KEEP DREAMING Rabbi Fisch talks of perseverance when it comes to your goals.
WELCOME Shalom Jax holds event in St. Augustine. page 4
COMMUNITY NEWS Find out what’s going on in your Jewish community. page 3
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JEWISH NEWS ONLINE Don’t have the JJN with you? Read us online. Find the link at: jewishjacksonville.org/news
JEWISH NEWS Jacksonville
October 2012 • Tishrei/Cheshvan 5773 • Published by Jewish Federation of Jacksonville • www.jewishjacksonville.org • Volume 25, Number 4 • 20 pages
Game On, YLD River Garden receives 6th consecutive award set for Oct. 28 By River Garden Senior Services
By ADAM BRONSTONE
Community Engagement Consultant
Following another successful year of activities, the Young Leadership Division of the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville will kick off a new year of programs and campaign with a Game On evening on Sunday, Oct. 28, at Latitude 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. With food and teams competing in Wii games, YLD is starting its new year by bringing young adults from across the community together with a lot of fun in mind. “In a way, Game On, YLD, perfectly describes the theme of our upcoming year,” says YLD Co-chair Erica Jolles. “This year, our young leadership will be engaged in many new and exciting activities, as well as a return to those things that have worked well in the past.” YLD is again leading the charge by hosting the Annual Super Sunday phone-a-thon, which raises funds for local, overseas and Israeli-based needs. YLD’s monthly Mix ‘n’ Mingle has become a great success, drawing many young professionals who enjoy socializing with old friends and making new ones, too. As always, YLD will be active in social-action projects with our Federation beneficiary agencies, and will be offering ways to learn more about the current affairs in Israel and the Middle East. Our Young Families section will celebrate Chanukah and Passover with our annual Young Families/Shalom Jacksonville menorah contest, and prePassover pizza and pasta party, respectively. YLD will also be representing Jacksonville at Federation’s national leadership conference in March. YLD’s Ben-Gurion Society will also hold events, offering leadership mentoring from the community. For more information about becoming part of the Ben-Gurion Society, please call Adam Bronstone at Federation at 448-5000.
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See YLD, p. 19
On Tuesday, Aug. 28, River Garden Hebrew Home/Wolfson Health & Aging Center received a state honor for the sixth time. Jim Crochet, the state of Florida long-term care ombudsman, visited Jacksonville from Tallahassee to present River Garden with an unprecedented 6th consecutive Governor’s Gold Seal Award for Excellence in Long-Term Care. Crochet presented the award to Mark Lodinger, president of the River Garden Home Board. The event took place in River
Jim Crochet presents 6th Gold Seal to Mark Lodinger.
Garden’s Cohen Auditorium at 2 p.m., and a reception immediately followed. Created in 2002 by the Florida State Legislature, the Gold Seal Award recognizes Florida’s premier quality nursing homes that have exceptionally high standards and display excellence in the quality of care delivered to their residents. Prior to receiving the award, a nursing facility must undergo a rigorous examination to ensure strict regulatory compliance and the provision of enhanced programming and services. In addition, a site visit is made by representatives of the Governor’s Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care. In order to receive the Governor’s Gold Seal Award, River Garden had to demonstrate: • High-quality care ranking among all nursing homes in the region • Financial soundness and stability • Excellent record with the state Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program • No conditional ratings or appearances on the Nursing Home Watch List within 30 months of applying for the award
From left to right: Norma Levy, resident council president; Marty Goetz, CEO; Ron Elinoff, Senior Services Board president; Mark Lodinger, Home Board president; Kelli Walker, HR director; Jim Crochet, FL long-term care ombudsman • Evidence of community involvement • A stable workforce • Best practices in elder care The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration recognized 18 Florida nursing homes, out of more than 650 in the state, for receiving the Gold Seal Award. River Garden is the only free-standing nursing home in the state to achieve the award six consecutive terms.
River Garden acknowledges that this is an award which would not be possible were it not for the outstanding efforts and successes of every member of the River Garden team, from those in housekeeping, food services and plant operations, to the nurses, therapists, volunteers, and everyone involved in the day-to-day, 24/7/365 operation that is River Garden Hebrew Home/Wolfson Health & Aging Center.
First-ever boyfriend joins the Girlfriend Connection The Jewish Federation of writer for the show. Jacksonville’s Women’s Division He is a six-time Emmy winner will get a genuine look inside and has been the head writer for Hollywood with its annual Girlthe Academy Awards for 12 years. friend Connection on Thursday, He is also a featured writer for the Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. at the UNF Emmys, Tonys and Grammys. Vilanch is often referred to as University Center. This year Holthe king of one-liners for some of lywood comedian/writer/actor Hollywood’s biggest stars. One of Bruce Vilanch will share stories his longest collaborations is with about his showbusiness career. Bruce Vilanch Bette Midler. It was Vilanch who Best known for his four years as a celebrity contestant on “Holgave Midler some helpful career lywood Squares,” Vilanch was also head advice: “You’re pretty funny. You should
talk more onstage.” He has written for such legends as Lily Tomlin, Billy Crystal, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, Roseanne, Rosie O’Donnell, Paul Reiser, Elizabeth Taylor and Robin Williams. He was the subject of the 1999 documentary “Get Bruce!” and has starred as Edna Turnblad in the touring productions of Hairspray. Co-chairs for the event are Susan DuBow, Cathy Klein and Debra Setzer. For further information contact Erin Cohen at the Jewish Federeration office at 448-5000, x 205.
Spotlight: Offering a shoulder to lean on Jacksonville’s Jewish Family & Community Services has helped many like Marjorie By Jewish Federations of North America
Marjorie had, as she describes it, “a very classic middle to upper-middle-class lifestyle.” She was happily married. She had a nice home, a fulfilling career, two thriving daughters, good friends, and enough money for vacations and emergencies. From the outside, her life looked perfect. Eventually, things fell apart. “Underneath the surface, there was some unhappiness on my part,” she recalls. Marjorie and her husband divorced, then Marjorie lost
her job. Her savings quickly ran out, and the only work she could get was the occasional freelance gig. She didn’t just have to scrimp on vacations – she could no longer afford a daily meal or heat. “Suddenly I found myself needing to tighten my belt to the extent of having to decide between food and gas for the car.” Marjorie was lucky enough to have friends who gave her dinner and food banks to fill the gaps, but her finances got worse. She moved in with a friend who was also going through a divorce, but her new living arrangement meant her daughters couldn’t stay with her. “To be a mother and to not be able to do things for your girls… it was really hard for me.” The stress took such a toll on Marjorie emotionally that she began to contemplate suicide. “When you’re lying in bed by yourself…
See MARJORIE, p. 2
Marjorie