Jacksonville Jewish News - April 2019

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JEWISH NEWS A PUBLICATION OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF JACKSONVILLE JEWISHJACKSONVILLE.ORG | VOL. 32 NO. 7 | APRIL 2019

Keep your eye on this teen volunteer!

Come celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut at community-wide event

By Judith Fox-Goldstein

8505 San Jose Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32217

Jewish Federation of Jacksonville

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Eighteen-year-old Ian Gilbert is a breath of fresh air with a spirit of giving, kindness, determination and a need to serve his community and his country.

As Ian entered the café to share his story, I was immediately taken by this confident, handsome, gentle and civic-minded young man standing before me. Conversant and genial, Ian enthusiastically shared his motivation for making volunteering a high priority in his life.

Dedicating a significant amount of his time in service to the community, Ian volunteers for the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville – including the recent Super Sunday – as well as the Jacksonville Jewish Center, the Wounded Warriors Project, homeless shelters, religious schools, camps, mentoring students in Jewish studies, working on an Israeli kibbutz and training with the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).

Q: Ian, you dedicate a great deal of time and effort volunteering. Can you share what this means to you?

A: I really empathize with people.

There’s a significant reward in bringing a smile to an elderly person after spending time reading the Torah to them, helping with a chore or just listening to their See TEEN, p. 7

By Jewish Community Alliance

On Sunday, April 28 from 12-3 p.m., the Jewish Community Alliance will host the annual community Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, recognizing Israel’s 71st Independence Day, in collaboration with all of Jacksonville’s Jewish organizations. This year’s theme, Israel Lights Up the World, will explore Israel’s contributions to technology and innovation and will include activities and learning

for all ages.

For this event, Jewish organizations in Jacksonville come together to create an interactive, educational and fun experience for the community. Previous events have included art shows, film showings, Israeli mixed martial arts demonstrations, crafts projects for kids and more.

This event is free and open to the community. Advance registration is appreciated. For information, contact Dave Flagler at 904-730-2100 ext. 271.

Federation, JCA, JFCS, River Garden to hold Annual Meeting

BY ALAN MARGOLIES Executive Director

For more than 25 consecutive years, four of Jacksonville’s Jewish family of organizations have joined together to recognize, elect and install their officers and board members. This year, this important annual meeting is set to occur as part of the Yom Ha’atzmaut festivities on Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. at the JCA. The guest speaker will be Israel’s Amir Eshwege, senior director with Teva Pharmaceuticals.

The presidents of the JCA, JFCS and River Garden – Brent Trager, Stephen Goldman and Susan Cohen, respectively – will continue in their positions. Iris Kraemer will be installed as the new president of Federation, as Ken Jacobs completes his term.

“Each year we note the significance of sharing this meeting,” said Federation executive director, Alan Margolies. “Our four organizations work hard to maintain and improve upon our relationships, and the annual meeting is a reflection of our shared values as we continue to build Jewish community together.”

Many Jewish Americans in the United States celebrate Israel’s Independence Day, also known as Yom Ha’atzmaut. Celebrations like the one on April 28 at the JCA are held around the country. Aspects of Israeli culture and modern society will be on display for everyone to explore and enjoy.

The entire community is invited to be a part of the Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration and the annual meeting. See pg. 4 for more information.

Facing addiction in the Jewish Community

By Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar & Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner

Sharing statistics can be surprising and scary when thinking and discussing addiction in the United States.

1 in 7 individuals will face substance addiction (including alcohol or drug abuse).

Addiction includes process (e.g. gambling, eating and gaming) not simply substance.

Only 10 percent of those who are addicted will receive treatment.

Every 19 minutes someone dies from an opioid or heroin overdose.

The impact on the American economy is $442 billion.

Nearly 21 million Americans struggle with substance addictions (greater than the number of all the individuals who have cancer combined).

Addiction increases the risk for cancer, cardiovascular issues and other health complications.

Addiction impacts the family through job loss, domestic violence, increased incidents of transmission of communicable diseases and See ADDICTION, p. 11

JJN Index

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Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

content Adult Education Community News

Community Seders Education Federation News

JCA

JFCS

Life and Legacy Lifecycles Passover Perspectives

River Garden Synagogue News

27 9-11, 28-29, 34 8 16-19, 30-33 3-6, 14-15 24 25 5 27 23 7 26 12-13, 20-21

ADVERTISING DIRECTORY At the Jacksonville Jewish News, our advertisers are precious to us. It is with their support that the Jacksonville Jewish community has a newspaper. Advertising revenue also offsets the cost of production, so Federation dollars can be dedicated to helping Jews locally and overseas. Please continue to live generously and support our advertisers: • Alhambra Theatre (p.

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF JACKSONVILLE

credits Editor & Communications Director Mindy Rubenstein mindyr@jewishjacksonville.org

Advertising Representative Ellen Wilcox 215.680.1000

Layout Designer & Communications Assistant Kelsey Schutter

Communications Committee Jon Israel, Chair Joan Levin Kari Bell Andrea Mail Shirley Bielski Rachel Morgenthal Iman Byfeld Donna O’Steen Helen Hill Marsha Pollock Michele Katz Sherrie Saag

Editorial Support Val Battini, Sherrie Saag, Karen Backilman Federation Executive Director Alan Margolies Federation President Ken Jacobs

The Jacksonville Jewish News is published monthly. All submitted content becomes the property of the Jacksonville Jewish News. Announcements and opinions contained in these pages are published as a service to the community and do not necessarily represent the views of the Jacksonville Jewish News or its publisher, the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Jewish News is not responsible for the kashruth of any product advertised.

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FEDERATION NEWS

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

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Letter from the Editor: Telling our Stories

BY MINDY RUBENSTEIN Editor & Communications Director

Recently a woman pulled up a chair next to me at an event and asked, “So, what’s your story?” I answered with a smile: “Which chapter should I start with?” We chatted for a few minutes as I tried to piece together bits and pieces of my life into a nutshell and asked her some questions.

But it really got me thinking. We are all works in progress, and whether we meet someone for the first time or the tenth, we are coming in mid-story. It’s a good reminder to try to have an open mind and an open heart – we never really know someone’s full story.

I started in February as the new communications director for the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville and editor of the Jacksonville Jewish News, a new chapter in my life. Though I earned a master’s degree and have worked in journalism and communications for nearly two decades – including as a magazine publisher – this is my first time working in the world of Federation.

For those who don’t know what Federation does, they (we) raise funds for agencies, Jewish education and synagogues locally as well as in Israel and 70 countries overseas, helping organizations reach their goals to positively impact hundreds of thousands of people.

Over the past month, I have been traveling throughout the Jacksonville Jewish community, along with my coworker, Lauren Rickoff, meeting with various leaders at the local organizations we serve. They have told us their stories, and, among other things, what they want to see more of in the Jewish News.

It has been an informative and eye-opening experience as I meet people across the broad spectrum of religious observance who, for the most part, all share in the same mission: to reach out to those in the community, offering programs and services that better people’s lives.

My job is to tell their stories. To tell your stories.

My story began in the Tampa Bay area.

Growing up in suburban Pinellas County, my parents drove my brother and me

30 minutes each way for Sunday School, and then also to Hebrew school Tuesday evenings.

Later I met my husband Dan, or re-met him, as we had grown up around the block from each other and both attended nearby Beth Chai with our families. It was torn down to make way for a housing development, which is what sent my parents a half hour north for Jewish education.

Twelve years ago, while our children were still toddlers, Dan and I decided to delve more deeply into the religion of our birth. Now raising our own children, we felt it was important to better understand what we were giving over to them.

To be blunt: I literally fell in love with the Judaism I discovered. And I wanted it all. Dan was more logical in his approach. But together, somehow, we began to search and ask and search some more. What does it really mean to be Jewish, especially now in modern times?

We lived in other places like Atlanta and Norfolk, Virginia, and visited cities in South Florida, New Jersey and New York, to explore and experience Jewish life in various communities. Our children attended schools across the religious spectrum as we tried to gauge what made the most sense for our growing family.

And then a job opportunity showed us Jacksonville. With our oldest approaching high school, one child in middle school and two in elementary, we knew that we needed to choose a community and settle down.

After much research, we chose to come back to Florida, closer to our families and within a Jewish community that has the amenities we need but also allows for diversity.

As Passover approaches and we recount the ultimate story of the Jewish people, it’s a time to come together and remember who we are and how we gained our freedom many chapters ago.

It’s also a reminder that we all share a common history, and a good opportunity to invite friends or acquaintances who may have never attended a Seder to join us.

In my new role, I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can. Please reach out to me with your questions, requests and ideas. We are all works in progress, as individuals and as a community, and that’s something to be proud of.

So, what’s your story?

Mindy Rubenstein serves as communications director with the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville and editor of the Jacksonville Jewish News. You can reach her at mindyr@jewishjacksonville.org.

Dr. Adam Levine to speak at upcoming Girlfriend Connection

BY LAUREN RICKOFF

Director, Campaign & Women’s Division

The community provided feedback and we’ve responded with something new and different for this year’s Women’s Division Girlfriend Connection. We are breaking the gender barrier with guest speaker Adam M. Levine, Ph.D., the newly appointed George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director & Chief Executive Officer of Jacksonville’s Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens.

Dr. Levine triple-majored at Dartmouth College in 2008, studying anthropology, art history and mathematics/social sciences. He was named a Rhodes Scholar in 2012 and earned a Master of Studies and Doctor of Philosophy in the History of Art from Oxford University.

After taking place in Mandarin for the past three years, it was time for a venue change and with Dr. Levine speaking, it was apparent Girlfriend Connection should take place at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. The beautiful galleries and refurbished gardens are the perfect backdrop for this special event.

“This year we not only have the opportunity to hear about the amazing work the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville is doing locally and abroad, but we have the opportunity to hear from Dr. Levine, a leader in the national art community,” said Co-chair Rachel Morgenthal. “Come awaken your senses at the beautiful Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens with an evening of delicious food, inspirational entertainment and great company.”

In addition to speaking about his goals and vision for the Cummer, Dr. Levine will share how he brings his Jewish values into his work. In referring to his new position Dr. Levine said, “What enthused me about this opportunity in particular, is the civic pride Jacksonville residents feel for their city and the aspirations they shared for Northeast Florida.”

Along with Morgenthal, Sherrie Saag will co-chair, and both are excited to bring a new spin to this annual event.

“Girlfriend Connection is a wonderful way to engage and connect with Jewish women from all over Jacksonville,” Saag said. “We invite women to learn more about Federation’s amazing work locally, nationally and around the world while having fun celebrating this great community. It’s been wonderful working with Rachel to put a local spin on this year’s event, and we are excited to welcome all our friends to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens.”

Girlfriend Connection Co-chairs Rachel Morgenthal This year’s Girlfriend and Sherrie Saag.

Connection takes place on Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m. For details, visit www.jewishjacksonville.org or contact Lauren Rickoff at laurenr@jewishjacksonville.org or 904-224-1401.

The Girlfriend Connection is an annual event hosted by the Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville. This community event is open to all Jacksonville women and does not have a minimum gift to attend. Each year, hundreds of women gather in their shared comradery and passion for the Jewish Community. Past speakers have included: Erin Zaikis, Rachel Cohen Jerrol, Alison Lebovitz, Lori Palatnik and Bruce Vilanch.

federation news

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

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Federation proposes board slate for new year

By Jewish Federation of Jacksonville

In accordance with the bylaws of the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, the nominating committee, chaired by past president Sandy Zimmerman, presents to the members of the Jewish community a proposed slate of officers and board members for the fiscal year July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.

Election and installation will occur at the annual meeting to be held Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. at the JCA during the Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Iris Kraemer, president; Jennifer Plotkin, vice president and campaign chair; vice presidents, Andrew Jaffa, Daniel Miller, Allison Jacobs, Debbie Banks Kitay, vice president and women’s division president; Sue Levine, women’s campaign chair; Sue Eaglstein, treasurer; Kim Glasgal, secretary; Ben Marsh, rGEN chair; Ken Jacobs, immediate past president; presidential appointee to be determined.

BOARD MEMBERS

Susan Cohen (River Garden), Brent Trager (Jewish Community Alliance), Stephen Goldman (Jewish Family & Community Services), Claudia Baker, Shylie Bannon*, Nicole Sena Brown, Jeff Edwards, Dina Fetner, Mark Green, Michael Korn, Mark Kraemer, Ken Horn*, Richard Margulies, Jill Metlin*, Meryl Rittenberg*, Jeanine Rogozinski, Elliott Rosenbaum*, Erik Rostholder*, Rebecca Selevan, Judy Silverman, Michael Solloway*, Haley Trager, Susan Wolchok and Barry Zisser.

PAST PRESIDENTS/ HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS

Scot Ackerman, Larry Appel, Guy Benrubi, Ronald Elinoff, Leslie Held, Joan Levin, Gary Perlman, David Robbins, Kenneth Sekine, Leonard Setzer, Steve Silverman, Richard Sisisky, Arnold Vandroff, Sandy Zimmerman and Elliot Zisser.

RABBIS

Rabbi Yaakov Fisch, Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar, Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner and Rabbi Michael Matuson. *Indicates new members.

Generous sponsor of Super Sunday 2019:

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Shaliach Corner: Houston, we made history!

BY ROTEM GABAY Community Shaliach

Houston We Made History!

Last month I was privileged to be part of a historic and exciting event – the launch of the first-ever Israeli spacecraft to the moon from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Some facts about the spacecraft: • It is the product of an Israeli venture called SpaceIL. • The spacecraft will land on the moon on April 11th!

• The spacecraft was built at the lowest budget ever (about $100 million).

Jax, FL 32250

• Each part of the structure has a key role in the spacecraft’s function.

• About 75 percent of the weight that it carries is fuel.

Over the past few months, we have been learning here in Jacksonville at Torah Academy of Jacksonville and Martin J. Gottlieb Day School about Israel and the space project. Now the spacecraft has a hard disc on board filled with history and Jewish culture, and pictures from our activities in the Jacksonville community. We had the amazing opportunity to be a small part of this tremendous project!

When the spacecraft lands on the moon, Israel will become the fourth country in the world to do this (after the U.S., Russia and China)!

So next time someone asks where I was when Israel made history and headed for the moon…

I’ll say I was right there!

life and legacy

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Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

A Recipe for a Legacy

BY KELLIE SMITH

Director of Planned Giving and Endowments

BeQuestions with Kellie Smith This month’s question comes from Sue in Mandarin: “What is Planned Giving exactly?”

Whenever I hear the term “planned giving,” I always think of the phrase, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” It might seem at first glance that these two things don’t relate to each other, but follow me here: One of our most basic Jewish values is the mitzvah of tzedakah – this is instilled in us at a young age and is an action we carry with us through life.

It is so easy to get distracted by the size of someone else’s gift or feel down about life circumstances that can impede a gift we might normally make, but this is where we begin: “It’s not what you say…”

There is still a pervading notion that a “philanthropist” is someone with a certain amount of financial resources to give away, putting them in an elite class of charitable persons.

The same thing could be said for the phrases “legacy giving” or “planned giving.” But I encourage anyone who might feel intimidated by those words to give them a second chance.

