Jacksonville Jewish News June 2011

SHAVUOT Read perspectives from a rabbi and Israel resident.

page 28

YEAR IN REVIEW Jacksonville Jewish agencies reflect on the year. page 4

WORLD OF NATIONS See story and pics on the Israel pavilion.

page 30

Jewish News Jacksonville

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June 2011 • Iyyar/Sivan 5771 • Published by Jewish Federation of Jacksonville • www.jewishjacksonville.org • Volume 23, Number 12 • 32 pages

Introducing Jacksonville’s Jewish leadership

Larry Appel

Nancy Perlman

Mark Green

Howard Caplan

Mark Lodinger

Federation President Larry Appel

treasurer, allocations chair, and having participated on a number of overseas missions,” Federation Executive Director Alan Margolies said.

Larry Appel is senior vice president of Retail Operations for Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. Appel joined Winn-Dixie in 2002 as senior vice president of Legal and General Counsel. He later became

leader of the Human Resources department. Before joining WinnDixie, Appel served as senior vice president of Legal at The Home Depot Inc. Prior to entering the corporate world, he was in private practice in Atlanta, predominantly with the King & Spalding law firm. He has vast experience in mergers and acquisitions; equity and debt financing; and other

major business transactions.

Appel holds a bachelor of arts in government from the University of Virginia and a doctor of jurisprudence from the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated Order of the Coif, an honor society for U.S. law school graduates.

Larry is married to Caren.

They have three children: Re-

becca, Molly and Michael.

Larry Appel begins his first year as president of the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, taking over the reigns from Gary Perlman.

“Larry is most prepared to take on this new responsibility having served as campaign chair,

JCA President Nancy Perlman

Nancy B. Perlman is beginning her second year as president of the JCA Board of Directors.

She has been a board member since 1994 and has served as

See PRESIDENTS, p. 30

Girlfriend Connection: Style is forever

Chairs Caren Appel and Tammy Shumer Marcy Sandler, Jill Abel, Lauren Setzer, Debra Pataky and Carrie Bielski

8505 San Jose Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32217

Jacksonville Jewish Federation

POSTMASTER PLEASE DELIVER BY JUNE 1

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Jacksonville, FL Permit No. 146

Risa Herman, Holly Emas, Micki Green and Jackie Goldman.

Jeanine Rogozinski, Cecilia Cristol and Lauren Cathy Klien Debra Pataky Sue Nussbaum Block Over 180 women gathered on May 12 at the UNF University Center to celebrate the Federation’s Women’s Division Girlfriend Connection: A Runway for Real Women. Highlighting 16 local models, fashion consultant Rory Garvey of Chicago dazzled the crowd with her accessible fashion tips. Those gathered heard the incredible stories of four women whose lives have been saved by Federation donors to the annual campaign.

To view the stories of these women and see more photos, visit jfedcommunity.org. Also, more pics on p. 2.

page 2

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

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Our caregivers are trained in Jewish holidays and customs.

Models

Jill Abel Carrie Bielski Cecilia Cristol Karen Freedman Debbie Gottlieb Karianne Jaffa Cathy Klein Shana Loomar-Landmann Lynn Maiman Sue Nussbaum Debbi Pataky Linda Rodman Marcy Sandler Lauren Setzer Helen Siegal Randee Steinberg

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

page 3

www.jewishjacksonville.org

COMMUNITY NEWS

Holocaust museum and Ancestry.com launch World Memory Project The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Ancestry.com recently announced the launch of the World Memory Project, www.WorldMemoryProject. org, which will recruit the public to help build the world’s largest online resource for information on Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of non-Jews who were targeted for persecution by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. The project will dramatically expand the number of museum documents relating to individual victims that can be searched online.

The museum’s archives contain information on well over 17 million people targeted by Nazi racial and political policies, including

Jews, Poles, Roma, Ukrainians, political prisoners, and many others.

The museum assists thousands of people worldwide every year that are searching for information about individuals in its collections. The World Memory Project will greatly expand the accessibility of the museum’s archival collection and enable millions of people to search for their answers online.

“The Nazis’ genocidal policies quickly turned millions of individual lives, filled with hopes and dreams, into massive statistics that are hard to comprehend. Through our partnership with Ancestry. com, we hope to remind the public that the Holocaust is not about

Mission Possible: River Garden’s annual Gala

Live Generously.

®

The River Garden Foundation will hold its 19th annual Gala on Saturday evening, Nov. 12, at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village.

SunTrust Bank will serve as Premier Gala Sponsor, and the event will be co-chaired by Dorothy Verstandig and Maxine Romo.

The Gala is the Foundation’s major annual fundraising event in support of River Garden’s mission to serve the entire community — rich and poor alike — with caring and excellence.

Since 1993, the galas have raised more than $2.6 million for River Garden’s frail elderly.

Sponsorship levels range from $1,000 to $15,000, and regular individual ticket prices begin at $250.

The theme of this year’s event is: “Mission Possible … An Evening of Elegance and Intrigue,” and organizers would like to make it possible for those ages 40 and under to attend in greater numbers. Toward that end, a new

category of junior patron tickets will now be available at a cost of $175 per person.

The black-tie evening will feature cocktails, a silent auction, dining, entertainment, dancing and more.

All proceeds benefit River Garden residents. More than 50 percent of River Garden’s residents receive Medicaid, and the Home must raise approximately $1.3 million a year to make up the difference between the cost of care and the amount received from Medicaid.

“Without the philanthropic support of our caring friends and members of the community,” said development director Kathy Osterer, “we would be unable to maintain the standards of quality care that enable our residents to live with dignity in a safe, caring environment.”

For more information or reservations, call Kathy Osterer at 904-886-8430 or email kosterer@ rivergarden.org.

No gift touches more lives...

numbers but about individuals just like us and to help families uncover histories they thought were lost,” says Sara J. Bloomfield, museum director. “The museum’s vast archives contain documentation that may be the only remaining link to an individual life.

Preserving these personal histories and making them available online is one of the most powerful ways we can learn from history and honor the victims.”

The World Memory Project will utilize proprietary software and project management donated

by Ancestry.com, which hosts its own online archival project to expand its transcribed records collections. Once transcribed, the indices will be hosted exclusively

on Ancestry.com and permanently free to search. The museum will also provide copies of documents to survivors and their families at no cost. The original documentation will remain in the museum’s archival collection.

Individuals from anywhere in the world can help in this unique effort to make collections from the museum available online by visiting www.worldmemoryproject. org and registering to become a contributor. Since a beta launch in February, Ancestry.com contributors have already indexed over 30,000 museum archival documents that will soon be searchable at no cost by users around the globe. This figure will multiply as more people participate in the

project.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with such a respected institution to provide people around the world access to these truly important collections,” said Tim Sullivan, chief executive officer of Ancestry.com. “It is our hope that by making these collections easier to search, victims and their families will finally be able to answer difficult but significant questions about the fate of their loved ones, and in doing so, complete and preserve such significant family stories.”

To find out more about the World Memory Project or to learn how to become a contributor, please visit www.WorldMemoryProject.org.

MDA responds to overturned bus On the afternoon of April 23, Magen David Adom, the Israeli Red Cross, received numerous phone calls about a bus with a full load of passengers that was turned over on Israel’s Highway 6. MDA mobile intensive care units arrived at the scene within a few minutes.

The bus passengers were Israeli Arab families; the majority of the casualties were children.

Triage and medical treatment

were provided at the scene by MDA paramedics and emergency medical technicians; five of the casualties were in critical condition, 10 in moderate condition and 20 lightly injured.

MDA ambulances evacuated 45 patients to six hospitals: Beilinson (Petach Tikva), Tel HaShomer (Ramat Gan), Ichilov (Tel Aviv), HaSharon (Petach Tikva), Schneider Children Hospital (Petach Tikva)and

Meir (Kfar Sava). MDA Blood Services supplied 96 blood units and blood components to the hospitals.

Here in Jacksonville, the local chapter of American Friends of Magen David Adom is raising funds to buy a new ambulance for MDA. For more information about AFMDA’s local activities, contact the local chapter at Mitzvah Chapter AFMDA, 288-9745.

Brotherhood hosts healthcare reform panel Beth El – The Beaches Synagogue Brotherhood will present Perspectives on Health Care Reform, A Panel Discussion on Sunday, June 5, at 10 a.m.

Panelists will include Michael K. Shumer, CEO Crucial Care,

Emergency Medicine Doctors, H. William Montoya, CLU President Montoya Benefits Group & Montoya Financial Strategies, Jeffrey Goldhagen, M.D Professor of Pediatrics, University of Florida.

Eric Sandler, M.D. will be moderating the discussion.

This event is free and open to the public.

For further information contact Beth El at 273-9100.

What is Your Home Worth? www.JacksonvilleHomeValues.info

...a gift to Federation helps Jews in need here at home in Jacksonville, in Israel and around the world.

(904) 629-HOME

To make your pledge today visit jewishjacksonville.org or call 448-5000.

www.PaigeWajsman.com Keller Williams Jacksonville Realty

Thank you ... thank you ... thank you 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 adverisers: • Anthony and Sandra European Day Spa • Beachview & GT Party Rentals • Best Bagels & Deli • Beth El The Beaches Synagogue • Bob Ham Eyewear • Brandon Pest Control • Brighton Bay • Broadway Deli and Grill • Brookdale Senior Living • Comforcare Senior Services

• First Coast Mohs Skin Cancer & Reconstruction Surgery Center • Florida State College at Jacksonville • Gold Hills Jewerly • Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home • Jami Shapiro/Erica Jolles Realtors • Jewish Community Alliance • Jewish Museum of Florida • Kehillah Chadashah • Kobe Japanese Restaurant

• • • • • • • • • •

Let’s Nosh Margo’s Catering Mark Kraus, MetLife Mediterrania Paige Wajsman/Keller Williams Realty Stein Mart The Academy at Julington Creek The Jacksonville Children Chorus Vandroff Insurance Business Directory, p. 25

For your advertising needs, please contact one of our advertising sales representatives: Lara Werwa at 234-5720, Barbara Nykerk at 904.733.4179 or Irina Stevens at 904.612.5264.

What’s inside Adult Education........................ p. 10 Community................................. p. 3 Education.................................. p. 12 Jewish Family & Community Services.................................... p. 25 Jewish Community Alliance .... p. 22 Jewish Foundation................... p. 23 Lifecycles.................................. p. 26 Obituaries................................. p. 26 Perspectives............................. p. 28 River Garden............................. p. 24 Synagogues ............................. p. 18 Women’s................................... p. 11 World of Nations....................... p. 30 Year in review............................. p. 4

page 4

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

YEAR IN REVIEW: FEDERATION

Federation: More than a fundraising organization

A

s we approach the close of another year, we wish to express our sincere appreciation to our volunteers and staff who have worked together on a wide range of projects.

We also appreciate the constant cooperation that we receive from the executive directors and presidents of the major local agencies, as well as from the presidents, executive directors and rabbis representing the synagogues.

Together we have built organizations that have earned the respect of their corresponding national counterparts, an accomplishment that we attribute to the relationships that we have established here in Jacksonville. We should all be proud of this achievement and commit to its continuation.

As president and executive director, we have been privileged to work with the following vol-

Gary Perlman

Alan Margolies

unteers who have brought a level of excellence to these important endeavors: 2011 Annual Campaign: Larry Appel, chair Allocations Committee: Hal Resnick, chair Women’s Division: Rori Stevens, president; Risa Her-

man, campaign chair Finance Committee: Francine Kempner, chair Nominating Committee: Leonard Setzer, chair Israel Partnership: Iris Kraemer, chair Young Leadership Division: Todd Werwa, chair

Jacksonville kids learn about Israel at the World of Nations Celebration in Metropolitan Park.

Electronic Media Task Force: Andrea Mail, chair Jewish Educator’s Council: Rabbi Meir Cohen, chair Communications Committee: Jon Israel, chair Just by taking a look beneath the surface of these major areas of Federation activity, we can see the numerous positive programs, events and ongoing processes that reflect the course of a year.

We want to express our gratitude to all who worked on the Annual Campaign, helped to make the allocations process work smoothly and effectively, continued to produce the best possible programming for our Women’s Division and Young Leadership Division, guided our finance committee to finish under budget for a 21st consecutive year, contributed to an excellent slate of officers and board members for the com-

Dan and Karianne Jaffa taking part in Super Sunday.

ing year, and enhanced our Israel Partnership.

Additionally, we have seen our Jewish educators work together to produce one of the best Family University events in many years.

We should also take pride in the work we are doing with social networking and e-philanthropy, which has the potential to change our communication for many years to come.

It is clear that the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville is far more than just a fundraising organization. However, nothing can occur without the Annual Campaign.

Thus, in closing, we express our heartfelt appreciation to our donors. Your confidence in what we do makes all the difference to us and to our community.

Thank you, Gary Perlman and Alan Margolies

Pataky family volunteers for annual Holiday Mitzvah meals on wheels delivery Christmas day.

Federation awards to be presented at June 2 Annual Meeting At the May meeting of the board of directors, the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville announced its leadership awards for 2011 to be presented at the annual meeting Federation shares with the Jewish Community Alliance, Jewish Family & Community Services, River Garden and the Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida.

Each year, Federation presents the Ilene Sari Selevan Young Leadership award to a man and a woman who have demonstrated current leadership with the potential for future engagement and involvement in federation activity.

Ilene Selevan, whose name

Ken and Allison Jacobs

Scot Ackerman

the award bares, was a role model for many in our community. This year, Ken and Allison Jacobs are the recipients.

The couple chaired Federation’s Super Sunday effort the past two years. They have committed to be part of our family

mission in July 2012. Ken will serve on the Federation Executive Committee.

He has been on the Federation Board, YLD Committee, Allocations Committee and the Shalom Jacksonville Committee. He is also active in the Annual Campaign. Allison is very active with the Women’s Division, serving on the Steering Committee.

She has chaired the Girlfriend Connection, and has served on the Young Leadership and Shalom Jacksonville committees.

Each year Federation presents its prestigious Joe P. Safer Community Service award. The recipient is someone who, in the spirit of Joe P. Safer, has the interest

of the entire Jewish community evident in the manner in which he or she conducts themselves in their volunteer capacities.

This year Scot Ackerman is the recipient. Ackerman is recognized for having served as the first president of Beth El – The Beaches Synagogue, past president of Federation and current president of Etz Chaim Synagogue. Also of note, is Ackerman’s consistency in providing significant service to many other Jewish agencies in the community.

The annual meeting will take place on Thursday, June 2, 7 p.m., at the Jewish Community Alliance.

Federation News: Shalom Jacksonville summertime welcome

By ISABEL BALOTIN Shalom Jacksonville

For most of us, the summer months are a time to relax, catch up on our reading, spend time outdoors and just take a break from some of our day-to-day activities. However, for Shalom Jacksonville this is the “season for newcomers.” While many families move to this area all year long, we find most arrive during the summer months.

To acquaint new people with our area, we are planning a couple of casual gatherings for newcomers and anyone else interested in making Jewish connections and learning more about the general community.

Our first event will be held on Sunday, June 26, at 7 p.m. at the home of Yvonne Cohen, 1194 Cunningham Creek Drive (Julington Creek area). This is a wonderful opportu-

nity for anyone new to the Jewish community to make connections with their neighbors and find out the latest happenings around town.

Homemade desserts and other yummies will be served. Please RSVP to Isabel Balotin, 904-448-5000 x 206 or shalomjax@jewishjacksonville. org. Another event is planned for July.

Jewish Java: Where friends gather

Join us for our popular Jewish Javas which are held in Mandarin and Clay County. Stop by a Java near you or travel a few miles and meet other friendly people. Whichever Java you attend, you will be welcomed with open arms. It doesn’t matter how long you have lived in Jacksonville, you are always welcome to join us for any one of

our popular coffee and schmoozing programs. It’s the perfect place to find out the latest happenings in the Jewish community and meet people in the know. The Jewish News and other community flyers are available at these events, and there are no solicitations.

Mandarin Jewish Java: June 1, 9-10:30 a.m., at Let’s Nosh. Join us on the first Wednesday of every month at 9850 San Jose Blvd. Free coffee and door prize.

Clay County Jewish Java: June 5, 7-8:30 p.m., at Panera Bread Company on Fleming Island. Stop by and meet other Jewish people in the area.

For more information and RSVP, contact Barbi Greenberg, 284-6020.

Shalom Jacksonville is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. For information, contact Isabel Balotin, 448-5000 x 206 or shalomjax@jewishjacksonville.org.

Newcomers make new friends.

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

page 5

www.jewishjacksonville.org

YEAR IN REVIEW: JCA

Jewish Community Alliance celebrates a fabulous year This past year has been a fabulous one at the JCA. We continued to grow, change and strengthen our Jewish commitment and involvement. We also continued to make improvements to our building, equipment, programs, services and staff. We served the Jewish community more completely and better than ever before.

We continued to serve our Jewish community through programs like our nationally accredited preschool, elementary after-school care, classical music concerts, pottery, theater outings, AARP Mature Driving Courses, and a host of sports, recreation and fitness activities.

The Vandroff Art Gallery offers local artists the opportunity to exhibit their work to a large audience of JCA members and nonmembers.

Group shows included the Society of Mixed Media Artists, the Jacksonville Watercolor Society, the Art Guild of Orange Park and “Expressions,” a special Israeli art exhibit.

The Jewish Book Festival, held for two weeks in November, attracted over 1,000 participants attending the various events. There was a wide and interesting variety of books by Jewish authors, including Joel Chasnoff, author of “The 188th Crybaby Brigade,” who spoke at the Patrons’ Event.

Also appearing were Jan Goldstein, author of “The Bride Will Keep Her Name,” and Jeff Zaslow, author of “The Girls From Ames.”

Lucy Rose Fischer, author of “I’m New at Being Old,” appeared at an event co-sponsored by River Garden.

When author Howard Herskowitz spoke about his father Aaron’s miraculous survival during World War II, one Jacksonville resident proudly remembered her own father’s role in the story. Herskowitz’s book, “Aaron’s Journey – From Slave to Master,” tells of his father’s triumph over his Nazi captors and how he fought with the Russians and eventually was

appointed overlord of a captured enemy town where he controlled the fate of some of his former tormentors. Aaron’s friend, Max Zelmanovic, fought alongside him and saved his life by taking a bullet meant for Aaron. Jacksonville resident and JCA member Bonnie Osterman is Max’s daughter.

