Jewish Connector Isabel Balotin Retires after 14 Years with Jewish Federation & Foundation By Mitzi Saul, Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida
“I’d like to thank all the wonderful Shalom Jax volunteers who prepared welcome baskets, visited newcomers, served on committees, local businesses that supported our programs and donated gift cards, the synagogues that shared new names with us, the Jewish schools which encouraged their teachers to participate in our holiday programs, River Garden for hosting our Jewish Java programs, the wonderful and inspiring speakers who donated their time, and most of all, Alan Margolies and the Federation staff for believing in and supporting this program.” She knows everyone. New to town and want to find a synagogue? A Jewish day school? Be a guest in someone’s home for Seder? Isabel Balotin is the one to call. As Federation’s Shalom Jacksonville director, Isabel or Izzy, as she’s lovingly called, has been welcoming Jewish newcomers to the area since May 2006. She founded our community’s first Jewish “Welcome Wagon” for individuals and families to connect people to others, businesses and resources. And at the end of this month, Izzy will be retiring from Federation.
She is an energetic juggernaut. Over the past 14 years, she’s held get-togethers in public places, coordinating details with local restaurants while attracting hundreds of newcomers. She also took them on field trips to Amelia Island, St. Augustine, the Beaches and other places in our area. Isabel’s signature program, Jewish Java, has held gatherings at Panera Bread, Let’s Nosh, Village Bread and River Garden. At Jewish Java, attendees learned from and were inspired by stimulating speakers: gurus and professional leaders in the Northeast Florida region. The region has been her playground and backdrop for memorable programs that created lasting friendships, meaningful Jewish experiences and an appreciation of the natural beauty of our area. And the pandemic didn’t stop her from planning. Her creative virtual programs have taken attendees to the 1950s Catskills, a tour of Africa, birdwatching, speaking Yiddush and learning from a visiting Rabbi about new rituals and prayers.
34
“I have always felt that each person has value and that each one brings a spark of light to the world.” - Isabel Balotin Izzy is a woman with boundless, creative energy and is passionate about her Jewishness. “I want people to love the Jewish people as I love them. The mitzvah of hachnasat orchim or welcoming the stranger is one of the most mentioned in our Torah. How we treat newcomers makes a big difference in how well they fit in our community. We all need to be welcoming.”
Her journey to Jacksonville in 1971 wasn’t without its challenges. She and her late husband, Allen, a pharmacist, packed up her three children in Ellenville, New York located in the Catskills and moved to Jacksonville. In 1973, they welcomed the birth of their fourth child, Gregory. “When we first moved here, living in the South was a culture shock for me and my family. The Southern accents were hard to understand. I couldn’t get any Kosher food. We didn’t know a soul!”