All of the generous individuals in our community here, no matter the size of their gift, all have the same size heart. So don’t let what you feel you can give deter you from fulfilling your instinct to engage in the mitzvah.

In fact, your instinct for tzedakah links directly to our goal for preserving and perpetuating Jewish life. One of Maimondies’ eight levels of tzedakah is the gift of a loan, partnership or other financial offering that results in the recipient being able to become self-sufficient – so as we grow our family of donors, the fruits of these gifts will ensure that our Jewish values prosper and multiply in our community far into the future.

Planned giving is a process that determines which giving technique will provide the greatest charitable potential to both the donor and mission of the chosen organization or philanthropic program. This is where we arrive at “it’s how you say it.” Previous BeQuestions columns have highlighted creative ways to consider building your future gift – through your IRA, through establishing an Endowment or Donor Advised Fund, through the appraisal and bequest of personal items of worth in your household (art, books, antiques, etc.) and much more.

As you move through the seasons, reflect on the things you cherish most about your Jewish world: learning, community, worship, social justice, support for Israel or caring for those in need. Being a steward of future Jewish life is part and parcel of our connection to our community here in Jacksonville and abroad. By planning a legacy, you help ensure that what you love will thrive where you love for generations to come. All of our donors and

See BEQUESTIONS, p. 27

Nana’s recipe book is her legacy. She will forever live on in my home feeding my family – as some of my husband’s favorite meals, her recipes often appear on my family dinner table. When our friends and acquaintances gather around our table, we remember and celebrate Nana through the food we serve.

Food has been said to be the only universal thing that can really bring all people together. Whether it be a celebration, a break the fast meal, a family dinner, or a Shiva meal – the power of food to bring people together in sharing tradition is evident. I hope we all have a meal, taste or smell that reminds of us of a time or person in our life that left a significant mark on who we are today.

My Nana’s recipe book means a great deal to me. Every time I pull it out to recreate one of her great dishes, I feel blessed and proud that Nana is still touching my life and her great grandson’s life. I can’t be certain Nana knew the recipe book would be her legacy in my life, because she and my grandfather never shared with me what they wanted their legacy to be.

I spent all of my childhood summers living with my grandparents at their lake cottage in Northwood, NH, countless school vacations travelling to stay with them in their South Florida home, and ultimately lived with them for a short period while I attended college in South Florida. We were so close, and yet I never learned what they wanted to be remembered for.

It is possible they didn’t think of it; maybe they were just enjoying their life together

and the family they created. They raised 5 children, enjoyed 13 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, but surely they wanted to be remembered and celebrated for all they contributed to their community.

Sadly, after the passing of my grandfather 15 years ago, the glue that held all of us together was gone. Siblings erupted in legal warfare over what was left behind and who was getting what and how much. Their children never once asked: “What did they want to give or what did they want their legacy to be?”

Instead, they were fixated on what they were entitled to get and not what their parents wanted to give.

It’s too late for me to have this conversation with my grandparents, and I will never have the opportunity to enjoy my large extended family all together again. Their children no longer have relationships with one another because of issues with inheritance and entitlement, and a family was torn apart. This was certainly not the legacy these hardworking, generous and loving grandparents of mine wanted for themselves, but unfortunately it’s all too common.

With proper legacy planning, we can guide what the future holds for your loved ones and how their memory lives on in our community.

I have my Nana’s recipes and some jewelry she gave me

on my wedding day. She is still feeding my heart and soul with all she taught me – from how to stuff the peppers to how to negotiate at the South Florida flea markets. As I baked her chocolate hamentashen recipe with my son, I found myself thinking about his innocence and all the little things I love about his energetic and inquisitive soul. I dropped a spoon while we were baking and he quickly dashed to pick it up for me, asking, “Mama was that a mitzvah I did for you?” As he learns about traditions and mitzvahs I see a Jewish man, a good man in the making. One day I hope he will bake my Nana’s hamentashen with his family and he will remember the moments when we baked together.

Many wise elders have

told me that as parents we do the best we can in providing, teaching and guiding, but we cannot control the choices our children ultimately make in their own lives. I hope my son lives a life steered by kindness and kavod (respect), always being willing to do the mitzvah.

One thing I will hope for my son is that he understands and respects the legacy I want to leave behind in my career, for my family, and with the causes that mean the most to us.

The lesson I learned from my grandparents’ passing was that we need to think about, define, plan and share what we want for all things tangible and intangible in our lives – including what we want our legacy to be.

For more information, contact Kellie Smith at kelliek@jewishjacksonville.org or 904-512-3796.

Lunch Celeeating Our Lions

All Lions of Judah are invited to join us for lunch.

Hosted by Sue Eaglstein

Tuesday, April 30, 2019, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Kindly RSVP to Lauren Rickoff by April 23 laurenr@jewishjacksonville.org | 904-224-1406 Sponsored by: The Lion of Judah is a symbol of a Jewish woman’s strength, a symbol of her caring about the organized Jewish world, and a symbol or her financial commitment of at least $5,000 to the Annual Campaign. When you become a Lion of Judah, you join over 17,000 other women worldwide who are leaders in philanthropic giving.

FEDERATION NEWS

page 6

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Israeli Partnership Steering Committee meets in Charleston

BY JILL ABEL

Israel Partnership Director

The Hadera-Eiron Southeast Consortium Partnership Steering Committee met in Charleston, South Carolina from March 2-5. During our meetings, budgets for programs and projects were created and approved. In attendance from Jacksonville were Allison Jacobs, Alan Margolies and Jill Abel. We are excited about all the possibilities to engage the Jacksonville Jewish community in Partnership activities this year. Some highlights include our annual Summer Teen Exchange, a Young Leadership Program that will be hosted here in Jacksonville and a new program involving a visiting Israeli chef. For more information about getting involved in Israel Partnership, please contact Jill Abel at jilla@jewishjacksonville.org.

THE Four Questions with Debbie Banks Each month, we feature a Lion of Judah from our community. This month’s featured Lion is Debbie Banks.

1. Why is being a Lion meaningful to you? Attending the last two International Lion Conferences has taught me what it means to be a Lion. I saw the difference that women can make in their communities and in the world not only by the money we raise but also by how we chose to allocate it.

Sharing these experiences with our Jacksonville Lions has revealed the strength, the courage, the passion, and the talent we are blessed to have in our local community. I am proud to learn from them every day.

2. What was your first Federation event? While studying abroad

in 1985 at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, I was invited to join a family that was leading a Presidential Mission. Traveling the country in a Hercules aircraft and attending a dinner with Yitzhak Rabin with a group of passionate philanthropic individuals was unforgettable and profoundly impactful.

3. What is your favorite Federation memory? Participating in a family mission with our Jacksonville Jewish Federation created so many memories, including visiting our sister city of Hadera and other programs where our dollars make a difference. Celebrating our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah with family and Jacksonville friends was pretty memorable too!

4. What Jewish tradition do you want to pass on to your children?

The concept of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, has always been part of our children’s life thanks to their Martin J. Gottlieb Day School education, their Camp Ramah experiences and the volunteer activities we participate in as a family and as individuals. Our hope is that they continue to recognize the importance of building their own local communities and that Israel, forever, be a recipient of their good works.

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Perspectives

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

page 7

Rabinically Speaking with Rabbi Fisch

By Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

In the most recent gubernatorial election campaign in New York, Cynthia Nixon made quite a stir as she was campaigning in the Jewish neighborhood of the Upper West Side. She made her way into a traditional deli, and her request for lunch ignited quite a controversy. At the legendary Zabar’s market on the Upper West Side, the actressturned-politician ordered a cinnamon-raisin bagel, topped with lox, capers, red onions, cream cheese and tomatoes. “That’s what I want,” she said defiantly.

A local news site captured it all, posting the video online. And for the next several days as the story spread, the sweet-and-savory sandwich was plunged into a boiling controversy. Most vocal were those New Yorkers and other bagel fans who have expressed a firm belief – mostly on social media – that Ms. Nixon committed a gag-inducing gaffe: chewy raisins and sweet dough, briny capers and smoked fish joined together in an unholy union. A chorus of tweets had ripped the unorthodox bagel combo as “gross.” One reporter even went so far to call it a “crime against the bagel gods.”

I couldn’t help but be sadly amused at the manufactured outrage directed at the candidate at a seemingly petty issue. There are so many critical issues facing our society as a whole, but so many of us are bogged down with unimportant matters. I was thinking of the most vital issues facing the Jewish Community on a global level, both in Israel and around the world, and came up with an unscientific list of the top ten issues. Now this list is indeed debatable, as some may take issue with why I list any of these in the top ten or why some have been left off the

coveted list. Additionally, some might wonder what is sacred about the Top 10 list and why there is not a Top 12 or Top 9, but we are a people that heard the 10 Commandments, so it’s in this spirit that I share my list: 1) The Iranian nuclear threat to Israel.

2) The spread of Iranian proxies in the Mideast, i.e., Hezbollah, Hamas.

3) The threat of terror attacks in Israel.

4) Growing Anti-Semitism in Europe.

5) The growing divide between religious and secular in Israel.

6) The increasing gap between Israel and Diaspora Jewry.

7) An increasing majority of North American Jews do not affiliate with any synagogue.

8) Strengthening of the BDS movement, especially on college campuses.

9) The challenge for Jewish Day School affordability.

10) Majority of Jewish People disconnected from Torah and tradition.

It’s relatively easy to come up with a list of problems. Coming up with a list of solutions is an entirely different matter. The answers to the above list are extraordinarily complex and beyond the scope of this space to weigh in on. I’m unsure I’m even qualified to offer solutions on all of the above issues. However, that will not stop me from attempting to engage on the most critical issues of our time. I want to outline a three-tiered approach as I attempt to unpack this: EDUCATE, ENGAGE and EMPOWER. Educate. It’s important to be educated on the potential solutions to the most vexing problems of our times. The challenge of Jewish Day School affordability is threatening Jewish continuity in the United States, as middle-class families are being crushed with rising tuition costs and struggling from paycheck to paycheck. How should the middle-class Jewish family with three to four kids be expected to pay nearly $40,000 a year for a Jewish Day School experience, when they can receive an outstanding

April Mensch of the Month Evelyn Peck will always make you smile.

“Whether it’s kvelling about her two wonderful sons or reminiscing about her late husband, Ira, Evelyn is a delight,” says Jim Richman, Chief Operating Officer at River Garden. “She gives of herself to the entire Jacksonville community and River Garden is lucky that she spends so many of her volunteer hours with us.”

She has been a 20-plus year member of the River Garden Auxiliary, and has been in charge of the River Garden gift shop since January of 2016.

Under her leadership, the gift shop has found a vibrancy that is evident to everyone that walks by. It has truly become a social hub of the campus. Moreover, the financial success of the gift shop is unprecedented.

Evelyn and her loyal Auxiliary volunteers have donated thousands of dollars to benefit the care of River Garden residents. And while Evelyn will tell you that she never had any experience in retail, she admits that it must be in her bones. She remembers her family selling shoes while growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina, and how much fun that was.

Evelyn is also an active Hadassah volunteer. She joined Hadassah in 1977 as an honor to her mother, Vivian Greenberg, may her memory be for a blessing. Evelyn has continued in her mother’s footsteps, making Hadassah and her synagogue Sisterhood centerpieces in her life.

She was a charter member of the Yamit Beaches group, and she has held many leadership positions in our Jacksonville chapter – as the Yamit President, Fund Raising & Membership Vice President, and Chair overseeing American Affairs. Evelyn is currently the JNF Tree Certificates & Boxes chair for the Jacksonville Chapter.

Additionally, she heads up the “lunch bunch” – a group that meets monthly to contribute toward an annual fundraising goal for Hadassah – and is a frequent presenter at Hadassah’s Summer Book Review.

Hadassah Chapter President Liat Walker adds, “Evelyn makes time to attend all Hadassah events and is frequently the first friendly face that new members meet.”

We congratulate Evelyn on being named Mensch of the Month.

It is most richly deserved.

education being offered by a public school in Duval and St. Johns County for free? Well, help may be on the way. In the last several years, there has been a growing effort to advocate on behalf of this cause to our lawmakers in Tallahassee. The efforts have yielded fruit. For the school year of 2017-2018, there was $20 million in state scholarship funds for 2,875 Jewish students in the state of Florida. The majority of these students and families were, of course, in South Florida, but the students and families of the local day schools benefited as well. In an era of increased concern on security, there was funding secured of $654,000 in security hardening for Jewish schools in Florida in 2017-2018.

Engage and Empower. It’s essential to be engaged and empowered regarding the crucial issues of the day. One of the problems I highlighted above was the precarious state that Israel faces both on a security and economic battlefield. Many people are rightly frustrated by the double standards that the Jewish State faces daily. However, it’s essential to realize that very little can be accomplished by merely posting something on social media. The best way to affect change is to get involved with the advocacy efforts of AIPAC. I just returned from the AIPAC policy conference in Washington, D.C., where I joined 18,000 pro-Israel activists from all over the country. I was honored and excited to lead a group from Jacksonville to the Policy Conference. This was my sixth consecutive year that I was fortunate to attend, and the highlight for me is always making our way to Capitol Hill to meet our congressman on the last day. When our member of Congress sees that we have made the trip from Jacksonville as his constituents, and we ask him to support a particular piece of legislation that will help Israel, it makes all the difference in the world.

There are indeed many problems in the world, but that should never discourage one from being engaged. As the sage in Pirkei Avot taught, “It is not our job to finish all the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

Teen

Continued from pg. 1 stories. And, when I work with young students and they look up to me as a mentor, a friend or just someone they can talk to... that’s a great feeling! I’ve learned that taking the time to listen to people is a priceless gift.

Q: In general, do you think most teenagers engage in service projects?

A: Many students today don’t really think too far into the future and don’t have a strong work ethic.

For me, it’s very important to chart a path that includes a high sense of morality and service, and volunteering gives me back much more than I contribute. My skill sets increased and I became more selfconfident by meeting so many people and working side by side with other dedicated volunteers. ExperiTeen Ian Gilbert volunteering with the Wounded Warrior Project. encing all these differstudy physical therapy. ent activities has helped When you volunteer, you feel a deep me chart a path for my future and I don’t sense of joy, and I think this foundation of think, in general, teens have taken advanservice will motivate me in any career path tage of how important volunteering can be I choose. For now, I’m very excited about in their lives. what the future holds and have dedicated Q: How has volunteering helped you my time to building up my physical strength determine your career goals? and discipline, which will culminate with A: My plans include becoming a combat my participation in an upcoming body medic in the U.S. Army, and I leave my building competition. It’s not about winning home in Atlantic Beach for training and for me. It’s about trying something new, service this summer after graduation from asking questions and learning more about Duncan U. Fletcher High School. Coming from a military family, we have always held the world and about myself.

When we share stories like Ian’s, we can service as an integral part of life, and being reverse some of the negative stereotypes an Army medic will allow me to continue about teens and focus on their positive our family’s heritage while helping people contributions. Thank you in advance, Ian, in need. I’ll achieve EMT status and then, for your service! possibly, go further on in my education to To suggest a teen for an upcoming spotlight, email JJN@jewishjacksonville.org.

