Jacksonville Jewish News - Oct. 2017

A BUSINESS IDEA THATS HALEY GOES TO HOUSTON FROM THE HEART Federation board

Jax entrepreneur turns numbers from Holocaust into jewelry Page 5

NEW YEAR, NEW SCHOOL Jacksonville’s first ever orthodox high school opens its doors for students to study in Page 18 Mandarin

member travels to Texas for service project in wake of Hur. Harvey Page 14

A publication of

October 2017

• Tishrei/Cheshvan 5778 •

JCA set to celebrate 30 years of making a difference in the Jax community

The Jewish Community Alliance opened its doors to the Jacksonville community in 1988

By Jewish Community Alliance

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On Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, the JCA will mark its 30th Anniversary with a milestone fundraising event, recognizing the past, while honoring the present and helping to secure the agency’s future. The honorary chairs of the event are David Stein, Howard Korman and Jeff Parker, three individuals without whom the JCA would not be here today.

The event committee kicked off planning for this important milestone Sept. 28, at the home of Michael and Glenn Miller.

The committee is comprised of charter members who have been a part of the JCA from its inception as well as those who have become supporters in recent years.

The festivities are sure to reflect the caliber of the JCA’s award-winning community organization and its three-decade history of achievements.

If you would like to be involved in the JCA’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, please contact Lior Spring at lior.spring@jcajax. org or via 904-730-2100, ext. 318. Thank you to all who have supported the JCA since it opened its doors in 1988.

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JaxJewishTV • Volume 30, Number 4 • 28 pages

Federation to welcome grandson of 1st Israeli Prime Minister to its Nov. 9th Campaign Kickoff

By Jewish Federation of Jacksonville

The Jewish Federation of Jacksonville’s 2018 Annual Campaign will officially kickoff on Thursday, Nov. 9th as the Jewish community welcomes a very special guest to Jacksonville.

Alon Ben Gurion, the grandson of Israel’s founder and first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, will be spending the evening at Etz Chaim Synagogue, giving his talk, ‘From Vision to Independence: The Creation of the State of Israel’. Join friends and community members for this extraordinary talk as Ben Gurion shares, in a very candid and heartfelt way, first-hand stories and never-before heard testimonials from his family, while giving insight into his grandfather’s legacy.

The evening’s festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m., with a dessert reception, followed by the program. This year, the Campaign Kickoff is hosted by Iris Kraemer, Federation campaign chair; Debbie BanksKitay, Women’s Division Campaign Chair and Haley Trager, rGEN Campaign Chair.

In lieu of a ticket price, guests are required to contribute to the Annual Campaign, which allocates money each year to local

Jewish agencies including the JCA, JFCS, River Garden, Jewish Community Foundation, Martin J Gottlieb Day School and Torah Academy of Jacksonville. Additionally, this campaign supports Jacksonville’s local synagogues and Federation’s major overseas partners: the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), serving more than 70 countries world-wide.

In addition to Ben Gurion’s talk, the campaign kickoff will also honor two very special people from the Jacksonville Jewish community, as each year, Federation recognizes local individuals who have exemplified outstanding leadership, philanthropic service and social service involvement in a a multitude of ways throughout our community. This year, Federation honors former President Hal Resnick of blessed memory Alon Ben Gurion poses in front of a photo of with the Joe P. Safer Community Service his famous grandfather, David Ben Gurion Award and current Federation board member Haley Trager with the Ilene Sari Selevan about the kickoff event, or how to contribYoung Leadership Award. ute to the Annual Campaign, contact Erin Kindly RSVP for the Campaign KickCohen at 904-448-5000, ext. 1205 or erinc@ off by Nov. 2nd, to jewishjacksonville. jewishjacksonville.org. org/2018fedkickoff or by calling 904-4485000, ext. 1201. For more information See AWARD WINNERS, p. 13

Federation again teams up with Northeast Florida’s largest fundraisers for Hurricane Irma relief effort

By United Way of Northeast Florida

On the heels of what is estimated to be the most destructive natural disaster to hit Northeast Florida in more than a century, more than $2 million has already been pledged to Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund to support immediate and long-term relief and recovery efforts. Mayor Lenny Curry announced the pledges at a press conference, the Wednesday following the storm at the Legends Center on the city’s Northwest side. The First Coast Relief Fund consists of the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, the United Way of Northeast Florida and Jacksonville mayor Lenny Curry speaks to the media following the annoucement that once St. Johns County, The Community Foundation of Northeast Florida and the Jesse Ball again the Federation along with four other non-profits team up to provide disaster relief duPont Fund. our community every day but, in times of community, which is the backbone of so “We are pleased to join again with potential crisis, it’s more important than many critical services,” said Sherry Magill, Northeast Florida’s strongest nonprofit ever to come together.” president of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund funders in responding, this time, to Irma,” “This collaboration of partners is a The Jacksonville Jaguars, along with said Alan Margolies, Federation executive great example of the important role of the director. “We are committed to supporting See IRMA RELIEF FUND, p. 5 philanthropic and nonprofit sector in our

Israeli doctors tour Jax as part of Partnership and Society of Healers exchange

By Jacksonville Jewish News

In late August, two Israeli doctors came to Florida’s First Coast as part of Federation’s Israel Partnership program to educate, inform and inspire both medical communities, here in the U.S. and Israel. Through the Federation’s Society of Healers division, Drs. Adi Klein and Yael Kopelman from the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Jacksonville’s partnership city of Hadera, spent a week in the Jewish community and with Jewish healthcare providers, getting a better glimpse of the medicine in Florida’s biggest city. Klein is the Director of the Hospital’s pediatric unit, while Kopelman is the Director of the Medical Center’s Gastroenterology Institute.

Their visits here in Jacksonville included stops at Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital, St. Vincent’s, UF Health, WeCare and the Ackerman Cancer Center, as they had a busy five days meeting the brightest minds and friend-

liest faces in our medical community. The Jacksonville Jewish News sat down with both doctors following an evening presentation and event with Jewish healthcare providers here in town.

Jacksonville Jewish News: What are some of the main differences that you observed between American healthcare and Israeli healthcare?

Adi Klein: “The Israeli medical system is socialist by its nature as it is given to everyDrs. Kopelman (left) and Klein (right) with Dr. body equally, but it also lacks resources. The American healthcare system is wealthy, but Scot Ackerman (center) during their visit there are also some subpopulations that cannot afford it.”

Yael Kopelman: “We found that the middle class medical providers like physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners are the main source of patient’s care, but in Israel there are no such middle class providers.

Scan code for paper online at

See ISRAELI DOCTORS, p. 15

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

opinion and cartoons JJN’s Rabbinically Speaking: Tabernacles, the Jewish Holy Day temporary dwellings during the Rabbinically speaking is a 40-year trek through the desert of thanks monthly column written by clergy after escaping from Egypt. Even

BY RABBI FRED RASKIND Temple Bet Yam

Many know of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which fell this year on Thursday, Sept. 21st.

On that day, Jews prayed for spiritual renewal and celebrated the beginning of 5778 on the Jewish calendar. Ten days later, the solemn Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, followed, which acts as a full, day-long religious marathon of confession, prayer, scriptural readings, liturgical music, and sermons with messages to inspire teshuvah, or a return, to God and Jewish devotion.

Five days after, we joyfully mark the Festival of Sukkot, Tabernacles, a week-long harvest festival. Leviticus 23:33-44 tells Israelites not to work, and to erect booths as a reminder of the

today, some traditional Jews actually sleep and eat their meals in the Sukkah, while most just share a celebratory meal with song and prayer.

We are further told to wave a lulav, which consists of a palm branch, willow, and myrtle. Scholars believe that this is one of the most ancient rituals in all religion, as it originally was to ward off evil spirits, but since the time of the Bible, it has come to mean that God is everywhere- North, East, South, West, Heaven, and Earth.

The central theme of Sukkot is offering thanks to God for the harvest season, now complete. In ancient days, it was an agricultural harvest, but today our harvests vary, as the ‘harvest’ of a successful year in school, or business is something to be thankful for in addition to our family, or our

RABBINICALLY SPEAKING civic and religious communities.

It sounds a lot like Thanksgiving in November doesn’t it? Actually, the devout Pilgrims were students of the Hebrew Scriptures and so

patterned the original Thanksgiving Feast on this Biblical festival in Leviticus. So each year, Jews offer gratitude to God twice, once at Sukkot, and soon after at Thanksgiving.

Rabbi Fred Raskind was born and educated in Boston. He graduated from Boston University and then attended Columbia University where he studied philosophy and comparative religion. He also took coursework at three Divinity Schools, Boston University, Union Theological Seminary (NYC) and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College, New York and has served pulpits in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

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

Since 2003 he has served as Rabbi of Congregation B’nai Abraham in Hagerstown Md., and has been active in the Interfaith Coalition, HARC (Hagerstown Area Religious Council) and ORCH club. Rabbi Raskind also served for two years as part-time Jewish Chaplain at the V.A. facility in Martinsburg, W.V.

The Shlicha corner: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and everything in between

BY SHELLY SHALEV

The Western Wall (Kotel) is a popular destination during the holidays

Shalev with friends in Jerusalem

As the high holidays (or- Hayamim Hanoraim in Hebrew) bring us into the fall season, it is time to start the Jewish new beginning. As we start the New Year, we do so with new ideas, goals and aspirations for ourselves and for those around us. This New Year is the 5,778. So much power and meaning are in those days for me. For example, my earliest childhood memories are those of my family during this time of year. My mom (Abigail) and dad (Yosef) were so happy to get me my new white dress for Rosh Hashanah and enjoyed spending quality time with me during the holidays.

The flowers are watered, the smell of delicious food is all over, and the table is set for everyone who is dressed festively in white and we all have big smiles on our faces. My dad and I used to go regularly throughout the year to the local ‘Shuk’(market), but I remember going during the holiday season was always something

special. There is a known Israeli sentence ‘Ahi, Aharei Hahagim’ which means- let us talk after the holidays, because this is a time for family, unity, and prayer. While in the Shuk I helped to pick the most fine-looking tomatoes, and I loved watching my Dad exchange ‘Shana Tova’ greetings with everyone.

After the Shuk’, it was time for me and my mom to properly invite the holidays into our home by chanting New Year songs that were coming through the radio while making delicious traditional Georgian and Israeli dishes. We would always go to our grandparent’s house to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with our entire family. Singing and dancing throughout the entire time was my best memory and I even remember this one year when my dad brought a sheep’s head (instead of fish’s) in memory of the sheep Abraham sacrificed in the ‘Binding of Isaac’.

As the temperatures become cooler, the sweaters find their way out of our closets and ‘Shana Tova’,

silence, searching for the answers to so many questions you didn’t even have time to ask. This is the one day that I go to the synagogue, even if I’m traveling out of town or out of the country, just so I can hear the Shofar blown.

In my home town Ashdod, a Yom Kippur tradition for me

Community Shlicha

Dry Bones Cartoons by Yaakov Kirschen

is added with ‘Gmar Hatima Tova’ greetings. The roads are filled with fellow fasters (and their kids that seemly eat everything you wish you could) as we arrive at Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, remorse, and reflection. During these 25 hours, you have nothing to do but think and saver the

and my friends is when we got together in the evening at our ‘meeting spot’, since we are not using phones to communicate, and spend the rest of the night laughing and fantasizing about food.

It’s an amazing picture because everyone is dressed in white, and on the streets, children riding their bicycles on the roads as there is not even one car driving on them.

This is a special time in Israel, because you seem to always see that one someone you haven’t seen in ages from school or the army, just walking casually by you and stop to chat, This is magnetic, this is Israel, this is Yom Kippur.

Despite all the tension that exists in Israel, Yom Kippur is a time when people ease some of theirs as they long to be together in this great synagogue called The Land of Israel. It’s with this in mind, that I wish you and your loved ones a Shana Tova and Gmar Hatima Tova.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

community news

JWRP to host inspirational event for teens and families, October 29th

JJN Advertising Directory At the Jacksonville Jewish News, our advertisers are precious to us.

It is with their support that the Jacksonville Jewish community has a newspaper. Advertising revenue also offsets the cost of production, so Federation dollars can be dedicated to helping Jews locally and overseas. Please continue to live generously and support our advertisers:

BY KAREN FREEDMAN Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project

The local women of the 2017 Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (JWRP) are excited to host ‘Making your Dream a Reality’, Sunday, Oct. 29th.

This program will be an exciting opportunity for high school teens and their parents to hear an inspirational story about how a few teens turned their passion into a reality called Kol HaNearim. It was during the group’s recent visit to Jacksonville’s sister city of Hadera, that it had the chance encounter with the founder of this amazing organization.

