Federation Star - June 2016 by Jewish Federation of Collier County

The Israel Scouts are coming to Naples! Multiple venues and performances! June 22-23 See page 3 for more details.

Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County, Israel and the World

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

www.JewishNaples.org INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 4 6 9 14 14 20 20 24 26 27 28 30 31

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

5 Human Needs Committee presents awards

6 Photos from the 2015-2016 WCA season

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June 2016 - Iyar/Sivan 5776

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Vol. 25 #10

What is Federation? By Jane Schiff, Federation Vice Chair

he first Federation in the United States was formed in 1895 in Boston. But long before that, in 1654, the Jews in Colonial New Amsterdam (New York City, today) promised to take care of their own. This was based on the Eastern European “Kehilla” (Hebrew for “community”), the way that Jews had taken care of their own throughout our history. There is an argument to be made that this is what has kept us Jewish throughout the many displacements, both forced and voluntary. We take care of each other. It is our sacred mission, along with study, worship and mitzvot. Federations all have a similar mission, taking responsibility for the Jewish people in their community and throughout the world. Jewish tradition teaches us to question everything, and how to accomplish the task of taking on responsibility for the Jewish people is difficult, complicated and daunting – and those are on a good day! The Federation system in the U.S. of 157 communities is enhanced on a worldwide basis by Keren Hayesod –

2016 Federation Annual Campaign

$1,100,000

14 BBYO March of the Living experience

$900,000 $803,562* $600,000 $300,000 $100,000

*as of 5/10

Why hikers in Israel keep stumbling upon relics

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

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United Jewish Appeal, which was set up by the Israeli government in 1956 as a way for countries outside of the U.S. to fundraise for social service needs in Israel and throughout the Diaspora. Keren Hayesod is now found in 45 countries worldwide. Jews feel a responsibility for each other and that is why we are here. In his book Who Needs God, Rabbi Harold Kushner suggests that humans looking for connections with other humans and wanting to be a part of a community, is the basis of religion, not God. I will not debate this point, but the need to be part of something larger, a greater cause and an integral part of a community, is very important to all humans. Jews have made it a cause célèbre.

That sense of community, along with repairing the world (tikkun olam) and charity (tzedakah), all meld together in our Federation work. We are the central address for the Jewish people. Federation brings all the organizations in the community into the “big tent” of Federation. It is an easy way for a donor to give to many organizations with one check. It is terribly important to the leaders of our Federation to find ways to engage the greatest number of Jewish people, serve the greatest number of Jewish people and, most importantly, welcome the greatest number of Jewish people to our beautiful corner of the world. The Board of Directors of our Federation is committed to making our Federation

continued on page 2

A joint letter to the members of our Jewish community

Federation Star June 2016

JEWISH FEDERATION

Renee’s community program & events corner Renee’ Bialek

Community Program Coordinator

he Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan will be performing at Temple Shalom on Wednesday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m., and at North Naples Church on Thursday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m. Come join us! These events are free and fun for the whole family! There are many opportunities to be active at the Jewish Federation of Collier County. Attending a class, an

event or program will start you off in the right direction. There have been so many events in the past few months and there will be even more events and opportunities for you to become active and involved at JFCC in the coming months. For more information, or to contact me about any of the items below, please email me at rbialek@jewishnaples.org. JFCC Ofﬁce Volunteers are needed to answer the phones at the Federation office. If you can volunteer a few hours a week and you like to greet people, please contact me today. Come volunteer in a fun and happy atmosphere. JFed Kids Club: Calling all children in Pre-K to grade 5. The JFed Kids

The Israel Scouts are coming to Naples! Jeffrey Feld

Federation President/ CEO

am really excited that the Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan is coming to our Naples community. There is more information about them and their schedule on page 3 in this issue. These 16- and 17-year-old Israeli Boy and Girl Scouts will sing and dance their way into all of our hearts. Make no mistake, they are very good entertainers. Make no mistake, they are very good at being ambassadors on behalf of Israel. Every time I see and hear an Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan perform, and I have seen many of their performances, I feel a greater connectedness to Israelis. During their time in Naples, this year’s Scouts will perform for the Jewish community on Wednesday evening, June 22 at Temple Shalom. We will all have an enjoyable evening and it will deepen our appreciation for our brothers and sisters in Israel. On Thursday evening, June 23, the Scouts will perform at the North Naples United Methodist Church. We are utilizing the “goodwill” that the Caravan promotes, and educating the greater Naples community about Israel. I am excited that we can provide such a warm, positive and friendly presentation to the greater Naples community by hosting the event at the North Naples Church. Federation often uses the expression “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh la’zeh” – all Jews (or the people of Israel) are

responsible for one another. We talk about the relationships that we have formed through Federation. About 10 years ago, in a different community, in addition to having the Israel Scouts perform, there were two Scouts who stayed for the summer, working at the camp in that community. One of the Scouts who was there for the entire summer, Shahar Cohen, at that time a 15-year-old, is now one of the adult leaders of the Caravan group that will be visiting us in Naples this summer. Shahar spent many weeks living at my house that particular summer. He and my son, Jesse, are the same age and they became good friends. On several occasions when I have visited Israel since then, I have seen Shahar and spent time with his family. In fact, one year my daughter was in Israel during Passover and she enjoyed being at Shahar’s family Seder. The point is we have the opportunity to connect. We have the opportunity to make these relationships very personal. When we as Federation talk about supporting programs and institutions, what we really are talking about is supporting people. We have the opportunity, even if it is only for a short time, to get to know, up close and personal, this delegation from Israel. I am really excited for all of us to build stronger bonds between Naples and Israel. This is just one way to do it. I hope that all of you who are available to come see the Caravan perform will do so. When you are there, I will introduce you to Shahar. I hope you will join in the festivities by singing and dancing with the Scouts.

causes others to do good is greater than one who does good.” In an age of rampant individualism, we proudly promote the collective. What is good for the community? We touch, change and save thousands of lives every day. We convene important communal discussions and take decisive action. We partner with and support a network of social, human service, educational and Jewish identity-building services and programs which are making a profound difference in Jewish lives. We are shaping the Jewish future in Southwest Florida. Join us in whatever way you can or want. You are Federation! Evy Lipp People of the Book Cultural Event Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Read the Federation Star on your tablet!

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

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

Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County, Israel and the World

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

www.JewishNaples.org INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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

February 2016 - Shevat/Adar 5776

Vol. 25 #6

“Shop with a Sheriff”

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

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

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

4A “Dining Out” – a favorite WCA pastime

6A Major Gifts and Lion of Judah event

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

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

24A 15 Israeli wearable techs that will disrupt our lives

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

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

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a month in August, September, October and November. Please contact me to join this important Chanukah committee. Adult activities: I’m looking for speakers, lecturers and teachers on all levels to provide one, two or a few lessons to a small group. What do you like to teach? What do you know? What can you offer? Please let me know. Adult classes: FREE! Everyone is invited. RSVP by Monday, June 20. Coloring for Adults: Monday, June 27 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Crosswords and Sudoku for Adults: Tuesday, June 28 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The Federation’s Allocations Committee

What is Federation?...continued from page 1 the best it can be. To every Jewish person who is reading this article, we say THANK YOU! Without you there is no Jewish community. You are Federation. You make a huge difference with all you do, no matter how small or large that is. Your dollars, your time, your showing up at any event, your volunteering at any agency, your energy in reading this article, all make you a part of our “big tent” Jewish community. You belong. You are Federation. Without you we have no community here. But with you, we are all Federation. Rabbi Eleazar taught us: “One who

Club youth group is now forming. All Jewish children are invited to be included in the club. Jewish Federation membership is $36 per year, per person. The club will have monthly activities. We will go bowling, enjoy a picnic, have game day, play mini golf, and have more activities for young Jewish children to interact in a fun atmosphere. We need a few parent volunteers to be on this youth group committee. Please contact me for more information. The Chanukah Committee is looking for a few volunteers to create and implement a wonderful communitywide Chanukah event that will take place on Monday evening, December 26 at the Mercato. Meetings will be once

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

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Alvin Becker Federation Board Chair

ummertime, And the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’ And the cotton is high wrote George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward for their 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. But unlike at Catfish Row, activity at your Jewish Federation of Collier County continues at a high rate even during the summer. Despite the absence of many northern members and friends, the staff and volunteers are busily engaged in a variety of programs and initiatives. Prime among these efforts is the work of the Federation’s Allocations Committee, whose responsibility it is to recommend grants for the many programs and organizations that apply for Federation funds. Earlier in the year, the Federation board adopted priorities for its current grant cycle: youth programs and youth education, local humanitarian needs and social services, cultural programs and adult education, Israel and overseas humanitarian needs and social services and unmet needs. That information, along with application forms and program evaluation and financial information requests, was mailed to dozens of potential donees in late spring with a

July 31 deadline for submission. The application forms are very detailed in their content, with requests for program evaluation, financial information, program description, budgets and executive summaries. During the summer, as applications are received, they are reviewed for completeness and compliance with allocation guidelines, and follow-up is made to correct any deficiencies in submission requirements. Follow-up is also made with those organizations and programs that have not submitted requests for funds. Starting in the fall, applications are carefully reviewed by Allocations Committee members, and site visits and interviews are scheduled. Accountability and careful evaluation of program content, effectiveness and impact guide the committee’s deliberations. Final recommendations for grants are made to the board in time for their announcement to recipients before the end of the year. Last year, at the end of the extensive review described, the Allocations Committee recommended awards for 37 programs offered by 20 organizations that met the high standards set by the Federation. The allocations process is very intensive, but is designed to assure every Federation donor that contributions to the Federation campaign are used in the manner intended, and that programs supported by those funds seek to fulfill the Jewish Federation of Collier County’s mission statement. To that end, the summer’s busy activities are directed.

The Federation Star delivers! Introduce your business to a POWERFUL demographic and reach over 6,000 Jewish residents in the Greater Naples area!

For ad rates and deadlines, contact Ted Epstein at 239.249.0699 or fedstar18@gmail.com.

This month’s advertisers This publication is brought to you each month thanks to the support of our advertisers. Please be sure to use their products and services, and mention that you found them in the Federation Star. Barsky Team, Realtors®..........17 CallSaul-YourPersonalDriver.20 Chellie Doepke, Realtor®.........9 Entertainment Direct..............23 Margot Escott, LCSW............12 FGCU......................................9 Helayne Frankel, Realtor®......23 Fuller Funeral Home..............15 Gulfcoast Foot & Ankle........17 Stacy Hersha, CPA.................20 Hilton Naples.........................19 Jewish Museum of FL-FIU....15 A. Stephen Kotler, Attorney....20

Dr. Gary Layton, DDS............21 LTCi Marketplace..................20 Mattis Inc...............................20 Miromar Outlets....................12 Naples Envelope & Printing..20 Palm Royale Cemetery............8 P.B.S. Photography Studio.....17 Preferred Travel.....................13 Senior Housing Solutions......20 The Carlisle............................11 Truly Nolen..............................5 U.S. Bank...............................22 Debbie Zvibleman, Realtor®......4

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The Israel Scouts are coming to Naples!

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Wednesday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m. North Naples Church Temple Shalom 6000 Goodlette-Frank Road 4630 Pine Ridge Road The Israel Scouts performances are sponsored by

No RSVP required for these free events!

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June 2016 Federation Star

JEWISH FEDERATION

Schedule of events at both venues: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

8:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Main performance: The Scouts are bright and dynamic performers. Their singing, dancing and storytelling are high-energy and upbeat. They have an intense love for the land and the people of Israel, and a strong desire to share that passion with you. They will have you singing and dancing in your seat and, if you are lucky, dancing with them.

Meet, greet and photo ops with the Scouts and an opportunity to purchase CDs and T-shirts

For more information about each of the Caravan Peleg Scouts who will be coming to Naples, visit www.jewishnaples.org/israel-scouts

Want to host one or more of the Israel Scouts? We still need a few host families. For more information, call Ted Epstein at 239.249.0699.

M M I I F F O O Z Z TT 22001166

Join us at one or both Naples performances!

Experience the excitement and energy of Israel like never before! We hope to see you at Temple Shalom on June 22 and/or the North Naples Church on June 23.

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Federation Star June 2016

JEWISH FEDERATION

2016 Campaign – Where your money goes Sderot Indoor Recreation Center By Jane Schiff, Federation Vice Chair

n December 2014, I was on a mission to Israel, sponsored by JCPA (Jewish Council of Public Affairs). Included was a trip to Sderot. I was apprehensive, yet extremely interested to see how the people of this small town of 25,000 cope with the stress of daily life that included Qassam rockets being sent from Gaza three to four times a day. Another interest I had was to see the indoor playground that the Jewish Federation of Collier County supports through its allocation to Israel. Sderot, unlike any other Israeli city I’ve ever been in, is not a bustling town with people walking and driving here and there, going about their daily activities. In some ways, the lack of movement almost made it seem eerie. However, there were many, many buses – more than usual for a city of its size. Private cars and pedestrians were what was absent. Our guide explained that all the buses are specially built with bulletproof glass, reinforced with heavily fortified steel to withstand not a direct

hit, but a blast close by. Our guide, a former Californian who made Aliyah, lived in Sderot for seven years. She fell in love there, married there and had her first child there. She told us about the surprisingly vibrant life in Sderot. It is the Nashville of Israel. Who knew? There are more musical records produced there, more musical groups start there and, for some unknown reason, more Israeli hit musicians are born there than anywhere else in the country! How is this possible with bombs raining down? All the activities are below ground in bomb-proof and sound-proof studios. The music is transportation out of the nightmare, an escape. When a Qassam rocket is headed to Sderot, the residents get a “code red” blast and then have 15 seconds to find shelter. That is very hard to do if you are walking around town or driving in your car. Thus the armored buses are the safest way to travel around town. The bus stops are all bomb shelters, most brightly painted inside and outside.

GIVING IS NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING A DONATION, IT IS ABOUT MAKING A BETTER WORLD Vickie & Truly Nolen have established an additional $10,000 Challenge Grant for the 2016 Campaign They will match dollar for dollar any first-time contributions or increased contributions from last year up to $10,000. We need your help to secure it. We met and surpassed our first challenge grant of $10,000 for 2016 very quickly. Our $25,000 challenge grant from two anonymous donors was fulfilled May 9. As of May 10, our annual campaign is at $803,562.00. Thank you for supporting our Annual Campaign. We have a lot of momentum and need your help to continue toward our goal. The more money we collect, the more we can give back to our beneficiary agencies in Collier County, Israel and over 65 countries around the world, in addition to funding our ongoing local programs.

The Jewish Book Festival Committee has a few open spots!

The malls, grocery stores, drugstores, cleaners, yoga studios, etc., are inside fortified roofs with bullet-proof glass. The parking around the malls (it is a small town, so the three malls are really U-shaped strip centers) have bomb shelters at each corner. Every apartment and home has its own bomb shelter. The indoor playground is really a converted textile warehouse that is fortified with 300 tons of steel. It is 21,000 square feet of indoor safe space for the entire community. Visited daily by hundreds of children of all ages, the center’s attractions include a soccer field, volleyball court, movie theater, disco, rock climbing wall, snack area, computer center and jungle gym. It hosts weekly performances by clowns, magicians and puppeteers; a disco night for teens; as well as tutoring and homework workshops staffed by college students. Local schools utilize the center for field trips, special events and holidays. Day camps hold sessions there during the summer months. It is also used for community events and as a meeting place for social service groups. We visited it mid-morning, and we only saw small children busy playing with mothers, playgroups and day care groups. The enormity of the building,

the vibrant primary colors, and the obvious continual use make this a new-age, green, open community. But this space also houses mental health professionals, many of them, for the children. The children are affected the most by the constant rocket attacks. PTSD among the children is very high. There are more psychologists and psychiatrists in Sderot per capita than anywhere else in the country, and they are seeing children under 18 significantly more than adults. Our dollars for Sderot are supporting this frontline community in desperate need of trying to maintain some sense of normalcy. When parents feel that their children are playing in a safe environment, when children feel free to be children despite the war-like conditions of each day, and when children, in particular, are receiving desperately needed counseling in order to be able to grow up to be whole, instead of scarred for life, we are doing something very important. Sderot Indoor Recreation Center is a project developed by Jewish National Fund (JNF) and is our partner in this endeavor. We thank JNF for its continuing commitment to this project. For more information, visit www.you tube.com/watch?v=WGJT8b1BEWo

Noted CBS reporter warns of ISIS threat By Jeff Margolis

eteran CBS News correspondent Bob Orr spoke of the current threat of ISIS and international terrorism in his remarks to MCA members at their final luncheon meeting of the season. In recounting his career, Orr also spoke of two of the most difficult stories he ever had to investigate and report on. One was the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, in New York and Washington. The other was the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Since many of the MCA activities are on hiatus, there are a few reminders we would like to pass along. First, MCA dues for 2016-2017 are now due. The membership year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. Current

dues are $70, of which $36 is a donation to the Federation. Please make checks payable to JFCC/ MCA. If you would like to purchase a replacement name badge, the cost is $8. Please join us and become a part of a great new season. You will find a membership/renewal form below. Throughout the summer months, the eblasts will be sent out bi-weekly. Members will note that there are many activities continuing throughout the summer. Please contact Morris Binder at morrisb8@gmail.com for more information. Members are encouraged to suggest new activities for next season. Please let our president, Les Nizin, know of your suggestions at mcanaples@aol.com. Have a great summer.