Community Seders

page 8

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Celebrate this Passover at a Community Seder

The highlight of Passover is the Seder, a 15-step, family-oriented tradition and ritual-packed feast. Many families have a Seder the first two nights of the festival.

It is customary to extend an invitation to at least one person who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a Seder. Looking to attend a Seder? Try one of the community Seders below or email JJN@jewishjacksonville.org to be matched with a host.

Beth El Sisterhood to host Miriam’s Seder

By Beth El The Beaches Synagogue

Beth El The Beaches Synagogue Sisterhood invites the public to our Miriam’s Seder on Tuesday, April 9 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Miriam’s Seder is an annual event where the Beth El Sisterhood celebrates the Passover story of Miriam.

“Each year it is a beautiful celebration with food, song and friends,” Sisterhood Co-President Bobby

Adler said. “Everyone in the community loves how we dedicate the evening to honoring the women in attendance and to all those women who have touched our lives,” Bobby added.

The special Passover event is shared with the women of Palms Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville Beach. “It adds to the special evening having women of a different religious background with us,” said Vickie Kennedy, Sisterhood Co-President. “It

opens up such a lively discussion and so much is learned.” Men and women are invited to attend the Seder.

Miriam’s Seder will be held at Beth El The Beaches Synagogue, 288 N. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach. For reservations, visit www.besisterhood_miriams_seder.eventbrite.com, or contact Bobby Adler at b.adler4315@gmail.com for more information.

Congregational Passover Seder at Temple Bet Yam

By Temple Bet Yam

Temple Bet Yam is pleased to invite you to our traditional Congregational Passover Seder led by Rabbi Nadia Siritsky. The Seder will be held at TBY, 2055 Wildwood Drive, St. Augustine, on Friday, April 19, at 6 p.m. All are welcome.

The cost for adult members and their guests is $36 each, $15

each for children 12 and under, and $46 for non-members. Please let us know by April 5 how many of each will be attending, and send a check for the total amount payable to Temple Bet Yam, P.O. Box 860098, St. Augustine, FL 32086. Vegetarian meals will be provided if indicated. Call 904819-1875 for more information.

We look forward to a delightful and meaningful Seder.

There is a seat for everyone at Temple’s Seder table

By The Temple

Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple) will host a Passover Seder on Friday, April 19 at 6 p.m. The Seder will be preceded by Erev Shabbat worship, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

“At Temple, we take pride in welcoming all who enter our doors: Jews by birth, Jews by choice, interfaith families and friends of all faiths,” explains Senior Rabbi Elizabeth

Bahar. “Everyone is welcome at our Temple table to celebrate the Seder with lots of food, friends and fun.”

Reservations are required by close of business on Friday, April 12. Call the Temple office (904-733-7078) or rsvp@TheTempleJacksonville.org. Families of 4 (2 adults and 2 children, 13 and under) are $100. Adults are $39. Children 4-13 are $18, and children 3 and under are free.

Chabad Northeast Florida Communal Pesach Seders

By Chabad of Northeast Florida

Reservations are required.

Please call your local Chabad to make reservations.

Beaches (904-543-9301): April 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. (following prayer Services) St. Augustine (904-521-8664): Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

St. Johns (904-701-4422): Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 20 at 8:15 p.m.

Southside (904-646-4434): Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m.

Clay County (904-290-1017): Friday, April 19 at 7:30 PM

Passover Seder in St. Augustine to be led by Rabbi Joel Fox

By Sons of Israel

First Congregation Sons of Israel, a conservative egalitarian congregation, will hold a Passover Seder on Saturday, April 20.

Mincha service will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by Seder at 6 p.m.

Both will be led by Rabbi Joel Fox. The Seder meal will be prepared lovingly and deliciously by congregation members. Because of success and attendance last year, reservations will be capped at 70.

First Congregation Sons of Israel is located at 161 Cordova Street, St. Augustine, just south of the Lightner Museum. RSVP before April 10 to kstern426@ gmail.com. For ticket information, contact Karen Stern at 904-824-2638, or the synagogue office at 904-829-9532.

First Congregation Sons of Israel is the Oldest Synagogue in the Nation’s Oldest City and was recently voted best synagogue in Folio Weekly’s Best of St. Augustine.

We have moved! Come visit us at our new address.

9965 - 24 San Jose Blvd.

By Carrabba’s

community news “The Rescuers: Moral Portraits of Courage in the Holocaust” draws crowd for exhibit opening Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

By Jewish Family & Community Services

“The Rescuers: Moral Portraits of Courage in the Holocaust” is finally here! On February 20, the exhibit opened to more than 70 people who came to Jewish Family & Community Services to hear artist Gay Block talk about her experience interviewing, photographing and recording over 100 Righteous Gentiles from persecution and murder during the Holocaust. From 1939 to 1945, the Nazis murdered over six million Jews, gypsies and homosexuals – 1.5 million of them children – marking one of the darkest periods in recent history.

During that time, there were heroes who hid, protected and saved Jews. We call them “the Rescuers,” and the new exhibit featured in the Frisch Family Holocaust Memorial Gallery honors them.

In the late ‘80s, artist Gay Block and writer Malka Drucker travelled through Europe interviewing and capturing the stories of these amazing people. “The Rescuers: Moral Portraits of Courage in the Holocaust

demonstrates the strength and courage of people willing to stand up for what is right, and it offers hope that there is true goodness in the world,” said Executive Director Colleen Rodriguez. “The rescuers were ordinary people – teachers, students, store owners, factory workers and even housewives – who genuinely cared about the people being persecuted around them. They refused to tolerate the abuse of innocents, so they took action,” she continued, “and risked their own lives to save countless others.”

“The Rescuers: Moral Portraits of Courage in the Holocaust” will be on display in the Frisch Family Holocaust Memorial Gallery through October. The exhibit is open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you would book a tour for an organization, contact Gail Furman at 904-394-5723 or visit jacksonvilleholocaustmemorial. com for more information.

If you would like to support the Gallery to ensure that the important stories of the Holocaust continue to be discussed, contact Susie Menaged at 904-394-5727.

“The Rescuers: Moral Portraits of Courage in the Holocaust” Artist Gay Block and wife Billie Parker.

Gallery Curator Hope McMath with JFCS Executive Director Colleen Rodriguez.

Hanna Bendit with local Holocaust survivors Harry Frisch and Morris Bendit.

Jewish Community Alliance CEO seeks to increase youth connection to Judaism through Macccabi Games

Games.

It wasn’t until Chaskin was a college freshman in 1988 that he became aware of the Maccabi movement.

Jewish Community Alliance CEO Adam Chaskin is Although he was too old to participate as an athlete in the working with JCA Sports and Recreation to reinvigorate the agency’s involvement in the Maccabi Games in an ef- JCC Maccabi Games, he did serve as an assistant basketball coach in the games when they were held in Chicago fort to connect youth within the Jacksonville community in 1988. Since then, Chaskin’s involvement has grown. In to the plethora of benefits received from participation.

1993, he had his first experience with the games in Israel The Maccabi movement began in 1895 with a Jewish and again in 1997, where he worked with Herb Brown, sports club. In 1932, the first world Maccabiah Games brother of Larry Brown. He served as basketball chair were held in Israel. Since then, the movement has grown and coach in Berlin in 2015 and will serve as basketball to encompass several Olympic-style sporting events, chair and a coach in the upcoming games in Budapest, including the JCC Maccabi Games, the European and Pan American Maccabi Games and the World Maccabiah Hungary this summer. This participation was integral in connecting Chaskin to his Jewish identity, and he hopes to replicate this benefit for JacksonThe AThens CAfe fAmily ville youth. wAnTs To wish All our CusTomers: “I believe the Maccabi Games are the number one way for Jewish teens to find and further their Jewish identity,” he said.

The JCC Maccabi Games, which is cosponsored by the JCC Association of North America, Maccabi World Union, Maccabi Canada and Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel, is the second largest organized sports program for Jewish teenagers in the world. Since the first North American Maccabi Games in 1982,

By Jewish Community Alliance

Happy Passover!

page 9

the annual event has brought the best of young, Jewish athletes together each summer for competition held in multiple cities throughout North America. In the past, the JCA has sent delegations to the games, most recently in 2016, when JCA Sports and Recreation Director Rio Robinson took a group of youth athletes to St. Louis where they competed in swimming, basketball and soccer. Chaskin hopes to expand participation to include other areas of competition.

“There are opportunities to participate in multiple sport and artistic offerings. The JCC Maccabi Games and Arts Fest provides an opportunity for every teen to participate in an incredible Jewish experience while also doing an activity they enjoy,” noted Chaskin.

In addition to providing a supportive, communal space for competition, the other, equally important part is the connection to Jewish peoplehood. Home hospitality is central to the experience of the Maccabi Games, and participants stay with a Jewish host family for the duration of the event. Every aspect of the games is rooted in important Jewish values. The “Rachmanus Rule” ensures compassion and good sportsmanship through the games, and the event also incorporates a mitzvah project.

In the future, Chaskin sees this as a way to introduce our teens to peers from all over the world who all have one thing in common, they are Jewish.

community news

page 10

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Kids Mega Challah Bake brings the Jacksonville Jewish community together!

By Chabad of Mandarin and St. Johns

More than 100 children joined together at Durbin Creek Elementary School for a day of unity, inspiration, and “loaves” of fun at the first-ever Kids Mega Challah Bake in Northeast Florida. This event was sponsored by Chabad Headquarters/ Mandarin and Chabad St. Johns.

200 pounds of flour, 120 eggs, hundreds of sticky hands and lots of bright, smiling faces. They rolled up their sleeves and together, shaped two challahs: one to eat and one to give.

Mrs. Dini Sharfstein, co-director at Chabad of St. Johns, helped teach the excitable batch of youngsters going through each step of how to form the dough, as well as its importance to their heritage. “Challah is a precious age-old tradition for the Jewish family,” said Dini. “It’s thousands and thousands of years old and to see the kids coming together to keep this tradition is truly heartwarming.”

After making challah, a piece is typically broken off to be burned and a blessing is said remembering that everything we have was given to us by G-d and that little extra we have is so we can give to others.

This tradition was demonstrated by our 8th graders, Sydney and Lior, and lead by Mrs. Rivkie Kahanov of Chabad of Northeast Florida.

“I love making challah so much,” said third-grader, Briana. “I can’t hold myself back. I usually eat it right out of the oven.”

But before they could eat, they had to prepare it, which meant forming the dough and, of course, kneading it.

While the dough was rising, the children played a game and had an awesome time. After their prep work was done, their challahs were ready to shape, and soon enough, ready to bake.

Make sure to be on the lookout for the upcoming Mega Kids Challah Bake. For more info, email JaxKidsBakeChallah@gmail.com.

The JCA Omer Burpee Challenge uses fitness to teach Jewish tradition

By Jewish Community Alliance

The premise of the 2018 JCA Omer Burpee Challenge was simple: add a burpee every day of the counting of the Omer until you had completed all 49 days. It was a fun fitness challenge that JCA Fitness professional hoped would spark engagement while teaching the Jewish tradition of counting the Omer. What resulted was an unexpected viral effect among JCA membership and the community.

From March 31 to May 19, 2018 within the 49-day period between the second night of Passover and Shavuot, 63 participants enrolled in the JCA Omer Burpee

challenge and dedicated themselves to recording and sharing across the JCA Fitness Facebook Group page their daily progress toward completing 1225 burpees.

Additionally, hundreds followed the progress of participants across social media. The Omer Burpee Challenge presented a unique opportunity to increase digital engagement while providing cultural exposure to Jewish traditions. During the period of the challenge, participation was not exclusive to Jacksonville. The JCA had members actively posting while on vacation in Israel, Amsterdam, San Antonio, Charleston, Switzerland and Germany.

The JCA provided all of the tools needed, including

demonstration of a correct burpee with modifications for all levels of fitness. It also provided a tracking sheet and education about the counting of the Omer. “Some participants had neither performed a burpee before nor heard of the Omer, so it was educational as well as physical,” notes Sarah Perfido, JCA Assistant Fitness and Wellness Director.

As Passover approaches again, the JCA is hoping to ignite an even greater community response to this year’s challenge. The 2019 JCA Omer Burpee Challenge is from April 20-June 8. For information on how to enter and share your progress, contact Sarah Perfido at 904730-2100 ext. 267.

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community news Dedication set for St. Augustine’s first “Jewish” Commemorative Plaque

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

By St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society

The St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society has set June 18, the 55th anniversary of the largest mass arrest of rabbis in U.S. history, for the dedication of the city’s first commemorative plaque mentioning Jews. The dedication will be at the site of the arrest, the Hilton Garden Inn, 32 Avenida Menendez in St. Augustine, and is open to the public. The brief ceremony will begin at noon.

St. Augustine was the home of noted abolitionist Moses Elias Levy from 1821 until his death in 1854. Levy purchased over 100,000 acres of land to create a utopian “Jewish State” in Florida. Historical plaques in Micanopy, Fla. commemorate his activities.

Other historically significant events have gone unrecognized by plaques. David Levy Yulee, Moses’ son, lived in St. Augustine and entered the Florida Bar in St. Augustine,

UP TO

going on to be Florida’s Territorial Representative in the U.S. Congress and ultimately Florida’s first U.S. Senator (and the first U.S. Senator of Jewish descent).

The oldest synagogue in continuous use in the State of Florida, First Congregation Sons of Israel, stands on Cordoba Street in St. Augustine.

Tolamato Cemetery on North Cordoba Street contains the remains of Xuetas, Jews who came from Minorca and the other Baleric Islands to help found New Smyrna Beach in 1768. A historical marker stands outside the cemetery but makes no mention of the descendants of Jews buried there.

The largest mass arrest of Rabbis in U.S. history took place on June 18, 1964, on the waterfront in St. Augustine. Please plan to join the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society at noon on Tuesday, June 18 for a historic first in the Oldest European City in this United States of America.

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page 11

JCA Tennis Pro inducted into UNF Hall of Fame

By Jewish Community Alliance

The JCA congratulates JCA Tennis Pro Reggie Exum, who on February 23, 2019 was inducted into the University of North Florida Athletics Hall of Fame for his collegiate achievements in the sport of tennis. Having graduated from the school in 1997 on a full-ride tennis scholarship, Exum compiled an impressive list of accomplishments, including achieving a three-time ITA All-American ranking in singles and doubles, ITA Rookie of the Year in 1994, number two in the Sunshine State singles championship in 1995, and several career records.

This honor comes well deserved for an athlete who has spent a lifetime playing the sport.

Exum comes from a tennis family. “When I was around 6, I took my first tennis lesson,” he noted. His first exposure to the sport was when his mother took lessons and allowed him and his twin brother to use the last minutes of her lesson to hit a few balls and get some instruction. When it became apparent that Exum and his brother had a knack for the sport, they were encouraged by their parents to develop their skill. It was the first step on the path that would lead him to a career in tennis.

