Federation Star - November 2022

Multi-Author Events

We’re still standing

By Marcy Friedland, FRD Director

AsHurricane Ian came in like a lion, our new Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center took his beating and stood strong against Category 4 winds and rain. Fortunately, we had no issues with the structure and only a few trees, which had just been planted, fell.

We are looking ahead to our Grand Opening and will share more specifi c information once we assess the damage the hurricane caused to so many in our Greater Naples area.

Published by Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

What’s next?

TheNina Iser Jewish Cultural Center is becoming a reality before our eyes. It has taken a village of over 600 donors to get us here. But where did the idea of building a building come from? It came from a strategic plan the Board of Directors did in 2017. Every five years or so, the Board takes time to envision how the Federation should change in order to meet the new demands of the community (both Jewish and Greater Naples), the times, and any other circumstances we can determine.

This year, with the imminent opening of the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center on the Steve Saks Campus, it was time to look ahead again to see how the Federation must change and grow in the next five years.

Federation again hired Sallie Williams to facilitate the process. She led us in our last plan and has come to understand and appreciate our needs. We started the process by walking through the building in April when it was not yet under roof. That set the stage for hours of discussion and ideas that shaped the new strategic plan, which was passed by the Board of Directors at a special meeting in August.

Obviously, Federation’s continuing growth financially is the underpinning of everything going forward. As our community continues to grow, the annual campaign and endowments must also continue to grow. In order to do that, we will need both lay and professional leaders who will champion and lead our Federation.

The Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center needs to be utilized and programming needs to grow. A Program Committee and a House and Grounds committee will be added to the list of standing committees in order to accomplish proper utilization and programming. If you have a desire to serve on either of these committees, please contact either Jeffrey at JFeld@jewish naples.org or Jane at janeschiff42@gmail.com. These two new committees are forming now, and the best way to get involved with Federation is to be on a committee.

Increasing our visibility in the general community is only beginning with the opening of the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center on the Steve Saks Campus. Fighting antisemitism and being involved in many community organizations is

wonderful job with the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue (CJD), marching in the MLK Day parade, the Shop with the Sheriff program, and the Stand up for Justice and Human Needs awards, which all reach out to our brethren in Greater Naples. We need to continue these activities and find even more ways to be helpful and visible in Naples. If you want to help with any of these activities or know of other activities that we should be involved in, please contact either Jeffrey at JFeld@jewishnaples. org or Jane at janeschiff42@gmail.com.

to become involved, give of ourselves and step up to make a difference. You hold the key to the next 5 to 10 years of your Federation. The Board has made a strategic plan, but it is up to the Jewish community to create the excitement, the drive and impetus to make it happen. Step into the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center on the Steve Saks Campus and volunteer to help us make this the most exciting, welcoming and fabulous Jewish community in Florida and the entire United States.

Jane Schiff and Jeffrey Feld

Hurricane Ian and the Annual Community Campaign

Hurricane Ian Emergency Disaster Relief Fund established

Marcy Friedland FRD Director

AsHurricane Ian came barreling into Greater Naples, we all braced for the unknown. Evacuation

orders were issued and those who live outside the flood-prone areas sheltered in place.

Thousands of homes were destroyed, and more than 2.5 million people were left without power, water, internet and cell service. Entire communities were stranded, homeless and displaced. Basic necessities were unattainable, the aftermath unimaginable.

We are here to help rebuild and lend a helping hand wherever needed in all our communities and Southwest Florida in general.

We have created a Hurricane Ian Emergency Disaster Relief Fund and 100% of your

November events and happenings

Reneé Bialek Program Director

What a whirlwind with Hurricane Ian. I hope you are doing well by the time you read this.

Jewish Book Festival begins Nov. 1 with Gioia Giliberto, author of “Coco at the Ritz.” On Thursday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m., we will see Richard Rabinowitz, author of “Objects of Love and Regret.” Then, Wednesday, Nov. 30 at noon, Daniel Grunfeld, author of “By the Grace of the Game,” will address the audience.

If you became a Patron prior to Oct. 25, your name will be listed in the next

Federation Star. If you don’t see your name in this issue, now is the time to become a Patron and buy tickets. The deadline for the January issue is Nov. 25! Please visit www.jewishbookfestival.org for more information or to buy individual tickets.

Join us for these additional programs

• Kristallnacht Commemorative Program on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2:30 p.m., live at Temple Shalom

• Movies That Matter on Wednesday, Nov. 9

• Lyn Julius will Zoom in from Israel on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. Please make sure to read the article by Monica Goodwin in this issue.

• Community-wide Chanukah Celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 31, the Annual

Klezmer Revival Band will play at the South Regional Library. Please become a patron and get VIP seating for $50 per person. Or attend for free, but you need to register via Collier County Library.

• Sunday, March 26, come join us at Celebrate Israel @75. Better yet, become a friend and join Friends of Celebrate Israel @75 for $75. You will be supporting this free community event and your name will be listed in the Federation Star.

Please register for all events at www. jewishnaples.org.

Dates and times of upcoming events are announced on our website homepage. If you aren’t receiving our weekly Monday e-blast, please email me at rbialek@jewishnaples.org. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link, which gets emailed two hours prior to the start of each event.

contributions will go directly toward these efforts.

Please send your checks, payable to JFGN, to 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 2201, Naples, FL 34109. You can also contribute online at https://jfgn. regfox.com/disaster-relief.

Email me at Mfriedland@jewish naples.org or call 239-263-4205 with specific needs and or concerns.

Jewish together rebuilds our future!

Social Single Group

Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, MCA and WCA have started a new group called Social Single Group. This group is for Jewish singles to meet each other at a variety of events. Membership is required. Become a member of MCA or WCA and Federation today!

A group for you

We have a variety of groups and committees at Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, such as PJ Library, Jewish Families with Young Children, Cardozo Legal Society, Catholic-Jewish Dialogue, Israel Advocacy Committee and Jewish Community Relations Council. Please join the group and/or committee that best fits your needs. A taste of each one can be found throughout our website at www.jewishnaples.org.

THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD ABOUT ISRAEL

It is rarely appreciated that more than half of Israeli Jews are, or descend from, Jewish refugees from Arab or Muslim Countries. Seen in this light, Israel is the legitimate expression of the self-determination of an oppressed indigenous, Middle Eastern people. Their story has far-reaching implications for peace, yet it is unknown, denied or distorted. Who are these invisible Jews, how did they get there and why are they important?

Guest Speaker and Author:

Lyn Julius

Israel Advocacy Committee hosts author and speaker Lyn Julius

By Monica Goodwin, Israel Advocacy Committee Member

THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD ABOUT ISRAEL

Ihighlyencourage people to tune into a Zoom event hosted by the Israel Advocacy Committee on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. (ET). Please register for this free program at www.jewishnaples.org to receive the Zoom link, which will go out two hours prior to the start of the event.

We have all heard about the Jews of Europe, but what do we know about the Jews from Arab lands?

Wednesday, November 16 3:00pm ET

Please register to receive the Zoom link visit: www.jewishnaples.org

Presented by: Israel Advocacy Committee

Now is your chance to listen to a world authority on the subject. Lyn Julius will tell us how they were ‘Uprooted’ and how very important Israel was to their very existence.

Julius is the British-born daughter of Iraqi Jewish Refugees. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, Jewish News, Ha’Aretz, Standpoint and The Huffington Post. Besides being a journalist, she is cofounder of Harif, an association of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa. She also authored “Uprooted: How 3000 Years of Jewish Civilization in The Arab World Vanished Overnight.”

Jews lived continuously in the Middle East for almost 3,000 years yet, in 50 years, their communities outside Palestine almost totally disappeared as more than

Some 650,000 went to Israel. Now, 50% of Israeli Jews or their descendants are refugees from Arab and Muslim countries. Her book looks at how their cause can contribute to peace and reconciliation between Israel and the Muslim World — and God knows we all need peace.

It is rarely appreciated that than half of Israeli Jews are, descend from, Jewish refugees Arab or Muslim Countries. Seen this light, Israel is the legitimate expression of the self-determination of an oppressed indigenous, Eastern people. Their story far-reaching implications for yet it is unknown, denied distorted. Who are these invisible Jews, how did they get there are they important?

99% of the Jewish population fled.

Guest Speaker and Author:

Lyn Julius

Julius has a blog, “Point of No Return” at www.jewishrefugees.org.uk, which has over 6,000 posts and is updated daily. She is a frequent commentator on all things pertaining to this period and on many documentaries on Netflix and more. She recently wrote an article about the law that was passed in Baghdad that makes normalization with Israel punishable by death.

Wednesday, November 16 3:00pm ET

Please register to receive the Zoom link visit: www.jewishnaples.org

“Uprooted” can be purchased online or at Barnes & Noble.

Presented by: Israel Advocacy Committee

Register for this free program at www. jewishnaples.org to receive the Zoom link, which will go out two hours prior to the start of the event. .

We look forward to welcoming you all to the Zoom presentation on Nov. 16 at 3 p.m.

OF GREATER NAPLES

OF GREATER NAPLES

2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 2201 Naples, Florida 34109-0613 Phone: 239.263.4205 Fax: 239.263.3813 www.jewishnaples.org Email: info@jewishnaples.org

Officers

Board Chair: Jane Schiff

Vice Chairs: Nat Ritter, Marc Saperstein, Beth Wolff

Secretary: Rosalee Bogo

Treasurer: Elliot Lerner

Immediate Past Chair: Alvin Becker

Board of Directors

Frank Baum, Patti Boochever, Harvey Cohen, Marcia Cohodes, Amanda Dorio, Paula Filler, Cheryl Ginsburg, Larry Israelite, Tammy Katz, Merlin Lickhalter, Robin Mintz, Joel Pittelman, Stuart Price, Michael Rubenstein, Michael Sobol, Steve Strome, Jay Weiss, Jeff Zalasky, Board Member Emeritus: Phyllis Seaman

Past Board Chairs

Gerald Flagel, Dr. William Ettinger, Ann Jacobson (z”l), Sheldon Starman, Bobbie Katz, Rosalee Bogo, Judge Norman Krivosha (z”l)

Synagogue Representatives

Stan Alliker, Cantor Donna Azu, Rabbi Ariel Boxman, Steve Chizzik, Rabbi Ammos Chorny, Rabbi Mendel Gordon, Rabbi Mendy Greenberg, Rabbi Mark Gross, Rabbi Howard Herman, Rabbi Adam Miller, Charles Flum, Rabbi James Perman, Dr. Arthur Seigel, Len Teitelbaum, Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

Staff

Jeffrey Feld: Federation President & CEO

Reneé Bialek: Program Director Alicia Feldman: PJ Library Coordinator Marcy Friedland: Financial Resource Development Director Janine Hudak: Admin. Coordinator Teresa Zimmerman: Finance & Operations Manager

Federation is the central Jewish community-building organization for Greater Naples, providing a social service network that helps Jewish people locally, in Israel and around the world.

As the central fundraising organization for Jewish communal life in our area, strength is drawn from organized committees of dedicated volunteers.

Programs include:

• Annual Campaign & Endowment Fund

• Annual Community Campaign

• Celebrate Israel

• Educational & Cultural Programs

• Israel Advocacy Committee

• Israel Scouts

• Jewish Book Festival

• Jewish Community Relations Council

• Jewish Young Professionals

• Jewish Russian Cultural Alliance

• Men’s Cultural Alliance

• PJ Library

• Publication of the Federation Star, Connections and Community Directory

• Women’s Cultural Alliance

• Women’s Philanthropy

• Youth Activities Committee –sponsoring youth education and scholarships for Jewish Summer Camp and Israel Experience

Kristallnacht 2022

By Ginny Segaloff, Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Committee Member

Dr. Suzanne BrownFleming will speak at the 19th annual Kristallnacht Commemorative Service presented by the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County. Her topic will be “November 1938: Perspectives from the Vatican Archives.” This year, the service will take place on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2:30 p.m. at Temple Shalom (4630 Pine Ridge Road, Naples). Admission is free and the event is open to the public. We encourage everyone to register for this event (https:// www.jewishnaples.org/get-involved/cjd) so we can comfortably accommodate all our participants.

As director of international academic programs for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, Dr. Brown-Fleming’s programs ensure that the field of Holocaust studies remains vital and vibrant around the world. She has conducted extensive research into the role of the Catholic Church during this time period and is the author of “The Holocaust and Catholic Conscience.”

In March 2020, the opening of the Vatican archives gave historians, theologians and scholars their first opportunity to examine the legacy of Pope Pius XII

preceding, during and after the Holocaust. Dr. BrownFleming was granted access to the millions of documents relating to his role in these events. In examining these documents, Dr. BrownFleming states, “We crave an honest, responsible and clear assessment of this history.”

Dr. Brown-Fleming has a deeply personal connection to this history as her grandfather was a devout and locally prominent Nazi.

The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County continues its annual commemoration to listen, learn and

IF YOU GO

19th annual Kristallnacht Commemorative Service presented by the CatholicJewish Dialogue of Collier County

When: Sunday, Nov. 6, 2:30 p.m.

Where: Temple Shalom (4630 Pine Ridge Road, Naples)

Register: www.jewishnaples.org/ get-involved/cjd

A light reception will follow the program.

dialogue. We continue this annual memorial service to mourn the six million who were murdered because they were Jews. We continue this annual remembrance to grieve the loss of generations of what could have been and what should have been. We continue this annual tribute so that we never forget and to ensure this never happens again.

Admission is free and the event is open to the public. We encourage everyone to register for this event so we can comfortably accommodate all our participants.

www.artsandeducationinc.org See Art, Love Art, Buy Art!™

Luis Amador, Wood

Dr. Suzanne Brown-Fleming

“Wecraveanhonest,responsibleand clearassessmentofthishistory.” ~Dr.SuzanneBrown-Fleming

Brick pavers to grace our new home

Donors who have purchased brick pavers for the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center

By Marcy Friedland, FRD Director

Tothe following donors who have purchased one or more brick pavers to grace the plaza area to the left of the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center entrance — Todah Rabah. Would you like to add your name to the list in an upcoming issue of Federation Star ? Contact me at mfriedland@ jewishnaples.org or 239-263-4205.

Hedy & Jack Abel

Gail Abelman

In Memory of Hope Abels (z”l)*

Sheryl & Mel Affrime

Sheila & Howard Agranat

Thais & Roberto Alcalay Karen & Stuart Altfest

Marlene & Nate Apkon Tracy & Michael Askotzky Jay & Debra Barnett

Lea & Michael Bendes Ira Berlin

Barbara & Bruce Berger Carole Berkowitz

Harriet & Louis Berneman

Penni & Mark Blaskey

Patti & Pete Bloom

Ronnie Blumenthal Rosalee & Jerry Bogo Betsy Borden

In Memory of Steve Brazina (z”l)* Peggy & Kenny Brown

Sandy & Alan Burton

Donna & Alfred Cavaliere

Coalition for Quality Public Education

Tracey & David Cohen

Celia Deifik & Mark Cohn

Janet & Saul Cooperman Paula & Ron Creed

Crowther Roofing & Sheet Metal of Florida, Inc.

Deborah & James Dallet Barbara Shagan Dave Shellie Specter & Robert Davidson

DeAngelis Diamond Susan & Phil Dean

Sandy Diamond Gayle & Marty Dorio Linda & Larry DuKatz Shelley & Steve Einhorn

Pamela & Bruce Epstein

Alicia & Michael Feldman Ruth Simon & David Feldman

Leslie & Ed Feldman

In Memory of David Fisher (z”l)* Jerry Flagel Nancy Flatau Jennifer & Marc Fleischer

Indicate how you want your engraved brick to read, using the grid below for the size brick you are purchasing. Each square is the space for one letter or number. Each row counts as one line of text, only use the amount of lines specified below for your brick.

