Tu B’Shevat

Tu B’Shevat is often translated as “The New Year of the Trees.” In Israel, trees are planted and, in ancient times, the fruits that ripened from Tu B’Shevat on, were counted for the following year’s tithes. So, while Tu B’Shevat is a little known or celebrated holiday in the United States, it has significance. And this year, in particular, like a newly planted tree, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples is newly planted and growing.

Our Grand Opening was indeed Grand . The comments about the building have been universally positive. While we are open, conducting business, holding programs and using the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center on a daily basis, it is still a work in progress, and it will take time to work out the kinks. It will take time for everything on backorder to arrive. It will take time for everyone to receive their badges and find all the features and benefits of having such an outrageously fabulous space.

The Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center is an outgrowth of a fertile and growing Jewish community in the Greater Naples area. Fifty years ago, there were few Jews living here and there were many areas where Jews were unwelcomed in clubs and real estate. But times have changed. If a new-to-the-area Jewish family contacts us and asks about the “Jewish area” to buy real estate, we honestly answer that Jews live wherever they want here and are welcome everywhere. Like a tree, the branches have spread far.

Our new location was chosen for its centrality, based on a 2017 demographic study. It is conveniently about one mile east of I-75 on Pine Ridge Road, easy for Marco Island and Estero alike to access. We listened to the requests of WCA and MCA for space needs and have built according to what we hope will be the growing needs of those organizations. We see the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center as the trunk and roots of the Jewish tree in Greater Naples.

The fruit of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples tree is the assistance we are able to provide for the needy, education for all ages, and programming for the Jewish community and Greater Naples community. You are the fruit of the tree. Every time you come through the doors of the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center, you enhance our community. Every program you attend, every donation you make and every time you make a new friend at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center, you help grow our “tree” — our Jewish community.