Exum isn’t the only person in his family who excelled on the courts. His brother was also an All-American player, and his sister reached number one in the country as a senior at Duke Uni-

versity. The sport of tennis has been a sustaining one in Exum’s family. It’s how they stay active and fit, and through his career as an instructor, it is a way for Exum to share his passion for the sport. As the JCA tennis pro, he has introduced hundreds of people of all ages to tennis. “It’s great to be able to give back to the community through a sport I have loved ever since I can remember, whether it’s a hitting session with a seasoned player or introducing the sport of tennis to a child in their very first lesson,” Exum said.

From Exum’s first few swings on the court with his mother to millions of tennis ball hits later, the honor from UNF highlights his dedication to the sport in college, and his work highlights his dedication to sharing a sport that he says, “can last for a lifetime.”

daily stress.

As Continued from pg. 1 Jews, we are not immune to the addiction. Shame remains a barrier to treatment and an impediment to even discussing the problem.

Addiction is seen as a moral failing or a character flaw, despite the overwhelming evidence that it is a chronic illness like Crohn’s Disease or diabetes. The addicts and their families feel stigmatized.

Often, those suffering with addiction have graduated from college, have careers and families. They are soccer moms, board members and business owners. Many are suffering in silence, sitting in our sanctuary pews. As rabbis we counsel them and their families; we refer them to therapists; we officiate at their funerals.

One of the most unfortunate pieces of misinformation centers around Twelve Step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) and Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). While true that A.A. had its origin in the Oxford Group, which was Christian, the principles of A.A. and N.A. as embodied in Twelve Steps recovery are in no way incompatible with Jewish teachings.

Indeed, all of the Twelve Steps can be found in the sacred literature of the Torah, Talmud and other classic sources of rabbinic Judaism.

As Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski – a noted psychiatrist specializing in addiction, an Orthodox rabbi, and a strong advocate of the Twelve Steps – maintains, “While it is true that the majority of A.A. meetings are in churches, it should also be mentioned that few Jewish facilities have welcomed A.A. The myth that Jews do not become

alcoholics has resulted in an alienation of alcoholism treatment programs from the Jewish community.”

In our role as clergy, we seek to debunk this fallacy and educate the members of our congregations. We seek to create an address within the Jewish community for those who are in recovery and those who will be one day.

In partnership with Jewish Family & Community Services, our synagogues have an important role to play in offering recovering addicts, alcoholics, and their families a spiritual refuge.

Twelve Step programs, along with support groups such as Al-Anon, belong in the Jewish community, not only because they serve the needs of Jewish families, but because their underlying premises resonate deeply with the wellsprings of our tradition. Judaism urges that we imitate the attributes of a God who, in the words of the daily Amidah prayer, “supports the falling, heals the ailing, and frees the fettered.” Opening the doors and hearts of Jewish institutions to those struggling with addiction is one significant way to uphold our partnership with the Divine in helping heal a broken world. Rabbi Bahar and Rabbi Lubliner are working with JFCS to assess the need within our community for addiction treatment services.

“We are preparing to help all those impacted by addiction, the addict and the family. We encourage you to identify yourself to JFCS by calling Colleen Rodriquez at 904-395-5752,” explains Rabbi Bahar.

“Do not suffer alone. Take the first step. Your life can be different,” says Colleen. “Please call me. I will respond to each call confidentially.”

Addiction

synagogue News

page 12

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Can the Holocaust be memorialized?

Stacey Goldring

By The Temple

Members of the club enjoy waffles and smoothies at their most recent meeting.

Kosher Food Club at Creekside High School

By The Kosher Food Club

Where fun, food and great discussions meet! KFC, short for “Kosher Food Club,” was founded at Creekside High School in 2014, and

brings together Jewish students of all backgrounds. Participants learn about traditional Jewish foods and living a healthy lifestyle while exploring and enjoying all different types of Jewish cuisine. No affiliation required.

Join Stacey Goldring and Cindy Edelman in a special LiterARTure conversation on Holocaust Remembrance, at The Temple on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Cindy Edelman has long been a student of the Holocaust and a collector of Holocaustthemed artwork. Using examples of visual art and poetry,

Cindy Edelman

Cindy and Stacey will address the questions: How do writers and artists interpret the darkest of evils? How do the arts and literature bridge understanding of crimes against humanity?

Holocaust Remembrance explores how resistance and memorialization are expressed through visual arts and the written word. The entire community is welcome to join this informative discussion.

Mah Jongg tournament at Temple Bet Yam

Chabad at the Beaches offers women’s book club luncheon

By Chabad at The Beaches

Chabad at the Beaches’ acclaimed women’s Jewish book club is in its seventh year.

Every month, the club meets for lunch at noon at Chabad at the Beaches and discusses a new book. The books cover a wide variety of topics. This is a great opportunity to meet new people, share your thoughts and opinions, hear other people’s insights, and enjoy a great meal. The next meeting will take place Monday, April 8 at 12 p.m. at the Aaron and Blanche Scharf Chabad at the Beaches’ Center for Jewish Life, 521 A1A North, Ponte

Vedra Beach. This club is free of charge.

This month, the club will meet and discuss “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom.

For anyone wanting to eat lunch while discussing books, you may pre-order your meal from Gili’s Kitchen. Contact Gili’s Kitchen at 904-537-1671 by 3 p.m. the Sunday before book club.

For more information on this or other Chabad at the Beaches programs and events, visit www.Chabadbeaches.com or call 904543-9301. To RSVP, email leah@chabadbeaches.com or text 904-504-0451.

Yom Limmud with Dr. Erica Brown

By Craig Cherrin

Dr. Erica Brown, one of the more renowned speakers about Judaism in current society, came to Etz Chiam in February to discuss the challenges of being Jewish in the modern age. Her talk was attended by hundreds of people from the broader community and of all ages and stages of life.

There was delicious kosher food provided and the younger children could expel their excess energies outside in the playground and bounce house provided for this event.

Dr. Brown is an associate professor at George

Washington University, author of 11 books and numerous articles. Her discussion at this event hit upon many important and interesting topics using her personal experiences as well as research. She put together a handout with activities so the listeners could participate along the way.

The presentation by Dr. Brown, hosted by Etz Chiam with the generous sponsorship of Lawrence and Kathy Kanter & Family, was a valuable experience. The parallels of Judaism and current society is something that is constantly identified and wrestled with. Yom Limmud with Dr. Brown provided insight into this subject.

By Temple Bet Yam

Put your Mah Jongg skills to the test. The tournament, sponsored by Temple Bet Yam, takes place on Thursday, April 11, at the St. Augustine Duplicate Bridge Club. The Club is located at 10 Fairbanks Street in St. Augustine. Register at 10:30 a.m., play begins at 11 a.m. The

$25 donation to Temple Bet Yam includes the tournament and lunch. There will be door prizes, and tournament winners will receive cash prizes.

For more information, visit the Temple website at www. templebetyam.org. Questions?

Call Carol Levy at 954-8957332 or Jane Seiden at 954-3190465.

Synagogue News

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Etz Chaim Synagogue hosts community Yom Hashoah Memorial service

By Etz Chaim

Etz Chaim Synagogue is excited to host this year’s Community Yom Hashoah Memorial Service on Thursday, May 2. This year’s program will feature guest speaker Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, a professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future at Yeshiva University. For more information, call Etz Chaim at 904-262-3565.

From 2000 to 2005, he served as Dean of the Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Institute in Boston. He was the first Rabbi of the Young Israel of Sharon, MA, from 1977 to 1981, creating a new, vibrant and committed community. From 1981 to 2000, he served as the rabbi of The Jewish Center in New York City, moving the congregation from 180 to over 600 members over the course of his tenure, and also served as rabbi of the Maimonides Minyan in Brookline, MA, from 2000 to 2005.

Dr. Schacter holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages from Harvard University and received rabbinic ordination from Mesivta Torah Vodaath. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1973, Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with the Abraham S. Goodhartz Award for Excellence in Judaic Studies. Dr. Schacter was a Teaching Fellow at Harvard from 1978-1980, Director of Yeshiva University’s Torah u-Madda Project from 1986-1997, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University from 1993-1999. In 1995, he was awarded the prestigious Daniel Jeremy Silver Fellowship from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University. He also presently serves as a member of the faculty of The Wexner Foundation and The Wexner Heritage Foundation.

Dr. Schacter is co-author of the award winning “A Modern Heretic and a Traditional Community: Mordecai M. Kaplan, Orthodoxy, and American Judaism” published by Columbia University Press in 1996, and he is author of close to 50 articles and reviews in Hebrew and English. He is also the editor of “Reverence, Righteousness and Rahamanut: Essays in Memory of Rabbi Dr. Leo Jung” (1992), “Jewish Tradition and The Nontraditional Jew” (1992) and the award winning “Judaism’s Encounter with other Cultures: Rejection or Integration?”

(1997), and co-editor of “The Complete Service for the Period of Bereavement” (1995). He is the Founding Editor of The Torah u-Madda Journal, a prestigious academic publication which has gained international acclaim.

Rabbi Schacter holds a number of prominent Jewish communal positions. He served as Founding President of the Council of Orthodox Jewish Organizations (COJO) of the Upper West Side from 1994-2000, is a member of the Board of Governors of the Orthodox Union and is on the Editorial Boards of Tradition, Jewish Action, BDD (Bechal Derachecha Da’ehu) and Jewish Educational Leadership. He was awarded several fellowships and grants to further his scholarly research.

page 13

Israel Advocacy Workshop at Chabad of Southside

By Chabad of Southside

Heading off to college is an exciting time in any young person’s life – new friends, new experiences and a major step forward. For Jewish students, however, there is an added concern: Israel. Campuses across the nation have become a hotbed of anti-Israel propaganda and activity in recent years. More than ever our young men and women need tools to successfully advocate for Israel.

On Sunday, April 7, from 12-4 p.m., Chabad of Southside will present the “Israel Advocacy Workshop.” Geared towards college and precollege students, the program will feature compelling guests,

including UNF faculty, representatives from various pro-Israel organizations, peer-to-peer activities and a catered lunch.

“This isn’t going to be a bunch of boring speeches,” said Chabad of Southside codirector Rabbi UNF’s Mark Ari makes a point at the last Shmuli Novack.

Israel Advocacy Workshop “The workshop will be a fun aftersored by AIPAC, JNF, ZOA, noon with great, entertaining CAMERA, Stand With Us people, excellent food and an and ICC. Free for College and important purpose – to empre-college students. $36 for power students to be effective everyone else. To RSVP visit advocates for Israel.” www.southsidechabad.com or This program is co-sponcall 904-646-4434.

3rd Annual Nocatee Shabbat Dinner to be held May 3

By Chabad of St. Johns

This spring we invite you to join your neighbors and friends (or soon to be friends) to celebrate Shabbat with a delectable, four-course dinner in a warm Shabbat atmosphere.

The evening will begin with a brief candle lighting ceremony for women and a joyous welcoming of Shabbat, which will be followed by an exquisite Shabbat dinner at the Nocatee Crosswater Hall on

Friday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m.

New to the neighborhood?

It’s the perfect opportunity to meet your neighbors!

Nocatee Shabbat Dinner is open to the whole family – so bring your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and the kids. There will be an exciting, interactive children’s program.

Shabbat is one of the greatest treasures of our people.

From the Kiddush and Matzah balls, to the meaningful dis-

cussions and Shabbat inspiration, Jewish people all around the world have relied on Shabbat as a day of connection.

Take a load off and treat yourself to the ultimate Shabbat experience. No membership or affiliation necessary to join. Reservations are required and can be made at www.

JewishSJohnsCounty.com/ Nocatee.

To find out more, email Info@JewishSJohnsCounty. com or call 904.701.4422.

Southside women gather for inspiring evening

By Chabad of Southside

Chabad of Southside’s Jewish Women’s Circle gathered together for an inspirational evening with special guest Mrs. Chani Ezagui of Ormond Beach on the topic of “staying happy despite challenges.” Participants also baked Hamantaschen and learned choreographed dancing in the spirit of Purim Joy!

First Congregation Sons of Israel to hold silent auction and yard sale

By Sons of Israel

A silent auction and yard sale will be held at the “Oldest Synagogue in the Nation’s Oldest City” on the weekend of May 10-12. The silent auction will include art, collectibles, vintage items and more. We begin accepting bids on Friday, May 10 at 4 p.m. and will close bidding on Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m.

Check our Facebook page, First Congregation Sons of Israel, for photos of auction items closer to May

10.

On opening day at 6 p.m., Congregation President Les Stern and Congregation Trustee Barry Broudy will sponsor a cocktail hour in the Max Jaffe social hall to meet Rabbi Joel Fox and celebrate Israel Independence Day. Rabbi Fox will lead Erev Shabbat service at 7:30 p.m. following the reception, and will lead Shabbat service on Saturday, May 11 at 10 a.m.

On Sunday, May 12, the auction will be open at 11 a.m. until bidding closes at 3 p.m. Along with the

silent auction, there will be a yard sale in the congregation’s parking lot from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

For more information on these events, contact Karen Stern at 904-824-2638 or the synagogue office at 904-829-9532. First Congregation Sons of Israel is a conservative egalitarian congregation located at 161 Cordova Street, St. Augustine, Florida. For additional dates Rabbi Joel Fox will be at the Congregation, you may visit www.firstcongregationsonsofisrael.com.

Super Sunday

page 14

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Super ‘60s Super

Jacksonville Jewish Center’s Youth Director, Sara Crowe, and Zachary Schwartz making calls.

Sandy Zimmerman and Lauren Rickoff smile between calls.

Barry Shapiro gives the new text-to-give platform two thumbs up.

Haley Trager, a past Super Sunday chair, making calls.

Super Kim Glasgal!

Leah Palestrant & teen volunteers making crafts in PJ Library’s children’s room.

Our Jewish Federation of Jacksonville President, Ken Jacobs, leading by example.

Rabbi Yehuda Appelbaum & Jeff Rood busy taking pledges.

Super Sunday

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

page 15

Sunday a Success!

BY FAYE HEDRICK rGEN Director

Congratulations and thank you to all the volunteers, lay leaders, donors, sponsors and professional staff who helped make Super Sunday a success.

During Super Sunday and the days that followed, we collected over $89,767 toward the annual campaign for the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville.

Federations are the heart of a network that touches more Jewish lives than any other organization in the world. We aid the most vulnerable by supporting a full range of social services, providing lifesaving humanitarian relief and sustaining the Jewish community today and for future generations. We helped build the State of Israel and work tirelessly to keep it strong. We support and strengthen vibrant Jewish life in 70 countries worldwide.

We take the allocation process seriously, assembling a committee representing the diversity of Jewish life in Jacksonville. Beginning this month, the committee meets with all the major Jewish agencies and schools, as well as with leaders from several national and international organizations. Over the course of several meetings, the allocations committee formulates a recommendation that is brought before the executive committee, and ulti-

mately to the board. We strive to be excellent stewards of your charitable contributions.

The new Super Sunday venue, Jewish Family & Community Services, provided the perfect space to make calls and was a nice change of scenery for many of the callers who participate in this annual tradition. We worked in shifts this year, allowing volunteers to choose a timeslot that fit their schedule. The children who accompanied their families read books about tzedakah, painted canvases, and made a small tzedakah box of their own as a reminder to always partake in this important mitzvah.

