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Federation Star
Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County, Israel and the World
Federation Star Published by the Jewish Federation of Collier County serving Naples, Marco Island and the surrounding communities
Published by
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: Karen Deutsch (Chair Elect), 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, Merlin Lickhalter, Robin Mintz, Les Nizin, William Petasnick, Joel Pittelman, Stuart Price, Nat Ritter, Michael Rubenstein, Jamie Satz, Betty Schwartz, Arlene 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
Cantor Donna Azu, Sue Baum, Rabbi Ariel Boxman, Steve Chizzik, Rabbi Ammos Chorny, Rabbi Mendel Gordon, Rabbi Mendy Greenberg, Rabbi Mark Gross, Rabbi Howard Herman, Rabbi Adam Miller, Roberta Obler, Rabbi James Perman, Dr. Arthur Seigel, Daryl Sissman, Rabbi Fishel Zaklos
JEWISH FEDERATION
November 2021
Dreams do come true
L
ife is always a yin and yang. Every day, it seems, we hear about someone who is sick, needs surgery or has passed away. We also hear about new babies being born, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, wedding or graduation. This is life. The good comes with the difficult. But through it all, the world moves forward. And our world, the Jewish community of Greater Naples, is moving forward in a huge way! As is evidenced in this issue’s cover story, our new Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center is under construction! This is a dream come true — a 5-year dream, to be exact. We started with a strategic plan in 2016, followed by the Needs Assessment & Demographic Study, conducted by Brandeis University in 2017, which indicated that our community is growing, as is the need for space to conduct programs and accommodate future growth. We have been raising money to build that building and close to 500 families have contributed. There is still time for the rest of you to join, allowing us to
sustain this building into the future without requiring the use of funds from future Annual Community Campaigns. COVID-19 has played havoc with our budget, as inflation in the building industry has increased construction costs by 30%. But, thanks to you, we’ve got this! The biggest dream the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center fulfills is the dream of our community working, building and dreaming together. Not only will we have a central address for the entire community, but now we will have a place to continue to grow together. Cards and other games, movies, lectures, yoga, cooking, arts and crafts, discussion groups, languages, and so many other possibilities will have a place to happen six days a week. We will have a home! And from that home, our Federation will continue to support local agencies and synagogues as well as national, Israeli and overseas agencies. Our greater presence will help us grow our Annual Campaign. We will mature as
Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Chanukah! Reneé Bialek Program Director
T
he month of November begins with a Zoom program on Friday, Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. called, “Discuss the impact of choices in literature — and life — with Naples author Marc Simon.” Please read more about this program in the weekly e-blast.
Staff
Jeffrey Feld: Federation CEO/President Reneé Bialek: Program Director Alicia Feldman: PJ Library Coordinator Marcy Friedland: Capital Campaign & Planned Giving Director Janine Hudak: Admin. Coordinator Nathan Ricklefs: Database Manager Kirk Wisemayer: Annual Community Campaign Director 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 • 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 Division • Youth Activities Committee – sponsoring youth education and scholarships for Jewish Summer Camp and Israel Experience
Jane Schiff and Jeffrey Feld a Jewish community, and that is the real dream. Becoming a welcoming community for our citizens, new arrivals to our paradise, and an open door to the general community so they can know and grow with us. Thank You! You are the village that is creating the dream. You made it possible, this dream that is coming true. Your participation in both the Annual and the Capital campaigns has brought us to this point. Because of your participation, we do grow, we do flourish, and we are a welcoming Jewish community.
Are you a faithful steward of your finances? Jeremy L. Darstek, CFP® Financial Advisor Senior Vice President Verita Wealth Advisory Group A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC
844.997.7526 12330 Tamiami Trail East Suite 101 Naples, FL 34113 jeremy.darstek@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/ jeremy.darstek
Kristallnacht Join us on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. for the Kristallnacht Commemoration Service. This program will take place on Zoom. Please visit www.jewishnaples.org for the link on Nov. 7.
Let’s celebrate Chanukah Join us for the annual Community-wide Chanukah Celebration at Mercato on Monday, Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. Food, music, games and more! If you would like to reserve a table or become a sponsor, please contact Reneé.
Jewish Book Festival The Jewish Book Festival will offer a wide variety of genres with something for everyone! This month, there are three virtual events, on Nov. 9, 17 and 22.
PJ Library Not Federally Insured | No Financial Institution Guarantee | May Lose Value Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with plaque design) in the U.S. Ameriprise Financial provides financial services without regard to religious affiliation or cultural background. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. © 2021 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (08/21)
Real Estate is quite well in Naples! Contact me to list your home TODAY! Chellie Doepke
Premiere Plus Realty Co.
239-877-1722
seachell2@hotmail.com • www.sells-naples.com www.facebook.com/chelliedoepkerealtor
Making Real Estate Dreams REALITY
PJ Library and Jewish Families with Young Children are invited to the headquarters library for a joint PJ Library program on Dec. 2 at 6 pm. Please make a reservation at programs@jewishnaples.org. Please register at www.jewishnaples. org or via our weekly e-blasts for each of these programs. The Zoom link will be emailed two hours prior to the start of each program. These programs are advertised in the weekly e-blast, sent out by the Federation on Monday mornings. If you are not getting them, please let me know so that we can set you up to stay connected. 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. If you have an idea for a program or want to be a guest speaker or facilitator, please contact me, at rbialek@jewishnaples.org.