Kol HaNearim aims to provide care for some of the most vulnerable members of society, which are orphans and children at-risk. The vision is to help these special children develop from receivers to givers and see to it that these children have the tools and support to break the cycle of distress, enabling them to start their own families and lead happy, healthy, and successful lives.

Each summer Kol HaNearim brings high-school volunteers to Israel to organize summer

camps for orphans and children at-risk. The volunteers are split into four different children’s homes, where they live for the duration of the program. All the volunteers go in with one goal, and that’s to make every child have the summer of a lifetime.

By creating color wars, soccer tournaments, fashion shows, dance parties and water fights, KH creates strong, positive, and healthy relationships between the volunteers and children that last forever.

Ezra Gontownik, a senior at Columbia University will be on hand at the event to speak about Kol HaNearim and his experiences. Gontownik studies history and has served as student council class president for three years. Prior to starting at Columbia, he attended the Frisch School and went on to

spend a year learning at Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Gontownik first got involved in Kol HaNearim in 2012 as a rising high school senior, spending the summers of 2012-14 volunteering at a children’s home in Israel. Beginning in 2015, he along with Michael Reidler, and the Kol Hanearim team opened summer camps at four additional children’s homes across Israel.

In 2017, KH brought 150 international volunteers to serve 800 at-risk children. After graduation, Gontownik will work as an Analyst in J.P. Morgan’s Investment Banking division.

To RSVP for this event which will take place at the Jolles home, email Paige Wajsman at paige@wajsmanhometeam. com by Oct. 24th or call Karen Freedman with any questions at 904-219-1355.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Alhambra Theatre (p. 4) • Jewish Federation of All Pro Painting (p. 23) Jacksonville (p. 2,) Art/Antiques Show (p. 24) • Jewish Java (p. 15) B&C Financial (p. 12) • JFCS (p. 21, 28) Beachview Rentals (p. 23) • Larry Tallis Photo (p. 25) Bob Ham Eyewear (p. 7) • Margo’s Catering (p. 19) The Bolles School (p. 14) • Memorial Hospital (p. 17) Brandon Pest (p. 10) • Mensch Express (p. 23) Dignity Memorial (p. 27) • Pediatric Dentistry (p. 23) Erica Jolles Realty (p. 9) • River Garden (p. 11) Florida Forum (p. 3) • Stein Mart (p. 6) FSCJ Artist Series (p. 18) • The Temple (p. 19) Harbor Chase (p. 16) • The Tax Man (p. 23) Impressions (p. 23) • Wajsman Home Team Innovative Financial Realty (p. 23) Solutions (p. 6) • Watercrest San Jose (p. 13) • Jacksonville Jaguars (p. 2) For your advertising needs, please contact advertising sales representatives Elise Kurian at 404-625-9263, Barbara Nykerk at 904-733-4179 or or Eta Perras at 904-629-0466.

Oct. 2017 - Tishrei/Cheshvan 5778

Adult Education............... p. 25 Business Directory.......... p. 23 Chabad News .............p. 11-12 Community News..................... ...................................p. 4-7, 18 Education .................... p. 9-10 Federation News .p. 13-15, 19 JCA ................................. p. 20

JFCS .................................p. 21 Lifecycles ......................... p. 23 Opinion & Cartoons ........... P. 3 River Garden ................... p. 22 Service Schedules .......... p. 26 Synagogue News ..............p. 8 Top Stories..........................p. 1

Read archived issues online at

.com

This month in JJN History Oct. 2001

16-years ago this month the JJN’s front cover had on it articles and information on Etz Chaim Synagogue’s newest Rabbi in Nosson Kaiser and how to help pitch in for the relief efforts to those victims of the Sept. 11th attacks in New York, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

The JJN also reported on the upcoming River Garden Gala, then just in its ninth year The October edition of the Jacksonville and a speaker coming to the JCA to speak about the year- Jewish had Sept. 11th related content on its front page long crisis in Israel.

www.jewishjacksonville.org

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

communitynews

Third Gen Holocaust Survivor honors grandparents’ experience through her new business

BY MATT FRANZBLAU Communications Director mattf@jewishjacksonville.org

Dana Rogozinski, an active member of the Jacksonville Jewish community, has turned the love for her grandparents, Ella Rogozinski and Jakob Rogozinski (of blessed memory) and her appreciation of their past into a newfound endeavor, called The J&E Legacy Collection. This collection was inspired by the numbers ‘A5674’ which were tattooed on her grandmother’s arm and ‘56512’ which her grandfather was assigned, and carving them on precious pieces of sterling silver and 14k gold pendants, necklaces and cufflinks.

“I knew I wanted to do something to honor my grandparents’ legacy and sacrifice while giving back to our Holocaust community,” said the J & E founder. The notion of commemorating the stories of survival and ultimate heroism on something tangible was one that the third generation Holocaust survivor had deliberated on for years, but it wasn’t until recently that she found the most dignified way to do it. Seeing the number fade on her 90-year old grandmother’s left forearm over the years, inspired Rogozinski to design and eventually create these Holocaust remembrance pieces.

“I wanted something that I could touch, feel and hold,” Rogonzinski said. “Something that I could have with me at all times, regardless of where I am. Jewelry is what came to mind. It is a very special thing to have because when you look at the piece, you remember why you have it, when you got it and who gave it to you.”

The very presence of jewelry holds a unique meaning as a result of her grandmother’s given trade as a jeweler. “My Nana was self-taught and spent her career at Underwood’s after moving to Jacksonville. On the weekends, I would go to her house and sit at the kitchen table as she taught me what she had learned throughout

the years,” the young entrepreneur fondly remembered. Now the younger Rogozinski is taking a different kind of lesson from her grandmother and showing the rest of the community what she learned, and that’s the story of survival.

“The tattooed number on her forearm became a teaching tool, representing survival, resilience, courage, love and faith,” Dana explained. “During and after the war, their numbers were their identities.

They lost their home, possessions and most, if not all of their entire family. Slowly, as they reclaimed their lives… the number became their story.”

With a purpose and a plan now in her view, the last piece of the puzzle was a most fitting one, asking for guidance from the very business that gave her grandmother a place to call home for nearly 50-years. “When I called Michael Richards, Senior Vice President at Underwood’s, he said ‘absolutely let me help you. If there is any way to honor Ella and Jakob, we’ll do it,’” she remembered of their initial conversation. Mr. Richards was eager to help make Dana’s dream come true as her grandmother played a pivotal role in the VP’s life, as they had a unique bond working side by side for more than 25 years.

In the throws of collaborating with Mr. Richards and Underwood’s, Dana made Aliyah to Israel for a year where she studied, worked and gained inspiration for her line. As her ideas and designs were exchanged, her concept became an International project.

Fast forward 10 months and the first ‘piece of history’ was born.

The finished product was a simple and profound representation of the past, carrying hope for the future.

“It’s not something that’s supposed to be elaborate. I want it simple, elegant and respectful. I want people to notice it and question its meaning,” Rogozinski described of her designs.

This small pendant with numbers on it created a powerful,

Ella and Jakob Rogozinski pose for a photo on their wedding day lasting impression among family members. “It was supposed to be a keepsake for family and me,” she explained. Dana’s parents gifted her uncles a pair of carved-numbered cufflinks. “Immediately, my aunt and uncle called me in Israel and said they were the most magnificent tributes. My aunt Jeanine was so overcome that she immediately ordered necklaces and pendants for her entire family,” she remembered.

Instantly, The J&E Legacy Collection was established, out of a necessity and a need to keep these stories alive for generations to come. “When you first hear what I’m doing, you need some time to process it because there is nothing like it out there,” she explained.

“What I’m trying to do, is remove the darkness behind the number and extract the essence of the Jewish people and their will to live.”

Now, Second and Third Generation Holocaust Survivors as well as those who want to carry on the legacy of survivors and souls lost in the genocide can do so in a dignified manner by putting these numbers on a variety of different wearable pieces. “Before we go any further,” Dana interjected, “a portion of every piece of history that is purchased will be donated to Holocaust education, scholarships and direct aid to survivors of the Shoah in Jacksonville. If I can make a difference, my life would be more meaningful,” she said.

“The Collection, which is generational, includes necklaces, pendants and cufflinks for men and women. Currently, all pieces come in either sterling silver or 14 karat gold,” Rogozinski explained of her evolving product line.

“When you receive your piece of

Ella Rogozinski, now a grandmother didn’t began talking about her experiences until the 1990s history, a legacy card is included with the jewelry. The card tells you the story of the victim or survivor so you know whose legacy you are carrying on.”

Unlike Ella, Jakob was not tattooed, but was assigned a five-digit number as his identity while in several forced labor camps. Dana’s grandmother was in Auschwitz and ultimately liberated from Bergen-Belsen. Her grandfather was in Lodz Ghetto before being moved to Auschwitz for a month and then sent to the Gross-Rosen labor camp for the majority of the war. Even though the two grew up in different countries, she in Czechoslovakia and he in Poland, they both survived torturous and treacherous conditions at separate camps. The pair’s paths did not intersect until they met at a displaced persons camp in Marktredwitz, Germany following liberation.

“I believe two weeks after meeting, they got married,” Dana recounted of her grandparents’ love story. “My grandmother and both of her sisters who also survived, all were married there in the same wedding dress within weeks of each other.” Jakob and one of his brothers were just two of six siblings to survive the Holocaust, while Ella and two of her three siblings and an aunt survived. A total of 75 members of both families perished.

“It wasn’t until the early 90’s when a local professor approached the Jacksonville Jewish Center asking if there were any survivors who were willing to talk about

Rogozinski celebrating another birthday with her three sons their ordeal that she began to talk about it,” Rogozinski remembered.

“The professor wanted someone to come speak to his class and my Nana’s name came up; she ended up speaking about her experience to his class.” For the next 20 years, Ella spoke to Churches, Synagogues, Universities, Organizations and schools about her experience.

“My designs have become a part of me and I never take them off because I feel like my grandparents are with me all the time,” Dana said. “What it did for my family and me was give us some type of closure and coping mechanism for what our grandparents and our family endured. We should never forget and if it can do that for us, I would love for it to help other families as well,” she explained of her feelings. “As the numbers fade and our loved ones are no longer here, these pieces of history stand as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices they made.”

To access The Collection or begin customizing ways to carry on your own family’s legacy, log onto jakobella.com. If you don’t have a Holocaust victim or survivor in your family, Rogozinski is happy to assist those searching for a number.

You will need to provide a name, date of birth and city and country of birth to help find the number.

Through the J&E Legacy Collection, Dana, a Third Generation of Holocaust Survivors, hopes to perpetuate the dreams and memories of all who survived and the millions who perished.

Irma Relief Fund Continued from pg. 1 several philanthropic organizations and local corporations have contributed funds totaling more than $2 million for the Fund, which was created in 2016 to aid with Hurricane Matthew relief and to establish a permanent disaster relief fund.

“Jacksonville and Northeast Florida have been through a lot in the last 72 hours,” Mayor Curry said at his Sept. 13th press conference. “However, it’s been inspiring to see how the people of this community come together in times of crisis. Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund is a clear example of the generosity and volunteerism displayed by the people of this city.”

Major funders who have committed to the Relief Fund for Irma include the Jaguars at $1 million, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund with $250,000, plus a $250,000 matching grant, the Mayo Clinic of Jacksonville with $500,000 for Irma relief efforts and $250,000 to the Fund in addition to the Lucy Gooding Charitable Trust’s $200,000 donation and Florida Blue’s $1 million statewide pledge for support with at least $100,000 to this fund locally. Additionally, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Mayo Clinic of Jacksonville, Baptist Health, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida and United Way of Northeast Florida have all made commitments to the fund totaling more than $300,000.

“Bringing individual donors, corporations and major philanthropies together is a great benefit for the community, because it efficiently focuses energy and efforts,” said Nina Waters, president

of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.

The week Irma hit the Sunshine State, two emergency grants of $100,000 each were made to the American Red Cross Northeast Florida Chapter and The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida to help the organizations respond to the region’s unprecedented needs following Hurricane Irma.

“These grants represent our immediate initial response,” said Michelle Braun, president and CEO of United Way of Northeast Florida, which is acting as fiscal agent for the Relief Fund. “Together with our partners, we are addressing urgent needs and will be distributing the funds quickly to where they are most-needed.”

Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund will make grants only to organizations helping individuals impacted by natural disasters in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties. The fund will provide resources to meet needs not met by government programs.

In 2016, donors contributed more than $652,000 to the Relief Fund in response to Hurricane Matthew. 16 local organizations providing relief services received grants totaling nearly $500,000,

leaving a balance in the Relief Fund of more than $150,000 for future relief efforts. Those dollars are immediately available to help with response to Hurricane Irma and 100-percent of all future gifts will go to relief effort. Any unspent funds will remain in the fund to maintain a permanent disaster relief fund for Northeast Florida.