The basic concept behind this important fundraising event has been in place for decades. This year we tried a new, innovative approach, giving donors the opportunity to text their donations and pay their gifts from their cell phones.

At the Jewish Federation, we are always looking for strategies to stay current and create new best practices.

Please email us with any ideas you have on how best to reach out to our community most effectively.

Pledges made this year grew, in part, thanks to a matching donation program from a few anonymous families in the community. This program really attracts new donors and encourages existing donors to increase their gift knowing that the increased amount will be matched. This dollar-for-dollar match helped 27 percent of our donors increase their pledge and helped to secure

18 new gifts. It made quite an impact!

While Super Sunday is an important day for our fundraising efforts, our campaign is active throughout the entire year. If you have already made your 2019 pledge, we thank you. If we haven’t yet had an opportunity to reach you, we hope you will take our call. You can always go online and donate today on our secure website, jewishjacksonville.org. We accept credit cards, and monthly payment plans are available.

We would like to thank Gary and Nancy Perlman, our Super Sunday sponsors, for their longtime support of Super Sunday and our co-chairs, Ben Marsh and Sarah Olesker, for their support, help, and excitement in preparation for the day.

One of our volunteer callers had simple advice for those making donation calls: “Just be yourself, don’t be shy, be confident, you’re doing a mitzvah.” This caller’s approach – as well as the approaches of the other 41 Super Sunday volunteers making calls on March 3 – paid off. By the end of the day and with a few follow-up calls the week after, we raised an impressive amount of money to help those who need it most. You make a difference in our community, and together we make a significant impact by helping those in need. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE CALL, JACKSONVILLE! For more information, please email Faye Hedrick at fayeh@jewishjacksonville.org or visit www.jewishjacksonville.org.

Thank you to all who made this event possible!

Our Sponsors:

Nancy & Gary Perlman

Our Chairs:

Ben Marsh & Sarah Olesker

Local Businesses:

Education News Local medical professionals visit Ganeinu preschool

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Martin J. Gottlieb Day School students excel at Science Fair

By Brian Pargman

Congratulations to Lily Davis who won 2nd place in Behavioral Science (Junior Division) for her project, Which Gender Is Better At Identifying Scents? at the Northeast Florida Regional Science and Engineering Fair and to Sam Kaplan, who won 2nd place in Engineering (Junior Division) for his project, Takeoff: How Does Wing Design Affect The Amount Of Lift

By Ganeinu Preschool

For their health and safety unit, Ganeinu Preschoolers were thrilled to be visited by the Jacksonville Fire Department, dental hygienists, pediatrician Dr. Shiree Sauer, and Hannah Radacz, RN, a neonatal nurse at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Special visits like

these give students a realworld perspective in addition to their studies, and lessens the anxiety some children exhibit when visiting the doctor or dentist. Interacting with fully geared firefighters is also an excellent opportunity to teach children not to fear the imposing figure of a firefighter in case of an emergency.

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page 16

Planes Get? Sam Kaplan was also recognized with the following special awards: - Society of America Military Engineering, Excellence in Jr. Engineering: Honorable Mention ($50) - Inspiring Excellence Award from Inspiring Excellence, Inc ($25) - NAVAIR FRCSE/ISSC Junior Award ($100) Congratulations Lily and Sam!

Education News

page 17

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Jewish Student Union is growing!

By Etz Chaim & Joey Hamaoui

This year Jewish Student Union (JSU) started out modestly with one club. Now, as we approach Passover, we’ve opened three additional clubs over the past six months and are looking to continue our growth. We’re now open in Stanton College Preparatory School, Atlantic Coast High School, Creekside High School and Bolles High School.

What is JSU? Jewish Student Union is a national organization with the simple mission of getting Jewish teens to do something Jewish. It’s that simple. We partner with student leaders who want to open a JSU club in their school, giving them guidance and materials that empower them to make their dream a reality.

Once open, we come to the school at least once a month bringing free kosher pizza, donuts or other food and run a program for the students. The program is

always Jewish in nature and can be a hands-on activity, a presentation, a guest speaker or anything that the teens would enjoy.

Does JSU do anything outside of school? Yes. JSU runs additional programs outside of school, including our popular Latte & Learning program, Shabbatons, social events and more. We also collaborate with local youth groups and encourage the students to get more involved. We’ve partnered this year with NCSY, USY, JAFTY and The Jewish Federation of Jacksonville on events, and we hope to continue collaborating and connecting our teens. We also collaborate with Israel advocacy groups such as AIPAC and StandWithUS and look forward to opening more doors for the teens.

Is JSU open to everyone? Yes. JSU is made of student-led clubs in each of the schools. We have students who participate from all backgrounds, and a teen doesn’t have to be Jewish or part of a youth group

to attend. We believe that part of the benefit of these clubs is giving our teens an outlet to share their Judaism and love of Israel with the greater public. This is a great way to educate the future leaders about Judaism and Israel in a positive light.

How do I open a JSU Club in my school? If you’re interested in starting a club at your school, the first step is to reach out to Joey Hamaoui at HamaouiJ@ DoJSU.org and request information. Generally speaking, the process is pretty simple. We will walk you through getting a board together, getting the club approved by the administration, creating a constitution and planning the activities. While the teens must lead the way, we do everything we can to empower them to make it happen as quickly and easily as possible.

What is the cost? JSU is FREE. We sponsor all the food and materials at each club. There are no dues and no additional fees.

Jacksonville Icemen show off their skills for school visit

By Brian Pargman

Players from the Jacksonville Icemen hockey team recently visited with students from DuBow Preschool and Martin J. Gottlieb Day School. The morning beganwith visits to the classrooms, where players read stories to students. The players also allowed time for questions so students could learn more about hockey. They shared details about the equip-

ment they use and gave an overview of the rules of the game.

The following Sunday, families attended a special Icemen Hockey Night as a way to build rapport with each other, with proceeds from tickets sales going back to the school. A very special “thank you” to the Jacksonville Icemen for helping organize such a wonderful event and for supporting our schools! Go Icemen!

Torah Academy first graders receive their first chumash.

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Join Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner at OUR Seder table

for a lively, pa ticipatory, song-filled Seder for all ages!

JACKSONVILLE JEWISH CENTER’S COMMUNITY PASSOVER SEDER FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019

MINHAH & MA’ARIV: 7:00 PM SEDER: 7:30 PM

$36 per adult $18 per child (ages 4-17) Children ages 3 and under are FREE Menu includes pre-plated salad, delicious traditional buffet dinner and desserts. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available upon request and must be pre-ordered.

Reservations are required

by Monday, April 15.

To make your reservation, call the Center Office at 904-292-1000 or visit jjcjax.org/passoverseder.

Payment is required when reservation is made.

education news

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

page 19

Hadera-Eiron delegation visits Martin J. Gottlieb Day School

By Liat Walker, Jewish Studies Coordinator

For the past 18 years, Jacksonville has been participating in an Israel Partnership Program with the Hadera-Eiron region in Israel. The Martin J. Gottlieb Day School has been an active participant in the program since its inception. The students at the day school have pen pals with the region and love learning about life in Israel through the eyes of their new friends.

Jill Abel, Israel Partnership Director at the Jacksonville Federation, stated, “The living bridges created between classrooms in our Jacksonville Jewish community

and the community of Hadera-Eiron are such an important and impactful education tool for our students. Learning about the similarities and differences in our daily lives helps our students have a better understanding of the world.”

In February, members of the Israel Partnership Steering Committee visited the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School. The delegation included the Partnership Director, Maya Shoham, and three Steering Committee volunteers. The goal of the visit was to learn about the ongoing classroom partnership between Morah Liat’s 5th grade classroom and classrooms in Israel. The delegation toured the school and met the 5th grade students who have pen pals in the Reut School in Hadera.

Construct - Create - Connect April 14th

10 a.m. 12 p.m.

This free program, incorporating art, creativity, and innovation, is open to all families in the community with children in 5th - 8th grade . Families will explore a hands-on project that will connect participants in a unique way to their Judaism.

Go on a fun journey with us as you collaboratively create a visual interpretation of a prayer, and then stay for a free kosher lunch provided by Giliʼs Kitchen!

While this event is free and open to the community and will be held at The Martin J. Gottlieb Day School, tickets are required.

To ensure we have enough supplies and food, please get your tickets at:

https://constructcreateconnect.eventbrite.com

Synagogue News

page 20

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Cantor Carrie Barry joins Temple in July

By Susan Datz Edelman

Congregation Ahavath Chesed is delighted to announce that Cantor Carrie Barry will join the Temple family on July 1.

Cantor Barry has worked as a cantor in South Florida for more than a decade. She has a wide range of experience with worship, Jewish education, lifecycle events and pastoral care. In her new role at Temple, she will serve alongside Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar, completing our clergy team.

“When Cantor Barry met with our Search Committee and our Board of Trustees, we were immediately drawn to her as a musician, a teacher, and a dynamic complement to Rabbi Bahar,” noted Congregation President David Kaufman. “It was clear to all of us

that she would be a tremendous addition to our Temple family.”

The Temple’s Search Committee, led by Bernie Simms and Skip Willbach, had a very ambitious timetable and a high set of standards for candidates. The Search Committee members were: Mary Edwards, Ron Elinoff, Miriam Greenhut, Larry Kanter, Sherry Kaufman, Michael Kuhr, Ed Mallow, Kevin Raudt, Mark Snitzer, Mar-

lene and Sandy Widrich, Renee Weinstein, with Rabbi Bahar, David Kaufman and Goldie Lansky as ex officio members. Bernie expressed it best when he said, “We all knew the importance of our decisions for the future of Temple. Everyone was heard and allowed to express their opinion, which was received respectfully by the entire committee. This was a testament to the quality of the members of the committee.”

“The addition of Cantor Barry is truly a momentous event for our congregation,” Kaufman continued.

“It is the culmination of an ambitious and thoughtful process that required a great deal of work, support and buy-in from the entire congregation.”

Temple looks forward to welcoming Cantor Barry, her husband and two sons and introducing her to the community.

Etz Chaim Synagogue makes pilgrimage to Lakewood, New Jersey

By Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Jacksonville Jewish News 10.25" x 8" Due: Mar. 15 2019

It was with great excitement that I led our first-ever Etz Chaim Synagogue trip to the largest yeshiva in the United States. We made the pilgrimage to Lakewood, New Jersey, to visit the famed Beth Midrash Govoha.

While Lakewood may not be considered a large metropolitan area, in terms of Torah study and scholarship, it’s the citadel of Torah that punches far above its weight.

Thousands of students devoted to serious Torah study occupy the Beis Midrash, which spans several locations.

Our group was privileged to study in Beis Midrash, which has over 700 students.

The sound of the Torah being analyzed in that room was electric, and the energy was palpable. The members of our group partnered with faculty members of the yeshiva and poured over the Talmudic and Halachic texts for two days. We studied the laws of interest and its wide variety of modern-day applications in the workplace. As part of our

two-day experience, we got to meet some of the leadership of the yeshiva, including two of the Roshei Yeshiva, who took time out of their busy schedules to meet us.

Our rabbis have taught that while there are a wide variety of mitzvos that allows one to connect with G-d in this world, there is one medium that is unmatched in terms of its ability to connect with G-d. That medium is the study of Torah. That is what it means when we recite in our morning prayers, “the study of Torah is equivalent to all the mitzvos.”

With all the busyness in life, we don’t get to spend enough time with this precious gift of Torah study. For two days, I was privileged to lead a group of men that wanted to connect to this unmatched spiritual energy in the arena of this citadel of Torah. It was an experience that left us with our hearts and souls filled with inner satisfaction and a sense of purpose. I sincerely hope that more people from Jacksonville will have an opportunity to have that experience next year.

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Synagogue News

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Memorial boards reinstalled at First Congregation Sons of Israel in St. Augustine

Chabad inaugurates new Southside facility

By Chabad of Southside

By Sons of Israel

First Congregation Sons of Israel in St. Augustine is working on the reinstallation and programming of the Yartzeit memorial boards in the newly restored sanctuary. The boards were taken down after losing electricity and having water damage from Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. The light bars were sent to W&E Baum in New Jersey for clean-up and programming before being reinstalled.

Maurice Zagha, a principal of W&E Baum, made a special trip from New Jersey to help install, connect and program the boards with the help of congregation members Les Stern, Reggie Daniels and Frank Wiener. The name plates will be put up with help from congregation member volunteers.

First Congregation Sons of Israel is located at 161 Cordova Street in historic St. Augustine. For more information visit www.firstcongregationsonsofisrael.com or call 904-829-9532.

page 21

On Sunday, February 24, more than 300 community members gathered for the inauguration of the new Finker-Frenkel Chabad Center near the St. Johns Town Center.

The Finker-Frenkel, Shapiro and Tabacinic families were recognized for their vision and commitment towards funding the construction.

The new center is a welcoming home for Jewish Students at UNF, features a remarkable educational facility for students enrolled at Ganeinu Preschool and Chabad’s religious schools, a spacious sanctuary for prayer and communal gatherings, a waterfront lounge and a kosher cafe (opening soon).

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Dr. Lazar Finker affixed a mezuzah to the front entrance.

Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov who, with his wife Rivkie, established Chabad on the First Coast nearly 30 years ago, spoke about the incredible transformation seen on the Southside since Chabad of Southside’s opening some 13 years ago.

During his remarks, Dr. Finker expressed the need for vibrant religious centers to promote goodness in the world. Mr. Ryan

Shapiro, who was joined by his mother and son, expressed his pride in dedicating the sanctuary in loving memory of his father Dr. William Shapiro, of blessed memory, and how overwhelming it was to see his father’s name above the synagogue’s entry.

Speaking on behalf of his in-laws, Mr. Moris and Lillian Tabacinic, who were in attendance, Mr. Daniel Sragowicz made note of his family’s passion for Chabad’s work on campus as well as their feeling of truly maximizing their “bang for the buck” when contributing to Chabad.

Rabbi Shmuli Novack, who founded Chabad of Southside with his wife Chana in 2006, thanked the donors, emphasizing their support as partners rather than just funders, taking keen interest and providing critical support for many years and G-d willing into the future. He also thanked his children for being partners in their efforts and for their passionate embrace of their Shlichus.

Guests enjoyed refreshments, toured the new facility and had a chance to shmooze with community leaders and Chabad benefactors following the remarks.

To learn more about the new center, visit www.southsidechabad.com or call 904-646-4434.

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3 pieces.

Time to set out the seder plates.

Pass down the wine, and bring the matzah.

Three, please, all nicely stacked.

Pass down old stories, and gather new recipes.

Time to set out the seder plates.

Happy Passover from all your friends at Publix.

Passover

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Celebrating Passover Traditions

The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan, which this year falls on April 19-27.

Passover and the Humble Matzah During the festival of Passover, instead of chametz, or leavened bread, we eat matzah. It is a mitzvah to partake of matzah on the two Seder nights, and during the rest of the holiday it is optional.

It is ideal to use handmade “shmurah” matzah, which has been carefully guarded against moisture from the moment of the harvest.

The Seders The highlight of Passover is the Seder, a 15-step, family-oriented tradition and ritual-packed feast.

