions: to name and welcome. Naming a child in English, Hebrew and/ or Yiddish can provide an important link to the community and to the child’s ancestral heritage. In the welcoming portion of the ceremony, grandparents, parents, siblings and other relatives, and the community publicly acknowledge the event, symbolizing their commitment to the child’s welfare. Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation The “mitzvah” marks the advent not of adulthood but of adolescence – a period of searching for one’s identity and life path. Thirteen-year-olds can demonstrate greater independence and depth of thought, competence and commitment than when they were younger children. The bar or bat mitzvah provides public
encouragement and recognition of the development of these capacities on the road to maturity. It signifies a younger person’s desire to become more responsible for his or her own decisions and actions, and to identify with the many previous generations of Jewish people who have done so. This rite of passage may be marked by the young person choosing a Torah portion (not necessarily the prescribed weekly portion) to read, along with an original interpretative address. Another option, keeping both with humanistic principles and with the meaning of the occasion, is for the child to undertake a study of the life of a humanist or Jewish hero, or another appropriate topic. An adult tutor, sometimes the student’s parent or parents, supervises the research and the presentation of a paper and a speech summing up the results. Each of my three sons chose the latter option. My oldest, who was interested in music and played piano and trombone, wrote about George Gershwin. At the conclusion of his presentation we played the recording of a piano roll made by Gershwin playing Rhapsody in Blue, and it was as if Michael’s
hero was there in person. My second son, a science fiction buff, chose Isaac Asimov, sending this famous scientist, author and humanist a copy of his speech. Lo and behold, Mr. Asimov sent a reply saying how flattered he was to be Dan’s bar mitzvah hero, having never had a bar mitzvah himself. My youngest son, a hockey player and violinist at that age, decided upon Pinchas Zukerman, preparing a beautiful paper about his life and accomplishments. After sending the musician his paper, Steven also received a heartwarming response. Each child, in preparing for his humanistic bar mitzvah, experienced an opportunity to grow intellectually, emotionally and spiritually; to develop skills and self-confidence; and to experience a meaningful connection to the Jewish people and to humankind.
What if there was one place… ÎÎ to meet the needs of Jews and non-Jews, young and old, wherever they live? ÎÎ inspired by bold, often daring pursuits of social justice and human rights? ÎÎ you could make stronger by rich traditions of advocacy, education, responsibility and tzedakah?
For more information, please call Gil Block, Commander, at 239.304.5953.
There is! Federation. It starts with you! To learn more, call 239.263.4205.
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June 2014 Federation Star
Federation Star June 2014
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Together. . .
The Jewish Federation is the safety net for our community here at home, in Israel and in over 70 countries around the world. Through our efforts and with your help, a hungry child in Kiev receives hot meals. Medicine gets delivered to a fragile Holocaust survivor in Haifa. Food and services are provided for a struggling family in Collier County. And much more. Change hardship into hope today. Together…we can make a difference!
YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE!
Donate. Volunteer. Get involved. www.jewishnaples.org 239.263.4205
Everything Federation does is made possible through the generous donations from members of the community. Please consider making a gift today!
