Jacksonville Jewish News - August 2016

A BOND BUILT BEYOND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY Pair of co-workers that pace each other out of the office and on the running trails Page 4

MOVING ON UP TO THE SOUTHSIDE

JFCS is set to expand to a new property soon Page 5

BREAKING NEW GROUND

Chabad set to build first Center for Jewish Life on Jacksonville’s Southside Page 21 A publication of

August 2016

• Tamuz/Av 5776 • www.jewishjacksonville.org

Society of Healers speaker to share her compassionate message, Aug. 28th

BY ERIN COHEN

•

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JaxJewishTV • Volume 29, Number 2 • 32 pages

Musician Dan Nichols to rock Federation’s Campaign Kickoff, Sept. 18th

BY ERIN COHEN

Jewish Federation of Jacksonville erinc@jewishjacksonville.org

Last year, at the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville’s Campaign Kickoff, guests were entertained by the mind-bending powers of mentalist, Sidney Friedman.

On Sunday, Aug. 28th the Federation’s This year, as we launch the 2017 Annual Society of Healers division will hold its open- Campaign, everyone is invited to come ing event for the 2017 campaign year, with a together to sing, dance and have yet another discussion from guest speaker, Amy Hirshberg extraordinary experience with the Jewish Lederman. Her talk, ‘Compassionate Medicine, community as Dan Nichols will perform a Compassionate concert with his band, Eighteen, on Sunday, Judaism: How JewSept. 18th. ish Values Inspire Congregation Ahavath Chesed will Best Practices and host the concert which will start promptly Enhance Patient at 12:30 p.m., following religious school.

Relationships’ will Those with children in religious school no doubt be a very at any of our synagogues are encouraged moving and inforto either pack a lunch to eat at Temple, or mative one. purchase a pizza lunch from JAFTY, The Hirshberg Temple’s youth group. The Federation Lederman’s heartinvites community members of all ages felt talk comes to hear the powerful and influential music from personal Amy Hirshberg Lederman of Dan and Eighteen, while also learning experience and will give her talk on com- about the exceptional and life-changing a desire to see passionate medicine, Aug. work that Federation is funding, with your successful patient/ 28th to the SOH Division help, locally as well as overseas. In lieu caregiver relationof charging a fee to attend the concert, the ships. “When my Federation requests that guests make a gift husband, Ray, was diagnosed with cancer in to the 2017 annual campaign. Dan Nichols November, 2011, we became a team and faced is a singular talent in the world of Jewish everything together,” she explained. “Because music, as he is one of the most dynamic, he was a doctor, we had the additional advantage and often anxiety, of understanding only too well what certain things really meant. The most important aspect of Ray’s care came from the doctors who turned ordinary moments and conversations into extraordinary ones because they were fully present to our concerns, issues and fears. Humanistic medical care can turn best medical practices into best Jewish pracBY MATT FRANZBLAU tices, enhancing the doctor-patient relationship Federation Communications Director and life itself,” she added. mattf@jewishjacksonville.org Hirshberg Lederman will also offer a stronger understanding of humanistic medicine durThis month a new friendly face will be ing her presentation. “Humanistic medical care recognizable in the Jacksonville Jewish is not simply compassionate medical care as it community as Dana (pronounced Donna) combines the best of medicine with the deepest Marmari will be coming to the First Coast power of healing: the power of life-affirming as its first Israel emissary in more than a relationships,” she said. quarter of a century. Marmari, a 26-year old social worker from Kfar Saba, Israel, See SOH TALK, p. 17 is being brought to Jacksonville through a partnership of Federation and the JCA, along with a generous donation from Federation board members Iris and Mark Kraemer, which made this venture financially feasible.

Through the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), Shlichim come to many communities in North America each year,” explained Federation Executive Director Alan Margolies. “As a result of a generous gift from Mark and Iris Kraemer, made in memory of Mark’s father Walter, this has become a reality.”

The idea to bring an Israeli intern to Jacksonville was born out of the suggestion of Jewish Community Alliance Executive Director Myron Flager, who planted the seed with Federation at a most opportune time of year.

“During the past two years of allocations, Myron came to Federation and urged us that together with the JCA, we should bring a representative of Israel to our Jewish community,” Margolies recalled.

“I did that because I thought it was important for the people of our community to understand that as wonderful as we are, there is a piece missing,” Flagler explained of his motivations.

That piece of the diverse and vibrant

Jewish Federation of Jacksonville erinc@jewishjacksonville.org

influential and beloved Jewish musicians in North America. His melodies have become an integral part of the spiritual and liturgical experience of countless individuals and Jewish communities. Nichols is a product of the Jewish camping movement, as he spent 10 summers at the Goldman Union Camp in Zionsville, Ind. before receiving his degree in vocal performance at the University of North Carolina. In 1995, realizing the potential of music to make a meaningful connection with Jewish youth, he established the Jewish rock band Eighteen. Since that time, Nichols and his band have released eight full-length studio albums. Each one has received critical acclaim and has been celebrated by Jewish adults and youth alike.

Nichols’ anthology includes a widerange of sounds and styles, from energetic Jewish rock anthems to moving interpretations of traditional Jewish liturgy. Jewish youth and adults from around the world draw inspiration from his music and its positive message of Jewish values, identity and pride.

Renowned musician Dan Nichols and his band Eighteen, will perform a free concert at the Federation’s annual Campaign Kick off, Sunday, Sept. 18th at the Temple

His bands’ live performances are legendary for their unrestrained energy and infectious spirit. Nichols himself spends more than 180 days each year on the road, where he often serves as artist-in-residence for congregations and camp communities. He has performed live in Israel at the historic fortress of Masada and in the studio for the groundbreaking XM Radio presentation of Radio Chanukah.

See DAN NICHOLS, p. 17

8505 San Jose Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32217

Jewish Federation of Jacksonville

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Jacksonville to welcome its first Israeli emissary in quarter century to community

puzzle that makes Jewish Jacksonville will arrive in August in hopes of adding yet another component to the community, which will make Israel more real for people in Northeast Florida.

“We had this vision that if we could have a Shlicha build amazing relationships within our community, then Israel could be brought to life and to the masses,” Flagler added.

Marmari will be working collaboratively with Jewish organizations, agencies, day schools, and synagogues in the community, in addition to making significant contributions to the JCA and Federation on a daily basis.

“While housed in the Federation’s offices, Dana will be supervised by staff at Kfar Saba, Israel native Dana Marmari the JCA, including Myron and Jewish and Family Outreach Coordinator Dave Flawill begin her work within the Jacksonville gler,” Margolies explained. “That partnerJewish community as an Israeli intern or ship is another example of the richness of Shlicha starting in August the relationship between our two organizations,” he added. league’s sentiments.

That richness will only go toward benSome of the specialty programming efiting the Jacksonville Jewish community Marmari might have her hand in include as its new Shlicha will no doubt enrich the the JCA’s book and Israeli Film Festivals, many lives touched by Jewish agencies and in addition to Yom Ha’Atzmut and Yom organizations here in Northeast Florida.

HaZikaron.

“Dana will act as a resource, tremenThe fact that the JCA and Federation are dously impacting those organizations and able to collaborate in such a way around their people, because she will teach them the Shlicha and share this resource with the to take what they are doing and put an Israeli lens on it,” Flagler explained of her See ISRAELI EMISSARY, p. 28 important role in the community she will soon call home.

“The menu of opportunities that await her in our Jewish community cover a vast array of possibilities, and we’re confident

she’s going to make a difference with the various groups and programs she works

with,” Margolies said, backing up his col-

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

opinion and cartoons

JJN’s Rabbincally Speaking Column: Length, breadth, depth

BY MERRILL SHAPIRO

in our region and beyond are

Our community is, in many ways, in a beautiful setting. Many take for granted the grandeur of the view crossing the Buckman Bridge, the splendor of the river views as the St. John winds its way, the ocean or the magnificence of the ocean vista at the beaches. We are not blessed with many high points, although the scenery from the top of the Dames Point Bridge, 175 feet above the water, is still a joy to behold.

On the other hand, Santa Fe, N.M., happens to be the U.S. State Capital at the highest elevation, more than 7,100 feet above sea level. Outside the window next to the desk where this column is being written is Thompson Peak, some 10,500 feet above sea level.

The length, the breadth, the depth of the splendor is breathtaking and a religious experience which can be had by just walking down the sidewalk in front of the hotel.

The 26th annual conference of the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies is now underway and my wife and I are here to listen and learn to add and absorb. The Society was formed to nurture a global organization for those researching the history of crypto-Jewish and Sephardic communities around the world. More and more people

question of whether or not men and women of Jewish descent lived in St. Augustine, four-and-ahalf centuries ago.

The Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies also provides a venue for the descendants of crypto-Jews, scholars, and other interested parties to network and discuss pertinent issues. As an international forum, it creates opportunities for sharing personal narratives, as well as new and relevant data of interest to a diverse membership. Above all, it nurtures a global community for those in search of more information and helps gather in the fragments of crypto-Jewish communities around the world.

The landscapes and mountain vistas can take your breath away, but they are not nearly as so breathtaking as the magnificence of the dimensions and the diversity of Jewish communities around the world. There are Jews in Bahrain, and a Jewish Community in Tahiti dating back to the 15th century. Our people have been in Kaifeng, China for a thousand years and let’s not forget Beta Yisrael in Africa or the Meshadi Jews that have recently left Iran. The Krimchaks probably arrived in Crimea two millennia ago, while the Mountain Jews of

St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society seeking to learn more about the

RABBINICALLY SPEAKING AUGUST 2016 - TAMUZ/AV 5776 Dahgestan date back to 500 C.E., and about the same time the now defunct Afghanistan Jewish community was founded. The wonder of these Jewish communities is not only their distribution across the face of the earth, but also their distribution across the millennia since the beginning of the dispersion of our people, the creation of Jewish Diaspora.

So how was it that these Jews spread themselves to the four corners of world? It all began with the exile from our Eternal Homeland, the Land of Israel and exile that included the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem,

on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av in the summer of 586 B.C.E. Jews eventually returned to join others who were able to remain and together they rebuilt the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, only to have it destroyed once again on the ninth day of Av in 70 C.E., which signaled a dispersion of our people once again. Many Jews settled in Spain over the years, only to face an exile and dispersion once again, after centuries of residency, on the ninth day of Av in 1492.

What a sad day, the ninth day of Av, Tisha B’Av, is, even in our own time as it is marked with

prayer and fasting and the reading of the Biblical Book of Lamentations. This year, Tisha B’Av begins at dark on Saturday evening, Aug. 13th and continues for 24 hours.

It’s a day to support the synagogue of your choice with your presence and to think about a world where all Jews live together in our Eternal Homeland, while humanity dwells in harmony, safety, security and above all else.

Merrill Shapiro is the President of the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society and immediate past National President of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (au.org). While serving as Rabbi of Congregation Beth Am in Longwood, Fla., he was adjunct faculty at the University of Central Florida and taught Jewish History.

Rabbinically speaking is a monthly column written by clergy members in the Jacksonville Jewish community. If you are a Rabbi, hazzan or religious leader in NE Florida and would like to contribute your inspirational thoughts for a monthly column, please e-mail jjn@jewishjacksonville.org with your name, organization, congregation and which month you are interested in writing for and what topic, specifically you would like to write about.

Aliya Day to become Israeli national holiday

Knesset passed in a final reading a law instituting the holiday on the seventh of the Hebrew month Cheshvan and to be celebrated in 5777

BY LAHAV HARKOV Jerusalem Post

There’s going to be a new holiday on the calendar: Aliya Day, as the Knesset passed in a final reading a law instituting the holiday on the seventh of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, coinciding with the reading of the Torah portion in which Abraham is told to leave his home to go to what is now Israel.

The bill was proposed by MKs Robert Ilatov (Yisrael Beytenu), Avraham Neguise (Likud), Miki Zohar (Likud), Hilik Bar (Zionist Union) and others.

On Aliya Day, schools will teach about the contributions immigrants made to Israel, the cabinet will hold a special meeting and ceremonies will be held by the President’s Residence, the IDF and police.

Naguise said “the law is declarative but is very important to ensure the recognition of the importance of aliya and encouraging it, and improving the treatment of new immigrants, so that we recognize every new immigrants brings a significant contribution to the country.”

“We have tremendous gratitude to the members of Knesset

that chose to adopt and champion our young immigrants grassroots community movement celebrating Aliya Day,” said Jay Shultz, founder of TLV Internationals and president of the Am Yisrael Foundation, which helped conceive of the bill. “It is incredibly meaningful that we as young Jews can connect the biblical historical truth of Joshua crossing the Jordan to our modern practical reality,” he added. “It is the ideal of aliya and the pioneering contributions of immigrants in each generation that make this the easiest time in history to be a Jew living in the Land of Israel.”

Advertising Representatives Barbara Nykerk • 904.733.4179 Eta Perras • 904.629.0466 Editor & Communications Director Matt Franzblau • mattf@jewishjacksonville.org Communications Committee Jon Israel, Chair Shirley Bielski Helen Hill Michele Katz Joan Levin Andrea Mail Rachel Morgenthal Andrew Ocean Marsha Pollock Federation President Sandy Zimmerman Federation Executive Director Alan Margolies 8505 San Jose Blvd. • Jacksonville, FL 32217 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.

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community news

Ties to Judaism quite literally run deep for a pair of Channel 4 co-workers

BY MATT FRANZBLAU

Federation Communications Director mattf@jewishjacksonville.org

Whether it’s a short conversation during a work break or a brief kibbitz in the middle of a water break, there are two members of the Jacksonville Jewish community who have become a familiar sight for one another at various professional, recreational and religious events and activities.

Jacksonville natives Rachael Rice and Eric Wallace both grew up in the local Jewish community, are both employed at WJXT-Channel 4 and quite literally cross paths while training for long distance races within the same running circles.

“I see him pretty much every day in passing because we work in different departments at Channel 4,” Rice explained. “On Saturdays, because we belong to the same running group, I see him then, but he is faster than I am, so when I see him, he is usually way ahead of me.”

While the two TV employees try and set the pace out on the pavement, they enjoy taking a few minutes to catch up in the halls of the TV station where they both work.

“I’ll pass her in the hallways a couple times a week and its nice because being in the news department, you don’t often know many people up in sales, but she is one of the few people I do know in that department,” Wallace said.

Wallace is a producer for Channel 4 and has been for the past 15-years, recently being named senior producer, while Rice serves as an account executive, securing advertising which is then broadcast over the airwaves. The pairs’ connection runs beyond just the races and the tube as it extends to the Jacksonville Jewish community.

“I grew up at the Temple and my family lived right down the street from there,” Rice described of her connection to Jacksonville’s only reform congregation. “My grandmother designed the stained glass windows at the Temple and my great-grandmother needle pointed the coverings for the Torahs.”

Wallace sometimes even sees his co-worker and fellow running club member outside of the office and off the beaten path at rGEN events in the Jewish community. While the pair have taken two very different journeys to their now most prized passion, each are equally dedicated, often lacing up their sneakers at early hours and in unstable weather conditions.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, lighting, a tornado or a hurricane, we’re running,” said Rice of her abnormally normal routine. “I started running half-marathons and now have done about 55 of them along with eight marathons, which I have done all over the world.”

Rice’s runnings have taken her to races in Hawaii, Las Vegas, New York, Washington and even the Great Wall in China. Contrary to his counterpart, Wallace sticks to races in Jacksonville and around the U.S., having competed in an equally impressive total of about a dozen 13.1 milers and four 26.2 mile races.

“I’ve run the Marine Corps Half Marathon in Jacksonville, the Subaru half-marathon on Thanks-

Wallace following a recent awards ceremony in Orlando

JJN 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: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Rachael Rice (far left) and Eric Wallace (second from left) pose with their Channel 4 co-workers following a recent race in Jacksonville giving Day, the Donna (half and full marathon), the Gate River Run and even something called the Tour de Pain Extreme, which is a half marathon, a 5k and a 10k in 24 hours,” Wallace listed of his recent races here in the River City.

Unlike Rice, who has been honing her strides for the better part of 20-years now, Wallace only picked up the sport during this decade, deciding to join his co-workers in a recreational jog back in the winter of 2011.

“Our station has always had a large group of runners and a couple of my co-workers were going to go on a seven mile run after work one night and asked me if I wanted to join them,” He remembered of his initial introduction. After agreeing to buddy up with them for the first three of seven miles, Wallace realized he bit off a bit more than he could chew.

“I didn’t really have a sense of how far three miles was, so I ended up doing alternating intervals of running with them and having to then walk because I was absolutely exhausted.”

After just 3/4 of a mile, Wallace threw in the towel and went the other direction, but that day consequently took his life in another direction as he would soon run his first 5k three months later, and his initial half marathon a year and a half after that. He eventually competed in his first marathon in December, 2013 and recently took part in the Chicago Marathon last fall finishing in 3:52.14, completing a full transformation from desk jockey to avid athlete.

“They say that there are 1.7 million people watching that race in the streets as the crowds are probably five to 10 deep, almost every inch of that course,” he described. “I had just an amazing experience running that race.”

Rice’s experience with her hobby started in her early 20’s, when like her counterpart, she realized she was out of shape and needed an outlet to help lead to a healthier lifestyle.

“I was actually overweight when I was younger and I lost a lot of weight because I was sick,” she recalled. “But I had a lot of friends who were runners and I decided to run with them, thinking ‘anyone can run’, but little did I know I couldn’t run from the front door to my mailbox without being out of breath.”

That wake-up call spurned a change in the then novice runner, who took to the course at night with

Rice’s official Channel 4 headshot

her friends because it was less hot but also for another more pointed reason.

“I didn’t want to run during the day because I wouldn’t want people to see me as I was embarrassed,” she admitted. “So if I ran at night and if they don’t see me, it’s almost as if it wasn’t happening.”

But happening it was, as Rice’s strides became larger and her confidence grew with each time out on a jog.

“Slowly I would increase little markers along the way and little did I know because I wasn’t seeing distance wise how far I was going, I was running a mile within a couple weeks,” she remembered. “I was like, ‘oh my gosh, I couldn’t believe that light post was a mile’ and just two months before that I couldn’t even run to the mailbox.”

After developing a sense of enjoyment and pleasure for her new found knack, Rice encouraged others who were living her once lazy lifestyle to get off the couch and join her on runs across the community.

“I started helping other kids, teenagers and people in their 20s and they would just run with me,” she said. “We would go to a certain distance and then walk and before you knew it they were calling me Forrest Gump.”

But instead of run Forrest run, it was run Rachael run, and that she did, all the way to long treks and organized events such as 5k’s, 10k’s half marathons and eventually a full one, which developed into multiple 26.2 mile races. It wasn’t until just within the last year though that her ability to do what she loved was put in jeopardy due to the receipt of some startling news.

“I found out I had stage two appendix cancer and doctors thought it possibly spread to my colon, so I had half my colon removed,” She described of her illness. “My biggest thought was, ‘am I still going to be able to run?’

The answer to that question was a resounding yes as the now cancer survivor got back onto the roads of Jacksonville and the road to recovery, once she was fully healed from her procedure.

“I am still in a lot of pain but it’s strange because when I’m running the pain isn’t usually there,” she described of her disappearing symptoms. “You would think if you’re in pain it’s going to hurt worse when you are running, but that is really not the case, which makes me think if I could run everywhere, that would probably be the best thing because I would never be in pain,” she jokingly added.

But all joking aside, the serious manner in which she approaches her athletic responsibilities may have gone a long way in bringing her back to health.

“Honestly, I think running in a way saved my life, because it gave me that never give up mentality,” she recalled. “You have a lot to think about when you find out you have cancer, and my biggest thing was finding what I needed to do to get my strength back so I could go out there and run again.”

Those far-reaching thoughts while lying in a hospital bed turned into tangible ones as she was back

• • •

All About Ballroom (p. 30) B&C Financial (p. 5) Beachview Rentals (p. 11) Bob Ham Eyewear (p. 7) Borland Groover (p. 30) Brandon Pest Cntrol (p. 7) The Temple (p. 15) DuBow Preschool (p. 31) Erica Jolles - Round Table Realty (p. 6) General Assembly (p. 30) Highway Press (p. 11) Impressions (p. 22) Innovative Financial Solutions (p. 10) Int’l Lion of Judah (p. 20) Jax Jewish Center (p. 12) Jewish Federation of Jacksonville (p. 32)

• Jewish Community Foundation of NE Fla (p. 25) • JFNA (p. 14) • Jewish Java (p. 18) • Jewish Museum Fla (p. 9) • LIVE Entertainment (p. 5) • Margo’s Catering (p. 7) • Wajsman Home Team Realty (p. 27) • Pediatric Dentistry (p. 22) • River Garden (p. 20) • rGEN Jax (p. 19, 29) • Shalom Jax (p. 13) • Society of Healers (p.