Many families have a Seder the first two nights of the festival. See pg. 8 for a listing of community Seders.

page 23

Farfel Kugel Recipe for Passover Box of farfel 2 large onions Chicken fat or oil (not olive) 2 cups sliced mushrooms 1 cup chopped or sliced celery 3 eggs Salt and pepper to taste Saute onions in oil for about 10-12 minutes or maybe longer, until they are very soft but not brown.

Add celery and cook for about 15 minutes, then add sliced mushrooms and cook gently until they give up

fluid.

Soak farfel in warm water until soft, but not mushy (about 1 minute).

Mix the farfel with onions and mushrooms and remove from heat. Add eggs that have been slightly beaten along with salt and pepper.

Pour into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and cook for an hour. This can be basted with drippings from turkey or chicken being cooked at the same time. If not, baste with chicken soup.

This mixture can also be used as stuffing.

Passover Stuffed Peppers

The focal points of the Seder are: Eating matzah.

Eating bitter herbs – to commemorate the bitter slavery endured by the Israelites.

Drinking four cups of wine or grape juice – a royal drink to celebrate our newfound freedom.

The recitation of the Haggadah, a liturgy that describes in detail the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The Haggadah is the fulfillment of the Torah obligation to recount to our children the story of the Exodus on the night of Passover. It begins with a child asking the traditional “Four Questions.”

Passover Reflections: Using inner strength to make real change

By Rabbi Yehuda Appelbaum, Jacksonville Community Kollel

The Jewish month of Nissan is the month of freedom for the Jewish people. It’s not only considered the first month of the Jewish calendar year in many regards, but it also signifies the month in which the Jewish nation was born.

On the night of Passover, we tell the story of the exodus with great enthusiasm; we don’t just relate the story, we try to make it come alive.

We get the entire family involved, as this is not just some historical event that happened to our ancestors, but rather it’s the story of who we are as a people. We relive the experience so that our children will internalize the lessons and hopefully do the same for their children, passing on the tradition that has been with our people ever since those miraculous days.

As we tell the story of how we went from slavery to freedom, we should recognize that this is also a very practical lesson for us; just like we were granted freedom on a national level during the month of Nissan, this time of year also possesses the inspiration to help us achieve freedom on an individual level as well.

The Hebrew word for Egypt is Mitzrayim, which means “bound” or “restrained”. This signifies the restraints we experience in our lives. We

all have the challenges that restrain us and hold us back from being the people we want to be. If we want to be successful in life, we need to break through these obstacles and not let them hold us back.

Success is about breaking through the fences that seem to be holding us back from utilizing our inner strengths and capabilities. Sometimes we prefer living in the “comfort” of our routines and not trying to push for more. We need to remember that growth can only be achieved by going beyond our comfort zone; if we become too complacent, then we are not growing.

We all have areas where we really want to improve, yet we are intimidated by the process of making any real change. It’s this time of year that brings with it the message of those who came before us to inspire us in making those changes a reality.

Rabbi Yehuda Appelbaum is a member of the Jacksonville Community Kollel, which strives to strengthen Jewish continuity by providing adult Jewish education throughout the community.

Rabbi Appelbaum studied at The Jerusalem Kollel in Israel, where he received Rabbinic ordinance from Rabbi Yitzchok Berkowitz. He is passionate about Jewish unity and providing all Jews with the opportunity to learn about our heritage.

Rabbi Appelbaum moved to Jacksonville this past summer with his wife Rivky and their two adorable little girls. He can be reached at rabbiappelbaum@jacksonvillekollel.com.

8 red peppers Olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 2 tsp. garlic, minced 4 cup matzah farfel 1/2 cup parsley, chopped finely 1/2 cup pitted olives, sliced or chopped 1 tsp. paprika salt and pepper to taste 2 26.45-oz. boxes of chopped tomatoes, or the equivalent Preheat oven to 350° F. Cut tops off peppers and set aside. Clean seeds and membranes from the inside of the peppers, and arrange them upright in a pan that is small enough so they fit in snugly and won’t tip over. Set pan of peppers aside.

Remove the stems from the pepper tops and dice the remaining part. Drizzle a bit of olive oil in a pan over medium heat, and saute diced red pep-

per tops, onion, and garlic for about 10 minutes, until soft and caramelized.

While peppers, onions, and garlic are cooking, combine matzah farfel, parsley, olives, seasoning, and just 1 and a half boxes of tomatoes (reserve the other half of the tomatoes).

Mix until all ingredients are moistened. Add in the onions, peppers, and garlic and mix to combine.

Fill each whole pepper with the farfel mixture, making sure you push the mix down to eliminate any air pockets. Mound the filling up over the top of each pepper, and then spoon remaining chopped tomatoes over the top.

Bake, uncovered, for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until peppers are softened, and filling is browned on top.

Serve with additional tomato sauce, if desired.

jewish community alliance

page 24

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Jewish Community Alliance Let’s Rock a great success

Photo credits: Brian Kaiser; Shelly Hughes.

By Jewish Community Alliance

JCA supporters and guests enjoyed an evening of live music and rock-and-roll-themed comfort food and cocktails during the JCA 2019 annual fundraiser, Let’s Rock.

Young Concert Artists Series’ performance rescheduled

JCA receives Kol Hakavod award at JCCA Professional Conference

By Jewish Community Alliance

Violinist SooBeen Lee will visit the JCA for her rescheduled Young Concert Artists Series performance on Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m.

Thanks to the generosity of the Berman Family, this concert is free and open to the community.

Lee has been called Korea’s “hottest violin prodigy.” She began her studies at the age of four, and by eight years old she won the National Competition of the Korean Chamber Orchestra.

A year later, Lee made her Seoul, South Korea, recital debut on the Kumho Prodigy Concert Series.

A winner of the 2014 Young Concert Artists Auditions, Lee has appeared as soloist with every major Korean orchestra, including the Seoul Philharmonic, Busan Philharmonic Orchestra and the Korean Broadcasting System Symphony Orchestra.

She has also performed for festivals

SooBeen Lee – by Matt Dine

around the world. Lee studies at the New England Conservatory with Miriam Fried and recently performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto as winner of their 2018 Concerto Competition.

The JCA is happy to welcome this brilliant newcomer as she launches her career. For details, contact Heather at 904-730-2100 ext. 265 or email heather.billy@jcajax.org.

By Jewish Community Alliance

At the JCCA Professional Conference, held February 24-28 in Orlando, the Jewish Community Alliance received a Kol Hakavod Program Excellence Recognition award in the category of Visionary Management. The award was in recognition of the agency’s relationship-based membership model.

The JCCA Kol Hakavod award identifies “exemplary initiatives that can be easily adapted by other JCCs.” The JCA

relationship-based membership model uses a multi-layered approach involving frequent conversations with members and nonmembers to help create lasting relationships and connect people in the community to their interests and resources to help them improve their quality of life and achieve their personal goals.

Over the years, the JCA has been recognized by the JCCA for programmatic excellence and remains at the forefront of JCCs across the nation.

Jewish Community Alliance HAPPENINGS April 2019/Nissan Iyar 5779 For more information or to register for programs at the JCA, call 904-730-2100 ext. 228 or visit www.jcajax.org.

Vandroff Art Gallery

The work of Allen Thomas Ball will be featured until May 1.

Young Concert Artists Series: SooBeen Lee

Violinist SooBeen Lee’s rescheduled performance is on

Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. This is free to the community thanks to the generosity of the Berman Family.

Intro to Photography and Techniques

Learn various levels of digital camera techniques on Tuesday or Thursday April 2 – May 9. The fee is $120 and $80 for JCA valued members.

Family Chocolate Seder

Join our Chocolate Seder and a recount of the Exodus from Egypt on Sunday, April 14, 4:30 – 6 p.m. The fee is $15 per family and $10 for JCA valued member families.

Passover Matzah Making

Children can join this class to make unleavened bread on Tuesday, April 16, 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. The fee is $15 and $10 for JCA valued members.

JCA Makos Summer Swim Team

Come to our kick-off party to get fitted for your suit, meet coaches and more on Sunday, April 14, 4 – 6 p.m.

The season runs from April 29 – July 17. Call ext. 240 for details.

Advance Basketball Clinic

Intermediate and advanced players can join this clinic on Wednesday, May 1 – June 5. The fee is $90 and $60 for JCA valued members. Call ext. 250 for details.

JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE 2018 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $189,197

jewish family & community services briefs

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

page 25

Jewish Family and Community Services Board Focus: success: One family’s ‘happily ever after’ Mike Russell

PJ Library

PJ Library, the award-winning free program for books and music, is open to all families with Jewish children in Jacksonville. If your children are between the ages of six months and eight years, they are eligible. Please sign up now by going to pjlibrary.org/communities/jacksonville, or calling Whitney Kuvin at 904-394-5724.

By Jewish Family & Community Services

Meals4You

JFCS in partnership with River Garden is pleased to bring you our meal program, Meals4You, from our kitchen to yours.

Meals are delicious, nutritious, convenient and delivered right to your door. Jewish dietary laws are observed. Call Whitney for more information at 904-394-5724.

Call2Go

JFCS is now using a Lyft product called Concierge, which allows JFCS to arrange rides on behalf of its clients, including the ability to schedule rides up to a week in advance. Lyft has also partnered with GreatCall, a senior-focused cell phone company, which will help seniors use Lyft without having to navigate the smart phone app. Anyone using a Jitterbug phone can now simply press ‘0’ and arrange a ride with the company. To learn more or schedule rides, please call Whitney Kuvin at 904-6609268.

By Jewish Family & Community Services

March 5, 2019 was a big day for foster child Kynslie Brown! She was legally adopted by foster parents Nick and Amanda Brown at the Downtown Jacksonville Courthouse, in the courtroom of Judge David Gooding.

Kynslie’s story is one that has a happy ending. She came into the foster system when she was just three days old and would be placed in the same home with her sister, Emmarae (Emmy for short), who was adopted by the Browns a year prior, just in time for Emmy’s first birthday party!

“Talk about happy endings,” comments Amanda Brown, “six years ago I didn’t know if my husband was going to be alive to celebrate the next month due to medical issues, but because of an amazing donor who checked the organ donation box on his driver’s license, he received the double lung

transplant he needed,” she said with tears and joy. “A little over a year ago, we became foster parents with the hope that we would and could make a difference. We picked up a gorgeous little girl from the hospital at three days old. We didn’t know what the outcome would be or if she would forever be ours, so we just decided to love the heck out of her.

Fast forward to 11 months later and we got a call asking if we wanted to take her sister. So after little discussion, we decided to take her because, well, why not? And today…today we adopted her and she became ours! We are now a family of four!” she said.

Thanks to Jewish Family & Community Services and parents Nick and Amanda, Emmy and Kynslie will have the stability, emotional support and love they need and deserve to flourish in life. It can all be summed up by one statement made by Amanda, “We feel so incredibly blessed and we count those blessings every day!”

Jewish Services new director: Hilary Rotenberg

By Jewish Family & Community Services

Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS) is pleased to welcome Hilary Rotenberg as Director of Jewish Services.

Hilary brings over 15 years of experience in Jewish Communal Work as both a social worker and administrator. She manages a wide-range of programs and services to improve the lives of children, families and seniors in the Jewish community of greater Jacksonville.

Hilary holds a master’s degree from Yeshiva University, Wurzweiler School of Social Work.

Welcome Hilary!

Mike Russell has over 40 years’ experience in marketing, advertising and business management. He has managed accounts ranging from $50,000 to over $70 million and is recognized for his ability to lead teams in developing creative and effective marketing and advertising solutions to build short-term sales and long-term brand equity.

Mike has a proven track record working with such clients as CSX Transportation, UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, Winn-Dixie Stores, Community First Credit Union, National Vision, The Players Championship, The Florida Times-Union, VyStar Credit Union, The Florida Prepaid College Board, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the Jacksonville Jaguars to name a few.

Mike spent 19 years at The William Cook Agency holding positions from Account Executive to the President before joining The Shepherd Group, a 40-person agency with offices in Jacksonville and Atlanta. He is the President & CEO. He holds a BA from the University of Central Florida and an MBA from Jacksonville University.

A native of Ireland, Mike lives with his wife Rebecca and son Robert in Fleming Island. He also has two daughters, Erin who lives in Lake City and Clare who resides in Tallahassee, and another son, Brian, whose home is in Gainesville. He has one grandchild. He has been on the Jewish Family & Community Services Board of Directors for one year.

Thank you, Mike, for making JFCS a part of your life!

Get your applications in now now for the Jewish Educational Loan Fund Jewish Healing Network

Become a Jewish Healing Network Volunteer at JFCS and help us fulfill the mitzvah of Bikkur Cholim. We need volunteers to make weekly visits or phone calls to a senior or deliver food to those who cannot get out. For more information, please call Gail at 904-394-5723.

By Jewish Family & Community Services

JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund) grants need-based, “last dollar” financing, meaning that JELF provides the final dollars that bridge the gap between a student’s total financial resources and the cost of attending school. Applications for JELF’s interest free college loans for higher education (college, graduate school and vocational programs) are available to Jewish students in the Jacksonville area for the 2019-2020 school year, in partnership with Jewish Family & Community

Services, through the month of March.

In 2018, JELF granted $1,011,266 in interest-free last dollar loans to 279

students in its five state region. JELF is proud to serve students in the Jacksonville Jewish community.

To qualify, applicants must be: Enrolled full-time in a program leading to a degree or certificate at a U.S. accredited institution; Must be a U.S. citizen or have lawful immigration status; and, Be able to demonstrate a financial need (2019 FAFSA application required).

For more information, please visit jelf. org, email application@jelf.org or email rglevin@jfcsjax.org.

JEWISH FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES 2018 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $269,311

river garden senior services Spring into action at River Garden Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

page 26

By River Garden Senior Services

904-260-1818 www.rivergarden.org 11401 Old St. Augustine Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32258

Getting older isn’t easy, but it can be fun. River Garden offers a number of social activities each month for its residents, members and the entire community. There’s always something interesting to do. Come join us sometime!

briefs Adult Day & Support for Caregivers If you or your loved one needs a little extra support, we invite you to attend a monthly caregivers support group or ask about the River Garden Adult Day program. For more information contact Dr. Sue Krall, PhD, ARNP. 904-886-8421 or skrall@rivergarden.org

Calling All Teens For Summer Volunteering

Cindy Edelman surrounded by friends. Thank you, Cindy, for your engaging programs about Ninth Street Women.

Members June & Steve Meinstein share their writing at a recent Creative Minds program at The Coves.

Our campus is home to many devoted and caring volunteers, whose acts of kindness make a real difference. From teens to those who are young at heart, we invite you to become a part of our team.

Create your own convenient schedule and experience personal fulfillment. Contact Leslie Held at 904-886-8429 or lheld@rivergarden.org

Remember River Garden when honoring or memorializing your loved ones Donating to River Garden is an uncomplicated, feel-good activity. Here are several ways we’ve made it easy for you.

Simply go online: www.rivergarden.org/donate Or mail to: Development Department River Garden Hebrew Home 11401 Old St. Augustine Rd. Jacksonville, Florida 32258 Or call: 904-886-8432 From Generation to Generation L’Dor V’Dor Remember River Garden and the entire Jewish Community in your will.