Want to help make the second annual Collier County Jewish Book Festival an even bigger success than the first one? Then we want you! Planning for the 2016-17 Festival has just begun. Authors and event dates need Men's Cultural Alliance of Collier County to be submitted to the Jewish Book Council in early June. Your first assignment: 2M0e1n '6s -C2u 0 17 Membership Form ltural Alliance of Collier County Preview or read a few of this year’s 250 books we get to choose from. Then join The membership year 2 0 1is 6 - 2from 0 1 7 MJuly e m b e1r suntil h i p F June o r m 30 of the next year. us at our first committee meeting on Wednesday, June 1 at 3:00 p.m. The membership year is from July 1 until June 30 of the next year. Dues received after April 1 will be applied to the next season. Dues received after April 1 will be applied to the next season. Committee responsibilities also include being an “Author Champion,” co(PLEASE fill out the form completely and PRINT CLEARLY!) check one: New ☐ Renewal ☐ chairing an event, organizing volunteers, sharing your enthusiasmPlease with friends fill out the form completely and PR check one:Please New ☐ Renewal ☐ (PLEASE Is there a change in your information from last year? Yes ☐ No ☐ and organizations, and having fun! you checked no, just print your name, fill in payment info, Yes sign event waiverNo and mail to MCA/JFCC. Is there a change in Ifyour information from last year? ☐ below,☐ If you’re interested, please contact Ted Epstein at fedstar18@gmail.com. Print Name: If you checked no, justEmail print name, fill in payment info, sign event waiver below, and mail to (veryyour important):

BUYING • SELLING RELOCATING

Local Address:

City: State: Zip: Print Name: Florida phone: Cell or alternate phone: Email (very important): Northern Address: City: State: Zip: Local Address: In Southwest Florida: full-time ☐ part-time ☐ (from to ) City: State: the year; includes $36 donation to the JFCC.) Membership dues: $70 (US Funds only, Minimum for Cell Florida phone: or alternate phone: I am also including a voluntary donation to the Federation in the amount of Northern Address: Total enclosed or authorized Please make your check payableState: to JFCC/MCA I will be paying by check. City: Zip: ☐ I will be paying by part-time credit card. Card Number ☐ full-time In Southwest Florida: (from to ☐ ☐

Call Debbie Z for all your Real Estate needs

Expiration Date

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$ $ $

70.00

Zip

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NAME BADGES

(239) 272-8878

name badge be issued to you at no charge for if youthe are ayear; NEW member. (USwill Funds only, Minimum includes $36 donation to the JFCC.) Membership dues:AI want $70 a replacement name badge: Yes ☐ No ☐ Fee: $8. If you checked yes, submit a total fee is $78. name as you want it to appear on theto namethe badgeFederation in the amount of I am also includingPrint a voluntary donation Mail with this SIGNED form (with your check, or credit card number) to:or authorized Total enclosed MCA/ Jewish Federation of Collier County DZvibleman@JohnRWood.com Rd, Ste. 2201 Please make your check payable to JFCC/MCA by Vanderbilt check.Beach ☐ I will be paying 2500 Naples, FL 34109

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www.debbiesellsyourhome4you.com I will be paying Iby credit card. Card Number would like to volunteer my services/expertise and would be willing to chair or co-chair a meeting/outing on the following topic or topics:

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EVENT PARTICIPATION WAIVER. By signing below, I accept the terms of this waiver. Search for Southwest Florida NAME BADGES properties at A name badge will be issued to you at no charge if you are a NEW member. http://dzvibleman.listingbook.com I want a replacement name badge: Yes ☐ No ☐ Fee: $8. If you checked yes, submit a total f As a participant in an MCA event, I , acting for myself, my executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin agree as follows: That I waive all rights, claims, cause of action, of any kind whatsoever that I or my heirs, legal representatives may claim to have against either The Jewish Federation of Collier County, and or the Men’s Cultural Alliance of Collier County, their members, agents, servants, and or employees, for any loss, injury, or damage sustained by me while participating in an MCA event. This waiver and release shall be construed broadly, under the Laws of the State of Florida.

Signature

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

JEWISH FEDERATION

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

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

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

Past Presidents

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

Board Members Emeritus Hans Levy Shirley Levy

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

Federation President/CEO Jeffrey Feld

Staff

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

June 2016 Federation Star

Human Needs Committee presents awards to two local organizations

he Human Needs Committee of the Jewish Community Relations Council recently presented its annual awards to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County and the Naples Music Club. “Both highly respected organizations benefit this community and the children they serve in much different ways,” said Gail Smith, committee chairperson. “Each group aims to help the most vulnerable and needy in our community – whether youngsters or adults. The Children’s Advocacy Center seeks to turn bad situations into happy lives for children and families. The Music Club helps young students with musical ability to follow their dreams,” noted Smith. “They help children musically connect to the community, fulfilling their artistic dreams through music education and performances.” Collier County’s Children’s Advocacy Center strives to create a safe haven for children during the height of family crisis. “We also perform forensic interviews and medical exams, we advocate for the child and family in court, teach parenting classes, and provide safe visitation for families in a childfriendly environment,” according to CEO Dr. Jacqueline Stephens. Gordon Hammes, Naples Music Club President, accepted its award noting it structures its program to aid elementary, high school and adult students.

“We also provide music scholarship programs for piano and violin students in various age groups,” he said. “Our committee earmarked money for the Leap Award program that enables gifted and motivated students from low-income families to achieve the intellectual and social benefits of learning to play piano.” He added that the Naples Music Club is staffed entirely by volunteers.

Both Stephens and Hammes expressed their thanks and gratitude to the Human Needs Committee for being selected to receive the awards, and told all those in attendance how grateful they are to the Federation. Joel Pittelman, JCRC Chair, introduced Ida Margolis, Human Needs Committee representative, who presented the awards on behalf of the JCRC at the Jewish Federation of Collier County Annual Meeting.

Ida Margolis with Dr. Jacqueline Stephens, Children’s Advocacy Center CEO

Ida Margolis with Gordon Hammes, Naples Music Club President

Gordon Hammes, Joel Pittelman, Ida Margolis, Dr. Jacqueline Stephens, Jeffrey Feld

BBYO Naples…four years and going strong

By Marc Saperstein, Co-Chair BBYO Naples Friends and Alumni Network

e are wrapping up our 4th year as Collier County’s only Jewish youth group. Our mission is simple: “More Jewish teens, more meaningful Jewish experiences.” BBYO helps our teens develop strong bonds with other Jewish teens, enhance their connection to Judaism and Israel, and contribute to making the world a better place, while developing leadership skills to help in their professional careers and Jewish lives. With the support of our partners – the Jewish Federation of Collier County, Temple Shalom, Chabad of Naples, and Beth Tikvah – we have continued to grow, reaching ever more Jewish teens through both AZA/BBG (our high school boys and girls chapters) as well as our BBYO Connect programming for middle school teens. Our success in this 2015-16 programming year is reflected in just a few of many highlights:  Teen membership growth: Naples AZA and BBG currently have 47 members with the teens’ goal of 50+ within reach. From our first year at 24 members to twice that today, we have shown consistent growth every year, a sign of strong teen and staff leadership as well as fun and meaningful activities.  Quality and consistent programming: The teens now meet every Thursday night at the Federation office for planned social, business, community service and religious programming. This is in addition to their weekend events at least twice a month. Programs are developed and led by the teens themselves with the support of BBYO Regional Director Skylar Haas and our committed volunteer advisors.  Local community service: BBYO Naples teens support many community activities through their volunteerism. Recent examples include working at the Temple Shalom Community Service Day where they put together food packages for Meals of Hope, and the recent Purim Festival. The teens

also participated at the Mercato and downtown Naples Chanukah menorah lightings in December. A major recent initiative was “BBYO Naples Smile Summit,” which focused on raising funds for pediatric cancer and creating gift packages for children at Golisano Children’s Hospital.  BBYO Shabbat Weekend: In February, BBYO Naples teens actively participated in Shabbat services at Temple Shalom, Chabad of Naples and Beth Tikvah, working closely with their respective rabbis. This was our first BBYO Shabbat weekend, and it was viewed as very successful in presenting our teens to many adults who were not aware of BBYO Naples and the positive impact on our teens.  North Florida Regional (NFR) involvement: Attendance at NFR conventions has continued to increase each year. This year we had 18 Naples teens attend the Regional Spring convention, our largest delegation ever. Negev AZA won the NFR “Spirit Stick” for its enthusi-

asm, ruach and programming; and Jason Randall was elected as NFR Godol (AZA president) and Zach Schiller was elected NFR Moreh (AZA Vice President of Membership). All the above reflect strong teen leaders, great programming results, and the growing importance of BBYO Naples in the North Florida Region. We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made in assuring that Collier County has a strong and vibrant Jewish teen youth group. We have over 400 people who receive our Friends and Alumni Network (FAN) mailings and a small group of wonderful donors. However, if we are going to continue to grow as we enter our fifth year as BBYO Naples, we must broaden our pool of financial supporters. If you would like to help ensure our Jewish future, please support us by donating online at https://fan.bbyo.org/support/ donate/nfr or mail donations to BBYO Naples, c/o Skylar Haas, 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Suite 2201, Naples, FL 34109.

Federation Star June 2016

JEWISH FEDERATION www.WomensCulturalAlliance.com / 215-820-6697

WOMEN’S CULTURAL ALLIANCE

2015-2016 WCA happenings! By Susan Pittelman, WCA Publicity Director

CA had a wonderful season, offering a wide variety of programs and activities to our membership. During the 2015-16 season, WCA held more than 500 activities that educated, enlightened and entertained WCA members. The photos below represent some of our programming highlights. Thank you to WCA President Elaine Soffer and the WCA Board of Directors – and to all of our fabulous volunteers. Without you, none of these events would have happened! Even though “season” officially ended mid-May, WCA’s calendar of events from mid-May through midOctober is teeming with opportunities for our members who will be in Southwest Florida during that time period. WCA members who reside in Florida year-round (Full Timers) as well as

those who are here for just part of the year, are always welcome to enjoy the wide array of programs and activities being offered. If you happen to return to Florida anytime during the summer, please join us! Watch the WCA eblast for details! If you are not currently a member of WCA – or if you have not yet renewed your membership for the 2016-2017 season – please “due” it today! Just fill out the membership form below. You will be glad you did! Only paid-up members (new or renewed) will receive the 2016-17 Program Guide and the invitation to our WCA Welcome Back Luncheon, which will be held on Thursday, November 10. Dues must be paid by August 1 to be listed in the new WCA Membership Directory.

WCA Welcome Back Luncheon, November 2015

Members of the WCA Board of Directors

Featured Speaker Carol Gardner with WCA President Elaine Soffer

At the Federation Annual Meeting, Federation President/CEO Jeffrey Feld honored WCA President Elaine Soffer for her leadership of WCA

WCA Board Members Dina Shein, Linda Simon and Harriett Kleinman

WCA Couples Group Director Phyllis Strome shows off a delicious dish that was prepared during a special cooking demonstration for WCA Foodies and Couples at The Sauce Lady

JFCS President/CEO Dr. Jaclynn Faffer thanked WCA President Elaine Soffer and the women at the WCA Welcome Back Luncheon for the generous contribution to JFCS of Southwest Florida

Nancy Kahn, Susan Rabin and Deedee Remenick at one of WCA’s popular “Ladies Who Lunch” events

Women’s Cultural Alliance Membership Form Our Membership year runs from September 1 to August 31. Dues for members who join after March 1st will cover the next season. New Member____ Renewal____ Is there a change in your information from last year? YES___ NO___ ___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Name

Spouse/Partner Name

___________________________________________________________________

Email Address (very important)

___________________________________________________________________ FL Street Address, City, Zip

_________________________________ Community in which you live

_______________________________

FL Home Phone

______________________________ ____________________________________ Cell Phone

Northern Phone

___________________________________________________________________ Northern Street Address, City, State or Province, Zip In FL: Full Time______ OR Part Time______

From _________________________ to _______________________

Membership Dues are $90.00 (US Funds), which includes a $36.00 donation to Federation

$90.00

Lenore Greenstein introducing famed chocolatier Norman Love, the featured speaker at a special luncheon held by WCA South (Yes, he brought samples!)

I am also including a voluntary donation to the Federation in the amount of $_________________ Total enclosed or authorized $__________________ ____I will be paying by check. (Please make your check payable to JFCC/WCA.) ____I will be paying by credit card: Card Number_________________________________________________________ Exp. Date_______________ Name on Card________________________________________________________ You must sign the waiver below, and return this completed form with your check or credit card information. To be included in the WCA Directory, we must have this information by August 1. ____I would like to volunteer for WCA by Chairing or Co-Chairing a program. ____I would like to be a speaker or lead a workshop on these topics: If checked, list topic(s)_______________________ ____I would like to volunteer in some capacity, but I am not yet sure what. Please sign Event Participation Waiver: As a participant in a WCA event, I, acting for myself, my executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin agree as follows: I waive all rights, claims, courses of action, of any kind whatsoever that I or my heirs or my legal representatives may claim to have against The Jewish Federation of Collier County, The Women’s Cultural Alliance, or their agents, servants, and/or employees, for any loss, injury, or damage sustained by me while participating in a WCA event. This waiver and release shall be construed broadly, under the laws of the State of Florida. Your membership payment is your permission for Women’s Cultural Alliance to take and use photographs/videos for appropriate purposes in accordance with WCA’s mission

Signature_________________________________________________ Date__________________________ Please mail this form (with the signed waiver) and your check or credit card number to: Jewish Federation of Collier County, 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. #2201, Naples FL 34109. If you prefer, you may complete this form online at www.WomensCulturalAlliance.com and then print off the form, sign the waiver, and mail it to the Jewish Federation (at the above address) with your payment.

Cookbook author Arlene Levin and Phyllis Winski serve refreshments to Peggy Goldberg at the WCA Salon

JEWISH FEDERATION

Author Susan Jane Gilman and Jewish Book Festival Committee members Susan Pittelman and Robin Mintz, with the newly crowned “Ice Cream Queen of Naples,” Mae Riefberg, at the WCA-sponsored Jewish Book Festival event

June 2016 Federation Star

The talented WCA members who performed at the WCA Salon

WCA members Dee Bittman (second from left) and Joan Stonecipher (second from right) welcomed Executive Director Jim Baker and several artists from Pilchuck Glass School to Naples for a special presentation and reception for WCA members

WCA Volunteers Joni Zalasky and Mary O’Haver served refreshing ice cream treats at the WCA Jewish Book Festival program that featured the author of The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street

Sue Dean and Ellie Richman dressed for the part when they presented a program highlighting the changing role of women and shared clips of TV shows in the 50s

Members of the WCA Couples Group learned about efforts to protect and restore the America’s Everglades as they toured Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on a beautiful Sunday morning in March

Marcia Maloni and Judy Copeland are better able to use their iPhones after taking a class from WCA member and technology instructor Marsha Marsiglio (seated)

Kathy Schneiderman (top), Gina Cannon, Madeline Foster and Estelle Price prepare to board the “WCA-mobile” after an enjoyable visit to the Coconut Grove Art Fair

WCA members at the WCA Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

Members of the WCA Tuesday Morning Biking Group, Women on Wheels, have fun as they stay fit!

Participants on the WCA Bus Trip to the Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami went on a Jewish Food Walking Tour of the neighborhood

Terri David, author of Mail Call, with her husband during a Speaker Series program about her parents’ wartime correspondence

Sydell Zimmerman, Lourene Rapport, Hope Footer and Sue Zulanch enjoying WCA Canasta Day

Women’s Cultural Alliance: 1,300 members strong and growing!

Peggy Goldberg studying one of the garnishes created at the Incredible Edibles program

Federation Star June 2016

JEWISH FEDERATION

Season slows, Federation does not close Phyllis Seaman Federation Vice Chair

ummer is here and many of you are at your summer residences or traveling, but the Jewish Federation’s doors do not close to the needs of our community, nationally, in Israel and over 60 countries around the world. In other words, we need you and your financial support to continue all that we do. Our board has just allocated $2,500 to be sent to The Jewish Federations of North America for the Jewish Federation of Houston and the Houston Jewish community which was affected by the recent disastrous flooding. When there is a need, we are there.

Three very generous major donors have stepped up to the plate these last few months making increased matching challenge grants – two for $10,000 and one for $25,000. Every new or increased gift to the 2016 Campaign is matched dollar for dollar. These donors have really charged our campaign, but we need everyone to be a part of this and own it. Now doesn’t that inspire you to write a check or make a pledge? We should all be proud of our Jewish community, how it has grown and all we do. Our Federation touches all our lives in some way every day. If you and your family belong to a synagogue, WCA, MCA or BBYO, or are helped by programs and support groups at JFCS and many other cultural, religious, educational programs, you are part of our Federation. Federation also advocates when our community is threatened in any way by anti-Semitism, or problems with schools understanding

that football games and school dances should not be held on the High Holy Days. The Jewish Federations of North America has been fighting for our college students living with anti-Semitism and the BDS movement on their campuses. Have I gotten your attention yet? Please, as soon as you put down this issue, write a check or call the Federation office and make your gift to the 2016 Campaign. Your pledge does not have to be paid before the end of the year. Consider an increase over your past gift… remember our matching grant. I’m very excited about one of my summer trips…another mission. I will be going to Paris and Israel in July on the Campaign Chair/Executive Director Mission. I will be sharing my experiences in the September issue of the Federation Star. Reminder to our Lions of Judah: The Lion of Judah Conference in Washington, D.C., is September 11-13.

Register now online at the Lion of Judah website, www.lionconference.org. As I write this article, my becoming a Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland honoree was announced officially on the Lion of Judah website. I am one of 75 likeminded committed women. I have been in awe of these strong women and I have to pinch myself to believe I have become one of them. It is wonderful to be recognized for the years I have committed to something I love and believe in so strongly. We are already working on dates and programs for Campaign 2017. We are always looking for volunteers to get involved with our events. If you have made your gift or pledge for 2016, thank you! Have a wonderful and safe summer! See you in September!

We Are the Strength of a People – The Power of Community

IAC announces dynamic speakers for upcoming season By Jeff Margolis

r. Ed. Ezrine, Chairman of the Israel Advocacy Committee, has announced two important speakers for the 2016-2017 season. On Wednesday, December 7, the IAC in conjunction with ZOA will present Dr. Mitchell Bard at Chabad of

Naples. Dr. Bard, who holds a Ph.D. in political science from UCLA, is a policy analyst and the executive director of the non-profit American Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. He is also the author of 23 books, including Death to the Inﬁdels: Radical Islam’s War Against the Jews.

Jewish Community Festival of Learning

he Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Collier County is busy planning for the first Jewish Community Festival of Learning (JCFL), to be held on Sunday, March 19, 2017, at Temple Shalom. The goal of this event is to celebrate Jewish life and learning by connecting Jews of all backgrounds and traditions to their Jewish heritage. There will be presentations on a variety of topics, but all will be related to Judaism and include subjects on a broad spectrum of interests. Some of the presenters will be familiar to you, but we will be introducing many from outside our community who will share their knowledge. All of the presenters will be engaging and will shine new light on their subjects. When participants register, they will select the sessions they wish to attend. There will be an

optional pareve boxed lunch available for pre-order. In the previous issue of the Federation Star, we mentioned that we were fortunate to schedule a nationallyrenowned speaker to give our keynote address. David Bernstein, President and CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the representative voice of the Jewish community relations movement, will not only give our keynote address, he will also be making an additional presentation. Please refer to the article by David, “The Jewish Community Relations Imperative,” on page 10 in the April issue of the Federation Star. You can follow David on Twitter @ DavidLBernstein. Betty Schwartz (bettyofnaples@ gmail.com) and Ida Margolis (gen shoahswfl@icloud.com) are co-chairs of this event.

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On Wednesday, February 22, 2017, the IAC will present Dr. Zhudi Jasser at Temple Shalom. Dr. Jasser is a cardiologist in Arizona, and president and founder of the American Islamic Forum on Democracy. He served in the United States Navy for 11 years, rising to the rank of Lt. Commander. Dr. Jasser has testified

before the Congressional Committee on Homeland Security and has served as an advisor to four documentary films. Look for additional dates and programs as they become confirmed. Many thanks to Jeffrey Randall, IAC committee members, and volunteers for making the “Celebrate Israel” event a huge success.