16-17) • Stein Mart (p. 10) • Thrasher Horne (p. 29) • The Tax Man (p. 22) • Vandroff Insurance (p. 8)

For your advertising needs, please contact advertising sales representative Barbara Nykerk at 904-733-4179 or Eta Perras at 904-629-0466.

August 2016 - Tamuz/Av 5776

what's inside Business Directory........... p. 22 Chabad News....................p. 21 Community News............ p. 4-7 Education ..................... p. 8-11 International News.......... p. 29 Federation News....................... ........................ p. 15-20, 27-28 Foundation ..................... p. 25

JCA .................................. p. 23 JFCS ..................................p. 24 Lifecycles.......................... p. 22 National News ................. p. 30 Opinion & Cartoons............ P. 3 River Garden.................... p. 26 Synagogue News............12-14 Top Stories...........................p. 1

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Rice pounds the pavement during a race here in Northeast Florida (Photo courtesy of 904 Fitness)

Wallace with his medal following the 2015 Chicago Marathon, which he finished with a time of 3:52.14

again doing what she loved, but with a different insight in to what surrounded her.

“We usually run very early in the morning, sometimes five or six o ’clock, so there is nothing out there but you and nature, and when you see the sunrise, the birds chirping, I can’t help but saying thank you to G-d for everything I have and for allowing me to be alive,” Rice explained of her appreciation for how far she has come and what she has fought to overcome. “To me that’s comforting to know that when I am out there, I have this surreal peace which is the same comfort I get when I walk into the Temple.”

Similarly, Wallace obtains the same sense of peace from his long distance runs, finding a correlation between his passion and his religion.

“On a 20 mile run you have plenty of time to think and reflect about whatever you choose, so I think that kind of relates to Judaism because our religion wants you to reflect on what you have going on and to kind of come to your own conclusions about things,” he said.

“There is a route that we run through Riverside and we go over this little drawbridge into Ortega, you get the sunrise over the river, and downtown Jacksonville and it’s just a really cool sight that makes you reflect on nature and thank G-d for all of that.”

While the pace that both Wallace and Rice take while running vary, and even though their professional paths occasionally intersect, it’s clear that they are both firmly in line with each other as passionate and dedicated members of the Jacksonville Jewish community, using their religion as motivation to enhance themselves both physically and emotionally.

This fall Rice will be following in her fellow running club members’ footsteps as she plans to take part in the 2016 Chicago Marathon, while Wallace hopes to get back out on the course following some minor injuries and run in the Space Coast Half Marathon the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The pair both belong to PRS Running Club in Jacksonville, which stands for ‘Personal Running Solutions.’

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

community news

JFCS moving forward toward its second century with purchase of new building

By Jewish Family & Community Services

JFCS is excited to announce that it is embarking on a $4.5 million capital campaign to support a new facility on Baycenter Rd. and renovate its existing building on Dupont Circle. This new chapter in the organization’s history is coming as it is getting ready to celebrate its 100th year of service in the community.

Almost a century ago, our Jewish ancestors in Northeast Florida realized that living in their midst was a community where men, women and children lived in a constant state of crisis, without food, clothing or shelter. Entire families were cut-off from society and their Jewish faith by lack of access, adversity and the shame of poverty.

In 1917, the Jewish population in Jacksonville numbered 2,000 and philanthropists saw a humanitarian need to care for their own. Our founders created United Jewish Charities and offered loans from $10 to as much as $100. In 1928, The Great Depression and war greatly expanded needs in the community. That year, Jewish donors provided 500 meals, secured shelter for 283 people, bought books for nine students

Now in its 100th year, JFCS is launching a $4.5 million capital campaign for this new facility and to renovate its existing one on Dupont Circle

and supplied milk to three families. Still growing, in 1941, now named Jewish Welfare Society, the agency hired its first full-time staff member and within a few years had become the first Jewish adoption agency in the United States.

The Jewish founders refused to ignore those in need in their community, creating a culture of service, one that provided a full commitment of support to every person in need who came through their doors, which included every friend, every family, every neighbor, and every stranger.

Fast-forward 60 years to 2001, as the agency moved into its current location, and Jewish Family & Community Services as its is presently known, had 51 staff, an operating budget of $4 million and served more than 10,000 clients a year. JFCS had also become the only agency in Northeast Florida that provided wraparound services for people in need. Today, just 15 years later, the agency has grown to include 170 staff, operating on an $10.7 million budget, and will serve more than 21,000 clients annually.

In the current facility, privacy for clients in crisis is elusive. Efficiency and productivity are ham-

pered and safety concerns are ongoing, while flexibility is stymied by a lack of space and the need to maintain day-to-day operations.

Further growth opportunities are virtually non-existent and most importantly, the dignity of clients is compromised. Now, nearly 100 years later, Jewish Family & Community Services stands ready to serve in exactly the way our forefathers intended. The agency and its employees are on the front lines of family support services, many times being the first to identify a need in the community and not afraid to innovate as they refuse to accept the status quo for the people they serve.

To maintain its ability to serve local residents of all ages, faiths and ethnicities, JFCS is asking for your partnership in continuing our forefathers’ commitment to the community in which we live and our mission to strengthen the entire community by providing family and individual social services in the Jewish tradition of helping people help themselves.

We cannot do it without you, but together we can. To learn how you can help please contact Kathy Wohlhuter at 904-394-5727 or email her at kwohlhuter@jfcsjax. org.

By First Congregation Sons of Israel

First Congregation Sons of Israel, a Conservative Egalitarian congregation, began participating in the St. Augustine community’s First Friday Night Art Walk in December 2015. As a way to provide greater community awareness of the historically and architecturally significant synagogue, which is the oldest synagogue in the Nation’s Oldest City, the congregation features an artist between the hours of

Bluegrass concert to closeout summer of fun at the JCA

Bluegrass band ‘Can’t Never Could’ will perform a free summer closeout concert at the Jewish Community Alliance, Sunday, Aug. 21st

BY IMAN BYFIELD

Jewish Community Alliance

End your summer on a high note with a concert by bluegrass band ‘Can’t Never Could’ at the JCA, Sunday, Aug. 21st at 4:30 p.m. This Jacksonville-based fivepiece string band plays a mixture of original songs and country folks tunes, while incorporating a unique ‘southern swank’.

The band’s five members include songwriter, Dinah Frill-

ing on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Tim Frilling lends his claw hammer style banjo to the group, while Lewis Fowle plays upright bass and David Podris sings backup and plays lead guitar. With the accompaniment of violin or fiddle, the group brings a heartfelt southern sound.

The JCA Summer Concert is free and open to the community, however reservations are always appreciated. For more information or to register visit jcajax.org or call 904-730-2100 ext. 228.

Mother and son team to represent St. Augustine synagogue at First Friday Art Walk 5 – 7 p.m., each First Friday Night Art Walk.

For Friday, Aug. 5th, the featured artists are mother and son, Marcia and Lee Cohen. Marcia is a retired teacher and school counselor, having worked in Duval and St. Johns County schools. She utilized children’s books in her lessons to teach her students about emotions, the environment and, growing up with the importance of acquisition of character. Her book, ‘The Sock Monster’ focuses on the family, and the significance of always telling the truth.

Lee Cohen is an illustrator, having worked on his mother’s book, where he chose bright, vivid colors that children love. Cohen graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and he currently lives in Fernandina Beach, where he illustrates children’s books. His work can be seen at the Amelia Island

Art Gallery. For the August First Friday Night Art Walk, Lee Cohen will be exhibiting his artwork, while his mother, Marcia will be on hand with copies of The Sock Monster for a book signing.

First Congregation Sons of Israel is located at 161 Cordova Street in downtown St. Augustine.

Regular Shabbat services are held at 7:30p.m., Fridays and at 10 a.m., Saturdays. For more information, call 904-829-9532 or e-mail at fcsi1924@gmail.com.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

Community news

Talia Gahanian Inspired Advocate for Active Women

August

2016

Talia Gahanian is the creator of the Boot Camp for Busy Women and Moms which takes place Sunday and Wednesday evenings.

She has filled a much-needed niche in the observant Jacksonville Jewish community for busy women in all walks of life. These workouts are held in the garage of another wonderful ‘Mensch’ Rise Cooper, who provides a comfortable air conditioned room with privacy for these women who do not exercise in the company of men due

motm

to religious modesty rules.

The class is quick in duration, upbeat, supportive and brings women together who usually have very little time to socialize. Gahanian has a special understanding of the needs of the participants and gives individualized time and advice to each participant. This special time is often therapeutic and calming for the participants and each woman leaves feeling refreshed, healthier and inspired to be part of the team.

If you would like to nominate someone special for Mensch of the Month, who volunteers both their time and efforts to the Jacksonville Jewish community, simply submit their name, photo and a short write-up about them to jjn@jewishjacksonville.

Jacksonville Jewish community member tabbed by national brand to help retailers better promote Kosher cuisine

By PR Newswire

Earlier this Summer, Kosher Media Holdings LLC (KMH), which is the parent company of JOYofKOSHER.com under the leadership of Founder, CEO, and Chief Creative Officer Jamie Geller, announced the addition of Jacksonville resident and kosher food retailing expert, Deborah Shapiro, as the company’s first vice president of marketing and operations. Shapiro will deliver new supplier and retailer products and services through KMH, including a kosher retail merchandising consulting division to help retailers effectively promote kosher foods for all occasions.

“Since 2012, KMH has been fortunate to partner with some of the world’s most recognizable brands, such as Kraft Heinz, Unilever and Strauss, but over time it became clear to us and our brand partners that what is still missing from the equation is consistently strong in-store merchandising,”

Geller said. “Deborah’s extensive retail experience enhances the value we can deliver to suppliers and retailers alike, ultimately to the benefit of the more than 12 million kosher consumers who want fast, fresh meal solutions for the whole family, and the ability to

purchase those meal ingredients with ease.”

Shapiro most recently served as a senior marketer and merchandiser for Southeastern Grocers, parent company and home of BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, which combined creates the fifth-largest supermarket chain in the U.S. and the second-largest supermarket in the

Southeast, based on store count.

With a focus on international and ethnic food, Shapiro is known for designing kosher ‘store-within-astore’ concepts that incorporate kosher-certified full-service delis, pizza and sushi stations, bakeries, and fresh meat and grocery

departments. She also is a creator of kosher training programs designed to familiarize non-kosher retail employees with the kosher food process.

“Today’s kosher consumers purchase 365 days a year, not only during the religious holidays,” Shapiro explained. “They are shopping the entire store while searching out best-in-class

products that happen to be kosher, like Barilla pastas and sauces and Philadelphia Cream Cheese, yet most CPGs tend to only advertise during the Jewish holidays and most mainstream grocers tend to only buy and merchandise ‘traditional’ Jewish foods, such as matzo and gefilte fish, without truly understanding today’s kosher consumers,” she added. “We intend to change that.”

In 2014, there were about 4.2 million American adults who said they were Jewish by religion, representing less than 2-percent of the U.S. adult population, yet in the same year more than 12 million Americans chose kosher products. In addition, kosher products generated $17 billion in grocery business nationally in 2013, and sales have grown an average of 10-percent every year since 2005.

Shapiro joins Geller as a member of the company’s executive team, which also includes: Tamar Genger MA, RD, executive editor of JOYofKOSHER.com, who is a highly sought after expert on health and culinary nutrition, and Shifra Klein, editor-in-chief at

Deborah Shapiro, vice president of marketing and operations (left), joins Jamie Geller, founder, CEO, and chief creative officer (right), at Kosher Media Holdings LLC, which is an integrated multimedia marketing company and the parent company of joyofkosher.com and the award-winning JOY of KOSHER with Jamie Geller magazine (Photo Courtesy of PRNewsFoto/ Kosher Media Holdings, LLC)

award-winning JOY of KOSHER with Jamie Geller Magazine, who also conducts popular cooking classes and demos nationwide.

UF Hillel holds blood drive to help replenish depleted banks in Gainesville due to recent Orlando tragedy

The blood drive, held July 18th gave blood back to Alachua County’s depleted supply in the wake of June’s shooting in Orlando

BY CINDY BENNETT UF Hillel

When UF Hillel Director of Development Stefanie Epstein went to donate blood for the Orlando shooting victims, she discovered that many of the local blood banks had been depleted to help those victims. “I had no idea our local blood banks were in such desperate need of replenishing,” she said. “I went to donate blood for the victims of Orlando, only to realize the need was right here in Gainesville.”

Hearing about the problem, Hillel’s Rabbi Adam Grossman and his team decided to organize a blood drive earmarked for the

local banks in Alachua County.

“Helping others (mitzvot) is a cornerstone of the teachings of Judaism and a crucial part of UF Hillel’s mission,” Rabbi Grossman explained. “It was vital to help the victims of the Orlando shooting and encourage everyone to continue to help, but at the same time, we need to make sure the residents of Alachua County have enough blood for their needs and for any emergency that could arise, even if it’s sending more blood out of the county.”

In total, the drive was able to collect about five pints, meaning 20 plus lives could potentially be saved as a result of the donations.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

community news

Steven Spielberg film is searching for a Jewish boy in Jacksonville to play its lead role

BY DEBBIE DELISI Casting Search

There is a new Steven Spielberg film, entitled ‘The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara’, which is looking to cast a local Jewish boy who can portray a six-year old. No acting experience necessary as the role will be that of a six to nineyear-old who resembles a Jewish Italian child. The story deals with the complexity of an extremely intelligent and gifted child’s situation and his desire to return to his family coupled with the faith of his ancestors. Those desires are

A new Steven Spielberg film is looking to cast a local Jewish boy who can portray a six-year old resembles that of a Jewish Italian child

pitted against his ability to learn the Catechism and engage with the Pope on a level far beyond his years.

The film is based on the true story of Edgardo Mortara, who is a six-year-old Jewish boy from Bologna who was reported to have been secretly baptized by a maid and was deemed by the Catholic church therefore to be Christian.

Pope Pius IX (to be played by Mark Rylance) decreed that the boy could not remain with his Jewish family, leading to his seizure by the Papal State and transportation to the Vatican where his indoctrination into Catholicism began. This was a cause célèbre of mid-19th Century European politics and the domestic and

international outrage against the pontifical state’s actions may have contributed to its downfall amid the unification of Italy. This story is an incredible one of real historical relevance.

To submit your child’s name for consideration of the role, email delisicreative@gmail.com, with the Subject line: EDGARDO SUBMISSION / Name of boy, city/state. In the body of email, please include: Parents/Guardians contact info (names/phone), boy’s name/age/date of birth city/state of residence, along with current non retouched photos. A brief introduction, bio or resume is also encouraged along with any related, special, or fun facts, making it easier to get to know him.

Local Rabbi talks about St. Augustine’s Crypto Jewish history at a national conference

BY MERRILL SHAPIRO Jewish Historical Society of St. Augustine

Scholars of the Crypto-Jewish world, those who study Jews who went into hiding during the Spanish Inquisition and beyond, gathered for their 26th annual conference in Santa Fe, N.M., and a Northeast Florida Rabbi was center stage for the conference. Rabbi Merrill Shapiro, who is president of the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society presented the case for the presence of Crypto-Jews in the nation’s oldest city.

After hearing the evidence of an early Jewish presence on Florida’s First Coast, members of the Society for the Study of Crypto-Judaic Scholars added new

evidence of their own. They noted that Antonio Martinez Carvajal, well-known as the chief Harbor Pilot in St. Augustine in 1577 and ‘78 was surely Jewish as no record exists of ‘old Christian/Catholic’ Carvajals in the New World. Carvajal was likely part of the family of Luis de Carvajal, who rose from a position as an accomplished naval navigator to become the Governor and Captain-General of New Spain including portions of today’s Mexico, U.S. Southwest and Central America. Carvajal was noted for his determination to develop Spanish ports and naval operations for military and commercial benefit. Luis de Carvajal’s sisters were tried by the Inquisition for engaging in Jewish practices in Mexico City and burned at the stake. Carvajal himself was imprisoned by the Inquisition,

Sample seafood with Jax Jewish Singles

BY FRANCINE SMITH Jax Jewish Singles

Come join the Jax Jewish Singles for Sunday lunch at Trent’s Seafood across from NAS Jax. Trent’s features casual dining and reasonably priced menu items with no frills, just good food, with great company and good conver-

sation. Contact Francine for more details including the exact time and date of the event at 904-2218061 or email her at francine. smith@comcast.net.

From left to right, at forum at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Crypto Judaic Studies: Dr. Irwin M. Berg scholar of the Lemba Jews of Zimbabwe, Rabbi Merrill Shapiro, President of the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society and Rick Hendricks, Ph.D. Historian of the State of New Mexico

also for practicing Judaism and died while incarcerated.

The Santa Fe Conference attracted participants from nearly a dozen countries and four continents seeking to share what they have learned to better understand Jewish communities forced from the mainstream of Jewish history by persecutions going back as many as 1,800 years. Keynote speakers included Richard Kagan, Ph.D., Arthur J. Lovejoy, Professor of Early Modern European at Johns Hopkins University and the Martin Sosin Memorial Address was delivered by Professor Enrique LaMadrid of the University of New Mexico’s Spanish and Portuguese department. The Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies was created to establish a global organization for the benefit of those researching the history of Crypto-Jewish and Sephardic communities around the world.

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Trio of Martin J. Gottlieb Day School alums spend their summer abroad

By Martin J. Gottlieb Day School

Three alumni of the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School spent several weeks of their summer vacation in Denmark as part of the Children’s International Summer Village program. The program is a worldwide cultural exchange whose mission is to educate and inspire action for a more peaceful world.

Local high schoolers Lily Hernandez, Rachel Levy, and Noah Rosin-Borrousch (pictured in Denmark with a German Jewish delegate), all alumni of the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School, travelled from Jacksonville to Denmark to meet up with like-minded 14 and 15-year-olds from around the world to brainstorm solutions to ideas like hunger and environmental sustainability. Rachel Levy’s mother, Kim Glasgal, said that the day school’s Middle School Mitzvah Program had a lot to do with putting her daughter on a path toward working for

Chabad at the Beaches to offer Hebrew reading crash course beginning, Aug. 17th

By Chabad at the Beaches

Lily Hernandez, Rachel Levy, and Noah Rosin-Borrousch travelled from Jacksonville to Denmark to meet up with like-minded 14 and 15-yearolds from around the world to find solutions to the world’s problems

issues of tikkun olam and social justice.

Founded in 1950 by Doris Twitchell Allen, the program began with the idea that education

for peace begins with children.

CISV’s local chapter is led by Lynn Buff. Go to cisvjax.org for more information, how to volunteer, or to get your children involved.

It’s not too late to register for Beth El – The Beaches religious school

BY BETH BRENNER Education Director

As summer is winding down, preparations for the upcoming school year are getting into high gear at Beth El-The Beaches Synagogue. The first day of the 2016-17 school year is Sunday, Aug. 21st and teachers are eager to meet their new students. Many exciting changes are planned for the coming year, including a brand new eighth and ninth grade class and the introduction of the Hebrew Wizards curriculum for younger students. In addition to the changes, regular meaningful and engaging events throughout

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

Chabad at the Beaches is offering a Hebrew Reading Crash Course to all members of the greater Beaches Jewish community. The course is designed to teach those with no basic knowledge of the Hebrew language how to read Hebrew in five easy lessons.

Chabad at the Beaches is offering the course in an effort to assist those in the community with a desire to learn to read Hebrew and to be able to follow along in the Siddur/Prayer book.

The five-week Hebrew Reading Crash Course, which begins Sunday, Aug. 7th at Chabad at the Beaches’ Center for Jewish Life in Ponte Vedra, is geared toward ‘Jewish beginners,’ as well as those who sometimes attend services, but feel left out, or unable to follow and as a result, appreciate the liturgy. The course begins with learning the Hebrew alphabet and will cover basic reading skills, preparing the participant for the exciting experience of reading and understanding

No basic knowledge of Hebrew is needed for this five-week course

the prayer book and various other Jewish texts.

Those who complete the course will be able to read Hebrew and gain a rudimentary understanding of the prayers in their original language. For more information about the Hebrew Reading Crash Course, call Rabbi Eli at Chabad at the Beaches at 904-543-9301. The cost of this five week course is $50 for newcomers and $25 for returnees, however, scholarships are available, so call for details as nobody will be turned away due to an inability to fund their experience.