In October, the JCA Concert Series presented the Performance Outreach Ensemble at Jacksonville University as part of the 9th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days. In November, student musicians from the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University performed in free concerts.

Also performing in free concerts as part of the Young Concert Artists Series were violinist Bella Hristova, violinist Noe Inui and pianist Charlie Albright.

The JCA Film Series showed a film of Jewish interest every month. Films included “One Day You’ll Understand,” “Starting Out in the Evening,” “Aviva My Love,” “Surfwise,” “Trembling Before G-D,” “Blessed is the Match – the Life and Death of Hannah Senesh,” “Hello Goodbye,” “Ajami,” “Out of Europe,” and “For My Father.” Most of these films had not been shown in Jacksonville, and the JCA gave an opportunity to see award-winning films of Jewish and Israeli content that would otherwise not be available.

Throughout the year, we hosted “Live from New York . . .” simulcasts featuring appearances by author Anna Quindlen, New York Times columnist David Brooks and actor Steve Martin.

More than 400 members of all ages attended the Annual JCA Chanukkah Party. Our famous hotdog and latke dinner was served. The JCA Theater of Youth sang traditional Chanukkah songs.

Parents and children participated in a variety of hands-on activities such as craft projects, dreidel playing, Maccabbi games, and cookie decorating. New toys were

Author Joel Chasnoff signs books at the Book Fair.

Chanukah lighting collected and donated to JFCS to be distributed to needy families.

More than 200 members enjoyed a festive meal, songs and crafts for the children at the Sukkot Family Celebration in October.

The Traditions Cart is a permanent fixture in the JCA lobby. The children of the Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool help to create the cart projects focusing on the holidays of the Jewish calendar.

The cart has succeeded in teaching Jews and non-Jews the significance of our holidays.

J Institute programs offered over the past year ranged from “Bernie’s Deli” to belly dancing to beginning Hebrew.

Classes are offered in pottery, drawing, oil painting, watercolor and mixed media.

The JCA offers a wide variety of programs to enhance the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of our members and the community at large. Programs included Sit and Get Fit, monthly health lectures which are free and open to the community, yoga, nutrition seminars, senior stretch and tone, blood pressure screenings and senior lunch and learn programs.

Building teen and youth involvement is developing at the JCA, especially in our Sports & Recreation Department, Theater Department and the Youth Services Department. We are able to provide programming and many activities for our youth population utilizing an interdepartmental approach to program development with an emphasis on social activities, educational programs, the arts, volunteerism and sports.

The Youth Services Department’s Break Away Day program, which provides care on days when schools are closed for K-6 grades, serviced over 1,000 students.

A very successful continuing program for teens is Jacksonville Teens Volunteer with projects at the Jacksonville Zoo, River Gar-

den Hebrew Home, Jewish Family & Commmunity Services, Dignity U Wear and Mandarin Museum/ Walter Jones Historical Park.

Our Theatre Department has evolved from a youth services department program to a department that serves members of all ages.

We continued to entertain and educate over 20,000 elementary school children with our Magic Wardrobe series. Each show in this repertory-style program follows the educational curriculum of the Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties’ school systems.

The Theatre Department also presented a Sweethearts Cabaret and an Evening of Broadway Music, both featuring local singers.

Our 2011 JCA Youth and Teen Basketball Leagues had 30 teams and almost 220 participants ranging in ages from 4 to 18 and 32 volunteer coaches. The JCA Select Basketball Teams (co-ed), ages ranging from 10 to 15, had 30 players participate. Youth Soccer had 90 players, ages 4 to 12, and 12 volunteer coaches. Flag Football had 123 players and 16 volunteer coaches.

The JCA Sports & Recreation Department offered a variety of preschool, elementary and middleschool sports clinics ranging from basketball, baseball, soccer, girl’s only sports, lacrosse, floor hockey, etc.

The Aquatics Department ran year-round swim lessons in private and group settings for ages 12 months to adults. The Aquatics Department also offered Swim Team, Red Cross CPR for community, CPR for the professional rescuer and lifeguarding.

The JCA Dance Academy had over 70 youth registered dance participants over the past year.

The JCA Tennis Department offered a variety of private and group lessons for ages 4 to 18.

The JCA Fitness Department saw a rise in JCA teen members utilizing personal training over the

past year.

Senior adults enjoyed a variety of musical programs throughout the year. The Taste & Tour with the JCA series offered day trips to points of interest in the area followed by a delicious meal.

All Things Jewish was in its fourth year and going strong.

Programs ranged from Cindy Edelman presenting fabulous Jewish art history lectures to Yiddish music.

Judaism 101 was well attended and our members enjoyed the concept of asking lots of good questions of our local rabbis.

The JCA Summer Camp program is accredited by the American Camping Association and served over 800 different campers last summer. Our program offers camp activities for children age 1 through high school. The preschool camp offers the same security and quality to our youngest population that is received year-round in our NAEYC-accredited preschool and kindergarten.

The Early Childhood Education Department continued to offer the best programming for young children. Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool is one of the first programs in the area to achieve re-accreditation under the new, far more rigorous NAEYC guidelines and is celebrating a 20th anniversary of this prestigious accreditation.

ECE has partnered with the Cummer Art Museum and Gardens, the Jacksonville Symphony, MOSH, the Jacksonville Zoo and the St. Johns Riverkeeper to enhance its students’ learning experience.

Our website (jcajax.org) provided information on JCA programs, activities and events in searchable formats. The site enables participants to register for programs online and provides an additional avenue of communication between the community and the JCA staff. The site received more than 151,000 unique visits in 2010.

The JCA’s Facebook page has almost 500 followers who receive updates on JCA events, programs and activities.

Family enjoys seder plate.

JCA honors Suzette Allen and Alexandra Ackerman Howard Korman President’s Award: Suzette Allen

This award is named in honor of Howard Korman, past president of the Jewish Community Alliance, whose leadership, vision and courage allowed the agency to navigate trying and difficult challenges.

This award recognizes board members who have emulated these significant qualities of leadership, vision and courage during the past program year.

Mrs. Allen is being honored for taking the initiative in get-

ting Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool parents involved in the agency.

She is secretary of the Board of Directors and serves on the Executive and Fundraising committees.

Last year, Mrs. Allen received the prestigious Esther Leah Ritz Next Generation JCC Leadership Award from the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America.

The award identifies future leaders of Jewish community center boards.

Special Services: Alexandra Ackerman

The Special Services Awards is given to a board member who demonstrated outstanding service to our agency. Mrs. Ackerman is a former JCA board member and Jewish Issues Committee chair.

She is being recognized for serving as chairwoman of the 4th Annual Dinners and After Party and making it an enormous success.

She put her personal touch on all aspects of the event and worked tirelessly making sure every detail was covered. Her

Suzette Allen

Alexandra Ackerman

excitement about the event was contagious, and it showed in the results. This event gener-

ated much-needed dollars for scholarships and ensured that the fundraising goal was met.

page 6

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

YEAR IN REVIEW: FOUNDATION

Jewish Community Foundation: What will your legacy be?

State of the Foundation: The Create a Jewish Legacy program continues to be at the forefront of the Foundation’s focus and is the heart and soul of the organization.

Under the guidance of Jewish Federations of North America, the Jewish Community Foundation is sponsoring and presenting a threeyear series of workshops and other educational opportunities designed to enhance bequest development efforts in our community. As we begin the third year of the pilot program, we look back in order to measure success. Of the 14 pilot programs nationwide, the Jacksonville Create a Jewish Legacy program is the only community to receive maximum grant funds each year and to receive the maximum funds for three consecutive years.

Collaborative community effort: Our area synagogues and Jewish agencies have participated together in a CJL Strategic Planning process to ensure the momentum of the program continues, and we continue to thrive and grow in year three and after the pilot. We convened seven focus groups during FY 2010-2011 with the goal being to develop community and internal strategies for implementing CJL. Participants were from various segments of our community, members from each partner organization and professional teams.

Our local synagogues and Jewish agencies are working collaboratively, in the true spirit of community, to create a bequest for permanent endowment culture in Jewish Jacksonville.

Mark Green, Foundation president and Steering Committee member, has been an integral part of the 2010-11 CJL effort. “I feel the creation of a strong foundation is essential to the continuity of our

Jewish agencies and synagogues in Jacksonville so that they will continue to serve our children and our children’s children. By maintaining a strong foundation, we will provide a continued stream of funding to our synagogues and agencies. This worthwhile cause will benefit generation after generation. What better legacy could we create?”

Richard Sisisky, immediate past Foundation president who is now the community CJL Steering Committee and overall program chair, has been leading the charge for success with this important initiative since July of 2007. “We achieve philanthropic immortality when we decide to leave a bequest in our will or in some other way contribute to, or establish, a permanent endowment fund that will benefit Jewish causes for the future,” said Sisisky. “Our commitment to provide for the continued sustainability and growth of our agencies and synagogues long after we are gone is our Jewish Legacy.”

Creating Jewish legacies: Nearly 400 adult Jewish Legacy partners (those who before CJL had already designated something in their will or estate plan to Jewish causes, those who gave cash gifts to any Jewish endowment fund, and those who have declared their intent to create a Jewish legacy) and 218 youth philanthropists have established funds or indicated their intent to bequeath funds through their wills or through other charitable gift planning instruments to the Jewish Community Foundation for the benefit of Jewish causes.

Mel Fruit, Foundation Vice President and long time Board member, said, “The best thing you can do is not to tell the next generation what to do, but leave for

Shteytl singers

January celebration them the building blocks to grow on and leave it in their hands.”

CJL Successes: Nearly $47 million has been designated through bequests and other charitable gift giving methods, to the Foundation and its partners, to meet the future needs of our Jewish community. Since engaging Jewish Jacksonville in CJL, one-hundred eighty-two individuals have declared their intent to Create Jewish Legacies. Fiftyfour new declarations were signed during our January 2011 event.

Where the gift amount is unknown, the Foundation uses the national bequest average of $50,000. This means nearly $14,000,000 in future gifts to the Jewish community. That is an increase of $5,400,000 in one year, but we have only just begun!

Celebrating Our Success: In May of 2010 Foundation supporters Richard and Kimberly Sisisky graciously hosted our CJL Donor Recognition Brunch. On January 13, 2011 we held a collaborative CJL Celebration attended by 300 people and held at Temple Ahavath Chesed. All of the Foundation partner organizations participated together in presenting the program. It is a magnificent thing to see community members with different synagogue affiliations, and different agencies they support, come together for one shared cause: securing the Jewish community for future generations!

Watch It: See clips of the event on You Tube by typing “Celebration CJL” or by contacting the Foundation to discuss how to view the entire presentation.

Who will benefit from the CJL initiative: Through the important work of these Foundation partners, at some time in the future, endowment funds will benefit us, and generations

to come. Beth El – The Beaches Synagogue, Beth Shalom Congregation, Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple), Etz Chaim Synagogue, Jacksonville Jewish Center, Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, Jewish Community Alliance, Jewish Family and Community Services and River Garden Hebrew Home.

What does it mean to me: If the $47 million was converted to cash today and our synagogues and agencies collectively received just 5% of this balance each year, they would have $2,350,000 available to help meet the needs of members of our community.

Grants from Foundation to the community: From April 1, 2010 through May 5, 2011 Foundation distributed more than $800,000 to qualified charities. Of that total more than $620,000 was distributed to Jewish non profits.

Services that could be funded: Transportation and quality nursing home care for our older adults; Jewish education and scholarships; an outstretched hand of hope and comfort during difficult times; food packages for the hungry; relocation assistance for Jews living in harm’s way; social and spiritual programming; and more are available to members of our community through Foundation partners. Imagine the exponential effects this program could have by adding just one more donor!

Simple process: Foundation assists individuals with confidential charitable gift planning services. Donors establish funds in a way that is meaningful to them. Every gift counts: there are no gifts that are too small. As the Foundation grows so does the amount of funds available to ensure the future financial viability of our partners.

vember 2008 Jacksonville won a competitive grant from JFNA to fund a CJL program director position and Richard found seven community “angels” to provide the required matching funds.

On July 1, 2007, Richard became president of Foundation for a two-year term. Given the important nature of the CJL program he agreed to continue for an additional year. He serves on the Foundation board and as our community Create A Jewish Legacy chair. He is also the chair of our CJL Steering Committee.

At the annual meeting in 2010 then Foundation President-Elect Mark Green presented Richard Sisisky with Foundation’s Jewish Legacy Leader Award in recognition of outstanding Create A Jewish Legacy service.

When asked at the time what he would like to accomplish next Richard replied, “We need to find community angels who understand the importance of the work of Foundation to the future financial strength and viability of the Jewish community. Also, we need to engage those who care to emulate what has been done in other communities with their family foundations and adequately fund CJL services here. There are other angels out there who will step up and help us to endow the Create A Jewish Legacy program.

“Our goal is to ensure all our agencies and synagogues have endowments that generate income to offset at least 30 percent of their budgets. We have had a lot of successes and we have a lot

Foundation safeguards invested funds: An Investment Oversight Committee comprised of investment savvy local Jewish individuals with a passion for the cause makes decisions about how to invest donated funds.

Assets under management perform well: For each investment mix, funds invested with the Foundation have performed well against indices and benchmarks for one year, three year, and five year periods. We feel confident that we are doing an excellent job for those who instill their trust in this Foundation.

Special thanks to all who made this year a success: We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful event sponsors, volunteers, lay leaders and partner organizations for helping to make the May 2010 Brunch and the January 2011 Celebration such wonderful and inspiring events. Thank you to all our CJL Steering Committee members, Foundation Board members, partner professionals and boards for all of their efforts to ensure success within our collaborative CJL program. And special thanks to all our 7 Community Angels. We could not have come this far without you. To you, our Jewish Legacy Partners, the future is in your hands, and it is looking brighter each day.

Create Your Jewish Legacy: Ensure that those causes you feel passionate about today, the causes you have nurtured and cared for during your lifetime, will have the benefit of your giving … for the future. What will you build?

Whom will you teach? What will you plant? Together we will strengthen and secure a vibrant future for our Jewish community and the generations that will follow us. Create a Jewish Legacy for the Jewish causes you care about. Contact the Foundation at 394-0720 for a confidential conversation.

Signing an intent

Sisisky receives 2010 Endowment Achievement Award Richard Sisisky has served on the board of the Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida since its incorporation July 1995. He is the immediate past president and an original founder.

A true leader, while serving as Federation president in the early 90s, he along with others laid the ground work that led our Jewish community to create the Foundation. Early in his term as Foundation president, Richard agreed to begin the process with Jewish Federations of North America that would lead to the acceptance of Jacksonville in the Create A Jewish Legacy pilot program.

Acknowledging the potential, he proceeded to encourage our synagogue and agency leadership and boards to participate.

Richard Sisisky All nine Foundation partners, by affirmative action of their boards, agreed to actively engage in CJL. In July 2008 Foundation and Federation presidents and executive directors signed a three-year CJL contract with JFNA. In No-

of work to do. We are all excited about the future.”

On June 2 at 7 p.m. during our joint agency annual meeting the Jewish Community Foundation will present to Richard L. Sisisky the prestigious Jewish Federations of North America Endowment Achievement Award. This award is presented to volunteers that through their leadership, vision and dedication have been instrumental in the growth of their community’s endowment fund.

On behalf of a grateful community the Jacksonville Jewish Foundation would like to thank Richard for his leadership and efforts to inspire and educate members of our community about the need to include Jewish causes in their financial plans.

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

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www.jewishjacksonville.org

YEAR IN REVIEW: RIVER GARDEN

River Garden: excellence in elder care programs and services River Garden entered its 65th year as a strong mission-driven Jewish community agency that continues its commitment to excellence in elder care programs services. This past year River Garden was once again recognized for the excellent care it provides with the awarding of its fifth consecutive Florida Governor’s Gold Seal Award for Excellence in Long-Term Care. River Garden stands alone as the only freestanding skilled nursing facility in the state to have been so recognized.

River Garden continues to prepare for the future of elder care programs and services in our Jewish community. Over these next 20 years, almost 80 million baby boomers will transition to senior boomers and the cumulative effect this age tsunami will place on our nation’s healthcare system will be felt for generations. As the future unfolds, we are actively restructuring to remain responsive and relevant to meeting elder care needs through enhanced and expanded home and communitybased programs and services.

On Jan. 30 ground was broken on a new 10,000-square-foot two-story addition to the campus that will allow us to continue to

Anniversary Day

further develop outpatient therapy programs, adult day care and home healthcare services to the entire community. We are also refurbishing our now 21-year-old skilled nursing facility. Both projects are scheduled for completion in April 2012.

March brought the 65th Anniversary celebration of the home and the annual meeting of the River Garden Holding Company.

Mark Lodinger was welcomed as the new president of River Garden Hebrew Home, succeeding Janis Fleet who completed a three-year term. Continuing board presidents: Ron Elinoff of the River Garden Holding Company, Stacie Wilf of the River Garden Foundation, Donald Romo of The Coves and Sheldon Gendzier of The Albert Z. Fleet Geriatric Training Center at River Garden.

The occasion also marked the public launch of River Garden’s $7 million Capital Campaign, another milestone in River Garden’s history. The campaign, titled Building Our Future - Together, is chaired by Susan DuBow and Sandy Zimmerman and spearheaded by honorary chairs David and Linda Stein. The capital campaign will fund the building expansion and refurbishment to better meet the needs of residents and their families.

Thanks to the efforts of the River Garden Foundation, this year’s 18th Annual River Garden Gala, Celebrating the Chai Life, continued the tradition of excellence. Co-Chaired by Judi Greenhut and Gaye Sager, the gala raised significant funds in support of indigent residents. River Garden is grateful and proud to have partnered with SunTrust Bank as Premier Gala sponsor.

This past year the Geriatric Training Center at River Garden was endowed through a gener-

5th Golden Seal presentation ous gift by the Albert Z. Fleet Trust. On Sept. 10, the center was renamed The Albert Z. Fleet Geriatric Training Center at River Garden in honor of Albert Z. Fleet, Louis and Florence Fleet, and Sol and Leah Janow. Funding for The Albert Z. Fleet Geriatric Training Center is provided through the annual River Garden Foundation Golf Classic chaired

by Mark Lodinger and Michael Price.

The Coves independent living retirement community on the River Garden campus continues to offer elegant yet affordable living in 80 garden apartments.