Engraved Brick - room for 8 lines of text with 20 characters per line ($1,800)

Brick - room for 6 lines of text with 20 characters per line ($720)

Brick - room for 3 lines of text with 20 characters per line ($360)

Brick Paver donors as of Sept. 30, 2022

Jane & Lester Friedberg Carol & Clifford Friedman Nancy Garfien Nancy & Darryl Garfinkel Phyllis & Philip Garon Deb & Burt Geller Nancy & Stuart Gitis Barbara & Gene Goldenziel Melvin Goldfine Janice Goldman Joel Goldman Sandra & Alan Goldman Susan Miller & Hily Goldman Diane & Bob Goldstein Marsha & Michael Goldstein Monica & Allan Goodwin Helene & Alan Gordon Carole Greene Sherry & Howard Greenfield Lenore Greenstein Ellen & Robert Gurnitz Orna Hanison Bobbi & Randy Heiligman Roz & Morris Herstein Carol & David Hidy Carol & Burton Hirsch Susan & Michael Horowitz Linda & Larry Hyde Lynda & Donald Insul Christina & Norman Isaacs Liz & Alan Jaffe

In Memory of Richard Janger (z’l)* Gail MarksJarvis & James Jarvis Jewish War Veterans of Collier County Post 202 Elaine & Fred Kamin Merrylee & Joseph Kandel Arline & Ronald Kaplan Judith & Wayne Kargher Barbara & Arnold Karp

In Honor of Lisa & Dale Katz* Tammy & Brian Katz Bobbie Kauffman

In Memory of Mary Kauffman (z”l)* Gail& Vitaliy Kedrus Charles Kiven In Honor of Deborah Kohler* Phyllis & Abe Koss

Pam & Warren Krangel Elaine & Richard Landau Sara & Michael Landy Michael Latsky Elayna & Jonathan Latsky Heidi Thorner & Gary Layton Suyen Zhaz & Brandon Leitner Helaine & Marvin Lender Helene & Elliot Lerner Linda Lerner Anna & Yale Levin Arlene Levin Hilda & Martin Levine Harriet & Merlin Lickhalter Stephanie Adler Calliott & Don London Dorothy Magen Ida & Jeff Margolis MarketCrank, Inc.

MCA* Carol & Stuart Mest Gisela & Richard Miller Marvin Mirsky Modern Playwrights Marsha & Joel Moranz Laurie & Barry Nagler Helene Naimon Gail & Les Nizin Harvey Oriel Barbara Jean Paganelli Judi Palay Karen & Jerry Pam Hedy & Ron Pearlman Susan & Joel Pittelman Susan & Jimmy Pittleman Iris & Steven Podolsky Beth-Ellen & Irv Povlow

Judit & Richard Price Sandy Randall Estelle Rauch June Streisand & John Reiches Ilene Rich Mae Riefberg Dale & Steven Riemer Susan & Nathaniel Ritter Jennifer & Kenny Roller Judy & Sam Roth Luba & Alberto Rotsztain Betty & Jim Rubenstein

David Rubin

Jess & Chris Rush

Adrienne & Miles Russ Linda Russell Jacqueline Sallade Rose Saperstein Katie & Michael Sarnoff Eleanor & Neil Scheffler Linda & Shepard Scheinberg Jane Schiff Shelley & Mark Schloss Caroline & Bill Schulhof

Jane & Paul Shaw

Merle & Larry Shuman Anita & Micahel Siegel Gay & David Silberg Cathy & Scott Silver

Linda Singer

Sisterhood of Temple Shalom Gail & Russell Smith II Elaine Soffer Stacy Sokol

Merrill & Andrew Solan Harriet Spirer

Leslie & Mel Springman Sandi Stern

Denise & Stephen Sultan Shira & Bryan Swartz

Pearl Fishman Thall

Fahn & Denny Tishkoff Michelle Levine Troupp

WCA Ladies Bridge*

WCA Single Girlfriends* Linda & Jerry Wainick

In Memory of Stephen G. (z”l) Weiss* Suellen & James Weiner

Susan & Jay Weiss

Goldie & Kenneth Wetcher

Evelyn White Karen Wilner

Lauri & Steven Wishner

Beth & Brian Wolff

Deb & Frank Wyman

Susan & Russ Yale

Suzann & Steve Yussen

Judy & Jeff Zwicker * Group gift

Naples Klezmer Revival Band

By Jerry Pyser, Director

Founded by Stu Warshauer in 1994, the Naples Klezmer Revival Band continues to bring the warmth, joy and fun of this very special genre of music to the Naples community as we approach the upcoming season.

While the core repertoire of the band is the traditional Eastern European (“Ashkenazi”) music of the 16th to 19th centuries, Sephardic, Israeli and adaptations of the music of the synagogue and the Yiddish theater are included. The band has also expanded its repertoire over the years to include jazz and popular dance music, adapting to the needs of audiences, just as

the Klezmer musicians who emigrated to the U.S. in the late 1900s and early 20th century found it necessary to change their musical styles.

The Naples Klezmer Revival Band consists of Bill Bacillen, clarinet and

sax; Pat Bracy, piano; Ari Schneider, violin; Jerry Pyser, accordion; and Arnie Saslavskly, drums.

You will have the opportunity to hear the Naples Klezmer Band at two public performances this season:

• Community-wide Chanukah Celebration at Mercato on the lawn, Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.

• The Klezmer Band Concert & Jewish History program, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 6 p.m. at the South Regional Library in Naples.

At both, you will be treated to a wonderfully upbeat, uplifting and creative musical event. We look forward to seeing you all there! Reservations for the concert at the library can be made via the

Israel Advocacy Committee programs

By Jeff Margolis, IAC member

Collier County Library system. Patron seating is $50 each and can be reserved via www.jewishnaples.org

For information on how to book the Naples Klezmer Revival Band for your event, please contact Jerry at pyser421@ gmail.com. If you want to be part of the band, please email me.

The

Israel Advocacy Committee of Greater Naples (IAC) cordially invites the community to a program by author Lyn Julius, who will discuss her book “Uprooted: How 3000 years of Jewish civilization in the Arab World vanished overnight.”

Julius is the British-born daughter of Iraqi-Jewish refugees. She graduated in International Relations from the University of Sussex. A journalist and blogger,

her work has appeared in The Guardian, Jewish News, Ha’aretz, Standpoint and Huffington Post , among other media.

Julius is also the co-founder of Harif, an association of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa in the United Kingdom.

This free Zoom event will take place Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. Registration is required. To obtain the Zoom link, please read the Monday weekly e-blast or go to www.jewishnaples.org.

“Israel Update”

The IAC is pleased to announce that, periodically, there will be a link in the weekly Federation e-blast to current articles and issues regarding the nation of Israel. Committee member Andy Karpman will be curating articles for this “Israel Update” link. Be sure to check out what is happening in the fields of technology, medicine and the arts.

Save the dates

Please mark your calendars for these two events that will take place this coming spring.

Thursday March 16, 2023 – The Israel Tennis Center Program returns to Naples after a two-year absence due to COVID19. The co-chairs of the event are Myra and Bill Benedickt. The times and location are to be determined.

The ITC is the largest social service agency for children in Israel,

serving more than a half million children and their families since its first center opened in Ramat Hasharon in 1976. With 16 centers across Israel, primarily in underprivileged communities, the nonprofit Centers use tennis to promote the social, physical and psychological well-being of students (through other programs such as the Life Skills program). Another of its goals is the development of coaches, and building and maintaining courts and facilities at the highest levels.

Sunday, March 26 at 11:30 a.m. –Celebrate Israel @ 75. Please register so we know how many people to plan for.

Please join us for our weekly Friday night Shabbat service! We invite you to enjoy the inspiring leadership and knowledge of Rabbi Howard Herman, and sing along with our Cantorial Soloist Jane Galler and the NJC choir accompanied by our Music Director Alla Gorelick. For more information, call Shelley McCloskey at 724-747-3585. We look forward to meeting you!

Napa Woods Way, Naples at Unitarian Universalist Congregation

239-431-3858

Florida

Florida

Personalize

retirement

You’re invited to our delicious Lunch & Learn

There are many opportunities to personalize your retirement at one of our Life Plan communities. Customize your luxury residence with one of our design specialists in our Selection Studio, enjoy ve-star cuisine in our casual and ne dining restaurants, and reach your health goals with the guidance of our highly trained wellness team, tness specialists and concierge physicians. You’ll appreciate the personalized approach Moorings Park Communities takes to keep you living a happier, healthier life.

Celebrate Israel @ 75

By Harvey Cohen, Israel Advocacy Committee Chair with contribution by Goldie Wetcher, National Board Member AMHSI and IAC member

Thebig Israel festival, Celebrate Israel @ 75, will take place on Sunday, March 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Every month prior to the event, we will showcase a few exhibitors so you know who will be visiting us on this special day.

Israel Ride

Th e premier bike riding adventure in Israel, Israel Ride was launched in 2003. Primarily benefiting the organizer, Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, Israel Ride is held annually in late fall, attracting up to 200 riders. Three riding levels are available (recreational to hardcore), combined with touring and studying the ecological challenges facing people across the Middle East. Riders from USA, Canada, Australia and Israel, join in for a unique way to see and touch Israel. The five-day riding route is usually from the outskirts of Jerusalem through Mitzpa Ramon in the Negev and on to the resort city of Eilat. For more information, go to www.IsraelRide.org.

Israel’s Alexander Muss High School

Why would a young high school student leave friends and family to study at Alexander Muss High School in Israel? Three of my grandchildren have studied there and, frankly, they were reluctant, initially, to go. Alexander Muss is the ultimate High School study program abroad with an outstanding faculty devoted to the students. The programs have expanded to offer a variety of options to study and learn about the history and

people of Israel. The students are “in the place where it happened,” literally going to the places where 4,000 years of history occurred. The Land of Israel is their classroom.

Alexander Muss was founded 50 years ago and now boasts over 33,000 alumni. The former students generally refer to having developed a love and understanding of Israel, a sense of independence and lifelong friendships. For further information https://www.amhsi.org/.

The list of Israeli and local organizations confirmed to exhibit keeps growing. We will feature dynamic Israeli dancing and much, much more. Th ere will be balloon creations, a bounce house and, of course, Israeli food for all.

The event is free to attend but preregistration is requested via the Monday weekly e-blast and at www. jewishnaples.org.

We need your support!

Friends of Celebrate Israel @ 75

Our pride in Israel grows as we edge closer to her 75th anniversary. Celebrate Israel @ 75 is seeking donations of $75 towards the community celebration on March 26, 2023. Because we are blessed with a matching gift by an anonymous donor, your support of this event doubles in value immediately. Be among those who are helping put on a very fitting and memorable event.

To become a Friend of Celebrate Israel @ 75, visit www.jewishnaples.org. The Friends of Celebrate Israel @ 75 list will be published in the Federation Star

DEBORAH

coming to your

Donor

funds with

By Ellen Weiss, TOP Jewish Foundation Executive Director

Do you make donations to several nonprofits and charitable organizations, including your synagogue? If so, then giving through a donor advised fund (DAF) might be the perfect way to enhance your charitable giving. Creating and using a DAF is easy and has many benefits — DAFs are a fantastic way to expand your ability to give donations to your favorite charities without the administrative hassle, while receiving significant tax benefits.

Do you have an upcoming plan to sell property or investments that could result in significant taxes? Using appreciated assets to fund a DAF helps to avoid capital gains taxes while supporting the nonprofits you love. The best gifts to make when setting up a DAF are donations of appreciated assets, including stocks, mutual funds, real estate and assets from the sale of a business.

Other forms of assets can be evaluated by TOP for their ability to be used as a donation to the DAF. One of the greatest benefits of a DAF is to contribute to the fund when it is most convenient for you, such as yearend or when you wish to sell an appreciated asset. All monies

put into the fund qualify for a charitable tax deduction in the year the donation is given.

The best part of setting up a DAF is the donor’s ability to recommend distributions from the fund to charities of their choice.

TOP’s fund holders have the flexibility to make these distributions on a recurring basis, anonymously, and include special instructions or notes to the charitable organization. TOP handles all the investment, administration and distributions from the fund on the donor’s behalf.

Donors enjoy the convenience of making recommendations through TOP’s online portal, which is easy to use and accessible at any time. The actual distribution of checks from the DAF are made twice a month, but recommendations can be made at any time.

Creating a DAF with TOP Jewish Foundation is simple. For individuals and families, getting involved with TOP is like having a family foundation with

less cost and more convenience. Donors select the name of their fund, which is typically their whole name or a family name. Additionally, donors choose the individuals who can make grant recommendations from their fund. This provides donors the option of including multiple generations in charitable giving. Using a DAF can involve the entire family and engage the next generations in philanthropy and the joy of giving.

Donors may want to add to their fund periodically or deposit a large amount at the beginning to last for many years of distributions. Th e minimum initial contribution is $10,000. As a way of encouraging philanthropy from younger donors, the minimum contribution for those 40 years and younger is $5,000. Gifts of $100 or more can be distributed from the DAF to the charities of their choice.

All assets are managed by TOP’s investment manager, Goldman Sachs.

Donors choose how they want their fund invested by structuring their desired asset allocation among five investment pools. Goldman Sachs has implemented TOP’s unique investment policy that is pro-Israel and avoids investing in funds that conduct business in terrorist areas, with terrorist groups or that support the BDS (Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions) movement.

Most of TOP’s donors utilize the balanced investment pool, which maintains an active asset allocation of approximately 60% equities and 40% fixed income. Approximately 7% of the investments in the balanced pool are Israel bonds. Additionally, the balanced pool includes a portfolio that focuses on companies based in Israel or that do a substantial portion of their business with Israel.

For more information and advice on the best ways to enhance your philanthropic goals, contact me at ellen@topjewishfoundation.org or Director of Philanthropy Beth Levin at beth@topjewishfoundation.org, or call TOP Jewish Foundation at 813-961-9090.

Thanksgiving Day

An opportunity to pause, count your blessings and give thanks

By Susan Pittelman, WCA Publicity Coordinator

Thanksgiving, our national day of giving thanks, began as an opportunity for the Pilgrims to give thanks for a successful harvest and for the blessings of the past year. Today, the holiday provides each of us with a built-in opportunity to pause and think about how very fortunate we are.

In October 1621, 53 Pilgrims (survivors of the Mayflower) and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast to give thanks. Today, their three-day feast is acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. (Turkey, pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce were not on the menu, and historians believe that only five women were present!)

Individual colonies and states celebrated days of thanksgiving for more than two centuries. It wasn’t until Oct. 3,1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that a national Thanksgiving Day be held each November. Credit is often given to Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” for convincing Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.

This year, Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Nov. 24. Many of us will prepare our own feasts and gather with

families to be together after these past two difficult years. We will share stories, watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and football games. We might even plan for Black Friday. For others however, the impact of Hurricane Ian may significantly alter their plans. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them.

Thanksgiving is about being grateful for what you have. Whether it is for your family and friends, your health, your home or your ability to live in “paradise,” Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to pause to not only think about, but also express, our gratitude for our many blessings. Although WCA does not

engage in fundraising, we want you to be aware that Federation has established a Hurricane Ian Emergency Relief Fund for those in our community who are in need as a result of this catastrophic event.

When talking about their move to Southwest Florida, women frequently mention they felt fortunate to have the Women’s Cultural Alliance in Greater Naples. (It is the only such organization in the country that is under the auspices of a Federation.) I asked several WCA members what WCA provides that makes their life more enjoyable and even more meaningful. Below are some of their responses.

“WCA has undoubtedly been the reason why I love my Naples life! I will forever be grateful for the meaningful connections I have developed through WCA. Having such a wide network of wonderful friends to share various activities and interests has been so much fun and has helped me stay active. Thank you WCA!” ~ Judith Belmont

“I am so grateful for the many friendships I have made through WCA, which have enriched my life beyond measure. It is a pleasure to be giving something back this year through my volunteer work for what has to be the best Jewish women’s group in the country.” ~ Darlene Muller

“When I think of gratitude, the first word that comes to mind is joy. When I first started coming to Florida, I was looking for something that would bring me joy. As I think of all the events and activities I participate in, I have to say that it’s not just WCA’s diverse services; the ladies I have met are my real joys. I am grateful to WCA for promoting friendships.”

~ Carol Sherman

“Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give well-deserved praise to the organizers of WCA. Their creative thought process and efforts have changed my life. Our WCA community inadvertently created my healthy aging, reinforced by strong, expansive human connections.”

~ Gail Nizin

“Joining WCA has literally changed my life. Moving to Naples, I never thought I could make so many wonderful friends at this stage of my life. WCA has given me the opportunity to return to activities that I love, including French and singing. I will always be grateful for WCA.” ~ Judy Copeland

Look for additional responses in WCA’s weekly e-newsletter. (But remember, you have to be a WCA member to receive the newsletter.)

The WCA Board of Directors joins me in wishing each of you a joyful and a meaningful Thanksgiving.

