The JCA Cultural Arts Festival

from October Issue - Northeast Florida Jewish Life Magazine

CarwashU

By Beth Milograno Berry, Jewish Community Alliance

Excitement is in the air as we prepare for our Cultural Arts Festival! Featuring award-winning Jewish producers, authors, artists and fi lms, November 1 will kick off a year-long celebration of the arts at the JCA! Without further delay, an exclusive look at the three Jewish-themed fi lms that will be presented in the JCA auditorium throughout the festival.

Kiss Me Kosher

A laugh-out-loud comedy about acceptance, love and family drama. After a string of ex-girlfriends, Shira found real love with Maria, a German who uproots her life to live with Shira in Tel Aviv. As their families awkwardly overcome cultural and religious diff erences, Shira’s grandmother, who disapproves of the marriage, goes to great lengths to break up the couple. Join us on Thursday, November 4 at 7 pm as Shira and Maria learn that the road to happiness is a minefi eld with plenty of traps along the way.

Neighbours

A look at the villagers living with the oppressive tyranny of the Syrian government in the seventies. In northeastern Syria, Sero and his uncle act as the Sabbath goy’im for their Jewish neighbors and their spinster daughter. With a growing state of antisemitism, the situation becomes precarious for the Jewish family when they are stripped of their Syrian citizenship and unable to leave the country. When Sero’s mother is accidentally shot by a border guard, the Jewish family asks Sero’s father to help their daughter fl ee using his dead wife’s papers. Neighbours will play Sunday, November 7 at 3 pm.

Tiger Within

Starring Ed Asner in one of his last performances, Tiger Within showcases the unlikely friendship between Sam, a Holocaust survivor and Casey, an angry 14-year-old runaway. On Wednesday, November 17 at 7 pm, join us for this inspiring fi lm about the power of forgiveness and unconditional love. As the story unfolds, we learn how the relationship provides Casey support and guidance, as it off ers Sam a glimpse of fatherhood.

Visit jcajax.org/jcafest for more details about our festival events, which are free and open to the entire community, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful sponsors. Advanced registration is required, please call (904) 730-2100 ext. 228 or visit www.jcajax.org.

SENSES OF SHABBOS AT RIVER GARDEN

By Lisa Poremba, River Garden Senior Services

Jewish people everywhere celebrate Shabbat in diff erent ways. At River Garden, Fridays bring extra joy throughout our campus as preparations for Shabbos are underway.

As we honor River Garden’s 75th anniversary through our 75 Acts of Caring initiative, we would be remiss in not sharing how acts of caring contribute to our residents experience during Shabbat. From a kosher Shabbat dinner to Friday afternoon and Shabbat morning services, residents have the opportunity to continue their Jewish traditions year round. This is a testament to how acts of caring have transformed River Garden into a loving home and family for so many generations. In the late afternoon, the sounds of Steve Meisel singing in the Parker Chapel can be heard through the halls and the live-streaming on the in-house TV channels. Yvonne Lempke cuts and arranges fresh fl owers to admire in the dining areas and share with residents as a mitzvah.

LOOK WHO’S CHANGING THE WORLD

Max Fleisher, M.D.

Neurosurgery Resident George Washington University Hospital

ALUMNI

S P O T L I G H T

“A love of learning, Jewish tradition, and educational excellence”.

From generation to generation, DuBow Preschool and Martin J. Gottlieb Day School students discover their purpose in life. Max Fleisher, a medical doctor and alumnus, feels fortunate to have had this early opportunity at our school. Through innovative education and living Jewish tradition, we inspire our students to make this world a better place.