The Coves members benefit from having priority access to the River Garden Home, along with access to the many outpatient services available through our Home Health Agency.

River Garden’s board, along with the caring community that supports our work, is firmly committed to remaining focused on our mission of elder care programming to the frail elderly in our community. We continue to

Gala affirm the values that have sustained the agency for the past 65 years – values where everybody is a somebody and continue to honor the lives of those entrusted to our care.

River Garden is grateful to the

Jewish Federation of Jacksonville for its ongoing support of the home; and to its agency partners and synagogues for their collective work in developing and maintaining a strong and vibrant Jacksonville Jewish community.

June and the J Institute programs at the JCA . . . what a great combination!!

Groundbreaking

Volunteer awards

The following River Garden Volunteers were presented a special Volunteer Service Award plaque and pin at the Annual Volunteer Appreciation & Awards Luncheon held on May 3 for their hours of outstanding service to the residents of River Garden Hebrew Home.

5000 Hours May Grann 4500 Hours Ira Dushoff Judy Dushoff Ed Schroeder

3500 Hours Fran Kissin Sondra Resnikoff 3000 Hours Marilyn Datz Dolores Dworetsky Marcia Strommer 2500 Hours Leslie Carmel Stella Eison Jan Rogers Sharon Smith 2000 Hours Roz Cassel

Belly Dancing

Cupcakes 101

Summer is almost here . . . it’s time to have some fun!! Instructor Marjorie Jenkins will teach us the art of belly dancing. Not only will there be belly laughs, but this class will help to get us in shape. The price of this class includes a hip scarf with coins, which is yours to keep. Do yourself a favor, and shake it up to the registrar to sign up for this fun-filled class. Advanced registration greatly appreciated.

One of the hottest trends today in desserts is cupcakes. Join us as Illana Clayman, owner of “Ilana Loves Cakes,” gives us tips on the preparation of moist, delicious cupcakes. Then try your hand at decorating. Ilana will teach us several creative ways to get the job done. The cost of this class includes everything that you’ll need, and you’ll even be able to take home your edible artwork.

Space is limited, so sign up today!

Thursday, June 2, 16, 23, 30 7 - 8 p.m.

Monday, June 6

Giddy Up, Giddy Up

Anyone who is interested in lessons in Intermediate Bridge, Mah Jong, or Canasta please contact Michele Steinfeld, Director J Institute, at 730-2100 ext. 239 for further information.

What a relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We’ll meet at Windemere Equestrian Center, off Blanding Boulevard. The event will consist of lessons for the beginning rider. This program is for people ages 10 to 60.

Maps will be given out upon registration.

Advanced registration by June 2 a must.

Sunday, June 5

•

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

•

7 p.m.

Let the Games Continue

David A. Stein

Jewish Community Alliance

on the Ed Parker Jewish Community Campus 8505 San Jose Blvd. • Jacksonville, FL 32217

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Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

YEAR IN REVIEW: JFCS

Jewish Family & Community Services: providing for needs For nearly 100 years, Jewish Family & Community Services has provided for those most in need in the Jewish tradition of helping people help themselves.

We have provided social services for the young at heart to the most experienced hearts, all to strengthen the entire community.

As the year is coming to an end, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful partnerships we’ve developed and the lives that we’ve touched through our programs.

Last July, we began the year with our ever popular 8 Notes of Music programs, sponsored by the Ben Gottlieb Family. We facilitated this program in eight senior living facilities. During the summer, we also welcomed new board members Mary Berger, Tom Harris, Jodie Leach, Rick Plotkin and Stephen Pollan. As the new school year started, the Jewish Educational Loan Fund, in partnership with JFCS, was excited to provide six interest-free college loans to college students, as well as a large array of backpacks and school supplies to elementary students throughout Jacksonville.

During the High Holidays, JFCS’ Feed A Needy Neighbor Program received truck loads of nonperishable items thanks to the generosity of congregants from Congregation Ahavath Chesed, Beth El – The Beaches Synagogue, Beth Shalom and the Jacksonville Jewish Center. Without their support, hundreds of families

would have gone hungry. In addition to the community support, the Block family provided WinnDixie and Wal-Mart gift cards to hundreds of families to purchase food for their bare pantry shelves.

As the hot hazy days of summer turned into the cool crisp days of fall, JFCS entered a time of festivity and excitement. October saw great celebrations of Sukkot within the JFCS Culture Club and in November, volunteers were honored for their service to the Jewish Healing Network by the Jacksonville Jewish Center, Congregation Ahavath Chesed and Beth Shalom. Network volunteers are truly committed to fulfilling the mitzvah of Bikkur Cholim.

The time they commit to visiting those who are sick and those in need is immeasurable.

The fall also welcomed plenty of fun as JFCS reach out to area youth. A Jewish Healing Network volunteer presented an interactive puppet program teaching children about the importance of Bikkur Cholim – visting the sick, to fifthgrade students at religious schools throughout the Jacksonville area.

Koleinu, a forum for education, resources and social interaction for parents of special needs children, held an enlightening education event. Shands Pediatrics provided resources to parents and teachers with the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School and the Temple about inclusion in the classroom, new legislation and requirements for those with special needs.

Super Sunday

As JFCS entered into 2011, the Jewish Services Department was busy training Temple Bet Yam board members on the skills and resources to be caregivers through our Prepare to Care program.

From there, JFCS kicked off our inaugural Train the Trainer events with the staff of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, equipping them with the knowledge of “Caring for the Jewish patient: End of life issues.”

Popcorn, peanuts and cotton candy flowed as guests enjoyed an evening Under the Big Top at our March 12th annual event. A fun time was had by all, with jugglers, pool, dancing, dart games and delicious food. Thank you to everyone who supported JFCS. Much needed funds were raised to assist over 24,000 families through JFCS’ programs and services.

March continued to buzz with celebrations of Purim. Baskets from Beth Shalom were delivered to children, and youth from the Temple and the JCA made hamentaschen for the Martin J. Gottlieb Day school. March wrapped up with Eva Grayzel, master storyteller, as the guest speaker of our annual Alexandra Miller Speaker Series shared her powerful life experiences of surviving cancer and continuing her Jewish values with her family.

In observance of Passover, JFCS working together with the students of the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School, continued our annual agency tradition of holding a Model Seder at Mt. Carmel. Through the Kosher Kart program, JFCS provided over 1,100 Passover meals and over 60 bags of food to families in need. The families of Koleinu enjoyed a Sunday afternoon event in late April of “Find the Matzah” in partnership with the youth groups of the Jacksonville Jewish Center and Congregation Ahavath Chesed. JFCS continued to collaborate with the Block Family to coordinate the Block Family Food Challenge during April and May, whereby monetary contributions were matched to benefit the Feed A Needy Neighbor Program.

Rounding out May, JFCS was excited to partner with Rabbi Lubliner to conduct an ethical will workshop to equip families with the resources to continue upholding Jewish values and traditions.

Students help out at the food bank.

As JFCS closes this year, we will bid farewell to long-time and dedicated board members Jim Kempner and Glenn Ullmann.

Their time and service to the families and individuals of JFCS has made a significant and longterm impact. We thank you for all you have given to JFCS. JFCS closes another year of great accomplishments through meaningful partnerships and collaborations with agencies, synagogues, businesses, families and friends. Without so many of you, JFCS could not honor our goal to fully meet the needs of the Jewish Community while providing significant services to the broader community in the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam. Together, we all

make our own community a better place.

Thank you – Colleen Lloyd Rodriguez, interim executive director

Volunteering at Sulzbacher Center

JFCS honors volunteers Jim Kempner and Cheryl Berlin Volunteer of the Year Jim Kempner

Jim Kempner had been a bigcity person after being born in Boston and living in New York for so long. He had a great interest in food and wine. When he and wife, Francine, were in New York they joined a gourmet club called the Chaine De Rotisseur. The club met to enjoy food and wine but also had concerns for those who did not have enough food to eat.

In New York they hosted several dinners called Dine for Dimes where the money from the event went to the March of Dimes.

When Jim retired, he and Francine moved to Jacksonville.

He was looking to get involved in something similar. Jim met with Iris Young to see if he could hold a dinner to collect funds for the Jewish Family & Community Services emergency food pantry.

He and Francine then held a dinner every year for 10 years collecting a total of $25,000.00.

chair, he obtained many commitments to help get the building built. One of his memorable moments is with a hard hat and shovel at the groundbreaking for the building. Because of his commitment, there is also a promissory note dated a year later marked, paid in full.

JFCS is so grateful for Jim’s compassion and commitment to JFCS and the Jacksonville community.

Jim Kempner

Cheryl Berlin

After they hosted their first dinner, Jim discovered other areas of JFCS in which he wished to help.

He was invited to join the board, becoming president in 2004. Jim has served on JFCS’ PR/Development and as chair of the Event Committee since joining the board.

Jim has always been very supportive of Feed a Needy Neighbor. Every day he empties his pockets of change and it

goes directly into a FANN can, and when it is full he takes it to JFCS to help purchase food for those who come to our emergency food pantry. One day he was in the JFCS office and saw that the pantry shelves were bare. He immediately went to the grocery store to buy items to help fill the shelves.

When it was time to build the Dupont building, Jim stepped up to the plate. As capital committee

Volunteer of the Year Cheryl Berlin

Cheryl Berlin was a legal secretary for over 25 years and decided to retire last year to embrace her freedom and dedicate her time to volunteering. Bobby Handmaker, president of Cruisers Grill, asked her if she would like to do some volunteer work for Jewish Family & Community Services delivering kosher meals.

She said, “absolutely!” Cheryl began delivering the meals in Oc-

tober 2010. She is also a volunteer for the Jewish Healing Network and visits a wonderful lady who resides at River Garden. Her family doesn’t live here, and they became fast friends Cheryl loves listening to her tell stories about her life. The client is a Holocaust survivor and has led an incredible life. She is an amazing woman, and Cheryl admires her so much.

Cheryl also volunteers for the American Diabetes Association and the Guardian ad Litem program.

Cheryl states, “I have met some wonderful people and have made so many good friends through volunteering. These people have made such an impact on my life and I am so grateful for this opportunity. I really love my job!”

Cheryl has lived in Jacksonville for most of her life and has been married to David for 37 years. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

www.jewishjacksonville.org

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page 9

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Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

COMMUNITY

Shalom Jax: Welcome into our tent

By ISABEL BALOTIN Shalom Jacksonville

To a certain extent, it is a vicious cycle – they (i.e. newcomers) don’t come around because they don’t know anybody, they don’t know anybody because they don’t come around.

Some people can walk into a room full of strangers and easily strike up a conversation with someone. Others would place this situation as one of the top 10 fears in life.

This anxiety is understandable and very

common, especially for newcomers. How can we help our new friends to connect and show up at our community’s many activities? It’s a fact that after a few months of some engagement, they will be able to walk into a room of people and recognize a face or two and gradually they will begin to feel at home in their new surroundings.

We, as a community, have to keep working to change this cycle of feeling on the outside of the tent. We have to show our newcomers and the unengaged of our community that there is value to be inside and

that their lives will be enriched when they connect with us. At the same time we need to respect the different paths that lead them into our community and guide them to the path most meaningful to them.

Here is our call to action: If you know a new person, invite them to join you for an event. Introduce them to others with common interests. If you are seated at an event and you see them arrive, walk up to them and invite them to sit with you. These are small, yet meaningful steps which will surely make them feel welcomed.

Shalom Jacksonville is planning summer events for newcomers and friends.

Our first will be on Sunday, June 26, at 7 p.m. in the Julington Creek area. Please contact us with names of new neighbors, co workers or relatives new to the area.

Contact Shalom Jacksonville Coordinator Isabel Balotin, 904-448-5000 x 206 or shalomjax@jewish Jacksonville.org.

Shalom Jacksonville is a program of the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville and is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida.

ADULT EDUCATION Adult education for June

Whether you are looking for daily or weekly class, an occasional lecture, or a scholar-inresidence weekend, you will find it here. All classes are free and open to the community unless otherwise indicated. For additional information on any of the following listings, please contact the sponsoring institution.

Daily • Between Mincha and Maariv ♦ Mishna Yomi is every evening at Etz Chaim Synagogue in the Mirkis Chapel. Rabbi Fisch leads the group in studying a tractate (volume) of the Mishna. We are studying Tractate Beitzah. For more information, please call the synagogue office at (904)2623565 ext. 7 • Following Shacharis service ♦ Halacha Yomi at Etz Chaim Synagogue. Rabbi Fisch teaches a brief lesson of the day. For more information, please call the synagogue office at (904)262-3565 ext. 7 Weekdays • 6 a.m. ♦ Daf Yomi at Etz Chaim Synagogue. The class studies two pages of Talmud every morning. This class is on the Daf Yomi, which will conclude the entire Talmud in August 2012. Talmud while sipping on hot coffee. For more information, please call the synagogue office at (904)2623565 ext. 7 Mondays • Following morning minyan ♦ Monday Minyan Mapquest at the Jacksonville Jewish Center. Navigating the daily liturgy in five minutes a week. Join us each Monday for a five-minute tour of the siddur. Following the sequence of the daily prayer service, we will explore the structure of the liturgy, the fascinating origins of specific prayers and blessings, as well as the choreography and responses to each. Contact Cassie Vichozsky (904) 268-4200 ext. 115 for more information. No class June 16 or 27.

• 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ♦ The Wisdom Years at Temple. Wrestle with traditional and contemporary Jewish topics. Led by Rabbi Lief, this long-standing group welcomes new members who are anxious to share ideas with equally spirited companions. This series is free and open to the public. No reservations are required. For more information, contact the Temple at 733-7078, or email learning@thetemplejacksonville.org.

• 7 p.m. ♦ Talmud Class at the Jacksonville Jewish Center. An ongoing, leisurely paced analysis of law and lore in tractate Megillah in the intimate setting of Rabbi Lubliner’s office. Contact Cassie Vichozsky (904) 2684200 ext. 115 for more information. No class June 16 or 27.

Tuesdays • Following morning minyan ♦ Tuesday & Tefillin at the Jacksonville Jewish Center.

Rabbi Rafi Cohen briefly teaches about the things we wear (including tefillin) when we pray. No phylacteries required! Contact Cassie Vichozsky (904) 268-4200 ext. 115 for more information.

Thursdays • 6:45 p.m. ♦ Weekly Parsha Class at Etz Chaim Synagogue. Our weekly Parsha Class takes place every Thursday evening in the Mirkis Chapel and is taught by Rabbi Yaakov Fisch. The class is designed to unlock the deeper messages of the weekly Torah portion and seeing the relevance of the “Parsha” in our lives. For more information, please call the synagogue office at (904)262-3565 ext. 7 Saturdays • 45 minutes before Mincha ♦ Prophetic Visions at Etz Chaim Synagogue. This class is taught by Rabbi Fisch in the Mirkis Chapel.

Classes give insights of the stories of the prophets and their timeless messages. For more information, please call the synagogue office at (904)262-3565 ext. 7 • 8:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. ♦ Torah Study at the Temple. Join us in the Parker Auditorium on Shabbat mornings, as together we read and discuss the Torah portion of the week.

Fresh coffee and a light breakfast will be served at 8:45 a.m., and we’ll start our discussion promptly at 9 a.m. No prior knowledge is necessary and all are welcome.

This program is free and no reservations are required. For more information, contact the Temple at 733-7078, or email learning@thetemplejacksonville.org.

Sundays • 7:15 a.m. ♦ Daf Yomi at Etz Chaim Synagogue. The class studies two pages of Talmud every morning. This class is on the Daf Yomi, which will conclude the entire Talmud in August 2012. Talmud while sipping on hot coffee. For more information, please call the synagogue office at (904)2623565 ext. 7 • 10:15 a.m. - noon ♦ An Introduction to Judaism at the Jacksonville Jewish Center.

Ttaught by lay and professional teachers from the Center community, classes will excite and inform through lively discussion and activities. The course consists of seven four-week units, including topics such as: Jewish spirituality, sacred books, Jewish time, contemporary Judaism in America, ethics and values, and more. Open to the entire community. Registration required.

Contact Cassie Vichozsky (904) 268-4200 ext. 115 for more information.

Thursday, June 2 • 10 a.m.-noon or 7 p.m.-9 p.m. ♦ Art for the Jewish Soul: An Art Class in Pastels by Kimberly Miller at the Jacksonville Jewish Center. Is your Jewish soul wanting to express itself? Why not let the vibrant colors of pastels pave your path in a relaxing and creative journey through Jerusalem or your favorite Psalm. Kimberly is a Jewish artist and an established art instructor in the Jacksonville Jewish community. No prior art experience is necessary. The class costs $25 and includes all art materials.

Call 268-4200 to register before May 31 as seats are limited.

Monday, June 6 • 6:45 p.m. ♦ New Monday Night Mini Series “Contemporary Issues in Halacha” at Etz Chaim Synagogue - Mirkis Chapel. . This will be a five-week series, which started on May 2. For more information, please call the synagogue office at (904)262-3565 ext. 7 • 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. ♦ Shavuot at the Temple. Shavuot recalls the giving of the Torah, God’s gift to the Jewish people, which is the blueprint for how we are to live in this world. It is a time to ask ourselves about our beliefs and practices, to return to text to see how it can inform our decision making in our modern world. Come explore these questions with Jo-Ellen Unger, director of Education and Youth for Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple). Call 733-7078 for more information, or email learning@thetemplejacksonville.org.

Saturday, June 11 • 9:15 a.m. ♦ Jewish Meditation Shabbat Morning at the Jacksonville Jewish Center. Invite your soul to enter Shabbat in an extended moment of stillness. Beginners welcome. Contact Cassie Vichozsky (904) 268-4200 ext. 115 for more information.

Wednesday, June 15 • 10:30 a.m. ♦ Sisterhood HOT TOPIC at the Jacksonville Jewish Center. Sisterhood Seminar has been one of our Sisterhood’s offerings for many years and is a valuable part of our education program. This year we are excited to announce a new format for this informative get together, which we are calling HOT TOPIC. Each monthly seminar is devoted to a different contemporary topic.

We will discuss it from a Jewish prospective as a group with Rabbi Lubliner. Some topics will be general, some relating to a specific event. You don’t need to be an expert or a news hound to participate and everyone is guaranteed to learn something!

Contact Cassie Vichozsky (904) 268-4200 ext. 115 for more information.