Bernard & Alice Selevan Religious School to hold meet and greet, Aug. 21st Beth El’s Religious School students help to lead the Kiddush and the HaMotzi before the Synagogue’s Family Shabbat dinner last year

the school year such as Mitzvah Day, Family Shabbats, and schoolwide holiday celebrations will still be held. If you have not already registered for the year, it’s not too

late. For registration information, contact Beth Brenner, Education Director at Beth El-The Beaches Synagogue, at beth@bethelbeaches.org or call 904-273-9100.

Parents and students will get a chance to learn more about the school’s innovative programs during an open house scheduled for Aug. 21st

By Selevan Religious School

The Bernard & Alice Selevan Religious School of the Jacksonville Jewish Center will kick off its school year with a meet and greet, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 21st from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. The event will be held at the Jacksonville Jewish Center (3662 Crown Point Rd.), as parents and students will get a chance to learn more about the school’s innovative programs, including the return of the very successful and popular Judaism through the Arts program. Other services that attendees will get the chance to become more familiar with include family-wide Mitzvah project options, 24/7 Hebrew Online Learning Center and school Shab-

bat opportunities. An expanded Hebrew through Prayer program now includes more class time and a variety of 21st Century as well as traditional teaching methods, in addition to extra professional staff in the classroom.

Classes will begin on Sunday, Aug. 28th and Wednesday, Aug. 31st and there are still limited spots open. For your convenience, all of the Religious School registration forms, calendars, costs, and other pertinent information, as program previews are available on the Religious School webpage at BASRS.org. The meet and greet is open to all, so for more information, don’t hesitate to call principal Lois Tompkins at 904268-4200, ext. 146.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

education

Michele Block Gan Yeladim celebrates International Mud Day

BY NATHAN WOODS Michele Block Gan Yeladim

Campers at the first session of Michele Block Gan Yeladim’s Camp Gan Yeladim and KinderCamp recently celebrated International Mud Day. The messy celebration began in 2009 as an initiative born from discussion at the World Forum for Early Childhood Care and Education, aimed at uniting children from across the world in the pursuit of getting muddy. Children all around the world celebrate the day by exploring the fun of mud, and the school’s camps have been proudly

celebrating the holiday since its inception.

“Somehow the concept of children choosing to play in mud on the same day emphasizes that we are all connected to the Earth and, therefore, each other,” said Gillian McAuliffe in her article ‘The Wonder of Mud: Reflections from Australia’.

This year, Gan Yeladim’s young campers dug into troths of mud to learn all about its texture, purpose and even how to make mud pies. They followed the activity by running through sprinklers to clean off, but not before getting themselves covered in the slimy dirt mixture.

After a successful summer DuBow Preschool Treehouse offers many options for fall fun

By DuBow Preschool

The DuBow Preschool Treehouse classes were well-attended this past summer, as a couple of the classes were offered up to three class times per session, accommodating a wide-range of schedules for participants wishing to attend at specific times of day.

The Treehouse is comprised of five parent and me classes: Baby Sign-Along, Color Splash, Family

Music and Movement, Shalom Baby, and Stroller Workout. The classes are housed in the DuBow Preschool, offering a friendly and welcoming environment, and giving children a taste of preschool during these transition months.

Classes will resume in the fall, at the start of the new school year.

For more information regarding schedule, pricing, and details about each class, please visit treehouse.dubowpreschool.org.

Jacksonville Jewish Center and Galinsky Academy welcome their new youth director to town

By Galinsky Academy

The Jacksonville Jewish Center and the Galinsky Academy are excited to announce the hiring of new Youth Director, Gia Hagen, who comes to Jacksonville from Gainesville, where she spent the last two years working at University of Florida Hillel. Before her position at UF, Hagen worked in business analytics and event planning. A graduate of UF with a major in Geosciences, she turned from business to Hillel because of

her lifelong commitment to the Jewish People and Israel.

Hagen has been described by her former employer as nurturing, organized, and a joy to work with.

She is a person who understands the needs of the community because she was many times the reason people entered the building at Hillel because of her contagious spirit. The Center and the Academy are thrilled to welcome her to the community, and are looking forward to an exciting year of programming for students.

New moms are becoming ‘Stroller Fit’ at the JCA

BY IMAN BYFIELD

Jewish Community Alliance

New mothers are getting in shape, having fun and bonding with their babies through a new program at the Jewish Community Alliance. Stroller Fit is offered through JCA’s Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten in collaboration with certified Pilates and yoga instructor Gisela Morgan of the JCA Fitness Department. Morgan, who gave birth to her second child a little more than a year ago, leads the workout using a combination of Barre Pilates, yoga and power walking.

Studies have shown that postbaby workouts can boost energy, promote better sleep and relieve stress. Stroller Fit offers a certified instructor-led workout where moms with young babies can join together in community and increase wellness. The class is modified for all fitness levels, and has included mothers with babies as young as two months and as old as one year. An added benefit

of the program is the opportunity for mothers to do something fun and healthy for themselves without having to worry about childcare.

Mothers bring their babies to class and through modified, stroller-based exercises build strength, tone muscle and improve posture for a total body workout. Coordinated, mother-baby exercises also offer special bonding as an outlet with infants.

“I loved Stroller Fit because it gave me an opportunity to get back into a workout routine in a stress-free environment,” said one participant. “I got to bond with other mothers who were in the same place I was, and it was a real workout that was also fun for my baby.”

Sessions are ongoing throughout the year. The next session for Stroller Fit will be held Fridays, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Sept. 2nd through Nov. 18th. The fee for this program is $165 and $110 for JCA valued members. For more information or to register, visit jcajx.org or call 904-730-2100, ext. 228.

Incoming youth director Gia Hagen

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education

It’s time to go back to school for kids at Michele Block Gan Yeladim

BY IMAN BYFIELD

Jewish Community Alliance

The start of the 2016-17 school year is nearly here and at the end of the month, Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten will be again abuzz with excitement for the new school year.

This year sees the return of previous students and the welcoming of new faces, but every student can look forward to a year of stimulating learning, development and success.

Michele Block Gan Yeladim offers unparalleled excellence in preparing young learners for success in elementary school and beyond. In addition to age appropriate instruction in core learning skills such as language, fine and large motor abilities, social studies, art, music, drama, Judaics and physical education, the students of Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten also participate in extra-curricular of-

ferings, including Spanish, cooking, yoga, swimming and more.

Family Orientation for the new school year is Friday, Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and will give students and parents the opportunity to meet staff, teachers and classmates as well as visit the classrooms where they will be learning for the school year.

“Participation in orientation allows students and parents to begin building their relationship and setting the foundation for a wonderful partnership between school and home,” said Michele Block Gan Yeladim director Theresa Levy.

The welcome brunch for parents and students is on Sunday, Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and provides a fun casual forum to meet old friends and welcome new ones. Students can look forward to many special experiential learning opportunities through Michele Block Gan Yeladim partnerships with local institutions like the Cummer Museum,

The catchy phrase ‘from diapers to diplomas’, often used to describe the Galinsky Academy, could not connect better with our experiences so far within the Academy. The phrase speaks to the availability of schooling and programming for all Jewish kids from birth until adulthood.

Little ones can now begin their journey within the DuBow Preschool Treehouse parent and me classes or in the Gozalim (baby birds /infant room) at the school.

When our family moved to Jacksonville, it was the preschool that was our first contact in the community. Walking through those doors always felt like we were walking into our second home.

My current upcoming kindergartener was introduced to DuBow by attending the free parent and me class, Shalom Baby, which was always a blast for both little ones and their caregivers.

In this class, we were able to meet other families, play with toys, sing songs, get our first taste of Jewish culture, and settle into our new community. She was also enrolled in the Doobonim class (for one- year olds), which at that time was the youngest class to begin the journey within the preschool. We saw growth and maturity in her that far surpassed what we had experienced with our other children, who had started preschool at a later age, thriving in the most welcoming and loving environment more than we could have dreamed.

The Temple’s religious school acts as a doorway to Congregational Life

BY NAOMI CHASE

Religious School Director

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, MOSH, Jacksonville Zoo, St. John Riverkeeper and more. These programs are an added benefit to daily instruction and are offered throughout the school year.

Enrollment is still open for the coming school year, so for information, visit the Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten page on the JCA website at jcajax.org. You can also contact Rochelle Golomb at 904-730-2100, ext. 259 or Theresa Levy at ext. 237.

DuBow Preschool offers a diapers to diplomas experience for its students

By A DuBow Preschool Family

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

The growth continued every year as she progressed through each year at DuBow. This past school year in the Tzeeporim (birds /VPK) class was amazing.

Ms. Lisa and Ms. Carolyn worked beautifully as a team offering both a structured learning environment and a warm and nurturing space for all other areas of development.

It was a wonderful ending to her preschool journey, as our daughter is not only academically prepared for kindergarten, but, more importantly, she is emotionally and socially ready to move on to the next stage within the Galinsky Academy. With this in mind, we are confident that her path ‘from diapers to diplomas’ will continue to be one of success and pride for our entire family.

When learners walk through the classroom doorways at the Temple’s religious school, they can acquire the skills, comfort and camaraderie with others who seek engagement in synagogue experiences, but at Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple), it goes much deeper than that. The relationships between learners, teachers and the material ultimately express learning, and that gives Religious School enduring meaning.

When students come to worship, they see their teachers and peers but they also see the oldest students who are teaching assistants, serving their congregation as they continue their own learning during high school. Additionally, family learning provides adult instruction and opportunities for socialization between parents.

All instructors and clergy share teaching cohorts so that connections are expanded and nurtured, and even congregants and community members without children in the religious school are often featured guests and facilitators which makes learning continuous and strengthens generational connections.

The Reform Movement has made giant strides in improved instructional techniques which are now implemented within Temple classrooms. One new teaching methodology is Hebrew Through Movement, a technique that approximates a more natural way of acquiring language, while exposing students to the vital part that Hebrew has always played in the Jewish historical and contemporary experience. Phonics is taught later for mechanical mastery, but the foundation is an appreciation for the ways Hebrew has evolved and survived, and this

often becomes a defining element of students’ Jewish identities.

Likewise, Torah is taught through philosophical inquiry, a strategy that provides the framework for teaching the Jewish calendar. It encourages critical thinking, which is the basis of respectful discourse. This hallmark of Jewish textual tradition is one to which our students are exposed early and where their voices join our sages’ in reflection and interpretation. Music and art are modalities for teaching and for learning, also producing contributions to the collective congregational experience of which students are a part of Jewish values are embedded in Shabbat and holiday celebrations, and through social action programs which promote whole group and individual acts of tzedakah, righteousness.

Content is deliberately integrated so that students see connections from one class to the next and from one grade to the next. The Temple Religious School’s approach is a holistic one, that invites engagement of the whole learner, the family, the congregation and the community, making for a big puzzle, where everyone is an important piece.

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education

Michele Block Gan Yeladim’s Preschool Plus program gives working parents’ peace of mind

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

The Temple’s JAFTY members enjoy their Camp Jenny expereince

BY NATHAN WOODS Michele Block Gan Yeladim

The life of a working parent is rarely easy and requires a delicate balance. On a typical day, workplace obligations can call parents away from their children very early in the morning and require they stay later than the average eight hours. For these parents, Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten offers PreschoolPlus, an extended day option that allows parents to rest easy knowing their children are being loved, nurtured and engaged while they are at the office.

Michele Block Gan Yeladim involves students in a full day of regular class instruction, movement and physical education, in addition to project based activities, community curriculum partnerships, literacy time and

afternoon enrichment classes like sports, cooking, Spanish, theatre, music, swimming and yoga. On holidays, when some parents may need to work, they don’t have to worry about leaving their child in an unfamiliar environment. That’s because children who are enrolled in the PreschoolPlus program can spend the holiday being cared for by those who know and love them, meaning parents do not need to find additional babysitting.

PreschoolPlus gives parents and children a year-round school experience in the most structured, age-appropriate environment,

with automatic enrollment in the renowned Camp Gan Yeladim included. In fact, there are only five weekdays out of the year that PreschoolPlus is not in session.

Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and has enrollment offerings from three-hours a day, twice a week to all day, Monday through Friday.

For more information about Michele Block Gan Yeladim and the PreschoolPlus program, contact Theresa Levy at 904-730-2100, ext. 237 or Rochelle Golomb at ext. 259.

Renowned classroom technology expert to be keynote speaker at Block Gan’s Early Childhood Symposium

BY NATHAN WOODS Michele Block Gan Yeladim

Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten has announced that Tamara Kaldor will be the keynote speaker for its eighth annual Early Childhood Symposium, Technology: Creative Use in the Classroom. Kaldor, the assistant director for the Technology in Early Childhood Center at Erikson Institute in Chicago, will speak to educators, Sept. 27th at the Jewish Community Alliance about the exciting use of technology in the classroom.

Kaldor has worked with organizations such as UNICEF, International Society for Technology and Education, Common Sense Media and NAEYC, an organization through which Michele Block Gan Yeladim has been accredited for 25 years. Her work focuses mainly on the integration of technology into early childhood education settings. She has also worked with children on the autism spectrum, teaching them to use technology as an avenue for communication and learning.

Current JAFTY members, along with alumni and parents helped make Camp Jenny in Cleveland, Ga., a memorable experience for campers

BY STEFANIE LEVINE JAFTY Youth Adviser

This past Memorial Day Weekend, 10 JAFTYites, along with JAFTY alumni and parents participated as specialists, counselors, and other important positions at Camp Jenny, which is held on the grounds of Camp Coleman in Cleveland, Ga. The camp gives underprivileged Atlanta-area children the opportunity to receive the love and encouragement of teen mentors and to participate in classic summer activities like canoeing, sports, dance, and arts and crafts.

“I am so proud of how everyone changed the lives of the many children that attended Camp,” said JAFTY Communications VP Evan Caplan, who volunteered as a CIT. “Each and every JAFTY member worked so hard and displayed an incredible amount of passion,” he added. “I highly advise everyone who hasn’t attended Camp Jenny before to apply, because I promise that it will impact you in so many positive ways.”

Applications for Camp Jenny open later this year, and everyone at the Temple can support the camp by attending JAFTY’s Social Action Banquet this winter.

First year of the infant classroom at DuBow is a success on all fronts

By DuBow Preschool

Keynote speaker Tamara Kaldor

Most recently, Kaldor collaborated with the Obama administration to develop a comprehensive recommendation on technology use in classrooms for educators around the country, which is scheduled for release in the fall.

Her ultimate goal is to help educators integrate technology into children’s programs in a way that encourages their development.

Since 2009, Michele Block Gan Yeladim’s award-winning sympo-

sium has been providing educators in the Jacksonville area with a unique opportunity to collaborate with fellow educators and participate in an enriching and informative experience. Previous years’ symposiums have routinely drawn around 200 educators from across northeast Florida. Past topics for the symposium have included STEAM education, learning through the eyes of a child and the natural curiosity of children. This year’s discussion on technology in the classroom, with the help of Kaldor and other tech-savvy educators, promises to be equally captivating and educational.

The symposium is open to Jewish community educators at a reduced rate and includes interactive breakout sessions, informative workshops and a kosher dinner.

For more information on the event, please contact Rochelle Golomb at 904-730-2100, ext. 259 or at rochelle.golomb@jcajax.org.

This year the DuBow Preschool opened its first infant classroom-the Gozalim (baby chicks) class. The investment into a specialized classroom that meets the needs and requirements of the school’s smallest students has been a great undertaking. Ensuring that the supplies, materials, toys, books and furnishings will enhance the learning experience of this quickly developing age group has been one that was painstakingly considered, and entailed research and input by professionals in this field.

Along with the training that the carefully selected teachers continuously receive in the Foundations for Success curriculum, DuBow has made every effort to provide ongoing support and training that will benefit its infants throughout the developmental milestones that are reached from infancy through toddlerhood.

Recently, staff at the school received speech and language training from Natalie Dayan, M.S., CCC-SLP, Speech and Language Pathologist. Ms. Dayan worked

with the infant teachers in the areas of early speech and language development from infancy to toddlerhood, early sound acquisition, auditory bombardment and modeling language in the classroom.

This year instructors will also be receiving training and education from physical and occupational therapists to provide the kind of care that the DuBow Preschool has come to be known for.

It’s the school’s hope that children within its care will feel the great love and dedication that its staff strives to maintain and support.

The Galinsky Academy offers a ‘diapers to diplomas’ experience as its infant classroom accepts children as young as eight weeks, preparing them for their transition to the next class-the Doobonim (teddy bears). If you are interested in obtaining more information or would like a tour, please contact the DuBow Preschool office at 904-292-1000, ext. 143.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

synagogue news

Outrageous Sophie Tucker to be shown at Jewish young pros are Beth El’s next member and guest mixer invited to celebrate the

Temple 20’s & 30’s two year anniversary, Aug. 20

BY GAIL GREENFIELD

Beth El - The Beaches Synagogue

Beth El - the Beaches Synagogue and the Jewish Federation’s Shalom Jacksonville division will screen ‘The Outrageous Sophie Federation’s Isabel Balotin and Emma Pulley look the part at the first Tucker’ at its next member and screening of ‘The Outrageous Sophie Tucker’ at River Garden, June 26th guest mixer, Sunday, Aug. 28th at 5pm. This documentary tells woman to infatuate her audiences eclectic variety of friends and the rags-to-riches story of Sophie with a bold, bawdy and brassy lovers, exploits, bejeweled gowns, Tucker, an iconic superstar who style unlike any other. Through towering hats and outrageous ruled the worlds of vaudeville, film clips, photos, interviews comments.

Broadway, radio, television and with famous celebrities like Tony A wine and cheese social will Hollywood throughout the 20th Bennett, Carol Channing, Barbara be held prior to the film’s screenCentury.

Walters and more, viewers will ing and is free and open to all in Before Beyonce, Lady Gaga, the community. RSVP to Gail Madonna, Bette Midler, Judy Gar- learn about her childhood as the daughter of Jewish immigrants Greenfield at gailsgreenfield@hotland, Marilyn Monroe and Mae from Russia, in addition to her mail.com or call 904-534-7381.

West, Sophie Tucker was the first

Temple Bet Yam to hold pizza and trivia night

BY JACKIE WITTE Temple Bet Yam

Temple Bet Yam, located at 2055 Wildwood Drive in St. Augustine, is sponsoring a family night of Trivia and Pizza, Sunday, Aug. 13th at 6 p.m. Community members are invited to come and test their knowledge about everything ranging from sports to history to entertainment, while enjoying a pizza dinner. Prizes will be awarded to the winning

teams and the cost for admission into the event is $15 for adults and $5 for children 16 and younger. For more information or reservations contact Carol Levy at 954-895- 7332 or e-mail her at BernieLevy2012@gmail. com.

T3 members at Preneg before Shabbat services for its monthly 1st Fridays

By The Temple 20’s & 30’s

The Temple 20’s & 30’s, affiliated with Congregation Ahavath Chesed, is turning two and throwing a big birthday party, Saturday, Aug. 20th at 6 p.m. to celebrate.

T3 is organized to encourage young Jewish professionals, singles and couples alike, to stay connected with the synagogue and our Jewish community. Incoming Temple 20’s & 30’s President, Sarah Fraden, and her new Executive Board, look forward to bringing more opportunities for young professionals to participate in social events, tikkun olam projects and religious gatherings that bring us closer together as friends and more connected with our Jewish faith.

Some of the events planned for this year include Second Saturday Torah Study in September and First Fridays which include preneg, worship followed by dinner, in addition to Sukkot under the Stars, Havdalah on the Ranch and a Chanukah party in midDecember. The group is also looking forward to co-hosting a few events in the upcoming months with Federation’s rGEN and the

Soshul from the Jacksonville Jewish Center.

“Everyone is invited to celebrate our two year anniversary with a party and new member event,’ Fraden said. “This is a great opportunity for new and potential members to network with founding members, as there will be food, activities and more,” she added. “The first anniversary gettogether was a huge success, and we keep getting better and better, so plan to join us.”

The event will be BYOB (bring your own beverage), so to RSVP or for more information on upcoming events, visit the group’s official website at thetemple20sand30s.weebly.com, or send them an e-mail at thetemple20sand30s@gmail.com.

Etz Chaim Synagogue will welcome new youth director

By Etz Chaim Synagogue

Etz Chaim Synagogue is proud to announce the hiring of its new full time youth director, Rabbi A.Y. Cohen. Originally from New Jersey, he has been on the senior staff of Camp Nageela Midwest for several years where he had a meaningful impact working with the campers. Rabbi Cohen is married to his wife Miriam and they have a two-year old daughter, Sheva. Synagogue staff, clergy and congregants look forward to an outstanding youth programming at the Shul under

Rabbi A.Y. Cohen

the leadership of Rabbi Cohen as they collectively welcome him and his wonderful family to Jacksonville.