Why Rodents May Be On The Uptick In Naples

by Anna Wallace, Truly Nolen

First and foremost, I hope each of you reading this made it through Hurricane Ian with minimal home damage and disruption to your daily routine. We know this is a time of rebuilding as a community and a region, and I know there are much more important things going on in Southwest Florida right now than my latest column.

My topic, by chance, for this issue was already going to be rodents, because with Autumn’s arrival over a month ago and temperatures beginning to dip, rodents begin looking for the three things they need to thrive: food, water and harborage.

However, as many are all too aware already following Ian, the slightest tropical disturbance can cause structural damage favorable to rodents looking for shelter or an increase in rodent population once commercial activity returns after a storm.

Rats are active mostly at night. They have poor eyesight, but they make up for this with their keen senses of hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Rats constantly explore and learn, memorizing the locations of pathways, obstacles, food and water, shelter, and features of their environment. They quickly detect and tend to avoid new objects and novel foods. Thus, they often avoid traps and baits for several days or more follow ing their initial placement.

Rats have oversized front teeth for gnawing and check teeth, which are adapted for chewing. Rodents chew on a variety of items available to them and cause great damage in and around homes. Rats will eat just about anything, but they prefer grains, meats and some fruits. Rats will eat about 10 percent of their body weight every day.

Rats generally live about a year, but can live much longer in ideal conditions. They eat and contaminate food, damage structures and property, and transmit parasites and diseases to other animals and humans.

One of the most common rats in the United States, the Norway rat is extremely adaptive and does well in a variety of human habitats including densely populated cities. Norway rats (also called brown or sewer rats) are large, burrowing rodents. Norway rats can undermine building foundations and slabs with their burrowing activities. They can gnaw on all types of materials, including soft metals such as copper and lead, as well as plastic and wood. They require water to drink, and place their colony as close to a water source as possible. They have limited agility, but are excellent swimmers.

In addition, Roof rats, also known as Palm rats, are generally smaller, sleeker, and slightly slimmer than Norway rats. Roof rats typically have light black to brown fur on their bodies with lighter underbellies. As their name indicates, roof rats prefer to nest high above the ground in trees, tall overgrown shrubs, or dense vegetation such as ivy. They often can be seen at night running along overhead utility lines or fence tops. These rats move faster than Norway rats, have an excellent sense of balance, and are very agile climbers. They often access homes by running along tree branches, cables or wires. They are typically found in attics, walls, false ceilings, and cabinets. Roof rats can cause considerable structural damage in homes with their gnawing and nest-building activities as they chew on wood and wires. Roof rats are especially fond of avocados and citrus, and they often eat fruit that is still on the tree.

Infestations in or surrounding a home can prove extremely destructive. Different species are known for different nesting and feeding behaviors, but infestations cause damage to gardens and yards, as well as to the home and the contents. For this reason, it is best to be consistently on the lookout for signs of rodent presence. These include:

• Rat droppings, especially around human or pet food or in or around trash areas;

• Noises in the dark, such as scratching sounds from the attic;

• Nests or piled nesting materials in hidden areas such as behind boxes or in drawers in the garage or near a firewood stack;

• Evidence of gnawing of wires or structural wood;

• Burrows around the yard particularly among plants or damaged vegetables; beneath the garbage can; under the home or outbuildings; or gnawed fruits in trees; and

• Smudge marks caused by the rats rubbing their fur against beams, rafters, pipes, and walls.

If your rodent problem becomes overwhelming, seek professional pest control help.

(Anna Wallace is the Manager for Truly Nolen in Naples. Her service office can be reached at (239) 643-2555. Founded in 1938, Tucson-based Truly Nolen of America (www.tru lynolen.com) is one of the largest family-owned pest control companies in the United States. To learn about our Rodent capabilities, please visit https://www.trulynolen.com/rodent-control/.)

Is Your Rodent Control Not Doing It’s Job?

Call Now!

Receive a FREE inspectionand this great offer.

*Applicable to new annual service agreement.

MCA celebrates 10 years

By Michael Sobol, MCA President

OnNov. 15, 2012, a group of men gathered at the Jewish Federation offices of to discuss the formation of a men’s group like that of the WCA. Items on the agenda that day included: Purpose/Structure/ Content; name of group; ideas, suggestions; questionnaires; and signup sheets.

An opening luncheon was scheduled for Dec. 17, 2012 at Brio at Waterside Shops. This luncheon was limited to the first 60 men who RSVP’d. (See accompanying announcement.)

Among the names that were discussed for the group were NAPLES “MEL”

(Men Enjoying Leisure), “GEL”

(Gentlemen

Enjoying Leisure) and “MCA” (Men’s Cultural Alliance). To stay consistent within the Federation, the name Men’s Cultural Alliance was selected. The original group included Steve Brazina,

M

IS HAVING

FIRST LUNCHEON EVENT

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2012 AT NOON

ROOM WATERSIDE SHOPS

Les Nizin, Steve Weiss, Dick Janger, Mitch Dannenberg, Dan Kamm, Meir Kehila, Dick Lechtner and me.

From an initial base of 83 members, over 1,100 men have joined MCA during the past 10 years. Today, our membership hovers right around 700.

MCA programming has grown as well. Today, MCA offers dozens of programs including eight discussion groups, 10 sporting groups, 20 tours and trips, six luncheons, weekly breakfasts, dinearounds, volunteer opportunities, a highly

regarded documentary film program, and more. We have become the premier men’s organization in the Greater Naples area.

As we begin our 11th season, MCA continues to look at new ways we can provide opportunities for the men of the Jewish community of Greater Naples. New ideas and new volunteers are always welcome. Contact me at president@ MCANaples.org if you would like to get involved.

Here’s to the next 10 years!

Fill your calendar with a bounty of MCA events

By Jeff Margolis

Why Me?

Zahn Tells

The FBI never found the answer; however, Mel has his own answer as to his kidnapping and the threat of imminent death. He will tell you his theory along with his planned escape after three days in captivity. He will tell you why he turned down appearances on the Dick Cavett show, the Wally Phillips Show, and Late Night with Ted Koppel and more. You also will hear the evidence he left at each place he was taken and why the thugs pleaded guilty. Join Mel for a return to the scene he has not visited since 1973.

Welcome

back! The new season is in full swing, and MCA invites you to meet up with friends and make new ones as numerous programs and activities welcome you.

MCA’s Welcome Back Kickoff luncheon will take place on Thursday, Nov. 10, 11:30 a.m. at the Audubon Country Club. Our guest speaker will be MCA member Mel Zahn, who will share his incredible personal story, “Why Me?” The cost for the luncheon is $37 for members. Please make your reservation through the MCA Wildapricot link.

Upcoming activities and events

Below is just a partial list of activities and events taking place during the month of November.

Join in, learn something new and contribute to the conversation.

The Brazina Documentary Film series is pleased to announce its first program of the season.

“The Levys of Monticello” is a film about the Levy family who preserved Thomas Jefferson’s estate in Virginia for nearly a century. The film will be shown at Temple Shalom on Tuesday, Nov. 1 from 1 to 3 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made through the MCA website.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 9 a.m., the MCA Birding Group will get together. Walks usually take about an hour and a half and are held throughout Collier County. Bring a good pair of binoculars. For more information, contact group leader Alan Gordon at agordon@ comcast.net.

Also on Nov. 8, at 12:30 p.m., the Science Discussion Group will hold its monthly meeting via Zoom. The program leaders are Bob Davidson and Mel Kaplan. This month’s topic is “Climate Change,” and the featured speaker will be Certified Consulting Meteorologist H. Michael Mogil.

The Lifestyle-Health Discussion Group will get together via Zoom on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.

The discussion will center on pollutants that are killing us.

The MCA Book Discussion Group will meet, via Zoom, on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 2:30 p.m. The book for this month is “Th e Latecomers” by Jean Korelitz. The book examines the saga of an affluent family. For more information, please contact Stan Farb at stan4mignon@ earthlink.net.

The MCA Financial Health Discussion Group will meet Friday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. via Zoom. The guest speaker will be attorney Casey Wolf, who will discuss Florida domicile. For information, contact Michael Feldman at mfeldman@ farrmiller.com.

Steve Schreier returns to MCA for his twice-a-season update, “Israel Between Wars,” on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 10:30 a.m. This event will take place at Beth Tikvah synagogue, 1459 Pine Ridge Road.

MCA member Ron Mutchnik leads his Current Issues program on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. via Zoom. The topic will be “Poles Apart – Can Politics Survive the era of Hyper-Partisanship?” Check the link for this event on the MCA website.

The Men’s Medical Seminar continues its programming on Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m. The featured speaker will be Arthur Boshnack, MD, who will discuss irritable bowel syndrome and other GI issues. The program leaders are Chuck Segal and Mel Kaplan.

Save the date

The Annual MCA Menorah Lighting and Comedy Night will take place Tuesday evening, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. with guest comedian Keith Barany. Please note the new location is Temple Shalom. Check the weekly e-blast for more details.

MCA Hockey Night returns. After a two-year hiatus, the Kelly Cup champion Florida Everblades will face off against the Jacksonville IceMen on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m. at Hertz Arena. Stay tuned for more details.

Happy Thanksgiving to all MCA members and their families.

Kidnapping Story for the First

EN ENJOYING LEISURE AN AFFINITY GROUP OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF COLLIER

Helping seniors after Hurricane Ian

Faffer President/ CEO

Ioftenwait until the last minute to write my articles for our Senior Center newsletter and the Federation Star. I think about what I will write for days before and then, at the very last minute (or later), sit down at my computer. This process always serves me well. However, not this time.

For the November issue of Federation Star, I had planned to tell you about events that are taking place in December and January for Naples Senior Center. One will benefit our veterans’ programs and the other is our annual signature fundraising event, An Evening for Better Tomorrows, on Jan. 14, 2023. Ian had other plans.

Instead, I will share with you some of the emergency services Naples Senior Center staff is providing to seniors who have been left stranded, in shelters, during and after the storm.

We are currently working with eight seniors who have completely lost their

homes. We have been able to relocate some with friends and relatives, and others have temporarily been housed in motels around the county, at our cost, until more permanent housing can be found.

One, a 97-year-old woman who lives alone in one of our waterfront communities, has the funds for housing, but no understanding of how to go about the process. She was helped to move to one of our independent/assisted living communities. Without any family, fiercely independent and sharp, she insisted on the independent living apartments rather than assisted living. In her words, “I’m not that big on assistance.”

Over the next few days, I know we will be working on getting shelter and food to many seniors as well as totally vetted businesses to help them with clean-up and next steps. Just as our work with Irma survivors lasted a year and a half post Irma, we know our work with Ian survivors will last at least that long. Unfortunately, having done this five years ago, we now have the expertise.

Please let me know if you want to help by volunteering or making food pantry or financial donations. We are in this together, and I am thanking you in advance.

Stay safe and stay healthy.

Temple Shalom invites you…

By Jeanette Fischer, Temple Shalom Director of Communications

The following Temple Shalom events are open to everyone.

Soulful Shabbat

Friday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Join us for this popular Shabbat evening service conducted entirely in song and accompanied by the Temple Shalom Band.

Shabbat ShaPLAY

Saturday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m.

Join Rabbi Boxman for Shabbat ShaPLAY! We will meet at a park and enjoy a fun morning of song, dance and play! All families are welcome. Each family will receive a bag with snacks, drinks, musical instruments and a picnic blanket. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/ShaPlay.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Sunday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Drop off nonperishable food items in the parking lot of Temple Shalom, benefiting the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Foodie Films

Sunday, Nov. 13 at 12:30 p.m.

Join Cantor Donna Azu to watch the film, “Hummus!,” followed by a hummus-making demonstration and a delicious feast of several different types of Israeli hummus

and salads as well as a variety of breads and baklava catered by chef Dalia Hemed. The cost is $30 per person. RSVP by Nov. 3 to tinyurl.com/TSDFoodieFilm.

Sisterhood Luncheon & Fashion Show

Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 11:30 a.m.

Come see the latest in hair trends, makeup and fashion. See the ad in this issue of Federation Star (page 8A) for more information.

Torah Talk

Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.

Join this lay-led discussion of the week’s Torah portion via Zoom. Please contact the Temple Shalom office at info@naples temple.org for the Zoom link.

Jewish Yoga

Mondays at 10:30 a.m.

Join yoga teacher Missy Balsam as she guides you through an all-levels gentle yoga stretch session interwoven with Jewish spiritual teachings via Zoom.

Designed to relieve stress and calm the mind, this class will be practiced lying down and seated on the floor. Open to all, no experience necessary. The cost is $54 for an 8-week session. Call the Temple Shalom office to register.

At the Museum

Susan Suarez President & CEO

AsI write this month’s column, our state has just gone through the devastating Hurricane Ian and its devastating effects. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered during the storm. For some, it will be a very long time until they recover, if ever. Our thanks to all the First Responders and those who have come in from all over the country to help us.

We are grateful that the Museum suffered only minor damage and was able to quickly reopen. We are also fortunate that we can continue with our long-planned November calendar of events. We hope, if circumstances permit, you will be able to join us for some or all the events below.

Movies That Matter Series

“Movies That Matter SWFL – The Steve Brazina Memorial Film Series” will continue this month. Steve Brazina, who passed away earlier this year, was the cofounder of “Movies That Matter Series.”

The screening and discussion of the film “APART” has been postponed due to the

hurricane’s impact on the availability of our panelists. The new date will be announced at a future time.

The film, “Redlining,” will continue as scheduled and requires advance registration. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at www.HMCEC.org. The film will be shown at 6 p.m. at Paragon Theaters – Pavilion, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Please arrive by 5:45 p.m. to be seated. Here’s a little something about the film:

• “Redlining” Wednesday, Nov. 9

The film explores the discriminatory real estate practice of “redlining” — marking off certain areas in order to racially segregate neighborhood housing sales. Its use over the years contributed to built-in inequality in the development of U.S. cities and suburbs. The film presents the impact of redlining on several Midwestern families. It also reviews the lasting effects of this federal policy. Panelists to be announced.

Many thanks to the sponsors of this year’s series. As of Oct. 12, they are:

Sustainer Sponsor: Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP

Supporter Sponsors: Rhonda Brazina, FineMark National Bank &

Trust Company and Habitat for Humanity of Collier County

Patron Sponsors: Barbara Kanter, Jenny and Mel Kaplan, Marci Margolis, Ida and Jeff Margolis and Alys Morande “Movies That Matter – The Steve Brazina Memorial Film Series” is presented by GenShoah SWFL, Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, Jewish Community Relations Council, Naples United Church of Christ and Temple Shalom.

Lecture at Artis—Naples Baker Museum

You are invited to attend a special lecture on the new exhibition, Envisioning Evil: “The Nazi Drawings” by Mauricio Lasansky, at the Artis—Naples Baker Museum. The art lecture will take place on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. We are honored to be collaborating with Artis—Naples Baker Museum on this event. For more information on tickets, please visit www.HMCEC.org.

Annual Community Kristallnacht Commemoration

Th is year marks the 84th Anniversary of Kristallnacht, considered to be the beginning of the Holocaust. The annual community commemoration will be Sunday, Nov. 6, 2:30 p.m. at Temple Shalom in Naples. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at www. jewishnaples.org.

Join Us for The Luncheon

Wednesday, December 7, 2022 11:30am 2:00pm At an exclusive private club in Naples, FL

The guest speaker is Holocaust historian, Dr. Suzanne Brown-Fleming, the director of International Academic Programs, Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at USHMM. Her topic will be “November 1938: Perspectives from the Vatican Archives.” For more information, visit www.naplestemple.org.

The program is sponsored by the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County, the Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Collier County, the Diocese of Venice in Florida, GenShoah of SWFL and our Museum. For more information, please contact CJDialogue@naples.net.

David Nelson Lecture Series

Museum Education Specialist David Nelson is presenting a series of three lectures based on his film series, “Heroes and Heroines of the Holocaust.” Admission is free, but reservations are required. Please visit www.hmcec.org to RSVP. The lectures will take place at the Museum from 11 a.m. to noon. The dates, speakers and topics are as follows:

Tuesday, Nov. 15 – “Carl Lutz, Dangerous Diplomacy”

Tuesday, Nov. 29 – “Bill Spira, The Story of a Survivor”

Tuesday, Dec. 13 – “Varian Fry, The Artists’ Schindler”

Coming in December

Please join us for our annual winter fundraiser, The Luncheon. It will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at an exclusive private club. The program will include a special presentation by author/actor Tom Dugan. He will perform excerpts from his stirring one-man play, “Wiesenthal.” The play is based on the life of the famous Holocaust survivor, Simon Wiesenthal. Sponsorships are available. For more information and tickets, please visit www.hmcec.org.