Choose River Garden Did you know that River Garden Rehab offers appointment-based services for all adults needing therapy? So, if you ever have a doctor’s order for PT or OT, please call directly to discuss your options. Depending on your situation, we can likely help.

These outpatient services are typically covered by Medicare or through general health insurance. When you call, we’ll verify your coverage. 904-886-8454.

River Garden

Fran Young, resident, enjoys Partner Painting with JCA students.

(L-R) Cheryl Fisch, Lois Chepenik, Ron Elinoff and Alan Chepenik enjoying Lunch with Lois. Ron spoke about Moe Berg, a former MLB catcher & coach, who was also a spy.

River Garden Auxiliary presents Denim Daze

By River Garden Senior Services

On May 14, the River Garden Auxiliary will have its annual special event. This year the theme is ‘Denim Daze’, and it will move to a new venue. This will take place at the Jacksonville Embassy Suites on Baymeadows Road. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. You can shop ‘til you drop at our Fine Flea Market, where there will be new and previously loved merchandise for you to take home.

We are also featuring our “Flea Market Flips” this year. These are boxes that have been designed and reimagined by local art-

ists; each is unique and will be something that you will want to take home with you.

A wonderful country-style buffet lunch will be served. There will be entertainment by Tampa comedian Juanita Lolita and music by a local country musician. Our donation raffle will again have some great prizes, including weekend getaways, a beautiful handmade quilt and cash prizes. Watch your mailbox for your invitation. If you do not receive one, please call either Randee at 904-534-2180 or Rhoda at 904-742-8155. Remember that all of our proceeds go to enrich the lives of the residents at River Garden.

Senior Services

Admissions: 904-886-8420 Adult Day Care: 904-288-7858 Donations: 904-886-8432 Foundation: 904-886-8430 Home Health Care: 904-288-7851 Rehab/Therapy: 904-886-8454 The Coves: 904-292-2683 Volunteers: 904-886-8429 CEO Marty Goetz: 904-260-1818

Notice regarding the assisted living facility study SPECIAL NOTE: We have recently completed a study on whether to establish an assisted living facility (ALF) on the River Garden campus. Thank you to all the friends, families and stakeholders who have shared their time and input.

At this time, River Garden will not

be undertaking an ALF project. A letter detailing our decision to not move forward with developing an ALF at this time is posted online for your review at: www. rivergarden.org/alfstudy.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

RIVER GARDEN SENIOR SERVICES 2018 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $177,607

Upcoming Events April 3 - 9 a.m.

Jewish Java April 7 - 10:30 a.m.

Passover with rGEN April 10 - 10:30 a.m.

Rabbi Feigenbaum April 12 - 8:30 a.m.

Jewish Business Network April 30 - 7 p.m.

Entman Seminar featuring Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz May 1 - 9 a.m.

Jewish Java with guest Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz May 1 - River Garden Golf Classic May 14 - River Garden Auxiliary ‘Denim Daze’ Call Kari Bell or Leslie Held at 904-260-1818 for more information.

lifecycles/adult education Bar Mitzvah

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

page 27

Upcoming events at Jewish Community Alliance Healthy Happy Hour Physician Mixer – April 9 from 6 – 7 p.m.

Join Baptist Primary Care Physicians for a glass of wine and get your most pressing health questions answered.

This is free to the community.

Adult Mental Health First Aid Training – April 11 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

This 8-hour training teaches key skills to help people

suffering from a mental health crisis. Participants receive a certificate of completion. This is free to the community.

Meditation – Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. (Ongoing) Join Wellness Coach Cheryl Meyer, R.N., for this morning meditation class. No experience needed. Free to the community.

Programs and classes at Jacksonville Jewish Center WEEKLY PROGRAMS:

HEBREW CLASSES:

Monday Minyan Mapquest: Monday mornings, following morning minyan: April 1, 8, 15, 29 Rabbi Lubliner takes us on a tour of Jewish cities, explaining history and current statistics of some well-known and notso-well-known Jewish communities around the world.

Alef-Bet Hebrew for beginners! April 7, 14, 28 Learn (or re-learn) Hebrew letters and vowels, and some very basic vocabulary and grammar. Taught by Martin Levine from 9:15-10:15 a.m. (current class is closed to new students). Please contact Lois to get on the list for the summer class beginning in May!

Talmud Class: Mondays 7 p.m., April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Taught by Rabbi Lubliner. We are about to begin a new tractate of the Talmud: Rosh Hashanah. This is a good time to start – open to all!

David Phillip Martin, son of Julie and Tony Martin, was called to the Torah on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah on March 9 at Congregation Ahavath Chesed.

Sharing in the simcha were his younger sister Evelyn, grandparents Susan and Garry Nadler, grandmother Jeanie Martin, along with a host of family and friends.

David is an honor roll student in the seventh grade at Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School in San Marco. He is a student athlete on the Landon Lion basketball and baseball teams and is enrolled in a high school level curriculum.

David is on the Florida Dodgers 2024 Scout Team and the JCA Mako Select Basketball Club. He is a Florida Gator fan, enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and volunteering at the JCA and Temple events.

Don’t forget to submit your Lifecycle announcements Birth Announcement Bar/Bat Mitzvah Announcement Wedding Announcement Obituary Submission templates are available online at jewishjacksonville.org/news

Foundations of Judaism class: Sundays 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m., March 31, April 7, 14, 28 Classes are held at the Center, and are open to all, whether you are considering conversion, seeking to understand a friend or relative’s religious choices, or simply trying to go beyond your childhood Jewish education. Our goal is to introduce learners to major events in Jewish History, and to explore the role of the Land of Israel in Jewish faith through the ages. We will also encounter and respond to major 20th century events that have affected the Jewish people. This unit will be taught by Hazzan Jesse Holzer.

NOW WEEKLY! ShalOM Meditation Please join us for 25 minutes of meditation in a Jewish environment! At 9:15-9:30 a.m., we will offer some basic instruction of meditation technique and approach. We will start our actual practice at 9:30 and go until 9:55 (in time for the Torah service). We meet in the Kramer Library (JJC).

MONTHLY CLUBS/CLASSES/SPEAKERS: April 14: Yiddish “Club” This is a group of people who meet monthly to enjoy Yiddish culture and language. We begin with a short lesson, watch videos, listen to Klezmer music, and/or discuss Yiddish stage, movies, and humor! Perfect for ALL, whether you know the language or not – please join us! We meet in the Kramer Library (JJC) from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

April 20: Coffee & Torah Third Shabbat of every month. Come enjoy a strong cup of brew, a tasty breakfast treat, and thought-provoking insights into the weekly Torah portion in the intimate setting of Rabbi Lubliner’s office from 8-9 a.m.

Contact Lois Tompkins 904-292-1000 ext. 146 or ltompkins@jaxjewishcenter.org for questions on dates or more Adult Education opportunities. Our classes and presentations are free of charge except for the cost of materials if needed. Please join us!

Summertime Israeli film series at the Center This summer, the Jacksonville Jewish Center will offer a series of Israeli films, followed by discussion and noshes: - May 2 at 7 p.m.: The Troupe (Halehaka) This offbeat musical directed by Avi Nesher follows a dozen members of the military entertainment troupe, whose mission is to entertain the Israeli Army following the Six Day War in 1967. Although the performers are not at the front lines, they, too, suffer tensions, learning to get along, making and breaking romances – all while competing to become the best performer in the troupe and to receive coveted television coverage. Introduced

by Edward Tannen, with noshes and discussion after the movie.

- June 23 at 1 p.m.: The Syrian Bride In Majdal Shams, the largest Druze village in Golan Heights on the

Israeli-Syrian border, the Druze bride Mona is engaged to get married to Tallel, a television comedian that works in the Revolution Studios in Damascus, Syria.

They have never met each other because of the occupation of the area by Israel since 1967; when Mona moves to Syria, she will lose her undefined nationality and will never be allowed to return home. When the family gathers for Mona’s wedding, an insane bureaucracy jeopardizes the ceremony.

- July 28 at 1 p.m.: The Big Dig or The Wedding Contract (TBD) Both films are comedies, written and directed by Ephriam Kishon, one of Israel’s first humorists.

All films are free, and noshes will be provided. Following the films, there will be a discussion led by people with expertise.

End of life issues in Judaism: When do we stop treatment?

River Garden is excited to announce that Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz will be the guest speaker for the 2019 Entman Seminar on Tuesday, April 30 at 7 p.m. The presentation will explore critical end-of-life issues and your additional questions will be welcome.

This lecture is free and open to the community. Light dinner fare will be served. Please RSVP by Monday,

April 22 to attend: lplatzer@rivergarden.org or 904-8868429.

In addition to the Entman Seminar event, Jewish Java on Wednesday, May 1 at 9 a.m. will enjoy Tatz again, as he discusses the escalating problem of depression in the modern world, and shows an inspiring path to real happiness in all life situations.

Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz coming to Jacksonville Jacksonville and Northern Florida are privileged to host Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz from April 28 to May 5. Rabbi Tatz is a world-renowned speaker who combines his broad Torah knowledge with his passion for medicine.

Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He studied medicine at the University of Witwatersrand and graduated with distinction in surgery. He spent a year in St. Louis, Missouri, as an American Field Service Scholar and subsequently returned there for elective work in internal medicine at Washington University.

Dr. Tatz served as medical officer in the South

African Defence force and completed a tour of duty on the Namibian border during the conflict there.

He subsequently moved to Israel where he practiced both in hospitals and general medicine in Jerusalem, as well as engaging in Yeshiva study.

After practicing medicine and studying in yeshiva concurrently for some time, Dr. Tatz undertook a number of years of Talmudic study and later teaching in Jewish thought and medical ethics in Jerusalem. Rabbi Dr. Tatz founded the Jerusalem Medical Ethics Forum, of which he is director; its purpose is to teach and promote knowledge of Jewish medical ethics internationally. He is the author of the textbook Dangerous Disease and Dangerous Therapy in Jewish Medical Ethics – Principles and Practice.

He has written a number of books on the subject of Jewish thought and philosophy: Anatomy of a Search, which documents the process of transition from secular to observant lifestyles among modern

Jews, Living Inspired, Worldmask, The Thinking Jewish Teenager’s Guide to Life, Will, Freedom and Destiny, and most recently, As Dawn Ends the Night.

Dr. Tatz is the co-author of Reb Simcha Speaks and Letters to a Buddhist Jew. His work has been translated into Spanish, Russian, French, Portuguese and Italian. He currently lectures on Jewish thought and medical ethics at the Jewish Learning Exchange in London and internationally.

We have an exciting array of talks by Rabbi Tatz throughout the Jacksonville community, capped by a Shabbaton at the Etz Chaim Synagogue, 10167 San Jose Blvd. For reservations and information, email ecoffice@etzchaim.org, or call our office 904-2623565 ext. 7.

Rabbi Dr. Tatz’s Lunch & Learn, evening sessions, and general interactive sessions will be available in the Facebook Jews in Jax Event pages. You will not want to miss a single lecture! RSVP now!

fund holders are people just like you: people who care about people about sustaining a Continued from pg. 5 and quality of Jewish life for the future.

When the former Jewish Foundation merged with the Federation in 2018 and became the Life & Legacy Division, we did not lose for one minute the historic momen-

tum that has been built through the devotion of community members both past and present. Our efforts to ensure the support and growth of endowment funding for all of our Jewish agencies, synagogues, schools and programs will never cease. We remain a permanent lifeline to the community and a resource for you to navigate all the phases of planning – for helping to determine how you say what you want to say with your legacy. We provide expert knowledge of not only the process of planned

giving but also an equal passion for the well-being and longevity of our Jewish community here in Jacksonville.

Planned giving, gift planning, planning a gift – no matter how you say it, the simple joy of it is this: planned giving can be what you want it to be. There are so many things in life that we don’t have much choice in, but we all have the capacity to affect powerful and lasting change in our communities and in the world through thoughtful and impactful charitable planning.

By Etz Chaim

BeQuestions

Community News

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

page 28

Community Hospice hosts Annual Kelsi Young Gift of Care Celebration

Leslie Young, mother of Kelsi, Brian Young, father of Kelsi and Kelsi’s twin sister Carly are keeping Kelsi’s memory alive by offering caregivers respite care through the fund.

Kelsi’s brothers Cayden and Jake, and their mother Leslie Young express what an impact Kelsi made on the lives of others. Photo credit: David Luck, Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

By Community Hospice & Palliative Care

On Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m., at the Congregation Ahavath Chesed located at 8727 San Jose Boulevard, Community Hospice & Palliative Care welcomed guests to the 11th Annual Kelsi Young Gift of Care Celebration to support the Kelsi Leah Young Respite Care Fund. Special guest Donna Orender, CEO of Orender Unlimited and founder of Generation W joined the celebration as the keynote speaker.

The fund provides the gift of rest, or respite care, to parents or guardians of children in the Community PedsCare program. In her brief life, Community PedsCare patient Kelsi Leah Young (Jan. 28, 2005-Dec. 1, 2005) was a beacon of light who touched countless lives. The Young family established the fund to honor her memory.

Attend screening of documentary film, Complicit Chabads of Clay County and St. Augustine

Marking the 80th anniversary of SS St. Louis’s infamous voyage, Chabads of St Augustine and Clay County present a screening of the awardwinning documentary film Complicit, the untold story of why the Roosevelt administration denied a safe haven to Jewish refugees aboard the SS St. Louis. It will be followed by a Q & A with producer and director Robert Krakow.

The St. Louis was a luxury liner that left Hamburg, Germany, on May 13, 1939, bound for Havana, Cuba. The ship carried 937 Jewish refugees attempting to escape Nazi Germany. When the St. Louis was refused entry by the Cuban authorities, the Captain steered the ship northward toward the southern Florida coastline. The ship waited off the coast of Miami Beach in early

June 1939, as the passengers sent desperate pleas to FDR and the State Department to be granted entry into the U.S. Their pleas were denied and the ship was forced to return to Europe, where many of the passengers perished in Auschwitz.

This highly publicized drama on the high seas became the symbol of the world’s indifference to the plight of Jewish suffering at the hands of Adolf Hitler.

The screening will take place in St. Augustine on Monday, May 13 at 7 p.m. in the Gamache Koger theater at Flagler College. To RSVP, email rabbi@chabadsaugustine.com or call 904-5218664. The screening in Clay County will be on Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. at the Fleming Island Public Library meeting room. To RSVP, visit www.jewishclaycounty.com or call 904-2901017. Space is limited. RSVP required.

Rabbi Dr. Tatz to speak at the Kollel on free will

By Jacksonville Community Kollel

One of Rabbi Dr. Tatz’s speaking engagements in Jacksonville after Passover will be a talk at the Jacksonville Community Kollel on the fundamental of free choice. This topic is particularly intriguing when we consider different factors such as fate and knowledge of the future.

One particular challenge is understanding if one person’s free choice can technically interfere with another’s. This talk is effectively titled “Can my free will affect you?”

R’ Tatz is a world-renowned speaker and prolific author. He wrote several books on Jewish thought and philosophy. He is also the founder and director of the Jerusalem Medical Ethics Forum.