The Fund also provides a vehicle for individual donors to contribute to disaster relief and recovery efforts, maximizing their contributions through matching funds from major philanthropies. Donations are now being accepted through the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville at 904-448-5000, jewishjacksonville.org, the United Way of Northeast Florida at unitedwaynefl. org/relieffund or by check payable to the order of United Way of Northeast Florida, P.O. Box 41428, Jacksonville, FL 32203-1428, with ‘Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund’ as the memo. Those wanting to give from their phone or mobile device can do so by texting ‘STORM’ to 50503. Non-profit organizations are also eligible to apply for funding by going to each partner’s website or by going to the fund’s official page at unitedwaynefl.org/ relieffund.

The Jacksonville Jaguars present Mayor Lenny Curry and members of the United Way of Northeast Florida with a check totalling $2,800,000 to Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund in the wake of Hurricane Irma

Jacksonville Hadassah to hold opening luncheon

Stuart Greenberg will speak to Jacksonville Hadassah members, Oct. 3

BY HELEN HILL

Jacksonville Hadassah

If you haven’t made your reservation for Hadassah’s opening luncheon, Tuesday, Oct. 3rd call Liat Walker today at 904-5916984 to do so. Keynote Speaker,

Stuart Greenberg, a Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer survivor whose life was saved by the Hadassah Hospital, will share his riveting personal story and provide a firsthand report of the cutting-edge research being done there.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

community news ‘The Secrets’ have come Jacksonville Hadassah to present a program on Jewish artist Marc Chagall to Jacksonville thanks to prints, and stained glass. The

BY HELEN HILL a local author stained glass windows which Jacksonville Hadassah

Jacksonville Hadassah will host a talk by art historian Cindy Edelman, on Marc Chagall, ‘the quintessential Jewish artist of the 20th century’. The event, which is free and open to the entire community will take place Monday, Nov. 6th at Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple) Though mostly famous as an early modernist painter, Chagall also created works in virtually every artistic format, including painting, book illustrations, stage

Art Historian Cindy Edelman

sets, ceramic, tapestries, fine art

he created for the synagogue of Hebrew University’s Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem were permanently installed in 1962.

The creation represents each of the twelve tribes of Israel and one cannot think of the Hadassah Hospital without visualizing these magnificent windows.

Come hear about the artist, his art, and the times in which he lived in this educational and invigorating talk. To RSVP, contact Audrey Freed at 904-315-4509 or staugaud@gmail.com.

Musical created by Jax resident set to make NY debut in October

BY MICHAEL FIXEL Musical Creator

‘Freefall Frostbite’, a new musical with a libretto by Jacksonville resident Michael Fixel, will be performed at Theatre 80 St Marks in Manhattan, Oct. 19-29.

Fixel is a New York native who attended Columbia University where he studied with Kenneth Koch of the New York school of poets, and went on to spend time with Allen Ginsberg and William

S. Burroughs. His work has been described as ‘Beat-Shakespearean’. Freefall Frostbite premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival several years ago and has been continually workshopped since.

Martin Denton of nytheatre. com said of the original production, “I admire the ambition of all involved and found myself struck by many individual moments within the piece.” The development and production of the work

is in the hands of Jacksonvilleborn Juliet Fixel, who is directing, choreographing, and has a featured role. Juliet is the owner of JFix Productions and Choreography.

The play, according to the author, is about discovering what is real and what is imaginary, what is important, and what is without value. Its a frigid New Year’s Eve and Steven and Sharon wait behind the velvet ropes to enter an exclusive club. As time passes, they are forced to face reality, in all its terrible magnificence, as they are denied entry by the Doormen and challenged by the vagrants. Freefall frostbite is what happens when everything you’ve been holding onto falls away. It’s like floating and exploding, all at the same time.

With a contemporary score

by David Oberst, and direction and choreography by Juliet Fixel, this reinvention of the work that premiered at the Ellen Stewart Theater in 2013 is as exhilarating and liberating as only freefalling from the heavens can be. Tickets are available at freefallfrostbite. com.

BY GARRY NADLER Author

A local author named Garry Nadler is bringing his series of books to the First Coast for readers to enjoy and discover.

Discovering the secrets beyond the pages entails reading ‘Secret Wars’, ‘Secrets of the Bridges’, ‘Secrets Behind the Paintings’ and lastly ‘Secrets of the Magic Box’.

Nadler is a retired engineer and lawyer, who along with his wife of 51-years, Susan moved to Jacksonville about a year ago to be closer to the couple’s children and grandchildren. He started writing crime and mystery novels about 10 years ago and his ‘Secrets Series’ introduces many interesting characters, some of which are recurring.

Each book is an exciting page turner that keeps the reader wanting more and wondering what happens next. The books are easy-reads intended for an adult audience, each with its own story and sub-stories that have unexpected twists and turns and a surprise ending. The reader is transported to cities and adven-

Nadler and his wife Susan

tures all over the world and each one has Jewish content intertwined in each storyline.

The novels in this series are self-published and are available directly from the author at a discounted rate, especially for multiple book purchases for causes like book discussion groups. A fifth book in this series is currently in the works, so to purchase any of the four prior Secrets books, email Nadler directly at garry_nadler@yahoo.com.

Jax Jewish Singles to go Asian during October

BY FRANCINE SMITH Jax Jewish Singles

Join the Jax Jewish Singles for dinner at The Rice Bowl, a small hidden jewel on Beach Blvd., offering an assortment of Chinese, Thai and Korean dishes at reasonable prices. Gluten free choices are available, so contact Francine for details at 904-2218061 or email her at francine. smith@comcast.net.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

community news

96-year old Temple member to receive Congressional Gold Medal

By Congregation Ahavath Chesed

Jacksonville resident Marvin Edwards will be receiving a Congressional Gold Medal for his service with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), an intelligence agency during WWII and the predecessor to the CIA. The award will coincide with the 75th anniversary of the OSS, with fewer than 100 members still alive today.

Edwards, a member of Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple) has a passion for history, as many of 3,000 books in his home library have to do with history and politics. He believes we can learn from history, and it’s evident that he’s had a front row seat for much of it. Edwards, now 96, was a flight navigator in the cockpit of a Mosquito aircraft, where he participated in several missions to collect intelligence about the Nazis. He was part of an

Marvin Edwards was a flight navigator of an aircraft during WWII

OSS air unit that used a communications system well ahead of its time to transfer intelligence from the ground to the air.

The missions he and his unit participated in were classified as ‘highly secret’, because as part of the air-arm of the OSS, based at

Harrington Field in England, Edwards was sent deep inside Germany. He and his fellow service members would contact parachuted American OSS spies and field officers on the ground, then would return with very important information. On one such mission, they came back with information that the SS planned to surrender, a report that discredited rumors the Germans were planning to take action to prolong the war.

In 1943, prior to the war and while enrolled at New York University, Edwards served as the editor of a student–run magazine.

He has copies of letters he wrote at that time, including one he penned when he was only 16, stating, “A new world war is almost unavoidable with Hitler in power because one never knows what he will do next in an attempt to get back some of the land Germany lost at the end of the World War.” During the war he continued to

write, founding a base newspaper, the Carrier Courier that went out to the entire European theatre.

After the war, he went back to NYU where he received his degree and moved to Jacksonville to be near his family. He has been married to his wife Helen Edwards for 62 years and is the proud father of three and grandfather of seven.

Along with his vast collection of books, Mr. Edwards has an amazing collection of photographs, letters, and journals from the war. Now, together with Susan D. Brandenburg, he has written his own book, entitled ‘Now it Can be Told: Tales of the OSS’.

Previously Edwards, a former Lieutenant had been the recipient of the Air Medal with four battle stars, in addition to a Presidential Unit Citation from WWII, along with the French Knight of the Legion of Honor Award, which he received in 2012.

Historic St. Augustine JCA Cultural Arts Festival adds book cemetery to be subject of club and film screening to its lineup

BY SHERRIE SAAG discussion Festival Chair

By Jewish Historical Society of St. Augustine

On Wednesday, Oct. 18th, Simone Broudy-Kilbourn MA, LMHC will discuss ‘Hearing the Voices of St. Augustine, Florida’s First Congregation Sons of Israel Cemetery’ at a special program sponsored by the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society. The event will take place at the St. Johns County Public Library Main Branch (1960 North Ponce De Leon Blvd.) from 4-5:30 p.m.

Most of Broudy-Kilbourn’s collection of research documents and sources is now held at the University of Florida’s Smathers Libraries-Special and Area Studies Collections and is recognized

as the most important source of St. Augustine Jewish History from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information call 804-914-4460.

Chabad at the Beaches to hold specialty Sukkot programming in October

By Chabad at the Beaches

Aside from its men’s and women’s events, Chabad at the Beaches will also be hosting another pair of and enjoyable dinners surrounding Sukkot.

First on Wednesday, Oct. 4th, at 7 p.m., Chabad at the Beaches will host its Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars. Please consider this an open invitation to join your fellow Beach folks and visitors at the Beaches largest Sukkah located at the Aaron and Blanche Scharf Chabad Center in Ponte Vedra.

The evening will begin with a short 25 min service followed by a lavish dinner in the beautiful and once again newly expanded sukkah.

“Year after year, people from all over Ponte Vedra and the Beaches area joyfully celebrate Sukkot together with us” explained Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky, Co-Director of Chabad at the beaches “Every year more and more people join and every year we expand the Sukkah.” The

group that joins is friendly, open and knows how to enjoy Sukkot. To RSVP simply go online to Chabadbeaches.com or email Chabad@ChabadBeaches.com and let us know how many people to expect. There is no cost for the dinner, however sponsorships are very much appreciated.

Then the next night, Thursday, Oct. 5th at 7:30 p.m., the Beaches Chabad will hold its second annual YJP or Young Jewish Professionals dinner in the Sukkah. Last year the YJP group had a great time in the Sukkah, as they bonded over a three-course catered dinner that lasted until the early hours of the morning.

There is no fee to attend, however donations are always appreciated.

Guests are also invited to join the prayers before dinner at 7 p.m.

“The feeling at last year’s Sukkot event was incredible,” shared Max Lesser, YJP President. “Having Kosher cheeseburgers was an experience to be remembered.” For information about this program or any other one at Chabad please call 904-543-9301.

The JCA Cultural Arts Festival signature event, the 21st Annual Jewish Book Festival, brings six fascinating authors to Jacksonville this season. From a satirical humorist poking fun at the Haggadah, to an Academy award winner researching Hitler in Los Angeles and even a comedic actress who examines the sanity and insanity of family, the JCA hopes everyone finds something of interest at this year’s event.

To supplement author appearances and events, a first-ever community book club will meet on Thursday, Nov. 9 to discuss ‘Waking Lions’, one of the most anticipated 2017 Fiction offerings from the Jewish Book Council.

The novel is by Israeli writer and psychologist Ayelet GundarGoshen, and focuses on the tale of a fatal hit-and-run that leads to a collision of cultures.

As the story begins, neurosurgeon Dr. Eitan Green hits an African immigrant on an empty gravel road, and after determining the man’s life cannot be saved, leaves the scene, driving home to his family. This opening failure of conscience reverberates throughout ‘Waking Lion’s in what NPR describes as a “psychological suspense tale mashed with a social novel about the refugee crisis.”

Festival Committee member Susan Elinoff said that moral questions raised in the book will make for great conversation. This

This book (L) and film (R) will be featured at the JCA’s Cultural Arts Fest

event is facilitated by University of North Florida adjunct professor and fellow festival committee member Kelsi Hasden.

On Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m., celebrate Kosher pickles, the quintessential Jewish deli side dish. The briny delicacy is the subject of the special screening of ‘The Pickle Recipe’, a favorite among 2017 Jewish film festivals nationwide.

‘The Pickle Recipe’ is a family friendly comedy in which a cash strapped Detroit party emcee, Joey Miller, schemes to steal a prized secret family recipe to pay for his daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. With the help of a fake rabbi, Joey sets out on a misguided mission to infiltrate Grandma’s popular deli and

secure her priceless pickle recipe.

The film imparts a heartwarming metaphor about the people and memories that comprise the special ingredients of family.

Also next month, a Pop-Up Bookstore filled with Jewish Book Festival picks and a great selection of books curated by the Jewish Book Council will open in the JCA lobby. The JCA Cultural Arts Festival is from Nov. 2 – 15, and all events are free and open to the community thanks to the generosity of event sponsors. Contact Lior Spring at 904-730-2100, ext.