We wish you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for, especially this year. Please note the Museum will closed for the holiday on Thursday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov. 25.

Yiddish words for Thanksgiving Day

By Sol Awend, GenShoah SWFL

Der Daank Toog

Pronunciation: Der DAANK-Toog

Meaning: Thanksgiving Day

Geh brooteneh karh-toffeln

Featuring Author/Actor Tom Dugan performing excerpts of his award winning one man play, Wiesenthal, based on the life of Holocaust Survivor and Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal

Tickets are $150.00, and Sponsorship Packages are available. Visit www.HMCEC.org for details.

Thank you to our Sponsors as of 10 12 22:

Remembrance Sponsor: Maureen and Arnold Lerner; Estelle and Stuart Price Hope Sponsor: Suzanne and Norman Cohn

Special thanks to

In a sentence: Dee ganseh familyeh kimp’t off Der Daank Toog!

The whole family is coming for Thanksgiving Day!

Far-tec’h

Pronunciation: FAR-tec’h

Meaning: Apron

In a sentence: Tee oop ah far-tec’h ahz dee zolls’t nisht veren fah-c’haazet.

Put on an apron so you won’t get dirty.

Indik

Pronunciation: IN-dik

Meaning: Turkey

In a sentence: Ih deh indik shoin fertig?

Is the turkey done?

Pronunciation: Geh-BROO-teneh kar-TOFFELN.

Meaning: Roasted potatoes

In a sentence: Ich hob zayeh leeb geh brooteneh karh-toffeln!

I like roasted potatoes very much!

Oy! Ich hob t’zee fill geh-gessen!

Pronunciation: Oy! Ich HOB T’ZEE fil geh-GESS.

Meaning/In a sentence: Oh! I ate too much!

Deh bowec’h tit meh vy!

Pronunciation: Deh BOW-ec’h tit meh VY!

Meaning/In a sentence: (literally The) My stomach is hurting me!

By Ida Margolis and Shelley Lieb

In our last column, we were all about starting anew, gathering information and recruiting members. We’re about recruiting for a number of reasons: 1) our area continues to welcome new residents;

2) some 2Gs (children of Holocaust survivors) make a decision to find out more about their family history; 3) the birth of grandchildren can affect a person’s perspective on both the past and the future; 4) and people talking to people.

You are welcome to join us, even if you are not technically a 2G but want to find out more about the legacy of that historical event or participate in the programs put together by GenShoah-SWFL. Most programs are open and advertised through the Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education Center’s website (https:// hmcec.org/), the Federation Star and local synagogues.

As GenShoah-SWFL gets running again, we pulled together a committed group to form a coordinating committee. From this group, we gathered information about priorities for now and the near future. What emerged from this discussion was definitely informative.

Among the chords commonly struck was the issue of antisemitism in our community. Since the recent incidents of antisemitic leaflets dropped in various neighborhoods, this was not unexpected. Our local Jewish leaders and law enforcement agencies have expressed disdain for the events, indicating investigations

are under way. Since this scenario occurred around the country, it appears a national organization is the cause. Many news outlets covered this sad story and then, it goes away until the next incident happens.

Th e question that remains is, “What can we do as individuals to combat these incidents of hate mongering?” Many people saw these leaflets. Some were just tossed away. Some were turned in to law enforcement. Isn’t there something that each individual could actually do? Is there an action that signals a “not in my community” response?

Maybe we could publicly shred the leaflets. It is a topic worth exploring.

Another potent topic is fighting the distortion of Holocaust history. “We are the living connection,” said one of the comments.

Th ere are a number of GenShoahSWFL involvements at the Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education Center in Naples that tackle this topic and should be strengthened. A few years ago, a call was put out to all 2Gs to write a narrative about their parents’ experience in the Holocaust. There are 14 stories now posted on the Museum’s website. These stories are enhanced with archival pictures

and artifacts to become a platform for 2Gs to speak publicly about their family’s Holocaust history, bringing real, lived history to replace distortion.

Just this summer, two Collier County educators and a Florida doctoral student were included on an educator’s Holocaust training study trip to Europe. Th ey will bring visual and historical reality to replace distortion. Th ese teachers’ experiences will have an impact on their students, their colleagues and the Greater Naples community.

If you have Yiddish in your past (or not), GenShoah-SWFL is inviting you to join Sol Awend and Felicia Anchor in the near future. They are putting together a Yiddish group that will meet at the Museum. Did you notice the Yiddish that Sol has shared in this very newspaper? More information to come on this topic.

Local events

The following are a few local events of interest:

Movies That Matter-Steve Brazina Memorial Film Series, Oct. 19, Nov. 2 and Nov. 9. https://hmcec.org/

Kristallnacht Commemoration Collier County, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2:30 p.m. at

Temple Shalom, 4630 Pine Ridge Road, Naples. Reservations not needed

Kristallnacht Commemoration Lee County, Th ursday, Nov. 10, 4-6 p.m. at Shell Point Tribby Center, 13921 Shell Point Plaza, Ft. Myers http://www. jewishfederationlcc.org/jewish-federationof-lee--charlotte-counties-event-calendar/ kristallnacht-we-remember

David Nelson Lecture Series at HMCEC, Starts Nov. 15, noon-1 p.m. https://hmcec.org/

The Luncheon, Wednesday, Dec. 7, featuring author/actor Tom Dugan and his play “Weisenthal.” https://hmcec.org/ GenShoah Annual Potluck Dinner, Sunday, Dec. 18. More information to come

Jewish Book Festival of Greater Naples presents some Holocaust-related books. www.jewishnaples.org

• “Coco at the Ritz” by Giola Diliberto – Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. via Zoom

• “Th e Letters Project” by Eleanor Riessa – Monday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. at Beth Tikvah and via Zoom

• “Overture of Hope” by Isabel Vincent – Thursday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. via Zoom

Book Discussions at South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples; registration information TBA.

• “The Christmas Menorahs” by Janice Cohn – Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m.

• “Irena’s Children” by Tilar Mazzeo – Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m.

Ida Margolis and Shelley Lieb

Evolve Hadassah designed to engage youth

Joyce Toub Collier/Lee Hadassah President

Themost recent Hadassah Magazine discusses restoring the bedrock of Hadassah activism. We are talking about our youth. We want them to take a more active role in today’s Hadassah. We don’t want one generation’s strength to eclipse the younger generations. Our average age of doers has increased steadily along with our lifespan.

We need younger members involved in Hadassah to add a new dimension and restore the age profile because they add a tremendous amount to Hadassah.

“Evolve Hadassah” is a new program seeking to engage and empower our youth. This will ensure Hadassah’s future so our programs, projects and advocacy for medical research, women’s issues, combating antisemitism, combating all hate and supporting Israel will continue. Engage your daughters, nieces and friends.

Our upcoming event on Oct. 24 is a Zoom discussion led by Janet Hoffman of the League of Women Voters. The general election is coming soon, with 435 house

seats and 34 Senate seats up for election. Educate yourselves and make a voting plan because you make a difference!

Join us Nov. 15 at Imperial Golf Club, where we will have our Welcome Back Meeting featuring “The Satisfactions of Creativity” and “Th e Artistic Vendor Showcase.”

On Dec. 4, we will acknowledge our major givers at a special event at Olde Cypress Country Club in Naples. Our keynote speaker will be Naomi Adler, the new CEO of National Hadassah. She will relate the latest from Hadassah’s mid-November 100th convention in Jerusalem. The event is open to Keepers of the Gate, requiring a minimum annual

Bringing out the best in people

Marina Berkovich JHSSWF President

Iwasgoing to use this month’s column to tell you about various ghettos I visited in Italy and to draw parallels between factors affecting the well-being of European Jewry in light of expanding antisemitism, but an event closer to home diverted my plans. Most likely, yours too. Its name was Ian. As I sat in the stairwell of my apartment listening to the howling winds, I made involuntary mental comparisons to the Italian ghettos I just visited in Bologna, Ferrara, Padua and Venice; The Pale of Settlement; and the September 29-30, 1941 Babiy Yar Massacre, i.e., manmade sequestration, persecution and extermination of Jews.

The unstoppable force of nature that was about to descend upon our tranquil little paradise was an act of God over which man has no control whatsoever. In the face of it, we had only one true resource – faith.

The devastating events unfolded tragically for Southwest Florida, leaving many flooded, homeless and scared. You have heard so many stories and witnessed so much heartbreak, I will not repeat. In the aftermath, those of us who were dry counted our blessings. Those who sat atop their roofs waiting for a coast guard rescue, asked why.

Why is one person spared and another drowned? Why was one family left unscarred, but another lost their home, cars, businesses? Why? Who gets to choose? Certainly, not man.

Man can decide to restrict or free another man, to rebuild or move away, to cry or laugh in the face of disaster. Man has no say or power to affect hurricanes or most other events of nature.

Tributes

Man has the power to not start a war with another man, to elect only the most intelligent and capable leaders, to determine how to treat other men, and if, when and how he will help fellow men.

In the free world, we are not under any obligation to help others. But hurricanes in Southwest Florida also tend to bring out the best in people. They help each other clean up, share meals, feed first responders, applaud the linemen and graciously share shelter and supplies with less fortunate neighbors.

That is how Americans have always impressed me, especially in comparison with the Eastern Europeans, the majority of whom have acquired an indifference to the sufferings of others, largely due to manmade disasters that turned even the kindhearted souls into “not gonna stick my neck out for anyone.”

I have been witnessing the love and respect Americans have for God and the power of his word. Southwest Floridians

donation of $1,000 and those who have made a $5,000 donation or more.

I encourage you to also delve into your latest Hadassah Magazine . Jamie Lee Curtis restores her father’s (Tony Curtis) parents’ synagogue in Hungary. Hannah Horowitz reveals why Jewish women have reached new levels of academic success. Myra Sack shows how we grapple with loss to reach healing. Meet our new HMO Director General. Discover updates on research and development. Discover art, and pan through book reviews, travels and recipes. This is all at our fingertips.

I look forward to seeing you all in person very soon!

went to temples and churches Friday, Saturday and Sunday and prayed not only for their own skins but for help to their suffering brethren. There were meals and stories to share, and everyone agreed God is love.

You may now purchase memberships online or mail a check to Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida, 8805 Tamiami Trail North, Suite #255, Naples, FL 34108.

Family membership is $54; individual membership is $36; student membership is $18; and corporate sponsorship is $300.

We can be reached at 833-547-7935 (833-JHS-SWFL), www.jhsswf.org or office@jhsswf.org. The Virtual Museum of SWFL Jewish History is located online at http://jewishhistorysouthwest florida.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.

JEWISH HISTORICAL

Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. (V)

Thursday, Nov. 17 at 2 P.M. (V)

Schedule

Gioia Diliberto

Richard Rabinowitz

Wednesday, Nov. 30 at noon (V)

Daniel Grunfeld

Monday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. (P/V) – Eleanor Reissa

Thursday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. (V) – Jen Spyra

Wednesday, Jan. 4 at noon (P/V) – Cathy Barrow

Thursday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. (V)

Friday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. (V)

Isabel Vincent

Eileen Kathy Pollack

Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. (P/V) – Marjorie Margolies

Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. (P/V) – Shaunna Edwards and Alyson Richman

Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. (V) – Lori Banov Kaufmann

Friday, Mar. 3 at 1 p.m. (V) – Mallory Smith with speaker Diane Smith

Tuesday, Mar. 14 at 2 p.m. (V) – Erica Katz

Wednesday, Mar. 22 at 2 p.m. (P/V) – Jen Maxfield and Ira Rosen

Expectations for the Jewish Book Festival

By Gayle Dorio, Jewish Book Festival Chair

Presents, who doesn’t like presents?

And so, it begins! Last month, many people told me the pull-out section detailing the Book Festival in the October issue of Federation Star was colorful, informative and exciting. This month, in addition to news about the JBF, a bookmark is included in your issue. A present! They just keep coming! In fact, each event should feel like a gift, one we know you will enjoy. We designed the bookmark a few months ago and ordered enough that everyone received one in this November issue, and we have more to give away.

Yes, we know it’s “only” a bookmark, and you probably already have some … but giving a present is more than the item itself. It shows one cares about the recipient; planning and thought went into what to give. One hopes the gift is well received, maybe gets a smile. I hope you know that each and every one of you is important to us and we consider you a gift!

The English language is tricky, as you know. The word, “present,” for example. As a noun, it can mean a gift or a time period – we enjoy the present, try not to worry about the future and don’t stay stuck in the past. As a verb, one can present a speaker, present a play or just present oneself. Throughout the JBF, we will be treated to authors who master the English

language and create/present books for us to enjoy, thought provoking and eye opening in many cases.

We have a very supportive and philanthropic community, helping the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center become a reality as well as supporting the temples and community projects. All that you do makes the Greater Naples area truly special. We really appreciate all the sponsors and patrons! Thank you! Our goal is to continue to present JBF for years to come, increasing the number of patrons who support us each year. It would be wonderful if everyone would choose to become a patron!

Three events take place this month. Nov. 1, our first JBF event features Gioia

Diliberto who will tell us about her book, “Coco at the Ritz.” Richard Rabinowitz discusses “Objects of Love and Regret” on Nov. 17 and Dan Grunfeld will present “By the Grace of the Game” on Nov. 30.

There will be two events in December, three in January, three in February and three in March. In total, we will have 14 events, nine on Zoom and five in person with livestreaming capability. COVID-19 is not completely gone. It seems likely that we will treat it similar to the flu, with an inoculation needed yearly. How fortunate we are to have vaccines. And, how fortunate we are to have technology that keeps us together. We look forward to having some events at the new Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center as soon as it is completed. Please join us for all the events!

Perhaps some of you remember Gloriana the Great, the greatest fortune teller in all the land?

Gloriana has made an appearance at several JBF events. She graciously agreed to help when I explained my idea regarding how

to open the JBF season. I asked if she had seen the television show, “Saturday Night Live,” where a famous celebrity comes on at the beginning, does their schtick for a while and then, with great fanfare, says, “It’s Saturday Night!”

I told her I tried to fi nd a famous celebrity to start the book festival in this way, first contacting Jada Pinkett Smith, who said she had to check with her husband and would get back to me. When I didn’t hear anything, I contacted Kim Kardashian, who turned me down, saying she didn’t have anything appropriate to wear. Then, I called Barbra Streisand. And yes, Streisand said, “Jews, of course I will come!” I was so excited. But then, the Supreme Court made some ruling that caused Streisand to get all upset and she said she was unavailable.

Even though we all know Gloriana is not the most famous celebrity, she was available. And so, Gloriana will be the one to say, “It’s the 8th Annual Jewish Book Festival!”

Please join us!

More members of the Jewish Book Festival Committee

By Gayle Dorio, Jewish Book Festival Chair

Iran out of room in my column last month about our interesting, hardworking, wonderful committee members and thought you would enjoy reading about what a few more of them had to say about themselves:

Judith Finer Freeman

• I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a place where there is a thriving Jewish community.

• I wrote a book in 2010 on the new (at the time) generation in the workplace.

• My favorite book is “D-Day” by Stephen Ambrose. It reads like fiction but sadly it’s not fiction. It’s very educational.

Carol Hirsch

• I authored a linguistic reader workbook (in 1978).

• I play flute and piccolo.

• I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 22.

• My favorite book of all time is “Gone with the Wind.”

Nancy Wiadro

• I was a Curved Bar Girl Scout who spent many, many summers digging latrines, putting up tents, cooking on a fire and camping in the woods or by lakes (including the very lake where our granddaughter was just married).

• I sang in my childhood Temple’s choir from age 13 to adulthood while hearing my grandfather and father blow the shofar.

• I taught myself to play an acoustic guitar and performed folk songs in France, Connecticut and Boston, often in harmony with my sister, Jane.

• My favorite book is “The Weight of Ink” by Rachel Kadish.

Lenore Greenstein

• I was the nutrition editor, food and wine writer and lifestyle journalist for the Naples Daily News and, before that, in Jacksonville, Florida and Dayton, Ohio.