SIGN UP FOR THE FEDERATION’S WEEKLY COMMUNITY eNEWSLETTER! Get the latest information on upcoming community events and cultural activities, news from Israel and lots more.

Send an email to info@jewishnaples.org.

Advertising Sales Reps needed for the Jewish Federation of Collier County’s publications

The Jewish Federation of Collier County is looking for outgoing, energetic go-getters who can meet goals and create lasting connections with local businesses. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, enjoy speaking to people, and believe in the work of the Federation, then we want you on our team! This position is 100% outside sales, selling the advertising space in the Federation’s publications (Federation Star, Connections, Community Directory, Annual Report) as well as sponsorships. You’ll also have the opportunity to sell advertising space for the Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties’ publications – L’Chayim and Connections. Commission structure based on experience; 15 hours per week minimum.

Make your own hours Be your own boss Supplement your income If you are interested, or for more information, contact Jeﬀrey Feld at 239.263.4205 or jfeld@jewishnaples.org.

June 2016 Federation Star

COMMUNITY FOCUS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & ED CTR OF SWFL

www.holocaustmuseumswfl.org / 239-263-9200

Thank you to the Museum volunteers

e n n I e o e

Amy Snyder Executive Director

or our Annual Volunteer Appres ciation event, we did something e a little different this year. An t off-site breakfast was held at Lu Lu B’s Grill, a popular local restaurant. It was a rare opportunity for many of our volunteers to be together at the same time. ! They often don’t see each other because of different schedules and duties. The event gave us the opportunity to tell them just how important they are to us. We have quite a diverse group of volunteers. Some are full-time residents, some seasonal. Some live in the U.S., while others live in Europe. Some are Holocaust survivors. Depending on their interests, some work weekly at the Museum, others participate periodi-

cally by planning and staffing Museum events, while those with Education experience often work with our Education programs during the school year. The common link among our volunteers is a strong commitment to what the Museum stands for in our community and beyond. Their talents and life experiences contribute to what makes our Museum family unique. This has been an overwhelmingly busy year, and yet our volunteers helped everything run smoothly across the board. Whether welcoming and conducting tours on the many 100+ visitors days, introducing greater numbers of students to Museum programs, or putting on incredible programs and events, our volunteers made a difference to everyone they encountered! Here are some highlights of volunteer activity this year: Docents Elliott Katz and Sy Stadtmauer again presented the Katz Lecture Series on Holocaust History with six new topics. Each lecture had over 100

Museum volunteers Gerald Miller and Becky Cornacchia

Museum volunteers Millie and Thad Whitinger

Community commemorates Yom HaShoah By Jeff Margolis

om HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is a worldwide commemoration of the lives of the six million (or more) Jews who perished at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust. This is a day set aside for all of us to remember and to learn from the past. In his remarks to an assembly of survivors, children of survivors, liberators and community members on May 4 at Temple Shalom, Rabbi Adam Miller noted, “We can’t give Hitler and the Nazis a posthumous victory by abandoning our faith and culture after the horrors of the Holocaust.” During the opening procession, Rabbi Miller carried a Torah scroll that was rescued during the Holocaust, and was followed by survivors, children of

Steve Fischer, Rob Nossen, Charlotte Atkins

Julian Goran and daughter Naomi, Nancy Flatau

people in attendance. Elliot, Sy and fellow Docent Jerry Miller arranged for New York Times bestselling-author Edwin Black to visit Naples and speak at local universities about Holocaust and genocide topics. Our superb Front Desk receptionists did an amazing job with the record crowds. Pleasant and helpful, they provided background information on the Museum, increased new memberships, and even provided advice on where to eat and other things to do in the area. They are also a huge help to the staff by proofreading, assembling materials for distribution, answering the busy phones in the morning, and so many other things for which we are grateful! Our Events Committee planned two incredible events this year – the Breakfast at Tiffany’s Ladies Luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort, and the recent Triumph 2016 event at the Naples Yacht Club. Both events were successful, increasing our visibility in the community while generating funds

survivors and students who lit memorial candles to honor those who were murdered. The keynote speaker of the program was Marcel Fachler, who was born in Belgium and was hidden from the Nazis in a children’s home until he was five years old. He spoke of changing his name and putting his Jewish roots behind him until recently. He expressed concern about growing worldwide antiSemitism. It was only a few months ago that he started to share his story with the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida. Fachler does not really consider himself a Holocaust survivor, but his story is not unlike many other hidden children during World War II. Cantor Donna Donna Azu of Temple Shalom chanted the “El Moleh Rachamim” prayer for those who perished. The local chapter of the Jewish War Veterans provided an honor guard. Hari Jacobson, Rabbi Sylvin Wolf and Rabbi Amos Chorny also participated. Ida Margolis, chair of GenShoah of Southwest Florida, and Josh Bialek, past president of the board of the Holocaust Museum, read the “Pledge of the Generations.” The program concluded with the singing of “God Bless America” and “Hatikvah.”

Josh Salomon, Dr. Basil Roman, Ida Margolis

for the Museum’s Education programs. We aren’t the only ones who appreciate what our volunteers do. They continue to receive numerous compliments in the Visitor Comment book, emails and handwritten thank-you notes sent to their attention at the Museum. And, we can’t forget to thank Docent Millie Whitinger, who manages the volunteer scheduling. She ensures that anyone who wants to volunteer gets the opportunity. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, we invite you to contact the Museum for more information. Thanks again to our volunteers for all you do – we couldn’t do it without you! Note: Museum hours now through December 31 are Tuesday-Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., with daily tours at 1:30 p.m. If you are interested in arranging a speaker or Museum program for your group, please contact the Museum at 239.263.9200 for details.

Elliot Katz and Sy Stadtmauer at the final lecture of the season

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

Federation Star June 2016

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Report from JFCS of Southwest Florida

Dr. Jaclynn Faffer JFCS President/ CEO

n a special section, “Fraying at the Edges,” published on Sunday, May 1, The New York Times reported that Alzheimer’s disease strikes an American every 67 seconds. The person who was the primary focus of the report stated upon joining a group for people with the disease, “Everyone is happy they are with people just like them who can’t get the words out and can’t find the bus pass.” The confluence of the increase in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and the structured curriculum of the JFCS respite program, is just the reason why our services to individuals with cognitive issues and their families are among the most rapidly growing in our agency.

Currently, JFCS offers three dementia respite groups. Each group is four hours and includes Dakim Brain Fitness, chair yoga, horticulture therapy, music therapy and reminiscence activities. The groups meet from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and include lunch. The JFCS Dementia Respite Program is proudly affiliated with the Brookdale Foundation’s National Group Respite Program. Services are provided for the caregivers, as well. Recognizing the importance of this JFCS service, we are honored to report that we recently received generous funding to enable us to add the third day of programming. Funders include $50,000 from the State of Florida, $15,000 from the League Club, $10,000 from the Garden Club, and $5,000 from the Alzheimer’s Foundation for music therapy. The group is facilitated by a licensed mental health counselor supported by specially trained volunteers. The cost is $35 per group and, when necessary, scholarships are available.

Members must have a medical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. For more information, contact Rhonda Eisenberg, LMHC, JFCS Geriatric Social Worker, at 239.325.4444 or reisenberg@jfcsswl.org. And now, for your social calendars, please save Thursday, January 14, 2017, for our 5th annual signature fundraising event, An Evening for Better Tomorrows, chaired by Judith and Edward

Anchel. “Dancing, Doo Wop and Rock and Roll” will feature the legendary Crystals and Crests. The event will take place at Grey Oaks. The ticket price is $300 per person with patron tables available for $5,000. We are grateful to Naples Trust Company for being our Platinum Sponsor. For more information, contact me at jfaffer@jfcsswfl. org or 239.325.4444. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

The Naples Jewish Caring Support Group Next meetings: Mondays, June 13 & 27 10:30 a.m. to noon at JFCS, 5025 Castello Road, Naples

Call Donna Levy at 239.325.4444 for more information.

GenShoah SWFL closes season with presentation on Nostra Aetate Ida Margolis GenShoah President

he final event of the GenShoah 2015-16 season took place on April 17 at the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida when lecturer and author Dr. Jack Conroy gave an outstanding presentation on Nostra Aetate, one of the most significant actions of the Catholic Church. After giving the historical background of the emergence of Christianity, Dr. Conroy then explained why Christianity and Judaism went their separate ways, using the term “a cultural divorce.” He deftly described how from this divorce, animosity de-

veloped and continued for 2,000 years. Then Dr. Conroy gave information about Pope John XXIII convening the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965 when thousands of bishops came together in Rome to reflect upon the mission of the Church and to revise and adjust various elements as needed in order to thrive in the next hundred years. One of its documents dealt with the Catholic Church’s relationship with non-Christian religions. It was titled in

Latin, Nostra Aetate, after the first words of the document, “In our time.” Many of those in attendance said they had never heard of this document, and were grateful to Dr. Conroy for his explanation of the remarkable phenomenon of the Catholic Church’s conscious recognition of the evil that the animosity of the Church toward the Jews brought about in history, and the framework for overcoming 2,000 years of cultural attitudes that are inconsistent with Christianity’s rootedness in Judaism. After his presentation, Dr. Conroy, a member of the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County, which cosponsored this event, was given many accolades. I am so pleased that Jack Conroy at Holocaust Museum presents a program for both Catholic-Jewish Dialogue and GenShoah GenShoah SWFL has

been able to present such well-received speakers this season, which in addition to Dr. Conroy, included hidden child and N.J. Hall of Fame inductee Maud Dahme, and former Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court Norman Krivosha. In addition to speakers, GenShoah presented a number of films though the efforts of Steve Brazina, GenShoah Program Chair, and Amy Snyder, Executive Director of the Holocaust Museum. Thank you to the excellent presenters, all those who helped, attended programs and events, and gave donations so that these programs could continue. Thanks also to everyone who provided suggestions for next season’s programs. If you want to receive the GenShoah newsletter that will announce all future programs as soon as they are finalized, please email me at genshoahswfl@ icloud.com.

Archdiocese of Venice pays tribute to Holocaust victims By Jeff Margolis

he Most Reverend Frank Dewane, Bishop of Venice, Florida, led an interfaith communitywide commemoration of the Holocaust at a service held on April 10 at the Epiphany Cathedral in Venice. The Hour of Remembrance commemorating Yom HaShoah was part of nationwide services and programs to remember the victims of the Holocaust and to instill an awareness of the dangers of hate and racism. Reverend Patrick J. Ryan, Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham University, gave the keynote address. The focus of his remarks dealt with several overarching questions that have dogged thinkers, politicians and clergy for decades since the end of the genocide that led to the slaughter of over 6 mil-

lion Jews: Where was God during the Holocaust? But an even more telling question is: Where were the people, the everyday folks, who just stood by and watched it happen? One of the other highlights of the program was a Commissioning ceremony for high school students in the Diocese of Venice, where the students took an oath to combat hatred and bigotry. The students were awarded pins with the flags of Israel and the Vatican. The formal portion of the program concluded with the singing of “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” which was originally written in 1955 at the National Council of Christians and Jews. During the reception that followed, guests were able to view Holocaust education projects that were completed

by local school students in the diocese of Venice. While Holocaust education is mandated in Florida’s public schools, the state’s private and parochial schools have more flexibility with the curriculum. It was quite gratifying to see the work of students who collected photos, interviewed Holocaust survivors, and read extensively to create their posters. This year’s program happened to

coincide with the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate (Latin for “In our time”), which commemorates the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions of the Second Vatican Council. This landmark document heralded the improvement of relations between Catholics and the Jewish community.

June 2016 Federation Star

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Advertorial

Carlisle resident still a force to be reckoned with on golf course

APLES, Fla.—It was golf that drew Kenneth and Elizabeth Hissam to Naples, the “Golf Capital of the World,” over four decades ago. The avid golfers and real estate brokers, who resided in the Cleveland area at the time, were asked to handle the listing for two local golf courses. Naples, which boasts the secondmost golf holes per capita than any other community in the country, was ideal for the couple, renowned for their golf prowess. “Kenneth was a “scratch” golfer, always shooting par,” said Mrs. Hissam. “After I had our sixth child, I thought it would be good to pick up a hobby. I naturally took to golf and ended up winning competitions in Cleveland and Naples.” Among her many golf accomplishments are eight holes-in-one and setting the course record in Ohio, shooting 72 on a par 75, which hasn’t been beaten in over 50 years. “It’s a gift God gave me,” she said. “At 89½, I’m still a force to be reckoned with.” The couple lived in a condominium on a golf course prior to moving to The Carlisle Naples, a luxury senior living community, nearly five years ago. The Hissams’ children believed a retirement community would be best suited for their parents after Mrs. Hissam broke her knee and Mr. Hissam was unable to provide the additional care she needed.

“Our children liked The Carlisle better than any of the other places around,” she explained. “In fact, they’d originally moved Kenneth to another community while I was in a rehabilitation center, but after visiting The Carlisle, they thought we’d be happier here and they were right.”

Elizabeth Hissam

Mr. Hissam has since passed away and Mrs. Hissam feels grateful to be surrounded by friends and neighbors at the community. She often meets up with them for breakfast and dinner and is pleased that The Carlisle’s robust monthly calendar

offers residents a wonderful variety of programs and activities that they can enjoy together. From stimulating educational opportunities to invigorating health and wellness classes and exciting outings and excursions, Mrs. Hissam says she participates in many activities. She is especially fond of Wii bowling, a virtual gaming system that enables players to mimic actions performed in real life sports. Research shows players reap many of the same health benefits such as improved hand-eye coordination as those who play the game at a bowling alley. Mrs. Hissam is also looking forward to participating in the community’s newly launched line dancing class. Though very active within The Carlisle community, Mrs. Hissam relishes being a part of the Naples community at-large. She is a member of the Quail Run Country Club, one of the many golf courses within a less than 10-mile radius of the community. On Saturdays and Sundays, she joins her daughter – one of three who live in the area – for a round of golf.

“If she can’t meet me, I still go by myself,” Mrs. Hissam said. “Sometimes I’m there three times a week. I like the exercise.” In addition to physical exercise, golf has been found to reduce stress levels, improve muscle tone and stimulate the heart. Several of Mrs. Hissam’s neighbors also take advantage of the community’s proximity to Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. For others, The Carlisle Naples’ onsite Putting Green offers the ideal spot to perfect their touch and accuracy. Florida’s beautiful weather means residents at The Carlisle can enjoy golf and the great outdoors year round. Located at 6945 Carlisle Court in Naples, The Carlisle offers spacious one- and two-bedroom residences which include interior and exterior maintenance, weekly housekeeping and flat linen services, basic cable TV, all utilities except telephone, and a complimentary full breakfast plus choice of lunch or dinner in the community’s gourmet-style restaurant. For more information about the community, please call 239.221.0017 or visit www.TheCarlisleNaples. com.

How close is The Carlisle? You can almost reach it in two. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But The Carlisle Senior Living Community is still tantalizingly close to Tiburon Golf Club. It’s just 3,520 yards away—a dogleg northeast, if you will. And Arrowhead Golf Club is only 7.5 miles away as well. It truly is a great location to live for golfers and non-golfers alike. In fact, most folks can’t help but feel a bit inspired when surrounded by the tropical beauty of southern Florida. And The Carlisle itself? With its spectacular views and amenities straight out of a resort you can bet your 5-iron it’ll feel like home. And assisted living services are always available if needed. We invite you to see for yourself at a complimentary lunch and tour. (It’ll be a great walk unspoiled.) Please call 239.444.6891 to schedule. I n de p e n de n t & A s s i s t e d L i v i ng R e s i de nc e s • ECC L ic e n s e d

6945 Carlisle Court • Naples, FL • TheCarlisleNaples.com • 239.444.6891 Located just south of Orange Blossom Drive on the west side of Airport-Pulling Road ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY #9408

Federation Star June 2016

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

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

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

   

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

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

Jewish Genealogy Group Meeting

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Mix & Mingle – Jewish senior singles update

irst and most importantly, a big thank you to all who helped to make this first renewal year of Mix & Mingle such a success. From the event organizers to the members and attendees, each of you made a significant contribution. Our initial gathering was held in November 2015 at Inca’s Kitchen, where we had our first opportunity to mix and mingle. The response was so great that it reinforced the need for our organization. M&M membership continued to grow each month as we met for a variety of events including a Chanukah latke party, a tour of the Halston/St. Laurent exhibit at the Baker Museum, a celebration of the Chinese New Year at the Golden Leaf restaurant, a concert by the Jerusalem Symphony, a wine tasting at Decanted, a play at the Laboratory Theater, a presentation by Trendy Tours, and an end-of-season return to the Baker Museum for the Naples Collects exhibit. We will be asking you, our members, to help with one of our upcoming events. No task will be overwhelming as we will be working together, but we

also want to be able to count on you to say “yes” when called upon. Remember, WE are Mix & Mingle. It takes a group effort to keep us up and running with fresh ideas and exciting activities. In the next issue of the Federation Star there will be a six-month Save the Dates set of programs. Be sure to add them to your calendar so that you don’t miss out.

For those of you who spend the summer in town, we will try to find some opportunities to mix and mingle during the rainy season. Be sure to let us know your suggestions. Let’s stay in touch! Contact Judi Palay at judipalay@ aol.com or 239.513.9141 for questions, updates or suggestions. Finally, just a reminder…if you are a Florida resident, remember to change your mailing address if you will not be in Collier County on August 30 in order to vote. Ballots are not forwarded. Please check the LWVCC for impartial candidate information.

Live theater at the Federation ofﬁce

ollier County Repertory Theatre (www.ccrtfl.com) is pleased to present a live performance for your entertainment at the Jewish Federation of Collier County on Wednesday, June 29 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets to this performance are $35 and may be purchased by calling Collier County Repertory Theatre at

239.231.3741. If you reach a voice mail, please leave your name and phone number. You may also reserve your tickets by emailing rbialek@jewishnaples.org. A portion of the proceeds from each performance will benefit the Jewish Federation of Collier County.

HigH Style For Less!

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) is on Tuesday, June 14 at 10:00 a.m. Seating is limited. RSVP to genresearch13@yahoo.com. You will receive an acknowledgement that you have a reservation. Bring a notebook and pen with you to the meeting.