318 or lior.spring@jcajax.org to support this important Jewish Cultural Arts event. Visit jcajax. org/jcafest for a complete list of events.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

synagogue news Jacksonville Jewish Center gives one Temple Bet Yam to hold mom the gift of rediscovering her roots annual gigantic yard sale

BY KIM GLASGAL VP of Membership

I was born to two Jewish parents who decided not to raise their children Jewishly. We had no Jewish education, did not observe Shabbat, and did not belong to any synagogue. My Jewish education came entirely from my extended family who we saw on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover. We lived in a suburban New Jersey town that, surprisingly, had very few Jewish families.

The first Jewish boy I ever dated was my now-husband, Pete, who I met at work after college. He had a similar background to mine as he had two Jewish parents but in a small Indiana town it was hard to practice Judaism and when his parents divorced, his Jewish education stopped entirely at just eight years-old.

We moved to Jacksonville in 2004 when my daughter was two and my son was 10 months old.

My husband jokes that when we moved here I could barely spell the word ‘Jew’. Now I am very involved in both my synagogue, the Jacksonville Jewish Center, and in the Jewish community at

Kim Glasgal

large. No one is more surprised than I am at my level of engagement with the Jewish community.

A few months after arriving, I was still deeply despairing about my lack of friends and family when I decided to enroll my two-year old in preschool. I went to meet lovely Dale Schemer at the Jacksonville Jewish Center Preschool, now the DuBow preschool, and shortly afterwards I enrolled our daughter, then our son. Soon I started learning more about Jewish traditions along with my children, who eventually at-

tended the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School and we continued on our Jewish Journey together.

As I spent more time at the Jacksonville Jewish Center, two things happened. First, I met wonderful people and developed incredible friendships while learning more about Judaism. I came to see and appreciate the wisdom in Judaism and to appreciate the special Jewish community we have here in Jacksonville. I was also shocked at how quickly I found myself becoming more and more involved. Although our first ‘home’ is the Center, I am amazed that I now feel at home in all the Jewish agencies and synagogues here as well. I feel privileged to give back to this incredible community that has given so much to me and that’s why I currently serve on the Jacksonville Jewish Center Board of Directors as the VP of Membership. Please consider joining me at one of our many fun events at the Jacksonville Jewish Center in 5778. For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact Tracy Hilbert, Membership Coordinator, at thilbert@jaxjewishcenter.org or 904-292-1000.

The Temple to host talk on story of St. Augustine’s Fort Mose

By Congregation Ahavath Chesed

Discover a piece of hidden history, right in our own backyard, Tuesday, Oct. 24th as the entire community is invited to Temple to listen to Meri McCarthy speak about one of the most important sites in American history.

Hidden away in the marshes of St. Augustine is the first free community of ex-slaves. Founded in 1738 (more than a century before the Emancipation Proclamation) and called Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose or Fort Mose (pronounced Moh-Say), slaves

from the British colonies were able to follow the original ‘Underground Railroad’ which headed south, to the Spanish colony of Florida. Once they arrived, the slaves were given their freedom, if they declared their allegiance to the King of Spain and joined the Catholic Church.

Ms. McCarthy is a Jew who married her beloved, an Irishman, who later became a Jew by choice.

10-years ago, they relocated from Brooklyn to St. Augustine where she fell in love again, this time with the local history.

Ft. Mose in St. Augustine was the first free community of ex-slaves in the United States of America

Operation Isaiah food drive returns

By Jacksonville Jewish Center

During the High Holy Day Service, we read from the book of Isaiah: “It is to share your bread with the hungry and to take the poor into your home”. With that quote in mind, this year’s Operation Isaiah High Holy Day Food drive kicked off on Sept. 21st, when Center members and guests attending Rosh Hashanah services received shopping bags to take home and fill with non-perishable food items. With Hurricane Irma just having passed through Northeast Florida, the need for donations are even greater.

Martin and Mimi Kaufman, chairpersons for the Operation Isaiah Food Drive, were pleased to see donations surpass last year’s goal of 3,500 pounds and are urg-

ing everyone at the Jacksonville Jewish Center to continue donating foods and toiletries all year. All foods items collected through this drive will be donated to the Max Block Food Pantry at Jewish Family & Community Services.

The Jacksonville Jewish Center Social Action Committee collects food and toiletries donations year round during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information on the Social Action Committee or ways to get involved, contact Chairperson Rhoda Goldstein at rhodagoldstein@hotmail.com.

Chabad at the Beaches to hold special Sukkah events for men and women

By Chabad at the Beaches

Chabad at the Beaches will be hosting two special Sukkot events in October, one for men and another for the ladies. First on Sunday, Oct. 8th, ‘Salads and Sangrias in the Sukkah’ will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. This event is exclusively for Jewish women across the beaches who are invited to enjoy a delectable array of salads.

One of the most joyful celebrations of the entire year is Simchat Bait HaShoeiva (The Celebration of the drawing of water). The Sages of the Talmud noted that, whoever has not witnessed the celebration of Simchat Bait HaShoeiva has never

in their life seen true joy.

“I have met so many beautiful and marvelous women here at the Beach over the past few months” Says Dafne Blank, Program Director at Chabad at the Beaches “I am so excited to get us all together and have fun.” The cost of this event is just $10, so please RSVP in advance online at ChabadBeaches.com, or via email to Dafne@ChabadBeaches.com. No synagogue affiliation is necessary to attend.

The very next day, Chabad at the Beaches is calling all Jewish men 21 and older. Do you prefer Macallan or Dewars? Rocks or neat? Japanese Kosher Scotch? With all due respect to Comedian Jackie Mason, Jewish men know great scotch,

which is why you should come to Ponte Vedra Monday, Oct. 9th for Chabad at the Beaches annual men’s event, ‘Scotch and Cigars’ in the newly expanded Sukkah. This event is exclusively for guys. Join us for light refreshments, fine Scotch and Cigars. The event lasts from 7:30-9 p.m., and is co-hosted by the Law offices of accident attorneys Anidjar & Levine. The cost to attend is $25, so please RSVP in advance online at ChabadBeaches. com, or via email to Dafne@ ChabadBeaches.com. For information about this program or any other one at Chabad, please call 904-543-9301.

BY JACKIE WITT Temple Bet Yam

Looking for household items such as art work, furniture, electronics, toys, books, and more?

Look no further as Temple Bet Yam will be holding its annual gigantic yard sale, Sunday, Oct. 29th, rain or shine, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to come by the Temple at 2055 Wildwood Dr. (ext to Ray’s Autobody), just off State Route 207 and fill up on items you need. In case of rain,

the sale will take place inside the building.

Etz Chaim Synagogue to hold a pair of inspiring lecture series

By Etz Chaim Synagogue

Etz Chaim Synagogue is set to host a pair of inspiring and engaging talks during the High Holy Days and beyond. The first is ‘Fate or Faith’, a month-long mini-series with Rena Schochet which will take place Oct. 16, 23 and 30th. This class will center around the great Jewish conundrum, the belief that is that Judaism clearly believes that there is a preordained great plan overseen

by G-d himself. Yet the very concept of a ‘day of judgment’ assumes that we have free will and make our own choices. Join as we clarify these fundamental ideas.

Then it’s another week and another weekly portion as the Torah reading cycle begins every year on Simchat Torah and we

hear the same stories in the Book of Bereishes. Avraham has his test of the Akeida, Yitzchak has his struggles and Yaakov is running for his life from his brother who wants to kill him. Yet, if we all know this narrative from past years, how are the messages from the parsha still compelling and relevant? Please join Henny Fisch for a fascinating Parsha discussion and rediscover the deeper messages of the weekly portion that you’ll undoubtedly find most compelling and relevant. Classes begin Oct. 14 and continue Nov. 11 and Dec. 9. Then in 2018 they continue with meetings on Jan. 20, Feb. 17, Mar. 17, Apr. 21, May 19, June 16, July 14 and Aug. 11.

During daylight savings time classes meet from 10:30 – 11:15 a.m., and 10 -10:45 a.m. during eastern standard times.

Temple Bet Yam and Limelight Theater team up for Full Monty in Oct.

BY JACKIE WITT Temple Bet Yam

Temple Bet Yam, partnering once again with the Limelight Theater, presents the award winning musical, The Full Monty, Saturday, Oct. 14. This hilarious play, which takes place in Buffalo, N.Y., is presented in two acts, containing more than a dozen songs, which were Tony nominated for best musical, best book of a musical, and best original score.

The production also received the Drama Desk Award for outstanding music and centers around six unemployed steelworkers who

come up with a Chippendale-like act, so be prepared for a night of fun, food, and theater. For more information or to order tickets, contact Terre Wallach at 904826-0281, or email her terretsp@ bellsouth.net.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

education

Michele Block Gan Yeladim welcomes Martin J. Gottlieb Day Schoolers help with relief a new health consultant

BY NATHAN WOODS

Michele Block Gan Yeladim

Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten recently welcomed a new health consultant in Dr. Madhura Butala, as part of ongoing efforts to promote health and wellness among its students and within the school.

Dr. Butala is a local pediatrician and mother of two Michele Block Gan Yeladim students. As part of her consultant role, she advises Michele Block Gan Yeladim educators on healthy snack choices and portions, in addition proper health policies and practices, while ad-

dressing health concerns for both sick and healthy students.

At Block Gan, classroom toys and surfaces are disinfected daily, with deep cleanings of each classroom being conducted regularly

by JCA’s experienced maintenance team. Additionally, all Block Gan educators are certified in CPR and pediatric first aid.

These practices further the school’s already active commitment to health, safety and proper sanitary practices. The addition of a student health consultant adds to Block Gan’s continued compliance with NAEYC’s emerging accreditation criteria.

efforts after hurricanes

For more information about Block Gan’s health practices or to tour the school, please contact Rochelle Golomb at 904-730-2100, ext. 259 or rochelle.golomb@jcajax. org.

Torah Academy of Jacksonville students bake Challah with a very special guest

By Martin J. Gottlieb Day School

By Torah Academy of Jacksonville

Torah Academy of Jacksonville students started off the New Year in a big way as celebrity chef Jamie Geller visited the school, while it was still being powered by generators to help lift spirits and bake challah. Gellar spoke with middle school students about the meaning and importance of the upcoming holidays and prepared delicious challahs with the lower school students. A big thank you to both Gellar and Deborah Shapiro of the ‘Joy of Kosher’ magazine.

Day School students drop off donations to be sent to Texas after Harvey

Joy of Kosher’s Jamie Gellar shares her talents with TA students

For several weeks in September, the focus of Martin J. Gottlieb Day School’s Mitzvah Program centered on Hurricane Relief.

Touched by the devastating photos coming out of Houston after Hurricane Harvey, the Middle School students collected donations of toiletries and baby items, delivering them to a local relief effort headed for Texas. Then, as Hurricane Irma devastated parts of Florida weeks later the students realized how fortunate they were to still have habitable homes and

plenty of food and water. Recognizing that many of their homes contained surplus water and non-perishables that had been purchased in preparation for the storm, they asked school families to donate all those supplies to pass along to local programs serving the hungry. “Helping others has enabled our students to process their own feelings about having gone through Irma,” said Middle School Vice Principal Edith Horovitz. For more information about Martin J. Gottlieb Day School, a Solomon Schechter K–8, call 904-268-4200.

New language arts curriculum helps students process fears and feelings

By Martin J. Gottlieb Day School

Teachers in Grades K through 5 at the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School are excited to have implemented a new language arts

curriculum this school year.

Created by Lucy Calkins, founder of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University, this research-based, groundbreaking ‘Reading Workshop: Units of Study for Teaching Reading’, is the companion curriculum to the ‘Writing Workshop’, which teachers successfully imple-

Community partners work together to deliver holiday treats to elderly

Martin J. Gottlieb Day School students and JFCS team up to make sure the elderly in our community have a sweet start to the New Year

By Martin J. Gottlieb Day School

The Jewish Healing Network at Jewish Family & Community Services collaborated with Martin J. Gottlieb Day School’s Mitzvah Program this Rosh Hashanah to make sure the community’s homebound and elderly received a sweet treat for the New Year. Stu-

Way Too Cool For School

By Torah Academy of Jacksonville

Torah Academy of Jacksonville Students had some fun in the sun or lack thereof, during their first week of school as students and teachers donned special solar eclipse sunglasses to watch 92-percent totality cross over Northeast Florida, Monday, Aug. 21.

dents baked and delivered nearly 300 honey cakes to The Coves, Mount Carmel, and homes across Jacksonville, while also delivering holiday care packages from JFCS containing challah, honey, and more. “It’s so awesome to see how happy you can make someone with something so small,” said student Julia DeBardeleben.

mented two years ago.

Journaling is an important component of the writing curriculum and given the recent weatherrelated events in Houston and Florida, teachers in all grade levels are encouraging students to journal about their reactions to news stories about storm-related damage or fears they might have experienced

as Hurricane Irma passed through our area. The students then shared their writing with each other.