• I was nutrition consultant at Canyon Ranch Health Spa in the Berkshires, and count Joanne Woodward and Mary Tyler Moore as my former clients.

• I did my master’s thesis in food science on the best way to cook broccoli to retain all of its nutrients!

• I am a hopeless romantic, so “Gone with the Wind” is the first book I absolutely loved!

Phil Jason

• I am the author of some 20 books.

• My academic work has been published in dozens of journals.

• I maintain a strong connection with Beth Tikvah of Naples, a conservative synagogue for which my wife Ruth and I are founding members.

• I have had columns in several local newspapers.

• I ran the first annual Jewish Book Festival in Collier County.

• One of my favorite Jewish books is “The Ruined House” by Ruby Namdar.

Ida Margolis

• I was an elected office holder in New Jersey.

• I received a lovely, personal handwritten letter from President Richard Nixon after sending him reports my students had written about his excellent book, “Leaders.”

• I read banned books.

• My favorite book is “Words that Hurt, Words that Heal” by Joseph Telushkin

We are truly blessed to have such talent on our committee!

Please pardon the error

In the October committee member article, when Carole Greene provided the name of her favorite book, she mistakenly indicated the author’s last name and has asked that it be corrected for the record.

“A Prayer for Owen Meany” was beautifully written by John Irving.

Gloriana the Great with her crystal ball

When basketball is in your blood

By Carole J Greene

Ilivednearly half my life in Indiana, where, as most of the world knows, basketball is the favorite sport. When I saw that this season’s Jewish Book Festival would off er a book that blended NBA basketball with the struggle for immigrants to adapt to their new country and, at the same time, feature Holocaust survivors, I had to read it. I was not disappointed.

Author Dan Grunfeld intertwines three generations of the Grunfeld family on a journey that would not have been possible without the sport of basketball. After his father, Ernie, and himself, Dan needs only a few fi ngers to count the number of Jews who ever managed to make it to the NBA. Lovers of the game will recognize their names, alongside other stars Ernie and Dan played with or against. Dan goes into loving detail about his association with Larry Bird, whom he worships.

But this book is far more than a true story about the grueling work and lucky opportunities necessary to become a professional athlete. It weaves its way through the lives of grandparents who survived the Holocaust and eventually made their way from communist Romania, through Israel, to the U.S. How they risked their lives to flee Romania is a story itself worth an entire book. Be sure to ask Dan

how comedian Buddy Hackett fits into this.

Dan switches seamlessly from the grandparents’ tale to the challenges his father had to conquer as an underdeveloped teen newly emigrated to Queens, who was bullied because he couldn’t speak English. Basketball becomes his salvation. As he grows in stature and skills, Ernie discovers that basketball is his ticket to the American dream. The sport that saved him from bullies earns him college scholarships, an Olympic gold medal and a significant career in the NBA.

Dan follows in his father’s footsteps, becoming a high-scoring star in college, sure to be drafted by the NBA — until disaster strikes. (No spoiler from me. Read the book!)

Dan’s love and respect for his grandparents, Anyu and Apu, form the foundation of his work ethic. If they could labor for seven 12-hour days per week in their New York City fabric shop, he could find the energy and persistence to train his

way back to the basketball court after that disaster. Maybe not to the NBA yet — baby steps first — but on European teams that took him to Spain and, surprise!, his family’s original home country, Romania. How that happens is fascinating.

Ernie spent a significant amount of his NBA time associated with the New York Knicks, first as a player, then in management. Dan recalls with humor and love being a little kid at the Knicks’ worksite — Madison Square Garden — following his dad everywhere, as if to absorb the grace of the game into his own DNA. It is not mere luck that paves the way for Dan, years later, to play for his beloved Knicks.

Throughout the book, Dan returns often to the nurture he received from his grandparents. Not only does Anyu make

sacrifices in order to attend his games, she cooks his favorite Hungarian recipes for any meal he can arrange to get to. At first, I wished Dan had translated the Hungarian names for those foods, so I’d know the recipes that meant so much to him. But after a while, I understood that my not knowing the Hungarian is akin to Ernie’s struggles with the language when he first came to the U.S. as a kid. Smart writing, Dan!

This book is full of smart writing. It cruises along in storytelling mode then slips in a lyrical turn of phrase that underscores Dan’s skills as a writer. Be sure to read the acknowledgments, where he pays tribute to the oft-forgotten folks who midwife a book into life.

review

Dan Grunfeld’s

A review of Dan Grunfeld’s “By the Grace of the Game”

A special Thank You to our Patrons

PLATINUM

Patti Bloom

Pete Bloom

Sue Bookbinder

Gayle Dorio Susie Goldsmith

Larry Israelite Pamela Karll

Emily Berkowitz Penni Blaskey Libbie Bramson Cipora Brown Terri David Louise Forman Spencer Forman Susan Garelick Jan Goldman Diane Goldstein Carole Greene

Tracy Askotzky Harvey Becker Joan Becker Lea Bendes Carole Berkowitz Paula Blachman Beverly Blazar Rosalee Bogo Patti Boochever Tim Broms Diane Clarke Ann Cowen Sandy Diamond Marty Dorio Benjamin Dubin Sheila Frank Priscilla Gerber Molly Getnick Heidi Gilbert Mel Goldfine

Anna Levin Leda Lubin

Robin Mintz

Jackie Paulson Susan Pittelman

Stuart Price

Estelle Price

SILVER

Sherry Greenfield Linda Grusin Ronna Hain Linda Hamburger Carol Hirsch

Judy Isserlis Bobbie Katz Fran Kroll Debbie Laites Bernie Lashinsky Dana Lefkowitz Gayle Levy

BRONZE

Hannah Goodman Arlene Griff Susan Hager Lee Henson Deborah Hermalyn Janet Herring Burton Hirsch Susan Horowitz Susan Jordan Toby Kosloff Barbara Kushnir Judi Lazan Lynette Lederman Linda Lerner Arlene Levin Hilda Levine Harriet Lickhalter Ida Margolis Harriet Matz Stephen McCloskey Sheila Mesulam

Audrey Meyer Rochelle Miller Elyse Morande Sara Newman Mary O’Haver Barbara Ostrolenk Judi Palay Karen Pam Judith C. Picus John Reiches Sue Reiver Deedee Remenick Muriel Rosenfeld Deborah Schreier Stephen Schreier Diane Schwartz Harriet Schweitzer Millie Sernovitz Linda Shapess Jane Shaw Anita Siegal

Judi Roth

Sam Roth Jane Schiff

Arlene Shapiro

Donald Shapiro Phyllis Strome

Marci Margolis Mae Riefberg Barbara Ross Jackie Sallade Z”L Iris Shur

Linda Singer Arlene Sobol Elaine Soffer Linda Wainick Leona Wreschner Judy Zahn

Linda Simon Shellie Specter Dan Spintman Judi Spintman Leslie Springman Hal Stein June Streisand Denise Sultan Ann Swartz Shira Swartz

Joan Vazakas Sydelle Weinberger Suellen Weiner Ellen Weisberg Goldie Wetcher Jack Wiadro Nancy Wiadro Barbara Winthrop Cathy Zacks

Greater Naples Jewish Book Festival is presented by © Jewish Federation

BAND

Jewish composers who made it big in Hollywood: Elmer Bernstein

By Arlene Stolnitz

Friday, February 3 at 7:00pm

Elmer

Bernstein? (Oh, you mean the one related to Leonard? No? Guess I’ve heard of him, but don’t know much about him ... something with Hollywood ... Yeah! … Just read he wrote film scores for movies and TV.)

In fact, the list of pictures Elmer Bernstein worked on numbered well over 200 and included a roll call of the classics in film. Names like “The Ten Commandments,” “The Age of Innocence,” “The Magnificent Seven,” “Ghostbusters,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Cape Fear,” “True Grit,” “Animal House,” “The Great Escape” and “My Left Foot,” just to name a few, which show his great musical versatility.

But we focus on Elmer Bernstein, the man, as we have in other columns in this series. Born in New York in 1922, his parents were Jewish Eastern European immigrants from Ukraine and the Austro-Hungarian empire. His father, Edward, was a teacher who emigrated to this country in 1915. Edward Bernstein settled in New York City where he married Selma, a dancer who immersed her son, Elmer, in the arts. As a dancer with Isadora Duncan, her infl uence on the young boy was enormous.

As a child, Bernstein’s activities were filled with creativity. He took dancing lessons, played the piano and won prizes for some of his paintings. At the age of 12, he started to focus on his piano playing skills. He won a scholarship, which led him to a teacher at Juilliard who recognized his talent. She eventually arranged for him to meet Aaron Copland who also saw his talent and arranged for him to study under Israel Citkowitz, a well-known composer and piano teacher of that time.

Later, Bernstein attended NYU, but his studies were interrupted by World War II. He was fortunate in being assigned to a Special Services unit where he was able to use his musical talents. It was here

that he received an assignment in arranging music for the ensemble of a young major, whose name became synonymous with the music of the 1940s, Glenn Miller.

Bernstein was the arranger for the Glenn Miller Orchestra until Miller, tragically, was lost over the English Channel during the war.

This, subsequently, led to Bernstein’s being asked to arrange music for the Armed Forces Radio. He also had the opportunity to compose an original score for the Army Air Corps radio show. By the time he left the service, he had composed over 80 such scores. In 1949, he composed a score for the United Nations Radio Service. The music for the program, narrated by Henry Fonda, was about the UN’s role in the Israeli armistice.

An interesting note I found was that Elmer Bernstein was known as “Bernstein West, while Leonard Bernstein was known as “Bernstein East.” This was to distinguish him from Leonard Bernstein, the NY Philharmonic conductor, with the same last name.

Another interesting anecdote was that Elmer pronounced his name “BernSTEEN” and Leonard preferred the Germanic pronunciation of “BernSTYNE.” Bernstein called the music he wrote for “To Kill a Mockingbird” his most favorite written score. Its subtlety and nuanced style won a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination. He attributed the style and elegance to his early mentor, Aaron Copland. The music from the movie can be heard on YouTube.

Elmer Bernstein died on August 18, 2004 at the age of 82, still actively composing music for films.

Arlene Stolnitz, a retired educator, has been a regular contributor to Federation papers in Southwest Florida. Her interest in all kinds of Judaic music has led to this series of articles.

Arlene Stolnitz

Orthodox police detective, The Fabelmans (really the Spielbergs) and much more Stars of David

Seascape at Naples Welcome Home.

Providing residents with a lifestyle they’ve earned and deserve

By Nate Bloom, Stars of David Contributing Columnist

ditor’s Note: Persons in bold are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of this column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in, or identify with, a faith other than Judaism. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish.

Set amidst warm, inviting, and sunny Naples, Fla., where the Gulf of Mexico’s turquoise waters meet white sand, Seascape at Naples is a premier senior living community providing residents with a rewarding, engaging lifestyle that promotes continued independent living. Managed by Virginia-based Retirement Unlimited, Inc. (RUI), the focus here is on innovation and customer service to provide residents with an atmosphere of life enrichment in a beautiful setting with a variety of care levels for independent living, assisted living, and memory care.

else mows the lawn, prepares meals, and cleans, so they can instead pursue leisure activities from RUI’s diverse Life Enrichment calendar.

“Tulsa King,” a series, begins streaming Nov. 13 on Paramount+. Sylvester Stallone (whose maternal grandfather was Jewish) stars as Dwight Manfredi, a NYC Mafia bigwig who has just finished a 25-year prison sentence. His boss sends him to Tulsa to establish a crime operation there. Not knowing anyone in Tulsa, Manfredi has to build his own “family.”

A Location That’s Easy to Call Home

“Th e Calling,” an 8-episode series, begins streaming Nov. 10 on Peacock. It is loosely based on “The Missing File,” a novel (2013) by Israeli Dror Mishani, 47. The central character of “The Calling” is NYPD detective Avraham Avraham. He is a special investigator in Crown Heights, a Brooklyn neighborhood where many Hasidic Jews live.

Residents and their families enjoy a variety of amenities and life enrichment within the Naples community and in surrounding areas with nearby upscale shopping in an historic downtown, countless dining options on the water or off, and numerous art galleries, museums, and cultural events.

Jeff Wilbusch , 34, plays Avraham. He told TV Guide, “His [Avraham’s] calling is solving missing persons and homicide cases through uncanny observational abilities.”

Living Options For Life’s Stages

Wilbusch, born Iftach Wilbuschewitz, was born and raised in Israel in a Hasidic family (he has 13 siblings!). He’s best known for playing Moishe Lefkovitch, a lead character in the hit Netflix series “Unorthodox.”

Retirement is a life stage meant to be treasured and enjoyed. Seascape at Naples strives to make these years rich with new experiences, while providing maintenance-free, independent-living that residents want, coupled with the thoughtful service they deserve.

Seascape’s multi-faceted property enables residents to mature in place with personalized Assisted Living available should needs change. This option combines an independent environment with available support services – including medication administration, meals, nursing care, activities, medical services, and transportation. Assisted Living benefits a wide variety of residents, whether someone needs minimal care or requires more help due to a medical event or impairment.

For residents with dementia, Seascape at Naples’ Inspiritás Memory Care offers an innovative and compassionate approach to a superior, quality living experience.

Max Casella , 55, plays Armand, Manfredi’s right hand man. Casella, whose father was Jewish, had a pretty big recurring role on “The Sopranos” as gangster Benny Fazio, a Soprano Mafia family member. Andrea Savage, 49, a quite talented actress best known for her comedic roles, has a “main cast” role as a federal ATF agent stationed in Tulsa.

Meaning “to infuse spirit and enliven quite so,” Inspiritás is RUI’s all-encompassing memory care culture and environment.

“Tulsa” was created by Taylor Sheridan, who also created the Paramount+ series “Yellowstone” and “1886.”

Here residents are set up to flourish, with a focus on wellness, life enrichment, diet –and most importantly – engagement for the resident and their families with the community’s environment and activities.

You probably won’t be able to catch “There There,” an indie film that has a limited theater release on Nov. 18. But try to watch it when outlets like HBO or Amazon show it, which they will. Writer/ director Andrew Bujalski, 45, has made seven indie films since 2005. All received good reviews. His most recent film, “Support the Girls” (2019), got a lot of attention and several awards. He’s the son of a Jewish mother and a Catholic father.

good reviews following a showing at the recent Venice Film Festival.

Signature Programs Deliver a Truly Enriched Life

Seascapes at Naples’ Signature Programs provide residents with a premiere experience, a life truly enriched, and a retirement unlimited. They include:

RUI FIT

After years of items in the Jewish and general media about Steven Spielberg’s film about his life, that movie, “The Fabelmans,” arrives in theaters on Nov. 12. Frankly, you’ll see so much about this film in every media outlet that I will just give you the “bare bones.” You’ll easily be able to read/see everything about this film “all over the place.”

Taste of RUI this fine-dining, restaurant-style experience combines sophisticated, elegant meals with exquisite cuisines in dining rooms featuring luxurious settings and an atmosphere driven by customer service. Additional, more casual dining options are also available.

this exclusive fitness and health program empowers residents to have fun while staying active through programs, a gym, and in collaboration with on-site physical, occupational, and speech therapists.

The film was directed by Spielberg and was co-written by Spielberg, 75, and Tony Kushner, 66.

Leash on Life a dog park and pet concierge services that include pet walking, bathing, feeding, and cleanup, because all RUI communities are pet-friendly.

Here’s the brief official description: “Growing up in post-WWII era Arizona, from age 7 to 18, a [Jewish] young man named Sammy Fabelman [think Spielberg] discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.”

Residential Living residents here enjoy their independence, while someone

Ben Shenkman, 54, a veteran character actor, has a supporting role as a rabbi. (Peacock only costs $5 a month with ads or $10 a month without ads).

Frankly, I think that the “Tulsa” premise, for too many reasons to mention here, is absurd. But maybe viewers won’t notice. “1886” got decent ratings and reviews despite a laughable premise. In the series’ first season, many important as well as lesser characters died trying to cross the country in a wagon train. The historical fact is that by 1886 they could have taken a much faster cross-country train for less than $20!

“There There” has been described as “a round robin of emotional two-character vignettes in which seven people reach out and bond momentarily, which sets the scene for the next encounter.” Molly Gordon, 26, and Jason Schwartzman, 42 (whose father was Jewish), play two of “the seven.” Gordon costarred in the TNT series “Animal Kingdom,” and she had big parts in the hit films “Booksmart” and “Shiva Baby.”