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June 2016 Federation Star

COMMUNITY FOCUS

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Federation Star June 2016

Tributes

Tributes to the Jewish Federation Campaign To: Barbara Danies Spencer Thinking of you! From: Michael & Susan Horowitz To: From:

JEWISH INTEREST

Dr. Joel Waltzer & Family In loving memory of a beloved wife and mother, Jane Waltzer David Willens Phyllis & Michael Seaman Gayle & Marty Dorio Karen & Ed Ezrine

To: Phyllis Seaman In honor of your receiving the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedlander Award From: David Willens To: Pearl Sugarman In memory of your son, Stuart From: Phyllis & Michael Seaman To: Roberta & Donald Tannenbaum In memory of your daughter, Jane From: Phyllis & Michael Seaman

To: From:

Tributes require a minimum donation of $18. Sam Borr and Family In memory of beloved wife, Phyllis David Willens Phyllis & Michael Seaman

To: Sheila and Howard Agranat In honor of Joshua’s Medical School Graduation From: Lew and Sylvia Whitman

To: Goldie & Ken Wetcher In honor of a wonderful Seder From: Karen & Ed Ezrine

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

Marilyn Flynn on the passing of your husband, Peter Pearl Sugarman on the passing of your son, Stuart Kat Luchene on the passing of your husband, Alan Goldman Sam Borr on the passing of your wife, Phyllis Roberta & Donald Tannenbaum on the passing of your daughter, Jane Waltzer Dr. Joel Waltzer & Family on the passing of your wife, Jane Wendy Riedel on the passing of your sister, Carol Riedel

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

Why you should consider going on the BBYO March of the Living next year By Marc Saperstein, Co-Chair BBYO Naples Friends and Alumni Network

recently returned from my first trip on the March of the Living. It is something I’d thought about doing for some time, but wasn’t sure such a deep immersion in the Holocaust was right for me. However, when presented with the opportunity to join the BBYO North America delegation comprised of 120 Jewish teens and 20 adults, I elected to participate. It was a great decision. The trip was incredibly moving, thought-provoking, educational and also uplifting to see this horrific event though the eyes of Jewish teens. Assuring that young Jews fully comprehend and are able to tell the story of the Holocaust

to others is crucial to the long-term survival of our people. Prior to WWII, Poland was the vibrant home to 3.5 million Jews, more than anywhere else in the world, and 10% of the Polish population. In 1939, there were 100 Jewish and Yiddish newspapers just in Warsaw. Of the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, half were from Poland. We visited four concentration camps (Auschwitz, Birkenau, Treblinka and Majdanek); saw the new Museum of the History of Jews in Warsaw, the Oscar Schindler Museum in Krakow, and the Warsaw and Krakow Ghetto memorials;

Thousands of stone markers representing the towns and cities across Europe that had Jewish residents killed at Treblinka

and met with Polish Jewish teens and adults who shared what it’s like being Jewish in Poland today. On Friday night, we attended services at the Nozyk Shul, the only surviving prewar synagogue in Warsaw. We ended Shabbat by participating in a beautiful BBYO teen-led Havdalah service at our hotel. We rode comfortable coach buses with the teens and listened to them share their reflections after each death camp visit. They were thoughtful, caring, inquisitive and respectful of what they saw and of each other. We had two Holocaust survivors with us on the trip who spoke daily to the teens about their personal experiences. The trip highlight was walking as a BBYO Delegation in the two-mile March of the Living from Auschwitz to Birkenau, joining 15,000 other Jews from 52 countries around the world for a moving ceremony on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. On the plane ride home, I tried to capture some of my deeper emotions in writing. (See the sidebar at right.) While I did not partake in the Israel segment of the March of the Living trip following Poland, I know it will have a huge impact on the teens, most who will be visiting Israel for the first time. They will get to see how our Jewish homeland was created and how it has prospered, despite its unique geography and the many obstacles it has and continues to face. For me, participating with these young adults, almost all who were high school seniors, was very special. To see

continued on next page

BBYO teens prepare placards to place on the railway tracks heading into Birkenau the day of the March of the Living

Reflections from Treblinka We both traveled the path, where railway tracks once sat, in the midst of dense woods. Wondering and dreading what lay ahead. THEY were forced to leave their homes in humiliation and fear...crammed into box cars from all over Europe. We came voluntarily to bear witness and honor them. THEY had yellow stars sewn on their clothes and held close their few, most treasured possessions. We had colored caps to identify our bus groups and carried our knowledge of how they suffered. THEY heard children crying, dogs growling, and Nazis ordering themM forward. We heard an eerie silence, just the rustling of leaves in the wind. THEY were separated...the healthy to endure brutal conditions...the young, old and ill to their more immediate death. We stood together in prayer while a distant off-key trumpet wailed like cries of anguish from the fallen. THEY saw barbed wire stretching for miles, guards with rifles, and barracks far into the distance. We saw that nothing remains of this hell hole where in just 13 months, almost 900,000 Jews perished. Just one large monument, the words “NEVER AGAIN” and thousands of small stone markers to represent those who shared their horrific fate. THEY did not leave these now sacred grounds. We did leave, but with a strong sense of hope that our Jewish future would be ensured.

Monument at Treblinka death camp commemorating the almost 900,000 Jews exterminated there

JEWISH INTEREST

June 2016 Federation Star

New biography reveals the true “person of the book” Book review by Philip K. Jason, Special to the Federation Star

as her ardent hospitality to these writers when they visited her in New Putting on the best face included York or elsewhere. She developing a personal style in bearing, developed an extended clothing and all aspects of appearance family of writers (and and expression. The Knopf offices and editors and agents and residences (except for those exclucooperating publishsively Alfred’s) also reflected her iners) that brought her imitable taste. She even designed the greater emotional reborzoi colophon for the Knopf imprint. wards than did her Blanche created herself, driven by the family of record. need for acceptance and the desire to Knopf became a prove her worth. As a party-thrower, prestige house, and it didn’t lose that Blanche had few peers. Artists, comaura even when, many decades afposers, performers, intellectuals – they ter its founding, it was absorbed into all showed up at her events, and she at Random House (the proliferation of theirs. mergers and imprint swapping in the There are many painful episodes publishing industry is ongoing). in Claridge’s analysis of how and why For all of its successes, its many Blanche made her choices and how award-winning titles (including a pile she dealt with the consequences of of Nobels and Pulitzers), Knopf had those choices. Throughout, Claridge’s very few blockbuster bestsellers. It did, understanding, empathy however, establish an and sure-handed use of enviable and lucrative her sources make Blanche backlist – titles that come alive. sold well year after One consequence of year and hardly ever the more or less agreedwent out of print. That upon “open marriage” that was the whole point of emerged from Blanche’s careful selection: not shattered expectations was the short run fad, but her series of affairs, often rather the book with with prominent figures in the long future. These the arts. floated the boat, as did But that’s not the having many titles sefun part of delving into Laura Claridge (c) Marion Ettlinger lected by the Book of Blanche’s life. The fun part is watching the Month Club and the Literary Guild her build the firm, making things hapBook Club. pen, often in spite of Alfred’s interferHere is very short list of authors ence or indifference – or hostility. published by Knopf during Blanche’s From the beginning, the Knopf enlifetime, either original titles or first terprise imagined itself as a sort of bouEnglish translations: Sigmund Freud, tique establishment dealing in refined Albert Camus, André Gide, Jean-Paul literary sensibility. Early on, Blanche Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Ilya Ehbegan to build their list by getting perrenburg, Mikhail Sholokhov, Thomas mission to publish English translations of established and up-and-coming European writers. Laura Claridge details Blanche’s scores of trips to Europe to meet and court her favorites, as well

The Lady with the Borzoi: Blanche Knopf, Literary Tastemaker Extraordinaire, by Laura Claridge. Ferrar, Straus, and Giroux. 416 pages. Hardcover $30.00.

ewish people like to call themselves “People of the Book.” Since this proud appellation is self-applied to many Jews who have little interest in “The Book” (the Torah), it seems only proper to recognize the fact that the heart and soul of the Knopf publishing house was Blanche Knopf, even though her husband’s full name, Alfred A. Phil Jason Knopf, was the company name. Blanche, a brilliant and dedicated genius, was a totally secular Jew. As was Alfred. Books were Blanche’s religion. Laura Claridge’s biography effusively explores the implications of Blanche’s unique accomplishment, one fully against the time in which she was born and raised with respect to women’s roles and opportunities. Born in 1894 to Julius and Bertha Wolf, she and Alfred Knopf had planned to launch a publishing house even before their marriage in 1916. The prenuptial agreement obtained verbally from Alfred was that husband and wife were to share equally in all aspects of this ven-ture. That equal sharing did not happen, and so the marriage was troubled gfrom the start. For fifty years, Blanche suffered from being slighted – not always sidlently. Though he knew better, Alfred always played the role of the mastermind, positioning Blanche as a fortunate assistant. But nothing could have nbeen further from the truth. He took ad,vantage of her, and she put on the best face that she could, building a reputation as a remarkable judge of talent and eas a businesswoman who could bring that talent into the Knopf fold.

Susan Miller: Testament in Stone

mMarch of the Living...continued from previous page

the most horrible event in Jewish history ethrough the eyes of these future Jewish parents and leaders made this incredible yexperience even more rewarding. , In Naples, we are very fortunate. We have a wonderful Holocaust museum accessible to all in our community to help educate local school children and adult residents to assure that we “never forget.” g We have a very generous March -of the Living grant made by Fran and Rob Nossen to the Federation, to provide scholarships for Naples teens who ,wish to participate in this life-changing eexperience. Finally, we are fortunate to have eBBYO Naples, our Jewish teen youth dgroup that has grown from 24 to 47 members in just four years. We are wsupported by our partners – the Jewish Federation of Collier County, Temple g e

Mann, John Updike, Julia Child, Carl Van Vechten, James M. Cain, Willa Cather, John Hersey, Raymond Chandler, H.L. Mencken, William Shirer, Dashiell Hammett, Langston Hughes, Wallace Stevens and Elinor Wylie. Beyond the list is Laura Claridge’s energetic and alluring recounting of their various relationships with Blanche. Blanche Wolf Knopf died in 1965, shortly after her company’s fiftieth anniversary. Unlike her parents, who were buried in Brooklyn’s Salem Fields Cemetery affiliated with Temple Emanu-El (where funerals for friend George Gershwin and father-in-law Sam Knopf were held), Blanche chose the incineration route. While leaving, perhaps, some aspects of Blanche’s outer and inner lives their mystery, Laura Claridge has provided as many facts and insights as anyone needs to understand and admire the industry, creativity and courage of her subject. At the same time, she has masterfully set Blanche Knopf into an exciting milieu – the American publishing industry from WWI to the first glimmers of a war in Vietnam. We have here a spellbinding tale of shifting tastes and hard-won survival in the literary world. Next time you think about “People of the Book,” think about Blanche Wolf Knopf. Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus of English from the United States Naval Academy. He reviews regularly for Florida Weekly, Jewish Book World, Southern Literary Review, and other publications. Please visit Phil’s website at www.philjason.wordpress.com.

Shalom, Chabad of Naples, and Beth Tikvah – and the generosity of our BBYO Naples Friends and Alumni donors. Our local Jewish teens, and their peers around the world, are our best hope to ensure our Jewish future and assure that those who perished in the Holocaust did not do so in vain. I hope you will consider participating in next year’s March of the Living. If you have an interest in joining the BBYO March of the Living as part of a possible Naples delegation next year, please email me at mjs0821@aol.com for more information. You can also support our local Jewish teens by donating to BBYO Naples at BBYO.org or sending a check to BBYO Naples, 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 2201, Naples, FL 34109.

On View Through September 11, 2016

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

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

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

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

Susan Miller, Leah Rejected, 20 x 15 x14”

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

Federation Star June 2016

JEWISH INTEREST

Who is “Federation” and what do we do?

The answer is simple: It’s you – and every member of the Jewish community of Collier County and the surrounding areas. The Federation is your center for Jewish Philanthropy. The Jewish Federation of Collier County is the thread that runs through the fabric of our Jewish community, its organizations and services, connecting us all. The Federation supports programs for Jewish people in need in Collier County, Israel and throughout the world, providing food for the hungry and counseling for the troubled, spearheading rescue and relief efforts for isolated Jews in distressed regions, and funding innovative Jewish educational and unity initiatives. The Federation creates a sense of community for thousands of Jewish residents in Collier County and its surrounding areas by creating and supporting programs to further Jewish learning, identity, pride and culture. Federation meets the challenge of providing for the needs of our Jewish brethren, wherever they may be, from young children and families to seniors.

Where does the money go?

The local Campaign allocation process involves a committee of volunteers as well as Federation staff. They take part in this important process, which balances available resources against community priorities through a grant process. Additionally, several national organizations receive support from the domestic allocation. Internationally, your contribution works to support a broad range of social, educational and vocational needs throughout the Jewish world. Locally, the Federation makes a grant to Jewish Family & Community Services of Southwest Florida, in support of the social services they provide for our community. And grants are made in support of a variety of educational and cultural programs conducted by local synagogues, the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida, and other local Jewish organizations. Our allocation to The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) is distributed to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), which brings relief to the needy and works to revitalize Jewish life in 60 countries; the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), which rescues people from countries and resettles them in Israel; and for supplemental grants in support of special programs and projects that our community has embraced like Neve Michael Youth & Children’s Village in Pardes Hana, Israel; the Sapir Community Center in Kfar Saba, Israel; and the Progressive Synagogue Preschool in Kiev, Ukraine.

Jewish Continuity & Identity

Federation’s Annual Campaign Supports

Donate. Volunteer. Get involved. 239.263.4205 www.jewishnaples.org

ÎÎ Beth Tikvah: Youth Education, Naples Jewish Film Festival ÎÎ BBYO Naples ÎÎ Camp Scholarships ÎÎ Catholic-Jewish Dialogue ÎÎ Chabad of Naples: Camp Gan Israel, Preschool of the Arts, Hebrew School ÎÎ Evy Lipp People of the Book Cultural Event ÎÎ Hillel at Florida Gulf Coast University ÎÎ Holocaust Museum & Education Center of SWFL ÎÎ Human Needs Award ÎÎ Israel Advocacy Committee Programs ÎÎ Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan ÎÎ Jewish Book Festival ÎÎ Jewish Community Relations Council: Chanukah Celebration, Yom HaShoah Commemoration, Shop With a Sheriff ÎÎ Jewish Congregation of Marco Island: Jewish Film Festival, Saul Stern Cultural Series ÎÎ Jewish War Veterans Post #202 ÎÎ Men’s Cultural Alliance ÎÎ Mix and Mingle singles group ÎÎ Naples Jewish Congregation Scholar-in-Residence ÎÎ Stand Up For Justice Grant ÎÎ Temple Shalom: Preschool & Religious School Scholarships ÎÎ Women’s Cultural Alliance

Local Humanitarian & Social Services

ÎÎ Jewish Family & Community Services: Senior Outreach & Support, Counseling & Mental Health Support

Israel & Overseas Humanitarian & Social Services / National Organizations

ÎÎ American Jewish World Service ÎÎ Anti-Defamation League (ADL) ÎÎ Birthright Israel ÎÎ The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA): Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Israel Action Network ÎÎ Jewish National Fund (JNF): Sderot Indoor Playground, Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center ÎÎ Neve Michael Children’s Village ÎÎ Sapir Community Center, Kfar Saba ÎÎ World ORT ÎÎ World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) – HaTikvah Preschool in Ukraine ÎÎ Yad LaKashish

JEWISH INTEREST

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. The Tribe at the Tony Awards The Tony Awards, for excellence in the Broadway theater, are being broadcast on CBS on Sunday, June 12 at 8:00 p.m. Following are the Jewish nominees in all but the technical categories. But at the top I have to point out an interesting, and some might say remarkable fact. Remember the controversy that this year’s Oscars didn’t have one black acting nominee? Well, this year’s Tony nominees include two Jewish and black acting nominees. I can’t say African-American, because one is Afro-Brit. The first actor is DAVEED DIGGS, 34, who is nominated for best featured actor in a musical (Hamilton). He plays Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette. Diggs was invited to hear an early version of Hamilton by composer/writer Lin-Manuel Miranda and was cast in a major role. Diggs grew up in Oakland and Berkeley, California, the son of an AfricanAmerican father and a white Jewish mother. (His father works for the San Francisco city transport agency and his mother is a retired psychologist.) Last July, Daveed told Broadway.com: “I went to Hebrew school, but opted out of a bar mitzvah. My mom is a white Jewish lady and my dad is black. The cultures never seemed separate – I had a lot of mixed friends. When I was young, I identified with being Jewish, but I embraced my dad’s side too.” Hamilton, the musical, has earned

a record 16 Tony nominations. It’s based on a 2004 biography by RON CHERNOW, now 67. Chernow, who describes himself as ‘Jewish, but more in the breach than in the observance,’ covers Hamilton’s Jewish connections in his book. “Yes,” Chernow writes, “Hamilton’s non-Jewish mother was married to a Dane named Lavien; but there’s no evidence Lavien was Jewish. Hamilton’s father was a nonJewish Scot and Alexander grew up on a West Indian island, where he was tutored by a Jewish woman and once recited the Ten Commandments for her in Hebrew. As an adult, Hamilton defended Jews from the bigoted attitudes of the day – like ‘all Jews’ were untruthful.” The other “Jew of color” is actress SOPHIE OKONEDO, 47. She is nominated for best lead actress in a play. She plays Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of a man falsely accused of witchcraft in the current hit revival of The Crucible by the late ARTHUR MILLER. Okonedo is the daughter of a white English Jewish mother and a Nigerian black father. Her father was out of her life early on and she was raised by her mother. Okonedo was raised Jewish and recently told a UK TV show: “I feel as proud to be Jewish as I am to be black.” Among other honors, Okonedo got a best supporting actress Oscar nomination for The Hotel Rwanda (2004) and a Tony award (best featured actress in a play) for

June 2016 Federation Star

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:

Send Nate an email 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. A Raisin in the Sun (2014). Interesting side note: Co-starring in The Crucible is TAVI GEVINSON, 20, as Mary Warren, the oldest of the girls who accused adults of being witches. Gevinson is a phenom who started a hot style blog (2008) that morphed into the highly popular Rookie magazine in 2011. She can act, too. Her father is an American Jew and her Norwegian mother is a Jew-by-choice who teaches Hebrew. The growing diversity of the Jewish community is personified by Diggs, Okonedo and Gevinson. The other Jewish acting nominee is ALEX BRIGHTMAN, 29 (School of Rock), who is nominated for best leading actor in a musical. School of Rock is nominated for best musical. Its nominated score was written by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist GLENN SLATER, 48. Also in acting is Danny Burstein, 51, who is nominated for playing Tevye

in a new revival of Fiddler on the Roof. Burstein has said contradictory things to the press about his background, but it is pretty clear he has no ‘recent’ Jewish ancestry (his stepfather, whose last name he bears, was Jewish). Unquestionably Jewish is HOFESH SHECHTER, 36, an Israeli dancer and choreographer who is nominated for his choreography for Fiddler on the Roof. He began as a dancer with the famous (Israeli) Batsheva Dance Company. His choreography for Fiddler gives credit to the original choreography by the late, great JEROME ROBBINS. P.S.: Lin Manuel and his wife aren’t Jewish. But she loves Fiddler on the Roof, and at their 2010 wedding, Manuel (aided by many talented friends) sang “L’Chayim/To Life.” It is such a well done and joyful version that you really HAVE to see the YouTube video entitled “Vanessa’s Wedding Surprise.” Just enter the title.

