A new year of Jewish history in Southwest Florida

Marina Berkovich, JHSSWF President

Naples is always changing. If you live here more than several years, you already know it. Nothing stays the same. As people pass, boards branch out in previously unwelcomed, or hitherto unexplored, directions. As the culture changes, the legacy of accomplishments and achievements often gets buried under the proverbial tombstone of history.

Loyal members and supporters know that our work includes the Society’s original production, a documentary series, “Southwest Florida Jewish Pioneers.” A film that was delayed by our common enemy, COVID-19, is next to be released – “Jack Nortman, Box Car Giant” (date and time TBA).

We plan to release several new films in 2023, including those about Mitch Spaiser, the very first Jewish student at the Naples campus of FSW (formerly, Edison college) and the early Naples Jewish physician, Dr. William Ertag. Register at JHSSWF.org to begin receiving event announcements newsletters, and other important information specific to our Society.

Many families participated in the foundation years of this Jewish community, and we need your help to make sure they are duly reflected on the pages of our Virtual Museum of Southwest Florida Jewish History. You can already read about some of them in the “Eyewitness Stories” pages of JHSSWF.org. We encourage you to contribute your family’s story and photos. Submit to office@ jhsswf.org. It will be reviewed and added as we progress. Appropriate credit will be given.

Some individuals are better known to the community-at-large, so our perspective is not new, it is historical. When Myra Daniels admitted being Jewish, many were not pleased to learn it. Southwest Florida was lagging with its “Jews are Welcome” parades, so let us not blame Daniels for not acting “openly Jewish” even though her Jewish grandmother had a lot to do with the very stealth of starship Daniels.

There were many tributes to Daniels upon her passing. Ours will cover the entirety of her legacy and has a tentative 2023 production date. We are currently seeking photos and footage you may have from events where Daniels spoke about her Jewish ancestry. Appropriate proprietary credit will be given.

Other individuals are not as widely known by the community. I met Dottie Magen when I joined the Collier County Board of Ort America, on which she was very actively involved. Magen was a strong character and she let me know it within minutes – she was direct, expected quality results, and knew a lot of what others operating in today’s cultural vacuum may call “useless information.” Her longtime service as art docent at The Phil and its successor, Artis—Naples, opened many homes to Magen-led private tours. I was lucky to be there for some of them. Magen left me her wonderful archives of our local, now defunct, Ort chapter, which we will include in the Virtual Museum archives in the near future.

If your organization wants to be properly reflected on our pages, please submit an article and photos for consideration.

Learn more about the incredible individuals and families of early Jewish Southwest Florida through eyewitness stories on the JHSSWF.org website.

Shana Tovah 5783 to our members, sponsors, supporters and readers.

We count on your support

Join The Jewish Historical Society of SWFL. Family membership is $54; individual membership is $36; student membership is $18; and corporate sponsorship is $300.

Join us online or mail check to The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida, 8805 Tamiami Trail North, Suite # 255, Naples, FL 34108.

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.