FS0614
I hereby pledge and promise to pay my Federation for the 2014 JFCC/UJA Annual Campaign a contribution of: $36 $72 $180 $540 other $_________ Contribution enclosed (Check #__________) Please charge my:
MasterCard
Visa
Please bill me American Express
Jewish Federation may add a 3% donation to my payment to offset credit card service fee _____ (initials or √ denote authorization)
Account #___________________________________________________ Exp. Date____________ ccv#__________ Name: ____________________________________________________ Signature:__________________________________________ Billing Address:______________________________________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________ ST: ______ Zip: _______________ Phone: __________________________________ Please send to: Jewish Federation of Collier County, 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Suite 2201, Naples, FL 34109-0613 JFCC/UJA CAMPAIGN OF JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA
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Federation Star June 2014
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
June 2014 – 5774Get the Service you Deserve SUNDAY
MONDAY
1
2
3
WEDNESDAY 4 SHAVUOT
9:00am BT Religious School
2:00pm HDH Bd Mtg
12:15pm BT Torah Study 1:30pm CJD Steering Cmte 4:00pm BT Liturgical Hebrew 4:00pm JFCC Exec Cmte 7:30pm BT Erev Shavuot Svcs
9:30am BT Services 1:00pm JCMI Bridge 4:30pm BT Hebrew School 8:00pm BT Conservative Judaism
8
9
10
11
9:00am BT Religious School
10:30am JFCS Naples Jewish 10:00am Jewish Genealogy 1:00pm JCMI Bridge 1:30pm Israel Advocacy Cmte Caring Support Group 11:00am JCMI-S Board Mtg 12:00pm JCMI-S Lunch Mtg 4:30pm BT Hebrew School 12:15pm BT Torah Study 4:00pm BT Liturgical Hebrew
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16
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9:00am BT Religious School
12:00pm NJC-S Book Club 1:00pm HDH Study Group
1:00pm JCMI Bridge 12:15pm BT Torah Study 4:00pm BT Liturgical Hebrew 4:30pm BT Hebrew School
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23
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9:00am BT Religious School
TUESDAY
10:30am JFCS Naples Jewish Caring Support Group
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1:00pm JCMI Bridge 12:15pm BT Torah Study 4:00pm BT Liturgical Hebrew 4:30pm BT Hebrew School 7:00pm TS Board Mtg
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
5
6
7
11:00am JCMI Mah Jongg 1:30pm NJC Board Mtg
6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services
8:30am TS Torah Talk 9:30am BT Services 9:30am JCMI Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services
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11:00am JCMI Mah Jongg 3:00pm HM Exec Cmte Mtg 6:30pm HDH Evening Grp
6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services
9:30am BT Services 9:30am JCMI Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services
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20
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11:00am JCMI Mah Jongg 12:00pm JCMI-M Meeting 4:00pm BT Board Mtg
6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services
9:30am BT Services 9:30am JCMI Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services
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11:00am JCMI Mah Jongg
6:00pm BT Eat/Learn Shabbat 6:15pm BT Services 7:30pm NJC Services 7:30pm TS Services 8:00pm JCMI Services
9:30am BT Services 9:30am JCMI Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services
Candle lighting times: 29
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9:00am BT Religious School
7:30pm BT Book Group
June 6: 7:59 June 13: 8:02 June 20: 8:04 June 27: 8:05
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 • HDH: Hadassah • HJH: Humanistic Jewish Havurah • HM: Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida • JCMI: Jewish Congregation of Marco Island
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 mission 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 in the Federation Star.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE ADVERTISERS WHO HELP MAKE THE FEDERATION STAR POSSIBLE. Be sure to mention you saw their ad in the Federation Star.
• 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 • JNF: Jewish National Fund • JWV: Jewish War Veterans • MCA: Men’s Cultural Alliance • MDA: Magen David Adom • NCJW: National Council of Jewish Women (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
• NJC: Naples Jewish Congregation • NJC-M: Naples Jewish Congregation Men’s Club • NJC-S: Naples Jewish Congregation Sisterhood • NJSC: Naples Jewish Social Club • 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.
31 Federation Star COMMUNITY DIRECTORY June 2014 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 Neil Shnider, President Caren Plotkin, Religious School Dir. Seyla Cohen, Preschool Director Peter Lewis, Organist/Choir Director
June 2014 Federation Star
JEWISH CONGREGATION OF MARCO ISLAND
NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION
BETH TIKVAH
(Reform)
(Conservative)
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 234-6366 Email: sylvinwolf@comcast.net www.naplesjewishcongregation.org
1459 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL 34109
Rabbi Edward M. Maline, DD Hari Jacobsen, Cantorial Soloist Roger Blau, President Shabbat Services Friday 8:00 p.m. Torah Study and Saturday Services
Shabbat Services: Shabbat Eve - Friday 7:30 p.m. Shabbat - Saturday 10:00 a.m.
• Sisterhood • Men’s Club • Brownstein Judaica Gift Shop
Suzanne Paley, President Jane Galler, Cantorial Soloist Shabbat Services Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. May - August: services once a month Sisterhood • Men’s Club Adult Education • Adult Choir Social Action • Community Events
• Sisterhood • Men’s Club • Adult Education • Havurot • Youth Groups • Religious School • Judaic Library • Hebrew School • Pre-School • Adult Choir • Social Action • Outreach
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 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. 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road Suite 2201 Naples, FL 34109-0613 Phone: 239-263-4205 Fax: 239-263-3813 E-mail: info@jewishnaples.org Website: www.jewishnaples.org Volume 23, No. 10 June 2014 32 pages USPS Permit No. 419 Publisher: Jewish Federation of Collier County Editor: Ted Epstein, 239-249-0699 fedstar18@gmail.com Design: Federation Media Group, Inc. Advertising: Jacqui Aizenshtat 239-777-2889 July/August Issue Deadlines: Editorial: June 2 Advertising: June 6 Send news stories to: fedstar18@gmail.com
Weather or Not ...