Rabbi Tatz is known to have a tremendous grasp of the deeper realms of Torah thought and

often leaves audiences spellbound by his breadth of knowledge and entertaining delivery. It is a rare opportunity to have someone of this caliber in our city and accessible to our community.

The event is free and scheduled for Monday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. for men and women of the greater community. The Kollel is located at 3651 Crown Point Road. Please contact office@jacksonvillekollel.com for more information.

A Kollel is an institution that seeks to promote Jewish learning and Torah education for Jews of all levels and backgrounds. Our Jacksonville Community Kollel scholars engage in intensive study and group research part of the day, while dedicating themselves to teaching and community outreach the rest of the day. This includes a variety of classes, study groups and individual study opportunities, as well as informal get-togethers and events.

Nosh ‘Til You Drop on May 5

By The Temple

You don’t want to miss what has become a tradition in the Jacksonville community. You want to NOSH ‘TIL YOU DROP! at the 8th Annual Jacksonville Jewish Food Festival on Sunday, May 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Congregation Ahavath Chesed – The Temple (8727 San Jose Blvd.).

NOSH on the best in homemade brisket and kugel as well as many other popular foods that are enjoyed by Jewish people worldwide. You

will want to be ready to buy goods from our Judaica Shop, and this year, we are inviting vendors to offer their foods for sale, too. So, if you like what you are tasting at the Food Festival, you will be able to purchase those foods.

Taste, enjoy and savor. The Jacksonville Jewish Food Festival is a community favorite and a gastronomical delight! Tickets are $25 per person and $60 for families of four. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. RSVP@TheTempleJacksonville.org or purchase tickets online at www.TheTempleJacksonville.org.

Hadassah, Sisterhood present “Wellness Through Play”

Pat Kirkland (Child Life Specialist from Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital) and Minda Gordon (“Sound Connections” Music Therapist).

By Jacksonville Hadassah

Jacksonville Hadassah, in partnership with the Sisterhood of the Jacksonville Jewish Center, presents “Wellness Through Play” on Tuesday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The program will be held at the Jacksonville Jewish Center, 3622 Crown Point Road, and will feature Child Life Specialist Pat Kirkland, MS, CCLS and Music Therapist Minda Gordon, MT-BC. What is Wellness through Play? Dan Engelhard, M.D., pediatric infectious diseases physician and professor at Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem, reports that when children can laugh and smile and respond to healing therapies such as music, arts, and pets, it can make an extraordinary impact.

Similarly, here in Jacksonville, there are many ways that children in medical, rehabilitative and palliative settings are receiving innovative and individualized care through such therapies.

We hope you will attend this interactive program and learn how children in our community are being impacted by the services available, reinforcing that they are so much more than their illness or diagnosis.

Pat Kirkland will discuss ways she works with kids helping them to conquer their fears, gain some control in an unfamiliar environment, and bring a sense of normality through play and other healing therapies in a hospital setting. Minda Gordon will highlight how music therapy can help children overcome obstacles and demonstrate how music can increase the quality of life of children with special needs. A group of her students will provide a musical presentation.

There is no charge for the program, however, you are invited to stay for a kosherfor-Passover lunch, which will be available for $10.

Please RSVP by April 18 to Naomi Mirensky 904-4654356 or mirenskynr@yahoo. com.

Community News Community enjoys Family Hamantashen Bake Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

BY FAYE HEDRICK rGEN Director

Nearly 100 people gathered from throughout the community March 10 for the annual Family Hamantashen Bake, a collaboration between rGEN, JCA and Etz Chaim Synagogue. The festive pre-Purim event included – in addition to making dozens of triangular treats with various filings – games and crafts for children.

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Education news

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Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

JCA Theatre Camp is open for registration

By Jewish Community Alliance

JCA Stage Door Theatre camp offers young thespians the opportunity to hone their theatrical skills in Jacksonville’s most popular creative arts camp. For children entering grades 1 to 9, it provides the unique opportunity to work with theatre professionals through fun, interactive activities and performing arts programming. Registration for the 2019 summer season is open.

Four-week sessions of Stage Door Theatre Camp include training in musical

theatre-style dance and Fit for Broadway aerobic-style dance. Daily activities feature singing, dancing, acting and arts and crafts. Campers also enjoy daily swim and special activities. At the conclusion of each session, campers present a full-scale stage show to friends and family.

Stage Door Theatre Camp is offered in two sessions, June 10 to July 5 and July 8 to August 1. This year’s themes are Welcome to the 60s and Broadway Junior. Each session offers various day and time options. For details about Stage Door Theatre Camp and other JCA camps or to register, visit jcajax.org/camp.

Enjoying Purim at Torah Academy

Michele Block Gan Yeladim welcomes duckling friends

By Roxanne Gordon

Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten is hosting some new animal friends this month as they receive a clutch of duck eggs to incubate and hatch.

In the past few years, the school usually cared for chicken eggs, providing an exciting hands-on experience and an important life cycle lesson for students, where they discuss the stages of development inside a typical egg and what features emerge daily. Students also experience the fulfillment of caring for animals, a principle that comes from the Jewish law of tza’ar ba’alei chayim, which serves to prevent unnecessary cruelty to animals.

This year, Metzer Farms will provide a clutch of Peking duck eggs. Over the 28-day period before hatching, students will learn duck anatomy and take part in fun activities in preparation for meeting their new, feathered friends. Types of eggs Block Gan students incubated in the past include a wide range of chicks, several types of ducks, quails and partridges.

Torah Academy students proudly display their school spirit.

By Torah Academy of Jacksonville

The Hebrew month of Adar is famed for being a time of joy and celebration in the Jewish calendar. It is often filled with topsy-turvy themed festivities culminating with the fun-filled holiday of Purim. This year, being a leap year, we had two months of Adar, doubling the merriment and celebration at Torah Academy.

In conjunction with these special months, we celebrated Literacy Week. In classic Adar fashion, each day of that week had a different dress-up theme such as Fantasy Day, Beachread Day, and Dress-as-your-favorite-literarycharacter Day. The highlight of the week was our annual Scholastic Book Fair where students, parents and teachers were able to acquire some great new books for their reading pleasure. Our TA scholars are avid readers and were excited to have the opportunity to expand their growing libraries.

Inspired by the heroism of Purim’s Queen Esther, Jacksonville’s shaliach Rotem Gabay came in and taught us all about some modern-

day Israeli heroes such as bible scholar Nehama Leibowits and former IDF general and special needs supporter Doron Almog. We discussed what makes a hero and some realistic ways in which we can be heroes in our own lives. On a second visit, accompanied by fellow shlichim visiting from other communities, Rotem led us in creating Purim masks and crafts, playing Purim Bingo and testing our Purim knowledge with fun holiday trivia.

In honor of Rosh Chodesh Adar II, students in grades 2-8 took a field trip to the Jacksonville Science Festival at FSCJ, while preschool through 1st grade went to the MOSH. They all were excited to display their TA spirit with specially made “Torah Academy SupersTAr” tattoos, and everyone enjoyed these “edutaining” (both educational and entertaining) outings.

Both Rosh Chodeshes also included a delicious, sponsored hot lunch. Waffles and whipped cream for lunch? Yes, please!

The fun at Torah Academy continued with the middle school girls’ Purim play and finally, Purim itself.

Gan students learn about the world through food

By Roxanne Gordon

In Cooking Around the World at Michele Block Gan Yeladim, preschool students experience a fun, hands-on enrichment class that allows them to explore different cultures through food. New this interim session, students enjoy a special selection of breakfast fare focusing on the first meal of the day for people across the globe.

Michele Block Gan Yeladim gourmet chef instructor Renee Schreck teaches this class which is a favorite among Teddy Bear and Junior Kindergarten students.

The first session took students to the Netherlands. They cooked oliebollen, a Dutch pastry similar to a doughnut and reminiscent of funnel cake. Included in the cooking lesson is a short history on the country that inspired the recipe.

Education News

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Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Students take a remarkable retreat

By Brian Pargman

Last month, middle school students from the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School spent four days away from school on a meaningful and memorable retreat. Students left school on February 19 and traveled to Orlando for a delicious lunch at the Kosher Grill. After lunch and a great time bowling, students had the opportunity to tour the Give Kids The World Village. Founded by holocaust survivor Henry Landwirth, Give Kids The World Village is an 84-acre, nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families.

The Village partners with all wish-fulfilling agencies to provide children and their families accommodations in fully furnished villas, transportation, tickets to theme parks, meals, daily entertainment and much more. The tour provided students with the chance to ask questions and learn about the mitzvot that take place at their facility everyday. But more than just learning about the good deeds, students worked in the cafeteria during dinner and breakfast. It was a remarkable experience to interact with the families who have children with a critical illness and to share in the joy that families were experiencing while in the village.

Seventh grader Sam Kaplan said, “I feel like this experience made me feel very grateful for everything I have and knowing that, while tomorrow is never guaranteed, I feel grateful that I know that I will probably go home and see my family.”

Students helped families select their food, carry trays, refill drinks and ensure that the dinner was a time for families to be stress free and enjoy their meals.

Middle School Language Arts teacher Stephanie Teitelbaum commented, “It was very rewarding to see the students volunteer at the Give Kids the World. It was a magical feeling to know that our kids were able to

Middle school students during the retreat with Give Kids the World mascot, “Mayor Clayton”

see firsthand and know that all of the families were in a happy place.”

As seventh grader Talia Zagagi said, “The main thing I remember about this experience was the simple, pure joy of being able to lend a hand in a happy place like that.”

After a field trip to Gatorland Park, where students experienced shows and ziplining over LIVE alligators, the students enjoyed a delicious meal at Jerusalem Grill in Ormond Beach as they journeyed back to Jacksonville. The next two days included day trips to St.

Augustine for a scavenger hunt through this historic city and an escape room activity in Jacksonville.

While the students enjoyed all of their kosher meals, they all voted Jacksonville’s own Gili’s Kitchen as their favorite!

The four-day retreat was jam-packed with history, fun and unique experiences. Davening in a hotel room together, saying the blessing after meals in various restaurants, and learning about each other all helped to create memorable experiences and friendships that will last a lifetime.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Dr. Alex Leder shows students a replica of the eye.

By Karin Hallet

Students from the DuBow Preschool were treated to some special community helpers. The Jacksonville Fire Department brought Ladder Truck #44 to teach the children about fire safety. They also got a

Dr. Steven Neihaus shows children one of the many animals he treats.

close-up look at a fire truck and watched a firefighter suit-up. Officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office brought a marine rescue boat, a car, two motorcycles, and two K9s and their handlers – who were all a very big hit!

A very special thank you also to DuBow Pre-

school parents Dr. Steven Neihaus, a veterinarian, and Dr. Alex Leder, an ophthalmologist, who brought a snake and an eye, respectively, as props.

Frankie, a therapy dog, was a special treat brought by his owner and preschool grandparent, Marjie Rogozinski.

Ganeinu Preschool packs gifts for the IDF

By Ganeinu Preschool

On Sunday, March 3, Ganeinu parents and students packed Purim gift baskets for the IDF. Inspired by personal accounts of local IDF veterans, the gifts include tasty treats as a well as some basic supplies like Gold Bond, socks and sunscreen. The gifts were then hand delivered by M. Levin, a visiting IDF Sergeant, to his troops in the Golani Brigade.

education news

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Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

Torah Academy’s Rising Star awardees

Emily Lasky and Mr. Junior Rodney receive Rising Star Awards

By Torah Academy of Jacksonville

On February 28 at 6 p.m. at the Rising Star awards ceremony, Torah Academy was proud to have nominated two special individuals who received recognition for their efforts and accomplishments in education and at life! One awardee was Mr. Junior Rodney, TA’s math and science teacher. The other was Emily Lasky, a student in the 7th grade. Both nominees were chosen to become this year’s recipients at their prestigious event, attended by educators and academic superstars from across Jacksonville!

Mr. Rodney joined Torah Academy’s staff mid-year of the 2017-18 calendar as its math and science instructor. It was immediately clear that he wasn’t just another teacher. Having come from the public-school system, his primary motivation was engaging students at their own level and helping them to love learning, something he felt the bureaucracy of the public-school system didn’t allow, as it pushed kids through the system regardless of their skills. He began teaching TA students math, and quickly won them over while raising their grades by upwards of 30 percent within 5 months.

He continues to bring out the best in TA’s scholars through a balanced, hands-on approach

to science and through utilizing technology to make math fun. Students get so involved in his classes, projects and experiments, you’d be hard-pressed to get them to admit that they’re simply learning! Mr. Rodney is a true example of a teacher who understands his students, knows how to balance classroom management, and foster a love of learning in his pupils.

As a home-schooled student who had experienced the all-toocommon challenges prevalent in the mainstream public-school system, Emily Lasky joined Torah Academy’s dual-curriculum program. She arrived with only a cursory knowledge of Judaic skills and struggled with various medical concerns – enough to completely discourage any other student. Over the past few years, Emily put in a great deal of effort, pushed past the hurdles and now reads both English and Hebrew fluently! Her skills continue to develop day by day, as she refuses to accept failure as an option. But what makes her a true superstar is that throughout it all, she maintains a positive attitude and consistently inspires those around her to succeed.

Torah Academy is truly proud of both Mr. Rodney and Emily for all they have achieved and are thrilled to see them acknowledged for their efforts and successes!

Generous sponsor of Super Sunday 2019:

There is a new Moses in town for the Block Gan Model Seder

By Roxanne Gordon

Every year, Michele Block Gan Yeladim celebrates Passover with a Model Seder, and for the older children, a dramatic reenactment of the Exodus from Egypt. This year, the performance has a new cast member as JCA CEO Adam Chaskin takes on the role of Moses.

Adam is excited about his new role and noted that he won’t need to wear the fake beard since he has a real one!

Model Seders are an opportunity for students

to learn about Passover and the history and traditions associated with the holiday. Each class participates in age-appropriate activities during the holiday to learn about the foods of the Passover table and what they represent. Older students receive a Seder plate and enjoy the special rendition of the Passover story. Chaskin, in his new lead role, joins Ken Jacobs, who has portrayed Pharaoh for a decade and a half.

Passover Model Seder is on Wednesday, April 17. For information, contact Roxanne Gordon at 904-730-2100 ext. 259.

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Community News

Jacksonville Jewish News • April 2019

page 34

Jacksonville teens gather for Sababa’Q

By Jacksonville Jewish Center

On Sunday, March 3, something new and exciting happened at Losco Park! Over 30 Jewish teens from all across Jacksonville came together for a kosher barbecue. We played games, engaged in conversation, and got to know each other. The event was organized by the youth departments of Etz

Chaim Synagogue, Congregation Ahavath Chesed - The Temple, the Jacksonville Jewish Center, the Jewish Student Union of Jacksonville, as well as the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville’s community shaliach. Stay tuned for more community events in the future!

For additional information or to get involved, please contact jewishteensjax@gmail.com.

Dine with the Jax Jewish Singles

By Francine Smith

Join us for dinner at Sabra Café, a vegetarian and kosher restaurant, where there is something for everyone on the menu. For date and time email francine.smith@comcast.net or call 904-221-8061.

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