“These cross-collaborative opportunities are amazing because not only are they educational, but they connect our students with their memories and feelings and foster a greater understanding of their role in current events,” said

Librarian and Curriculum Specialist Karen Hallett. “Teaching our students to identify with their own feelings and writing about them encourages empathy and connects them to each other’s experiences.

For more information on Martin J. Gottlieb Day School, a Solomon Schechter K–8, please call 904-2684200.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

education

Torah Academy of Jacksonville welcomes DuBow Preschool to kick off its 75th anniversary new counselor for New Year

By Torah Academy of Jacksonville

Torah Academy of Jacksonville had a new friendly face within its halls to start off the new 2017-18 school year. Ms.K. or Karen Hanson is the new Guidance Counselor this year as she’ll be at Torah Academy on Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m., to 12:30 p.m. and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“I love working with children and helping them learn to under-

stand emotions and build positive social skills,” Hanson said. “My dream is a world where all people feel their connection through unconditional love for themselves, each other and all life.”

Hanson grew up in Minnesota and has lived in Jacksonville for more than 20-years. She has two children who are in college, in addition to a dog and a cat. Her name, ‘Ms. K.’, was given to her by students she worked with at other schools.

celebration, October 4th

Karen Hansen

Michele Block Gan Yeladim teams up with Hope Haven to improve skills

BY NATHAN WOODS

Michele Block Gan Yeladim

A very important aspect of early childhood education is the development of pro-social and emotional skills and identifying students who may need assistance in these areas. As part of a yearly grant generously provided by David and Linda Stein, Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten partners with Hope Haven Children’s Clinic and Family Center to conduct in-class observations of students to help make these early identifications.

As a result of this partnership, students have access to tutoring with a licensed mental health counselor as well as clinical observations by a clinical psychologist who reports data without

By DuBow Preschool

judgement. Follow-up is provided to the team, including parents and educators, and recommendations are made for additional resources if needed. Observations in a classroom setting can be greatly beneficial to identifying potential developmental challenges. Hope Haven therapists have been able to assist students with a range of challenges, and through individualized therapy sessions, help them

become more comfortable in the classroom.

For more information on Michele Block Gan Yeladim’s partnership with Hope Haven or its commitment to social and emotional development, please contact Theresa Levy at 904-7302100, ext. 237 or theresa.levy@ jcajax.org.

The community is warmly invited to attend a kickoff event for the DuBow Preschool’s 75th anniversary celebration, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. Chairs Haley Trager and Faye Hedrick have put together a special event including a fun cocktail hour, complete with kid-themed appetizers and of course an inspiring program. An unveiling the official event logo will take place giving you a preview of things to come.

As part of this landmark celebration, the Galinsky Academy

is proud to honor the DuBow Family with the Rabbi David Gaffney Leadership in Education Award for their generous, longterm commitment to the Center’s schools. In addition, Jewish Family and Community Services will receive the Community Partner Award for its dedication to Jewish education and special-needs students throughout the years.

Be sure to mark your calendar for Sunday, Mar. 18 for the main event and stay tuned for ticketing information and sponsorship opportunities in the weeks and months ahead.

The Martin J. Gottlieb Day Michele Block Gan Yeladim to host a School blends new with Symposium Parent Morning, Oct. 25th the old

By Martin J. Gottlieb Day School

One of the benefits of having an amazing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) program is that if you can’t find exactly what you are looking for, you can just make it yourself. It’s with this in mind that the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School students crafted apple plates from clay to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

Art teacher and STEAM team member Shana Gutterman was looking for something that would allow students to easily put a holiday message on their clay creations. Using 3D design apps on iPads and the school’s new 3-D printer, Mrs. Gutterman and the

Michele Block Gan Yeladim will host a special parent morning during its annual symposium, Wed. Oct. 25th Students crafted apple plates for Rosh Hashanah out of clay

students created a stamp that the students then used to put holidaythemed designs on clay. As you can see building students’ connection to Judaism through STEAM is pretty ‘sweet’.

All School Shabbat a hit at the Dubow Preschool

By DuBow Preschool

Students at the DuBow Preschool celebrate the coming of Shabbat every Friday with a musical parade and fun service of songs and dancing. Students, teachers, and parents march, with musical accompaniment from Hazzan Jesse Holzer and parade into the Jacksonville Jewish Center Sanctuary. It’s a magical time where students of all ages gather together to sing and dance, and it’s a great way for young families to usher in Shabbat together. The school’s One’s and Two’s classes love the sights and sounds, as the rhythm and joy of the celebration floods the aisles, while the three and four year-olds love performing for everyone. It’s so special to be able to share Shabbat with family, and especially with our DuBow Preschool Family.

Students at DuBow Preschool celebrate the coming of Shabbat each Friday morning with a lot of singing, and dancing

BY NATHAN WOODS

Michele Block Gan Yeladim

On Wednesday, Oct. 25, Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten hosts its annual Symposium Parent Morning at the Jewish Community Alliance. This event is in tandem with the school’s Annual ECE Symposium for early childhood educators. The event is open to Michele Block Gan Yeladim parents and supports the school’s mission to encourage parents’ involvement in their child’s education.

Symposium Parent Morning offers a free follow-up session the morning after the school’s annual Early Childhood Symposium.

During the program, parents of Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten students can get an overview of the topics discussed in the previous night’s keynote address. Additionally, parents receive practical applications for home.

“This year’s symposium morning will address the topic of Emotional Success,” said Dr. Rosemarie Allen, the symposium’s keynote speaker and assistant professor within the School of

Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Allen will present a stimulating workshop on social emotional success at home as well as address questions and concerns of Michele Block Gan Yeladim parents.

This event offers parents an opportunity to take a hands-on role in their child’s education and gives a glimpse into the extensive expertise of Michele Block Gan Yeladim educators. To learn more about the Symposium Parent Morning, please contact Rochelle Golomb at 904-730-2100, ext.

259.

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chabad news

Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

Construction of new Southside Chabad Chabad at the Beaches to host Shabbos Project in full swing weekend, Oct. 27-28th

By Southside Chabad

In August on-site construction began at the Chabad of Southside’s property on Alumni Way, near UNF. Designed by architect Craig Sommers, the striking new center will serve the needs of the Southside Jewish community including Chabad at UNF and the Ganeinu Preschool. “Following many months of architecture, interior design and redesign we are so glad to finally be moving dirt and making this dream closer to a reality,” said Rabbi Shmuli Novack, co-director.

Tim Young Construction in Jacksonville is working on the project.

By Chabad at the Beaches

The future site of Southside Chabad’s new Center for Jewish Life

Chabad of S. Johns to hold a Sukkah dance party for children

By Chabad of S. Johns

Get your shake on Tuesday, Oct. 10 from 3:45 – 5:45 p.m., as it’s a Sukkah dance party where children of all ages will move and groove to the beats of modern Jewish music. The Jewish Kids Club and GROW’s After School Enrichment Program will be joining together for this wonderful event, which is open to entire St. Johns Jewish

community. The afternoon will feature games, party favors, and a smoothie bar where you can craft your own signature milkshakes and frappes, so don’t just shake a Lulav and Esrog this year, shake up the whole Sukkah.

The Jewish Kids Club and the GROW After School Enrichment is a project of Chabad of S. Johns.

To find out more about the programming for your children please visit, JewishSJohnsCounty.com,

call 904-701-4422 or email Info@ JewishSJohnsCounty.com.

S. Johns Chabad to hold sushi under the Stars Simchat Torah celebration

By Chabad of S. Johns

On Thursday Oct. 12, join Chabad of S. Johns for an outrageously joyous celebration of the Torah, where you’ll eat sushi under the stars and dance the night away.

You may be asking why we dance on Simchat Torah as learning Torah would be a more logical way to celebrate.

Simchat Torah translates liter-

ally as ‘The joy of Torah’, so when it comes to learning, each of us has a different level of understanding.

Our custom is to keep the Torah closed and dance with it, because when we dance, we are one people.

You can’t tell who might be an accomplished professor or who might be struggling to read Hebrew.

There is no difference between me and you - only joy and unity.

Its with this in mind that Simchat Torah is a day for everyone to

participate. From the Torah scholars, to the Hebrew readers, to the curious-about-Judaism Jew, it’s a day to remind ourselves that Torah is much deeper than our understanding. Learning Torah highlights our differences and dancing with the Torah highlights our unity. This event is open to men, women and children of all ages. For more information visit JewishSJohnsCounty. com, call 904-701-4422 or email info@JewishSJohnsCounty.com.

Join Chabad at The Beaches in Ponte Vedra for The Shabbat Project Oct. 27-28, when thousands of Jews across the world are getting together to experience and celebrate this Shabbat.

Chabad will offer an inspiring Shabbat Service followed by a delicious four-course interactive Shabbat Dinner. Services begin at 7 p.m., with dinner to follow. The Shabbat Project is a global, grassroots movement that brings Jews from across the world together to celebrate and keep one complete Shabbat.

It all started in South Africa in 2013, when Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein called on the community to keep the Shabbat together. In the days and weeks that followed, communities across the Jewish world lit up with the excitement of the prospect of bringing the Shabbat Project to their city. The idea is simple: Jews from all walks of

life, from across the spectrum of religious affiliation, young and old, from all corners of the world – come together to experience the magic of one full Shabbat kept together.

Now you too can tbe a part of this project which transcends the barriers that divide us as it’s our opportunity to renew family and community life, restore Jewish identity, and unite Jews across the globe. To reserve your spot for this memorable experience, email info@chabadbeaches.com or call 904-543-9301.

Southside Chabad provides hurricane relief

By Southside Chabad

As South Florida evacuated, Chabad of the Southside provided logistics for nearly 100 evacuees looking for kosher food, gas stations, hospitality and more.

Ahead of the storm volunteers contacted each UNF student in its database and made sure all were cared for. Chabad helpers also stockpiled water and set up an emergency response team in case the situation was dire.

In Jacksonville, a Shabbat dinner was provided for students who did not evacuate. Following the storm, once power was on, Chabad was made available

for people to use the shower, enjoy the AC, along with a hot coffee and a plug charge their phones. In total, 44 meals were provided for those who lost power and Chabad administrators continue working the phones for evacuees heading back to South Florida. Southside’s efforts were part of a statewide response that Chabad provided, as an organization with 187 locations across the state it is uniquely positioned to assist many in need.

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chabad news

Holocaust Survivor to share his story in St. Augustine

By Chabad of S. Augustine

The Chabad of S. Augustine will host Dr. Jacob Eisenbach, who is a 94-year old Holocaust Survivor from Poland, Wednesday, Nov. 15th at 7 p.m. Dr. Eisenbach is the sole survivor of a large and loving family and emigrated to the United States with his wife and firstborn child in 1950. He practiced dentistry for 60 years until his retirement in 2015 and now his life story is the subject of a book called ‘Where You Go, I Go’, by Karen McCartney. The doctor will be sharing his astonishing life story, which he calls, ‘the story that must be told’, including his experiences under Hitler’s Third Reich, and how hatred, discrimination and intolerance led directly to the Jewish

Holocaust.

Eisenbach was just 16 when the Nazis invaded Poland and “That’s when the unimaginable nightmare began,” he explained. It has been and continues to be Dr. Eisenbach’s mission to eliminate the scourge of all genocides from the human race. “I love what I’m doing in my retirement as it keeps me busy

because I spread the story of the Holocaust, which should never be forgotten,” he said. “If it’s forgotten, it will contribute to its repetition.”

The event is hosted by Chabad of S. Augustine. For more information, please contact Rabbi Levi Vogel at 904-521-8664, or email him at rabbi@chabadsaugustine.com.

Southside’s UNF Chabad schedules 52 events for the new fall semester

By Southside Chabad

The new semester has begun at the University of North Florida and that means Chabad at UNF is back in full swing.Chabad together with the Jewish Ospreys Student Club launched their activities during the ‘Week of Welcome’ by tabling at the Luau, hosting a welcome barbeque and serving Shabbat Dinner to freshmen along with returning students.

This semester Chabad at UNF is setting a new record by hosting 52 scheduled events, including Shabbat Dinners, BBQs, Israel events, market days, coffee and Kabbalah, falafel dinners and much more. If you or someone you know is studying at UNF have them connect with Chabad at JewNF.com.

Beaches Grand Simchat Torah Celebration – Join Chabad at the Beaches Oct. 12–13 for Simchas Torah. Thursday Evening features a completely reimagined and redesigned Simchat Torah as you’ll get to dance with the Torah, indulge in a delicious buffet and do L’Chaims at the Tiki Bar. Entertainment especially for the kids will take place on Thursday evening only as Friday’s celebration will see Simchat Torah services, dancing and a buffet lunch. For reservations or more info go to chabadbeaches.com or call 904543-9301.