The Inspiritás team focuses on what the resident can do for themselves, and provides thoughtful support with knowledgeable coordination of services in spacious, inviting, state-of-the-art communal areas and private units, celebrating residents’ lives while maintaining their safety and comfort.

RUI University partnering with local colleges, universities, and museums, RUI University Fellows share their expert knowledge through this free, lifelong learning program for residents and the community.

“Bones and All” opens in theaters Nov. 23. It is not for everyone. The film follows cannibalistic lovers, Maren and Lee, as they embark on a road trip across Reaganera America. Timothee Chalamet, 26, plays Lee. Michael Stuhlberg, 54, has a large supporting role.

LUXE Unlimited Salon and Spa licensed professionals offer hair and nail services, skin care treatments, and massage therapy, and an exclusive brand of retail and apparel products.

You might call this film “high art horror.” It has an A-list star (Chalamet) and a top European director. “Bones” got very

Care Impact provides extra assistance to residents and family members with Ambassador and Companion Care Services that deliver personal assistance and guidance.

To learn more about the Seascape at Naples community, walk-in and scheduled tours are encouraged and can be arranged by calling 239.354.7081 or by visiting online at www.rui.net/ seascapeatnaples

Non-Jewish actors play Sammy’s mother, father and Sammy (respectively, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano and Gabriel LaBelle). Jewish actors with big parts include Seth Rogen, 40, as Sammy’s “honorary” uncle (a close family friend), Judd Hirsch, 87, as Sammy’s great-uncle, and Jeannie Berlin , 71, as Sammy’s paternal grandmother. By the way, Berlin’s mother, the great Elaine May, 90, is still “very much alive” in every sense.

Discover the lifestyle you have earned and deserve. With a broad portfolio of Signature Programs designed to deliver a truly enriched life, Seascape at Naples is a community that is easy to call home. rui.net /seascapea tnaples • 23 9.354.7081

Naples Fine Art Show moves to Paradise Sports Complex

Top art show producer moves Naples Fine Art Show from Italian American Club

Courtesy of HotWorks.org

After months of searching, Patty Narozny, founder of Hot Works Fine Art Shows, is moving her successful Naples show, formerly held at the Italian American Club, to the new Paradise Coast Sports Complex.

The decision to move an important local event is never easy. However, a number of factors at the previous location made it impossible to provide a great experience for both artists and attending art patrons.

Narozny took one look at the new show site and immediately knew her artists and patrons would love the beautiful park location.

Hot Works Fine Art Shows are consistently nationally recognized as one of the “Top 100 Art Fairs in America,” earning the loyal following of thousands of artists and patrons for her shows in Sarasota, Naples, Boca Raton and Estero/ Fort Myers.

Artists are on the road again this year, and the local art show season launches in Naples on Nov. 12 and 13 at Paradise Coast Sports Complex, featuring Smadar Livne, an award-winning artist born and raised in Israel. Livne creates unique and exciting works at her 2,500-square-foot studio in Owings Mills, Maryland. The mixed media acrylic on canvas paintings blends photography and imagination, and subtle messages are painted into each

piece, requiring time for observation and reflection. Her art hangs in many private homes, Jewish centers and synagogues around the world.

Educated at Haifa University in Israel, Livne has degrees in fine art, literature and architecture. A wife and mother of three talented girls, she also continues her education in Jewish studies and philosophy. In addition to her creative work, Livne enjoys traveling and time with family.

The show features quality fine art and crafts created by award-winning artists. You will find amazing paintings, sculptures and jewelry as well as authentically unique handmade gifts in clay, glass, fiber, wood and more – all made by top professional artists and available in a wide range of prices.

Youth Arts Competition

Narozny’s passion for encouraging young artists led her to create the Youth Arts Competition.

Young artists,

of the Most Important Skills a Trust Attorney Can Have Is Empathy.

Amanda works closely with her clients to understand their unique family dynamics. She empathizes with her clients and anticipates the pain a loss brings. Amanda focuses on what needs to be done now to alleviate the stress that financial affairs can add in times of loss, so her clients’ families don’t have to do so later. Amanda’s years of experience in estate planning, probate, and trust administration give her clients the peace of mind that their affairs are in her capable hands. Every estate plan that Amanda develops is a comprehensive approach to each client’s individual situation – just as we’ve done for our clients since 1924.

grades 6-12 or ages 9-19, are invited to exhibit at each show, learn about a career in art and compete for cash prizes and ribbons. Cash awards and ribbons are presented by the nonprofit Institute for the Arts & Education. Local young artists are encouraged to apply to exhibit before the deadline of Nov. 1, 2022.

Great food and entertainment, free admission and parking are all on tap for this event Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Optional donations support IA&E. For more information, go to Hotworks.org.

#Florida #Philanthropy #ArtMarketing

#FineArt #ArtShow #ArtEducation #artist

#art #handmade #artshows #artfairs #art festival #colliercounty #swfl #youthart competition #visualarts

IF YOU GO

Naples Fine Art Show

When: Nov. 12 & 13

Where: Paradise Coast Sports Complex (3940 City Gate Blvd S, Naples)

Great art, food, entertainment, free admission and parking Hotworks.org

Amanda M. Dorio Estate Planning and Trust Administration Member, Board of Directors, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

Smadar Livne

A drawer-full of memories and so much more Aging Jewishly – What our traditions teach us about growing old

By Rabbi Barbara Aiello

Have any of us ever been collectors?

Stamps? Baseball cards? Crystal? Coins? Shoes?

During the late 1700s and into the next century, aristocratic collectors roamed the world in search of fossils, shells, zoological specimens, rare books and works of art. Th ey kept their collections in special rooms called “cabinets of curiosities” and, on occasion, they would offer a private viewing of them to professional colleagues and friends.

These collectors included many Jewish families who amassed vast collections of paintings and sculptures, then shared their collections with their fellow citizens. The generosity and the civic-minded spirit of these Jewish families led to the formation of the very first museums in Europe.

So, if we’ve ever collected something, we are in good company — especially because many of us have collected a very common Jewish item. Our drawers are

fi lled with them and every year, we get a few more to add to our kippah or yarmulke collection.

Kippah or yarmulke? Which is correct? Both are.

Kippah is a Hebrew word and yarmulke is a Yiddish word that comes from the Hebrew.

Kippah means “dome,” and it originates from the evolution of the Jewish head covering that morphed into a little circular “dome” that we place on the top of our heads.

The word yarmulke is more complex. It is made up of two Hebrew words, “Yareh Malka,” that translates to “awe of the throne.” The Yareh Malka originated from the concept that we should wear a head covering to remind us of how important and how special it is to be in the presence of God. From there, the word evolved from “Yareh Malka” into the Yiddish, yarmulke!

Whether you say kippah or yarmulke, there is one thing we can agree on —

Water solutions fuel growth

By Penny Bustin, Ph.D., Chair WFI Greater Washington and Roni Wolk, Assistant VP National WFI Executive Board

The people of Israel have access to more and better sources of water.

And Israel’s next generation is learning the value of this critical resource through the JNF-USA supported Rainwater Harvesting School program. With JNF-USA’s support, more than 50 schools across Israel have systems that capture rain on school rooftops for reuse in flushing toilets and watering school gardens, yielding freshwater savings and reducing each school’s reliance on other sources of water by 77%. School children are involved in the planning and management of the system and participate in a dynamic educational curriculum that teaches them about Israel’s water crisis and the importance of conservation.

In support of other water-related education programs, JNF-USA is building the laboratory floor of the Water Industries Research and Training Center at the Kinneret College Center of Excellence, located by the Sea of Galilee. The impact of these programs goes beyond school walls, with students bringing the message of conservation home to their families and communities.

JNF-USA’s support of water solutions is helping create and sustain new communities and agricultural innovations vital to Israel’s economy and growth. In turn, this is creating more jobs, and

advancing JNF-USA’s goal of bringing more families to Israel’s north and south.

Halutza is one such community located in the northwest Negev on Israel’s borders with Egypt and Gaza. These pioneers chose to move to a remote area that had never been inhabited or farmed — and is secluded from the national water grid — because they saw the development of the Negev as Israel’s next mission. Th e water that is supplied to this area is desalinated water — the most expensive type of water — currently making the agricultural yields unprofitable. JNF-USA is working with Halutza on a project that will provide this region with better water at a much lower cost.

JNF-USA’s water solutions go beyond Halutza. Valerie Richter, a member of the JNF-USA Water Task Force supports JNF’s building of reservoirs in Israel.

“On my last trip to Israel, I took a flight over the Negev and was amazed to see so many green patches of farms, each with their reservoirs. You could see the direct connection between viable sources of water and agriculture. If you can farm the land, you can draw people to settle on that land. JNF-USA’s water solutions are fulfilling Ben Gurion’s dream of building the Negev.”

Learn more about JNF-USA’s many water initiatives in Israel at https://www. jnf.org/our-work/water-solutions.

when we get them, it’s almost impossible to let them go.

Psychologists offer insight into why people collect things. Kim A. Herzinger, an award-winning author and avid collector, says, “Collecting is a way to relieve a basic sense of incompletion but collecting is also a passion that allows us to live in another world for a while.”

“The collector is engaged in a kind of worship and often experiences a sensory transcendence that we most closely associate with religion or love. And, like religion or love, maintaining a collection is a kind of security against uncertainty and loss,” Herzinger continues.

Psychologist Werner Muensterberger wrote about the subject in his book, titled “Collecting: An Unruly Passion.” He says that holding on to a collection is a kind of antidote to those times when we feel vulnerable or lonely. We collect to preserve the past and it is this sense of completion that many of us feel when we open the drawer and see all our kipot inside. That’s because it’s not just the item but what that item means to us that’s so important.

Like the psychologists say, our yarmulke collection is a tangible way for us to preserve the past — a past that is rich with simcha after simcha after simcha; a past that evokes beautiful memories of the most important people in our lives.

Psychologists and sociologists tell us that it is the sense of completion that is the one thing that compels people to hold on to things like our yarmulkes. And I think they’re on to something.

Reaching in and touching a kippah, placing it in our hands, reading the inscription, recalling the simcha and, maybe most important of all, reliving a cherished relationship, gives us a sense of what our rabbis were talking about in their New Year sermons. “Teshuvah” means “return.” We can do “teshuvah” by returning to the sweet times of our lives — the holidays, the simchas and the joys.

Scientists and sociologists seem to be telling us that the yarmulkes we hang on to are so much more than random keepsakes. Our yarmulkes remind us that life consists of history, family and faith. We can turn isolation and sadness into serenity and gratitude just by opening a drawer.

For 10 years, Rabbi Barbara Aiello served the Aviva Campus for Senior Life (Sarasota, FL) as resident rabbi. Her most popular columns are now published in her new book, “Aging Jewishly,” available on Amazon books. Rabbi Barbara now lives and works in Italy, where she is rabbi of Italy’s first Reconstructionist synagogue. Contact her at Rabbi@ RabbiBarbara.com.

Temple Shalom Sisterhood Fundraising Luncheon

THE

Join us for a fabulous event featuring current trends in fashion from Rebecca's for Fashions, the latest makeup by Nia Rominos (Mac Artist from Ulta), and hair trends by Ricardo Blades.

Enjoy

lovely

Schoen

Summerfeld Drive

FL 34120

Rabbi Barbara Aiello

Birthright Israel’s Reverse Mifgash program

IDF officers go on 10-day mission to U.S. Jewish communities

New

York (September 19, 2022) –Nine young, outstanding Israel Defense Forces (IDF) combat officers (seven men and two women) completed a special visit to U.S. Jewish communities in Birthright Israel’s program, Reverse Mifgash – IDF Officers Mission on Thursday, Sept. 15. This was the third delegation sent to the U.S. since the program started in 2019.

The goal of this unique mission/program (mifgash is Hebrew for encounter) is to give promising officers a taste of American Jewish life, while creating Jewish-engagement opportunities. The program brings them into the relationship between Israel and North American Jews and provides insight into how Jewish and non-Jewish Americans perceive Israel. The mission also reveals to participants the complexities of Diaspora Jewish identities and opens a dialogue on the diff erences between Israeli-Jewish and Diaspora-Jewish identities.

The delegation spent 10 intensive days in New York, Washington, D.C. and Virginia Beach, Virginia. At the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., they paid respects at the grave of Col. David “Mickey” Marcus, an American officer during World War II who played a key role in establishing the IDF. They also visited several synagogues, a Hebrew-language charter school, the U.S. Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery and a navy base in Virginia Beach.

Additionally, they met with Rabbi Shaul Robinson of Manhattan’s Lincoln Square Synagogue; Rabbi Gershon Litt, Head of The Norfolk Kollel, Williamsburg, Virginia.; Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg, Senior Rabbi at Ohef Sholom Temple, Norfolk, Virginia; Broadway producer David Richental; and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s former national chairman, Tom Bernstein.

Th e participants on the delegation represent a wide range of IDF combatant units. The male participants were First

Lt. Nitai, Paratroopers Brigade; Capt. Netanel, Givati Brigade; Capt. Rotem, Nachal Brigade; Capt. Amitay, Kfir Brigade; Capt. Nadav, Golani Brigade; First Lt. Meir, Paratroopers Brigade; and Lt. Col. David, Golani Brigade. The female participants were Capt. Yaeli, Combat Intelligence, Collection Corps, and Capt. Ariel. They are all currently studying at the prestigious IDF Tactical Command College.

“I found this mission to be truly eye opening. Not only did it expose me to the way Jews live in the Diaspora, but it opened my eyes to the fact that we’re truly one big Jewish family, and that there is more than one way to connect with my Jewish identity,” said Capt. Ariel.

“This mission was one of the most significant things I have ever experienced in my life so far. It was mindblowing, and I hope that it will shape my identity as a human being, as a Jew and as a commander in the IDF,” said Capt. Rotem.

Birthright Israel is a program that, since 1999, has brought more than 800,000 young Jewish adults on 10-day visits to Israel to introduce them to the country’s ancient roots and modern wonders.

“We believe it is as important to bring Israeli offi cers to the Diaspora as it is to bring Jewish young adults to Israel. This strengthens us as one people,” said Birthright Israel CEO Gidi Mark. “We realize how deeply in-person meetings with members of American Jewish communities and their friends from their trip influence the Israelis in our groups, and such meetings are the purpose of the Reverse Mifgash program.”

Birthright Israel is the largest educational tourism organization in the world that offers multiple short- and mid-length programs in Israel for Jewish young adults, including the flagship 10-day free trip, Onward Israel, and the prestigious Birthright Excel Fellowship. Birthright Israel has a steadfast partnership with the government of Israel, donors and Jewish communities from around the world.

The IDF Officers during their visit at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“One of the mostsignificant thingsIhave everexperienced.”

-Capt.Rotem

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid addresses FIDF supporters at gala

NEW

YORK (Sept. 20, 2022)

– Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid joined more than 500 Friends of the IDF (FIDF) supporters from across the country to salute Israel’s brave soldiers at the FIDF National New York Gala. This was Prime Minister Lapid’s first visit to the U.S. since he took offi ce in July. The event was held in tribute to FIDF Chairman Peter Weintraub and featured activeduty IDF soldiers and several additional special guests. All proceeds from the event go toward supporting FIDF’s empowering educational and financial well-being and cultural initiatives for the young men and women of the IDF.

“The fact that I am standing here today, as Prime Minister of the State of Israel, a free country, with a strong army with friends like you, did not happen on its own,” said Lapid. “At every moment, Israel must be strong, free and secure, with a powerful army that can defend its citizens. On behalf of the State of Israel, and on behalf of the soldiers of the IDF, I salute you, my friends.”

“We are grateful to Prime Minister Lapid for his exemplary leadership, and we are most honored to have him join us this evening at our annual FIDF National New York Gala in support of Israel’s soldiers,” said FIDF CEO Steve Weil. “There is no entity of individuals more critical to the existence of Israel and the safety of Jews worldwide than the soldiers of the IDF, and we are humbled to stand in strength and solidarity with Prime Minster Lapid in our common goal to support them.”

Two soldiers were featured during the gala for incredible acts of courage during their service. The first was Sergeant First Class M., who serves in the IDF Special Forces Unit, Oketz, the canine unit that specializes in training dogs for designated tasks. Sgt. First Class M. neutralizes threats against Israel with the help of his K9 companion, Mido, and spoke of one incident involving the Islamic Jihad where Mido captured a terrorist and, in doing so, thwarted a potential deadly attack. “So many people owe their lives to Mido without even knowing it,” he said.