Thursday, June 16 • 7:30 p.m. ♦ JCA Film Series at the JCA. The JCA presents a free showing of “For My Father.” Tarek, a young Palestinian man blackmailed into a suicide mission in Tel Aviv, is given a second chance at life when the fuse on his explosive vest fails to detonate. Forced to spend the weekend in Tel Aviv awaiting its repair, Tarek must live amongst the people he was planning to kill.

To his surprise, he connects with several Israelis on the outskirts of society. For more information, call Thelma Nied, 730-2100 ext. 227.

Saturday, June 18 • 8 a.m. ♦ Coffee & Torah at the Jacksonville Jewish Center. Come enjoy a strong cup of brew, a tasty breakfast treat, and thoughtprovoking insights into the weekly Torah portion in the intimate setting of Rabbi Lubliner’s office. Contact Cassie Vichozsky (904) 268-4200 ext. 115 for more information.

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

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www.jewishjacksonville.org

WOMEN’S/KIDS

Temple Sisterhood begins May with women’s spirituality retreat

By CELESTE DANOS

Congregation Ahavath Chesed

In the beautiful setting of Marywood Retreat and Conference Center along the St. Johns River, 30 members of Temple Sisterhood pampered themselves with a weekend filled with Torah, friendship and chocolate! Those in attendance ranged in age from 21 to, well, none of your business! But no matter who they were, or where they came from, on the weekend of April 29-May 1, they were all sisters and friends.

On Friday night, Laura Osofsky led the ladies in Shabbat worship.

This continued on Saturday morning with sisterhood members Lori

Simmons and Marla Dahlenburg chanting the Torah service with the support of sisterhood’s honorary rabbi, Brenda Pollak.

After worship, the women sought spiritual rest and relaxation in a variety of programs ranging from meditation to massage to facials and essential oils that helped them nourish and refresh themselves. Saturday evening brought Havdalah services along the river, as we extinguished the light of Shabbat and watched the beautiful sunset together.

Our weekend ended with a very special healing service. Next year’s Retreat Committee will have a tough act to follow.

But it wasn’t all fun and relax-

World of Nations

ation. Our members raised over $200 for the Women of Reform Judaism Y.E.S. Fund that helps to ensure the future of Reform Judaism by providing financial assistance to rabbinical and cantorial students, youth and reform organizations in North America, Israel and around the world.

Mazal tov to the members of Temple Sisterhood’s Retreat Committee: Leslie Goldstein, Karen Goldstein, Morleen Berlin, Gail Jarrett, Reva Sandler, Laura Osofsky, Stacey Yudin, Sheila Horowitz, Marcia Kurtz, Anne DePaul, Ann Stone, Audrey Goldberg, Celeste Danos, Rochelle Miller, Joyce Elkin, Marie Reitz, Wendy Honigman and Rhoda London.

And who shall lead them?

By JO-ELLEN UNGER

Congregation Ahavath Chesed

Remember the Holocaust, death of Bin Laden

By AARON LIPPER

Torah Academy Sixth Grader

On May 1 about 250 people gathered in the Etz Chaim Synagogue sanctuary to remember the Holocaust. The people who put together the Holocaust program asked Mr. Jay Lipper to assist them. He readily agreed because he is the son of a Holocaust survivor who is still living. Mr. Lipper’s father was only a teenager when the Holocaust happened.

Sadly, his father did not survive.

The NCSY chapter helped the program by handing out fliers, directing people where to park, and other organizational tasks. It

was a nice tribute that day. People cried about the relatives they lost in the Holocaust and lit memorial candles for them.

Later that night, the news about Osama bin Laden’s death spread throughout the world. Bin Laden was the person responsible for causing the 9-11 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in which many Jews and others were killed.

It was interesting that the same day people found closure for their loved ones for the horrible act on 9-11 was the same day our community memorialized their loved ones from the atrocious acts of Hitler. Don’t forget the Holocaust or 9-11!

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Adults put a lot of stock in talking about preparing our children to be the leaders of tomorrow. At Congregation Ahavath Chesed, we are committed to training youth leaders for today.

While our junior youth group, Kol Tov, has a leadership council, nowhere is this more evident than in JAFTY, The Temple’s Senior youth group.

With the guidance of adult advisers, JAFTY is governed entirely by teens. Some are elected to executive positions, some appointed to office and all by their peers.

Intensive training sessions are held for those who wish to seek office and on-going training is provided in small and large group dynamics: teambuilding, program writing, discussion group facilitation and more.

Students coming up through

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Martin J. Gottlieb Day School Middle Schoolers volunteers in the Israel pavilion at the World of Nations on April 29.

Temple Sisterhood members relax along the St. Johns River during their retreat.

the ranks have an opportunity to sit on committees, learning the structure of the group, as well as valuable skills.

Andy Underkofler, college freshman and immediate past president of JAFTY, was recently filling out applications to serve in a leadership position on campus. A text received from him said, “I didn’t realize how many opportunities I had to develop so many skills in JAFTY, and I just wanted to say thank you.”

Members of JAFTY sit on many Temple committees, including the Board of Trustees, Worship and Tikkun Olam committees, while beyond the Jacksonville borders, JAFTY teens have had an impact on a regional level as well.

Over the past few years seven JAFTY teens have been elected to regional office and the incoming regional president and programming vice president for our youth region,

the North American Federation of Temple Youth – Southern Area Region (NFTY-SAR), are JAFTYites.

Certainly JAFTY members participate in a lot of social and content programming. The group is well-known around town for awesome First Friday services and our band, The Jew Crew, as well as our partnership with Jewish Family & Community Services on the Holiday Shopping Spree.

It is also gratifying to know that these teens take seriously their roles and responsibilities as leaders of today, not waiting to start at some later point as adults, but helping now to shape the future in which they will find themselves.

For more information on JAFTY, or any of our other youth activities, please contact Jo-Ellen Unger, director of Education and Youth at (904) 7337078, or by email at junger@ thetemplejacksonville.org.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

EDUCATION MJGDS graduation

50th MJGDS anniversary celebration under way

The Martin J. Gottlieb Day School would like to invite the community to this year’s eighth grade graduation. The commencement exercises will take place on Monday, June 6, at 7:15 p.m. at the Jacksonville Jewish Center. A dessert reception will follow the program. Congratulations to the MJGDS Class of 2010, Justin Clevette, son of Cheril Clevette; Shira Ferman, daughter of Heather and Lenny Ferman; Manya Goldstein, daughter of Miriam Chefer; Sydney Gross, daughter of Sara and Steven Gross; Eliza Israel, daughter of Kim and Jon Israel; Jenna Levine, daughter of Sue and Mitch Levine; Orly Ohayon, daughter of Esther Ohayon; Jacob Orender, son of Donna and MG Orender; Zachary Orender, son of Donna and MG Orender; and Micah Rubin, son of Perrin and Devon Rubin.

Kids Club in review We have had an amazing time in Kids Club at the JJC this school year! Our afternoon friends have all become very close through play and our fabulous enrichment programs.

Some of the best memories from the year include: • Train rides • Bounce house play times • Visits to the bowling alley • Guest visitor from a specialty foods manager • Visit from Blazing Reptiles • Planting in the preschool garden • Daily arts and crafts • Weekly cooking projects • Dr. Seuss Week • Tumbling with Tiffany • Treasure hunts

• Bear hunts We are excited about our Sizzlin’ Summer Fun experience that will be held just before JJC camp begins. Consider joining us for this fun time.

We are already looking ahead and planning for next year.

Our theme for Kids Club in the afternoon will be Alphabet Afternoons. We hope to link our morning and afternoon learning together. We welcome any and all of you who would like to come be a part of Kids Club ~ Where Fun Happens!

For more information about our afterschool programs, please call 904-268-4200 ext.143 or visit our website at www.jjcpreschool. org.

Koleinujax has announced that a gift is being made to the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School for the 2011-2012 school year that will fund staffing and enhanced training to better meet the needs of Jewish children with various levels of disabilities.

Koleinujax, a support group for families of Jewish children with special needs, including ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, genetic syndromes, and other developmental and learning disabilities, was founded to raise awareness that Jewish children with disabilities should have equal access to spiritually rich and rewarding Jewish experiences.

The Martin J. Gottlieb Day School welcomes this funding, which will ensure that having a special need will not be a barrier to receiving a high-quality Jewish Day School education.

“We are so thrilled to partner with Koleinujax to improve our ability to meet the needs of our special needs families and to open the doors to new families,” added Jon Mitzmacher, MJGDS head of school.

For more information about this gift, please contact the Day School office at 268-4200 ext.

148 or for more information about Koleinujax, please contact Naomi Mirensky at JFCS at 448-1933.

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The Martin J. Gottlieb Day School will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next school year, and plans are under way to commemorate this occasion.

There will be many celebrations throughout the 2011-2012 school year culminating in a gala affair planned for May 2012, chaired by Susan DuBow. Sheri Weiss, the 50th Anniversary

Alumni chairperson, is developing a committee to help find Day School alumni, plan alumni events/reunions and incorporate the alumni into the 50th anniversary events.

If you are interested in serving on a planning committee for the anniversary events, please contact the Day School Office at 268-4200 ext. 148.

L’hitraot! See you next year It’s been a wonderful Jewish year at the Jacksonville Jewish Center Preschool. We have so many memories of special events, holidays and celebrations throughout the year. As we take a stroll through memory lane, a few highlights stand out.

We remember….

• Eating apples and honey on Rosh Hoshanah and having a Yom Kippur “think.”

• Shaking the lulav and etrog on Sukkot and dancing with the Torahs on Simchat Torah!

• Lighting the Chanukah candles and planting trees on Tu B’Shevat.

• Reading the Megillah on Purim and singing at our model seders on Pesach.

• Celebrating Israel’s 63rd birthday and running races on Lag B’Omer.

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We had an exciting year that provided an incredible Jewish foundation for our preschoolers.

Come join us in 2011-12 for more fun through the Jewish year.

Until then, Shalom, L’hitraot.

We’re really going to miss you until the fall. We hope to see all our cuties at Camp KiTov this summer!

For more information about the JJC Preschool, please call 2684200 ext.143.

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If you have a passion for music and love to perform, the Young Men’s Chorus of Jacksonville is just what you are looking for! Come immerse yourself in the wonderful world of harmony and experience singing like you’ve never experienced it before! The Young Men’s Chorus of Jacksonville is designed for young men between the ages of thirteen and eighteen who have entered the voice expansion phase and who desire to continue singing.

For more information or to schedule an audition for this new program beginning in the fall of 2011

Call 353-1636 or visit www.jaxchildrenschorus.com To make your pledge today visit jewishjacksonville.org or call 448-5000.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

page 13

www.jewishjacksonville.org

EDUCATION

JJC Preschool performs for World of Nations For the first time ever, the Jewish community was represented at the World of Nations Celebration at the Israel Pavilion.

We shared what we know about Israel with the thousands of people that attended the event.

The Jacksonville Jewish Center Preschool was especially proud because their VPK students performed at the Israel Pavilion on April 28.

Our 4 year olds went on a fieldtrip to Metropolitan Park with several volunteer parents.

They were so excited to wear their special preschool T-shirts and their new fabulous visors

created by our talented preschool parent, Staci Scharf.

The children performed Israeli dances with their friends and sang several Hebrew songs including Hatikvah.

They were thrilled to get their passports when they arrived at the World of Nations and really took pleasure in getting their passports stamped at each tent. They enjoyed walking around to all of the various countries and seeing the variety of art, musical instruments, jewelry and even toys from different parts of the world. They experienced the many flags and different languages, and smelled

an assortment of foreign foods.

The JJC Preschool felt honored to be a part of the Israel Pavilion’s first year.

One of the best quotes of the day was spoken by one of our 5 year old cuties.

He asked his teacher if he was in Israel while he was in the tent.

We all wish traveling to Israel was that easy.

Many of the JJC preschool families went back to visit the World of Nations and to watch the Israeli dancers from Mark Spivak’s Dance Institute, one of our preschool partners, on Sunday.

What an experience!

Center preschool enjoys Earth Day JJC Preschool students celebrated Earth Day on May 4. The preschoolers started the day by learning about Tikkun Olam, repairing the earth. The JJC is helping to practice this principle by providing a place to recycle old athletic shoes and empty ink jet cartridges. Feel free to bring them to the Jacksonville Jewish Center.

Each class eagerly listened to stories about our planet and how to keep it clean. All of the preschoolers created either bird feeders or bird houses to welcome birds into their yards at home. Representatives from Home Depot came to work with the VPK classes to build their own wooden birdhouses. Several parent volunteers came to help our budding carpenters as they hammered and glued the pieces together. The children were all very proud of their handiwork.

One of the high points of the day was when the children assembled their delicious potted-dirt snack consisting of chocolate pudding, crumbled cookies and mint leaves. It was truly memorable for all of the children, parents and teachers.

The JJC’s Green Team asks that you help keep our earth beautiful by helping in some simple ways at

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• Plant an herb garden.

• Help children recycle by making it a cool chore.

• Teach your child to turn off the lights and water when they are not using them.

• Be thoughtful of the food you purchase. Try to purchase food that is pesticide free, organic, grass fed or local.

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page 14

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

EDUCATION

MJGDS student artwork exhibited at Mandarin Art Festival The 43rd annual Mandarin Art Show took place on April 23-24 featuring over 100 artists. Each

Jacob Orender’s first place artwork featured at the Mandarin Art Festival

year, one of the most popular events at the show is the Children’s Art Show featuring artwork from students from as many as 20 area public and private schools.

The children’s work is judged, and ribbons are given out for honorable mention, best in show and first to third places in different age categories. The Martin J. Gottlieb Day School, for many years, has done very well at this show. Under the direction of Shana Gutterman, the MJGDS art teacher, students are using different medians in art class such as paint, wire, wood and clay. In addition to the hands-on projects, Mrs. Gutterman also teaches art appreciation, and students study artists such as Picasso, Monet, Khalo and so

Junior Honor Society induction at MJGDS

much more. This year, Shoshana Howard, MJGDS fourth grader, received the third-place ribbon in the grades 3-5 category, and Jacob Orender, MJGDS eighth grader, received the first-place ribbon in

the middle school category. This is the second opportunity this year that Martin J. Gottlieb Day School students have had their artwork viewed by a larger audience. Back in March, MJGDS students’ art-

work was exhibited for two weeks at the Museum of Contemporary Art. To see more artwork from different classes at MJGDS, go to www.mjgds.org and look under the Art Class Blog.

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Homemade Matzo Ball Soup, Mushroom Barley Soup, Stuffed Derma, Kasha Varnishkes, Stuffed Cabbage, Noodle Kugel and more CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS “NJHS is a worldwide organization that recognizes and encourages academic achievement in students while developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy.”

NJHS is available at the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School for students in the seventh and eighth grades. The Ceremony of Induction was held on April 7. Rebecca Nathans (seventh grade) and Zach Orender (eighth grade) were this year’s new inductees adding to the 11 other MJGDS students already in NJHS. These students excel on an academic level as well as citizenship, service, leadership and character.

At the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School, students need to have

an average 3.5 GPA for two semesters to become eligible. In addition, students must have six extracurricular points.

Points are accumulated by achieving honor roll or principal’s list, involvement in student council, placing in the spelling bee or Bible contest, and performing extra mitzvoth on their own time.

Following a beautiful performance by the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School’s choir, pins, cards and certificates of membership were presented to each inductee.

MJGDS is extremely proud of the new NJHS inductees and feels confident that these motivated students will continue to maintain high standards of academics, achievement and involvement.

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Exhibits at the Jewish Museum of Florida Isaac Bashevis Singer & His Artists Through August 28, 2011

Polish immigrant Singer, winner of the 1978 Nobel Prize for Literature, wrote in Yiddish and lived part of his life in Surfside, FL. 32 of his books were illustrated by the 17 artists on exhibit.

The Leo Frank Case Revisited Thru August 14, 2011

This riveting exhibit recounts the tragic 1913 murder of Mary Phagan, a 13-year old white Christian girl and controversial trial, conviction, death sentence and lynching of Leo Frank, Jewish superintendent of a pencil factory in Atlanta.

Eric Carle, “And the animals gathered around Noah’s Ark,” from Why Noah Chose the Dove (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1974).

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Jacksonville Jewish News â&#x20AC;˘ June 2011

EDUCATION Making music outside Music and movement are always a big part of a preschool curriculum. At JCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Michele Block Gan Yeladim preschool, the music patio is where children enjoy music and movement experiences outside. One of the many playground areas designed for the children, the music patio encourages children to sing, dance, pretend and create. Scarves, ribbons and other props are always available for additional creative fun and exercise.

At right, Brady Pargman playing the steel drums Below, Eden Wajsman playing the Amadinda drum Bottom right, Evie Martin beating the bongo drums

www.jewishjacksonville.org

page 15

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page 16

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

PASSOVER 2011

No’Ar Hadash and Kehillah Chadashah raise awareness about hunger

By DAVID LEVIN Kehillah Chadashah

Every year for Passover Jewish families gather around the seder table retelling the story of Pesach, our people’s bondage in Egypt and their Exodus to Israel. No’Ar Hadash and Kehillah Chadashah decided to have a different seder this year.

The members of No’Ar Hadash youth group led Kehillah Chadashah through a Child’s Nutrition Seder that was also green – paper-

less – as the seder was projected on a screen for participants to read.

As they retold the story of Pesach they connected it to today’s problem of hunger. At this seder the broken matzah not only represented the affliction of the Jewish people and the exodus from Egypt, it also reminded us of the brokenness in our world as we thought of the poor and those who have to put aside the broken half for later use.

The four children we talked about were: the child who receives free school lunch, the child who

receives free school breakfast, the child who should be able to participate in a summer feeding program, and the mother and child who participate in the WIC program.

The 10 plagues included the single mother who gives the last

AS

bits of food to her child while she goes hungry, the senior citizen who must choose between paying for medicine or lunch, and the neighbor who never invites you over because he cannot offer you food and apathy.

As the congregation’s awareness increased, the seder participants pledged to collect and donate Passover products to Jewish Family & Community Services for Jewish elderly needing Passover food.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

www.jewishjacksonville.org

ISRAEL

Partnership programs focus on teens This July, Jacksonville and the Hadera-Eiron region of Israel will be buzzing with teenagers.