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(just west of Mission Square Plaza)
Phone: (239) 434-1818 Email: bethtikvahnaples@aol.com Website: www.bethtikvahnaples.org Rabbi Ammos Chorny Stuart Kaye & Rosalee Bogo, co-Presidents Phil Jason, Vice President Sue Hammerman, Secretary Shabbat Services Friday evenings at 6:15pm Saturday mornings at 9:30am Youth Education - Adult Education Community Events
Jewish Organizations to Serve You in Collier County (All area codes are 239 unless otherwise noted.)
Jewish Federation of Collier County If you’ve flown the coop for the summer months, it’s still great weather here for planning charitable gifts with the Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Collier County. With the stock market in a whirlwind, the climate is perfect for gifting appreciated stock. Don’t be smog about it – you could be lightening the taxes on your capital gain. The forecast for a sunny future is a gift that will provide increased income for you and build a slush fund for the Jewish community. No high pressure. The benefits are clear. We’re hoping for a blizzard of activity and a heat wave of smart people planning gifts. Stop saving for that rainy day! Get cirrus about making a gift. Do it monsoon!
For more information on charitable gift planning, call David Willens, Executive Director, at 239.263.4205.
Please note our email addresses: David Willens, Executive Director – david@jewishnaples.org Jill Saravis, Community Program Coord. – jill@jewishnaples.org Iris Doenias, Administrative Assistant – iris@jewishnaples.org Deborah Vacca, Bookkeeper – deborah@jewishnaples.org General information requests – info@jewishnaples.org Federation Star advertising – jacqui1818@gmail.com Ted Epstein, Editor, Federation Star – fedstar18@gmail.com
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Phone: 263-4205 Fax: 263-3813 Website: www.jewishnaples.org Email: info@jewishnaples.org • Federation President: Norman Krivosha • Executive Director: David Willens
American Technion Society • Chapter Dir: Jennifer Singer, 941-378-1500
Collier/Lee Chapter of Hadassah • President: Lynn Weiner, 598-1009
Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida • President: Joshua Bialek, 263-9200
Humanistic Jewish Havurah of Southwest Florida • Paula Creed, 495-8484
Israel Bonds • Reva Pearlstein, 800-622-8017 • Tyler Korn, 354-4300
Jewish Family and Community Services of Southwest Florida Phone: 325-4444 • Chairperson: Richard A. Goldblatt • President/CEO: Dr. Jaclynn Faffer
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, Gil Block, 304-5953 • Senior Vice Commander, M/Gen. Bernard L. Weiss, USAF Ret. 594-7772
Men’s Cultural Alliance • President: Steve Brazina, 325-8694
Naples Friends of American Magen David Adom (MDA) • SE Reg Dir: Marc Glickman, 954-457-9766
National Council of Jewish Women • Co-President: Bobbie Katz, 353-5963 • Co-President: Linda Wainick, 354-9117
ORT - Gulf Beaches Chapter • President: Marina Berkovich, 566-1771
Women’s Cultural Alliance • President: Jane Hersch, 948-0003
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.
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Federation Star June 2014
AUGUST 5 DEADLINE
Order Your High Holiday Greetings Today! This High Holiday season, say L’Shana Tova to all your friends in September’s Federation Star! The Federation Star is continuing the practice of publishing your High Holiday greetings to your family and friends wherever they may be. Please subscribe to a space in the September 2014 issue of the Federation Star. Call the Federation office at 239.263.4205 for more information. Sign up now for the September issue of the Federation Star for as little as $18 per greeting. Choose from these sample greetings.
5775
It’s easy! Just select your ad(s), then complete and return the form below! L’Shana Tova
L’Shana Tova
L’Shana Tova
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Michael & Phyllis Seaman
Michael & Phyllis Seaman
Michael & Phyllis Seaman
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#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 Michael & Phyllis Seaman #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.
Michael & Phyllis Seaman
#2B: $36
#3A: $50
ORDER FORM
I want to place the following High Holiday greeting(s) in the September 2014 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 TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
CHECK YOUR AD CHOICE(S) BELOW: ____ #1A ($18)
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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