HAPPY CHANUKAH Chanukah events and celebrations.
EVENTS, PARTIES Federation program season in high gear. page 2, 4, 7
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GIRLFRIEND CONNECTION See all photos: jewishjacksonville.org/ gfc.aspx. See more photos: page 7, 19
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JEWISH NEWS ONLINE Don’t have the JJN with you? Read us online. Find the link at: jewishjacksonville.org/news
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December 2012 • Kislev/Tevet 5773 • Published by Jewish Federation of Jacksonville • www.jewishjacksonville.org • Volume 25, Number 6 • 32 pages
Silverman installed as JFNA treasurer
Israel recovers amid political struggles By JFNA
By Jewish Federation of Jacksonville
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At the recent annual General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America, Steve Silverman was installed as treasurer of the federation system’s national organization. The CEO of JFNA, Jerry Silverman, said, “Steve has more than earned this honor, having served as co chair of our recent GAs in Denver and New Orleans with his wife, Judy, and as chair of our Financial Relations Committee for many years.” Larry Appel, Federation president, said of Silverman, “It’s exciting for Jacksonville that a member of our community is one of the leaders of JFNA, and it is a tribute to Steve that as he has increased his leadership nationally, he continues to be a pillar of our local Federation and Jewish community. I am confident his new role as JFNA treasurer will allow Steve to expand even further the positive impact of his passion for Jewish communities around the globe.” Steve Silverman has served the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville in leadership capacities for more than 25 years. He is a past president. He is the only person to have served two terms as chair of the annual campaign. He has provided the leadership for several Federation missions to Israel and also headed up the allocations process. Federation Executive Director Alan Margolies has worked closely with Steve for many years. He expressed having “great respect and admiration for one of our most outstanding leaders.” Margolies said, “Steve handled the difficult job of chairing the national Financial Relations Committee the past few years during these challenging economic times. He has done everything asked of him and more to prepare to be JFNA’s treasurer. This is a special honor and one truly deserved.”
IDF soldiers spend time with Ethiopian children who make Aliyah during the bombing. Photo by JAFI
Aliyah under rocket fire By Jewish Agency for Israel
Exactly 28 years ago, Israel began its three-month airlift of some 8,000 Jews from Ethiopia. Many walked barefoot across Sudan’s desert so – at last – they could board a plane to Zion, their homeland. Last month, 95 more Ethiopians reunited with their families in Israel, joining a community that now number more than 120,000. These latest immigrants landed in an Israel that was less a picturesque version of flowing milk and honey and more a country tense with wailing sirens and rocket attacks. Immediately upon the immigrants’ arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, Jewish Agency for Israel staffers briefed them on safety protocols and bused them to the Ibim Absorption center near Sderot. There the new olim
were ushered into the communal bomb shelters. Nearly 500 new olim from Ethiopia live at Ibim. IDF soldiers have come to Ibim to organize fun activities for the more than 250 children there and the Jewish Agency has taken many of these kids on day trips away from the danger zone. “These olim are Zionists,” said Moseh Bahta – Ibim’s director. “They feel like a part of the Jewish people. I have watched them react over the last week, and they are like soldiers. Some have even said, ‘Give us weapons, so we can defend Israel.’” JAFI, with support of JFNA and others, have provided respites for nearly 30,000 children living in Israel’s South and distributed cash grants to more than 50 families through JFNA’s Fund for Victims of Terror.
With a cease fire in place for Israel and Hamas, as we go to print with the Jewish News, and the remains of Yasar Arafat being examined for a cause of death and Prime Minister Abbas hoping to seek recognition at the United Nations General Assembly, things in the Middle East are in a very constant state of flux. As all of this unfolds, politics in Israel are also heating up with the stepping down of defense minister Barak. Here’s a look: Livni: As expected, at noon Israel time Nov. 27, former Kadima leader Tzippi Livni announced that she had formed her own, new party and was running for prime minister. The new party will be called Hatenua, or “The Movement.” Livni’s decision to create her own party has disappointed some left-leaning parties who had been hoping that Livni would join them, including Shelly Yachimovich, who had appealed to Livni to join forces with her in Labor. No announcement has been made about who will appear on Livni’s list, but names that are circulating include former Labor leader Amram Mitzna as well as a number of current Kadima members of Knesset including Shlomo Molla, who has a close relationship with Jewish Federations, as well as Yochanan Plesner who led the failed fight for a new law mandated compulsory military service for all. Likud: The results of the Likud party’s primaries were announced Nov. 27. The new list has moved significantly to the right with personalities such as Danny Danon, Tzippi Hotovelly and Moshe Feiglin gaining prominent positions. At
the same time, some old time Likud “princes” such as Dan Meridor and Benny Begin– who were identified with a more traditional, liberal Likud world view; albeit often very hawkish – only managed to secure unrealistic positions on the list. Nonetheless, party leader Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he will be the one to decide on ministerial positions should he win the election, and as such, he has the right to appoint non-sitting MKs, hinting at Meridor and Begin. Similarly, Netanyahu may be able to convince Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Leiberman to include names on his contribution to the combined list that may further balance out the more extreme personalities. Barak: Similarly, one poll on Nov. 27 showed that Ehud Barak- who announced his retirement yesterday and said that he will not run in these elections – is the most popular choice (44 percent) for the country’s defense minister. Netanyahu could still appoint him to this position after the elections, even if he is not an MK. Polls: The latest opinion poll, conducted by Israel Channel 10 following the Likud primaries, (and taking in to account the expected Livni announcement), was released Nov. 27. It gave the following results for expected seats in the Knesset, should elections be held now: Likud Beteinu 37, Labor 20, Shas 14, Arab parties 10, Bayit Heyehudi 9, Livni’s Party 9, United Torah Judaism 6, Lapid 5, Am Shalem 4, and Meretz 3. As in almost every poll to date, the right block polls around 70 seats, versus the center-left of 50.
Spotlight: JCA’s preschool and afterschool
Jewish Community Alliance is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville. By DIANE RODGERS Communications Director
Talia Steiner’s son Eitan attended Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool from 18 months old until he graduated kindergarten. Steiner chose Jewish Community Alliance’s preschool after extensive research. “This place not only gave me a sense of security but also I felt the warmth of the people immediately,” she said. Steiner liked that the preschool offered a program with a curriculum, that it wasn’t just a daycare. “I thought it was important especially being a single parent,” she said. She was impressed with the facility itself and the
See JCA, p. 20 Talia Steiner and her son Eitan