22
Federation Star
May 2021
ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD/ORGANIZATIONS
“Lioness: Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel” The Jewish National Fund-USA Reading Series By the Jewish National Fund-USA staff
J
ewish National Fund-USA’s Reading Series brings together readers and Jewish authors for a lively and engrossing virtual discussion, moderated by JNF-USA IsraelCast host Steven Shalowitz. Every month, a new book about Judaism and/or Israel becomes the subject of a conversation that creates
and solidifies friendships, while giving people a chance to flex their intellectual muscles from the comfort of their own homes. On Wednesday, May 19 at 7 p.m. (EDT), Shalowitz will moderate the discussion with author Francine Klagsbrun about her book, “Lioness: Golda Meir and
COLLIER/LEE CHAPTER OF HADASSAH
the Nation of Israel.” The definitive biography for one of Israel’s greatest leaders, “Lioness” covers Golda Meir’s life from her birth in tsarist Russia to her rise as an iron-willed, chain-smoking prime minister as well as life after her political career. The event is free to attend and is taking place virtually via Zoom. The attendee
link will be provided upon registration at jnf.org/readingseries. Purchasing the book prior to the event is not required but recommended. Questions? Contact Sarah Cohen at 212-879-9305, ext. 243 or scohen@jnf.org.
www.hadassah.org / 518.330.1559
Welcoming today’s hopeful transition to a non-COVID world Joyce Toub Collier/Lee Hadassah President
P
assover has provided many opportunities for reflection, including how we experience the Seder in our youth, as parents, and as grandparents. These points of remembrances are always with us. The overall message — liberation — is loud and clear. Freedom allows us many opportunities; it allows
us to serve and that is what Hadassah is all about. The women I work with model the mitzvah of giving, both of their energy and resources. They strive to be productive and creative, coming up with new ideas to engage and educate. Their efforts have produced our Expanding Horizons series, now extended through June, July and August, to entertain, engage and educate. The past year marked out COVID-19 time, spending countless hours in front of our computers, longing for the time when we can once again interact face-to-face. We wonder when we can return to our normal lives.
We seem to be in that same moment in history, that is the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot. These holidays commemorate the Exodus from Egypt and the receiving of the 10 Commandments. It is during this time that we observe Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and Yom HaAzma’ut (Israeli Independence Day). This ended two millennia of Jewish exile. This transition from slavery to freedom, from sadness to joy is, in a way, what our transition is like today, as we transition from a COVID world to a non-COVID world. Thankfully, we have the knowledge of how to better deal with this pandemic.
In a recent Hadassah Magazine article, Carol Saline’s essay, “COVID-19 and Me,” expresses so much of what many of us are feeling. I, too, make a conscious effort to not be depressed, but the loss of my husband two years ago and the trials my daughter has had to endure through two massive surgeries and a 10-week hospital stay have been difficult. I am hopeful that everything will turn out for the best for all of us. And I am grateful that the weather is improving up north where many of us will return to communities that have nurtured us for many, many years.
www.jhsswf.org / 239.566.1771
JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SWFL
Jewish American heritage month Marina Berkovich JHSSWF President
P
resident George W. Bush was the first U.S. president to proclaim the month of May as Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) as an annual recognition and celebration of American Jewry’s achievements and contribution to the United States of America. As my followers undoubtedly noticed, I believe in the interconnectivity of certain occurrences, that’s why I must point out that the first time JAHM was actually celebrated was April 20, 2006, triumphing over the evils of Hitler on his misbegotten birth day. The month of May in the U.S. was already designated as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month in 1992,
two years after President George H. W. Bush signed the bill passed by Congress to extend Asian American Week (1978 Public Law 95-419) to a month. The month of May is also celebrated as National Older Americans Month (OAM) as formally proclaimed and declared in actions by Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1963 and 1965, respectively. Florida preceded national declaration with then-Governor Jeb Bush establishing January as Florida Jewish History Month in 2003. The Jewish Society of Southwest Florida will celebrate National Jewish American Heritage Month for the first time this year, with the release of Film 15 in its educational broadcast-quality documentary series, Southwest Florida Jewish Pioneers, presenting Sheldon Starman, a prominent yet low-key member of Naples Jewish community since shortly after his arrival in 1972. A few years ago, when we recorded the interview with Mr. Starman, he mentioned so many people we did not yet know much about. Now, we do. They were the early participants in Collier County Jewish life – Mo Kramer, Sandy Stone, Gabe and Freda Luff, Garson and Miriam Dinaberg, the Barnett family, the Meyer family, the Meltzer family, Bob Copeland, William Ertag, Craig Frankel, Mark Rucker, Carrie Goodman, Kathy Senders, Bernie and Jerry Fliegel, Shirley
Levy, Bob Hardy, Harold Supkov, Harold Hertzman and Harry Cates. How fortunate we are that many of them are still with us. They are the makers of Collier County and Southwest Florida Jewish History, and everyone who will be in attendance of the May 23 event at Temple Shalom is in for a treat. Whether this event will be live, remains to be seen. As of the date of this article’s editorial deadline, I am not sure. I am, however, certain that we will stream the film through Zoom in any case, for all members of JHSSWF and Temple Shalom as well as all others who register to attend and pay a nominal fee to help us reach our fundraising goals.
In addition, on April 29 at 2 p.m. Central Time, we will present Southwest Florida Pioneers films, “Gene Goodman, The Song Meister” and “Elena Rosner, When Destiny Called,” via Zoom to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Chicago. On May 16, a presentation for the Genealogical Society of Greater Miami’s “A Slice of Jewish Life – Two Island Stories” will feature JHSSWF’s films, “Chief Plager” and “When Destiny Called,” about Richard Plager and Elena Rosner, our fabulous nonagenarians, so we are connecting to the Older Americans Heritage Month as well. Join in, whatever you will be celebrating, and help us fulfill our mission of historical preservation and education.
BECOME A JHSSWF MEMBER TODAY Family $54; Individual $36; Student $18. Please join us online or mail checks to: The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida 8805 Tamiami Trail North, Suite # 255, Naples, FL 34108 833-547-7935 (833-JHS-SWFL) www.jhsswf.org • email: office@jhsswf.org Virtual Museum of SWFL Jewish History http://jewishhistorysouthwestflorida.org The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida is a section 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions are deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
