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Federation Star
SYNAGOGUES
December 2020
www.bethtikvahnaples.org / 239.434.1818
BETH TIKVAH
Beth Tikvah update
B
y the time December arrives, we expect to have cooler weather and the sighting of car transports. Traffic generally increases, restaurants are busier, and the beloved snowbirds return. Many faces we have not seen in several months are back, indicating the start of another season. With COVID-19, these familiar milestones have not been quite the same and we are reminded that we continue, when venturing out, to have to wear a mask and physically distance to remain safe. At Beth Tikvah, since the onset of the virus, though our synagogue remains closed, we have been blessed with the ability, due to the talents of Rabbi Chorny, to stream and Zoom our many activities. Our Shabbat services Friday night and Saturday morning, as well as morning minyanim Thursday and Sunday mornings, are available for anyone who wishes to participate. Zoom and streaming links can be found on our website at www. bethtikvahnaples.org. We have been busy, planning a wonderful series of events to educate as well as entertain you at Beth Tikvah 2020-2021. Our thanks go especially to Paulette Margulies, our vice president for programs, for developing a wide array of cultural, intellectual, social and musical events under the rubric of “All Things Jewish.” Many of our programs never ended and more are again beginning. The third
Beth Tikvah Co-Presidents Shelley Goodman and Sue Hammerman
movie in our movie series will be shown on Dec. 20. “Zero Motivation” is about female military conscription. The film can be viewed before the discussion, either privately on Netflix or Amazon Prime or through our Beth Tikvah link. Discussions will be at 4:30 p.m. Registration is required. Contact us at office@naples. org or on our website to receive the links. Rabbi Cantor Hilary Chorny will lead an educational musical program on Sunday, Dec. 6. Details will be available on our website as we get closer to the event. Our Rosh Chodesh Women’s Study brings friendship and intellectual stimulation monthly. This month, we will meet on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. All women interested in attending are welcome. We look forward to celebrating Chanukah with a virtual Eat and Learn event on Friday, Dec. 11. Please check
h s i w nt e J e a d u u ? t o 1 S y 2 Are School ay 20 M h g g i H uatin d a r G OF GREATER NAPLES
PRESENTS:
Patricia J. Adkins Youth Leadership Award A one-time award of $2,500 for further education!
TO QUALIFY:
Jewish senior in high school Resident of Collier County Active in a congregation and/or BBYO Strong academic record Active leadership role in the community
Application Deadline: January 1, 2021 jewishnaples.org/scholarships-grants For Questions Contact Reneé at rbialek@jewishnaples.org
our website for details as to how you can party with us. Beth Tikvah is the affiliated congregation in Greater Naples of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). We are grateful to the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples (JFGN) for support of our Scholar in Residence, Naples Jewish Film Festival and All Things Jewish programs. All Beth Tikvah lectures and events are open to the Greater Naples community. Everyone is welcome to attend. Registration is required for most events. May this season, first and foremost, be healthy and may we all experience a deeper understanding and connection to the people we love and care for as they care for us. Hag Sameach Hanukah!
Beth Tikvah December happenings on Zoom
Friday, Dec. 11 at 6:15 p.m., Services followed by Chanukah Eat and Learn Tuesdays, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 at 12:15 p.m., Jewish Perspectives Rabbi Chorny Sunday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m., Rosh Chodesh Women’s Study Sunday, Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m., Movie “Zero Motivation,” followed by discussion
Religious services streaming schedule Thursday and Sunday morning services begin at 9 a.m. Friday services begin at 6:15 p.m. Saturday services begin at 9:30 a.m. We convene Yahrzeit minyanim upon request. You may reach Rabbi Chorny directly at 239-537-5257.
Sunday, Dec. 6, Hillary Chorny musical/educational event
NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION
www.naplesjewishcongregation.org / 239.431.3858
Unleash your “virtual” shackles Give yourself a gift for Hannukah Steve McCloskey President
T
he internet and social media are ubiquitous in scope and, many times, perniciously pervasive in their societal influence. However, whether we seek out this connection by turning on Facebook, Google, Instagram or Twitter is entirely up to us. If we don’t power up our phone or laptop, we can’t be swept into the often malevolent maelstrom of the online world. While virtual platforms have historically been mostly forces for good, on occasion, those utilizing them are susceptible to evil inclinations and sinister acts. There has been a proliferation in recent years of cynically or maliciously exploiting social media in political campaigns, sometimes with foreign influence, but mostly home-grown. The spreading of misinformation, disinformation, half-truths and outright falsehoods has been propagated with “virtual” impunity. There has been very little pushback from social media platforms, usually under the guise of either protecting free speech or of letting the consumer decide where the “truth” lies (no pun intended). The internet is another fount of knowledge, some of it factually accurate, but much of it not. Specifically, the “dark web” provides a haven for the disaffected,
the disturbed, the hateful and, too often, the violent. These diabolical groups can gather remotely in chat rooms to conspire and plan acts targeting individuals and groups, like the recent plot involving Governor Whitmer. How, then, does the minor religious holiday of Chanukah relate to our concerns about languishing in cyberspace? Chanukah means dedication and commemorates the rededication of the Temple following the victory of the Maccabees, a fight against the suppression of the Jewish religion by the Syrian Greek empire. The oil used to rekindle the eternal flame, against all odds, lasted for eight days. The miracle of the little lights was a metaphor for shining a great light during the darkest of times. One question for us is whether we are in danger of descending into those darkest of times. It is much easier to spew hate, instigate division and incite violence under the cloak of immunity afforded by social media and the web. We can bellow and bully from cyberspace without constraint. Another question is whether it is healthy for us and for society to devote so much of our attention to social media and the internet. We will all be ready for a breather following this grueling and tumultuous election season. My hope is that each of us will take one of the eight days of Chanukah to power down our devices and power up our commitment to Tikkun Olam. Let us dedicate ourselves to loosening the grip of our slavish devotion to our smartphones, iPads, laptops and desktops. We can all continued on page 33