Jewish News acksonville

Grow your business

If you want to reach a demographic with a higher than average household income and education, the Jewish News is your connection. To advertise, contact: Barbara Nykerk 904-923-3205 bnykerk@comcast.net 904-629-0466

Eta Perras perraseta@bellsouth.net

page 13

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

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synagogue news

Environmentally friendly mats made for Hadassah and Beth El – the homeless by Temple Bet Yam members the Beaches Sisterhood to hold fashion show and tea party

BY CAROL GLADSTONE Temple Bet Yam

Temple Bet Yam in St. Augustine has joined a growing number of charitable organizations who have learned an amazing technique to help the homeless while saving the environment. It started when Ellen Mensh, a member of the congregation, read about a group of women who were constructing sleeping mats for the homeless from recycled plastic bags. Intrigued, Ellen found several YouTube videos and written instructions on the internet. She made one prototype and took it to the Home Again St Johns office to see if there was a need.

Next, she approached the Social Action Committee Chairmen at Temple Bet Yam and, after holding a couple of workshops, enough volunteers had been trained to get started.

Constructing the sleeping bags utilizes recycled grocery bags that are cut into circular strips and are tied together into plastic yarn or ‘plarn’. The plarn is then crocheted into 3’ x 6‘ plastic mats, as they are light weight, waterproof and easy to transport. When finished, the mats will be taken to Home Again St. Johns for distribution to their clients. The process takes about 700-800 bags to construct one mat.

“The challenge was getting

BY CATHRYN WINTERFIELD Beth El - The Beaches Synagogue

Please join Beth El – The Beach’s Sisterhood and Hadassah for fun, fashion and tea, Sunday, Sept. 18th at 2 p.m. at Beth El at the Beaches Synagogue (288 N. Roscoe Blvd.) in Ponte Vedra Beach. That afternoon a fashion show, sponsored by Petunia Patch’s ‘Fashion Express’ will be held and models will be members of both Hadassah and Sisterhood, Utilizing recycled grocery bags that are cut into circular strips, Temple Bet including Donna Berger, Laurie Yam members took their creations to Home Again St. Johns to be donated Berger, Karen Freedman, Karen Green, Paula Klausner, Rachel enough used grocery bags to keep Carriers,” Mensh explained. That Mitchell, Donne Ordile, Terry everyone busy,” Mensh said. “I group recently donated another Schare, Helen Siegal, Tammy got the word out to my neighbors, 15,000 bags and Publix, Target, Shumer, Liat Walker and Vickie golfing friends, and The Dupliand Walmart have all generously Zuckerman. cate Bridge Club and a bag drop donated recycled bags for the The cost for the event is $10 off was established at Temple Bet project as well. per person and Beth El SisterYam.” “I am often approached when hood’s Gift Shop will also be Mensh’s daughter started makpeople see me crocheting,” Mensh holding a 50/50 drawing for their ing plarn while waiting for her said. “Some have asked about holiday sale during the event. daughter at gymnastics and before holding a workshop for their own Hadassah cards will be available long other mothers were bringing groups which we hope to start as well, so prepare for the holidays her bags. doing soon.” Temple members by spending quality time with “One day a mother who have recently invited The Compas- quality tea coupled with high fashworks at the Post Office asked if sionate Women, an offshoot of ion. RSVP by September 13th to they wanted bags left over from Compassionate St. Augustine, to Bobby Adler at 904-834-2948 or their food drives which led to a Temple Bet Yam on July 21st for via b.adler4315@gmail.com. donation of 10,000 bags from The a luncheon and demonstration of National Association of Letter mat making.

Prominent editor and publisher to address question of ‘What is Jewish art?’ during upcoming talk at the Temple

By Congregation Ahavath Chesed

Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple) will welcome in editor and publisher of Moment magazine, Nadine Epstein, Monday, Aug. 1st, to address the question of what exactly is Jewish art. Epstein has long grappled with this question as she ponders if every art piece, regardless of medium, created by a Jew is Jewish art.

The program starts at 7 p.m. and will address such subjects as whether art pieces depicting Jews or containing Jewish subject matter ought to be considered Jewish art, and what if the art piece contains Hebrew letters in addition to are Jewish ceremonial objects art? During her presentation she will share her insights featur-

Beth El’s Sisterhood gives new ark curtains

By Beth El - The Beaches Synagogue

The Sisterhood of Beth El-The Beaches Synagogue was kind enough to donate new ark curtains and a new bimah cover for the sanctuary. Their generous gift was presented to the congregation at a special Shabbat on April 29th, by Sisterhood President Vickie Kennedy. The ark curtains and bimah cover have been incredibly wellreceived and are a lovely addition to the sanctuary.

ing works of Jewish art created

by Judy Chicago, Mark Chagall, Daniel Libeskind, Helene Aylon and others.

Epstein is a long-time journalist whose work has appeared in Moment, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. She is a recipient of a prestigious KnightWallace Fellow at the University of Michigan and many grants

including the Washington, D.C. Commission on the Arts and the Fund for Investigative Journalism.

Epstein holds a B.A. and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and was a University Doctorate Fellow at Columbia University.

She has co-written three books and a documentary film which was selected as a semi-finalist for

the 2001 Academy Awards.

Thank you to Dr. Larry and Kathy Kanter for hosting this event through their Fund for Jewish Preservation, which enables the Jacksonville community to meet another prominent Jewish thinker and to discuss important ideas that affect our community.

The program is free of charge and all are welcomed to attend.

Nadine Epstein

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

page 15

Called to the mic

Federation Board member and former JFNA treasurer Steve Silverman had the honor of speaking at the French Memorial Holocaust Center, while participating in the organization’s recent Prime Ministers Mission to Paris and Israel

www.jewishjacksonville.org

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

Federation news Rabbi in training Catching up with some old friends back in Israel

Etz Chaim Synagogue’s Rabbi Yaakov Fisch prepares for the ceremonial first pitch he threw during Jewish Community Fun with the Suns Day, July 31st

Former Tikkun Olam participant to Jacksonville Inbal Bello, along with Federation Executive Director Alan Margolies and her parents, Ronit and Moshe at a shared dinner in Hadera

Hey Neighbor!

Noshing with Israelis

rGEN Director Ariel Frechtman with soonto-be Israeli emissary to Jacksonville Dana Marmari during a trip to Israel this summer

The JCA’s Karen Morse hosted some young professionals and a few Israelis from the Southeast Friendship Caravan. ‘Caravan Peleg’ as it is known houses Israeli teens who travel to the U.S. to put on song and dance routines in front of Jewish communities. The troupe toured Florida during June and made stops in about 30 communities in 20 different states this summer

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

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federation news

Footlik addresses future of U.S./Israeli relations after election at annual agency celebration and meeting

BY MATT FRANZBLAU

Federation Communications Director mattf@jewishjacksonville.org

In early June, the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville’s five agencies came together for their annual celebration and meeting, where board members and officers were officially installed and recognition was given to various

individuals and programs that helped make the past year in the Jacksonville Jewish community such a success. The event was held at River Garden Senior Services and following the official installments came remarks from former special assistant and Jewish liaison to President Bill Clinton, Jay Footlik. Footlik, who is the founder and current CEO of Gobal Policy

Initiatives, spoke about his experiences at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., and if the upcoming presidential election will hold much bearing on the future of U.S./Israeli relations. Footlik also fondly described first hand experiences with foreign dignitaries such as former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Society of healers israel experience

july 23 - august 2, 2017

Trip highlights may include:

Contact Erin Cohen 904-448-5000, ext. 205 erinc@jewishjacksonville.org

-Visit Israel’s world renowned medical facilities (itinerary customized to meet interests of participants) -Innovations in military and emergency medicine or Alan Margolies -Tour of Tel HaShomer simulation center 904-448-5000, ext. 207 -Spotlight on Israel’s pharmaceutical industry alanm@jewishjacksonville.org -Opportun -Opportunity to earn CME’s in your specialty -Historical tours of holy sites in the north and in Jerusalem *$500 refundable deposit -Exposure to our partner region of Hadera-Eiron guarantees your spot on the trip -Optional tours of Masada, museums and Yad Vashem -Five star hotels, restaurants and relaxation

page 17

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

www.jewishjacksonville.org

Dan Nichols

federation news

Federation to honor trio of community leaders at its annual campaign kickoff

Continued from pg. 1 The acclaimed musician created the Road to Eden Deep South Sukkot Tour to bring the music and message of Sukkot to numerous communities in the southern United States, where he and his band played 11 shows in 10 days.

Their experiences are captured in the film, ‘Road to Eden’. In addition to these highlights, he has been featured at conferences and conventions of nearly every major Jewish movement, including the URJ Biennial, NFTY Convention, BBYO International, and Limmud. In addition to his remarkable musical talents, Nichols is a gifted teacher, having served on the faculty of Hava Nashira since 2000. In 2009 he co-founded Shulhouse Rock, a songleading workshop for Jewish high-school students. Nichols calls Raleigh, N.C. home where he lives with his wife Elysha and daughter Ava. “I am delighted to be joining you for a weekend of prayer, study, singing, and celebration this September 16th – 18th,” Nichols said. “This will be my first visit to Jacksonville and I’m looking forward to seeing

Nichols founded his group, Eighteen in 1995 and has since released eight well received full-length studio albums your fair city firsthand, but more importantly, I’m interested in meeting you and experiencing how you create a holy community that sustains vibrant Jewish life,” he added.

This event is chaired by Ken and Allison Jacobs, who are the Federation campaign chair and women’s division campaign chair respectively. “Dan Nichols has realized the potential of music to make powerful connections with Judaism, and many of his songs have become Jewish anthems

throughout North America,” Ken Jacobs said. “We are extremely excited to bring the community together to experience and enjoy this renowned talent.”

“I sincerely hope you can make special plans to join us as we gather to celebrate a year of giving and growing,” Nichols said. “We’ve got special plans to make the afternoon a holy celebration and I am honored to join you as we declare and recommit ourselves to Jacksonville as a vital location for Jewish living.”

To make your campaign gift and RSVP for the concert ...

Simply go to jewishjacksonville.org/2017fedkickoff or call 904-448-5000. For more information about the Federation Annual Campaign Kickoff celebration, please contact Erin Cohen at 904-448-5000, ext. 205 or at erinc@jewishjacksonville.org.

Scan QR Code to make your 2017 campaign gift and to RSVP for the concert

For more info on Dan Nichols and his band, log onto dannicholsmusic.com.

Nichols’ newest album ‘Believe’

SOH Talk Continued from pg. 1 Last April SOH hosted bioethicist, Dr. Alissa Hurwitz Swota, and the healthcare professionals appreciated her candid and informative presentation, which offered practical and useful advice and suggestions that they could implement in their daily work environments. This time around division co-chairs Dina and Howard Fetner, along with the SOH committee are looking forward to yet another beneficial talk, with a theme that will resonate with those in attendance.

“Amy has a beautiful message to share and we encourage you to attend this program to laugh, learn and enjoy each other’s company,” Dina Fetner said. “Regardless of your specialty, it is our hope that guests will leave this event with at least one takeaway which will enable them to improve their day-today interactions with patients and their families.”

The brunch before the talk will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will be graciously hosted by Dr. Fred and Sue Eaglstein. The Eaglstein’s consider supporting our Jewish community to be a top priority through their involvement with Federation as Sue is a Lion of Judah and on the women’s division steering committee.

The event is $18, and a dairy brunch will be served with an option for a kosher meal with advance request. To RSVP for this program, go to jewishjacksonville. org/augSOH or call 904-448-5000, ext. 209. For more information about this event or general Society of Healers inquiries, contact Erin Cohen at 904-448-5000, ext. 205 or at erinc@jewishjacksonville.org.

Shylie Bannon

Zach Schwartz

By Jewish Federation of Jacksonville

Prior to the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville’s campaign kick-off concert featuring beloved musician Dan Nichols, the Federation will honor three very special people who have shown their dedication to our Jewish community in a variety of ways. The Joe P. Safer Community Service Award will go to Larry Appel, who has shown a long-standing commitment to partner agencies and synagogues in so many ways. The Ilene Sari Selevan Young Leadership Award will be given to Shylie Bannon and Zach Schwartz. Both Bannon and Schwartz have become an integral part of the rGEN division, showing tremendous potential to be future leaders in our Jewish community.

“To have the opportunity to honor the recipients of our leadership awards is very exciting,” said Executive Director Alan Margolies. “Larry has been an exemplary leader in the community ever since he moved here from Atlanta, serving as president of Federation and Torah Academy and volunteering for many organizations.

He sets the bar at a high standard for our new leadership.”

Like their fellow award recipient, Margolies thinks both rGEN participants are well deserving of their honor. “Whether it’s taking on the often daunting task of chairing Super Sunday, which

Larry Appel

Shylie has done so wonderfully, or graciously hosting an rGEN event in her home, her contributions to our community have already been significant,” he commented.

“Likewise, Zach does not hesitate to pick up the phone to solicit gifts and is eager to take advantage of the various learning opportunities we offer to our young leadership.”

Appel, Bannon and Schwartz will receive their awards, Saturday, Sept. 18th at Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple).

The program will begin at 12:30 p.m., and in lieu of charging a fee to attend the concert, the Federation requests that guests make a gift to the 2017 annual campaign prior to attending the event. Those planning on attending can make their campaign gift and RSVP for the concert by going to jewishjacksonville.org/2017fedkickoff or by calling 904-448-5000.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

federation news

rGEN looks forward toward a transformational 2017

BY DANIEL MILLER rGEN Chair

It’s been a great year for rGEN and now the young professionals division of the Federation is gearing up for exciting new changes coming in September. As the Jacksonville Jewish community changes and continues to grow, so will rGEN’s programming.

As the 2016-17 Steering Committee prepares for the upcoming year under the leadership of myself and rGEN Director Ariel Frechtman, we’re excited to announce changes to our structure

that will provide new leadership opportunities for volunteers.

With the re-introduction of chair positions to the committee, we’re thrilled to see what our Campaign, Super Sunday, Social Action, and Shalom Jax chairs will bring to the table and the community at-large. Additionally, we have added a Young Families Committee to our leadership, to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our rGEN parents and kids. This committee will plan a variety of fun, family friendly events throughout the year, so stay tuned for more details coming this fall.

Beginning in summer 2017, we’ll launch a reinvented Enrichment Series for young professionals that will afford them the opportunity to learn about issues facing Jews in Jacksonville, America and overseas, while becoming educated on how to be an advocate for Israel and the Jewish people. Through these unique experiences, participants will be able to bond through shared values, interests, and, most excitingly, a travel opportunity to Israel.

Lastly, we’re excited to announce that a 2017 rGEN Campaign will be launched as many

rGEN members have truly stepped up to the plate to assist in the Federation’s 2016 Campaign.

Now it’s time for them to shine as campaigners through a minimum gift event, the reintroduction of Ben-Gurion Society to the community, and taking part in strategic programming that provides the ‘40 and younger crowd’ of the community with an idea of the value of giving to Federation and the greater Jacksonville Jewish community.

As always, your feedback is valuable to us and we cannot continue to make positive and im-

pactful changes to our programs without the amazing support of the community. Your suggestions are always welcome, so drop rGEN Director Ariel Frechtman a line at arielf@jewishjacksonville. org or 904-448-5000, ext. 208.

Shalom Jax’s August Jewish Java to rGEN SUMMER SPOTLIGHT spotlight Bubbe Meises, Yiddish Belief in the potential of superstitions and curses young people reinforced

BY ISABEL BALOTIN through camp experience for one rGEN member Shalom Jax Director shalomjax@jewishjacksonville.org

Pooh! Pooh! Pooh! Whether saying it our spitting it, it’s a classic response to something exceptionally good or evil, and who can forget the Red Bow? As with all cultures, we Jews have developed our own set of superstitious practices, curses and old wives’ tales (bubbe meises) that have been passed down from one generation to another. It seems we have always found ways to ward off the ‘evil eye’.

Wednesday, Aug. 3rd from 9-10:30 a.m., these practices will come to life at River Garden’s Cohen Auditorium (11401 Old St. Augustine Rd.), when long-time Jewish community professionals and wonderful storytellers Rabbi Dov Kentof (Education and Youth Director Emeritus of the Jacksonville Jewish Center) and his wife Alina will share the history of some of these cultural practices at Jewish Java, while relating some stories, some in Yiddish, that will make you laugh and wince.

BY LEAH PALESTRANT

rGEN & Camp Jenny participant

While we are taught not to curse, Yiddish curses were a shtetl creation exercising one upsmanship-a form of reciprocal besting or ‘tit for tat’. The more sarcastic, nasty and witty, the better. I remember my mother telling me to chew on a piece of thread while she repaired a seam on a dress I was wearing. It is related to the Yiddish phrase, ‘mir zollen nit farnayen der sayche’, meaning that one should not sew up the brains (common sense).

A complimentary bagel breakfast will be served prior to the program, which everyone is invited to attend, no matter how long you’ve lived in Jacksonville. Please feel free to invite your friends and neighbors, however an RSVP is a must, by calling Isabel Balotin at 904-448-5000, ext. 206 or via shalomjax@jewishjacksonville. org. Federation’s Shalom Jacksonville is the official Jewish welcome wagon of northeast Florida and is celebrating 10 successful years of helping newcomers connect to our wonderful community.

Camp Jenny was founded in memory of Jenny Rosenthal, a camper at Camp Coleman in Cleveland, Ga., who was involved in NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) before tragically being killed in a car accident nearly three decades ago. Each year her legacy lives on for the students of F.L. Stanton Elementary School in Atlanta as well as for the adult volunteers and NFTY youth participants.

I was first exposed to Camp Jenny this past year when the teens of JAFTY (Jacksonville Area Federation of Temple Youth) held their annual social action banquet at The Temple, the proceeds of which went to the camp.

Intrigued by the stories and the deep motivation of high school

students to raise money for this cause, I did some virtual digging of my own to find out that Camp Jenny takes adult volunteers.

After filling out the application, I was asked to serve as the Tween Advocate for Camp Jenny 2016, a position important to ensuring the social and emotional wellbeing of the campers throughout their stay over Memorial Day Weekend.

As camp approached, I felt somewhat apprehensive about what I was getting myself into as thoughts of my white privilege swirled around in my head.

Would other volunteers be going into the weekend ‘colorblind’ or with a ‘hero mentality’? Would stereotypes of urban schools be debunked or inflated for the teen counselors? Despite these concerns, I wanted to see for myself and ventured on to Camp Jenny. What I came to find was a weekend filled with lasting love and understanding, and so much learning.

In our first night as a staff, we discussed the misuse of the word ‘underprivileged’, an agenda-laden term that seeks to divide rather than unite and implies superiority. Throughout my experience at Camp Jenny, I observed a longstanding partnership between a school and a regional Jewish community. I observed teenagers being exposed to the complexities of social and emotional well-being for students who might be away from home for the first time. I watched children set goals, such as climbing to the top of the rock wall, and reach them. Young adults took immense responsibility for the lives of children and some were exposed to the idea of service for the first time. A community of people came together to put on a fun-filled and meaningful weekend for the elementary students of F.L. Stanton who worked all year long for this opportunity.

Whether you are a black third grader from Atlanta, a white teenager from Tampa, or simply, just an adult who values Tikkun Olam and wants to make a difference, we all are more alike than we are different. Camp Jenny was an organic and authentic opportunity, to learn this firsthand, and to reinforce my belief in the potential of young people.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

www.jewishjacksonville.org

federation news

Celebrate Israel At 70 on Jewish Federation’s mission trip in 2018

BY ALAN MARGOLIES

Federation Executive Director alanm@jewishjacksonville.org

The Jewish Federation of Jacksonville will sponsor a special mission to Israel, April 15th – 24th, 2018 to celebrate Israel’s 70th anniversary, and Steve and Judy Silverman will serve as cochairs of this amazing journey.

All prior Federation missions have proven to provide participants with the best experience and for this one everything is

being planned with first-class accommodations and a promise to make this the best Federation mission ever. To begin, Michal Granot, who has led the two most recent Federation trips to Israel, has once again signed on as guide. Her knowledge and insight has proven to be invaluable on previous missions and it will no doubt play an integral role in this one.

Trip participants will be staying at a total of four deluxe hotels which boast five-star

If you missed the JJN’s 2016 Summer Magazine

By Jacksonville Jewish News

It’s still not too late to read it or pick up a copy. The magazine will be out on newsstands (while supplies last) at the Jewish Community Alliance (8505 San Jose Blvd.), River Garden Senior Services (11401 Old St. Augustine Rd.) and Whole Foods Market (10601 San Jose Blvd.) through August alongside this month’s newspaper. Readers can also find a copy at their local synagogue (The Temple, The Center or Etz Chaim) while supplies last. For those who prefer a digital version, simply log onto issu.com/jewishnews and click on ‘Jacksonville Jewish News Summer Magazine’ to read the 64-page all-color publication which features special sections such as sports, staycations, kosher summer recipes and games and crossword puzzles.