Teens from Jacksonville will be participating for the fourth year in the Tikkun Olam project of Israel Partnership. Later that month we will welcome a group of teen counselors from the Hadera-Eiron region of Israel, for the 10th consecutive year. We will end the summer in Charlotte, N.C., with all the Israelis who have been in the southeast region and any interested community teens for a joint United States and Israeli Teen Peer Seminar.

The Tikkun Olam program allows American teens to travel to Israel and live in Israeli homes.

Unlike other travel programs to Israel, Tikkun Olam offers the opportunity to see Israel from the Israeli perspective, not just as a tourist. While in Israel we will visit Jerusalem and spend time exploring the city. We will also travel to the Dead Sea, play in the mud, explore the waterfalls of Ein Gedi and climb to the top of Masada. While in Israel the teens will participate in community service projects in the region.

The Israeli teens, ages 15-18, along with two chaperones will work at all three Jewish camps in Jacksonville this summer. They will be welcomed at Jacksonville Jewish Center’s Camp Ki-Tov, The Jewish Community Alliance

I’m going to Israel!

By MERYL SHAREF

When I first heard about the Federation National Young Leadership Mission to Israel I didn’t even consider it. Being a teacher, the finances weren’t there. However when I told my mom about the trip, she said, “Meryl, every summer you’ve worked, and now it’s time to do something for yourself. This will be the trip of a lifetime!”

I feel blessed to have the opportunity to visit Israel at the age of 28. Growing up I lived in a kosher home, and I have fond memories of attending Hebrew school as well as services. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to become a Bat Mitzvah because we were in the middle of moving. I always felt like there was something missing.

I knew I was Jewish, but the history wasn’t embedded in my mind. I had a wonderful mother who always reminded me which plate setting to use as well as many other wonderful Jewish reminders that we don’t always seem to remember when you’re a child. I’m extremely proud to be Jewish, but I want to know more about where I came from.

I can’t wait to be surrounded by Hebrew, history and the culture of my people. I want to take every bit of Israel in and capture history so that I can share my experience with my own children someday. When people ask me about being Jewish and how certain things came to be, I want to be able to answer their questions. I feel that if I visit Israel, I will gain more knowledge than I could ever obtain from a Hebrew school class or even a Shabbat service. I enjoy Shabbat service and the powerful words the rabbi speaks, but I want to see, smell, hear, taste and touch Israel.

What I want more than anything is to fill that missing piece to the puzzle because “you don’t know where you’re going, until you know where you’ve been.”

Summer Camp and Etz Chiam Synagogue’s Camp Sheves Achim during the last two weeks in July.

They teach campers what it is like to live in Israel today, while learning what it means to be a Jew living in America. Prior to coming to the United States, the teens participate in months of classes that teach them about American culture. Families interested in hosting

a teen counselor this summer are encouraged to call Joanne Cohen at the Federation office.

Hadera-Eiron is Jacksonville’s Israel Partnership community. The partnership program, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, creates personal connections between American Jews and Israelis. Our community is celebrating ten years of partnership this year.

page 17

page 18

Jacksonville Jewish News â&#x20AC;˘ June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

SYNAGOGUE NEWS Farm to Table

A REFORM CONGREGATION

Forty guests from throughout the beaches area enjoyed a delicious four course Farm to Table dinner hosted by Beth El â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Beaches Synagogue. Farm to Table means all ingredients were grown and made locally. This was truly an authentic Farm to Table dinner.

Dinner was prepared by Palmetto Organics (Neptune Beach), beer brewed by Engine 15 (Jacksonville Beach), cheese supplied by Sweet Dairy Farms(Thomasville, Ga.), wine by San Sebastian winery (St. Augustine).

www.bethelbeaches.org The Artist Series and the Wilson Center for the Arts present the

6th Annual High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience

Personalized care for Personal needs In a caring and friendly environment, personal attention goes a long way toward improving the quality of life for our residents.

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Call (904) 646-1600 today to schedule your personal visit.

July 29 & 30 - 8:00pm August 5 & 6 - 8:00 pm August 7 - 2:00pm Hairspray is the Broadway musical and highly successful movie musical, based on the 1988 John Watersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; film of the same name.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

page 19

www.jewishjacksonville.org

EDUCATION

Fifty-six preschool students walk to Temple for Shabbat As Jews, parents and educators, many of us ask how we can best teach our children about Judaism and help them to find their faith relevant in their lives.

Every Friday morning, the Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool of the Jewish Community Alliance holds a “mock Shabbat” for its students.

On May 6, this learning opportunity became a field trip for their junior kindergarten (4 year olds) and kindergarten students, who took the short walk from the JCA to Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple).

“This illustrates the longstanding relationship of mutual support that we have with the JCA and Gan Yeladim Preschool,” said Rabbi Lief of Congregation Ahavath Chesed.

“We are excited to help provide a friendly context of Jewish life for these students. It is important to give children a positive Jewish

experience.”

About 56 children arrived at 10:30 a.m. and joined Rabbi Lief and Jo-Ellen Unger, Temple’s director of Education and Youth, for stories, music and lively worship in the sanctuary. “I am especially excited to be accompanied by Jo-Ellen who oversees our TIR (Temple Institute of Religion) program and helps about 300 children ages 3 to teens get a Jewish education on Sunday mornings. Her musical talents and ability to relate to the children really enhanced our Shabbat experience.”

Challah and grape juice completed their worship, before the students moved over to Hilda’s Garden, the children’s section of Temple’s Wurn Family Library.

Librarian Virginia Singer read from the book Noah’s Ark by Linda Hayward and shared the resources of the library with them.

Registration for Center religious school opens

“I love seeing the children here,” she said. “Our library is open to everyone and is a resource to our community with 16,000 books on a variety of topics of Jewish interest.”

Teachers were able to check out books to take back to their classrooms for later reading.

“The Temple is an opportunity right in our neighborhood to broaden the Jewish exposure our students receive,” said Rochelle Golomb, assistant director of Early Childhood Education at Gan Yeladim. “It provides a place where the children can see where a Torah is housed and how Shabbat is experienced as a community. Our library is small, but the one at Temple has 4,000 children’s books available to our students.”

Everyone believes this is just the latest in a long series of learning opportunities for the students of Gan Yeladim.

On May 20, Rabbi Lief will host Shabbat worship for the

2- and 3-year-old preschoolers at the JCA. “This is a return visit for him,” said Golomb. “He came to blow the shofar for us on Rosh Hashanah.”

Partnerships such as this one enhance the Jewish learning opportunities for all of our children and help to guarantee the future

of Jacksonville’s Jewish community.

To learn more about the Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool, call 730-2100 Ext. 237.

For more information on Congregation Ahavath Chesed’s Temple Institute of Religion program, call 733-7078.

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WWW.PESTFREE.COM • CALL TODAY FOR A FREE INSPECTION Jacksonville 739-9916 The Jacksonville Jewish Center holds Jewish learning as a central value. The Religious School offers a thoughtful and engaging curriculum for grades K-8. All students belong to a nurturing community dedicated to providing a dynamic and rich educational setting and opportunity for positive growth. Through the invaluable partnership between Religious School education, congregational life and family life, students are able to integrate Judaism into their developing personal identity.

The JJC Religious School starts with a warm and nurturing Kindergarten Sunday School that introduces 5 year olds to Bible, mitzvot, Hebrew language and holiday celebrations. Consecration dedicates the school’s first graders to the study of Torah. Second through fifth grade students add Wednesday afternoons as they continue with age-appropriate curricula of history, Torah, Israel, ethics and, of course, Hebrew reading and prayer. In addition to continued preparation for bar or bat mitzvah, middle-school students are immersed in United Synagogue’s Project Etgar, geared

toward the teaching of moral, social and emotional Jewish adolescent values and behaviors.

All of this is blended together with art, technology, music and celebrations for a full cultural experience. Eighth graders attend on Shabbat mornings rather than Sunday, as they are welcomed into post-bar/bat mitzvah Jewish life by using their new skills on a regular basis in the sanctuary as well as becoming leaders in the center’s various youth services.

The JJC Religious School teachers are capable educators who delight in mixing formal and informal Jewish educational techniques to help bring each learner to Torah. The goal of the formal educational component is to provide an atmosphere of learning that will serve as the foundation for a life-long commitment to Torah, Israel and the Jewish community. The school recognizes that informal Jewish education is just as important! This goal is achieved through individual grade and/or all-school family education programs, and combined real-time experiences. All students engage in regular t’fillot (services) and the afternoon students enjoy dinner on Wednesdays, complete with home rituals in a social, family-style setting.

Don’t miss out on one more minute of this program! Registration for the 2011-12 school year has begun. For more information, please do not hesitate to call Lois Tompkins, principal, at 268-4200, ext. 146 or visit us on our webpage under “Education” at www. jaxjewishcenter.com.

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page 20

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

SYNAGOGUE NEWS

Center announces A Mitzvah Day of Spruce-Up at The Center The Jacksonville Jewish Center is pleased to announce its Annual Community Service Day: A Mitzvah Day of Spruce-Up at The Center, to be held at the Center on Sunday, June 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Community Service Day is one of many JJC projects that will be offered to the community this year. As a kick-off event by the JJC’s newly organized Social Action Community, the purpose is to foster in our children the realization that we need to give back. So much is done for them at the Center to make the building and grounds shine. This project will help the children gain a sense

of just how much work it takes to make it all operate so well. This lesson, particularly profound in this challenging economic arena, can best be appreciated by engaging in the work itself! Projects will be available for all ages, and will range from planting droughtresistant landscaping, repairing Tallit, organizing prayer books, painting, clearing, organizing and polishing.

The SAC is one of the many legions of activity centers alive and thriving under the JJC roof.

According to Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner, “Our congregants are seeking meaningful connections with which to serve the greater

Jacksonville community, as well as to each other ... a Community Service Day, which will engage the resources of our entire congregation, is a perfect way to begin our tzedakah, right here at home.”

Rabbi Lubliner is a vocal proponent of community service and is leading the Jacksonville Jewish Center in collaboration with the Jacksonville community. “We have a wealth of creative energies in our membership,” says Don Kriss, executive director, “and by targeting specific populations in need, we are able to descend on a population with the greatest compassion and many, many hands.”

The Social Action Community,

or SAC as it is fondly referred to, was recently reorganized as a collaborative community. Its members are leaders of the three JJC Schools, and representatives from each of JJC’s leadership subcommunities. One of the special aspects of the new SAC is The Center’s Youth Corps. There are many youth initiatives well under way at the JJC, such as Kadima, Chalutzim, Siyyum, USY, MAKOM and our wonderful three schools. But, according to Margie Aretz, SAC’s 2011 community chairperson, “The bridging of the JJC children from each of our three schools and all of our energized and powerful youth

entities will give one more opportunity for our youth to engage, and by doing so, strengthen their connection to Judaism and to the Center itself.” The Center’s Youth Corps is an umbrella name for all children from earliest preschool to young adulthood and onward who choose to participate in any of the Center’s volunteer activities, to get an early and continuing taste of mitzvot and to have a chance to give back to the community that has given them so much.

All ages welcome and encouraged, from earliest childhood to adult! For further information, please contact Margie Aretz at margiearetz@gmail.com.

Edelman’s art collection inspires Jews and Christians

By GOLDIE LANSKY

Congregation Ahavath Chesed

What does an art exhibit at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church and the community commemoration of Yom Hashoah have in common? The Three Sisters: Rivka Kahana with her Two Sisters.

As the name implies, the image is a striking black and white photograph of three sisters, apparently in their 50s, with their tattooed numbers from the concentration camp clearly exposed. Each of them looks directly into the camera; their expressions pierce your heart. Only they know what they have endured and survived. Their pride is tinged with a deep sad-

ness that will never be relieved.

Cindy and Dan Edelman, longtime members of Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple), generously shared selected art pieces from their personal collection to form an exhibit titled, “Shared Traditions, Shared History,” which hung in the front foyer of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church this spring. Nancy Felton, chair of the Art Ministry at HAB, said that when the church was being re-built following the fire that destroyed their worship space, she never imagined the opportunity the foyer makes possible. “We asked the architect how the walls might be finished so that the foyer would be an inviting space. Only after the

Shape your synagogue

By MICHELE KATZ Kehillah Chadashah

Kehillah Chadashah, the Reconstructionist congregation, may be the new kid on the block but it is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, spirituality and community.

Have you ever found yourself offering suggestions to a group or organization, hoping someone may hear you? Not only do we hear you at Kehillah Chadashah, we rely on what you have to say to help shape our participatory, inclusive, egalitarian community. Reconstructionist Judaism revolves around active congregational members committed to exploring Jewish life with dedication, warmth and enthusiasm.

Whether attending one of our Friday night services, Havdallah or social action programs, you will find a warm, welcoming group of members ranging from very young to young at heart. We have members with diverse backgrounds of religious observance and Jewish knowledge. What brings us together is our desire to integrate a deep respect for traditional Judaism along with insights

and ideas of how to express that in our contemporary social, intellectual and spiritual life.

We have an exciting year ahead, starting with our High Holiday services, more social action programming and our first adult and family education classes. Our most popular addition may be Kehillah Kitchen. If you would like to expand your repertoire of Jewish style recipes or even just enjoy schmoozing in the kitchen, this will be the perfect cooking class for you. If you just like to eat and schmooze, come to any of our services or events where you’ll be sure to find excitement, great conversation and delicious food.

Our congregation celebrates its first anniversary in August.

This is a wonderful opportunity to become involved, let your voice be heard and help shape the dynamics of your new community (kehillah chadashah). We invite you to join us for any of our upcoming services, Torah study or social events. Information can be found on our website, kehillahchadashah.org, or call us directly at 904-208-5191.

church was finished did we realize that the space is a transitional space between the hubbub of the everyday world and the peace we find within the sanctuary. It is in this transitional space that we appreciate the joy of fellowship with our fellow congregants and with the greater community. Here we begin to listen and learn from each other.”

On April 27, the front foyer at HAB was awash in natural light.

It was a perfect setting to enjoy some of the images from the art collection amassed by Cindy and Dan. After enjoying the art for a few moments, we were ushered into the main worship space.

There Cindy explained some of the history of the collection and presented individual pieces as only an art educator and collector can do. Cindy explained that art appreciation is a personal experience as each of us brings our personal history and understandings to each image.

“The collection is an expression of our personal passions: Bible, Holocaust and Israel. We have studied the artists and we have had the opportunity to meet many of the modern ones. Those conversations extend our appreciation of the images as our responses are combined with the experiences and purposes of the artists,” she explained.

The Three Sisters combines two of the Edelmans’ passions: Holocaust and Israel. The horrors of the Holocaust are emblazoned within the expressions on the women’s faces and permanently tattooed on their forearms. Their numbers run in numeric succession and one wonders what each sister was thinking as she saw the one in front of her being tattooed.

What did they endure? How did they survive? Were they able to remain together in the camp? Did they become separated and only later reunite? How did they arrive in Israel? What has their post-Holocaust life experience been? Do they share their Holocaust story?

Have they told their children their story?

Four days after “meeting” these women, I attended our communitywide Yom Hashoah commemoration. I listened as the names of the survivors in our community were read. I watched as they rose to light a memorial candle. I noticed how our survivor community has aged in just the 10 years we have lived in Jacksonville. And I thought about the three sisters. What were they doing on Yom Hashoah?

Art moves us. Art can take us out of our everyday lives to a new space. Art can change us.

I am changed after spending just a few moments with The Three Sisters. Thank you, Cindy and Dan, for introducing us.

Kehillah Chadashah celebrates its first year

By LINDA LEVIN Kehillah Chadashah

Rose Kennedy once said, “Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.” As Kehillah Chadashah approaches its oneyear milestone, we look back and reflect on the moments that got us here. It was just a little less than a year ago that a small group of individuals seeking spirituality, tradition and connection became a new community. We started with the adoption of our mission to create a kehillah to worship and to learn where members have a sense of ownership and inclusivity, connecting with and including our youth, family, friends and Israel. We’ve held monthly Shabbat services as well

as bi-monthly havdalah services and High Holy Day services. We celebrated holidays like Simchat Torah, Tu B’shvat, Pesach, Purim, Yom Haatzmaut, Lag B’Omer and more as a community with exciting activities. We created a culture of spirituality and Tikkun Olam with activities like Jewish Disabilities Month, Global Nutrition Month, raising money for Israel after the forest fires and raising money for Yad Lakashish serving elderly in Jerusalem. We created a welcoming, inclusive and affirming community. We started our youth group, No’Ar Hadash, centered on Tikkun Olam. We created a web presence through our website, facebook and blog. We conducted an interest survey. We incorporated as a

congregation and, most recently, we were accepted by the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation for affiliation.

Now we will build on what we started. This next year we look forward to having more memorable moments, beginning with the kickoff of our first official membership campaign. We invite and we welcome anyone interested in sharing these moments with us. For more information, call Kehillah Chadashah at 208-5191 or email us kehillahchadashah@ gmail.org. Visit our website at kehillahchadashah.org, friend request us on facebook and join the conversation on our blog at http:// kehillahchadashah.blogspot.com.

Be a part of it and let our spirit move you.

Kehillah Chadashah celebrates Shavuot, the feast of weeks

By LINDA LEVIN Kehillah Chadashah

Shavuot (The Feast of Weeks) is so called because it completes seven weeks from the second day of Passover on which the omer (a measure) of the new barley was

brought to the Temple.

This holiday celebrates the early wheat harvest in Israel. It commemorates the covenant at Sinai between God and Israel, and the giving of the Ten Commandments (from the Recon Press pocket calendar).

Kehillah Chadashah celebrates Shavuot with Torah Study on June 10 at 7 p.m. To RSVP and for more information on location, email kehillahchadashah@gmail.org or call 2085191. Join us for Torah Study and let our spirit move you.

Jacksonville Jewish News â&#x20AC;˘ June 2011

6

page 21

www.jewishjacksonville.org

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page 22

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE

Dinner & After Party is a smash hit From top left clockwise: Dinners and After Party Chairperson Alex Ackerman and her husband Scot welcome guests to the Michael Jacksonthemed JCA fundraiser for a fun-filled evening.

904.730.2100 wwwjcajax.org

Betty Grable’s got nothing on these glams. From left: Kate Elliott, Jennifer Rosenblum and Laura Lewinson (thanks to the JCA fitness center)

JCA Summer Camp registration continues

A few openings remain for the Jewish Community Alliance 2011 Summer Camp.