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Federation Star June 2016

Operation Barbarossa and the Shoah

JEWISH INTEREST

Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle “Fab Four Questions” By David Benkof

Difﬁculty Level: Medium

By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD

ne of my students at Florida Gulf Coast University once offered up the following bon mot: “On a scale of one to invading Russia in winter, how bad is your idea?” Funny, yes, but in the light of history it is a bittersweet question. This month, exactly 75 years ago, both AdDr. Paul Bartrop olf Hitler and Josef Stalin were confronted by the reality that lay behind it. On June 22, 1941, the offensive code-named Operation Barbarossa – the German invasion of the Soviet Union – was set in motion. It was the largest military invasion in history, and took place along a 2,900 kilometer front from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Germany’s armies numbered 3,200,000 men in 151 divisions, with 3,350 tanks, 7,184 guns and 1,945 planes. Accompanying them were military forces contributed by Germany’s allies, with 40,000 Italian troops alongside of 18 Finnish, 14 Romanian and 2 Hungarian divisions. This was intended to be the start of a European crusade not only to rid the world of communism, but also to reestablish the very foundations upon which European civilization (as understood by Nazism) rested. Nearly two years earlier, on August 29, 1939, Hitler and Stalin had agreed to a pact of mutual non-aggression, which had paved the way for the Nazi attack on Poland on September 3, 1939. That arrangement was now overturned, with the German dictator reinforcing his oft-proclaimed role as the savior of Europe against Bolshevism. The initial campaign objectives of Operation Barbarossa were soon realized, but the Soviet Union did not suddenly capitulate as Hitler had anticipated. This led to it dragging on beyond the ten weeks originally intended. After this, new campaigns and objectives had to be devised, while at the same time the Nazis had to confront Soviet counteroffensives together with the onset of colder weather – leading to my student’s satirical question above. As the year lengthened, German and allied troops were severely hampered by heavy rains in October, which turned the roads to mud. November and December saw severe frosts, and in some places the temperature dropped to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Hitler and his military planners, expecting the campaign to be over before winter, had not provided for adequate winter clothing for the troops, and by the spring of 1942, with no progress made toward victory, Hitler turned his attention away from Moscow to capturing the oil fields in the southeast instead. In one area, however, progress – if it is not too much of an abuse of language to employ that word (and it probably is) – had been made. Prior to Barbarossa, on June 6, 1941, Hitler issued a proclamation known as the Kommissarbefehl (Commissar Order), in which he directed that any Soviet cadres and

F A Q

political leaders captured would be summarily executed. By extension, within the Nazi conception of communism, this included all Jews, regardless of age, sex, social position or political opinion. Those designated to carry out this grisly work were known as Einsatzgruppen, or Special Action Groups. In reality, these were mobile death squads which accompanied the German military in its assault on Russia. Divided into four groups – A, B, C, D – their task eventually became the total annihilation of all Jews in the areas to which they had been allocated responsibility. Group A, the largest with a force of approximately 1,000 men, operated in the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia; Group B (650 men) operated in Belorussia and outside of Moscow; Group C (700 men) operated in Ukraine; while Group D (600 men) operated in the Crimea and the Caucasus. Three of the four group leaders had earned doctorates from respected German universities. Operating together with members of the German army as well as local collaborators, it is estimated that between 1941 and 1943 the Einsatzgruppen murdered more than a million Jews. It is their actions that have since come to be labeled (by French Holocaust scholar Father Patrick Desbois) as “the Holocaust by bullets.” Various means were adopted for their murderous behavior, but most frequently they are remembered through operations in which they gathered together the Jews of a town, village or locality and machine-gunned them to death in large open pits or through utilizing natural formations such as ravines or valleys. Often, the killing would take an entire day, with whole families forced to await their turn within earshot of the shooting. This process was often quite inefficient and psychologically disturbing for many of those repeatedly undertaking the murders. In order to get around this, and in hopes of finding a more clinical way effecting killing on a mass scale, mobile gas vans using carbon monoxide poisoning were ultimately introduced both to remove the intimacy of contact and to sanitize the process. The German invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, marked the beginning of what some have termed “The War of the Century.” By 2016 we have come a long way, and what we know now, no one knew then. Of one thing we can be certain, however. The invasion that began 75 years ago this month would see brutal slaughter take place on a wholly unprecedented scale. The Jews were the victims, and we know who the perpetrators were. And, during the war, the rest of the world, even while trying to defeat Hitler militarily, was something of a bystander – and that, perhaps, was the essence of the tragedy. 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, send an email to fedstar18@gmail. com 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 fedstar18@gmail.com or call Ted Epstein at 239.249.0699. For a media kit, visit the Federation Star page at www.jewishnaples.org.

Editor: YoniGlatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com Across 1 With 73-Across, who of the Fab Four has a stepfather and wife of Jewish descent? 6 One of two in Tishre 10 Dozen in the priestly breastplate 14 Jon Stewart humor quality 15 Beverly Sills bit 16 Tennis star Nastase who complained of “too many Jews” in 1976 17 Not one of the four questions at the Seder 18 The one at NYC’s Kosher Deluxe is immense 19 Clark’s Smallville sweetheart 20 What New York venue did Sid Bernstein secure for the Fab Four in 1965? 23 Anti-Semitic type? 27 The name of his “Paradiso” comes from Hebrew 28 Part of Eugene Levy’s “SCTV” 29 Worker of many miracles in Kings II 34 Velvet finish, for certain yarmulkes 35 Faisal and others 37 Gets ready to empty the gefilte fish jar 39 Who of the Fab Four married two Jewish women? 43 Network for Einstein 44 Calendar for September, not Tishre 46 Ends of Yom Kippur and Passover? 49 Where to find soc.culture.jewish 51 Like Jewfro hair 52 Purim seudah, e.g. 54 Dead Sea sectarian 56 What was the nickname for Fab Four manager Brian Epstein? 61 Glycogen Storage Disease Type ___ (disorder found among Ashkenazi Jews) 62 Tool used by one of Sheldon Adelson’s croupiers 63 God told him to go “to the Land that I will show you” 68 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not___ upon your understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) 69 How a menorah might be marked at a yard sale 70 Beatle___ 71 They might just sit and watch at a seder 72 Jacob’s wives each had one 73 See 1-Across

Solution on page 28

Down 1 Like a brisket before it’s a brisket 2 Freud’s ego 3 Chelsea Mezvinsky, ___ Clinton 4 Sound from the dog that bit the cat that ate the kid my father bought for two zuzim 5 Like “The Fat Jew” 6 1980 film set at a performing arts high school with music teacher Mr. Shorofsky 7 Bay ___ Jewish Healing Center (San Francisco medical clinic) 8 Mixing linen and wool; and others 9 Like tight tefillin 10 Radner of note 11 Jerry’s TV ex 12 The Talmud is known for this kind of detail 13 Workers aboard the Exodus 21 Kibbutz implement 22 Hellenizes, in a way 23 Sault ___ Marie (unlikely name for the city where Congregation Beth Jacob is found) 24 In Israel, it’s measured in C. 25 Director Kazan 26 Any airing of “The Nanny,” nowadays 30 Mammon 31 Like the B’nai Moshe of Peru 32 Tiny hint a fish is kosher 33 Sinai start? 36 1972 film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz 38 Sights to behold on Mt. Hermon 40 Letters next to sigmas and alphas on the outfits of some Jewish frat boys 41 First name behind “Night” 42 Bubbe meise 45 Pastrami locale? 46 Have the shekels for 47 Mel’s comic partner Carl 48 How those who say Tefillat HaDerekh hope to arrive home 50 ___ Hai (famous battle site) 53 Refuses to make aliyah 55 Garment district workers’ targets 57 Pack for Sheedy and Nelson 58 Not requiring much sechel 59 All Jews, on some level 60 Israeli teen’s bagrut, e.g. 64 Woman’s mitzvah? 65 One place to find the Cohen gene 66 ___ France (Entebbe crisis flyer) 67 Desecrate

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Federation Star June 2016

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

Israel’s ﬁrst lady surprises Lone Soldiers with their parents for Passover, with help from FIDF

srael’s first lady, Nechama Rivlin, met on April 20 with five women Lone Soldiers, whom she surprised by reuniting them with their parents to celebrate Passover in Israel with the help of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF). “I greatly appreciate the decision that these brave young women have made to leave behind their families and serve in the IDF. Their spirit and their courage are an inspiration,” said Rivlin upon meeting the Lone Soldiers. The five combat soldiers were thrilled to meet the first lady, who has

long been looking forward to honoring Lone Soldiers for their devotion and for the great sacrifices they make. “I want to take this chance to thank you for your service to the State of Israel and to her people,” Rivlin said. The five Lone Soldiers included Levana Beaton, originally from France, who now serves in the Israeli Combat Intelligence Collection Corps; Chaya Winterfell, from Canada, who is a combat medic; Elizabeth Rubenstein, from the Netherlands, who serves in the IDF’s Tel Aviv headquarters; Tal Dover, who grew up in Florida and serves in a co-ed

Lone Soldier Cpl. Tal Dover with Israel’s first lady, Nechama Rivlin (photos by Tomer Reichman)

combat infantry battalion, The Lions of Jordan; and Yael Tzubara, from Sweden, who is a commander at the Michve Alon education base near Safed. After the soldiers introduced themselves, Rivlin told them she was serious about showing her gratitude. On cue, the soldiers’ parents entered the room. “There is nothing like having your mother and father,” said the first lady, who is herself a mother and grandmother to active-duty and reserve soldiers. “It’s hard to be a soldier – and even harder to be a Lone Soldier. I’m so happy to be able to help arrange this reunion for you.” About Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF): FIDF was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors as a 501(c)(3) notfor-profit organization with the mission of providing and supLone Soldier Cpl. Tal Dover and her mother Tzvia embracing tomation, Israel’s hi-tech industry is creating new professions and new jobs. (Ilan Evyatar, Jerusalem Post)

BRIEFS ISRAEL’S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS

Israel’s economic prospects are looking a whole lot better than Europe’s and that of most member countries of the OECD, says Adam Reuter, CEO of risk management firm Financial Immunities. Looking forward, Israel has an “enormous demographic advantage.” The 34 OECD member states have an average median age of 42 while Israel’s median age is 31. In the crucial 20-34 age group the OECD is set for a 14% drop, while Israel is headed for a 28% gain. Other areas where Israel has an edge include its technological advantage. Israel is among only eight countries that launch satellites into space; Israel is the world leader in R&D

porting educational, social, cultural and recreational programs and facilities for the heroic men and women of the IDF. Today, FIDF has more than 150,000 loyal supporters, and 15 regional offices throughout the U.S. and Panama. FIDF proudly offers its support to IDF soldiers, families of fallen soldiers, and wounded veterans through a variety of unique and innovative programs. These opportunities reinforce the vital bond between the communities in the United States, the soldiers of the IDF, and the State of Israel. For more information, please visit www.fidf.org.

employees per capita and first in business expenditure on R&D; first in cyber security; and second in scientific research. Then comes Israel’s global edge – its export-oriented focus; generations of immigrants from around the world with their knowledge of cultures and languages and global networks of connections. Israel is also undergoing revolutions in three major fields: water, where Israel now has a surplus due to investment in desalinization; energy, where Israel is set to achieve independence and to become a gas exporter; and transportation, where massive investment is bringing the periphery closer to the center. Moreover, while the world is experiencing a net loss of jobs due to au-

minutes. “In Israel we have Christian, Muslim, Druze and Bedouin volunteers alongside Jewish volunteers,” says Dov Maisel, UH director of international operations. “We are a nonprofit NGO teaching people how to save people, no matter who they are or where they are.” (Abigail Klein Leichman, israel21c)

ISRAELI NGO ESTABLISHES TEAMS OF LIFE-SAVING FIRST RESPONDERS WORLDWIDE

United Hatzalah/United Rescue is training neighborhood first-responder volunteers in cities across North and South America, Europe and India. Founded in 2006 in Israel, United Hatzalah’s 3,000 volunteers have treated 1.6 million people. The organization also sends humanitarian-aid teams to disaster areas around the world. In recent years, cities in Brazil, Panama, Argentina, India, Lithuania, New Jersey and Michigan have asked the Israeli NGO to help them set up similar systems to get aid to victims of accidents and illness within three

ISRAEL’S POPULATION ON INDEPENDENCE DAY 8,522,000

Israel’s population on Independence Day stands at 8,522,000, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported on Monday, May 9. There are 6,377,000 Jews (74.8%), 1,771,000 Arabs (20.8%), and 374,000 non-Arab Christians and others (4.4%). Since Israel’s last Independence Day, there were 195,000 births and 36,000 immigrants.

continued on page 22

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ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

June 2016 Federation Star

Why do hikers in Israel keep stumbling upon ancient relics? In Israel, you don’t have to be Indiana Jones to make exceptional archaeological ﬁnds. Some of the most exciting recent discoveries were made by accident. By Abigail Klein Leichman, ISRAEL21c, www.israel21c.org, April 4, 2016

ast December, an Israeli boy was hiking with his family near Tel Beit Shemesh when he spotted the head of an Iron Age fertility goddess figurine. The Israel Antiquities Authority expressed its gratitude to eight-year-old Itai Halperin with a certificate of good citizenship and an invitation to him and his classmates to .tour the IAA archive and participate in 0a real dig. In January, seven-year-old Ori .Greenhut stumbled across a 3,400year-old statuette while scampering up dan archaeological mound at Tel Rehov. f e

d e ,

, ” o r -

Ori Greenhut and the figurine he found (photo by Miki Peleg/Israel Antiquities Authority)

He, too, got a certificate and a class presentation from IAA regional archeologists. Accidental finds are not at all rare e in Israel, where archeological treasures l lurk in abundance underground and unn derwater. “Israel is a very small country, intensively settled over thousands of 0 years, and there are 37,000 registered archeological sites, so almost everye where you have the potential to find d things,” says Yardenna Alexandre, an IAA research and field archaeologist stationed in the Jezreel Valley. But it seems the random discoveries have been coming fast and thick lately. In February, six friends on a recreational dive in the Mediterranean coast off Caesarea chanced upon a trove of nearly 2,000 gold coins from the 10th century Fatimid Caliphate. The IAA

Divers recently chanced upon a huge cache of gold coins off the coast of Caesarea (photo courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority)

stated that it is the largest cache of old coins ever discovered, and praised the divers for having “a heart of gold that loves the country and its history.” The following month, kibbutznik Laurie Rimon was hiking in the North when she happened upon an extremely rare gold coin minted by Roman Emperor Trajan in 107 CE. “There does seem to be a concentration of finding things over the past year,” Alexandre tells ISRAEL21c. “There may be several reasons aside

Laurie Rimon with the coin she found (photo by Samuel Magal/Israel Antiquities Authority)

from coincidence.” She explains that when former politician Yisrael Hasson became chairman of the IAA in December 2014, he placed a priority on community involvement and educational programs to engage the public, especially schools, in archeological activities such as digfor-a-day events. “Antiquities and archeology are much more prominent in the media today, and that brings awareness,” says Alexandre. “Hiking is very popular in Israel, and people may have been finding things and keeping them, whereas now they see that we encourage them to follow the law of turning them in.” By law, antiquities belong to the state and may not be hoarded, sold or traded. The certificate of good citizenship, the tours and media attention all are well-deserved incentives to do the right thing, she adds. “As a government organization, we haven’t got funds for giving rewards, but we want to educate people and make them feel this is part of their heritage whether they are Jewish, Christian or Muslim.” Doing the right thing Rimon, finder of the rare coin of Trajan, tells ISRAEL21c that friends from the United States saw her story covered on TV news and talk shows. In addition to Israel, she granted interviews to reporters from Irish National Radio, the Canadian Broadcasting Company and the BBC and Hufﬁngton Post. “A lot of people said I did the right thing by turning it in, while others said, ‘Why didn’t you just pocket it?’ I’m not the sort of person who would have sold something like this, but I’m sure there are tons of stuff people find and don’t turn in,” says Rimon, a native of Connecticut who moved to Kibbutz Kfar Blum in 1973. She does wish she had time to show the coin to her family before giving it up. But everything happened very quickly, she relates. “I have hiked with a group called Mike’s Hikes in the eastern Galilee every Wednesday for the past 11 years,” she tells ISRAEL21c. “On March 2, during our usual hike, I sat down for a break among the ruins and when I got up I saw something shiny. At first I thought it was 10 agorot,” Israel’s smallest denomination. “When I showed it to a few of the others, they said, ‘Laurie, it’s gold, it’s ancient, it’s real, you’re a millionaire!’ We caught up with our guide, Irit ZukKovacsi, who took a picture and mailed it to a tour guide who knows old coins. He texted her back that it’s real and it’s rare. He approached the IAA and sent back more details. But it didn’t sink in what a treasure it was.” Rimon’s phone soon started ringing. Not realizing it was the IAA, she ignored several calls and text messages. “So they called Irit and she told them where we were.” Nir Distelfeld, an inspector with the IAA Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery, met up with the hikers near the Jordan River. “I pulled the coin out of my pouch to show him, and I said, ‘I guess I have to give it to you, don’t I?’ They’d already ordered photographers for 9 o’clock the next morning,” says Rimon. The following day, Rimon and Distelfeld, other IAA experts and a camera crew spent three hours at the site. Her experience was documented on film and the area was scoured, unsuccessfully, for further finds. “Perhaps someone stole it from somewhere else and dropped it there,”

Rimon speculates. “It was so shiny it looked like it was minted yesterday.” Call the IAA Distelfeld praised Rimon for handing over the “extraordinarily remarkable” coin. Her hiking group was rewarded with a tour of the coin collection of the IAA in Jerusalem, which is not open to the public. “It is important to know that when you find an archaeological artifact it is advisable to call IAA representatives to the location in the field,” he added. “That way we can also gather the relevant archaeological and contextual information from the site.” The IAA website (www.antiquities.org.il) lists phone numbers for the north, south, central and Jerusalem regions. Items turned over to the IAA go into its storerooms and become available to researchers. “For example, the figurine found by a boy in Tel Rehov was given to Prof. Amihai Mazar, who excavated at the site, and he will include it in his published report,” says Alexandre. “It’s more complete than other figurines he’s found in years of excavation.” Alexandre notes that it is illegal to look actively for archeological finds without a license. Last July, an anonymous person left a bag at the Museum of Islamic and Near Eastern Cultures in Beersheva

The stolen ballista balls and the accompanying note left at the Museum of Islamic and Near Eastern Cultures (photo by Dalia Manor)

containing two valuable relics he had found 20 years earlier. The accompanying note said, “These are two Roman ballista balls from Gamla, from a residential quarter at the foot of the summit. I stole them in July 1995 and since then they have brought me nothing but trouble. Please, do not steal antiquities!” “He had a conscience that he was doing something wrong,” comments Alexandre. Abigail Klein Leichman is a writer and associate editor at ISRAEL21c. Prior to moving to Israel in 2007, she was a specialty writer and copy editor at a daily newspaper in New Jersey and has freelanced for a variety of newspapers and periodicals since 1984.

