Champagne Brunch Connects Women for Over 10 Years

By Lauren Rickoff, Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida

2021 Champagne Brunch co-chairs, Jenn Neuman and Sandy Shapiro

We invite you to join us at this year’s event on Sunday, January 23, 2022. For details and registration information, go to https://events. idonate.com/champagnebrunch2022

The Women’s Philanthropy Champagne Brunch builds connections for women throughout the community. While the main event goal is to raise funds for the 2022 Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation & Foundation, an intangible goal is to unite women in shared values and build relationships. January’s event will be the first in-person event in two years and participants are looking forward to finally spending time with each other face-to-face.

Our co-chairs, Jenn Neuman and Sandy Shapiro, are planning an event that will allow for a lot of schmooze time, as well as provide information on a topic that everyone has been focused on since the pandemic began, self-care. Guest speaker, Elise Bonwitt will share concrete ideas for how to get more out of life, using her book, More: Get More Out of Life with Less Complication. One of the chapters focuses on relationships, “Over time, I have grown to understand the importance of relationships and can appreciate the impact they have had on each stage of my life. Strong relationships can bring you happiness, health, deeper meaning, and even longevity,” Bonwitt writes.

Each year, over 100 women attend the annual event, and spending time with friends is a highlight. Joan Rosenberg has fond memories of the time she worked on the event, “I co-chaired the Champagne Brunch in January of 2020. My favorite memory was looking around the room and seeing that 150 women had come together with a common mission to support the Jewish Federation. It was both heartwarming and empowering to be a part of this event.”

2020 Champagne Brunch co-chairs, Danielle Leder and Joan Rosenberg with guest speaker, Kristin Harmel.

COMMUNITY

JEWISH WOMEN BAKE ‘LOAVES OF LOVE’ CHALLAH IN ST. JOHNS!

By Devorah Hamford, Chabad of St. Johns County

On November 4, women gathered for the ‘Loaves of Love Challah Bake’ at the Jewish Womens Circle in St. Johns.

Shabbat has long been a means to reconnect with ourselves, our families and our community. And nothing symbolizes the spirit of Shabbat more than delicious, fresh-baked challah.

Baking challah is a time-honored mitzvah dating back to our matriarchs. According to Jewish tradition, when a woman bakes challah and does the mitzvah of taking challah, she brings additional blessings into her home and into the food that she lovingly prepares for family and friends. It is a time for women to pray for their personal needs, the needs of their families, and their communities.

We created beautifully braided challahs and discovered the beauty of this tradition, unique to women. It was also Rosh Chodesh (First day of every Jewish month), we learned all about Rosh Chodesh and why it’s a special day for women.

The Jewish Womens Circle of St. Johns is where Jewish women connect with other local Jewish women from diverse backgrounds and affiliations in a warm, lighthearted and fun atmosphere. For more information about the St. Johns Jewish Womens Circle call (904) 701-4422 or email Dini@JewishSJohnsCounty.com. For more information or for more Jewish community events go to www.JewishSJohnsCounty.com