The magazine also has normal newspaper staples in it such as Rabbinically Speaking, Dry Bones cartoons as well as monthly community, education, synagogue, Chabad, Federation and partner agency news. In addition to the normal and seasonal content, there are also special year-in-review sections as well as photos and bios of the new presidents and complete board slates from all of the community’s partner agencies. This publication is the first of its kind in the nearly three decade history of the Jacksonville Jewish News, so be sure to stop by one of the above locations and pick one up today or go online to check it out.

Scan QR code to read magazine online at .com

accommodations. Space has already been booked at the David Intercontinental in Tel Aviv, located directly across from the Mediterranean Sea, Bereshet at the Ramon Crater in the Negev and the new Elma Hotel in the lovely town of Zichron Ya’akov in addition to the David Citadel in Jerusalem. The hotel by the Ramon Crater and the Elma both offer first class spa treatments. Aside from the luxurious lodging options, Israel’s many fine restaurants and wineries will

also be explored and experienced on this trip.

As on any Federation journey to Israel, the most important historic and religious sites will be included on the itinerary and alternative experiences will be provided to those who have already visited Israel several times before.

For Yom Ha’atzmaut, which is Israel Independence Day, a celebration will take place with friends in our partnership region of Hadera. Visiting Hadera is

always a highlight of the trip and will be made extra special as we will celebrate Israel’s landmark 70th birthday together with our extended Israeli family.

Shabbat will be celebrated in Jerusalem with an opportunity to be at the Kotel (Western Wall) and to have a festive Sabbath dinner. Right now, a $500 per person deposit will guarantee space on the mission. For further information, contact executive director, Alan Margolies at 904-448 5000 ext 207.

page 20

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

federation news

Federation’s Jill Abel talks about Israel Partnership at July Jewish Java

By Shalom Jacksonville

For the month of July, Jewish Java attendees were given the treat of hearing from a trio of speakers, whose lives were directly touched by the Federation’s Partnership2Gether or P2G program. Program director Jill Abel first spoke about Jacksonville and its role as one of 10 cities in the Southeastern United States that shares a Partnership with the city of Hadera-Eiron, Israel.

Through this Partnership, peopleto-people connections are created with our brothers and sisters in Israel. During her presentation, Abel shared a lot of information about programs such as teen and educator exchanges, leadership programs, art exhibits and more.

She also brought members of the community who have participated in Partnership programming so attendees could hear, first hand, all about the impact this partnership has made on them.

Those teenagers included Abel’s son Aaron, who will be attending college at Hebrew University of Jerusalem this fall, along with Levana Osher, who will be a freshman at the University of Florida.

Jewish Java was held at River Garden, and will continue to be through the month of October, where there is plenty of room to mingle and enjoy the bagel buffet breakfast, while sitting back and enjoying an array of interesting speakers. Many thanks to Federation partner agency River Garden and its extraordinary staff for partnering with Shalom Jackson-

Jill Abel discusses the important role of P2G in our community

ville and allowing for the expansion of this popular program.

The Federation’s Shalom Jacksonville division is the official Jewish ‘welcome wagon’ of Northeast Florida. If you are new to the community, been here a while or are simply newly interested in the community, please contact Isabel Balotin at 904-4485000, ext. 206 or at shalomjax@ jewishjacksonville.org. An RSVP is required for the Jewish Java programs.

Java newcomers enjoy lox and bagel before the program

Aaron Abel, Jill Abel and Levana Osher at July’s Jewish Java

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

www.jewishjacksonville.org

chabad news

Booming Southside to soon get its first full center for Jewish life

The new $2.4 million dollar, 10,000 square foot facility will go up in phases, expanding outward and upward from Chabad’s present location on Alumni Way, a stone’s throw from the nearby St. Johns Town Center

BY ABRAHAM WEBB Southside Chabad

Whether its a coveted job at Deutsche Bank, chic shopping at the St. John’s Town Center or serious study at UNF, there are a number of reasons the Southside is attracting throngs of young people. On Sunday, Sept. 18th, you can add one more reason to bet on the Southside as the place for young, ambitious Jews, because Chabad is scheduled to break ground for the area’s firstever Jewish community center. The structure will be a 10,000 square foot facility that will be the home to social and spiritual connection, welcoming Jews of all ages and affiliations.

To Gabby Ashbrook, a 29-yearold native of Philadelphia, the new center marks an exciting milestone in the growth of her local Jewish community. Introduced to Chabad as a junior at UNF, Ashbrook grew close to community leaders Rabbi Shmuli and Chana Novack as she graduated, then climbed the ranks of Bank of America and joined the Xerox Corporation as a business analyst.

“There’s so much going on in this corner of Jacksonville,” Ashbrook said. “You’ve got hundreds of Jewish students just starting to form their independent lives, as well as patients and staff at the Mayo Clinic in need of connection, and most recently, multinational companies hiring the best and the brightest our country

has to offer.”

What each of these demographics have in common, she explained is a desire to connect. “Chabad excels at being a family to every person who wants to join, so there’s no questions of who you are, what you do or don’t believe,” she added.

“We’re Jewish and we’re building something wonderful together.”

According to Rabbi Novack, the new center is a natural next step in this journey of joyous Jewish community building. With more than 50 preschool and elementary age children attending classes every day and dozens of college students at Friday night meals, Chabad’s current modest building is simply bursting at the seams. “We know it’s time to spread our wings,” Novack said. “It’s an exciting time for us all.”

Spreading wings is an apt meta-

phor for the new Chabad Center for Jewish Life. Designed by renowned architect Craig Sommers, partner at Doherty Sommers, the center is defined by a swooping and soaring profile, washing visitors in literal warmth and sunshine from the moment they enter. Inside, a magnificent sanctuary will provide a place of personal prayer and community connection, while additional spaces will serve preschoolers, college students, young professionals and seniors, with a central lounge and lobby acting as a valuable social intersection.

Chana Novack is the director of Chabad’s acclaimed Ganeinu preschool, and an enthusiastic force behind the community’s growth.

In 2006, she and Rabbi Novack moved to the Southside to open a local Chabad. The young couple was

Civil engineer John Nevin hands the zoning applications to Rabbi Novack

A view of the exterior deck. The city zoning commission unanimously voted to approve Chabad’s zoning requests to make this project possible tapped by Rabbi Yosef Kahanov, director of the global Chabad movement’s Jacksonville activities. “We were kind of a quiet community, off the radar back then,” she recalls.

Since that time, developers have been building at a dizzying pace, capitalizing on the natural serenity and coveted comforts of the city. In June, Forbes ranked Jacksonville the second most popular city Americans are moving to. The Southside in particular is drawing talented young professionals for its quality of life and lifestyle.

Dr. Joseph Weinman is one transplant from New York via Texas who heard the call of the ospreys.

A successful podiatrist in an Austin-based private practice, ‘Dr. Joe’ switched tracks and was soon invited to join the Jacksonville veterans’ health system. He moved here after experiencing Chabad’s warm welcome, calling his involvement in the community ‘the best Jewish thing’ that ever happened to him.

Weinman sees the new center as a homecoming of sorts to Jews of all types. “Everyone is looking for something a little different in a Jewish community because they’re all in the middle of some unique chapter of life,” he said. “When you bring us all together, it’s really a remarkable story.”

Chapter-by-chapter, this is the story that the Novacks are passionately guiding.

The Center for Jewish Life will go up in phases, expanding outward

and upward from Chabad’s present location on Alumni Way, a stone’s throw from the St. Johns Town Center. Chabad considers all of its space educational, and purchased a property adjacent to its own, which will house a Reggio-inspired outdoor classroom and a nationally-certified butterfly garden. The city zoning commission unanimously voted to approve Chabad’s zoning requests to make this possible.

In order to build the center, Chabad received a generous donation from Jacksonville couple Lazar and Raissa Finker-Frenkel. For those who don’t know, Lazar is the effective president of Southside Chabad. A second philanthropic couple, Dinie and Ryan Shapiro of South Florida, donated a substantial amount toward the project, which is expected to cost about $2.4 million.

Both couples are longtime friends and supporters of the Southside Jewish community.

As for the rest of the funding, Rabbi Novack sees the new center as a point of pride for the greater community and trusts the community will invest. “We’re on the First Coast, adjacent the country’s first city,” he explained. “This is the firstever Jewish center in Southside and we’re going to build it together, that I don’t doubt for a second.”

To attend the groundbreaking, or to follow progress and explore opportunities for support of this project, please send an e-mail to office@southsidechabad.com.

its kind in the world with LatinHealthy-Gourmet and Certified Kosher cuisine, appealing to both meat-lovers and vegetarians, and has an exhibition wood-fire grill in the center of the restaurant. Chef Masha’s passion is to inject love into her ‘from-scratch kitchen’, with the most flavorful and healthy local ingredients possible, to create new and old time favorites, with many gluten and dairy-free options as well as grass fed beef, organic, Latin, Mediterranean, vegan-friendly and kid-friendly selections.

Because the food festival will be held on such a somber anniversary in our nation’s history, a very special 9/11 Memorial wall will be on display and a ceremony with local firefighters and police officers in attendance will be held along with a reading of the victims’ names. This ceremony will remember and memorialize the heroes that lost their

lives on that fateful day and will take place from 12 – 12:30 p.m., prior to the opening of the actual event.

The festival is open to the public with a $3 per person cost for admission, however a free admission ticket will be offered to those purchasing more than two tickets in advance at KosherFoodFest. com. The event will also offer a free raffle as well as many surprises, prizes and entertainment. Through sponsorship opportunities, the new age Kosher Food Festival is an excellent and cost-effective way to gain broad exposure throughout the Ponte Vedra and greater Beaches Jewish community, as around 500 attendees are expected. Please visit chabadbeaches.com, or contact Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky in the Chabad at the Beaches’ business office at 904-543-9301 for more information about this or any other upcoming event.

Chabad at the Beaches’ Kosher food festival to feature worldwide menu

By Chabad at the Beaches

Chabad at the Beaches is Proud to Present a new age Kosher Food Festival, Sunday, Sept. 11th, from 12:00 – 3 p.m. at The Ponte Vedra Cultural Center (50 Executive Way).

The fourth annual edition of this popular franchise will feature trendy not to mention healthy, new age cuisine, along with old-time Jewish favorites, from eight select countries around the world, including Argentina, Morocco, Spain, Germany, Japan, Colombia, Israel and the U.S. The festival will offer entertainment and activities for kids as well as adults, food samplings from around the world (for a nominal fee), togo meals, local honey and apple tastings, and preparations for the upcoming Rosh Hashanah Jewish

holidays, in addition information on the overall health and spiritual benefits of Kosher cuisine.

This year’s event will feature the original culinary inspirations of Chef Masha, who was born in Colombia and is the executive Chef

and owner of FuegoMundo Restaurant in Atlanta. Her restaurant has been a local favorite for seven years, and specializes in Latin-Fusion cuisine from the countries of South and Central America, the Caribbean and Spain. It’s the only restaurant of

Chabad Upcoming and ongoing events Mandarin Daily Chassidic Philosophy Held weekday mornings, Monday – Friday, 6:40 a.m., Sundays 8:15 a.m., with instructor Rabbi Yossie Kahanov.

Insights on the Torah Portion Shabbos Mornings, 8:30 a.m., with instructor Rabbi Mendy Browd.

Exploring The Talmud Tuesday evenings after Maariv with instructor Rabbi Mendy Browd.

Women’s Study Group Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with instructor Rebbetzin Rivkie Kahanov.

Shabbos Live Join us for a memorable Shabbat dinner and monthly oneg, July 2nd and 30th, which is free and open to all. Experience the feeling of holiness that only Shabbat can

bring with great food, insightful discussion, Chassidic melodies and a warm ‘Heimish atmosphere.

Sponsorships are available, so call 904-262-6641 for more information or to reserve space.

S. Johns Hebrew School for Grown-ups An informal space to refresh your knowledge of Judaism, where you’ll gain a basic knowledge of Jewish practice and an understanding of why we Jew-it. Participants will be able to delve into the deeper, more mystical aspects of Jewish life. Contact info@JewishSJohnsCounty.com for more information.

Bar Mitzvah Discovery The most important event in the life of a young person should be more

than just rote memorization leading up to an anxiety-ridden recital of the Torah. A new breakthrough in Bar Mitzvah education is geared toward preparing our youth for the important new role they’ll be assuming as a Jewish adults and will help them define who they are for years to come. This program is for boy’s ages 11-13 and is held every Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Call 904-7014422 or email Rabbi@JewishSJohnsCounty.com for more information.

Torah & Tea Join other Jewish women for inspiring Torah discussions, Jewish meditation, camaraderie, hot tea, and delicious refreshments all in the name of feminine Spiritualit-Tea! For more information e-mail Dini@ JewishSJohnsCounty.com.

Southside Yoga and Torah for Women Unleash Your Inner Strength Invigorating Yoga exercise followed by delicious and healthy refreshments and a thought provoking discussion of Jewish wisdom.

Held Tuesday evenings in the S. Johns Town Center. To RSVP visit SouthsideChabad.com or call 904646-4434.

Shabbat Morning Services Join us for services with Rabbi Shmuli Novack in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Our nonjudgmental philosophy embraces everyone, regardless of commitment or religious background. Services are held at 10:30 a.m. each Saturday in a traditional setting, with a contemporary message. A traditional cholent luncheon follows the service.

Hebrew School - Register Today CHS is for you as families of all backgrounds feel comfortable and welcome. Our school enjoys a wellearned reputation as a trendsetter in creative Jewish education for children ages 5-13. School is in session Sundays, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Visit SouthsideChabad.com for more information.

BLT - Bagels Lox and Torah Held Sunday mornings from 10:3011:30 a.m., where you’ll enjoy a Jewish classic while studying from the Jewish classics. RSVP at Soutshidechabad.com.

www.chabadjacksonville.org

page 22

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

lifecycles Births

Emilia Rosemary Kenneth, daughter of Rachel and William Kenneth was born on Tuesday, May 24th in Jacksonville.

Proud grandparents are Peggy and Ken Organes of Jacksonville and Amy Emilia Kenneth Kenneth and Jonathan P. Kenneth of Boca Raton.

The Robson family, consisting of Shaul and Chani, big brother Mendel and big sister Chayale are ecstatic to welcome a baby sister to their family as Menucha Rochel Robson was born Friday, May 20, 2016 in Morristown, N.J. Menucha Rochel weighed in at eight pounds, 14 ounces and 22 inches in length. Proud grandparents are Marcia Pozin of Jacksonville and Dovid and Esther Grossman of Chicago.

Great grandmother is Jean Pozin of Jacksonville.

Kaleigh and Ben Rogozinski announce the birth of their son Ellis Robert Rogozinski born, Friday, June 17, 2016. He joins the family with his big sister Locke Eden and furry older canine brother Ace Turner. Proud grandparents are Ellis Rogozinski Dr. Abe and Marjie Rogozinski, Rosie and John Moore, Bill Mead and Matt McVety. Great grandparents are Rosalind Friedman, Ella Rogozinski and Tookie Appelbe. The family is thrilled to welcome the handsome new addition.

B’nai Mitzvah

Jasmine Mail, daughter of Andrea and Steven Mail, will be called to the Torah on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Aug. 27th at The Jacksonville Jewish Center. Sharing in the simcha will be Jasmine’s sisters, Sabrina and Zoe, and her grandparents, Zelda and Ronnie Mail of Glasgow, Scotland, in addition to Carole Jasmine Mail and Louis Shlipak of Irving, Texas. Born in London, England, Jasmine is an eighth grade honors student at the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School and member of the National Junior Honor Society. Jasmine recently won two awards at the Regional Science Fair for her project: ‘Is Smiling Contagious?’ She enjoys music, taking care of her dog Heidi and playing travel soccer for Florida Elite Soccer Academy.

Jasmine has also traveled to 45 countries, including Thailand, Greece and Peru and hopes to spend a year in Israel after college.

Weddings

Chana Leah Gilbert and Yishai Lee were married on Tuesday, July 19th. The ceremony and reception were held at Chabad at the Beaches in Ponte Vedra Beach, with Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky officiating. The bride is the daughter of Christopher and Samara Gilbert and Lee

Gilbert of Atlantic Beach and is a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, who currently attends the Hicks Honors College at University of North Florida, while majoring in psychology and minoring in biology. The groom attended Yeshiva Temimei Darech in Tzfat, Israel and currently attends Florida State College at Jacksonville as an accounting major, while interning at Reflections, Diamond. The couple will reside in Atlantic Beach.

Amanda Harris and Christopher Stanley were married, Saturday, May 14th at Epping Forest Yacht Club in Jacksonville by Rabbi Matt Cohen of Congregation Ahavath Chesed.

Amanda and Christopher are graduates of Auburn University and live in Jacksonville.

Amanda is the daughter of Debby and Tom Harris of JacksonHarris and Stanley ville, while Christopher is the son of Karen and Wayne Stanley of Prattville, Ala. Amanda’s grandparents are Marilyn and Harvey Sims of Jacksonville and Valeria and Keith Harris of Plantation, Fla. Staci Schwartz and Alex Whitman were married Sunday, May 14th in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The bride is the daughter of Bonnie Horton and Bob Schwartz, both of Dallas, Texas and she attends the SMU Dedman School of Law. The groom is the son of Elyse and Josh Whitman of Jacksonville, who earned Schwartz and Whitman his law degree at Emory University and practices at the firm of Cunningham, Swaim, LLC. Following a honeymoon in London and Paris, the couple will reside in Dallas, Texas.

Nicole Papadakis and Ben Whitman were married Sunday, June 4th in Coral Gables, Florida.

The bride is the daughter of Joan and John Papadakis, both of South Florida, and is employed by Laird Plastics, while studying for her MBA at the University of Florida in Gainesville. The groom is the son of Elyse and Josh Whitman of Jacksonville, who earned Papadakis and Whitman his law degree at FSU College of Law and practices at the firm of Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Prather, Keen & Littky-Rubin. Following a honeymoon in Italy, the couple will reside in Wellington, Fla.

Accomplishments

Ariella Phillips, daughter of Bruce and Mercedes Phillips of St. Johns County, graduated from the University of Florida in May with honors. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Prior to graduation, she served as a Bob Graham Center student fellow, worked at WUFT News, UF’s NPR and PBS affiliate, and earned the Dean’s Medal for Excellence.

This summer she is working as a general assignment Ariella Phillips

reporter at the Florida TimesUnion.

Alan Joseph Nicotra, son of Michael and Susan Nicotra of Fleming Island and grandson of Helane Goldfarb of Jacksonville, received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Sunday, June 5th in Bradenton, Fla. Dr. Nicotra was president of his graduating class and received the College of Alan Nicotra Medicine Student Leadership award. As a recipient of the U.S. Navy’s Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), Nicotra was promoted to Lieutenant in the Navy upon graduating and will begin his residency at Walter Reed National Medical Military Center in Bethesda, Md. Dr. Nicotra is a 2012 graduate of the University of Florida.

Milestones

A party was held at Jacksonville Jewish Center earlier this summer to celebrate the 100th birthday of Clara Jaffe. Born in Jacksonville on June 8, 1916, she lived in the River City all of her life, graduating from Andrew Jackson High School and Florida State’s Women’s College. Jaffe taught in Duval County public schools and at the Jacksonville Jewish Center for more than 30 years. Additionally, she volun-

Clara Jaffe

teered at Baptist Downtown for more than two decades. In her spare time she often crochets, having made more than 3,000 baby caps and plays Mah Jong every week. Before moving to The Coves, she lived in San Jose Forest for 50 years. Her party and celebration was attended by her children, Norman Jaffe, of blessed memory, Marilyn (Harold) Garber, and grandson Michael (Tina) Garber from Sunyvale, Calif, in addition to many friends, with several of them being former students of hers from the Jacksonville Jewish Center, which she has been a member of for most of her life.

Emmett and Grayson Brown are turning one, Aug. 10th. They were born in 2015 to parents Nicole and Andy Brown, who met through their involvement with Federation. The twins arrived early, weighing in at 2.15 and 3.1 lbs respectively. They are healthy, happy, growing boys and are funny, sensitive, good natured, and share a love of life and people. Celebrating this milestone with them will be grandparents, Nancy and Charlie Brown, Dawn Sena, Dion and Cathy Sena, along with their friends and extended family.