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Federation Star June 2016

BRIEFS

continued from page 20

There are 14.3 million Jews worldwide, 43% of whom live in Israel. (Yaron Druckman, Ynet News)

NATO UPGRADES TIES WITH ISRAEL AMID MOUNTING REGIONAL THREATS

NATO has upgraded its ties with Israel amid mounting instability in the Middle East. Israel will now be able to open offices at NATO headquarters in Brussels and complete a credentialing process for its representatives, Israel

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said. While Israel is not a member, it signed a security agreement with the alliance in 2001, is an associate member of the NATO parliamentary assembly, and has taken part in joint military exercises. (David Wainer, Bloomberg)

OHIO TO PURCHASE $50 MILLION IN ISRAEL BONDS

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel announced April 28 that his office is purchasing $50 million worth of Israel Bonds. Since taking office in 2011, Mandel has made four purchases of Israel Bonds totaling more than $167 million.

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Every Ohio treasurer since 1993 has invested in Israel Bonds, as have more than 80 state and municipal public employee pension and treasury funds, according to the state treasurer’s office. Israel Bonds are an attractive investment option for state and municipal public funds because they are dependable and yield a competitive interest rate. “For 64 years, Israel has paid every penny of interest and principle,” said Thomas Lockshin, executive director of Ohio and Kentucky for the Development Corp. for Israel/Israel Bonds. (Ed Wittenberg, Cleveland Jewish News)

MARKING THE HOLOCAUST - IN MISSISSIPPI

In 2009, teachers Susan Powell and Melissa Swartz at Horn Lake Middle School in Mississippi realized that many of their students had “never heard there was a Holocaust.” The teachers opted to encourage personal involvement by collecting 1.5 million pennies – one for each child who perished in the Holocaust. After three years of collecting, the pennies weighed in at more than four tons. In March, child survivor Friderica Beck Saharovici told the students at the opening of the Unknown Child Holocaust Memorial/Park in Horn Lake, “I was a first-grader when all the Jewish children were thrown out of the public schools for no other reason than being born Jewish.” The centerpiece for the memorial/park will be a life-sized sculpture by Canadian-born sculptor Rick Wienecke, now an Israeli citizen. He explained that the child in the piece is leaning against the inside of a crematorium door in a fetal position with his hand (in his mind) reaching through the door in Auschwitz and clutching a small plot of ground, the Land of Israel, the only place where he knows

he will be safe. c Mississippi native and architectB Doug Thornton has designed the me-d morial/park, which will include tower-l ing Star of David walls holding each ofa the collected pennies. p Saharovici concluded, “By preserving the memory of the Holocaustc and its moral lessons, we tell the worldo that such atrocities should never hap-y pen again to Jews or to any othert people in the world. I don’t want myS past to become anyone else’s future.” (Diane A. McNeil, Jerusalem Post) P

S ISRAELI 4-MINUTE W MALARIA DETECTION KIT A BROUGHT TO INDIA A

U.S.-based medical devices firm Bec-p ton, Dickinson and Co. recently saidi it will introduce a malaria detection method developed by Israel’s Sight1 Diagnostics Ltd. in India, which willw make a diagnosis in just four minutes. p In 2013, 880,000 cases of malaria were reported in India with overt 128 million tests performed. Malariaf testing is mandatory on all blood do-t nations. (Viswanath Pilla, Live Mint -t India) a PEACE WITH ISRAEL IN 1 EGYPTIAN TEXTBOOKS: r

WHAT CHANGED BETWEEN s THE MUBARAK AND P EL-SISI ERAS?

One chapter of a new textbook pub-( lished by the Egyptian Education Ministry for the 2015-2016 school year is devoted to the peace treaty with Israel. A comparison of the new book with previous textbooks reveals that it is more firmly supportive of peace with Israel, particularly based on the approach that it is a necessary condition for improving Egypt’s economic situation. The book mentions Israel as a partner in “friendly” peace relations, and a picture of Prime Minister Menahem

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ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

June 2016 Federation Star

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tBegin appears alongside that of Presi-dent Anwar Sadat. The book makes less mention of the wars with Israel fand the Palestinian problem than in the past. These are significant changes that tcan have a positive effect on the idea dof peace with Israel among Egypt’s -young generation. (Ofir Winter, Strartegic Assessment-Institute for National ySecurity Studies) ”

POLL: AMERICANS SYMPATHIZE MORE WITH ISRAEL

As has been the case for decades, the American public expresses more sym-pathy toward Israel than the Palestindians – by 54% to 19%. n Among Millennials (born after t1980), 43% report sympathizing more lwith Israel, while 27% are more sympathetic to the Palestinians. The share of this group symparthizing with the Palestinians has risen afrom 9% in 2006 to 20% in July 2014 to 27% today, while the share sympa-thizing with Israel has changed little. Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) and those in the Silent generation (born 1928-1945) sympathize more with Israel by about four-to-one. Generation Xers (born 1965-1980) sympathize more with Israel than the Palestinians by roughly three-to-one -(54% vs. 17%). (Pew Research Center) s . e , t g

d m

HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE WOULD BOOST ISRAELI MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS BY $200 MILLION

The U.S. House Armed Services Committee would boost funding for Israeli missile defense programs by nearly $200 million above the level requested in the president’s defense budget, according to the chairman’s mark-up of the fiscal 2017 defense bill. The committee would bump the funding for Tamir interceptors for the Iron Dome air defense system from $42 million requested in the president’s budget to $62 million. The committee would also plus up funding for procurement and co-production of the David’s Sling air defense system from $37.21 million to $150 million and the Arrow 3 Upper Tier Missile Defense System from $55.8 million to $120 million. Israel traditionally receives significant congressional plus-ups from the administration’s budget request for cooperative missile defense programs. Over the past 10 years, Congress has appropriated $1.9 billion more than was originally requested by the administration. In 2016, the president requested roughly $150 million and Congress enacted $488 million for Israeli missile defense funding. Lawmakers said that Israeli and U.S. national security are strongly linked and that Israel’s missile

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Family Life Index poll. A recent report by the Health Ministry reveals that Israel’s suicide rate ranks second-lowest among 28 European countries, and the suicide rate among Israeli Arabs is lower than that of Jews. Every person who lives in Israel plays a role in building and strengthening our relatively young state, and plays a role in the continued survival of the Jewish people and in the contribution which our nation gives to the world. I believe that this sense of purpose and meaning is what feeds the feeling of happiness and satisfaction among Israel’s citizens, despite the many challenges which we face. (Dov Lipman, who served in the 19th Knesset with the Yesh Atid party, and is director of public diplomacy in the vice chairman’s office of the World Zionist Organization, Jerusalem Post)

defense innovations are significant to the U.S. The additional funds directly bolster U.S. industry, said U.S. Missile Defense Agency director Adm. James Syring. The Israeli-U.S. partnership on Iron Dome includes an agreement for co-production of the system that, in fiscal 2015, brought 55% of the work to the U.S., and a similar agreement to produce David’s Sling is being negotiated. (Jen Judson, Defense News)

HAPPY IN ISRAEL

According to the World Happiness Index, Israel is the 11th-happiest country in the world, which means its citizens are happier than those in the U.S. (13th place), the UK (23rd , France (32nd) and Italy (50th). In addition, our country was named the fourth-best place in the world to raise children in the 2015

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Federation Star June 2016

COMMENTARY

Europe: Do the right thing on Hezbollah By David Harris, CEO, AJC, April 27, 2016

early three years ago, the European Union finally overcame its longstanding resistance and addressed the issue of adding Hezbollah to its terrorism list. The good news is that the 28 member states, prompted by the determination of Bulgaria, which experienced a deadly Hezbollah attack the year before, and Cyprus, which arrested a Hezbollah operative scouting out sites, took action. The bad news is that the EU opted to bifurcate Hezbollah and place the “military wing” on the terrorism list, while leaving its “political wing” off it. If ever there was a distinction without a difference, this was it. Don’t take my word for it. None other than Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s Lebanon-based chief, said as much, stressing that no one could divide his organization. Mocking the EU’s decision, Nasrallah asserted: “A government [of Lebanon] without Hezbollah will never be formed. Just as a joke, I propose that our ministers in the next government be from the military wing of Hezbollah.” It’s not often that I agree with Nasrallah, but on this occasion – give him his due – he was right about the EU illusion that there are two Hezbollahs. The European argument focuses on the claim that Hezbollah is also a “legitimate” political party in Lebanon, runs in elections, and has members in the government. Thus, to blacklist Hezbollah in its entirety denies those who vote for its candidates their basic rights, in addition to jeopardizing the fragile stability of the Levantine country. Indeed, immediately following the 2013 decision, EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton explained: “We want to be clear, too, in support

for political parties of Lebanon and the people of Lebanon. We’ve made the distinction clear.” The problem with this line of defense is that it fails to acknowledge the obvious. First, Hezbollah may run in elections, but that is just a not-so-subtle way of taking advantage of a democratic system to gain power. Second, Hezbollah wants it both ways – being in the political system, while maintaining its own military forces outside the system’s control. As such, Hezbollah has long been a state within a state, endangering Lebanese sovereignty and security. And amazingly, until now it has succeeded with this two-pronged strategy. Third, no matter how one slices and dices the rhetoric, Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, and all its component parts – not some, but all – lend support to the lethal ideological thrust and aims of the group. That’s precisely what a Dutch General Intelligence report concluded, when it declared: “Hezbollah’s political and terrorist wings are controlled by one coordinating council.” The same study added: “The Netherlands has changed its policy and no longer makes a distinction between the political and terrorist Hezbollah branches.” (Alas, the EU has not followed the Dutch decision.) What are the group’s aims? It doesn’t take a secret agent to figure them out. Rather, it only requires an examination of Hezbollah’s actions over the years. From joining with Syrian President Assad and Iranian forces in perpetrating mass murder in Syria, where the death toll is reportedly approaching 500,000 after five years of conflict, to slaughtering, in earlier years, Americans and

French in their embassies and military compounds; from calling for Israel’s destruction to plotting attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide, including the deadly assaults on the Israeli embassy and AMIA building in Buenos Aires; and from killing opposition politicians to holding civilian populations in Lebanon as hostages, Hezbollah has not exactly been opaque about its overarching goals and preferred methods. In fact, it’s been so glaringly apparent that, in addition to the United States and Canada, the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – and the members of the Arab League have recently labeled Hezbollah a terrorist group. GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif al-Zayani did not mince words when he accused Hezbollah of carrying out “terrorist attacks, smuggling weapons and explosives, stirring up sedition and incitement to chaos and violence.” He added that the group’s actions posed a direct threat to “Arab national security.” Mind you, no false distinction was made between “military” and “political” wings. So we have the remarkable situation that the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, Israel, the GCC and the Arab League all agree on the true nature of Hezbollah, yet the EU stands oddly apart, clinging to the apparent belief that it can tame Hezbollah’s behavior when, in reality, no such evidence exists. Isn’t it high time for the EU to finish the work on Hezbollah it began with its initial decision in 2013? This important step would significantly hamper Hezbollah’s ability to operate freely in Europe by empow-

ering governments to shut down the group’s organizing and fundraising efforts within EU borders. Terrorism poses a threat to us all. In responding, we need to be clear-eyed, resolute and unflinching. Hezbollah is what it says it is – a doctrinaire, violent group rooted in Shiite Islam. No effort to pretend otherwise will succeed. No belief that it will change its spots because we’re ready to meet them halfway can work, not when it comes to non-negotiable beliefs and faith. Again, look no further than Hassan Nasrallah’s own words: “Whoever wants to forcefully disarm the Resistance – and I have said this more than once – we will chop off his hand, behead him, and get rid of his soul. We are that determined.” In the past, some European countries tried to deal with terrorists operating on European soil by appeasing them with light prison sentences and early releases from jail, pursuing shady backroom deals, pretending their motivating “grievances” were “legitimate,” or simply hoping the problem would magically go away. In recent years, though, given the tragic events that unfolded, Europe should have understood that these strategies don’t work. And with that understanding ought to come the inescapable realization that, yes, terror is terror. In that spirit, yes, Hezbollah is Hezbollah. There are not two Hezbollahs, just one. And that one Hezbollah, in its entirety, ought to be placed on the EU terrorism list soonest. For more information, visit www.ajc. org.

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

If you tell a lie big enough… By Gene Sipe, VP SWFL Chapter

aving recently commemorated the 68th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel, we are reminded how important it is to preserve the true history of the Jewish state and the Jewish people. Most readers of this column are well versed in the history of Israel and, as such, are challenged on an increasingly more frequent basis to combat the rewriting of history. Gene Sipe The news media around the world must be and is constantly monitored by organizations like Honest Reporting and CAMERA, which bring awareness to inaccurate and biased reporting about Israel and the Middle East that perpetuates anti-Israel and anti-Jewish prejudice. The news media is not alone in culpability in this process. Entertainment television, as the single most influential instrument on society, is a primary source of shaping public opinion.

As an example, the popular ABC series Quantico demonizes Israel with inaccuracies and outright untruths. Contrary to their presentation, Israel did not bomb greenhouses in Gaza.The greenhouses, purchased by American donors for $14 million dollars and given fully operational to the Arabs, were destroyed by the very same Arab looters and vandals of Gaza. In another storyline, Jews were depicted as planning terrorist bombings in New York City, when in fact Muslims actually committed such bombings. You are probably familiar with the quote from the propaganda minister for the Nazi party whose name should not be printed here: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” There is another element to this strategy by that same individual. “The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly – it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.” The single principle is the villainization of Israel. However, on a positive note, there is ac-

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tually more to the quotations above, and its originator himself acknowledges, “… the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie.” The anti-Israel BDS propaganda machine that is active here in our own quiet corner of Southwest Florida keeps “the big lie” alive through the locally misinformed. Good people, I’m sure, who have the best of intentions, who generously give of their time and write to the local media, repeat the inaccuracies and the falsehoods. They misguidedly justify their belief with what, as one of them recently published, “People of faith are called by our God to work tirelessly for justice and peace throughout the world.” They have been convinced of a “peacemaking strategy that ensures justice and peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.” Last month’s ZOA column in this newspaper touched on the reality and detriment of their movement. While contrary to the altruist’s intent, these good people have themselves become perpetuators of the “big lie.” Whenever you see or hear some-

thing that you know to be incorrect or even has a ring of anti-Israel bias, there is something you can and should do. You can respond with facts. In the facts are the truth and the “mortal enemy of the lie.” Don’t be afraid to speak up in person or to write to the print media when you read something. The international organizations are extremely effective, however, we must all constantly be alert, particularly here on a local level. There is a local cadre of letter writers who have banded together to exchange writing techniques and become more informed. There are plans for letterwriting classes sometime in the upcoming season. Watch for announcements in in this newspaper or contact your ZOA chapter at info@zoaswfl.org. Last month we commended the politicians who are boldly opposing the BDS movement. This month we acknowledge and support our local activists who write blogs, columns and letters to the editor in support of Israel. Thank you for your good work.

June 2016 Federation Star

COMMENTARY

Caring for our other self Rabbi Sylvin L. Wolf

find that many conversations are about our doctors’ appointments and about our bodies and our ailments. We are concerned with our physical self. A rabbinic friend told me that when he and his wife have guests, he limits such discussions to four minutes for each person, and then they have to move on to other topics. We are concerned with our physical self. How concerned are we with our inner self? I ask because I think that unless we make a conscious effort to consider our inner self, the outside world – our work, our concerns, our to-do lists, our business and our busyness – will distract us from our inner self. I quote: To know your inner self is to know your purpose, your values, your visions, your motivations, your goals and your beliefs. Not as what you have been told by others, but what you have discovered for yourself. Knowing your inner self requires a high level of introspection and self-awareness. If you have clarity to at least half of what is listed above, you probably hold quite a high level of self-awareness. At the same time, the process of discovery never ends – it’s a life-long journey. (Celestine Chua) I’ve been trying to do this for myself. I’ve been using these seven weeks between Pesach and Shavuot, the Omer period, to do this consciously. It does take conscious effort. During this time, I’ve been reading daily from the book A Counting Omer by Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar. In 2014, Rabbi Kedar, a Reform rabbi, published this book for modern Jews, in which she offers meditations and reflections for the Omer period.

Rabbi Kedar brings her own reflections along with teachings, reflections and meditations from traditional Jewish sources, and from more modern authors, as well. I am taking the time to read and consider. I find it meaningful and rewarding. Before I start up my computer, I open the book and read the daily thoughts. I find myself coming back to that page during the day. I’m re-reading the book as a way of nurturing my inner self. I encourage you to consider some way, some practice to nurture your inner self. I encourage you to not let the outside world steal you away from your inner world. The following is just one of the many meditations in the book. It is the meditation for the beginning of the seventh week – the last week of the Omer period which we are about to enter. “This is the great journey: To refine our lives. To become strong and resolved, to have meaning and purpose, depth and commitment. To live in awe and wonder and to bear witness to life’s grandeur. Have an active conversation with the invisible: doubt and argue, dream and beg, ask for help, ask for forgiveness, offer gratitude. Shout at the heavens when you despair, and raise your voice in song when you rejoice. Sit still through the silences of the spirit; do not run from what cannot be known or understood. Life is a mystery. Anything we truly want to know and understand is, by definition, mysterious… When we pray, we bow in humility to the Greatness of it all. May our lives become a prayer to all that is good and important. And know: life is given meaning, texture, purpose, when, meekly, we utter amen to the mystery and magnificence of life.” May you befriend and care for your inner self just as you care for your outer self. May your journey lead you to a blessed knowledge of your other self. Rabbi Sylvin Wolf serves at Naples Jewish Congregation.

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.

