Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County
Federation Star Published by the Jewish Federation of Collier County serving Naples, Marco Island and the surrounding communities
www.JewishNaples.org INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
3A Community Relations Comm. 6A Women’s Cultural Alliance 9A Community Focus 11A Jewish Interest 18A Tributes 19A Focus on Youth 21A Commentary 22A Rabbinical Reflections 23A Synagogues 25A Organizations 28A Business Directory 30A Community Calendar 31A Community Directory 1B Jewish Happenings 5B Israel & the Jewish World
4A th
9 Annual Evy Lipp People of the Book event
14A A battlefield seder in 1953
Y
April 2013 - Nisan/Iyar 5773
Y
Vol. 22 #8
Ad hoc committee report regarding Federation Star advertising policy Judge Norman Krivosha President
D
uring the recent Presidential campaign, several of our members raised a question about the propriety of the Federation Star accepting political ads. Additionally, another questioned the propriety of the Federation supporting a petition regarding gun violence following the Newtown, Connecticut massacre. Because I was uncertain as what should be our policy, I appointed an ad hoc committee chaired by Hank Greenberg to investigate the matter and report back to the Board of Trustees. That report can be found in its entirety on page 8A and I invite you to read it. The committee did an outstanding job, devoting many hours to its investigation, and we are all indebted to them for their work. We have now adopted it as our policy.
I call your attention to several important findings in the report. In every case in which the committee contacted a Federation regarding this issue, it found that all accepted political advertising without exception, as well as taking positions on issues of concern to Jews. Had we taken a contrary position, we would be out of the mainstream of Federations in America. According to the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, “Federation papers accept political ads all the time.” Noting that the history of Federations in America has always played an active role in the issues of the day, the Council further said, “Federations are...not merely a Jewish version of the United Way.” I recently had the opportunity to meet and speak with Michael Siegal, the current Chairman of the Board of The Jewish Federations of North America, who pointed out that the fundraising aspect of a local Federation, as with the national Federation, was but only one aspect of the missions of Federations. That historically and to this day, Federations all over
the country engage in non-partisan political activity and that the National organization maintains a strong lobbying office in Washington, concerning issues of importance to Jews. As an example, when one local middle school conducted a “Kick a Jew Day,” your Federation was heavily involved in addressing this despicable activity. We have always been in the forefront of protecting Jews in our community. I recognize that not everyone will be satisfied with the policy as adopted, but I hope that everyone will accept the fact that an honest effort was made to arrive at an appropriate conclusion consistent with the mainstream of Federations; and will not deny to those in need of our assistance your support as a way of punishing the Federation because you may personally disagree with the policy adopted. We must all come together for the greater good of our community here and for Jews the worlds over.
Please see the full report on page 8A.
Tee off at FED CUP V golf outing By Kevin Aizenshtat, FED CUP Chair
G
23A Rabbi Ammos Chorny’s Installation Ceremony
29A Chabad’s Annual Gala
olfers of all handicaps and all ages are invited to the Fifth Annual FED CUP hosted at TwinEagles Golf Club on Sunday, May 5. The FED CUP is a golf tournament to support the Jewish Federation of Collier County. The all-inclusive cost is only $136 for each golfer. All proceeds will be used to help fund scholarships to send Collier County children to Jewish summer camps and send our teens on Israel summer trips. This golf event is fun and a first-class affair. TwinEagles has been generous to let us host the event on their prestigious course. Show your support and show up for our Federation.
Jewish Federation of Collier County Inc. 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201 Naples, FL 34109
Prsrt Std US Postage Paid Permit #419 Ft Myers FL
Golfers arrive at 8:00 a.m. to filling up quickly. Please contact me at register and warm up for a 9:00 a.m. 239.777.1451 or kevin@gcipnaples. com to register for the FED CUP Shotgun Start. Participants will enjoy experience. a boxed breakfast, golf, cart, and buffet lunch following the golf tournament. There will also be some fantastic silent auction items during the lunch. Awards will be given to the team with the lowest and highest scores. So please come and enjoy a special round of golf and lunch with your friends, to benefit such a great cause. Get your foursome toWinners of the 2012 FED CUP: Dr. Peter Jaffe, gether and make your reshis two sons Connor and Kyle, and Dr. Joel Waltzer; ervations today. Space is (in back) Kevin Aizenshtat, FED CUP Chair
Men’s Cultural Alliance (MCA)
Due to the overwhelming success of the Women’s Cultural Alliance, the MCA has launched! Want to meet other men for golf, tennis, cards, lunch, discussion groups and a host of other activities?
To be put on the eNewsletter list, email Steve Brazina at sbrazina@aol.com.
More than 300 men have already signed up for the MCA!