Emmett and Grayson Brown

Sympathies

… To the family of long-time Etz Chaim Synagogue member Doreen Goodman, who passed away Friday, June 10th at the age of 90. She is survived by her son Jeffrey Goodman, son-in-law Steven Meisel, grandchildren

Michael and Deborah. Funeral services were held June 10th at the Etz Chaim section of the Arlington Park Cemetery with Rabbi Avi Feigenbaum officiating. … To the family of long-time Jacksonville Jewish Center member Muriel Lodinger, who passed away Thursday, June 9th in Atlanta at the age of 91. She is survived by her children Nora (Steve) Floersheim, Robin (David) Blass, and Mark (Jill) Lodinger, sister-in-law Herman (Mary Jo) Lodinger, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held in Atlanta June 13th. Contributions in Muriel Lodinger’s memory may be made to the Byron Morris Fund at the Jacksonville Jewish Center. … To the family of Norman Jaffe, who is survived by his mother Clara Jaffe, sister Marilyn (Harold) Garber and nephew Michael (Tina) Garber. Those who wish to make a donation in Norman Jaffe’s memory may direct their contributions to the Jacksonville Jewish Center’s Kramer Library or to River Garden Senior Services. … To the family of Kathryn ‘June’ Oberdorfer, who passed away Friday, July 1st. She is survived by her children, Kathryn R. Oberdorfer, Douglas (Kirby) Oberdorfer, and grandchildren, Benjamin and Hannah. A graveside funeral service was held July 7th at Evergreen Cemetery. The family requests that donations in memory of June Oberdorfer be made to the E. Charles Oberdorfer Memorial Endowment Fund at The Temple. … To the family of Leah Eisdorfer, who passed away Tuesday, July 5th. She is survived by her sister, Bernard (Anne) DePaul.

Funeral services were held, July 7th in Miami and Shiva was held, July 10th at the DePaul home in Jacksonville. The family requests that donations in memory of Leah Eisdorfer be made to the Temple. … To the family of long-time Jacksonville Jewish Center member Blanche Slott, who passed away, Sunday, July 10th at the age of 101. She is survived by her children Rene Montaigne, Marvin Slott and Chuck Slott, grandchildren Jeffrey Montaigne, Alicia (David) Bryant, Erin Slott, three great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other members of her extended family. Funeral

services were held July 12th at the Jacksonville Jewish Center with interment following at the New Center Cemetery. Contributions in Blanche Slott’s memory may be directed to River Garden Senior Services, the Sylvia H. Shorstein Archives Fund of the Jacksonville Jewish Center, or another Center fund of your choice. … To the family of longtime Jacksonville Jewish Center member Lois Markowitz, who passed away Tuesday, July 12th at the age of 78. She is survived by her husband Ernest, children Scott (Sherri) Markowitz and Howard (Carla) Markowitz, grandchildren Zoe, Harlee, Harris, and Griffin Markowitz, siblings Bernard Sachs and sister Joan (Jack) Orensky. Funeral services were held July 15th at the New Center Cemetery in Jacksonville. Contributions in Lois Markowitz’s memory may be directed to the Jacksonville Jewish Center or to River Garden Senior Services. … To the family of lifelong Jacksonville Jewish Center member Beatrice Sherman, who passed away, Monday, July 18th at the age of 88. She is survived by her husband Marvin, children June (Bobby) Shenkman, Karen Turkat, and Bradley Sherman, grandchildren Drew (Patty) Shenkman, Jeffrey (Deborah) Shenkman, Phillip Turkat, and one great-grandson in addition to many nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held July 20th at Hardage-Giddens’ Hendricks Chapel, followed by interment at New Center Cemetery in Jacksonville. Contributions in Beatrice Sherman’s memory may be directed to the Jacksonville Jewish Center or to River Garden Senior Services.

Classified Ads

Maid Services Available Housecleaning, laundry and cooking with reasonable rates. By appointment only. Call 904-3879293 or leave a message. Ask for Lidia To submit an item for life cycles, please email it to jjn@ jewishjacksonville.org. Due date is the 6th of the month.

For guidelines of how to write Bar/Bat Mitzvah, wedding or obituary announcements, go to jewishjacksonville.org/news under “Share your news.”

business card directory

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www.jewishjacksonville.org

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE

JCA’s Family Fun Days celebrates the summer holidays in style

Photos by Krista Freeman

BY IMAN BYFIELD

Jewish Community Alliance

The Jewish Community Alliance held a Fourth of July inspired

Family Fun Day on America’s birthday at the JCA’s Howard and Joy Korman Outdoor Pool. Members and their families enjoyed fun pool activities, hot dogs and DJ entertainment.

Family Fun Days offer a great opportunity for JCA members and their families to experience the JCA facilities, meet other members and enjoy quality time with other families in the community.

Family Fun Days are free and open to JCA members, providing a fun-filled afternoon of swimming, games and activities for all ages.

The next JCA Family Fun Day

will take place on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5th from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. All JCA valued members are invited to attend. For information, contact Jessica Novotny at 904-730-2100, ext. 240.

Another fun-filled season of Summer Camp comes to a close

Photos by Krista Freeman / / The JCA’s Camp Gan Yeladim, KinderCamp, Sabra, Habonim, Stage Door Theatre Campers all enjoyed a summer filled with fun and many adventures

JCA HAPPENINGS August 2016 Tamuz/Av 5776

For more information or to register for programs at the JCA, call 904-730-2100 or visit our official website at www.jcajax.org.

Vandroff Art Gallery

The paintings of Thony Aiuppy will be shown until Aug. 31. The paintings in this exhibit use a variety of techniques, ranging from layered glazes to rich, viscous impasto, to recreate the natural splendor that is uniquely Florida.

Jewish Book Festival and Jacksonville Jewish Film Festival

Afterschool program

Registration is open for the 201617 school year. Students enjoy an organized, structured environment with homework room and computer lab. Select Power Hour Plus classes for an added value to students enrolled in the JCA After School Program.

Sunday Film Series

‘Arranged’ tells the story of an Orthodox Jewish woman and a Muslim woman who develop a friendship as they both go through the process of preparing for an arranged marriage. This film is free and open to the community and will be shown Sunday, Aug. 28th at 2 p.m.

Cummer Tapas and More

On Tuesday, Aug. 2nd at 4 p.m., enjoy a gallery tour and Dutch treat tapas on the Cummer garden patio. This event is $24 and $15 for JCA valued members.

The Jacksonville Jewish Film Fest is back in 2016 and will run concurrently with the JCA’s 20th annual Jewish Book festival

The JCA’s annual Jewish Book Festival and biennial Jacksonville Jewish Film Festival will both be held in November, providing opportunities to enjoy the best of Jewish literature and cinema.

Registration now open for the JCA’s 2016-17

Rabbi Lubliner’s high holiday discussion

Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner, senior rabbi of the Jacksonville Jewish Center will help us prepare for the coming Jewish holidays, Monday, Aug. 29th at 12 p.m. This program is free and open to the community.

Probiotics and You

Come learn all about your gut and how to take care of it with JCA

Baptist Wellness Coach Cheryl Meyer on Tuesday, Aug. 30th at 12 p.m. Reservations appreciated by Aug. 23rd and the fee is $6 and $3 for JCA valued members.

Youth Soccer League

This league is for ages 4-10 and will hold a mandatory skills evaluation on Sunday, Aug. 14th from 2 – 4 p.m., for the season starting Sept. 11th.

Adult Soccer League

Form teams of six to eight players for 5-on-5 soccer, or register individually to be placed on a team.

Rosters must be submitted by Sept. 4th. Contact Rio at 904-7302100, ext. 250 for details.

Lacrosse Skills Clinic

Master the fundamentals through a variety of drills. Clinic begins Sept. 11th and lasts through Oct. 30th. Contact Rio at 904-7302100, ext. 250 for details.

Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu Beginning Monday, Sept. 12th, learn the fundamentals in fun structured classes for youth and adults. Contact Rio at 904-7302100, ext. 250 for details.

Youth and Adult Fencing

Youth and Adult fencing classes begin in September. For information, contact Rio at 904-730-2100, ext. 250.

JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE 2016-17 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $196,000

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

JEWISH FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES Briefs

JFCS food pantry to be named in honor of Max Block

By Jewish Family & Community Services

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 904394-5724.

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.

Max Block was committed to his family, friends and neighbors and the well-being of his community. One of his deep commitments to Jacksonville started many years ago with his partnership and support of the food pantry at JFCS. In his memory, the Block family is carrying forward his passion for assisting those in need through a generous campaign commitment that ensures the food pantry at JFCS will remain a pillar of hope for many, many years to come.

In addition to the Feed A Needy Neighbor (FANN) match challenge for the Max Block Food Pantry, the Block Family also provides gift cards to local grocery

Max Block of blessed memory

stores for those in need during Thanksgiving and the holiday season. The food pantry will stand

Art exhibit debuts around Jax for Gen 2 Holocaust Survivors’

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.

as a testament to the Block Family’s adherence to responding to the needs in our community with

Gen 2 Holocaust Survivors’ art was exhibited in two locations this spring

By Jewish Family & Community Services

‘Gen 2’ refers to the adult children of Holocaust survivors who have grown up in the shadow of the tragedy and since 2012, JFCS has provided services to Holocaust Survivors and their families. Gen 2 meets at JFCS every month for a writer’s workshop to share their own unique stories through a variety of media sources.

Recently the Gen 2 group’s facilitator, local author and WJCT literary commentator, Stacey Goldring asked the question, ‘What would a Jacksonville Holocaust Memorial look like for you?’ Second generation Holocaust survivors responded in written words and then collaborated with Jim Smith’s art students

at The Bolles School to breathe three-dimenensional life into their texts. The result was a unique combination of writer, sculptor, maturity and youth through the ‘Searching For Identity Art Installation’.

The artwork was on display for family and friends of Holocaust survivors and The Bolles School art students at the Jacksonville Jewish Center this spring and the Florida Mining Gallery. The next 2nd Gen Writers’ Workshop, scheduled for October, will be expanding as a daytime session will be added to the already existing evening session.

To get involved with Holocaust Survivors Family Gatherings or 2nd Gen, please contact Gail Furman at gfurman@jfcsjax.org for more information.

Achievers For Life marks its most successful year with Duval Co. students

compassion and a devotion to the dignity of every human being.

PJ Library expands its outreach to families in Jacksonville

By Jewish Family & Community Services

Jacksonville area families raising Jewish children will now have more opportunities to participate in Jewish life thanks to a grant recently awarded by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Jewish Family & Community Services is launching the Mitzvah for the All Seasons Program, which features quarterly, large-scale PJ Library events and smaller neighborhood meets-ups, in addition to play dates that will be organized by the PJ Library parent committee.

These winning initiatives effectively build social connections among families and engage them in Jewish life, programming, and learning. “Jewish Family & Community Services is honored to receive this grant, and thrilled to be

Call2Go

Call2Go is the transportation program at JFCS. We work with Checker Cab and are happy to schedule rides for Shabbat and Holidays at no charge. We also provide rides for medical appointments and quality of life events. Call Whitney for more information at 904-660-9268.

This space at JFCS will now be known as the Max Block Food Pantry

part of the global PJ Library community, reaching tens of thousands of families,” said PJ Library Coordinator, said Whitney Kuvin.

The PJ Library, a creation of the Grinspoon Foundation, offers free Jewish books and programs to families around the globe.

“PJ Library’s impact goes well beyond the more than 150,000 books we send out each month across the continent,” said Judi Wisch, Director of Community Engagement for PJ Library. “We have worked closely with our local partners for years to help advance Jewish family engagement, and now we are able to add financial support to help ensure the success of great initiatives.”

FANN match challenge has been extended through the end of August

By Jewish Family & Community Services

The Max Block Food Pantry at JFCS serves more than 80,000 meals each year and summer demands are very high. Your donation to the FANN program at the food pantry will be generously matched by the Block family through August 31st. To give, please visit jfcsjax. org/donate or call Donna O’Steen at 904-394-5737.

Full bags = stocked shelves

By Jewish Family & Community Services

Achievers for Life is comprehensive service providing support to middle school students at risk of dropping out of school and this past school year it reached a milestone this past school, now serving 1,355 students and their families by offering counseling, case management and family support. In addition, the program was also able to provide tutoring services to students in six out of 10 schools currently served

by AFL. The program helps move students successfully into the next grade level and increase their ability

to complete high school on time and 92-percent of participating students advanced to the next grade level.

In the upcoming school year, AFL expects to surpass last year’s number of students serves, in addition to increasing tutoring services to all 10 school sites served in Duval County.

Etz Chaim Synagogue has again collected 20 bags of food during a recent drive for the Max Block Food Pantry. They took great care to donate healthy and nutritious foods that are great for kids, seniors and families

JEWISH FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES 2016-17 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $279,000

page 25

www.jewishjacksonville.org

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA

Don’t have to be a millionaire JCF takes local Jewish professionals on recent investment summit to Israel $41,000, $71,000, $43,000.

These are the amounts of tuition, room and board for University of Maryland, Harvard University and the average costs for an out of state student according to the College Board’s web site.

It is interesting to note that 812 universities have $529-billion in endowment assets. These endowments, funded largely by alumni, are a vital resource for student scholarships, research funding, benefiting countless individuals across the country. Yet even with the vastness of these endowments, college students and their families need to find additional resources to fund the college experience. Books, travel, healthcare and student fees add to the cost of securing a college education. Establishing an endowment fund at these institutions often requires a minimum donation. At Duke University a minimum of $100,000 is needed to start a financial aid college scholarship fund.

There is a great alternative here at the JCF to help you create a scholarship endowment fund in any amount. The fund can be in your name or in honor or in memory of a loved one, and you don’t have to be a millionaire to start a fund. Here at the Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, Inc., donors have the opportunity to establish college scholarship funds that benefit Jewish and non-Jewish students from Jacksonville. Donors may establish awards to recognize Jewish students who have demonstrated leadership in and out of the classroom. Others may wish to provide stipends for leadership development for professionals employed in our Jewish agencies and organizations or for teacher training for our religious or Jewish day schools. If you are thinking you might like to start a college scholarship endowment fund or a special award fund, please consider some of the following benefits of launching that fund with the JCF: • Support local high-achievers: A scholarship fund with the JCF can ensure that your fund’s annual award benefits Jacksonville Jewish young adults, thus helping your fellow community members. You can even give priority to applicants who attend your alma mater or are members of your fraternity or sorority.

• Build the Jewish connection: An award from your scholarship fund with the JCF can be allotted to Jewish individuals, if preferred, to

BY JEFF KLEIN

Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida

MONEY MATTERS

BY JEFF KLEIN, Executive Director

support local Jewish students and leaders, and also strengthen their connection with the Jacksonville Jewish community.

• Meet the award winners: The JCF hosts a Scholarship & Emerging Leader Awards Reception, where award winners are honored for their achievements, and where the fund donors can meet the awardees, which is always a wonderful celebration.

• Earn a tax deduction: By establishing a fund with the JCF, you will qualify for charitable tax deductions, and your gift can be structured in a number of ways, like donating stock or bonds, leaving a bequest in your will, or utilizing a charitable remainder trust. The JCF and your professional advisor(s) can collaborate to ensure maximum tax-efficiency for your gift.

• Create your legacy: Your fund will support the community for generations on end, and will serve as a way to remind your loved ones about giving back.

The JCF’s Scholarship & Emerging Leader Awards are a very impactful and meaningful type of fund for many of our donors.

Recently a JCF donor said “This fund got started when I suggested to my mother-in-law (who has since passed away) to donate to a scholarship fund to help Jewish students in financial need attend college. She loved the idea and I worked with the JCF to launch the fund,” he explained. “My late first wife was very interested in adolescent medicine and helping needy adolescents succeed in life, and her mother, wanted to help Jewish children.

This scholarship fund beautifully combines those wishes and also brings me great pleasure every time we award the scholarships.”

The Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida Inc. was excited and honored to be a part of the Jewish Federations of North America’s first ever Israel Investment Summit this summer.

Local participants included Jeff Klein, JCF Executive Director; James Nolan, Esq. of Gray Robinson; Michael McCranie, CFP AEP of McCranie Wealth Management; Jeffrey M. Jacobs, CPA of JJCPA LLC; Missy Blanton of ECM Group; and Edward Feldman of Fidelity Investments.

The local delegation was part of a larger group of 27 individuals from North America representing Jewish community foundations and endowment funds. The mission of the summit was to enhance the participants’ understanding of the investment opportunities in Israel and to encourage foundations as well as private investors to consider including Israel in their investment portfolios. Highlights of the summit included meeting with private equity and venture capitalists and one of the first stops on the itinerary was the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange which included

Jeffrey Jacobs, Missy Blanton, James Nolan, Michael McCranie, Edward Feldman and Jeff Klein at the opening bell of the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange

the opening bell trading ceremony.

More than 17 briefings were held during the trip, including large investment firms Psagot Investment House in Tel Aviv and to more boutique firms CyberSpark in Be’er Sheva. The group was also privileged to meet with the top leadership in the Israeli economy, including Karnit Flug, Governor of the Central Bank of Israel, in addition to a private meeting with Reuven Rivlin, President of the State of Israel.

The trip was coordinated locally by the JCF Professional Advisory Committee, chaired by Mark Kraus CLU. The PAC’s objective is to engage professional advisors in the community so that they may learn about opportunities to benefit their clients with financial and estate planning strategies, which may include a charitable component.

Mel and Debbie Gottlieb generously underwrote costs associated with the Israel Summit for our local delegation.

Highlights from the JCF’s trip to Israel

Embassy of Israel’s Acting Minister for Economic Affairs, Inbal Hanasab, Edwatd Feldman, James Nolan, Michael McCranie, Shai Babad, Director General, Israel Ministry of Finance, Jeff Jacobs, Jeff Klein, Miss Blanton

James Nolan (far left) who was meeting with the current President of the State of Israel, Reven Rivlin

From left to right, James Nolan, Dr. Karnit Klug, Governor, Bank of Israel, Alfred Wheeler, and Edward Feldman collaborate during a meeting

Jeff Jacobs and Michael McCranie pose for a quick pic in Bee’er Sheva at the offices of high tech venture capital, Jerusalm Venture Partners

JCF Executive Director Jeff Klein taking his turn ringing the opening bell of the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange

JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA 2016-17 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $83,560

page 26

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RIVER GARDEN SENIOR SERVICES

RIVER GARDEN 2016-17 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $184,000

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

page 27

www.jewishjacksonville.org

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

federation news

The Jewish Federation of Jacksonville thanks you for your support!