The JCA’s experienced, mature, year-round professionals have more than 50 years of camping experience at the JCA. Their long-term commitment to our quality camping programs is unparalleled!

Summer Camp meets for four two-week sessions: June 20-July 1, July 5-15, July 18-29 and Aug. 1-12.

JCA Summer Camp combines fun activities, a fabulous facility and topnotch staff to provide a safe, happy and positive camping experience that will create lifelong memories for the campers.

Activities for children age 2 and up include swimming, arts and crafts, sports, music, dance and theater.

Camp Habonim, a specialty camp for children in grades 3-6, allows campers to concentrate on a specialty in addition to normal camp activities. Specialties offered include flag football, horseback riding, pottery, basketball, cooking, sailing, ice skating, tennis, soccer, golf and baseball.

The JCA also offers pre- and post-camp Adventure Days from June 13 to 17 and Aug. 15 to 19.

For more information on JCA Summer Camp, visit www. jcajax.org or call 730-2100 ext. 252.

Vandroff Art Gallery

The Art Guild of Orange Park will exhibit different media – water color, oil, acrylic and multi-media – in the Vandroff Art Gallery through June 22.

The mission of the Art Guild of Orange Park is to promote the visual fine arts in Clay County and Northeast Florida.

Throughout the year, members present exhibitions and events geared toward advancing community awareness and appreciation of the talents of the gifted visual artists in and around the community.

Beginning June 24, the gallery will display the photographs of Christina Block. Christina has always had a true love and passion in regards to anything creative. She is pursuing her BFA in photography at the University of North Florida.

While shooting photography

David and Linda Stein find it a “thriller” that close to 300 people of all ages came out to support the JCA. Flash Mob Dancer Extraordinaire Rebekah Selevan and her husband Andrew were hosts of the evening along with Steven and Susan Wolchok (not pictured).

It was as easy as “ABC…123” for these generous hosts of the evening to have a good time. Malcolm Bloom, Laurie and Mark Gelman, and Sharon Bloom

for over 11 years, she continues to take pride in her black and white images. Most of her work is composed of street, nature, portraits and fashions.

Christina sees the beauty in the ordinary and captures that moment for others to enjoy.

She is a JCA member and her son attends preschool here.

JCA Film series

The JCA Film Series presents a free showing of “For My Father” at 7:30 p.m. on June 16.

Tarek, a young Palestinian man blackmailed into a suicide mission in Tel Aviv, is given a second chance at life when the fuse on his explosive vest fails to detonate. Forced to spend the weekend in Tel Aviv awaiting its repair, Tarek must live among the people he was planning to kill. To his surprise, he connects with several Israelis on the outskirts of society.

Attendance is free and open to the entire community.

Save the date 3rd Annual Early Childhood Symposium

“The Whole Child – Fit Mind & Body”

On Sept. 20 enjoy a stimulating evening of workshops and information sessions from nationally recognized experts in child development. Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool will host this not-to-be-missed event! Call 730- 2100 ext. 259 for more details.

Adopt a manatee

Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool students collected tzedakah money and adopted manatees for their classrooms through the Save the Manatees organization.

This organization was established in 1981 by former Florida Gov. Bob Graham and singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett. The funds help to increase public awareness and education projects, manatee research, rescue and rehabilitation efforts, and advocacy and legal action protection for manatees and their habitat.

Gan students learned all about manatees, their habitats, and the dangers they face in the wild, while fulfilling the mitzvah of tzar ba’alei chayim (taking care of the animals).

IMAX adventure

We will have double the fun when we head to the IMAX in

St. Augustine on June 16.

Our bus will take us from the JCA to the award-winning documentary film, “Born to be Wild,” followed by the underwater spectacular film, “Under the Sea.” You will see beautiful wild animals in their natural habitat and marine life that are so gorgeous it’s hard to believe they are real sea creatures. Lunch will be Dutch treat in the World Golf Village Café.

The fee is $25 for JCA members and $38 for nonmembers. Reservations required by June 10 with the JCA registrar.

Cupcakes 101

One of the hottest trends today in desserts is cupcakes. Join us at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 6, as Ilana Clayman, owner of Ilana Loves Cakes, gives us tips on the preparation of moist, delicious cupcakes.

Then try your hand at decorating. Ilana will teach us several creative ways to get the job done. The cost of this class includes everything that you’ll need, and you’ll even be able to take home your edible artwork.

The fee is $10 for JCA members and $15 for nonmembers.

JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE 2010 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $187,450

JCA Swim School

The JCA Swim School was developed for participants who seek a fun and safe environment to learn the art of swimming. Our indoor pool is heated to 84 degrees yearround. During the lessons, children will be introduced to breath control, kicking, safe entry into the pool and exit from the pool.

As lessons progress, the focus will be on continued development of the basic swimming strokes and will continue until the child has completed all necessary skills to reach a higher level of swimming proficiency. Children will experience a group lesson structure in small groups, building on skills and learning new techniques.

Weekday lessons will provide 30 minutes of structured teaching in a group setting of two to five children. Sunday lessons will be 45 minutes of structured teaching in a setting of two to five children.

Children ages 6 months to 6 years are eligible. For more information, call 730-2100 ext. 240.

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

page 23

www.jewishjacksonville.org

JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA

Faces of CJL: Dina & Talia Fetner

Fetners’ legacy

President’s Corner: Year In Review 2010-2011 Year in Review Highlights

By Mark Green Our community Create a Jewish Legacy program continues to be Foundation’s focus. Of the 14 participating pilot communities nationwide, Jacksonville is the only community to receive maximum Jewish Federations of North America grant funds each year, and is the only community to receive funds for three consecutive years.

We convened seven focus groups during FY 2010-2011 to develop a CJL strategic plan for year three and after the pilot including community and internal strategies for implementing CJL. Nearly 400 Jewish Legacy Partners have established funds or indicated to the Foundation their intent to bequeath funds through their wills, or other charitable gift planning instruments, to the Jewish community. To date almost $47 million has been given and promised through bequests and other charitable gifting methods, to meet the future needs of our Jewish community.

Since engaging Jewish Jacksonville in CJL 182 individuals have declared their intent to Create Jewish Legacies and have promised nearly $14 million in future gifts. $5.4 million was promised in this last year alone.

In May of 2010 Richard and Kimberly Sisisky hosted our CJL Donor Recognition Brunch. On Jan. 13 we presented a collaborative CJL Celebration attended by 300 people, held at Congregation Ahavath Chesed. All Foundation partner organizations participated to present the program. During the program 54 individuals signed a declaration of intent.

Grants totaling more than $800,000 were distributed from Foundation to the community from April 1, 2010 through May 5, 2011. Of that total more than $620,000 was distributed to Jewish nonprofits.

Under the watchful eyes of the Foundation Investment Oversight Committee members funds invested with the Foundation have performed well against indices and benchmarks for one-year, three-year and five-year periods.

We have many to thank for this success including the following: our board and CJL Steering Committee members, benefactors who house the Foundation, partner organizations and their professionals and boards, event sponsors, volunteers who took part in the planning and presenting of the CJL program and events, and our seven community angels. Special thanks to our Jewish Legacy partners: Those who signed CJL declarations of intent, who already gave to Jewish endowment funds, who before CJL included Jewish causes in their wills and estate plans.

Together we will strengthen and secure a vibrant future for our Jewish community and the generations that will follow us.

To Dina Fetner and daughter Talia, a legacy implies a call to action, a little nudge.

For them a legacy is not passive, it’s engaging. Their passion and roots run deep for the Jewish community locally and in Israel.

Over 100 years ago Dina’s great grandmother started an orphanage for Jewish children in Connecticut and her mother Joan Levin serves on the boards of many Jewish organizations. Joan is passionate about her work partnering with the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville region of HaderaEiron in Israel. Dina said, “My mom’s passion for Israel is her family’s legacy to us, her children.”

Dina’s family instilled in her the vision to keep the Jewish community thriving, and she has infused those same

values into her daughter’s life. Talia has been actively engaged in the Jewish community including Camp Blue Star and USY, and will be attending a BBYO program in

Israel this summer.

Dina and Talia and their family have

committed to creating a Jewish legacy by the way they live their lives and interact within their family, by their involvement in the Jacksonville Jewish community, and by their support of Israel. They have chosen to secure their legacy of giving to and supporting Jewish causes with a future gift from their estate, to the Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida.

Their legacy gift will have an impact on the Jewish community of the future and ensure that causes they care about will receive funding in perpetuity.

This family not only believes in the concept of leaving a financial legacy, they are living their Jewish legacy every day. Dina said, “By signing a declaration of intent to create my own legacy plan I am joining my parents and ancestors in securing a Jewish future for Talia, Jake and Danielle and the generations after them. L’dor V Dor, generation to generation.”

Meet the Board Members: Mel Fruit Mel Fruit is a vice president and has been on the Foundation board since inception in 1995, and one might say he is a pioneer of endowments in the Jacksonville Jewish community. Living in Jacksonville for 40 years, Mel has seen and been a part of the transformation from a small spreadout group to the flourishing Jewish community we know today.

He recounts the community of 1971 when synagogues focused their efforts on raising money for brick and mortar and dues. As a futurist, Mel and others realized that this way of thinking (without endowments) was not going to ensure the longevity of the community. Mel said, “Our need for endowments was evident.”

He recalled how before the Foundation began, Jack Coleman, Cindy Edelman, Joy Korman, Jeff Edwards and others began discussing and working on efforts to build the Temple endowment. Richard Sisisky started to plant the seeds for what is today the Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida and our communitywide Create a Jewish Legacy program.

Synagogues and Jewish agencies were

essentially working toward the same goal: offering services and programs to support and sustain Jewish life in Jacksonville.

However until the birth of the Jewish Community Foundation in 1995, there was no effective system for developing endowments community wide.

Foundation was established to help our Jewish agencies and synagogues with legacy and charitable gift planning services and effective administration and management of the resultant endowment funds. With the addition of Foundation synagogues and agencies could focus on their core missions and Foundation would function as stewards of Jewish endowment funds. Foundation ensures that the intent of donors who create legacy gifts for Jewish causes they care about will always be honored and that gifts are properly documented.

Mel said, “The value of Foundation is it has expertise to help our community develop planned and legacy gifts, effectively manage and administer them and the resultant endowment funds. I have been a trustee for nearly 16 years. We never thought it would be like this and welcome

this historic time where all of our partner organizations are working together on a collaborative Create A Jewish Legacy program sponsored by Foundation. This is still just the beginning. L’Chaim - to Jewish life!”

Meet the newest member of your Foundation team The Jewish Community Foundation is pleased to announce llana Clayman has joined the Foundation professional team as our new community Create A Jewish Legacy program director. Day school educated, Ilana grew up in Delray Beach, where she attended the Donna Klein and Meyer Jewish Academies, and she and her family were actively involved in their congregation, Temple Sinai.

Growing up in a close Jewish family, her parents and maternal grandparents inspired some of Ilana’s fondest Jewish childhood memories. Her paternal grandparents took her to Israel for her Bat Mitzvah on Masada and while in college she visited again with the Birthright program.

While attending the University of

Florida she worked for the Hillel Foundation and was active in Alpha Phi Omega, a community service fraternity. Upon graduation, Ilana moved to Austin to work as a Jewish Campus Service Corp Fellow at the Hillel Foundation at the University of Texas. She relocated to Gainesville, then St. Augustine where she continued her professional career in marketing and management roles.

A newlywed, Ilana now resides in Jacksonville with her husband Bobby Clayman, and joined the Temple, where they were married. She has become active in local Jewish life and attends Shalom Jacksonville programs, is involved with Federation’s Young Leadership Division and is working to form a newlyweds group. Ilana has joined the Jewish Community Alliance, where she is on a waiting list to display her paintings, and in June will teach a Cupcakes 101class.

Ilana shared, “This Jacksonville Jewish community welcomed me with open arms. It’s a great feeling. This community is where I want to plant my roots with my new husband.” About joining the Foundation professional team Ilana said, “I was

yearning to get back to working in the Jewish community. I am enthusiastic about the CJL program and eager to meet all of you, and look forward to working with the Foundation Board, committees and partners.”

We are excited about the addition of Ilana Clayman to our Foundation professional team and Jewish community and know when you meet her you will be too!

Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida

904.394.0720 www.jewishfoundationnefl.org

The Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, Inc., does not provide legal or tax advice. This information is not intended, nor may it be relied upon, as legal, accounting or other professional advice. Before making any financial decisions always consult your own professional advisor.

JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA 2010 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $72,000

page 24

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

RIVER GARDEN

15th Annual River Garden Golf Classic a success

A wonderful group of smiling volunteers greeted tournament players and guests.

US Trust: Tournament Chairs Mark Lodinger and Michael Price presented gifts to Veronica Maybury and representatives of US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, Title Sponsor of the Golf Classic.

Crystal clear blue skies, bright sunshine and bagpipe music greeted golfers at the 15th Annual River Garden Classic, sponsored by U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, on May 5 at Deerwood Country Club. After registration and lunch, the golfers took to the course where they had a chance to show their skills at chipping contests and other games. The day ended with an award presentation emceed by Jacksonville radio personality Robbie Rose of 99.1 WQIK. This year’s tournament raised more than $75,000 to benefit The Albert Z. Fleet Geriatric Training Center at River Garden and the students who graduate into a new caring profession as certified nursing assistants. Since the tournament’s inception in 1997, more than $750,000 has been raised.

A very special thank you goes out to long-time event co-chairs, Mark Lodinger and Michael Price, for their leadership and dedication. This marked Price’s 11th year as chairman and Lodinger’s 15th. River Garden also extends a special thank you to all of our generous sponsors, committee members, volunteers, players and staff who worked together to make this event successful.

Tournament sponsors include: Title Sponsor: U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management; Golf Course Sponsor: Albert Z. Fleet Trust; Reception Sponsor: Greene-Hazel & Associates, Inc.; Master Sponsors: Dermatology & Laser Center – Dr. & Mrs. Fred Eaglstein, The DuBow Family Foundation, Inc., First Coast Security, The Families of Harry, Ben & Karl Frisch In Honor of Tom Hazel, Mark Lodinger & Associates, Ned & Sue Price ~ Ned I. Price, P. A., Ponce de Leon LTC RRG, Inc. and Uni-Ter Underwriting Management Corp., The Price &

Zenick Family, Robert M. Morgan & Associates, Attorneys at Law, Stellar Foundation; Birdie Sponsor: Guardian Fueling Technologies Corporate Sponsors: Aetna, Baptist Medical Center South, Borland-Groover Clinic, P.A., Gulf South Medical Supply, Hardage-Giddens Funeral Homes & Cemeteries, Dr. Miriam Finegold-Price, Mr. & Mrs. Walter Rudisiler, Michael and Jill Weiss – In Honor of His Parents, Dr. & Mrs. Larry Wilf; Beverage Cart Sponsors: Duss, Kenney, Safer Hampton & Joos, PA, LBA Certified Public Accountants, Betty and Michael Sorna – In memory of Carl Demery, Toney Construction Co., Inc.; Beer Sponsor: Champion Brands, Car Sponsor: Ernie Palmer Toyota, Hole Sponsors: Harriet and Ernie Brodsky, Ed Waters & Sons Contracting Co., Inc., Dr. & Mrs. Harvey Eber – In Memory of Steve & Alice Eber and Bessie Gamce, Susan & Ron Elinoff, The Foody Family, Susan & Martin A. Goetz – In Memory of Minnie Schreiber, Healthcare’s Cooperative Credit Union, Edith & Bruce Horovitz, John Hancock Financial Network – The Della Porta Agency, ‘In Memory of Bill Goldstein’ With Love From The Goldstein, Maiman & Sever Families, Randy Kammer & Jeffry Wollitz, Judge Morton Kesler, Rabbi Joshua & Mrs. Rebecca Lief, MARCO, MMI Dining Systems, Native Sun Natural Foods, On Call Staffing, Osterer Construction Company, Pajcic and Pajcic, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc., Ned & Sue Price and Larry & Dr. Susan Zenick – In Honor of the Birthdays of Jack Price and Michael Price, Jim & Deena Richman, Mr. & Mrs. David Robbins, The Howard Roey Family, Lorry & Paul Rothstein, Dr. & Mrs. Michael S. Scharf , Sekine, Rasner & Brock, OB-GYN, David & Linda Stein, Sysco Food Services ~ Jacksonville, The Jacksonville Bank ,The Parts House, The Tree Amigos Outdoor Services, Inc., Trane, Sanford Zimmerman – Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.

BRIEFS Parlor meetings begin for River Garden Capital Campaign

River Garden’s $7 million capital campaign is well underway.

Since it was launched in March, the agency has raised $4 million toward its goal. Throughout the next year committee members and donors will host a series of parlor meetings and events to share River Garden’s vision and the progress of the project with others in the community.

The two-year campaign will fund a building expansion and renovation project that will serve outpatient and home healthcare services in a new 10,000-square-foot facility. The campaign will also refurbish the now 21-year-old nursing facility to better meet the needs of residents and their families. When one donor was asked why he got involved in the campaign he responded, “Being able to serve the elderly who reside in their own home through high-quality outpatient care programs is critically important to senior boomers and it’s particularly important that River Garden is developing a meaningful, cost-effective way to provide them care and services. ” Elliot Palevsky, River Garden’s senior executive and former CEO, explains the project by saying, “What we are doing puts River Garden in a position to respond to emerging trends in living and aging, and so we believe that

20 years from now, that generation is going to look back and say this particular expansion is a watershed in anticipation of the enormous changes that are about to take place in society.”

River Garden has taken on additional debt to fund the expansion and refurbishment.

That debt is now being held

by SunTrust Bank. The capital campaign is designed to fully retire the debt over the next 10 years.

We will need strong and committed community participation in the campaign if River Garden is to remain a vibrant, and responsive care community now and into the future.

Volunteer opportunities

Gift Shop – Salespeople needed for the Gift Shop. Spend a few hours each week in a lovely setting doing something fun and rewarding. The River Garden Gift Shop is a welcoming place to work and your service will help to continue a valuable fundraising program that benefits all River Garden residents. For more information please contact Judy Dushoff at (904)716-4613.

Feeding volunteer program – Specialized certification program created to train volunteers to feed and/or feed assist residents who need assistance at mealtimes. Comprehensive training is provided. This is a very rewarding and much needed position. Volunteers will be fully trained by River Garden speech/language pathologist in feed-skills competency and swallowing/feeding guidelines.