COMMENTARY BRIEFS THE WORLD DODGED A BULLET IN SYRIA THANKS TO ISRAEL

 I well remember the day in spring 2007 when I got an urgent call from Vice President Cheney. The head of Israel’s Mossad, the late Meir Dagan, had just been in to brief Cheney and President Bush. He revealed compelling evidence that in the Syrian desert east of Damascus, near the town of Al-Kibar, North Korea was covertly building a plutonium-producing nuclear reactor. It was more or less a replica of the North’s own reactor at Yongbyon.  Making matters worse, Al-Kibar was perilously close to completion. Options for getting rid of it would narrow considerably once operations began and the reactor went “hot.” For its part, the U.S. intelligence community had totally missed Al-Kibar.  The fact is that the U.S. dodged a bullet in Syria – and, it’s worth stressing, all courtesy of the Israelis. Not only did they discover Al-Kibar in the nick of time. They also carried out the attack that was almost certainly the only means of ensuring the reactor never went hot.  Just imagine the nightmare that the world would have faced if, on top of everything else in Syria, we were also dealing with the nightmare of the Islamic State getting

its hands on a plutonium-producing nuclear reactor. (John Hannah, Foreign Policy)

THE ISRAEL THAT ARABS DON’T KNOW

 The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited me to visit Israel as part of a delegation of Europeanbased Arab journalists. Arab media coverage of Israel continues to be characterized by a lack of clarity and misrepresentation, making it difficult for Arab citizens to truly understand the country. Do the Jews in Israel actually hate Arabs?  My visits to places of worship were not stopped by either the Israeli army or police force, as they have been rumored to do. I visited the University of Haifa, considered a model and reflection of Israeli society. Within its walls, students of Jewish, Arab, Druze and Circassian origin study together.  I also visited the Druze village of Daliyat al-Karmel, where the elders recalled the experience of Druze integration into Israeli society and informed me that they now preferred to call themselves Israelis instead of Arab citizens of Israel. They hold Israeli citizenship, enlist in the Israel Defense Forces, and are treated as full citizens with equal rights.  Ben Gurion Street in Haifa is filled with Arab cafes and restaurants, identifiable by the songs they play

Together we rise, divided we tumble Rabbi Adam F. Miller

he story is told that once in a tropical country, a certain splendid bird, more colorful than any that had ever been seen, was sighted at the top of the tallest tree. The bird’s plumage contained within it all the colors in the world. But the bird was perched so high that no single person could ever hope to reach it. When news of the bird reached the ears of the king, he ordered that the citizens try to bring the bird to him. They were to stand on one another’s shoulders until the highest person could reach the bird and bring it to the king. The people assembled near the tree, but while they were standing balanced on one another’s shoulders, some of those near the bottom decided to wander off for their own pursuits. As soon as the first person moved, the entire chain collapsed, injuring several of those in the pyramid. Still the bird remained uncaptured. The citizens had doubly failed the king. For even greater than the king’s desire to see the bird, was his wish to see his people so closely joined to one another. (Or Ha-Hochmah 4:31b-32a, cited in Your Word is Fire, Arthur Green and Barry Holtz) In the post-World War II boom of suburban Jewish growth, the American Jewish community blossomed. Jewish families left behind the city for the more desirable life of the suburbs. Along the way, the Jewish community evolved as well. The desire to make Judaism “convenient” drove the creation of new congregations in each suburb, and led to institutions like Federations, JCCs, and Jewish Family Services opening offices and facilities closer to the new population centers. Established congregations faced difficult questions whether to remain in historic locations or begin anew. Although that period in the late th 20 century saw the Jewish community flourish in ways that it had never before, it also marked the silo-ing of American Judaism. Multiple new synagogues and organizations led to heavy competition, and the evolution of what Dr. Ron Wolfson describes as “transactional Judaism.” The questions and focus began to be on membership numbers, fundraising, and how many and their customers’ conversations. I struck up discussions with various restaurant patrons and employees regarding life in Israel, and these Arab Israelis informed me that in Israel, the law is equally applied to everyone without distinction or discrimination.  I heard the call to prayer from mosques in various cities – a religious expression that is banned in Europe. I saw Christians with crosses who had no fear of exposing their identities, a marked contrast to some neighboring states. I saw Baha’i gardens the like of which exist nowhere else in the world.  I saw, without exaggeration, a bright flame in a pitch-black region, a society composed of so many different yet coexisting segments and components. (Ramy Aziz, an Egyptian journalist based in Europe, Washington Institute for Near East Policy)

ISRAEL ACTS AS A STRATEGIC PARTNER TO AMERICA

 The annual U.S. investment in Israel – erroneously defined as

heads at events. Lost in the process was the importance of quality, and the need to develop relationships. The notion of a “cohesive Jewish community” suffered the most in this expansion period. Organizations began to strip mine the Jewish community – trying to get individuals to give to their cause or join their group exclusively, without concern for the well-being of the larger community. As a result, they made the same mistake of the citizens from the story, losing sight of the fact that one accomplishes more working with others, than acting alone. In recent years this trend to separate and compartmentalize began to shift. Here in our community we have seen signs that working together we can reach the metaphoric bird from the story. On May 15, the entire community united together to celebrate Israel. It was an event where a conscious decision was made to create a space and environment that presented itself as a united Jewish community, rather than having separate tables, areas or events hosted by individual synagogues. Earlier in May was the community Yom HaShoah service, where Rabbi Chorny, Rabbi Wolf, Cantor Azu and Hari Jacobsen joined me to lead a moving spiritual event to commemorate and reflect upon the lessons learned out of the ashes of Holocaust. Unique to our community has been the creation of the enormously successful BBYO – a jointly supported community youth group in partnership between the Federation, Temple Shalom, Chabad of Naples, and Beth Tikvah. Looking ahead we can add to our list the Jewish Community Festival of Learning on March 17, 2017. This event, similar to the Limmud model, brings together the entire community for a day of exciting learning opportunities. Rather than each congregation hosting its own event, the Jewish Community Festival of Learning, organized by the Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Collier County, will again demonstrate that when we are all partnered together, we can reach heights unattainable when we operate separately. Hillel taught, “Do not separate oneself from the community.” When we are a community, when we work together, we bring joy to the world. Joy for what we can accomplish, and joy for the Holy One delighted that the people are united as one. Rabbi Adam Miller serves at Temple Shalom in Naples.

“foreign aid” – has yielded one of the highest rates of return on U.S. investments overseas. At a time when the Pentagon is experiencing draconian cuts in its defense budget, Israel has been the most cost-effective laboratory for U.S. defense industries, sharing with the U.S. unique intelligence, battle experience and battle tactics.  Israel’s Air Force, which flies American-made aircraft, shares with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. manufacturers real-time, daily operational maintenance and repair lessons derived from Israel’s daily battle experience. For example, the plant manager of General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the F-16, asserted that Israeli lessons have spared the manufacturer 10-20 years of R&D, leading to over 700 modifications in the current generation of the F-16, “valued at a mega-billion dollar bonanza to the manufacturer.”  Similar lessons have been shared with the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps and the U.S. manu-

continued on page 27

Federation Star June 2016

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Naples BBYO event photos

Eli Melnick and Sarah Castro

Jason Randall

Hannah Castro and Sam Front

Preschool of the Arts update By Ettie Zaklos, Preschool Director

he month of June transitions us from the completion of a successful academic preschool year to new and exciting summer adventures. At the end of May, we celebrated the hard won accomplishments of our Pre-K graduates as we celebrated their growth throughout the years in our preschool. It is always a complete joy to watch how the once tiny toddlers have become capable and school-ready children! Throughout this past year, our dear children have discovered so many new aspects of the world around them and gained a multitude of skills and knowledge through exploration and play that will serve them well on their lifelong journey of learning. As I reflect on all of our blessings, I would like to thank Federation Star editor Ted Epstein for giving us this opportunity to communicate with the greater community through this medium, allowing us to share our joys and triumphs. Every month, I look forward to reading the paper and sharing our story. I am so grateful for all of the Federation Star team’s hard work and dedication in publishing a paper that highlights Jewish life in Naples. I would also like to thank the Jew-

2016 Preschool of the Arts graduates

ish Federation of Collier County for its continuous support of our growing Preschool of the Arts and Summer of the Arts programs. The Federation’s generosity continues to allow us to improve our preschool and camp with additional special programming and activities. That support has allowed us to grow our six-week Summer of the Arts program, which gives children ages 18 months to 11 years a Jewish summer camp experience. Join our community! Our innovative programs and incredible staff are an open Naples secret, and our award-

winning preschool has grown exponentially every year. Our classes have almost reached capacity enrollment for the 2016-2017 school year. With high demand and limited availability, we encourage prospective families to enroll today. For more information and to schedule a tour, call 239.263.2620. Summer of the Arts Get a taste of what makes Preschool of the Arts so popular at our unique Summer of the Arts experience! Our widelyacclaimed program for children ages 18 months to 11 years integrates various creative arts and educational themes in a

c t F t Adam Mitrani r d k e W o safe, multi-sensory and Jewish-spiritedr setting. Each week our program offerst children opportunities to experienceK music, swimming, art, culinary arts,e sports, my gym, yoga, culinary arts andB science through exciting, stimulating,e hands-on activities. Younger childrenm enjoy outdoor and water play, and olderd children are taken on trips to fun Naples attractions. It is truly like dozens of specialty camps rolled into one expertly packaged, Jewish-spirited setting. This year, our camp’s theme is “Road Trip Across America,” where for six weeks, campers will learn about different parts of the United States with virtual excursions in Texas, Alaska,B New York and more! Each week, the children will sample regional dishes, have locally-themed activities and crafts, and learn about theg beauty and culture of the many uniquem areas of our nation. r Indeed, our camp has proven soW popular that our current Summer ofo the Arts program has a wait list for oura Minors program (ages 18 months to 4a years) and very limited spaces avail-n able in our Majors program (ages 5-11a years).

Temple Shalom Preschool update By Seyla Cohen, Preschool Director

ay was an incredibly busy month here at Temple Shalom Preschool. The Art Show, the Lions Mother’s Day Brunch, and our Pre-K Graduation. Our Lions (3-year-olds) sang to their mothers at the annual Lions Mother’s Day Brunch. This beautiful program, organized by the Lions’ teaching team, brought tears to everyone’s eyes. It was a moment the mothers will never forget. These little ones were so excited and emotional, showing their love to their mommies through songs, poems and the gorgeous gifts they created.

We will say farewell to our fouryear-olds on Friday, May 20, with great pride and a bit of sadness as so many of them have been with us for four 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 have been taught through the use of

Artwork created by Temple Shalom Preschool children

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 are 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, and 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. Camp Shalom & Camp Einstein Camp Shalom is a fun-filled 7-week summer camp program for children ages 2-4. Camp Einstein is an outstanding academic camp for children ages 5-8. Both programs have been developed with children’s needs and interests in mind, offering a welcoming place for little ones to come and enjoy the hot Naples summer. There’s something to peak everyone’s interest. Campers participate in water play, dancing, science, arts and crafts, performing arts, foreign language and music. Returning campers look forward to exciting experiences, and new campers will be surprised by the treat in store for them. Each week of camp introduces a new theme. Camp hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with flexible early pick-up times and daily drop-off programs. Sign up soon. Space is limited. We don’t want anybody to miss out on these amazing summer programs! The fun starts Monday, June 6. Call me at 239.455.3227 to sign up your children for a great summer experience.

Read the current and previous editions of the Federation Star online at www.jewishnaples.org.

June 2016 Federation Star

SYNAGOGUES BETH TIKVAH

www.bethtikvahnaples.org / 239-434-1818

Beth Tikvah update Phil Jason President

his year, Shavuot pushes us onto the front porch of summer. This pilgrimage holiday has accumulated much interesting lore about the tradition of eating dairy products. For many, Shavuot is considered a time for appetite control – in this case replacing desired meat with a humble dairy meal. Clearly, our ancestors didn’t know from cheesecake. Who thinks of eating cheesecake as self-discipline? We are also told that we eat dairy foods on Shavuot because when B’nai Israel dreceived the Torah, they learned about the distinction between Kosher and noneKosher animals. Returning to their tribal ,encampment after receiving the Torah, dB’nai Israel realized that they could not ,eat the meat that they had prepared as it might not be considered Kosher. They rdecided to have a dairy meal, just to be s f

on the safe side. Take your pick. Beth Tikvah is organizing a Chevra Kadisha, named in memory of our dear friend Judy Rosenthal, to insure the availability of traditional burial practices in our community. Some Chevra Kadisha activities require funds, especially when the group commits to comforting the bereaved during Shiva. To that end, we have formed the Judy Rosenthal Memorial Chevra Kadisha Fund as a special needs area that members and friends can support with their donations. Here is an overview of traditional burial practices: Tahara - the traditional preparation - The traditional washing and dressing of the deceased with dignity. Performed by trained members of the Chevra Kadisha (Sacred Society). Men and woman are trained separately. Tachrichim - the burial garments - A full set of traditional clothing, preferably made of linen. This symbolizes equality and purity. Aron - the burial casket - A coffin constructed of wood, in keeping with the Biblical teaching: “For dust art

NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION

thou and to the dust thou shalt return” (Genesis 3:19). Shmira - the watching of the remains - As a mark of respect to the departed, the deceased is never left alone until after burial. Psalms are traditionally recited by the Shomer (Watcher). Kvurah B’Karka - Tradition requires that the burial must be in the ground, filling the grave completely until a mound is formed. It is a great Mitzvah to attend the funeral and to participate in the burial of a fellow Jew. If you are interested in joining the Chevra Kadisha, please contact Rabbi Chorny at rabbi@bethtikvah.us. To contribute, send a check payable to Beth Tikvah and marked “Chevra Kadisha Fund” to Beth Tikvah of Naples, 1459 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL 34109. June activities Saturday, June 11 – Erev Shavuot Tikkun - 8:00 p.m. followed by Erev Shavuot service at 9:15 p.m. Sunday, June 12 – Shavuot Yom Tov (with Yiskor) at 9:00 a.m. Monday, June 27 – Our Book Discussion Group will meet at 7:30 p.m. to explore Mark Glickman’s Stolen Words:

The Nazi Plunder of Jewish Books. “Rabbi Glickman traces the transition from destroying Jewish books to hoarding and hiding them. The raiding of homes, libraries and Jewish institutions in general led to a dispersed accumulation of enormous numbers. However, even before the war was over, the effort to rescue and reclaim was underway. Jewish leaders recognized the need to rescue and rehouse the treasure of the Jewish mind, spirit and history.” Religious services schedule Friday services begin at 6:15 p.m.; Saturday services begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude with a Kiddush luncheon. Sunday 9:00 a.m. minyan resumes in late fall. We regularly convene Yahrzeit minyanim upon request. Please join us at any service. Our participatory worship services and most other events are held at 1459 Pine Ridge Road, just west of Mission Square Plaza. For more information, call 239.434.1818, email bethtikvahnaples@aol.com or visit www.bethtikvahnaples.org. You can reach Rabbi Chorny directly at 239.537.5257.

www.naplesjewishcongregation.org / 239-234-6366

e t

Naples Jewish Congregation update

,By Suzanne L. Paley, President ow that “season” is over, the e planners and doers at Naples d Jewish Congregation are busy egetting ready for the coming year. Our emusic director is working with Cantorial Soloist Jane Galler, Rabbi Sylvin oWolf and our volunteer choir to enhance our services with even more meaning and joy. We are planning events and 4activities that we feel will best meet the -needs and desires of our congregation 1and the Jewish community as a whole.

For example, our Scholar-In-Residence program, to be held in February 2017, promises to be educational and as, or more, entertaining than last year’s Rabbi Alper event! Once again, Naples Jewish Congregation will be providing complimentary tickets for the High Holy Day services to those who are new to the community or have not worshipped with us previously. Please watch for our announcement in forthcoming issues of the Federation

TEMPLE SHALOM

Star. We hope that many of you will choose to join us in worship. We know you will feel the welcoming spirit and enthusiasm of our leaders and congregants. I want to remind everyone that as of the month of May, we begin our “summer season” and only hold Shabbat services the last Friday of the month through August. In September we will resume our weekly worship services. Our Shabbat services begin at 7:30 p.m.

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

www.naplestemple.org / 239-455-3030

New Board of Trustees installed Debbie Zvibleman President

n May 6, the new Board of Trustees was installed at Temple Shalom. I am so honored to be President, working together with such fine individuals. Our first Vice President is Debra Antzis, Second Vice President is Daryl Sissman, Third Vice President

is Neil Heuer, Recording Secretary is Beth Wolff, Treasurer is Harriet Lickhalter, and Financial Secretary is Neil Shnider. Our Trustees are as follows: Tracey Albert, Shelly Berkle, Michael Diamond, Bruce Graeve, Suzanne Low, Stuart Price, Jeremy Schaub, Marshall Sutker, Perry Switzen, One Family Liaison Bobbie Katz and Historian Helen Weinfeld. President of the Men’s Club is Ed Cohen and President of Sisterhood is Debra Antzis. We look forward to continuing our One Family Initiative, engaging our members and welcoming guests to

our home. I would also like to thank our support staff, Rabbi Adam Miller, Cantor Azu, Executive Director Eli Montague, Director of Congregational Education Dr. Anna Salomon, and Preschool Director Seyla Cohen for all that you do to make Temple Shalom a special place for all. While summer is a bit quieter, we have many activities for our full-time congregants and guests. Visit www.naplestemple.org for details on events.

Torah Talk: Join us the first Shabbat morning of the month for a volunteerled discussion of the week’s Torah portion. On June 4, the portion is Bechukotai. There will be a light breakfast at 8:15 a.m. with discussion to follow at 8:30 a.m. There is no charge and all are welcome.

Commentary Briefs...continued from page 25 facturers of tanks, armored personnel carriers, missile launchers, missiles, night navigation systems, and hundreds of additional military and homeland security systems manufactured by the U.S. and utilized by Israel.  According to Gen. George Keegan, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence chief, the value of intelligence shared by Israel with the U.S. – exposing the air capabilities of adversaries, their new military systems, electronics and jamming devices – “could not be procured with five CIAs...The ability of the U.S. Air Force in particular, and the Army in general, to defend whatever position it has in NATO

owes more to Israeli intelligence input than it does to any other single source of intelligence.”  In 2014, Gen. (ret.) Chuck Krulak, former Commandant, USMC, stated: “The U.S. battle tactics formulation at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas – the intellectual Mecca of the U.S. Army – is based on the Israeli book.”  Recently, Israel’s Air Force developed a groundbreaking method of identifying, repairing and preempting cracks in old combat planes, such as the F-16, using ultrasound machines, and promptly shared that information with the U.S. Air Force and the manufacturer. Instead of grounding planes

for six months and preoccupying hundreds of mechanics, the Israeli-developed system requires two weeks and only a few mechanics, yielding significant economic and national security benefits.  Israel is the only stable, reliable, predictable, capable, democratic and unconditional ally of the U.S. Israel constitutes a critical obstacle to Islamic imperialism, enhancing the security of the U.S. and its Arab allies. Unlike Europe, Israel is able and willing to flex its muscles. Thus, Israel acts as a special strategic partner to America. (Yoram Ettinger, inFocus Quarterly Jewish Policy Center)

Temple Shalom Sisterhood Judaica Shop 4630 Pine Ridge Rd. Naples, FL 34119 239-455-3030

To reach the editor of the Federation Star, send an email to fedstar18@gmail.com.