Clay County Tanya Class - Practical Spirituality for Everyday Life. Held Shabbos mornings from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Shabbat Beginner’s Service – Held at 12 p.m. followed by a light Kiddush.

Mandarin/HQ Daily Chassidic Philosophy - Held weekday mornings, Monday – Friday, 6:40 a.m., Sundays 8:15 a.m., with instructor Rabbi Yossie Kahanov.

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

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

Chabad at UNF will be averaging one event per week to start the new school year as the organization has added a total of 52 to its calendar

By Chabad of S. Johns

so great and we all felt so at home.”

Known for its heavily attended annual Chanukah light show at the Nocatee Splash Park, Chabad of S. Johns regularly hosts Torah classes

and Jewish events in Nocatee. To find out more about Jewish Nocatee visit JewishSJohnsCounty.com/Nocatee or call 904-701-4422.

McDuff Ave. S.) The cost of the course is $89, including the textbook and those registering before Oct. 15th or with two sign-ups get 10-percent off. Call 904-290-1017 or email info@jewishclaycounty. com for more information.

At the Beaches, instruction will begin on six consecutive Wednesdays from 7-8:30 a.m., beginning Nov. 1st at the Aaron and Blanche Scharf Chabad Center (521 A1A N.) in Ponte Vedra. Cost of the course is $89, and $10 for the textbook, but those who register

by Oct. 10th get the textbook fee waived. Visit chabadbeaches.com/ JLIcost, call 904-543-9301, or

email rabbi@chabadbeaches.com for more information.

Finally two sessions will be offered in S. Augustine, the first starting Monday, Nov. 6th from 7-8:30 p.m., at St. Augustine Beach City Hall (2200 A1a S.) and the second beginning on Tuesday, Nov. 7th from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Palencia Club (600 Palencia Club Dr.) The fee for this course is $89 with the text book included in the price, but sign up by Oct. 20th or have two sign-ups or more and get a special 10-percent off discount.

Call 904-521-8664 or email rabbi@ chabadsaugustine.com for more information.

JLI to offer course on great debates in Jewish history

By Chabad Lubavitch of NE Fla.

A new six-week course courtesy of JLI, the Jewish Learning Institute spotlights six of the biggest debates that rocked the Jewish world.

Those include sectarians and their opposition to rabbinic Judaism, whether Judaism can survive without a land, how to balance faith and reason, in addition to the Chassidic movement and its opponents and whether Judaism is better served as a private enterprise, or through proud, public display.

The course will be offered in three of the six Chabad locations in Northeast Florida including Clay County, the Beaches and S. Augustine. In Clay County, the course will be taught on six Sunday mornings from 10 – 11:30 a.m., starting on Oct. 29th at the Fleming Island Public Library (1895 Town Center Blvd.) A second section will be taught on Tuesday evenings in Riverside from 7-8:30 p.m. at 1250

upcoming and ongoing events

Exploring The Talmud Tuesday evenings after Ma’ariv with instructor Rabbi Mendy Browd.

Nocatee Shabbat dinner draws a crowd More than 60 people came together for an exquisite four-course Shabbat dinner at the Nocatee Crosswater Hall last month. The evening echoed with sounds of Shabbat, including old friends catching up, new neighbors meeting for the first time, and words of Torah wisdom courtesy of Rabbi Mendel Sharfstein.

“It was like walking into an upscale dinner party, but completely kosher!” said Kathy. “From placing a printed menu on each plate to offering vegetarian options, Chabad of S. Johns really thought of everything.”

“It was a truly spectacular evening,” said Sarah, “The food was

Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

Southside Yoga and Torah for Women: Unleash Your Inner Strength Invigorating Yoga exercise followed by delicious and healthy refreshments and a thought provoking discussion of Jewish wisdom. No prior Jewish Education or Yoga experience necessary. Class meets every other Wednesday evenings by the St. Johns Town Center. To RSVP visit SouthsideChabad.com or call 904-646-4434.

Saturday Morning Shabbat Services Join us for services with Rabbi Shmuli Novack in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Our nonjudgmental philosophy embraces everyone, regardless of commitment or religious background. Services are held at 10:30 a.m., in a traditional set-

ting, with a contemporary message.

A traditional cholent luncheon follows services. Visit SouthsideChabad.com for more information.

S. Augustine Kabbalah and Coffee - Sunday mornings from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Torah Studies – Examining the weekly Torah portion, Wednesday evenings from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Beginners Shabbat Services and Kiddush – Held Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

S. Johns S. Johns Sukkah – The Sukkah in S. Johns will be open the entire week of Sukkot for those who want to eat in a Sukkah over the holiday. Also all are welcome to join us in the Sukkah for holiday meals. For more info call 904-701-4422 or email Rabbi@JewishSJohnsCounty.com.

Sushi Under the Stars: a Simchat Torah Celebration - On Thursday Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m., join Chabad of S. Johns for an outrageously joyous celebration of the Torah, where you’ll eat fresh Kosher food by a professional sushi chef and dance the night away. This event is open to men women and children of all ages.

GROW After-School Enrichment - The GROW After-School Enrichment Program *NEW* session Jewish Journeys starts Oct. 17, and will take place every Tuesday at 3:45 pm at Durbin Creek Elementary School. For more info visit JewishSJohnsCounty.com/GROW. BLT - Join us once a month on Sunday morning for Bagels, Lox and Tefillin. For more info call 904-701-4422 or email Rabbi@ JewishSJohnsCounty.com.

Torah and Tea - Mondays Join together with Jewish women for inspiring Torah discussions, Jewish meditation, camaraderie, hot tea, and delicious refreshments. The feminine Spirituali-Tea! For more information email Dini@JewishSJohnsCounty. com.

chabadjacksonville.org

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federation news

Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

New Year, New Location! Oct. Jewish Java to focus on issue of grandparents raising grandchildren

By Shalom Jacksonville

The Federation held its first board meeting of 5778 in Sept. at JFCS’ new Alan J. Taffet building on Baycenter Rd. The official ribbon cutting ceremony for the facility will take place Sunday, Oct. 29th

Award Winners (Continued from pg. 1) past president at JFCS and all 2017 Honorees aofcommunity his contributions to the Jewish and Jacksonville as a whole could fill an entire edition of the newspaper because his presence is still felt daily by the lives he touched.

When Larry and Susan Tallis moved to Jacksonville with their grandson in 2011 they never expected to be full-time parents to Brian, however, the Universe had another plan. Larry and Susan were to become Brian’s legal parents. The phenomenon of grandparents raising their grandchildren has increased significantly over the past decade. At a time in their lives when thoughts of retirement and traveling are the most pressing issues, raising a child or a grandchild, somehow isn’t in the plan for most grandparents. With this in

Trager in a very short time with her involvement with Federation has already attended the International Lion of Judah Conference, the General Assembly, the Campaign Worker’s Mission to Israel and is now our newest member of the JFNA National Young Leadership Cabinet. This, in addition to the many, many volunteer roles she has taken on locally, make her a very worthy recipient of this Irene Sari Selevan Young Leadership Award.

Larry Tallis and family

mind, Tallis, will share some of the challenges and joys he and his wife are experiencing.

Come to River Garden Senior Services (11401 Old St. Augustine Rd.), Wednesday, Oct. 4th for a very inspiring and heartwarming morning. As always, the

morning begins with a delicious bagel breakfast, courtesy of River Garden, lots of schmoozing followed by a speaker or program.

Jewish Java is a joint program of Federation’s Shalom Jacksonville division and River Garden Senior Services. The program is held the first Wednesday of every month.

Newcomers and all locals are invited to attend and meet each other, as it’s a great opportunity to find out the latest happenings in the Jewish and general community from people who are in-the-know.

Please RSVP by Sept. 28 to Isabel Balotin at 904-448-5000, ext. 1206 or via shalomjax@jewishjacksonville.org.

Israel in Jax via Miami

Hal Resnick

Joe P. Safer Community Service Award The former Federation president’s memory will be honored posthumously Nov. 9th, as his wife Barbara accepts the Joe P. Safer Community Service Award on his behalf. Resnick was also

Haley Trager

Ilene Sari Selevan Young Leadership Award

Deputy Consul General Guy Gilady from the Israeli Consulate in Miami poses with Jewish Federation of Jacksonville president Ken Jacobs, Community Shlicha Shelly Shalev and Women’s Div. President Allison Jacobs at the Temple during his recent visit to Northeast Florida.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

federation news

Federation’s Haley Trager goes to Houston to help in wake of Hurricane

By Jewish Federation of Jacksonville

rGEN kicks off campaign year with well attended Kibitz & Cocktails event

Federation board member Haley Trager went to Houston in September as part of a service weekend with Jewish FederationS of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. While in Southeastern Texas, she spent two days working in and touring the devastation within the Jewish community, which was hit really hard by the storm. The mail might have been halted because of the storm, but that didn’t stop Trager The home of Shylie and Jesse bannon was full with good drinks and great from making a special delivery, as conversations during rGEN’s kick-off event for the 2017 campaign year she handed Lee Wunsch, CEO of the Federation of Greater Houston

By Jewish Federation of Jacksonville kick-off, this year scheduled for a check for $15,000. Those funds Thursday, Nov. 9th. came from the Jacksonville Jewish The event also served as new The Mandarin home of Shylie community who donated as part community Shlicha Shelly Shalev’s and Jesse Bannon was fi lled with of the Hurricane relief fund that first official public appearance as many Jewish young professionals was set up and promoted on social the Ashdod, Israel native enjoyed Trager (center) and fellow Federation Young Leadership Cabinet members in late August, as it was the site media. meeting some of her young profesof rGEN’s annual kickoff event, sional contemporaries, prior to ar‘Kibitz and Cocktails’. Close to riving in Jacksonville earlier in the 30 people attended, enjoying week. Thanks to the Bannons for creations from guest bartenders opening up their home, the guest Jesse Bannon and Barry Shapiro bartenders for lending their talents as rGEN Chair Shylie Bannon and to Federation support staff welcomed everyone to the new Emma Pulley and Alarie Gibbs for campaign year and gave them a helping coordinate logistics for the preview of things to come like event. the Federation’s annual campaign

Jax teen finds a common connection at home and abroad with Israeli friends

Rose Blumenfeld

BY ROSE BLUMENFELD Exchange Participant

At the beginning of last year, I would have never imagined having a handful of new best friends that live halfway across the world. This past summer, I explored Israel

Blumenfeld and her host family while she was staying in Israel

and the U.S. with Israeli teens, making new friends, and creating unforgettable memories. Some of my favorite moments aren’t the big extravagant things we did like hiking Masada, swimming in the Dead Sea, or going to Universal.

Even though these were spectacular, my favorites were the rides on

the bus or the nights we’d all spend together, hanging out, laughing, and dancing.

Initially I went on the trip so I could experience Israel and see everything they had taught me in Hebrew School first hand, but I really got more than I bargained for. At first, I wasn’t sure if I’d know

Event bartenders Barry Shapiro (left) and Jesse Bannon (right)

anyone else on the trip and I also was hoping that my host family would be nice. Instead of just getting just one really nice host, I got two. That’s because about a month before the trip, when we were about to get our host families, I got a call asking me if I would be ok with having two hosts and I didn’t

even think twice. To me this was a chance to leave Israel with two new best friends instead of one.

Besides all the touristy things that we did in Israel and Jacksonville, we also took part in service projects. Throughout the month we were together, we’d pick eggplants in Israel, volunteer at River Garden here in Jacksonville, and cut shrubs around trees to prevent forest fires in Israel. Those parts of the trip were some of my favorites and were the most rewarding because I was giving back to the communities while doing a mitzvah which to me is something that I think is very important.

I’ve learned so much this summer, about being Jewish, Israel and Israelis. Going into the trip I was nervous that there would be a difference in the culture, because Israel is a whole different country and speaks a different language, but once I got there I felt at home.

Everyone was so kind and welcoming. The best part of my experience is I learned that Israeli teens are just like American teens. They do a lot of things that we do and like a lot of the same things we like. We all immediately bonded over the same music, artists and activities and it made me so happy to know that I had so many common interests with people across the world.

The Jewish Federation does a perfect job of planning and organizing their Tikkun Olam trip to Israel, because now when I think about Israel I think about all my new best friends and all of the memories we made together.

That, to me, makes Israel a more personal place, because I’ll always have friends there. This trip is so special because Israeli teens get to show us a piece of their life and then they come to our home and we share ours.

Rose Blumenfeld traveled to Israel as part of the Jewish Federations’ Israel Partnership Program.

For more information about this incredible experience, please contact Jill Abel at904-448-5000, ext. 1200 or jilla@jewishjacksonville.org.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

federation news Israeli Doctors Continued from pg. 1 YK: “We wondered what the reason for the evolution of this profession was and if it was the patients’ needs or economical demands that made it so.”