Adult Day Care Program open seven Days The Adult Day Program at River Garden provides support for older adults in the community who are able to live at home but may require health monitoring, socialization and nutritional guidance during daytime hours. The program is available seven days a week to meet the needs of caregivers who work full time or who need some extra time for other daily activities.

“Adult Day Program at River Garden turned out to be a tremendous blessing for us,” said Wayne Gwilliam. “I would highly recommend this wonderful program. Dr. Sue Krall and staff were excellent in helping us understand the program and all it offers. For me it was a blessing in providing loving quality care for my wife and a much needed respite for me. It allowed me to continue to work and to do day-to-day activities knowing that my wife was in a loving, caring environment. There is much to do during the day as the program is a scheduled routine of activities that are enriching. ” The Adult Day Program at River Garden has been meeting the needs of an outpatient clientele for over 16 years.

For the clients who attend daily, the program allows for the continued routine that is so important. For more information please contact Dr. Sue Leger-Krall at (904) 288-7851.

RIVER GARDEN 2010 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $187,450

Adult Day Care is filled daily with fun and smiles

How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

Please help create your own Jewish Legacy by remembering River Garden and our Jacksonville Jewish Community in your Will.

From generation to generation L’Dor V’Dor. For more information contact River Garden Development office at 904.886.8432 or Development@rivergarden.org or Jewish Community Foundation at 904.394.0720.

Remember River Garden when you would like to honor or memorialize your loved ones.

Donations should be sent to: Development Department River Garden Hebrew Home 11401 Old Saint Augustine Rd. Jacksonville, Florida 32258 904.886.8432

Donations can be made via the web at

www.rivergarden.org/donations.html

904.260.1818

www.rivergarden.org

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

page 25

www.jewishjacksonville.org

JEWISH FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES

Defining our dads: How are you doing?

By Rachel Weinstein, LMHC Dupont Counseling Group

448-1933 www.jfcsjax.org

Briefs Caregiver tips from JFCS: When your loved one has arthritis

Few diagnoses can create such a transition from the routine in life as arthritis does. Often, daily or favorite activities become too painful to continue and realizing the physical limitations can be disappointing.

Here are a few tips that may allow you to help lessen your loved one’s emotional and physical pain associated with arthritis: • Use safety rails in the bathroom and along stairways.

• Arrange cupboards and furniture with their reduced flexibility and movement in mind.

• Condense large items into a smaller, lighter bottle that can be lifted easier.

• Since sitting idle for long periods of time tends to make someone become stiff, make sure they move around a little bit each hour to create movement in the legs and arms.

For additional tips, or to receive more information, call the Arthritis Foundation at 353-5770 or the Jewish Services Department at 3945737.

Foods of the month:

beef stew, carrots, beans, rice and fruit juices We welcome your donations of food and funds throughout the year for our on-site Winn-Dixie Emergency Food Pantry at JFCS.

Kosher Kart

Did you know that our Kosher Kart program is a great alternative for seniors, individuals recuperating from illness or hospitalization and college students. They’re an easy meal alternative – and they’re good, affordable and Kosher too. Call 224-6287 for information.

Transportation program is on the move

The CALL2GO program at JFCS has provided 1,000 rides in the past year. Our new vendor, Coastal Cab, has exceeded our expectations. Our clients are riding to synagogues, visiting their doctors and dentists, attending symphony concerts and going grocery shopping. This is a great way for seniors to remain independent, arrange for their own rides and, as they say, “leave the driving to us.”

As we recently paid tribute to our mothers, recognizing the significance of this relationship, this month we do the same for our fathers. However, unlike Mother’s Day, this holiday is not as commercialized and tends to get lost in the shuffle. Despite the fact that the role of father is equally important as the mother in the emotional and social development of a child, we tend to overlook the power this parent has in the shaping of their lives.

We are bombarded with the mixed messages received from our media about what it means to be a man. The idea of violence being associated with strength and protection being linked with fear can be confusing concepts for children. It becomes complicated defining gender roles in a way that is reasonable and acceptable within our culture. In the traditional sense, it’s important that boys and girls ideally experience a father who has a thorough

sense of self, is emotionally aware and has a well-defined role – a knowledge that he is able to provide for and protect his family, while showing love and affection. Picture the image of a teddy bear with a sword – valiant, strong, warm and accepting. This is a tall order for many. But how a man defines himself will determine his strength as a father.

So, you may ask, what can be done? How can we counteract these messages that quickly and subconsciously become ingrained in us?

The following are some questions to begin asking yourself: • What does masculinity mean to me?

• What does being a father mean to me?

• How was communication expressed by my father growing up? By my parents?

• Do I have different expectations of my role based on the gender of my child? (Do I want my son to perceive me one way, and my daughter another?)

• And now, how can this be put into ac-

tion to strengthen your relationship with your children?

Be honest with yourself. Give some thought into the above questions – are you pleased with your beliefs? Or do you want to change them? Be honest with your kids. Talk to them. Share stories of what you were like as a child at their age so they better understand and relate to you. Often, while men are trying to protect and provide, they may forget about the necessity of connecting.

Learn how to discipline without inducing fear. It’s not just about being the “heavy” in the home, it’s about establishing mutual respect. Engage in an activity while talking: playing a game together, a sport, fishing, etc.

Most meaningful communications with men occur when participating in an activity.

So, to all you fathers out there: hug yourself, hug and kiss your kids. Tell them you love them. But more importantly, show them you do. Remember, you are a teddy bear with a sword.

First Annual Field Day a big success On April 24 three groups came together for fun, games and socialization. Koleinu at Jewish Family & Community Services, sponsored their first-ever “Find the Matzah” Field Day and, with assistance from the Temple's JAFTY and Jacksonville Jewish Center's USY youth groups, provided fun in the sun for special needs children ages 5-7.

The children had a great time playing buddy relay races and looking for clues to find the matzah which was hidden in the playground. Participants enjoyed kosher for Passover snacks and everyone agreed that they would

enjoy celebrating with their new friends next year at this time.

Thanks to the planning committee: Rachel Morgenthal, Stacey Leach and Maura Silverman for helping to make this program possible, to Margo’s Caterers for donating the Passover

snacks and to the JAFTY and USY teens who helped make this program such a success.

Helping daughters, helping mothers Do you remember the story about the cobbler who was so busy making shoes for his customers that he had no time to make some for his own children? Well that isn’t the case at Jewish Family & Community Services.

When Gail Furman, manager of Jewish Services, joined the agency two years ago, she already had the role of caregiver for her mother.

“The responsibilities of caregiving were eased by being here at JFCS,” said Furman. “Those tasks which could be perceived as a hardship have been lessened by the knowledge and support I have received from this agency.”

Jewish Healing Network coordinator and family caregiver, Helen Hill, concurs. “We are able to communicate with our team of

And don’t forget, rides to synagogue for religious services – whether for Shabbat or Shavuot – are absolutely free. Please call Sue Kornhauser at 2246287 with your transportation requests.

Honorable Menschen

We would like to recognize those volunteers who joined us in recent months to make our lives, and those of our clients, easier: Fay Garber, Judy Greenberg, Judy Greenfield, Josh Groghan, Natalie Kelly, Shelley Rabon, Stacia Rosenblum, Arlene Shain-

experts here in the office, discuss concerns as well as successes, and be better prepared for the changes that inevitably occur.” Both agree they have learned from each other, their co-workers and also their mothers.

And their moms benefit from this association. Gail and Helen have gained information that help them manage the physical, emotional, legal, medical and financial challenges that come with the job of caregiver, and they are aware of the resources available for their mothers. What’s more, both mothers are enjoying an enriched life because of the services offered by JFCS. If we can be of service to you, your parents, or another loved one – please call 394-5737.

brown, Marcia Strommer and Pearl Williams

JFCS business partners

Their support, contributions and business expertise helped us to better serve the Northeast Florida community: Lawrence Ansbacher; Assessment Technologies Group; BlueCross BlueShield; Beth El – The Beaches Synagogue; Beth Shalom Congregation; Coastal Cab; Congregation Ahavath Chesed; Darifair; Deland Entertainment; Dynamic Corporate Solutions; Jacksonville Jewish Center; Eric Leach, Esq.; Milton, Leach, Whitman, D’Andrea & Eslinger; Martin J. Gottlieb Day School; New

Gail Furman & mom above.

Helen Hill and mom below.

York Life Insurance; PRI Productions; Publix; Raven Transport; Shorstein & Kelly, P.A.; Surfside Transportation; Winn-Dixie; and Work Systems Associates, Inc. Thank You!

Create Your Jewish Legacy Please remember Jewish Family & Community Services and the Jewish community in your will.

The Department of Jewish Services works in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville to provide programs and services that meet the specialized needs of the Jewish community.

JEWISH FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES 2010 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $257,200

Todah Rabah to the Block family

Thank you to the Block family for their leadership with the Feed A Needy Neighbor Food Challenge. The volunteers and families of JFCS gratefully appreciate all of their support over the years to help fill the shelves so that no one who comes to JFCS in need will go hungry. Again, thank you to the Block Family and everyone in the community who contributed to JFCS’ FANN program.

A big thank you to . . .

Thanks to the following individuals and groups who helped to enhance the Passover holidays for many families and seniors throughout the community: Martin J. Gottlieb Day School students and their teacher, Edith Horovitz, for providing a Model Seder for the residents at Mt. Carmel; Beth Shalom Sisterhood for making Passover gift baskets for families; Rabbi Bob Goodman for presenting Passover information to several senior facilities thereby connecting with the Jewish residents who live there; Congregation Ahavath Chesed for sponsoring a Passover food drive and donating food to our Winn-Dixie Emergency Food Pantry; and to Beth Shalom Men’s Club and Sisterhood for their Food Fight, which also benefited our food pantry.

Pregnant? Confused?

Unplanned Pregnancy?

We can help you.

Call First Coast Adoption Professionals to discuss the best choice for you and your baby. All discussions are strictly confidential.

First Coast Adoption Professionals: 904-3945763 or 1-800-262-2186.

Habla espanol?

904-394-5764. jfcsjax.org/adoption

page 26

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

LIFECYCLES B’nai Mitzvah

Zoe Rose Penson, daughter of Michelle and Mark Penson, will be called to the Torah on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah on June 18, 2011, at Congregation Ahavath Chesed.

Sharing in her simcha will be her sister Jillian, grandparents Ruth and Jimmy Penson of Los Angeles, grandparents Barb and John Drady of Sebastopol, CA, and many other family and friends from near and far.

Zoe is in the 7th grade at Fruit Cove Middle School. She loves dancing, music and spending time with her Temple friends. She is looking forward to being a CIT at Camp Ki Tov this summer and being a part of the Madrichim program next year. Zoe is collecting new and gently used books for her mitzvah project for South Woods Elementary School’s library and extended care program in Saint Augustine.

Engagement

Michele and David Steinfeld announce the engagement of their son Jerad Hirsch Steinfeld to Megan Elizabeth Hawley, daughter of Mary and Tom Hawley. An October wedding is planned in Milwaukee, Wisc.

Wedding

Melissa Brooke Levin and Gregory Thomas Lewis were married on March 26, 2011, at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa. The bride is the daughter of Renie and Gerald Levin. The groom is the son of Linda Lewis of Shell Lake, Wisc.; and the late Larry Lewis.

Accomplishments

Laine Silverfield was recently honored by the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council at their Women of Distinction luncheon. Each year local women are honored for their accomplishments in career and community service that exemplify the values of Girl Scouting.

Silverfield’s closing remarks sited Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, whether one by one, leading by

example, or as a united group.

Sasha Lyn Bloom earned her juris doctorate degree from the University of Georgia School of Law and plans to practice in Georgia. Parents are Philip and Linda Bloom. Grandparents are Sonny and Joan Waitz, and Harold and the late Renee Bloom.

Mazel tov to Kimberly Glass on her graduation from St. Johns Youth Leadership Program.

Mazel tov to Jessica Goldberg for being elected president of the Hillel at Brandeis Student Board.

Sympathy

… to the family of Leigh Brody, father of Scott (Allison) Brody and Faye (Steven) Mizrahi.

Leigh died May 6, 2011, in Macon, Ga. He is also survived by his wife Gloria; grandchildren Lillie, Joe and Aidan Brody, and Hannah and Eli Mizrahi; and sister Eleanor (John) Jennings of Short Hills, N.J. The family requests that contributions in memory of Leigh be made to Congregation Sha’arey Israel, 611 First St., Macon, GA 31201 and/or Macon Hadassah, 506 Wesleyan Drive, Macon, GA 31210. … to the family of Jack Dorman, husband of Eleanore Dorman, father of Michelle Frisch and Dr. Todd (Lisa) Dorman, and grandfather of Daniel and Erin Frisch and Will and Libby Dorman. Jack died May 11, 2011. The family requests that contributions in memory of Jack be made to the Temple and/or River Garden Hebrew Home. … to the family of Florence Greenberg, mother of Robert (Naomi) Greenberg, Marc Greenberg, Deborah Greenberg, Barry (Mike DeSanto) and Steven Greenberg; and grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of eight. Florence died April 25, 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Morris Greenberg. The family requests that contributions in memory of Florence be made to the Temple or the Alzheimer Association. … to the family of Lore Baer Koppel, mother of Karen (Dr. Andrew) Kaunitz. Lore died May 14, 2011. She is survived by her husband, Leo Koppel, children Barbara (Timothy) Pedley, Anita (Ralph) Blackman, Paul (Sheila) Koppel and grandchildren Kate and David Kaunitz, Lauren and Nathaniel Pedley, Max and Mia Blackman and Alexander Koppel.

The family requests that contributions in memory of Lore be made

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to the Montgomery County Office of the Aging, P.O. Box 52, Amsterdam, NY 12010 or the charity of your choice. … to the family of Harris Lipsey, husband of Helen Dinnerstein Lipsey, father of Bertram (Vicki) Lipsey and Lawrence Lipsey, grandfather of Amanda Faye Lipsey, Ben Francis Lipsey and Joseph Michael (Gwen) Lipsey and great-grandfather of Jacob Van Lipsey and Liam Harrison Lipsey. Harris died May 12, 2011. The family requests that contributions in memory of Harris be made to the Wurn Family Library. … to the family of Wilbur Margol, past president and lifelong member of the Jacksonville Jewish Center, who died April 26, 2011. Wilbur is survived by his wife, Marilyn Margol; his children Rodney (Lee), Lonnie (Dane), Kim (David) Robbins, Wendy (Fred) Pozin; grandchildren Ashley, David, Cale, Lindsay, Geoffrey, Bradley, Jereme, Zachary, Noah and Leah; and brother Bennie (Bobbi) Margol. Contributions in Mr. Margol’s memory can be made to the Jacksonville Jewish Center, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, or the Alzheimer’s Association. … to the family of Lillie Sorkin, who died May 7, 2011. She is survived by her daughters Robin (Marco) Rand and Arlene Rubin; grandchildren Douglas (Dafna) Rand, Jonathan Rand, Lisa Rand, Michael (Laura) Rubin, Steven (Jennifer) Rubin and Daniel Rubin; and great-grandchildren Hannah and Allyson Rubin and Maya Rand. She was predeceased by her husband Jerome and sonin-law Paul Rubin. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Sorkin may be sent to River Garden. … to the family of Stanley Sprecher, who died March 31, 2011. Born March 3, 1933, Stanley was a kind and generous man, with a love for life and passion for his family. His positive attitude could fill a room and his smile and laughter touched the heart of those who met him. His devotion to his wife of 55 years (and two weeks) was an inspiration to his family and an example to those privileged to have known him.

Stanley’s later years were filled with an enthusiasm for fishing, and he wanted nothing more than to spend the day with a rod in one hand and a hotdog in the other.

His fishing trips, with sons and

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grandsons, gave him great joy and hope for the next day. He lived to fish. Stanley is survived by his wife Phyllis, his children, Ellen, Neal (Christine), Judy(Tom), nine grandchildren, and one greatgrandchild. Contributions may be made to the Etz Chaim Synagogue, Jewish Family & Community Services, or River Garden in Stanley’s memory. … to the family of Nasim Vul, who died May 4, 2011. Nasim is survived by eight daughters, Alex

Jax Jewish singles go to the beach

Join the Jax Jewish Singles on June 12 for a walk on the beach followed by brunch at a nearby restaurant. Call 2218061 or email francine.smith@ comcast.net for meet-up times and locations.

Announcements To place a lifecycle announcement on this page, email: jjn@jewishjacksonville.org.

Deadline is the 6th of the month.

(Natan) Man, Liliya (Anatoliy) Greyber, Sayra Kovalchuk, Jynn Vul, Tamara (Iliya) Botvinnikov, Larisa (Oleg) Ayrapetov, Roza Vul and Lisa Usmanova; 19 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Vul can be made to the Jacksonville Jewish Center or the charity of your choice. … to the family of Rose Weinstock, beloved mother of Dan Weinstock. Rose died Tuesday, May 10, 2011.

CLASSIFIEDS HOUSE FOR SALE

4/2 ½ Approx. 1,900 sq. ft. walking distance of synagogues in great Mandarin location. This house is a must see. Full brick home with fenced backyard.

Complete with custom tile, carpet and good quality laminate wood floors. $215,900. Please call 904-237-6841.

Place your classified ad for 35 cents a word. E-mail your ad to jjn@jewishjacksonville.org, 448-5000, and send payment to Jacksonville Jewish News, 8505 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32217. Deadline is the 15th of each month.

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

MIDDLE EAST

Ambassador examines Mideast developments From The Jewish Federations of North America

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren recently acknowledged that many of the recent events in the Middle East could dramatically impact the future of peace and stability in the entire region.

The ambassador spoke on a special “Israel Perspectives” teleconference of the Israel Advocacy Initiative, a project of The Jewish Federations of North America and The Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

Participants from across North America joined the JFNA-JCPA call to discuss recent events in the Middle East, including the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement, the Palestinian push for a declaration of independence and a possible second flotilla, to depart from Turkey this summer.

“Events are transpiring at such a rapid pace,” said Oren, during the call. “You go to bed at night and wonder what kind of Mideast you’re going to wake up to in the morning.”

Oren called the killing of Osama bin Laden an “immense triumph against terror,” but said the signing of the Hamas-Fatah unity deal in Cairo three days later was a “tremendous blow to the peace process and a victory for terror.”