Th e second soldier was Major Bar, who joined the Israeli Air Force in the footsteps of his late father, a crew chief in the Israeli Air Force whose helicopter was shot down during the Second Lebanon War. Maj. Bar plays a critical role in ensuring all command-and-control systems are accessible to soldiers from air, land and sea.

Additional VIP event attendees included Michael Herzog, Israeli Ambassador the United States; Ambassador Gilad Erdan, Israeli Representative to the United Nations; Ambassador Asaf Zamir, Israeli Consul General; Ambassador to NY; Ronen Hofman, Israeli Ambassador to Canada; Major General (Res.) Nadav Padan, FIDF National Director; Yehiel Gozal, FIDF Executive Director of Israel Operations; Fred Gluckman, FIDF President; and Galit Brichta, FIDF VP of the Northeast Region.

Peter Weintraub, FIDF National Board Chairman since 2018, was honored for his service and the immeasurable contributions he made to FIDF during his tenure. An active FIDF supporter and board member for decades, Weintraub

will complete his term as chairman next month. FIDF President Fred Gluckman will assume the role of chairman.

Funds raised at the gala will provide much-needed and well-deserved services such as academic scholarships to combat veterans, financial assistance for soldiers in need, support for Lone Soldiers throughout their service, crucial aid for wounded veterans and the families of fallen soldiers, recuperation weeks for entire IDF units, as well as educational, cultural and recreational facilities.

About Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF):

FIDF was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors as a 501(c)(3) notfor-profit organization with the mission of offering educational, cultural, recreational and social programs and facilities that provide hope, purpose and life-changing support for the soldiers who protect Israel and Jews worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.fidf.org.

Who is Keith Barany? The New York Post called him “The wittiest comic working today.” His show is a mix of Jewish themed and mainstream routines.

Here is what his audience members said:

"I miss you already! Thanks for a terrific evening. Everyone loved it. So that's a great compliment to you, because you know how tough our tribe can be."

Join your MCA friends and family for a Hanukkah celebration, great comedy and, of course, food (dessert).

Scan the QR code to register.

Or go to www.mcanaples.org.

Menorah Lighting and Comedy Night featuring Keith Barany

“Ateverymoment, Israelmustbestrong, free and secure with a powerfularmythatcan defend its citizens.”

~IsraeliPrimeMinister YairLapid

Prime Minister Lapid Photocredit:MichaelPriest,CourtesyofFIDF

Kristallnacht must never be forgotten

Rabbi Ammos Chorny

Imagine one morning your family is awakened by shouts and screams. Suddenly, the police break into your house. They start breaking the china, destroying the furniture and shattering windows, while showing great satisfaction in their destruction. Then the family is told to get dressed and is taken to the police station for no apparent reason. On the way, you see your synagogue in flames and your neighbors throwing rocks at it.

This was the scene on Nov. 9, 1938 in Germany and Austria throughout that night and the following days as mobs burned synagogues; destroyed Jewish homes and businesses; vandalized Jewish hospitals, orphanages and cemeteries; and dragged thousands of Jews into the streets to be beaten and humiliated. The Germans later called this night “Kristallnacht” — The Night of Broken Glass — because of the tons of shattered glass scattered throughout German cities. Due to the tremendous violence, which started on that night and grew even more dreadful as time went on, Jews mark that date as the beginning of the Holocaust.

On Nov. 7, 1938, the Third Secretary of the German embassy in Paris, Ernst Von Rath, was murdered by Herschel

Grynzpan, a 17-year-old German-Jewish refugee, who wanted to avenge his parent’s expulsion, together with 15,000 other Polish Jews to Zbonszym. The Nazis used the murder as an excuse to incite the mobs and riots that began the “final solution!” The German government hoped to disguise the violence of those two days as a spontaneous protest on the part of the “Aryan” population but, in reality, Kristallnacht was organized by Nazi chiefs with technical skill and precision. The Gestapo and storm troopers were ordered to incite mob riots throughout Germany and Austria. The week after Kristallnacht, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency’s Berlin reporter called that night “The worst outbreak of anti-Jewish violence in modern German history.”

Kristallnacht marked the beginning of the plan to rob Jews of their possessions and forever erase them from the German scene. From this fateful date on, Jews had no standing in the German economy, and independent Jewish life, with the dismissal of cultural and communal bodes and the banning of the Jewish press, was all but obliterated.

During Kristallnacht, over 1,100 synagogues were destroyed, as well as 7,500 Jewish businesses and countless Jewish homes. Several hundred Jews were killed and 30,000 were arrested and sent to concentration camps where thousands more died.

Ronald Lauder, former U.S. Ambassador to Austria and head of a foundation that has spearheaded Kristallnacht commemorations said, “There is no date in

the whole Holocaust like November 9, 1938. It showed, for the first time, the horror the Nazis were planning.” Many historians trace a pattern of events occurring before that night, suggesting that such an atrocity was inevitable. In 1933, when the Nazis took power, German antisemitism adopted quasi-legal forms. New forms of discrimination began with the introduction of the Nuremberg laws of 1935, mandating the alienation of the Jews throughout Germany. Systematically, Jews were stripped of their civil rights and began to be isolated through humiliating identification measures.

One may ask, how could the world stand by and allow such a disaster to occur? The Fascist regimes in Italy, Rumania, Hungary and Poland approved of this pogrom and used it to put forth their own antisemitic policies. The three Great Western powers — Great Britain, France and the United States — did nothing to save the Jews. Here, President Roosevelt and his administration expressed their shock over the terrible events but, when it came time

to save any refugees, the U.S. government refused by asserting to have no intention to allow more immigrants into the country.

As we look back at the events that triggered the Shoah, every Jew should be cautious and alert. In a powerful speech before members of the New York Jewish Civil Service organization, Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder warned that the ignorance and fear that bred antisemitism in Hitler’s Third Reich is being evidenced once again.

“Today in America, we hear…those same charges,” he comments, “There are those who tell us that Jews control the banks and the press. There are those that would tell us Jews control Congress and the government. Kristallnacht teaches us many things, among them, that we must remain vigilant and not permit even the smallest seed of antisemitism to take root. We cannot be complacent in the face of antisemitism and its distortions. Quiet little lies grow to be big loud lies,” the Ambassador remarked.

Rabbi Ammos Chorny serves at Beth Tikvah.

A better future

Rabbi Mark Wm. Gross

Thereare a couple of reasons that Nov. 5 is noteworthy. For starters, that date is observed as Guy Fawkes Day (which is significant if you’re a British Commonwealth type, or anyone else who happens to like bonfires and fireworks). As the eve of the first Sunday in November, under the terms of the Energy Conservation Act of 2005, Nov. 5 is the night you “fall back” to Standard Time. And this year, it is notable because Nov. 5 coincides with 11 Marcheshvan on the Jewish calendar, marking the 41st day of the new year that began on Rosh haShanah back at the end of September.

Monday, January 16,

Meet: 10:00 am • Parade Start: 11:00 am

Location: Broad Avenue S & 3rd St. S

Please walk with us in the MLK Jr. parade with the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Come hold our banner while we walk in the parade!

CELEBRATE AND REMEMBER

The celebration will continue with food, music and entertainment at Cambier Park.

The Jewish Community Relations Council is looking for volunteers to sit at our booth, starting at 9:30 am.

FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL!

If you can walk in the parade and/or sit at our booth, please contact: Reneé at rbialek@jewishnaples.org

When you write the number 41 using letters of the Hebrew alphabet with the corresponding numerical values, it forms the word

signifying “mother.” Building from that, Jewish legendary tradition holds that the 41st day of the year, 11 Marcheshvan, is

Yom ha’Imahot “The Day of the Matriarchs,” which is observed as the yahrtseit of the primal Mothers of Israel: Sarah, Rebekah, Racheil and Lei’ah.

It might stretch our credibility to believe that these four women, over three generations, all died on precisely the same date. But this creative fl ight of fantasy serves to create a conceptual equivalency between the long-ago founders of our Jewish People, highlighting the unique achievement of them all: each one, in turn, is spoken of very enthusiastically in our tradition as

n’viyah, “a prophetess.”

It was Sarah who established the tradition of Biblical prophecy, as evidenced by God’s having instructed Abraham in Genesis 21:12 “Whatever Sarah tells you

to do, you are to obey her.” From this verse our classical commentary deduces that Sarah was the superior of Abraham in understanding the Will of God (Exodus Rabbah 1:1).

Sarah’s niece and daughter-in-law, Rebekah, is informed by God about the destiny of the twins still in her womb (Genesis 25:3), making her privy to information unknown to the patriarch and prophet Isaac. An early rabbinic tradition characterizes Rebekah as “this unique saint” because, in all of scripture, she is the only woman to be made the intimate recipient of a direct pronouncement from the Creator (Midrash T’hillim 9:7).

Rebekah’s nieces, the sister-wives Racheil and Lei’ah, count as prophetesses because they endorsed God’s plan for the family of Jacob. When he divulged to them that God had suggested he return to Canaan, the two of them responded in a single voice: “All that God has told you, do it!” (Genesis 31:16). Had Jacob’s two wives proven to be homebodies dedicated to staying in Haran and, at this pivotal moment, told Jacob “Our hearts belong to daddy,” the Covenant dies; the story ends; and none of us would be here, discussing it now.

Etymologically, prophecy means not “fortunetelling” but “being an advocate.” And, in the case of these amazing women from long ago, each, in turn, played an active hands-on role in furthering God’s purpose for Israel. They are our Matriarchs (“principal mothers,” with a capital “M”), not because they engendered the next ensuing generation of our people but because they also engendered a vision and a value system and a code by which that people could endure throughout time.

Make the most of Nov. 5 — not just with sparklers and a clock but also with four yahrtseit candles rejoicing in the sacred legacy of

Yom ha’Imahot Rabbi Mark Wm. Gross serves at Jewish Congregation of Marco Island.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

Beauty in the midst of despair

This month was difficult. So many experienced unforgettable traumas at the hands of Hurricane Ian, losing their homes and everything inside. But through it all, in those darkest moments, we had the privilege of witnessing the most beautiful truth of our community. Because in the most difficult times, that’s when the real person comes out.

Even before Ian made landfall, we had volunteers buddy up with vulnerable community members on whom they would check as soon as it was safe. We gathered locations of community members and their friends and family. At dawn, immediately after the hurricane passed, we had a volunteer rescue team ready to go door to door in the most dangerous areas to bring people to safety, often carrying the elderly through waisthigh floodwater.

My phone, despite the very spotty connection, was overwhelmed with messages from community members who simply wanted to help in any way possible. People opened their homes to strangers, woke up at 4 a.m. to assist in an emergency rescue, and came together to deliver thousands of meals and water to anyone in need.

Sixteen-year-old David Ellis put it so beautifully. He had just climbed 18 flights

of stairs with his mother, Paula, to deliver meals to an elderly couple who was running out of food. “Mom, we always question what is happiness,” David said. “I feel happy right now. For me, this is happiness. Being able to help them — and I can’t wait to help more people.”

Our Chabad campus turned into a hurricane relief center. We had truckloads of donated aid, including grills, propane and generators, alongside all the basic home needs. We hosted a large barbecue dinner with an open invite to all residents, as well as a classic kosher dinner and a pizza night. Together, we delivered hundreds of Shabbat meals.

Teams of volunteers from our community went door to door to help people clean up the flooding, remove mold and repair their homes. We had 70 volunteers clearing up trees and debris, making our town’s streets and sidewalks clean and beautiful once again.

Most of all, our community came together and, in the gatherings, we could overhear old friends and neighbors, shulgoers and people who had never met, turn to each other with words of encouragement, empathy and sincere care. In the most difficult times, they chose to lift each other up with love and sincerity.

So, while this month brought a nightmare, it also brought out angels in human

form, and we will forever be grateful for bearing witness to such a beautiful thing.

Adult education

What’s Your Biggest Question on G-d? A new, fascinating six-week course called Defining the Divine “My G-d” is starting Nov. 7.

Nothing is off-limits as this refreshingly open course asks piercing questions about G-d and delivers profound, insightful answers. An enlightening study into G-d’s nature, G-d’s goal for creation, human experiences of G-d, the role of religion, and the function of miracles and prayer, this course promises to satisfy

your questions, including those you didn’t know you had.

For more information and to register, call 239-262-4474 or email office@ chabadnaples.com.

Trip to the Holy Land

We invite you to join us on a Chabad Naples community trip to the Holy Land this spring, March 13-20, 2023, VIP style! Interested in hearing more? Please email office@chabadnaples.com or call me at 239-404-6993.

We look forward to traveling with you.

Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

Fostering connections with new programs and events

By Deborah R. Fidel, JD, MAJPS

InEcclesiastes, King Solomon wrote that there is nothing new under the sun. Well, he obviously never visited Temple Shalom!

We have so many new programs and events planned for the year in addition to our traditional worship and adult education offerings, that it is a huge challenge to fit it all into our emails and monthly magazine, The Voice! When you join

Temple Shalom, you may be drawn in by the wonderful sermons, outstanding music and yummy onegs on Friday nights, but you quickly learn that there is so much more for you here when you join “One Family.”

Do you enjoy the outdoors? Check out Kadima, our new outdoor adventure group. It meets monthly to hike, bike, kayak, paddleboard and more.

The Cardozo Society is formed as a way to network the many existing and new Jewish attorneys in our legal community. The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples continues to reach out to raise awareness through this association of Jewish attorneys promoting professionalism, cooperation, and identification with our Jewish community.

For more information contact Joshua Bialek at jbialek@porterwright.com

Would you like to meet other members of Temple in a relaxed, social setting? Shalom@Home is a neighborhood-based get-together in private homes.

The Empty Nesters and New Members groups dine out and get to know each other while breaking bread.

If mahjong is your thing, we have a weekly game.

Like to cook? Watch a foodie film and learn how to cook Jewish foods!

Do you have young children? Want to meet other young families? We meet at local parks and playgrounds for Shabbat Sha-play every month.

Shalom Café is a regular happening for parents at Temple Shalom on Sunday mornings. Enjoy a nosh and a hear different speakers talk about raising Jewish children while the kids are in YESh (Religious School). There is even babysitting available for your littlest ones.

Sisterhood will hold a canasta tournament and a fashion show this year, in addition to their fabulously successful mahjong tourney. This month, we are forming six new havurahs (small groups that meet monthly to socialize and celebrate holidays together)!

I could go on and on. Whether you are looking for a robust Social Action Committee, active men’s club or stimulating adult education, there is something for you at Temple.

Temple Shalom is a special place. The staff and I work overtime to keep it that way by constantly brainstorming and bouncing ideas off one another, and finding new and creative ways to fulfill our mission to “foster[ing] connections –one to another, Temple, Israel, Torah and God.” We think you will agree.

Call me at 239-455-3030 to learn more.

The Jewish Young Professionals of Greater Naples invite you to come socialize!

Please email or call Renee’ to be added to the roster. rbialek@jewishnaples.org 239-263-4205

Activities include:

• Happy Hour

Game Night

Movie Night

Shabbat Services

• Volunteering

Holiday Parties

Zoom Meet & Greets

and more!

want to

your

to being active in your organization

Charles Flum President

Why did you join a synagogue, whether yesterday or over 10 years ago? Was it because you wanted a Jewish place? Services? You liked the Rabbi, or were enthralled with the wonderful music? Whatever the reason, you made a commitment to yourself that you would, at a minimum, invest money in the congregation.

Since I was young, I have gone by the philosophy that if I join an organization, I plan to be active in that organization. When I lived in New Jersey, I belonged to two synagogues at different times. In each case, I was on the board, because I wanted to be active. I joined the United States Sail and Power Squadron (a boating safety, education and social group) when I bought a boat. I became involved and eventually became commander. Look where I am here at NJC.

My point is, if you join an organization, be active. Find out what committees there are and join and help out. If you are interested in ritual or social, there are

committees. Synagogues need men to be active in the men’s club. We need women to be more active in the sisterhood. Get involved.

Make this new year a year of commitment, particularly to yourself. Commit to being active. You’ll enjoy it.

Friday night services

Here at NJC, we are back to weekly Friday night services. Come pray with us. You will be impressed with Rabbi Herman and his vast knowledge, Jane Galler, Alla Gorelick and our choir and the beautiful music they make. Come meet our friendly congregation.