We appreciate our donors and want to express this each month in the Jacksonville Jewish News. Thank you to the following donors who have made a commitment to support our 2016 Federation Annual Campaign as of July 1 *Names in Bold have made contributions to the campaign since May 1.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abel Drs. Harry and Debbie Abram Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abramson Dr. and Mrs. Mark Abramson Dr. and Mrs. Scot Ackerman Mr. and Mrs. David Adel Mrs. Arlene Adelson Mr. and Mrs. David Adler Dr. and Mrs. Philip Adler Mrs. Peggy Ageloff Mrs. Carol Agress Mr. and Mrs. Norman Allison Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Alterman Ms. Rosa Alvarez Ms. Barbara Ames Mr. and Mrs. Allan Andrew Mrs. Frieda Andriesse Mr. and Mrs. Marc Angelo Mr. Lawrence Ansbacher Mrs. Sybil Ansbacher Mr. and Mrs. Barry Ansbacher Mr. and Mrs. Larry Appel Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Appelbaum Mr. Robert Armel Mr. and Mrs. William Arnold Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Arnold Mr. and Mrs. Mark Atkins Ms. Sari August Mr. and Mrs. Richard Axelberg Mr. Philip Axelrod Mr. and Mrs. Frank Backilman Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bailet Mr. and Mrs. David Bailys Mrs. Audrey Baker Dr. Scott Baker and Mrs. Maureen Ruddy-Baker Dr. and Mrs. Robert Baker Mr. and Mrs. Scott Balotin Mrs. Isabel Balotin Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Bannon Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Barone Mrs. Valerie Battini Dr. and Mrs. Harold Baumgarten Mr. Jack Bazinsky Mr. Eli Becker Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Becker Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Beckerman Mr. and Mrs. Walter Beissinger Mr. and Mrs. Morris Bendit Mrs. Vera Benjamin Mr. and Mrs. Jean Benjamin Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Bennett Mr. and Mrs. Odell Bennett Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bennett Dr. and Mrs. Guy Benrubi Mr. Isodore D. Benrubi Mr. and Mrs. Greg Berger Mr. and Mrs. Ira Berger Mr. Martin Berger Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Berger Mr. Daniel Bergman Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Berke Berman Family Mrs. Steve Bermudez Mr. and Mrs. Larry Bernard Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bettman Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Bettman Mr. and Mrs. Brian Bialik Mrs. Adrienne Biber Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Bickel Mr. and Mrs. Abe Bielski Mr. and Mrs. David Bielski Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Blattner Mr. and Mrs. Larry Blaustein Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Block Mr. and Mrs. Philip Bloom Mr. and Mrs. Norm Blum Mr. and Mrs. Fred Blum Ms. Stacey Blum Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Blumenfeld Mrs. Sue Ann Blumenthal Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Board Mr. Al Bogacius and Ms. Carol Doyle Mrs. Traude Bohrman Mrs. Josephine Bonnett Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bossen Mrs. Rhona Botnick Mr. Wiatt Bowers Mr. and Mrs. David Boyer Dr. Joy and Mr. Steven Boyne Ms. Michelle Branly Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Breault Mrs. Ruchel Broadman Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Brodsky Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bronowitz Dr. and Mrs. Sol Brotman Mr. and Mrs. Richard Browdy Ms. Alison Brown Dr. and Mrs. Andy Brown Dr. and Mrs. Robert Brown Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bruce Mrs. Estelle Brust Drs. Robert and Suzanne Bryskin Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Bubis Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Buchman Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Buckley Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Burke Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Burns Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Burstein Mr. and Mrs. Steven Bushman Mr. and Mrs. Howard Buss Cantor and Ms. Henry Butensky Mr. and Mrs. Jan Butensky Ms. Sharon Cane Mr. and Mrs. Steven Cantor Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cantor Mrs. Barbara Carman Mr. and Mrs. Steven Carney Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Chait Mr. and Mrs. Barry Chefer Ms. Miriam Chefer Dr. and Mrs. Mark Cheiken Mr. and Mrs. Allan Cheiken Mr. and Mrs. Alan Chepenik Dr. Colleen Bell and Mr. Craig Cherrin Ms. Susan Cherry Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Cherry Ms. Allyson Christy Mrs. Rita Clark Mr. James Coffman Mr. and Mrs. Allan Cohen Rabbi and Mrs. Matt Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cohen

Mr. and Mrs. Danny Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Martin Cohen Ms. Becky Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Norman Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Joel Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Cohen Ms. Nancy Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Perry Cohen Mr. Hyman Cohen Ms. Joanne Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Cohen Dr. and Mrs. Donald Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Jack Coleman Mrs. Maxine Cooper Mr. and Mrs. Mark Cooper Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Coplan Mrs. Ellen Cottrill Ms. Cheryl Covitz Dr. and Mrs. Richard Crovatto Mrs. Susu Cruse Mr. and Mrs. Steven Cutler Mr. and Mrs. Albert Datz Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Datz Ms. Joan Davidow and Mr. Stuart Glass Mr. and Mrs. Richard Davis Drs. Leo and Joanne Davis Ms. Marilyn Dawson Dr. and Mrs. Joey Dayan Mr. and Mrs. Jim De Arman Mrs. Lisa De Marco Mr. and Mrs. Jon DeBardeleben Mr. and Mrs. Moti Demri Mr. Michael Desanto and Ms. Debbi Barry Mrs. Marilyn Desser Dr. and Mrs. Robert Diamant Mrs. Helen Diamond Ms. Pamela Diamond Mr. and Mrs. Harold Diamond Mrs. Anita Dittman Ms. Anna Dittus Judge and Mrs. Robert Droker DuBow Family Mrs. Jody Dughi Mr. and Mrs. Alexius Dyer Dr. and Mrs. Fred Eaglstein Mr. and Mrs. Dan Edelman Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Edelman Mrs. Goldie Edelstein Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Edwards Mr. and Mrs. Martin Edwards Dr. and Mrs. Barry Efron Ms. Gloria Einstein Mrs. Judy R. Eisen Dr. Iris Eisenberg Mr. and Mrs. Jack Eisenberg Mr. and Mrs. Fred Elefant Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Elikan Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Elinoff Dr. and Mrs. Howard Entman Ms. Laura Evans Ms. Arlene Faracchio Mr. and Mrs. Dave Fastenberg Dr. Denise Sherman and Mr. Yakov Feig Dr. and Mrs. Neil Feinglass Ms. Harriet Feinglass Mr. and Mrs. Alan Feldman Mr. and Mrs. Brian Feldman Mr. and Mrs. Edward Feldman Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Feldman Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Feldman Dr. and Mrs. Charles Feldstein Dr. Alan Fetner and Dr. Mary Hartigan Dr. and Mrs. Michael Fetner Drs. Howard and Dina Fetner Ms. Gaye Feuer Ms. Etta Fialkow Mrs. Luba Finegold Mr. and Mrs. Neal Finkelstein Rabbi and Mrs. Yaakov Fisch Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Fischer Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fischer Mr. Matt Flagler Mr. and Mrs. Myron Flagler Mr. Dave Flagler Mr. and Mrs. Martin Flamm Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fleet Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fleet Ms. Kaitlin Flynn Ms. Deborah Foust Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Fox Ms. Sarah Fraden Mr. Rick Franzblau Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Franzblau Mr. Matthew Franzblau Ms. Ariel Frechtman Mr. and Mrs. Michael Freedman Mrs. Marilyn Freedman Dr. and Mrs. Michael Freeman Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Friedman Mr. and Mrs. Steven Friedman Frisch Family Mr. and Mrs. Adam Frisch Mr. and Mrs. Charles Frohman Judge Jerry Funk Mr. and Mrs. Paul Furman Ms. Elaine Furman Mr. and Mrs. Oren Gahanian Mrs. Helena Gandell Mr. and Mrs. Harold Garber Mr. and Mrs. Philip Garces Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gare Ms. Nicola Garner Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Gartner Mr. and Mrs. Simon Garwood Mr. Victor Gaukhman Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gefen Mr. and Mrs. Larry Geller Mr. and Mrs. Gary Gendzier Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Gendzier Mr. Sheldon Gendzier and Ms. Estelle Kritz Judge and Mrs. Marvin Gillman Mr. and Mrs. Randall Ginzig Mr. and Mrs. Marc Gladstone Mr. Peter Levy and Ms. Kim Glasgal Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Glassman Mrs. Cecile Goetz Mr. and Mrs. Martin Goetz Mrs. Carole Goldberg Mr. Sheldon Goldberg

Mrs. Rose Goldberg Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Goldberg Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Goldberg Lauren Goldenberg Dr. Bruce Goldfeder Mr. and Mrs. Ira Goldfield Mr. David Golding and Ms. Leslie Carmel Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Goldman Dr. and Mrs. Roy Goldman Mr. and Mrs. Sol Goldman Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Goldman Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Goldman Mrs. Muriel Goldman Mr. Alan Goldman Mrs. Irma Goldman Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Goldring Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Goldsmith Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Goldstein Mr. and Mrs. Allen Goldstein Mr. Harvey Goldstein Mr. and Mrs. Andy Goldstrom Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Goodfarb Rabbi and Mrs. Robert Goodman Mr. and Mrs. David Goodman Mr. Jonathan Goodman Mrs. Gloria Goodman Mr. and Mrs. Steven Goranson Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Gordon Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Goshen Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Jarzyna Gottlieb Family Mr. and Mrs. Martin Gottlieb Mrs. Shari Gottlieb Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Gottlieb Mr. and Mrs. Chris Gould Mr. and Mrs. John Grado Mr. and Mrs. Jay Graff Dr. and Mrs. Neill Graff-Radford Dr. and Mrs. Brett Gratz Mr. Allen Gray and Ms. Diane Greenbaum Mr. and Mrs. Mark Green Dr. and Mrs. Michael Greenburg Mr. and Mrs. Paul Greenfield Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Greenfield Dr. and Mrs. Earl Greenwald Mr. and Mrs. Edward Grenadier Mr. and Mrs. Garth Gridley Mr. and Mrs. James Grinnan Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Gross Mrs. Doris Gross, Estate of Mr. Marc Grosse and Ms. Lisa Ross Mrs. Dolly Grunthal Drs. Randall and Shoshana Haas Dr. and Mrs. Jesse Halpern Mr. Peter Hammer Mrs. Bonnie Hardy Ms. Melanie Hare Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Hare Mr. and Mrs. Gary Harlow Dr. and Mrs. Alan Harris Dr. Sherrie Harris Mr. and Mrs. Tom Harris Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harris Mr. and Mrs. Alan Harrison Rabbi and Mrs. Shaya Hauptman Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hayflick Mrs. Sonie Hecht Ms. Wanda Hedrick Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hedrick Mrs. Leslie Held Mr. and Mrs. Corey Heller Mr. Steven Heller Mr. Rafael Herman Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Herman Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hernandez Mr. and Mrs. Brian Herschkowitz Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hersh Mrs. Raymonde Higgins John and Helen Hill Mr. John Nelson and Ms. Murren Hill Mr. and Mrs. Jon Hill Ms. Karen Hill Rabbi Joseph Hirsch Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hirsch Dr. and Mrs. Scott Hochwald, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Hodor Mr. David Hoffman Mr. Royal Holian Mr. and Mrs. Jay Holiday Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Holzer Hazzan and Mrs. Jesse Holzer Mrs. Nancy Honig

Mrs. Wendy Honigman Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Horn Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Horovitz Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Horovitz Mrs. Christina Hovey Mr. and Mrs. Michael Howard Ms. Janet Healy and Mr. Charles Hyman Mr. and Mrs. Michael Isakbayev Ms. Helene Isolica Mrs. Judith Israel Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Israel Mr. and Mrs. Larry Jaben Dr. and Mrs. Ira Jackler Mr. and Mrs. Ted Jackrel Mr. Marc Jackson and Ms. Ann Tiefenthaler Mr. and Mrs. George Jackson Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Jacobs Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Jacobs Mr. and Ms. Brian Jacobs Mr. and Mrs. Sam Jacobson Mr. Darryl Jacobson Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jaffa Mr. and Mrs. James Jaffa Mr. and Mrs. Larry Jaffe Mr. and Mrs. Jon Jagodinski Mrs. Joy Jarchower Ms. Gail Jarrett Mrs. Lorraine Jenkins Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Jolles Mr. and Mrs. Charles Joseph Dr. Edward Joseph Ms. Sharon Juhasz Mr. and Mrs. Alan Kagan Mr. and Mrs. Norman Kagan Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kahn Mr. and Mrs. Herb Kaminsky Mr. and Mrs. Alan Kaminsky Mr. Jeffry Wollitz and Ms. Randy Kammer Dr. and Mrs. Jesse Kane Dr. and Mrs. Robert Kanner Dr. and Mrs. Larry Kanter Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Kaplan Mr. and Mrs. Jay Karp Mr. and Mrs. Philip Karp Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Karpman Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Karsin Mr. David Kasriel Dr. and Mrs. David Katz Mr. and Mrs. Alan Katz Mr. and Mrs. Michael Katz Mr. and Mrs. Manfred Katz Ms. Michele Katz Ms. Libby Katz Mr. and Mrs. Martin Kaufman Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kaufmann Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kaye Mrs. Barbara Kazin Mr. and Mrs. Allen Kellman Mr. and Mrs. Benjay Kempner Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kempner Ms. Sharon Kesler Judge and Mrs. Morton Kesler Ms. Marcia Kessler Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kessler Mr. and Mrs. Rudolf Kigel Mr. and Mrs. David Kight Ms. Simone Kilbourn Dr. and Mrs. Garry Kitay Mr. Ken Klein and Mr. Charles Tillis Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Klein Mr. and Mrs. Myron Kodner Mrs. Helene Koenigsberg Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kopp Dr. Michael Koren Mr. Brett Koretzky Mr. and Mrs. Howard Korman Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Korn Mrs. Annetta Kornblum Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kornhauser Mr. Yefim Brunfon and Mrs. Polina Koropova Mr. and Mrs. Eric Korzyniowski Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Kossoff Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kraemer Mrs. Sylvia Kraemer Dr. and Mrs. Alan Krantz Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kraus Mrs. Carolyn Krestul Mr. Don Kupfer Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Kurtz Dr. and Mrs. Ron Kushner

Mr. Carl Kutlin Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Lafer Mrs. Janet Laine Mr. and Mrs. Eric Land Mr. Howard Laner Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Langer Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lantinberg Mr. and Mrs. Louis Larmoyeux Mrs. Sonya Lasris Mr. and Mrs. James Lawson Mrs. Naomi Lazar Mr. and Mrs. Eric Leach Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Leach Ms. Jean Lebowitz and Ms. Thelma Lebowitz Mrs. Dorothy Legum Ms. Sybil Lehr Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Leif Mr. and Mrs. Stephan Leimberg Ms. Tilde A. Lerman Dr. and Mrs. Eli Lerner Drs. Jeff and Ilene Levenson Mrs Julia Levin Dr. and Mrs. H. Ronald Levin Dr. Sharon and Mr. Mort Levin Mr. and Mrs. Michael Levin Mr. and Mrs. Arnie Levine Mrs. Eileen Levine Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell Levine Ms. Stefanie Levine Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Levine Mr. and Mrs. Mark Levine Mr. and Mrs. Don Levinson Marilyn and Michael Levinson Ms. Carol Levitan Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Levitsky Levy Memorial Fund Mr. and Mrs. Philip Levy Mrs. Phyllis Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Sam Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Larry Lieberman Mr. Tyler Curl and Ms. Jessica Ligator Dr. Leonard Lipkin Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Lipsky Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lissner Mrs. Muriel Litt Dr. and Mrs. Marc Litt Mr. Mark Lodinger Mr. and Mrs. Herman Lodinger Dr. David Loeb Mr. and Mrs. Alan Loeser Ms. Sherri Louer Ms. Joanne Lowell Rabbi and Mrs. Jonathan Lubliner Ms. Sylvia Lubliner Ms. Marcia Luettchau Drs. Robert and Anne Lufrano Ms. Lucille Lustig Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mack Mr. Leonard Magid and Mrs. Claudia Baker Mr. and Mrs. Steven Mail Mr. and Mrs. Leonardo Maiman Mrs. Raquel Maiman Ms. Stephanie Majeskey Mrs. Amy Malkin Mrs. Ilana Manasse Dr. and Mrs. Milton Mann Mr. and Mrs. Drew Margol Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Margol Mr. and Mrs. Alan Margolies Mr. and Mrs. Adam Marko Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Markowitz Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Marks Ms. Caroline Marks Dr. and Mrs. Alan Marks Mr. and Mrs. Adam Marmelstein Mr Howard Capland and Ms Jeanne Maron Dr. Donald Mars Dr. Ronald Mars Mr. Ben Marsh Mrs. Phyllis Martin Mrs. Pearl Marton Dr. and Mrs. Mike Mass Mrs. Deinya Mautz Mrs. Charlotte Mayo Mrs. Hilda Mazo Mr. and Mrs. Tom McNett Mr. and Mrs. Steve Meinstein Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Meisel Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Meiselman Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Melamed Mr. and Mrs. Walter Menaged

page 28

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Donor List

Continued from pg. 27 Mr. and Mrs. Brian Mendelson Mr. and Mrs. Myron Mensh Mr. Joseph Merwin Mr. and Mrs. Paul Metlin Mr. and Mrs. Yosef Meyer Mr. and Mrs. Tony Milian Mrs. Margaret Miller Mrs. Jo Miller Mr. Michael Miller Mrs. Melissa Miller Mr. and Mrs. David Miller Mr. and Mrs. Richard Miller Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Miller Mr. Daniel Miller and Ms. Lior Spring Mr. Glenn Miller and Mr. Michael Miller Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Millrood Dr. Stuart Millstone Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Mintzer Mrs. Shirley Mirkis Dr. and Mrs. Jon Mitzmacher Mrs. Judy B. Mizrahi Dr. and Mrs. Ed Mizrahi Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mizrahi Mr. and Mrs. Steven Mizrahi Mr. and Mrs. Alan Mizrahi Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Mizrahi Mrs. Annice Molinaro Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Montagna Dr. and Mrs. Craig Morgenthal Mrs. Sonya Morris Mr. and Mrs. Joel Morris Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Morris Mr. Ben Morse Ms. Anita Moss Mr. Andrew Yellen and Ms. Ruthellen Mulberg Ms. Geri Myers Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Myers Judge and Mrs. Bernard Nachman Dr. and Mrs. Peter Natale Dr. and Mrs. Alan Nathans Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Neadle Drs. Steven and Tmima Neihaus Mr. and Mrs. Lon Neuman Ms. Kym Newlen Mr. and Mrs. William Newman Mr. and Mrs. Robert Newman Mr. and Mrs. Michael Nicotra Mr. and Mrs. Robert Nied Drs. Michael and Sue Nussbaum Mr. and Mrs. Louis Nussbaum Mr. and Mrs. Richard Nykerk Ms. Linda Oberdorfer Mrs. June Oberdorfer Mr. Andrew Ocean Ms. Gloria Oehlman Mr. and Mrs. Moshe Ohayon Mr. and Mrs. Jais Ohayon Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Olesker Mrs. Donne Ordile Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Organes Ms. Allysondra Osborne Mr. and Mrs. Morrie Osterer Ms. Janice Ozer Mr. and Mrs. Peter Pagano Ms. Leah Palestrant Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Palevsky Mr. Michael Pallen Mr. and Mrs. Brian Pargman Mr. and Mrs. Todd Parker Mr. and Mrs. Richard Passink Mr. and Mrs. John Pataky Mr. and Mrs. Troy Patton Mr. and Mrs. Michael Paul Mr. and Mrs. Herman Paul Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Pearl Mr. and Mrs. Ira Peck Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Perin Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Perlis Dr. and Mrs. Gary Perlman Dr. and Mrs. Morton Perlman Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Persky Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Pies Mr. and Mrs. Michael Platzer Ms. Laura Platzer Mr. and Mrs. Richard Plotkin Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Plotkin Mr. and Mrs. Jay Plotkin Mrs. Lita Poehlman Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Pollan Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Pollock Dr. Judy and Mr. Ronel Poppell Mr. and Mrs. Steven Porter Mrs. Phyllis Portnoy Ms. Elaine Portnoy Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Portnoy Mr. and Mrs. Fred Pozin Mr. and Mrs. Marc Preminger Mrs. Anne Presser Mr. Neil Presser Mr. Bradley Preuss Mr. Michael Price Mr. and Mrs. Sam Price Dr. Susan Price Mr. and Mrs. Ron Price Dr. Miriam and Mr. Jack Price Dr. and Mrs. Michael Pulley Dr. and Mrs. Marco Rand Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Spector Mr. and Mrs. Neil Rashba Dr. Todd Rasner and Dr. Inbal Cohen-Rasner William and Joan Rein Family Dr. Harry Reinstine Jr Mr. Edward Witlen and Ms. Marie Reitzes Mr. and Mrs. Harold Reiz Dr. and Mrs. Harold Resnick Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Resnick Ms. Sondra Resnikoff Dr. Amy and Mr. Jason Rice Mrs. Marian Rice Dr. Deena Richman and Mr. James Richman Mrs. Ina Richter-Shainbrown Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rickerson Mr. and Mrs. Matt Rickoff Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Rideman Mr. and Mrs. William Rifkin Mrs. Toby Ringel Dr. and Mrs. Harris Rittenberg Mr. and Mrs. Skip Roach Mr. and Mrs. David Robbins Mr. Martin Marquez and Ms. Effie Rocca Mrs. Linda Rodman Mrs. Colleen Rodriguez

Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

federation news Israeli Emissary

Mr. Howard Roey Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Rogove Mr. and Mrs. Yoav Rogovin Rabbi and Mrs. Jim Rogozen Mr. and Mrs. Sam Rogozinski Dr. and Mrs. Chaim Rogozinski Dr. and Mrs. Abe Rogozinski Mr. and Mrs. Steven Rohan Mr. and Mrs. Don Rosborough Ms. Margaret Rose Mr. William Rose Ms. Gilda Roseman Mr. Paul E. Rosen Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Rosen Dr. and Mrs. Elliott Rosenbaum Mr. Jerome Rosenbaum Mrs. Janet Rosenblatt Dr. Eli Rosenblatt Mrs. Stacia Rosenblum Ronnie & Jerrold Rosenbaum Family Mr. and Mrs. David Rosenthal Ms. Marla Rosin-Borrousch and Ms. Pennie Rosin-Borrousch Mr. and Mrs. Alan Rosner Mr. and Mrs. Steve Ross Marc Rotenberg Dr. and Mrs. Neal Roth Mrs. Sandi Roth Mr. Simon Rothstein Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell Rothstein Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rothstein Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Rothstein Mr. and Mrs. Grigory Royzen Mr. and Mrs. George Rubens Dr. and Mrs. Devon Rubin Mrs. Arlene Rubin Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Rubin Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Ruby Mrs. Shirley Rudnick Mr. and Mrs. Leif Rush Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Sachs Mrs. Carol Sack Ms. Daryl Sadowsky Mr. and Mrs. Eliot Safer Mrs. Rubye Safer Ms. Eleanor Safer Mrs. Gaye Sager Ms. Bess Saliman Dr. and Mrs. David Sall Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Saltz Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Sandler Mr. and Mrs. Neil Sandler Drs. Jeff and Wendy Sapolsky Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Saraga Mr. and Mrs. Mark Saye Mr. and Mrs. David Schachnovsky Dr. and Mrs. Howard Schare Dr. and Mrs. Michael Scharf Dr. and Mrs. Jay Schauben Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Scheer Mr. and Mrs. Harold Schemer Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Schemer Judge and Mrs. Jack Schemer Mr. and Mrs. William Schemer Mrs. Shirley Schemer Mrs. Frances Schemer Ms. Amy Schemer Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schiller Ms. Ilene Schinasi Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Schlackman Judge and Mrs. Harvey Schlesinger Mr. and Mrs. Michael Schneider Judy and Robert Schnitzer Rabbi and Mrs. Avi Schochet Dr. Elana Schrader Mrs. Laura Schulman Ms. Regina Schuman Mr. Simon Schuster Mrs. Barbara Schuster Dr. and Mrs. Brian Schwam Shira and David Schwam-Baird Mr. Zachary Schwartz Mrs. Margie Seaman Mr. and Mrs. Allan Sebotnick Ms. Stephanie Seebol Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Seebol Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Sekine Selevan Family Mr. Jack Merwin and Ms. Karen Selig Mrs. Mimi Selig Mr. Alan Selmanoff Dr. and Mrs. Robert Selwitz Mr. Howard Serkin Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Serkin Setzer Family Dr. and Mrs. Barry Setzer Mr. and Mrs. Alan Setzer Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Shacter Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shafer Mr. and Mrs. Steven Shapiro Mr. and Mrs. Harry Shapiro Mr. and Mrs. Joel Shapiro Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shenkman Mr. and Mrs. Jay Sherline Mr. Steven Sherman Shorstein Family Mr. and Mrs. Mark Shorstein Mr. and Mrs. Harry Shorstein Mr. and Mrs. David Shuman Dr. and Mrs. Jules Sidle Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Siegel Mr. and Mrs. Edward Siegel Dr. and Mrs. Arnold Signer Mr. and Mrs. Leon Silke Mr. and Mrs. Gary Silverfield Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Silverman Ms. Barbara Berlin and Mr. Robert Silverman Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Simms Mrs. Deborah Simon Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Sims Mr. and Mrs. Richard Singer Mr. and Mrs. Federick Singer Mr. and Mrs. Barry Sinoff Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sisisky Mr. and Mrs. Adam Skala Mrs. Irene Sloat Mr. and Mrs. Alan Smiley Ms. Laurie Smirl Mr. and Mrs. Avi Smith Mrs. Francine Smith Ms. Dianna Smith Mr. and Mrs. Eric Smith Mr. and Mrs. Lon Smolensky Drs. Todd and Catherine Snowden Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Soffer Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Sohn Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Soilson Mr. and Mrs. Eugolio Soliven Dr. and Mrs. Michael Solloway Mrs. Carole Solomon Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Solomon Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Solomon

Mr. and Mrs. Damian Spector Mr. and Mrs. David Spencer Mrs. Elaine Stack Mr. Rob Armstrong and Ms. Barbara Stafford Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Stark Dr. and Mrs. Mandell Stearman Mr. and Mrs. Jay Stein Mr. and Mrs. David Stein Mrs. Marilyn Stein Ms. Ruth Stein Mrs. Susan Stein Mr. Daniel Stein Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Steinberg Mr. and Mrs. Martin Steinberg Ms. Talia Steiner Dr. and Mrs. Irving Sterman Drs. Barry and Rori Stevens Ms. Irina Stevens Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Stone Mr. and Mrs. Leon Stone Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Stone Dr. and Mrs. Richard Stromberg Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Sullivan Dr. and Mrs. Saul Sussman Sweetwater Chavurah Club Dr. Millie and Mr. Edward Tannen Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Tannenbaum Mrs. Marilyn Tanney Ms. Shelley Tarbox Mr. and Mrs. William Tatel Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Tavill Mr. and Mrs. Jason Teichman Mr. Larry Teitelman Mrs. Barbara Teitelman Mr. and Mrs. Lev Tillis Rabbi and Mrs. Howard Tilman Ms. Marion Tischler Dr. Karen Toker Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Toyzer Mr. and Mrs. Marty Trachtenberg Trager Family Mr. Asher Trager Mr. and Mrs. Brent Trager Mr. and Mrs. Fred Tromberg Ms. Esfir Tulchinskaya Mrs. Carol Turbow Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Turko Mr. and Mrs. Izrail Turovskiy Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Ullmann Mr. and Mrs. Steven Underkofler Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Van Mr. and Mrs. David Vandroff Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Vandroff Mrs. Dot Verstandig Ms. Sharon Voiron Mr. and Mrs. Vladimir Voloshin Mr. and Mrs. Jules Wagman Mr. and Mrs. Sumner Waitz Mr. and Mrs. Ilan Wajsman Mr. and Mrs. Blair Walker Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wallman Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Ware Dr. and Mrs. Steven Warfield Mr. Michael Waskew and Ms. Elsa Mitschele Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wasserman Drs. Paul and Marte Wasserman Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Watkins Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Weihnacht Mr. and Mrs. Frank Weiner Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Weiner Dr. Joseph Weinman Mrs. Renee Weinstein Mrs. Linda Weinstein Ms. Rachel Weinstein Mrs. Margie Weinstein Mr. Daniel Weinstock Mr. and Mrs. David Weintraub Mrs. Susanne Weisman Mr. and Mrs. Barry Weisman Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Weiss Mr. Mitchell Weiss and Mrs. Gale Cohen-Weiss Mrs. Sandra Weiss Dr. and Mrs. Jerome Weitzen Dr. and Mrs. Jeff Weitzner Mrs. June Weltman Dr. and Mrs. Gary Weltman Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Werner Mr. and Mrs. Todd Werwa Mr. and Mrs. Josh Whitman Mr. Jeff Wiener Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Wilde Mr. and Mrs. Gary Wilkinson Mrs. Linda Wilkinson Mr. and Mrs. Skip Willbach Mr. Stuart Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Steven Wilson Mrs. Dottie Wilson Mr. and Mrs. James Wiss Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Witt Mrs. Jacqueline Witte Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Witten Ms. Carole Witten Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Wohl Ms. Kathy Wohlhuter Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Wolchok Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Wolchok Mr. and Mrs. Judah Wolf Ms. Irene Wolfe Mrs. Lesley Wolfson Mrs. Carole Wolpin Mr. and Mrs. Howard Wolpoff Ms. Linda Woodard Mr. and Mrs. Frank Woodard Ms. Elaine Wright Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Wyzan Mrs. Marjorie Wyzan Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Yahre Mr. and Mrs. Evan Yegelwel Mrs. Elsie Yellin Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Yergin Mr. Leon Yergin and Ms. Caryn Kenny Dr. Harry Yoffee Mr. and Mrs. Charles Young Mr. and Mrs. Donald Young Dr. and Mrs. Larry Young Dr. Scott Zager Mr. and Mrs. Dana Zaifert Mr. and Mrs. David Zavon Ms. Anita Zeldin Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ziemba Mr. and Mrs. Lev Zilberman Mrs. Donna Zimmerman Mrs. Barbara Zimmerman Mr. Bradley Zimmerman Mr. Lanny Zimmerman Mr. Sandy Zimmerman Mr. and Mrs. Charles Zimmerman Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Zisser Mr. and Mrs. Barry Zisser Mr. and Mrs. Paul Zyserman

Continued from pg. 1 the entire community is amazing,” Flagler said of this unique partnership.

In another amazing twist, both Margolies and Flagler had the benefit of meeting Marmari in person during their JCA and Federation joint journey to Israel this past spring.

“Alan and I met her in Israel, spending the better part of a day with her and she is a very bright and articulate young lady,” Flagler recalled of their interactions. “She works with people who have challenges, so you know she has a real caring personality and an empathy for people.”

Jacksonville’s new Israeli emissary will be in the community for at least a year, with the option for her to stay on and continue her work for a second tour. For more information on Shlichim and all that they do, log onto jewishagency.org/shlichim.

Federation Executive Director Alan Margolies and President Sandy Zimmerman visit with Marmari during their July journey to Israel

Q&A with Jacksonville’s newest Israeli Intern

Dana Marmari Jacksonville Jewish News: What are you looking forward to most in coming to Jacksonville and working within the Jewish community here?

Dana Marmari: I look forward to meeting and getting to know all the amazing people and projects that are there in the community.

I’ve heard so many great things about Jacksonville and its Jewish community, I can’t wait to become a part of all the meaningful work being done. I hope that together, we will be able to strengthen the connection between the Jewish community in Jacksonville and Israel.

JJN: Where are you from in Israel and what do you do currently?

DM: I’m from Kfar Saba, a small city in the Sharon region, of the Center District of Israel (about 15 miles north-east of TelAviv). I currently work as a social worker in a protected accommodation for young adults with autism and special needs.

JJN: Have you ever been to the U.S. before and if so what were the circumstances of your experiences?

DM: As a child, I lived in the U.S. twice. At first, we moved to Fort Lauderdale when I was three-years-old for a couple of months and later on, at the age of 7, we moved to Chicago for three years. Since then, my family and I came back and visited every couple of years. In 2012, I was part of a delegation to Ramah Darom summer camp (in Clayton, Ga.), as a video counselor. Now, my older sister lives in Boston so most of our visits center around visiting her and her husband.

JJN: What made you want to take on this role and leave your life in Israel for a year or two to become a Schliha here in the United States?

DM: As an Israeli child living abroad in a Jewish community, I began to uncover the uniqueness and complexity of being part of a Jewish community in the U.S. After returning to Israel, questions and thoughts about Judaism, the state of Israel and the

connection between Jewish people worldwide began occupying my mind. Throughout the years, these questions echoed in my head and made me search for interactions and programs that would allow me to gain knowledge and make a positive change concerning these subjects. After becoming a social worker, my passion for working with people and as part of a community in order to make a change, grew. Mixing all these ingredients together lead me to take this role as a Schlicha and to set out on this new and exciting adventure that I hope will be a meaningful one for the community and for me.

JJN: What is one thing you want to teach or share with American Jews about Israel that they might not otherwise know?

DM: I would like to share the unique, complex and beautiful faces of Israel that are unseen in the global media. I would like to share my love for this amazing , multi-cultural state that deals with so many social, economical and security issues, but does not give up on its livelihood and development. Aside from that, as a young adult growing up in Israel, I would like to share how Israel is a normal home for everyday people who enjoy taking part their hobbies, such as music, movies, and spending time with their families.

Getting to Know Dana …

Favorite food – Grandma’s vegetables salad Favorite singer or song – Justin Timberlake, Idan Raichel and Arik Einstein Favorite vacation spot – Chicago (or any quite beach) Number of countries you’ve visited – 11, and I can’t wait to see more!

Last movie you saw in the theater – Finding Dory Last book you read or one you’re reading currently –‘Suite Francaise’ by Irène Némirovsky Where you get your news – Morning newspaper and news apps Social media site/app you spend the most time using Facebook What you do in your spare time to unwind – Watch movies, meet friends and go to the beach to see the sunset with Pesto, my dog Hidden talent – Photography Quote you live by - “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” -- Mahatma Gandhi

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

international news

More than 200 French Jews immigrate to Israel in July aboard the largest French Aliyah flight of the summer this year 2000, half in the past five years alone. In response to this unprecedented demand from French Jews, The Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Aliyah and Immi-

More than 20,000 French Jews have immigrated to Israel during the last four years, and last month’s El Al Aliyah flight was the largest of 2016 By the Jewish Agency for Israel

More than 200 French Jews arrived in Israel in late July aboard a special Aliyah (immigration) flight organized by The Jewish Agency for Israel in partnership with the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption and Keren Hayesod-UIA. Upon their arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport, they will be greeted by Chairman of the Executive of The Jewish Agency for Israel Natan Sharansky, Minister of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver, Minister of the Interior Aryeh Machlouf Deri, and Chairman of Keren HayesodUIA Eliezer (Moodi) Sandberg.

This is the largest Aliyah flight from France set to land in Israel this summer. Half of the new immigrants are teenagers, children, and toddlers who will join the Israeli education system at the end of the summer vacation. The immigrants also include several families in which three generations—grandparents, parents, and children—will be making Aliyah together. The majority of the immigrants will make their homes in Netanya, Raanana, Jerusalem, and Ashdod. The flight was planned months ago, without any connection to recent events in France.

Chairman of the Executive of The Jewish Agency for Israel Natan Sharansky said: “French Jews who immigrate to Israel are coming out of choice: they have a whole world of opportunities before them, and they are choosing to come to Israel. Their choice is demonstrates that Israel affords

a sense of Jewish identity and attachment to those Jews who wish to take an active part in the Jewish story. We must do everything we can to ease their professional, educational, and personal integration into Israeli society and ensure that they feel at home from the moment they first set foot on our homeland’s soil.”

Minister of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver said: “In light of the difficult weekend in Nice, I wish to welcome the immigrants from France who chose to immigrate to Israel now.

French Aliyah strengthens Israel, and the Government of Israel works tirelessly to ease their absorption – the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption will continue to work to remove obstacles to employment and create new opportunities for young immigrants from France, to illustrate to them that Israel is their home.”

The French Jewish community is the largest in Europe and the second-largest in the world outside of Israel, numbering a little less than a half a million Jews. French Jewish immigration to Israel has surged since the year 2012, breaking records for Aliyah from France and from Western countries more generally. 2014 marked the first time in Israel’s history that more than one percent of a Western Jewish community made Aliyah in a single year, an achievement repeated in 2015, with the arrival of some 7,800 immigrants from France – the most ever. In total, nearly 10-percent of the French Jewish community has immigrated to Israel since the year

French Aliyah stats

Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 * = projected total

Made Aliyah 1,900 people 3,300 people 7,200 people 7,800 people *10,000 people

grant Absorption have developed a special plan to facilitate Aliyah from France and ease French Jewish immigrants’ integration into Israeli society. The plan includes efforts to deepen young French Jews’ Jewish identity, bring them to experience Israel on a variety

of programs, provide French Jews with comprehensive Aliyah information and counseling, remove barriers to employment, and increase the number of Jewish Agency shlichim (representatives) in France.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

national news

Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and renowned Holocaust survivor, dies at age 87

BY RONEN SHNIDMAN Haaretz.com

Holocaust survivor, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, prolific author and outspoken activist Elie Wiesel died Saturday, July 2nd at the age of 87.

Wiesel was perhaps best known for his major role in promoting Holocaust education, and for perpetuating the memory of the Holocaust in the post-World War II era with his memoir “Night,” based on his experience as a teenager in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Eliezer “Elie” Wiesel was born on September 30, 1928 in the Romanian town of Sighet, to Sarah and Shlomo Wiesel. His maternal grandfather, Dodye Feig, was a member of the Vishnitz Hasidic sect; his strong influence over Wiesel was seen later in some of his writings. Wiesel received a traditional religious education while growing up in Sighet; many years later, in 2002, he returned to his hometown to dedicate the Elie Weisel Memorial House at the site of his childhood home.

The Wiesel family’s lives were seriously disrupted in 1940, when

Wiesel received numerous honors over the years, including the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and the rank of Grand-Croix in France

Hungary annexed Sighet and all the Jews in town were forced to move into one of two ghettoes. In May 1944, the Nazis, with Hungary’s agreement, deported the Jewish community of Sighet to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. The teenage Wiesel was sent with his father Shlomo to the Buna Werke labor camp, a sub-camp of Auschwitz III-Monowitz, where they were forced to work for eight months before being transferred to a series of other concentration

camps near the war’s end. The malnourished and dysentery-stricken Shlomo Wiesel died after receiving a beating from a German soldier on January 29, 1945, several weeks after he and Elie were forcedmarched to the Buchenwald camp.

Wiesel’s mother Sarah and younger sister Tzipora also perished in the Holocaust. He would later recount those and other events in his 1955 memoir “Night.”

After the war, Wiesel was sent with other young survivors by the

Wiesel alongside the Dalai Lama meeting with former U.S. President George W. Bush during a ceremony at the White House in Washington

French Jewish humanitarian organization Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants to an orphanage in Écouis, France. He lived for several years at the home, where he was reunited with the only surviving members of his immediate family: his older sisters Beatrice and Hilda.

In 1948, the 20-year-old Wiesel pursued studies in literature, philosophy and psychology at the Sorbonne, but never completed them.

Around the same time, after working a series of odd jobs including teaching Hebrew, Wiesel – who mostly wrote in French throughout his life – became a professional journalist, writing for both French and Israeli publications. In 1948, he translated Hebrew articles into Yiddish for Israel’s pre-state Irgun militia. Wiesel visited the nascent State of Israel in 1949 as a foreign correspondent for the French newspaper L’arche. He was subsequently hired by the daily Yedioth Ahronoth as its Paris correspondent, and also worked for the paper as a roving correspondent abroad.

He also covered the 1961 trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann for the New York-based Yiddish newspaper The Forward.

Despite or perhaps because of the major traumatic impact the Holocaust had on his life, Wiesel did not write about those experiences until encouraged to do so during a conversation with French Nobel Laureate for Literature Francois Mauriac, in 1954. The original version of his first memoir was over 800 pages, written in Yiddish and entitled “Un di velt hot geshvign” (“And the World Remained Silent”). He wrote a much shorter version in French, published in 1958 as “La Nuit” and it was translated into English as “Night,” two years later. Despite, its eventual popularity, “Night” sold less than 2,000 copies in its first 18 months in the United States. However, the book did attract much attention among reviewers and created a higher media profile for Wiesel; it has gone on to sell more than six million copies.

In 1955, Wiesel moved to New York to cover the United Nations.

During his time in the city he was hit by a taxi, requiring a prolonged convalescence in the hospital. Following his recovery, Wiesel applied for permanent residency and in 1963 became a U.S. citizen; this was the first citizenship he held since becoming stateless during the Holocaust. A longtime bachelor, Wiesel eventually met his wife to-be, divorced Austrian Holocaust survivor Marion Rose, in New York. They married in Jerusalem in 1969. Marion served as the English translator for Wiesel’s subsequent books.

The world-renowned Holocaust survivor received numerous awards and honors over the years, including the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and the rank of Grand-Croix in France’s Legion of Honor, and he was knighted as Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Perhaps the highest honor of all was the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his role in speaking out against violence, repression and racism. Wiesel was also the recipient of over 100 honorary doctorates, and received France’s distinguished Prix Medicis for his 1968 book “A Beggar in Jerusalem,” describing the Jewish response to the reunification of Jerusalem fol-

lowing the Six-Day War. In Israel, in 2007, then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reportedly suggested nominating Wiesel as candidate for president of Israel on behalf of the Kadima party, but Wiesel was said to have declined the offer. Olmert eventually selected Shimon Peres as Kadima’s candidate for president; Peres would later award Wiesel the President’s Medal of Distinction in 2013. In addition to his writing, Wiesel enjoyed a second career as an academic. From 1972 to 1976, he was professor of Judaic Studies at the City University of New York.

Thereafter, he was Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University, and a member of both its philosophy and religion departments. Wiesel was Henry Luce Visiting Scholar in Humanities and Social Thought at Yale University (1982-83), and visiting professor of Judaic studies at Barnard College of Columbia University from 1997 to 1999.

Elie Wiesel was noted during his lifetime for using his celebrity appeal to promote Holocaust remembrance, but also to speak out on various political issues, including instances of genocide around the world. In September 2006, for example, he appeared with Hollywood actor George Clooney before the UN Security Council to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. In 2007, the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity issued a letter criticizing the denial of the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks; it was signed

by Wiesel and 52 other Nobel laureates.

Wiesel was concerned about human rights in general, serving on the International Council of the Human Rights Foundation and he spoke out against South African apartheid, Argentina’s policy of “disappearing” people during its Dirty War, and the Bosnian genocide during the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. In 2010, he came out publicly against the Netanyahu government’s decision to deport 400 children of migrant workers from Israel.Weisel was an advocate when it came to a host of Jewish issues, and in particular was stridently pro-Israel. Following a visit to the Soviet Union in 1965, he wrote about the plight of Soviet Jews in a book called “The Jews of Silence,” and spoke out in favor of the struggle to allow them to emigrate; he was also a vocal supporter of the immigration of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. In April 2010, he took out advertisements in four major newspapers, criticizing the Obama administration for pressuring the Netanyahu government to halt construction in Jewish neighborhoods located across the Green Line in East Jerusalem.

Wiesel repeated that tactic in 2013 when he took out a full-page ad in The New York Times calling on the U.S. administration to demand the total dismantling of the nuclear infrastructure in Iran because that country had called for Israel’s destruction.

In a 2012 interview with Haaretz, Wiesel said he would bequeath the archive of his writings to Boston University, where he had taught for decades. Wiesel is survived by his wife Marion, their son Shlomo Elisha Wiesel, and his stepdaughter Jennifer and two grandchildren

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016

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Jacksonville Jewish News • August 2016