Hamas, he noted, not only has a covenant to destroy Israel, but also “follows up on the deed,” regularly firing rockets into Israel, enlisting suicide bombers and killing thousands of Israelis, including one person during a recent attack on a school bus in the South.

“Hamas is the only government in the world that

page 27

www.jewishjacksonville.org

condemned the killing of bin Laden,” continued Oren. “This pact worsens an already deplorable situation.”

The efforts to achieve international recognition of a unilateral Palestinian state at the UN Assembly this fall further clouds any prospect of peace. “It would risk a situation in which 500,000 Israelis would find themselves interlopers in a foreign country,” he said, and “abdicate all agreements we have with the Palestinian Authority and all agreements that the U.S. has with the Palestinian Authority.”

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Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

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PERSPECTIVES

Jacksonville

Jewish News Diane Rodgers Communications Director 904.448.5000, ext. 212 Kelley Madden Assistant Communications Director 904.448.5000, ext. 200 Advertising Representatives Lara Werwa • 904.234.5720 Barbara Nykerk • 904.733.4179 Irina Stevens • 904.612.5264 Communications Committee Jon Israel, Chair Shirley Bielski Michele Katz Joan Levin Rachel Morgenthal Marsha Pollock Gail Sterman Federation President Gary Perlman Federation Executive Director Alan Margolies

Shavuot by Tnuva

By TEDDY WEINBERGER Columnist

A

s one might expect of the Jewish state, the holy days of the Jewish religion are national holidays. A good example of this is the holiday of Shavuot (Pentecost). While it is possible to go about one’s business in the diaspora without even realizing that Shavuot has come and gone, this could never happen in Israel. For one thing, on the day of the holiday all government offices, banks, and businesses are closed, and children begin their second day of a three-day holiday.

Additionally, several weeks before the holiday, Tnuva, Israel’s huge food company takes great care to tell every person in the State of Israel: “Shavuot Tnuva-An Israeli Celebration.”

The Tnuva juggernaut for Shavuot is quite impressive. In the weeks before the holiday, one cannot walk by a dairy case anywhere in Israel without realizing that Shavuot is approaching and that Tnuva is ready to help you celebrate. There are sales on dairy products, introductory offers for new product lines, and a tempting array of cheesecakes--including a “cheesecake kit for easy and fast preparation” of the holiday’s signature dessert.

In a newspaper insert, Tnuva speaks of Shavuot as “the most Israeli of holidays” because of the old kibbutz tradition of displaying the plentiful yields (crops and livestock) on this day. In the center of the magazine there is a beautiful photograph of various fruits and assorted cheeses with the words (obviously meant to sound like a biblical injunction): “On the holiday of Shavuot, you shall make for yourselves a Tnuva holiday table.”

The bulk of the magazine consists primarily of recipes that make excellent use of the Tnuva Dairy (and are accompanied by colorful photographs of the finished products). Tnuva dutifully provides several of the traditional reasons for eating dairy products on this, the holiday that commemorates the giving of the Torah to Israel. One of these reasons

uses the technique known as “gematria,” which assigns a numerical value to each Hebrew letter.

The numerical value of “milk” (“halav”) = 40 = the number of days that Moses spent on Mt. Sinai when he received the Torah.

Playfully, Tnuva points out that 40 reduced to a single digit = 4 (4 + 0) and that the word “Tnuva” (whose total = 463) can also be reduced to 4 (4 + 6 + 3 = 13 = 1+ 3 = 4). “And maybe,” says Tnuva in the magazine, “here begins our deep connection with the holiday of Shavuot.”

For the secular portion of the population, the holiday is an opportunity for a long weekend at the beach. This leads to an interesting religious question, given the Jewish legal principle that says that a person who is ignorant of a law is punished less severely than someone who knows the law but who consciously violates it. Following this line of reasoning, it could be argued that the situation of a Jew in the diaspora who goes to work on Wednesday June 8 without realizing that it’s Shavuot is less severe than an Israeli who violates religious law on the holiday--since all Israelis know that the day is a Jewish holiday.

Precisely at this point, however, is where the modern religious Jew parts ways with the ultraOrthodox. While from a legal perspective the secular Jewish diaspora position on Shavuot may have its advantages, in terms of Jewish culture and Jewish peoplehood, I believe that the Israeli situation is much to be preferred over a diaspora Shavuot. As long as the traditions of the Jewish people are still current in Israel’s vocabulary, one can hope for a reconstruction or a transvaluation of these traditions to suit a broad spectrum of Israeli society.

Even if a person’s celebration of Shavuot consists of eating more dairy products than usual around this time of year, that person is exercising some degree of ethnic and national responsibility-which I think is all to the good.

So buy your (preferably Tnuva) dairy products, and have a Happy Shavuot.

Watching Israel grow into a startup nation

By AMY LEDERMAN Columnist

I

recently returned from a fantastic trip to Israel - an interfaith business and leadership delegation sponsored by the American Israel Friendship League.

Our group consisted of 29 dynamic Tucsonans – a vibrant mix of faiths, ethnicities, professional backgrounds and expertise.

Together we explored the rich tapestry of religious, archeological, business and cultural sites that makes Israel so unique. Toward the end of the trip, each participant had the opportunity to experience a day-long “counterpart exchange” with Israelis in their fields of interest to learn and share knowledge, expertise and innovations in medicine, art, technology, education and venture capitalism.

I lived in Israel in 1974-5 when I was a junior in college, and Israel was only 26 years old.

It’s hard to reconcile the Israel of today with the one I knew back when my apartment had no hot water or heat and, in order to call home, I had to take a bus to the central post office in downtown Jerusalem where a row of public phones lined the wall like soldiers.

Over the past 37 years, I have watched Israel develop from a third-world adolescent country to a robust, maturing, high-tech nation. At 63, Israel is the most innovative and entrepreneurially successful country in the world.

According to journalists Dan Senor and Saul Singer, authors of “Start-Up Nation,” Israel has the highest per capita density of

startups in the world and has more companies listed on NASDAQ than all the companies from the entire European continent. In 2008, per capita venture capital investments in Israel were 2.5 times greater than those in the United States, 30 times greater than in Europe, 80 times greater than in China and 350 times great than in India.

What are some of the secrets to Israel’s success? Why, despite all of the hardships she faces daily while struggling to remain the only genuine democracy in the Middle East, is Israel able to outshine all other countries in the development of innovative business practices and enterprising entrepreneurial efforts?

There are three significant reasons that Israel is listed No. 1 on the hit parade of entrepreneurs today. Reduced to a very simple formula, they boil down to ARF: attitude, relationships and the failure factor.

Israelis develop an attitude about authority in the Israeli Defense Force which transfers beautifully into the business world. Since most Israelis serve in the military immediately following high school (men for three years, women for two), a common culture is established between Israeli youth that binds them together, literally, for life. Soldiers are taught from the start to work together as a team; it is imperative for their safety, the nation’s security and the success of their mission. But unlike many other military models, the Israeli army has an informal quality among its ranks that has been described as anti-hierarchical.

IDF commanders are given nicknames by their units, they make coffee for their troops and hang out with them, telling jokes and stories. Soldiers are encour-

aged and expected to assert themselves, to voice their opinions and ideas, in a respectful way that fosters debate and the rethinking of strategies. We might see this as arrogant or insubordinate, as totally unacceptable in the U.S. military, but Israelis view this type of chutzpah (which means “nerve” in Yiddish) as positive. A soldier with chutzpah, who respectfully disagrees with his commander, is not punished, but applauded.

Israelis take this attitude with them into the work force where it serves to promote original thinking, encourage respectful debate between employees and their superiors and challenge old paradigms that are no longer working.

The Israeli attitude inspires less formal and more trusting relationships between employers and employees. Because of the informality that is accepted and the chutzpah that is expected, people at every level of business are more willing and able to debate and disagree with one another without fear of recrimination. This reduces the amount of backbiting, gossip and negative competition because disagreements are aired openly and freely. Relationships at work are built on the same principle as those in the army: that the group must work together and trust one another in order to accomplish the business’s end goal.

What is most impressive however, is the Israeli reaction to failure. In many countries, including our own, there is a tendency to view failure as negative.

But in Israel, when a drug trial fails or an idea falls short, the failure is seen as value neutral if it is grounded in intelligent, wellreasoned assumptions. If the risk taken is rational and not reckless, the failure will be seen as infor-

See STARTUP, p. 29

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Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

page 29

www.jewishjacksonville.org

PERSPECTIVES

Layers of Shavuot

By RABBI MARK WIEDER River Garden Hebrew Home

W

hen I was 6 years old and my little sister was born, my family moved from a small bungalow in one suburb of Cleveland to a more spacious colonial home in a nearby suburb.

We planted a garden in an area that had formerly been a dog run, and the natural fertilizer gave rise to some of the most delicious tomatoes I have ever eaten. I did my share of staking up the tomato plants, weeding around the plot, watering and eventually harvesting.

The Jewish calendar, based on an agricultural cycle, is built upon such activities. As we know from Ecclesiastes, there is “a time to reap and a time to sow.” (3:2) Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, which occurs after counting the seven weeks after Passover (the omer), is also known as Chag haBikurim, the Festival of First Fruits, and Chag haKatzir, Festival of the Harvest.

The first fruits were brought as an offering to the Temple in Jerusalem, and the festival marked the end of the barley harvest and beginning of the wheat harvest.

The harvests became the link to reading the Book of Ruth on Shavuot. If you’ll remember, faithful Ruth, of “whither thou goest” fame, gleans in the fields of Boaz, a relative of her family.

I have, in the past, led discussions of the Book of Ruth on Shavuot, have shown a Hollywood movie about her (The Story of Ruth) which bears little resemblance to the biblical narrative, but which makes for good discussion, and led a discussion

of The Garden of Ruth by Eva Etzioni-Halevy (I still have about 40 bookmarks sticking out of the volume).

Despite my slight experience with gardening, the agricultural connection of Shavuot does not speak to me the way the rabbinic overlay does; that is, Shavuot as the time of “zeman mattan toratenu” — the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai.

Confirmation, really an acceptance of Torah, is widely practiced in the Reform and Conservative movements at Shavuot.

Last year at this time, I had the opportunity to organize an adult b’nei mitzvah at River Garden at Shavuot.

A nighttime of study, tikun l’eil Shavuot, is one of the hallmarks of the holiday. Some attend for the joy of study (Judaism encourages study for its own sake), and others for the dairy treats which await them.

There are several reasons given for the consumption of dairy products on Shavuot. The one I grew up with was that the Jews did not have time to incorporate the laws of kashrut at Sinai, so meat couldn’t be eaten. Two biblical explanations are that the Song of Songs compares Torah to milk (4:11), and that the law of first fruits is in the same verse as one concerning milk, i.e., “You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.” (Exod. 23:19) I have been known to organize competitions for the best cheesecake or noodle kugel, but have not been opposed to ice cream socials or blintzes with sour cream.

However you celebrate your Shavuot, through land or stomach or text, may it be a sweet one, indeed.

RABBINICALLY SPEAKING

STARTUP

Continued from p. 28 mation to be used in the future and will become the springboard for the next generation of assumptions. The question is not “What did we do wrong?” but “What have we learned and what do we need to know to take this idea to

the next level?”

There is no doubt that Israel has made many mistakes and has much to learn in its trajectory from third-world country to startup nation. But we stand to gain much, as individuals and as a country, if we consider the values and attitudes that have served her so well in her success as front runner in the entrepreneurship race.

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page 30

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

Learn how to get involved: Join jfedcommunity.org

WORLD OF NATIONS

The Mark Spivak Dance Group performs Sunday at World of Nations.

The Israel Pavilion: A volunteer’s story

‘I got my English name written in Hebrew!’

Showing off Israel eye blacks at the Kidszone

PRESIDENTS Continued from p. 1

board secretary, assistant secretary/treasurer and vice president.

Nancy received a bachelor of business administration degree from Emory University. She graduated from Boston University School of Law and is a member of the Florida and New Jersey Bar Associations.

She has served as a board member of The Temple and as chairwoman of the JCA’s Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool.

She is married to Dr. Gary Perlman, a periodontist and current Federation president. They have two children: Amy, a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and Andrew, who has completed his first year at Duke University.

Foundation President Mark Green

Mark Green will continue his two-year term as president on July 1. As a founding member of the board, Mark understands the significance of the work of the Foundation.

Mark has served as an active and engaged board member since Foundation’s inception in 1995.

His service has included chairing the Grant Review/Allocations Committee and serving on the

Having been to the World of Nations Celebration we thought we knew what to expect. The Bob Marley hats complete with dreadlocks, the Chinese dragon dancing around, and music from many different nations. We were not disappointed; we did see all of those things.

However, there was an exciting addition this year – the Israeli pavilion! We spent some time in the pavilion as volunteers doing various things. Annie helped hundreds of school children find Israel on a map; Ian wrote countless names using the Aleph Bet instead of the alphabet; and I must have said “Shalom” and “Todah” about 400 times!

The school children who came through the pavilion were excited about learning about Israel. Many asked questions about the language.

They were surprised to learn that Hebrew is read from right to left.

The children were eager to learn a few Hebrew words and seemed very proud to be able to say “Todah” to the lady who stamped their passports on their way out of the pavilion. Of course, it did help that they were given a piece of kosher Development, Bylaws, Professional Advisory, Real Estate, Nominating, B’nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy, and Create a Jewish Legacy Steering committees. For several years he served as the designated partner representative for the Temple.

Mark is actively engaged in Foundation and regularly attends board meetings, workshops and events.

Born in Albany, N.Y., Mark attended public school in Jacksonville, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and his JD from Stetson University College of Law. A local attorney, Mark specializes in marital, family and criminal law at Dale, Bald, Showalter, Mercier &, Green, P.A. Listed in Who’s Who in America Law in 2007, he was named a Florida Super Lawyer.

Mark has been active on local community boards including serving as past president for The Bridge of Northeast Florida and the Jewish Community Alliance.

During his 16 years on the board of the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, Mark was recipient of the 2007 Joe P. Safer Community Service Award. He also volunteers for the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Associates.

Mark and his wife Nancy believe in Tikkun Olam and giving back. As the couple put it, “We want to leave the world a better place than we found it!”

The Mark Spivak Dance Group performs Sunday at World of Nations.

gum if they could say something in Hebrew!

We truly enjoyed working at the first pavilion for Israel at the World of Nations Celebration. We are looking forward to volunteering again next year. Shalom!

- Annie, Ian, and Nan Davis The Israel Pavilion, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, wants to thank the Davis Family and the other volunteers who came and helped to represent Israel at the 19th Annual World of Nations Celebration, which took place April 26 – May 1. We also want to thank all of the organizations and businesses that sponsored the pavilion: Let’s Nosh, Heather Ferman Jewelry, El Al Airlines, State of Israel Ministry of Tourism, Party City – Mandarin and Bennett’s – Technology for Your Business, Mark Spivak Dance Group, Koltrain (Jacksonville Jewish Center), Congregation Ahavath Chesed, Beth El – The Beaches Synagogue, Jewish Community Alliance Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool, middle schoolers from Martin J. Gottlieb Day School and the Jacksonville Jewish Center.

JFCS President Howard Caplan

Howard Caplan continues for a second term as president of JFCS. Howard has been on the JFCS board since 2006. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Howard graduated from Pitzer College, Claremont, Calif., B.A. history, 1980; and the University of Memphis, Memphis, Tenn., J.D., 1987.

In private practice since 1994, Howard practices commercial and corporate, franchise, trademark and copyright and technology law.

His clients include local, regional, national and international companies and individuals from startups to sales in excess of $100 million.

Howard has also served as director of the Southside Business Men’s Club, (2006-present); chair Scholarship Committee (2006-present); Cub Scout den leader and committee member (1999-2002); North Florida Music Association, Advisory Board (2001); Civitan Club of Jacksonville, president (1995-1996); producer, Law Notes Radio Program, WEVL Memphis (1988-1990); Greater Mid-South Jaycees, legal counsel (1988-1989).

Professionally, Howard was president of Florida Legal Services, Inc. (2007-2008), director (1999-2009); Florida Bar Foundation, Inc., director (2007-2008); Small Business Resource Network, president (2003-2004), chair of Legal Network (2000-2001), Steering

Above: Finding Israel (It’s a small country.)

At right, making puzzles at the Israel Pavilion Kidszone

Committee (1999-2004); guest lecturer Florida Coastal School of Law (2005-present); guest lecturer University of North Florida Coggin School of Business (2003present); Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Business to Business Task Force, Steering Committee (2000-2001), guest lecturer for Adopt a Business and FastTrac programs (1999-2001); Businessinfosource.com, Advisory Board (2001); Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc., Ryan White Project, Steering Committee (1996-2000); Tennessee Supreme Court Board of Bar Examiners 1989-1990.

Awards: Elected to Florida’s Legal Elite (trademark of Florida Trend Magazine) 2009, 2010; Regional Volunteer of the Year, Florida Small Business Development Center Network 2004; and Martindale Hubbell AV rated.

Howard is married to Jeanne Maron. They have three children and live in St. Johns County.

They are also the owners of “The Gifted Cork” wine and gift store in historic St. Augustine.

River Garden President Mark Lodinger

Mark Lodinger began his first year as president of River Garden Hebrew Home in March 2011. He has served on the River Garden Home board since 1991 and served as chair of the River Garden Admissions board for the past six years. Mark is also

a member of the River Garden Holding Company board as well as the River Garden Foundation board.

Mark spearheaded and cochairs the River Garden Classic Golf Tournament, which has raised over $750,000 since its inception 15 years ago. The tournament benefits The Albert Z. Fleet Geriatric Training Center at River Garden, a Florida licensed not-for-profit postsecondary school that provides academic training and skills for persons desiring to become certified nursing assistants.

Mark looks forward to an eventful year for River Garden as the home embarks on a 10,000square-foot expansion of its facilities to further develop outpatient therapy programs, adult day care, and home health programs.

Mr. Lodinger is a wellrespected insurance planner, with knowledge of a wide range of financial products. He also advises on estate planning and business continuity strategies.

He is a member of Congregation Ahavath Chesed, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and serves on the board of the Jacksonville Jewish Foundation.

Mark is honored to join the Federation board and looks forward to facilitating a close relationship between River Garden Hebrew Home and the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

page 31

www.jewishjacksonville.org

FEDERATION NEWS

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page 32

Jacksonville Jewish News • June 2011

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