JJN: What was something that took you by surprise or you weren’t expecting about your visit here?

AK: “It was amazing to see the telemedicine in the ICU at St. Vincent’s and the ability to treat high risk patients with only nurse practitioners in house and physicians from far away giving support with very high grades of success in their outcomes. We also found the reform Jewish services at The Temple on Friday evening to be very inspiring.”

YK: “The Ackerman Cancer Center’s treatment for cancer patients was amazing as was its Proton treatment because in Israel that technology hasn’t come yet.

Patient care here in the U.S., is well known but we found that medical treatment and compassion is also a top priority.”

JJN: How are values in Jewish healthcare professionals consistent across borders and cultures?

AK: “We found the ‘We Care’

organization in Jacksonville is consistent with Jewish values in taking care of those who are in need because those who are helpless and facing unfortunate circumstances are treated by those who care.”

JJN: What will you tell your Israeli colleagues about your American experience when you return?

AK: “I found this week in Jacksonville enriching both professionally and personally as I was hosted by a wonderful family who let me experience the Jewish American life. Additionally, I learned a lot about pediatric care in different departments at Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital, St. Vincent’s and UF, so I’ll tell my Israeli friends that there is so much to learn when you travel here.”

YK: “I wish there was a way to get Jewish American and Israeli physicians together more often, since there is so much to share and to learn from each other.”

Aside from their visits to numerous local healthcare and medical outfits, the pair made a special presentation to the Society of Healers at the opening event for the division at Noura Café in Lakewood. Thanks to event sponsors Sheryl and Ken Sekine along with doctoral hosts Arlene and Tony Adelson and Wendy and Jeff Sapolsky.

Kopelman and Klein talk to members of the Society of Healers Division

The doctors with Sue Nussbaum

Kopelman and Klein with one pair of hosts, Arlene and Tony Adelson

The doctors outside the JCA

Its going to be a Hootnanny at River Garden for November’s Jewish Java

BY ISABEL BALOTIN

Shalom Jacksonville Director shalomjax@jewishjacksonville.org

November’s Jewish Java will feature the multi-talented Dan Kossoff, a well-known writer, producer, director and musician.

Come to River Garden Senior Services (11401 Old St. Augustine Rd.), Wednesday, Nov. 1st from 9-10:30 a.m. inside Cohen Auditorium. The morning begins with a complimentary bagel brunch followed by this wonderful program.

Kossoff has written, produced and directed thousands of TV programs, films, commercials and special events throughout his 50 years in broadcast communications. His work ranges from directing awardwinning documentaries to produc-

Have some news for the JJN?

By Jacksonville Jewish News

Whether it’s a milestone achievement accomplished by a friend or family associated with the Jacksonville Jewish community, or simply a story, event or announcement to be shared, drop us a line at jjn@jewishjacksonville.org. You can also contact newspaper editor and Federation Communications Director Matt Franzblau directly at mattf@jewishjacksonville.org or by calling 904-448-5000, ext.

1212.

The Jacksonville Jewish News is published 11 times a years, in newspaper from January to May and then again from August to December, with a Summer Magazine covering the months of June and July. For further information as well as advertising rates, log onto jewishjacksonville.org/news and for back issues go to issuu.com/ jewishnews.

Dan Kossoff

ing the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, but his passion has always been rooted in folk music. As a young folkie he toured the Midwest gigging on the coffee house/campus

circuit. His radio show, ‘String Along’, aired for many years on WJCT-FM and he has performed at many local venues. He now shares his interest in folk history as an instructor in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program at UNF. Kossoff’s presentation will include elements of his Olli course ‘American Folk Music: History and Hootenanny’, so come to revisit the folk legends (including many Jewish artists) whose voices defined the folk revival of the 50s and 60s, and expect to sing along.

Jewish Java is brought to the Jewish community courtesy of the Jewish Federation’s Shalom Jacksonville division and River Garden Senior Services.

Dancing at Jewish Java

Members from All About Ballroom in Fruit Cove treated the Sept. Jewish Java crowd at River Garden to a spectacular display of grace and elegance as they waltzed and foxtrotted across the stage

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

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community news Oct. 2017-Tishrei/Cheshvan 5778 P2G Host Families Caring Mispucha for Israeli Teens While in Jax

The Jewish Federation of Jacksonville is so grateful for the

October Mensches of the Month as these incredible families served as hosts to the Israel Partnership Summer Teen Delegation.

In addition to hosting them in their homes and making our Israeli guests feel welcome in the community, these families drove countless hours all over town and showed this group what it was really like to live Jewishly in Jack-

Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

m ot m

sonville. These families ensured that our Israeli delegation had the most amazing experience and we couldn’t have done our Partnership Program without them, so many thanks to the Oshers (Manya and Tal), the Jacobs (Allison and Ken), the Teitelbaums (Stephanie and Howard), the Blumenfelds (Cathy and Leslie) and the Goldsteins (Debbie and Ken), in addition to Lisa Ross and Marc Grosse.

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

Jacksonville’s Torah High School makes history as it opens its doors

By Jacksonville Torah High School

The first day of the new school year is always exciting, but it was especially momentous on Aug. 14 at Jacksonville’s Torah High School. That’s because the Jacksonville Jewish community took great pride in the city’s first orthodox high school officially opening.

Mrs. Kineret Weiss spearheaded the foundation of the school and serves as administrator and head of school. Mrs. Weiss recently moved to Jacksonville from Israel with her husband, Rabbi Ephraim Weiss and family. She quickly recognized the need to establish a high school and began working tirelessly on the project. As a starting point and in order to meet existing community needs, the

Students are hard at work at the city’s first official orthodox high school

school accommodates only female students at this time.

Guided by the steady and generous support from the community, the Jacksonville Torah High School opened this school year with four students and tre-

mendous optimism mixed with boundless energy. Its Mrs. Weiss’ future goal to provide “any Jewish student a highly accredited high school program in a warm, Jewish environment.” At Torah High, students can receive a quality edu-

cation through innovative small group instruction. A small student to teacher ratio ensures student success and the curriculum is individualized, recognizing that every student learns at a different pace and through different learning styles.

The staff of a highly talented team of rabbis and teachers guides the students in Judaic studies.

For secular studies, they utilize a virtual school program, which enables each student to work at her own pace, both with accelerated tracks as well as tailored assistance wherever there are difficulties, all while earning a highly accredited degree. An inviting, nurturing classroom environment encourages the students to be creative as they learn and grow. Their educational foundation includes

WJCT to launch radio show with some Jewish roots Assistant Director for Community Relations and Marketing for Jacksonville Public Library. “Most of the time when we’re given gifts like this, it’s the library’s responsibility to get the word out about the collection, BUT Working with Avant has been unique.”

Avant’s radio show will air

The group Pharaoh’s Daughter performs at the Jacksonville Jewish Center

BY KEITH MARKS Avant Music Series

A local organization with Jewish roots called Avant is now expanding its reach by producing a weekly radio program on WJCT 89.9 FM. The show gives the opportunity to spread Avant’s mission of ‘Curious Music for Curious Minds’, exposing Northeast Florida to a range of dynamic, diverse, and eclectic music not currently making its way to Jacksonville. Earlier in the year, New York-based Jewish music ensemble, Pharaoh’s Daughter, came to Jacksonville through the efforts of the Avant Music Series.

After being awarded a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida and partnering with The Jacksonville Jewish Center, the free community concert had more than 400 people in attendance.

“The radio show will be an additional platform for us to do what we’re passionate about – exposing people to new music,” said Keith Marks, founder and Executive Director of Avant. “The underlying philosophical position is that if people are willing to open their minds to new music, it is the beginnings of opening their minds to other cultures, other viewpoints, and expanding our perspective on a diverse and pluralistic world,” he added. “If we build walls to separate ourselves., we’re lost. Music is safe space for people of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds to commune.”

In addition to the upcoming

show on WJCT, Avant plans to launch a quarterly film series in early 2018, in partnership with Sun-Ray Cinema, the boutique two-screen movie theater in the middle of the 5-Points Shopping District in the Riverside neighborhood. Films centered on music will be highlighted.

“We’re delighted to see Avant grow in the community as one of our goals with the grants was to help organizations make a bigger impact,” said Laura Thompson, Interim Executive Director of the Jewish Community Foundation of Northeast Florida. “Seeing an organization with its roots in the Jewish community grow to become a staple of Jacksonville’s arts and culture scene is exciting.”

Avant launched in 2016 with a donation to the Jacksonville Public Library with a catalog of music known as ‘Radical Jewish Culture,’ a catalog which is underpinned with the philosophical question: ‘What does it mean to make Jewish music?’ The gift, valued at more $4,200, was formally gifted at Avant’s initial concert featuring Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Uri Caine. More than 400 people attended the free event at the library celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month. Since Caine’s performance, virtuoso guitarist Tim Sparks and Pharaoh’s Daughter were brought to Jacksonville for performances, artists in the ‘Radical Jewish Culture’ catalog.

“We were so appreciative of Avant’s gift,” said Chris Boivin,

every Sunday evening on WJCT with Marks hosting the show along with partner and engineer Moe Ricks. For more information, check out the new Avant website at avantcurious.org or email the organization at curious@avantcurious.org.

the essential tenets of Judaism and a secular education par excellence.

Students are encouraged to be creative, imaginative thinkers, as they become involved in academic and social activities that will build selfconfidence and self-motivation.

Weiss works closely with parents to address their children’s different levels and unique way of learning in a warm, nurturing environment. Jacksonville Torah High’s mission is to assist students to become lifelong learners and become productive, responsible citizens. To learn more about Jacksonville Torah High and to learn how you can be a part of this historic moment, visit jaxtorahhigh. com or send an email to jaxtorahhigh@gmail.com.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

federation news

Federation Partner Spotlight: Jewish Agency for Israel helps both Mexico and the U.S. recover from natural disasters

Jewish Agency volunteers offer aid in Mexico, following one of two deadly earthquakes that have hit the country during the last month

BY GAL BEN SHIMOL

Jewish Agency for Israel & Jewish Telegraph Agency

Volunteers from the Jewish Agency for Israel have mobilized in two Mexican communities to help residents recover from a major earthquake earlier this month.

At least 96 people died in the 8.1 magnitude quake that struck off the southern Pacific coast on Sept.

7th. The Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas were hardest hit.

The Jewish Agency’s Project TEN program, an international development program that operates volunteer centers in developing areas around the world, has sent nine volunteers (eight Israeli and one British, two doctors and two staff members) to work with the Oaxaca community.

The volunteers packed and distributed about 1,000 food parcels, clean water and early childhood packages consisting of diapers, milk substitutes and other necessities. The doctors treated injured residents, including many children.

Project TEN already had a center located in Oaxaca opened in 2013.

In the days following the earthquake, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would provide aid to Oaxaca and Chiapas in conjunction with the Interna-

People make their way out of a flooded neighborhood in Houston after it was inundated with rain water following Hurricane Harvey

tional Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Embassy in Mexico.

In the U.S., as Texas recovers from Hurricane Harvey and Florida is assessing the damage done by Hurricane Irma, vibrant U.S. Jewish communities are facing unprecedented natural disasters in rapid succession. An estimated 71-percent of Houston’s Jewish population of 63,700 live in floodprone areas. Hurricane Harvey was by far the most devastating flooding event for a Jewish community that has now experienced three major floods since May 2015.

Admirably, various Jewish organizations and Israeli aid groups have been on the ground in Houston since Harvey struck, providing crucial relief such as cleanup efforts at homes of affected families.

Immediate relief, however, is only the first piece of the puzzle.

For Houston, the recovery will take weeks, months and even years.

Given both the pressing short-term needs as well as the long and arduous road ahead, The Jewish Agency for Israel is very ready and capable of assisting diaspora communities when crises occur like we’re doing in Houston.

Through key programs and partnerships that are already in place, The Jewish Agency quickly

mobilized during the initial stages of relief efforts. Our network of Israeli emissaries (shlichim) in North American communities are actively involved in strengthening Jewish identity and applying their experience and training to communities’ specific needs.

After Hurricane Harvey, we deployed shlichim to assist Houston’s Jewish community. One delegation of shlichim began its relief work as soon as the flooding started to subside, and a second Jewish Agency group just replaced them.

Promoting solidarity between Jews around the world is one of our core objectives because it is crucial we stand together as one.

Family by family, our Israeli emissaries have witnessed the devastation in Houston and have come to lend a helping hand. “On our way to one of the flooded houses, the sights from the streets shocked us,” said Moshe Alfisher, the assistant director of one of the shlichim programs on the ground.

Moshe witnessed piles and piles of home belongings along the curbs— furniture, clothes and carpets from inside people’s homes—all ruined by the flood. At the home of an elderly couple, Sarah and Uri, “we helped pack up recovered valuables and throw away whatever was destroyed. It was very sad to see the

disarray of belongings of people who could have been my grandparents, and to decide what should be thrown away and what could be saved.”