Federation Star June 2016 COLLIER/LEE CHAPTER OF HADASSAH

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

What we do at Hadassah Karen Cohn

Collier/Lee Hadassah Co-President

adassah is made up of approximately 300 chapters with people who give up their free time to volunteer doing various tasks. I think our Collier/Lee Chapter is one of the best. We received many recognition Certificate Awards form Hadassah National and the Florida Central Region as follows: Î The Pearl Award for achieving 100% Tower Goal Î The Emerald Award for achieving 25% above Goal Î The Membership Award for achieving 100% Membership Goal Î The Tower Award for achieving

both Tower and Fundraising Awards How great is that for volunteering? The moneys we raise come from our wallets, but the volunteering comes from our hearts. As one of the presidents, I am very proud of my chapter. I do the best that I know how to keep our women interested in helping Hadassah. We have a very hard-working board and that is why we have these great accomplishments. Kudos to them all! One other thing I wish to let everyone know is that we now have a permanent Recording Secretary. Her name is Lee Henson. I know she will be a great asset to the board. What else does Hadassah do, you may ask? Well, let me tell you. Hadassah never sleeps. When it completes one project it moves on to another new idea. This one is very clever. From our Hadassah International-Israel report a new project is put to work in both Hadassah

JEWISH WAR VETERANS

Medical Center Campuses. It offers patients and their families a way to say “thank you” to the medical team who helped them while they were hospitalized. It works like this. There are “digital stations” found in various spots around the hospitals. They allow a person to design a postcard to send to the doctors, nurses and other medical staff team members and make a contribution to the hospital for any amount of money. The stations also serve as automatic fundraising centers called “Kees Lev” (Pocket Heart). Hadassah is the first of its kind in Israel to have a “say thank you” system. There is another project I would like to tell you about. It has to do with stones. Stones have always been instruments of conflict in Jerusalem. This is where the Mount Scopus Hospital is located. The name of the project is “Stones for Peace Project.” In the Pediatric Ward the staff ask the children to paint stones to

express what they believe peace should be. When children are in the hospital for a period of time they go to classes to keep up with their school work. Part of the curriculum is conflict resolution. Painting the stones was a natural outgrowth. After the art work is completed, the stones are placed in the fountain in the Healing Garden, just outside the Center for Children with Chronic Diseases. There even is a prize-winninge photo that won at an exhibit at Hadas-G sah Mount Scopus. It is now on displayt at the USAID/ASHA Annual Partnersb Conference in Arlington, Virginia. v The aim is to tell the story throughQ photographs of the American Schoolsl and Hospitals abroad. This is a mis-a sion to show healthcare and educationa worldwide. w Have a great summer wherever you( may be. N p

239-261-3270

Jewish War Veterans update

r o t a

By Harvey Sturm, Commander Post # 202

he Jewish War Veterans, Post 202, in coordination with The Jewish Federation of Collier County and several other Veterans organizations, presented the American Patriotism Awards to ROTC Cadets from

seven Collier County High Schools in April and May. Our awards consist of a medal, a patriotism certificate and a check to the fourteen ROTC Cadets chosen by their Battalion Commanders.

ORT AMERICA – GULF BEACHES CHAPTER

Effective with the start of next season, which begins on October 16 and continues on the third Sunday of each month through April 2017, we will meet at Cypress Woods Country Club. We are making plans for an exciting and

eventful new season and will keep you informed of our progress. Wishing you all a good and healthy summer.

www.ort.org / 239-649-4000

ORT to eternity Marina Berkovich

ORT Gulf Beaches President

RT has influenced the Jews and the World since 1880 in many unheralded ways. (continued from the May issue) Part IX. ORT during the second half of the 20th century In the 1950s, women who had worked in the wartime volunteer efforts returned to the home as men returned from the war. These women had acquired skills during wartime that they did not wish to abandon in peacetime. Volunteerism filled that gap, as it had for women after World War I. Women’s American ORT was helping to fund ORT’s growing network of vocational and technical high schools in Western Europe and

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991 Winterberry Drive Marco Island (239) 642-0800 Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:30 - 1:30 Friday Evening: Before & After Shabbat Service

North Africa, Iran, India, Israel and the developing countries. WAO funded scholarships for teacher training, social assistance to needy students, preventive medical care, maintenance of vocational training schools, and support of Tel Aviv’s Aaron Syngalowski Center, ORT Braude College of Engineering in Karmiel, Bramson ORT College in New York, and Zarem Golde Technical Institute in Chicago, among others. It also helped fund the establishment of a network of large ORT apprentice training centers throughout Israel. By 1970, WAO already boasted nearly 90,000 members organized into seven hundred chapters across the United States. WAO brought ORT into every substantial community across the United States and expanded its aid into programs of accelerated adult training; scholarships for teacher training; medical and health services to students; apprenticeship; social assistance to help provide meals, clothing, cultural and recreational facilities; and school construction and equipment. For the rest of the 20 th century, ORT continued to provide education

Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle Solution to puzzle on page 18

and relief services to Jewish communities in Israel, Africa and Asia while opening new programs to serve the Latin American Jewish communities in Argentina (ORT Argentina), Brazil and Uruguay (ORT Uruguay). In the early 1990s, ORT returned to the former Soviet Union, where it now serves 27,000 students in 58 schools and educational institutions every year. This effort aims to bring quality Judaic and general high school education to Jewish communities throughout the independent sovereign states of the region that was formerly the USSR. ORT education includes programs in many schools and centers in Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. American ORT (formed in 1922) and Women’s American ORT (formed in 1927) provided fundraising, and became a vital resource to ORT schools and training programs in the 20 th century. Since 2007, ORT America, a North American affiliate to World ORT, was created through a merger of the two former entities, and collectively raise funds for ORT schools and programs in the United States and around the world.

Today, ORT works to offer skills and training to some of the world’s most impoverished communities. With thej assistance of its supporters, ORT helpsl communities meet the demands of aG competitive job landscape – now and inw the future – through its global network of educational institutions that deliverd state-of-the-art education in technology,d science and more. GOT ORT? (to bew concluded in July/August 2016 issue) C *** At a recent presentation I gave oni Marco Island, most women raised theirM hands when asked if they were ORTW members, yet most of the ORT membersS do not join our local Gulf Beaches ORTq Chapter when they relocate to South-a west Florida. This a call for you to dol so now. We need you! ORT provides scholarships to 300,000 students annually in over 60 countries. GulfBeaches ORT Chapter 2016 fundraising efforts benefit ORT in Israel. Please help us with our financial challenge by mailing your renewal or donation check, payable to ORT America, to Hella Amelkin, 3200 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., #307, Naples, FL 34103.

ORT America (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training) Did you know that:  ORT supports 300,000 students annually in 59 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.

June 2016 Federation Star

ORGANIZATIONS

www.hjhswfl.org / 239-495-8484

HUMANISTIC JEWISH HAVURAH

The meaning of Humanism

d l s t . ,

Paula Creed HJH President

umanism has meant many things: “It may be the reasonable balance of life that the gearly Humanists discovered in the Greeks; it may be merely the study of ythe humanities or polite letters; it may sbe the freedom from religiosity and the vivid interest in all sides of life of a hQueen Elizabeth or a Benjamin Frankslin; or it may be the responsiveness to -all human passions of a Shakespeare or na Goethe; or it may be a philosophy of which man is the center and sanction.” (Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, New York: Macmillan, 1937, Vol. IV, p. 541) The philosophy of Humanism represents a specific and forthright view of the universe, the nature of man, and the treatment of human problems. It is a many-faceted philosophy, congenial

to the modern age, yet fully aware of the lessons of history. In his book The Philosophy of Humanism, (New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., fifth edition, 1965, pp. 12-14) Corliss Lamont, a 20th century writer, teacher and Humanist philosopher, described ten central propositions in the Humanist philosophy. First, “Humanism believes in a naturalistic attitude toward the universe that considers all forms of the supernatural as myth; and that regards Nature as the totality of being and as a constantly changing system of matter and energy which exists independently of any mind or consciousness.” Second, “Humanism, drawing especially upon the laws and facts of science, believes that man is an evolutionary product of the Nature of which he is part; that his mind is indivisibly conjoined with the functioning of his brain; and that as an inseparable unity of body and personality he can have no conscious survival after death.” Third, “Humanism, having its ultimate faith in man, believes that human beings possess the power or potentiality

of solving their own problems, through reliance primarily upon reason and scientific method applied with courage and vision.” Fourth, “Humanism. . .believes that human beings, while conditioned by the past, possess genuine freedom of creative choice and action, and are within certain objective limits, the masters of their own destiny.” Fifth, “Humanism believes in an ethics or morality that grounds all human values in this-earthly experiences and relationships and that holds as its highest goal the this-worldly happiness, freedom and progress – economic, cultural and ethical – of all humankind irrespective of nation, race or religion.” Sixth, “Humanism believes that the individual attains the good life by harmoniously combining personal satisfactions and continuous self-development with significant work and other activities that contribute to the welfare of the community.” Seventh, “Humanism believes in the widest possible development of art and the awareness of beauty, including the appreciation of Nature’s loveliness and

splendor, so that the aesthetic experience may become a pervasive reality in the life of a person.” Eighth, “Humanism believes in a far-reaching social program that stands for the establishment throughout the world of democracy, peace, and a high standard of living on the foundations of a flourishing economic order, both national and international.” Ninth, “Humanism believes in the complete social implementation of reason and scientific method; and thereby in the use of democratic procedures, including full freedom of expression and civil liberties, throughout all areas of economic, political and cultural life.” Tenth, “Humanism, in accordance with the scientific method, believes in the unending questioning of basic assumptions and convictions, including its own. Humanism is not a new dogma, but is a developing philosophy ever open to experimental testing, newly discovered facts and more rigorous reasoning.” Imposing Lamont’s ten points upon our Jewish heritage and culture creates Humanistic Judaism.

www.jhsswf.org / 239-566-1771

JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SWFL

Jewish history of your neighborhood Marina Berkovich JHSSWF President

efore there were many Jews in Southwest Florida, there were s rare and random Jews, who t just either stumbled upon this piece of e land by sheer accident, or married into s aGentile families already residing or nwintering here. The most famous of them without k doubt is Lt. Col. Abraham Myers, a r ,descendant of Rabbi Moses Cohen, ewho was an emigrant from London to Charleston, South Carolina. Abraham Charles Myers was born in Georgetown, South Carolina, on n May 14, 1811. He was a graduate of r TWest Point, class of 1833. During the Seminole Wars, he served as an assistant Tquartermaster in the United States Army, and was promoted to captain in 1839. He olater served in the Mexican-American



r T

r e

War, becoming chief quartermaster of army troops in Mexico. He resigned from the U.S. Army in January 1861, but was retired for only a short time before the Civil War began on April 12, 1861, and he was appointed Quartermaster General of the Confederate States Army with the rank of colonel. Myers reported that within six months of the capture of Fort Sumter the price of cloth rose by 100 percent. His basic responsibility as quartermaster general was to keep the army properly clothed and shod. Colonel Myers eventually administered the largest Confederate supply bureau, with 88 clerks, quartermasters in each state, paymasters and quartermasters in the field, manufacturing plants, purchasing agents abroad, and depot and post quartermasters. As the military suffered from dire shortages, complaints about Myers, some of which were based on his Jewishness, led to him being fired by Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the summer of 1863. Colonel Myers was married to Marion Twiggs, the daughter of Major General David E. Twiggs, who is cred-

Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida Membership Form

Please send your check (payable to JHSSWF) and this form to: Jewish Historical Society of SWFL 899 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 116 Naples, FL 34108 Phone: 239.566.1771 Email: jhsswf@gmail.com Online: www.JHSSWF.org

ited with ordering both the construction of and the naming of the fort, which is now known as the City of Fort Myers. At the end of the Civil War, Myers took his family to Wiesbaden, Germany. Marion and Abraham’s son, J. T. (John aka Jack or Handsome Jack) Twiggs Myers, was born there on January 29, 1871. The family returned to this country in 1876 and Jack later became a Lieutenant General in the United States Marine Corps. Their daughter was Elizabeth Twiggs Myers Chalmers Fendall (1856-1910). Abraham Charles Myers died in Washington, D.C., on June 20, 1889. He is buried at Saint Paul’s Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia. Since those post-Civil War days, many Jews came to settle in Southwest Florida and the majority of the present-day population has no idea that Fort Myers is named after a Jew. We think that everyone should, and we also think everyone should learn stories of other Jews who founded the Jewish communities of this region and/or first settled in non-Jewish places like Sanibel Island, Immokalee,

Sarasota and, of course, Fort Myers. The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida will be bringing their stories to you through film presentations and the Virtual Museum. We need your help to deliver this local wealth of information and Jewish pride to the Jewish community and the community at-large. Please call us to sponsor any part of the Jewish Oral History of Southwest Florida. If there is a story we should capture, please contact us at jhsswf@gmail.com. To become a member of JHSSWF, a sponsor, business associate and/or donor, contact: The Jewish Historical Society of SWFL 899 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 116, Naples, FL 34108 239.566.1771 ~ www.jhsswf.org Today is the right day to opt-in for the Jewish Historical Society’s mailing list. The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida is a section 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions are deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Membership Application 2016 Membership Level:

 Student - $18  Individual - $36

 Family - $54  Sponsor - $180

Name(s): _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Company (if applicable): _________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ City: _____________________________ State: _____ Zip Code ____________ Florida home phone:____________________________________________ Cell phone: ___________________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________

The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida, Inc. is a Section 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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

Federation Star June 2016

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

June 2016 – 5776Get the Service you Deserve

SUNDAYlighting MONDAY Candle times:

June June June June

3: 10: 17: 24:

12 SHAVUOT

13 SHAVUOT

10:00am TS Confirmation 10:00am TS-S Board Meeting

1:00pm HDH Board Mtg 4:00pm HM Exec Comm Mtg

9:00am BT Shavuot Services 10:00am CHA Shavuot Services 10:00am CHA Shavuot Services 10:30am JFCS Naples Jewish 5:00pm CHA Shavuot Dairy Caring Support Group Buffet

19 Father’s Day

1:00pm HDH Daytime Study

7:59 8:01 8:04 8:05

10:30am JFCC Coloring for Adults 10:30am JFCS Naples Jewish Caring Support Group 11:30am JCRC Comm Mtg 7:30pm BT Book Group

WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY

1:00pm JCMI Bridge 7:30pm BT Torah Study

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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

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

1:00pm JCMI Bridge

2:00pm NJC Board Meeting

10:00am Jewish Genealogy 12:15pm BT Torah Study 7:00pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm JFCC Board Meeting

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

4:00pm BT Board Meeting

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

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

10:00am BBYO Board Mtg 12:15pm BT Torah Study 1:30pm CJD Comm Mtg 4:00pm JFCC Exec Board Mtg 7:00pm BT Adult Ed

11:00am JCMI Book Club 12:15pm BT Torah Study 7:00pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm TS Exec Comm Mtg

10:30am JFCC Crosswords & Sudoku for Adults 12:15pm BT Torah Study 7:00pm BT Adult Ed 7:00pm TS Board Meeting

1:00pm JCMI Bridge 7:00pm Israel Scouts at Temple Shalom

1:00pm JCMI Bridge 2:30pm JFCC CCRT Theater Performance

7:00pm Israel Scouts at North Naples Church 7:00pm JCMI Board Meeting

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

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

9:30am BT Services 10:00am CHA Services 10:00am TS Services 8:00pm Erev Shavuot Services

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

9:30am CHA Pre-K Graduation 3:00pm HM Board Meeting 5:00pm BT Lag B’Omer Picnic 6:30pm BBYO Youth Activity 7:00pm JCMI Board Meeting

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

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

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

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

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

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

June 2016 Federation Star

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

JEWISH CONGREGATION OF MARCO ISLAND

NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION

BETH TIKVAH

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

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

1459 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL 34109

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

(Reform)

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 25, No. 10 June 2016 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: Melody Klein 239-633-2895 July/August Issue Deadlines: Editorial: June 1 Advertising: June 7 Send news stories to: fedstar18@gmail.com

(Conservative)

(just west of Mission Square Plaza)

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

Suzanne Paley, President Jane Galler, Cantorial Soloist

Rabbi Ammos Chorny Phil Jason, President Sue Hammerman, Secretary

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

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

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

Youth Education Adult Education Community Events

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

Weather or Not ... 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 Jeffrey Feld, President/CEO, at 239.263.4205.

Jewish Organizations to Serve You in Collier County

(All area codes are 239 unless otherwise noted.)

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

American Jewish Committee

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

American Technion Society

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

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

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

Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida • President: Joshua Bialek, 263-9200

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

Israel Bonds

• Reva Pearlstein, 800-622-8017

JFCS of Southwest Florida

Please note our email addresses: Jeffrey Feld, Federation President/CEO – jfeld@jewishnaples.org Renee’ Bialek, Community Program Coordinator – rbialek@jewishnaples.org Julie Hartline, Donor Relations Coordinator – jhartline@jewishnaples.org General information requests – info@jewishnaples.org Melody Klein, Advertising Account Rep – mklein@jewishnaples.org Ted Epstein, Editor, Federation Star – fedstar18@gmail.com

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

Phone: 325-4444 • Chairperson: David Rutstein • 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, Harvey Sturm, 261-3270 • Senior Vice Commander, M/Gen. Bernard L. Weiss, USAF Ret. 594-7772

Men’s Cultural Alliance

• President: Les Nizin, 653-9259

Naples Friends of American Magen David Adom (MDA)

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

ORT - Gulf Beaches Chapter

• President: Marina Berkovich, 566-1771

Women’s Cultural Alliance

• President: Elaine Soffer, 431-7905

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

Federation membership

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

Federation Star June 2016

SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY

Through Federation, you stand shoulder to shoulder with Jews everywhere.

Through Federation, you stand shoulder to shoulder with Jews everywhere. Europe,where whereJews Jewsare arefacing facingattacks attacks on on schools schools and and businesses. businesses. On North InInEurope, American college campuses, where Jewish students are all too often encountering On North American college campuses, where Jewish students are all a hostile environment. too often encountering a hostile environment. Donate. You are standing up for any Jewish community in need of support, protection and You are standing up for any Jewish community in need Volunteer. solidarity. Please give to <<NAME.>> today. of support, protection and solidarity. Please give to Get involved. the Jewish Federation of Collier County today. 239.263.4205 www.jewishnaples.org

YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE!

Everything Federation does is made possible through the generous donations from members of the community. Please consider making a gift today!

FS0616

 I hereby pledge and promise to pay my Federation for the 2016 JFCC Annual Campaign a contribution of:  $36  $72  $180  $540  other $_________  Contribution enclosed (Check #__________)  Please charge my:

 MasterCard

 Visa

 Please bill me  American Express

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 CAMPAIGN OF THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA