The annual Jewish Community Day of Learning with evening bonus — a not-to-be-missed event

By Jeff Margolis

The Greater Naples community is invited to attend the 5th Annual Jewish Community Day and Evening of Learning on Sunday, March 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. and Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. The theme of this year’s Day of Learning program, which will be presented in a virtual format, is “It’s Chai Time to Visit Jewish Neighbors.” The program is proudly presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), a committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.

Speakers and topics

This year’s featured speakers include noted cultural anthropologist, Dr. Ron Duncan Hart, director of the Jewish Learning Channel and former president of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society. Dr. Hart will speak about Crypto-Jews. He has written extensively about the topic, with his most recent works being, “Crypto-Jews: The Long Journey” and “Jews and the Arab World: Intertwined Legacies.” He is co-author and editor of the awardwinning book, “Fractured Faiths: Spanish Judaism, the Inquisition and New World Identities.”

Dr. Ron Hart

Naples’ own Cantor Donna Azu of Temple Shalom will present a program about the Jews of Persia, drawing on her own personal cultural experiences. Cantor Azu received her Bachelor of Music degree in opera performance and music education from California State University. She earned her master’s degree in sacred music from the Hebrew Union College.

Cantor Donna Azu

Our third presenter was to be professor and author, Dr. Steven (z”l) Derfler, on his selected topic, “The Jews of China.”Sadly, Dr. Derfler passed away unexpectedly Cantor Donna Azu on Jan. 25. His program and expertise will be greatly missed. May his memory be for a blessing.

Bonus event

An added learning bonus this year is the “Evening of Learning,” which will take place on Wednesday evening, March 10 at 7 p.m. The panel discussion, titled “Keeping the Faith and so Much More During the Pandemic,” includes a dynamic panel of guests. Local clergy scheduled to participate include Rabbi Adam Miller of Temple Shalom, Pastor Lonnie Mills from Macedonia Baptist Church, Reverend Edward Gleason from Trinity-by-the- Cove Episcopal Church, Reverend Dawson Taylor from Naples United Church of Christ and Fr. Hugh McGuigan from Our Lady of Light Catholic Church in Estero.

The panel will focus on questions dealing with life-cycle events, and how the clergy has tried to bring comfort and faith during these unprecedented times, when houses of worship are closed due to COVID-19.

Participation in this year’s program is free. To register, please access the Federation website, www.jewishnaples.org. The registration link is https://jfgn. regfox.com/day-evening-learning. The program is being presented on the Zoom platform.