Julie Silver concert

Social activities are starting up after the summer hiatus. Much is still in the planning stages. One event, in conjunction with Federation and open to all, will occur Feb. 2 and 3. Julie Silver will give a concert on the 2nd and join our services on the 3rd. Check her out on YouTube. More details will be published in Federation Star as we get closer to the date.

I urge you to come to 7 p.m. Friday night services at the Unitarian Universalist church off Pine Ridge Road. Come experience the small congregation with a big heart.

Congregational events

Stan Alliker President

Octoberwas filled with services for the High Holy Days. Still, congregational events are taking place.

School Board candidates’ debate

On Sept. 27, JCMI hosted a candidates’ debate for the Collier County School Board. All six candidates were invited. This debate was cosponsored by The Coalition for Quality Public Education, Marco Island Civic Association and the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce.

Chess Club

A Chess Club for beginners or experts has started at JCMI. Each Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to noon, chess players gather to learn and play. Th ere is no charge for participation.

Whether you are a beginner or a ranked expert, come and join us for fun and camaraderie.

Bingo is back!

JCMI is known for its weekly Monday Night Bingo game. Unfortunately, we had to suspend the game for safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The game is now returning for its 22nd year, starting October 10 at 5:30 p.m. for supper, then games at 7:30 p.m. The games include a kosher hot dog supper with pickles, relish, sauerkraut, chips and baked desserts. There is an admission charge of $17 for two packs or $24 for three packs plus a free Bonanza. Our public has been asking when Bingo will resume and here it is!

JCMI Book Club

The JCMI Book Club will also resume on Nov. 15, reviewing “West with Giraffes” by Lynda Rutledge.

Interfaith Unity Service

In honor of Th anksgiving, there will be an Interfaith Unity Service at JCMI on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. For information on these events, call the JCMI Office at 239-642-0800.

Two

Residence Buildings at Siena Lakes!

The conservative approach to Judaism

Steven Chizzik President

Allowme to begin by wishing everyone and all whom you love a healthy and heartfelt Shana Tova. May the year 5783 bring to the world tranquility and peace.

The past year was a difficult one; however, as is our community’s nature, we supported each other. We were able to safely endure the challenges of COVID19 and, with several precautions, began services in real time. In the spring, we were able to reinstate our famous Kiddushim in our backyard garden and continued to do so as long as the weather permitted. We, fortunately, were able to welcome several new members to our Beth Tikvah family and prepared for the High Holidays.

Although Hurricane Ian came crashing into Florida, causing loss of life and indescribable devastation, Beth Tikvah was able to maintain a full schedule of High Holiday services for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Services were well attended, both in real time and online via Zoom, streaming and Facebook. We were pleased to welcome back Cantor

RELIGIOUS

Brody who, along with Rabbi Chorny, provided our congregation with a spiritual enriching experience. Our gratitude and appreciation go to both for their hard work. May they continue to go from strength to strength.

As season approaches, Beth Tikvah looks forward to renewing acquaintances with returning friends, fellow congregants and others who are looking for a conservative approach to Judaism. Beth Tikvah continues to off er new members their first year’s dues free of charge. If you or a friend wish to experience the warmth and community found at Beth Tikvah, please join us.

Beth Tikvah is the affiliated congregation in Greater Naples of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). We are grateful to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples (JFGN) for its support of our Scholar in Residence, Naples Jewish Film Festival and All Things Jewish programs.

Beth Tikvah “Happenings”

This season, as in the past, there is an incredible list of in-person and Zoom events to be held by and at Beth Tikvah. Please refer to our website, www.bethtikvahnaples.org, to see what the month of November has to offer.

You may reach Rabbi Chorny directly at 239-537-5257.

Every life is unique and deserves to be remembered in a special way. The professionals at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens are dedicated to helping

you and your loved ones honor the heritage of the Jewish faith with a meaningful memorial that truly captures the essence of the life it represents. We offer our deepest gratitude for giving us the opportunity to assist you through one of the most challenging times in life, and for allowing us to earn and keep your trust.

Learning is under construction despite Hurricane Ian

By Ettie Zaklos, Preschool of the Arts Founder & Director

Atthe end of September, Preschool of the Arts hosted its annual Parent Curriculum Night, with the theme of “Learning is Under Construction!” We had an incredible turnout from our parent body as we shared our vision and developments for the school year. There was warm energy and great camaraderie throughout the evening. We felt such a strong sense of unity, connection and community.

It is so encouraging for our team to see how interested and involved our parents want to be in their children’s education. It was a treat to watch them explore and discover the children’s classrooms as they learned more about each unique center and the learning opportunities available.

In addition to learning about the curriculum, our parents got to socialize, laugh, enjoy refreshments and paint a collaborative mural that will surround our construction site this year as we embark on our Big Build expansion project. Our parents’ painting skills are quite impressive! We were also humbled by the tremendous response from parents to our Big Build campaign and thank all those who so generously donated towards this critical project!

Just a few short days after the beautiful event and a lovely gathering for Rosh Hashanah, Hurricane Ian came to our shores. It was an historic and life-changing event for so many in our community.

We are devastated and heartbroken by the loss of life and the loss of homes and livelihoods. We were also moved by the outpouring of love and help in the community. The aftermath of the hurricane was a whirlwind as we hosted communal meals and began gathering and donating food and supplies to those in need. It takes a village, and we are so grateful to all who supported our community through volunteering and/or donating.

Sadly, some of our own POTA families lost their homes due to the storm and will be facing a long recovery ahead. Our hearts are with them, and we are praying for a smooth and quick recovery. To help ease at least a little of the overwhelm in the immediate aftermath of the storm, POTA sent home warm, homemade dinners to our displaced families. We will continue to look for ways to support our community in the months to come.

Life is so vulnerable, and these natural disasters remind us how much we need to cherish our loved ones and be grateful for their safety. We hugged our children extra tight, knowing that some things are not replaceable.

Hurricane relief efforts led right into the holiday of Sukkot, when we build temporary huts to dwell outdoors for a week in recognition of G-d’s protection. It felt especially poignant this year as we remembered that, even without a permanent home, we are always embraced by G-d and surrounded by community.

We had handyman, Seth, join us for a special visit to build POTA’s community Sukkah on our campus. Each preschool class visited the Sukkah building site and, in a hands-on demonstration, learned how to use the hammer and drill. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect the immersive experience of construction —

something the children are seeing a lot of in the wake of the hurricane — to something joyous and positive. Our students were thrilled to be able to participate in the building and learned so many preacademic skills!

As we enter November, our thoughts turn to our upcoming grand Thanksgiving Performance, our preschool’s largest event of the year. This year, the themes of gratitude and coming together as a community will take on a whole new meaning. We know that together we can get through anything.

For more info about Preschool of the Arts, please visit our website, www.NaplesPreschooloftheArts.com or call 239-263-2620.

Curriculum Night 2022 at Preschool of the Arts

BBYO programs for teens and preteens

Shelly Bell Regional Director, North Florida Region

the end of it, our bus of exhausted teens returned to Naples eager to see their region-wide friends again.

Naples

BBYO’s programming year started off with a splash as our members spent the Sunday afternoon with 50 other teens from the North Florida Region at Aquatica Waterpark for Fall Kickoff. It was a day packed with fun, sunshine and recreation. At

To tide them over for our next regional program was Fall Convention, a camplike weekend spent at the Lake Placid Conference Center, where Naples BBYO planned some local programs for their enjoyment. Area teens met up for Sky Zone’s Glow Night, an extravaganza of lasers, music and black light, which transformed the trampoline park into a crazy jumping dance club. At a much quieter program a couple weeks later, new and prospective members enjoyed a swim

party while their parents relaxed by the pool to hear more about the amazing opportunities BBYO offers its members.

This month, Naples BBYO is excited to announce an upcoming program open to all Jewish teens, 8th through 12th grades, and their parents! On Nov. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m., BBYO will host a program at Topgolf in Fort Myers. Joining us will be members from the Temple Shalom Men’s Club, who have graciously offered to assist the teens with their golf swings as the parents gather in a private space to see a presentation on BBYO and learn about next summer’s BBYO camps. For more information and to sign up for the program, visit https:// bit.ly/topgolfnaples.

Whether your teen is looking for community service, travel to Europe or Israel or to improve their leadership skills, BBYO has a camp for them! We have many scholarships available, including, but not limited to, a $3,000 Root One scholarship for trips to Israel, Jewish Federation Summer Camp, and Israel Scholarships and Temple Shalom Men’s club’s scholarships for leadership programs.

Do you have kids in middle school? Naples BBYO has partnered with PJ Library Our Way to bring programming for those in sixth through eighth grades. Our first event, Fall Fest 2022, will be held Nov. 13. Registered kids will

go mini-golfing and for ice cream. To register, visit https://bit.ly/naplesfallfest.

Nov. 29 is #BBYOGivingDay, during which our teens will be reaching out to friends, family and community members for donations. The money raised goes to our region, funding chapter leadership programs and providing scholarships. If you’d like to support BBYO with a donation, please visit https://bit.ly/ donate2bbyo.

If you have any questions about BBYO or want to know how you can get your teen involved, I’d love to hear from you at 313-550-3313 or sbell@bbyo.org. To sign your teen up for a BBYO membership, visit https://bbyo.org/ become-a-member.

Monthly fun BBYO fact

In February of 2023, 5,000 teens from 60 countries will descend on Dallas, Texas to participate at BBYO’s International Convention, the largest international gathering of Jewish teen leaders and the second-largest Jewish communal event in North America. Your teen can be one of them. Ask me how!

Candle lighting times

Federation Star Publication Policy

The Federation Star is a subsidized arm of JFGN. Its purpose and function is to publicize the activities and programs of Federation as well as ongoing activities of recognized Jewish organizations in Greater Naples.

The goal of JFGN is to reach out and unite all Jews of the Greater Naples area. While differing opinions and points of view exist on many issues of importance to Jews, the Federation Star will confine itself to publishing only items that report the facts of actual events of concern to Jews and offer commentary that clearly intends to unite all Jews in a common purpose.

Critical or derogatory comments directed at individuals or organizations will not be published.

To avoid misunderstandings, controversies and destructive divisions among our people, the Officers and Board of Trustees of Federation have adopted the following publication policy:

Advertisements: All advertisements, regardless of their sponsor, shall be paid for in full, at the established rates, prior to publication. The contents of all advertisements shall be subject to review and approval of the Federation board or its designee. Commercial advertisers may make credit arrangements with the

advertising manager, subject to the approval of the Federation board.

Regular Columns: Regular columns shall be accepted only from leaders (Rabbis, Presidents, Chairs) of established and recognized Jewish organizations in Greater Naples and the designated chairs of the regular committees of Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.

Special Announcements: Special announcements shall be accepted from established Jewish organizations in Greater Naples and may, at the discretion of the Federation board, be subject to the conditions applicable to paid advertisements, as set forth above.

News Items: Only those news items pertaining to matters of general interest to the broadest cross section of the Jewish community will be accepted for publication.

Note: Items of controversial opinions and points of view about political issues will not be accepted for publication without prior approval of a majority of the Federation Officers and Trustees.

All persons and organizations objecting to the actions and rulings of the Editor or Publications Committee Chair shall have the right to appeal those rulings to the Officers and Board of Trustees of JFGN.

TEMPLE SHALOM OF NAPLES (Reform) 4630 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL 34119

Phone: 455.3030  Fax: 455.4361

Email: info@naplestemple.org www.naplestemple.org

Rabbi Adam Miller, MAHL

Cantor Donna Azu, MSM

Rabbi Ariel Boxman, MAHL, MARE, Director of Lifelong Learning Rabbi James H. Perman, D.D., Rabbi Emeritus

Deborah Rosen Fidel, J.D., MAJPS, Executive Director Len Teitelbaum, President Jim Cochran, Music Director

Shabbat Services: Shabbat Eve - Friday 7:30 p.m. Shabbat - Saturday 10 a.m.

Sisterhood Men’s Club

Adult Education Havurot

Youth Groups

Religious School

Judaic Library

Hebrew School

Preschool Adult Choir Social Action Naples’ only Judaica Shop

CHABAD NAPLES JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

serving Naples and Marco Island 1789 Mandarin Road, Naples, FL 34102

Phone: 262.4474

Email: info@chabadnaples.com

Website: www.chabadnaples.com

Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

Dr. Arthur Seigel, President Ettie Zaklos, Education Director

Shabbat Services

Shabbat - Saturday 10 a.m.

Camp Gan Israel Hebrew School Preschool of the Arts Jewish Women’s Circle Adult Education Bat Mitzvah Club Friendship Circle Smile on Seniors Flying Challah Kosher food delivery

CHABAD OF BONITA SPRINGS & ESTERO 24611 Production Circle Bonita Springs, FL 34135 Phone: 239-949-6900

Email: chabad@jewishbonita.com Website: www.JewishBonita.com

Rabbi Mendy & Luba Greenberg Co-directors Services: Sunday 9 a.m.

Monday through Friday 8 a.m. Shabbat 10 a.m.

Adult Education

Challah of Love

Community Events

Daily Minyan Services

Hebrew School Kosher Grocery Kosher Meals on Wheels Smile on Seniors

JEWISH CONGREGATION OF MARCO ISLAND (Reform) 991 Winterberry Drive Marco Island, FL 34145

Phone: 642.0800  Fax: 642.1031

Email: tboxma@marcojcmi.com Website: www.marcojcmi.com

Rabbi Mark Gross

Hari Jacobsen, Cantorial Soloist Stan Alliker, President

Shabbat Services

Friday 7:30 p.m.

Seasonal: Saturday Talmud-Torah at 9:30 a.m. and Shachrit at 10:30 a.m.

Rabbi’s Lifelong Learning Series

Sidney R. Hoffman Jewish Film Festival Saul I. Stern Cultural Series JCMI Book Club

NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION (Reform) Services are held at:

The Unitarian Congregation 6340 Napa Woods Way

Rabbi Howard Herman 431.3858

Email: rabbi@naplesjewishcongregation.org www.naplesjewishcongregation.org

Charles Flum, President

Jane Galler, Cantorial Soloist

Shabbat Services

Friday evenings 7 p.m.

May - August: services once a month

Sisterhood • Men’s Club Adult Education • Adult Choir

BETH TIKVAH (Conservative)

1459 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34109

(just west of Mission Square Plaza)

Phone: 434.1818

Email: office@bethtikvah.us Website: www.bethtikvahnaples.org

Rabbi Ammos Chorny Steve Chizzik, President Roberta Miller, Secretary

Shabbat Services

Friday evenings 6:15 p.m. Saturday mornings 9:30 a.m.

Youth Education Adult Education Community Events

Jewish Organizations to Serve You in Greater Naples

(All area codes are 239 unless otherwise noted.)

Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Phone: 263.4205  Fax: 263.3813 Website: www.jewishnaples.org Email: info@jewishnaples.org

• Federation Board Chair: Jane Schiff

• Federation President/CEO: Jeffrey Feld

American Jewish Committee Regional Dir: Brian Lipton, 941.365.4955

American Technion Society

Chapter Dir: Kelley Whiter, 561.395.7206

Friends of the IDF Exec. Dir.: Dina Ben Ari, 305.354.8233

GenShoah SWFL 263.9200

Collier/Lee Chapter of Hadassah

President: Joyce Toub, 518.330.1559

Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center

Chairperson: Stuart Price

President/CEO: Susan Suarez, 263.9200

Israel Bonds Monica DiGiovanni, 727.282.1124

Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida

President: Marina Berkovich, 566.1771

Jewish National Fund Joshua Mellits, 941.462.1330 x865

Jewish War Veterans Post 202 Commander, Harvey Sturm, 261.3270

Men’s Cultural Alliance

President: Michael Sobol, 508.733.9427

Naples BBYO Shelly Bell, 313.550.3313

Naples Friends of American Magen David Adom (MDA) SE Reg Dir: Joel Silberman, 954.457.9766

Naples Senior Center at JFCS Phone: 325.4444

Chairperson: Prentiss Higgins President/CEO: Dr. Jaclynn Faffer PJ Library

Coordinator: Alicia Feldman www.jewishnaples.org/pj-library

Women’s Cultural Alliance

President: Patti Boochever, 518.852.3440

Zionist Organization of America

President: Jerry Sobel, 914.329.1024