At the same time, boosting morale and helping maintain a sense of normalcy are critically important. Given their vast experience in programming around community building, summer camp counseling and volunteer service, our shlichim are uniquely qualified to provide support to local communities and uplift the spirits of those who have suffered.

The Jewish Agency’s emissaries also served 300 children at the Houston Greene Family Camp. For parents—including those who are cleaning up their flooded homes, making arrangements for new housing and returning to their regular daily work—this camp freed them up to take care of essential tasks at a time when many damaged local schools remain unable to begin the academic year. Our

shlichim helped run activities for the children, and listened to them as they spoke about the damage in their homes.

The longstanding, close relationships with the nearly 150 Jewish Federations throughout North America means that we are connected to local communities, and that we will be there every step of the way. As Hurricane Irma’s devastating impact is understood, we will be there for Florida’s recovery process, too.

Our mission is to inspire Jews throughout the world to connect with their people, heritage and homeland. Given the unbreakable bond between Diaspora Jewry and Israel, the future is stronger than any storm—even a Category 4 hurricane. The global Jewish people are one people, and we believe we must be there for each other in times of crisis as much as in times of celebration. American Jews have come through for Israel so many times, and The Jewish Agency for Israel will continue to do the same for Jewish communities around the world as we are in this together.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE

JCA’s Cultural Arts Festival: Humor and Heritage to be highlighted in November

BY SHERRIE SAAG Cultural Arts Festival

The JCA’s Cultural Arts Festival begins Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. with opening night author Alan Zweibel, who’s book, ‘For This We Left Egypt? A Passover Haggadah for Jews and Those Who Love Them’, is a parody of the Haggadah. Zweibel said to “expect to laugh a lot,” as he’ll share his humorous perspective with the Jacksonville Jewish community.

Five-time Emmy winner and original Saturday Night Live writer Zweibel and co-writers Alan Mansbach and Florida native Dave Barry had an instinct for a topic which people are familiar with and probably agree with— that Seders are incredibly long before you get to eat, “so why not find a way to make it humorous along the way?”

According to Barry, the book is for “everybody who has ever been to a Seder and thought, ‘What’s missing here is plague jokes.’” In this book, the ten plagues include, “Humidity,” “Gluten,” and “Con-

stipation like you would not believe.” As Zweibel reveals, it’s not just about the humor, but also the heart. “Passover is such a fun holiday. It’s family. It’s spring. There’s a joy about it, so we can make a little fun of the discomfort.”

On Sunday, Nov. 5, the festival presents the gripping story of a band of volunteer airmen who risked everything—their lives, careers, citizenship to fight for Israel’s Independence in 1948.

While researching his book, Angels in the Sky, author Robert Gandt asked his sources, “Why did 150 young airmen from

multiple countries go and fight for Israel?” They all gave me the same answer: “It was a righteous cause.”

“When I first heard this, I thought, here was one of the greatest untold war stories of the last century,” Gandt recalls. His presentation will be accompanied by a special screening of the film, ‘Above and Beyond’, an intimate portrait of the Jewish American pilots that were members of Machal, the “volunteers from abroad.” ‘Angels in the Sky’ will be released October 3 and available at the festival’s Pop-Up Bookstore.

The thrilling tales continue

with one centered around the nation’s second most populous city.

Did you know that no city was more important to the Nazis than Los Angeles? ‘Hitler in Los Angeles’ describes the rise of fascist groups and Nazism on American soil in the 1930s, and the Jewish leaders and spies who stopped it.

Join the festival on Tuesday, Nov. 7 when Academy Award winner and USC Professor Stephen J. Ross shares this story with a question and answer exploring the correlation to current events.

On Tuesday, Nov. 14, a JCA Girl’s Night Out will examine— with humor and biting satire—the ways women define family in our modern society. “When I talk about family,” explained author Annabelle Gurwitch, “I mean it in the larger sense, not only my blood relations, but all of the tribes or chosen families we join in our lives. Like so many of us, I live thousands of miles from my relatives, but I’ve forged bonds with sisterhoods that are every bit as loving and meaningful yet as fraught with drama as the family I was born into.”

New York Times bestselling author Gurwitch, perhaps best known as host of the 90s TBS

hit show, ‘Dinner and a Movie’, was born into a Jewish family in Mobile, Alabama, and grew up in Florida.

The Festival closes on Wednesday, Nov. 15 with author Adam Valen Levinson, whose book, ‘The Abu Dhabi Bar Mitzvah’, will be released the day before he visits Jacksonville.

From his base in Abu Dhabi where he had a Bar Mitzvah at age 20, Levinson set out to “learn about the world 9/11 made us fear.” He ate lunch in Taliban territory, traveled with secret police while in Syria, investigated Yazidi beliefs in a cave and cliff dived in Oman. The endlessly curious Millennial found that those who pray differently often laugh the same.

Join the JCA for what is sure to be a fascinating conversation with a young man whose unique take on humanity can inspire us all.

Visit jcajax.org/jcafest for additional details as all JCA Cultural Arts Festival events are free and open to the entire community thanks to the generosity of its sponsors. Contact Lior Spring at 904-730-2100, ext. 318 or via lior. spring@jcajax.org to support this important Jewish Cultural Arts event.

2018 JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest to feature sports and more

By Jewish Community Alliance

Jacksonville Jewish teens once again have the opportunity to participate in the JCC Maccabi Games, sponsored by the JCC Association of North America, which will take place Aug. 5 -10, 2018. In addition to the JCC Maccabi Games for teen athletes, another event for creative teens, the JCC Maccabi ArtsFest, will be held the same week. JCC Maccabi events offer the opportunity for Jacksonville teens to meet, compete and build community with other Jewish teens from all over the world.

The 2018 JCC Maccabi Games will be hosted by the Merage JCC in Orange County, Calif., where teens, 13 – 16, participate in a week of competition in various sports, including boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’/girls’ soccer, girls’ volleyball, boys’ flag football,

boys’ baseball, tennis, golf, track and field, swimming, dance and table tennis. Youth athletes also enjoy social activities and Judaic programming.

The 2018 JCC Maccabi ArtsFest is a weeklong summer arts experience for creative teens, ages 13 – 17. The event which will be hosted by the Alpert JCC in Long Beach, Calif. It features workshops led by expert artists from various fields in the arts. Participants

incorporate aspects of community service, social activities, themes of Jewish heritage, community and Israel through a variety of mediums, including acting and improvisation, culinary arts, dance and the musical and visual arts.

Jewish teens who are interested in participating should contact JCA Sports and Recreation Director Rio Robinson at 904-730-2100, ext. 250 or rio.robinson@jcajax. org by Nov. 15th.

Jewish community alliance HAPPENINGS Oct. 2017/Tishrei Cheshvan 5778

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

Vandroff Art Gallery

The work of Pablo Rivera is featured from Sept. 28 to Oct. 25.

The opening for is on Oct. 1, from 4 – 6 p.m.

Sunday Film Series

On Oct. 22 at 2 p.m., see ‘The Couple’, starring Martin Landau, Judy Parfitt and Caroline Carver.

This event is free and open to the community.

Classic Movie Magic

See ‘Dark Victory’ (1939), starring Bette Davis and George Brent, on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 12 p.m. This event is free to the community.

Tailgate with the Jacksonville Jaguars

Enjoy a kosher tailgate at Everbank Field, Sunday, Oct. 15. For details and a special discounted ticket rate, contact the Jacksonville Jewish Federation at 904-4485000.

Pizza in the Hut

Celebrate the Sukkot holiday on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Enjoy crafts and a family meal.

This event is free for JCA valued members only.

Family Movie Night and Havdallah

On Saturday, Oct. 21, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., enjoy a havdallah ceremony and entertainment. The fee per family is $10 and $5 for JCA valued members. Registration required by Oct. 20.

NAS Airshow Up Close and Personal Witness military and civilian demonstrations, and a special finale on Friday, Nov. 3 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Transportation is included and the fee is $27 and $18 for JCA valued members.

Registration is required by Oct. 25.

Zombie Zumba Party

important program on Thursday, Oct. 19, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The fee is $5, however JCA valued members are free.

Youth Tennis

The JCA offers tennis clinics for youth, ages 3–18. Six-week clinics are $108 and $72 for JCA valued members. For information, contact Reggie Exum at 904-7302100, ext. 317.

Get fit in a special class on Sunday, Oct. 22, from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

The individual fee is $15 and $10 for JCA valued members. The family fee is $30 and $20 for JCA valued members. Costumes are encouraged and this event is for those ages seven and older.

School Year Swim Team

Teens Texting and Driving Seminar

Swim Lessons

The PLAYERS Center for Child Heath will facilitate this very

This team introduces competitive swimming and helps prepare for the summer league. For information, contact Josie Martin at 904730-2100, ext. 240.

Join one of our group lessons for youth, ages 6 months – 12 years, or our new adult group lessons

JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE 2017 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $186,590

for ages 16 and older. For information, contact Josie Martin at 904-730-2100, ext. 240.

Fencing

The JCA offers youth and adult fencing lessons beginning Wednesday, Nov. 8. For information, contact Rio Robinson at 904-730-2100, ext. 250.

Preschool and Youth Clinics

The JCA offers clinics in baseball, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, golf, running, volleyball and football for ages 3 – 14 beginning Monday, Oct. 30. For information, contact Rio Robinson at 904-7302100, ext. 250.

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

JEWISH FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES

JFCS to take the lead in Hurricane Irma relief fund distribution

By Jewish Family & Community Services

After Hurricane Irma, The United Way of Northeast Florida contacted JFCS to ask if the agency could take the lead in distribution of Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund. Humbled, Colleen Rodriguez, JFCS’ Executive Director, immediately and whole heartedly agreed. Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund was founded in 2016 by Northeast Florida’s largest nonprofit funders to help those affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Relief Fund partners re-activated

the First Coast Relief Fund in 2017 for Hurricane Irma relief.

JFCS is able to assist in completing FEMA applications, rent/ mortgage/deposit payments, medical needs, temporary housing, food and clothing. If you or someone you know needs assistance related to recovery from Hurricane Irma, please reach out to JFCS at 904-448-1933 as there are many resources for assistance.

Relief Fund partners include United Way of Northeast Florida, United Way of St. Johns County, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, the Jewish

Federation of Jacksonville and the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund. At the time that this article was submitted for publication, JFCS had already received $50,000 from the fund to begin helping people in our community and was anticipating at least $75,000 more in relief funds.

JFCS incurred little damage to its new headquarters on Baycenter Road

JFCS staff member wins a prestigious award at annual summit

By Jewish Family & Community Services

The Department of Children and Families’ or DCF’s 2017 Child Protection Summit, was

held in Orlando during late Aug., where more than 3,200 individuals representing approximately 240 organizations attended. During the conference’s general assembly, Anthony Dudley, a Jewish Family & Community Services lead fam-

ily services counselor for Nassau County, was recognized with the Protecting the Light award for his outstanding service in preserving families.

The annual three-day event is Florida’s largest gathering of child welfare professionals where they can receive continuing education, share best practices, and collaborate in advancing child welfare services and partnerships.

Attendees included attorneys, case managers, child advocates, child protective investigators and supervisors, child protection team staff, child welfare trainers, members of the judiciary, foster and adoptive parents, guardians ad litem, law enforcement and juvenile justice professionals, service providers and youth. The summit provides child welfare professionals and foster and adoptive parents the opportunity to meet and network while they attend workshops led by child welfare experts from around the country.

NOW HIRING!!

Director of Clinical Services

Directs and manages Adult and Children’s Mental Health Counseling programs. Also responsible for the Agency’s Comprehensive Assessment Department. Licensed in the State of Florida as an LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT. Five years experience desired in direct counseling, including direct supervision of clinical and administrative staff.

Therapist - Full Service Schools

Provides mental health counseling services to individuals, children, couples and families and facilitates groups within Duval County Schools Licensed or License Eligible in the State of Florida - Registered Intern, LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT.

the JFCS Job Board

To apply please visit jfcsjax.org and click on ‘careers’ at the bottom of the page.

JEWISH FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES 2017 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $265,600

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RIVER GARDEN SENIOR SERVICES

RIVER GARDEN SENIOR SERVICES 2017 FEDERATION ALLOCATION: $175,160

Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

lifecycles B’nai Mitzvah

Benjamin Samuel Jolles, son of Jamie and Erica Jolles, will be called to the Torah on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah, Saturday, Oct. 21st at Congregation Ahaveth Chesed (The Temple). Sharing in his Simcha will be his older brother Joshua, along with grandBenjamin Jolles parents, Lou and Lynn Regal of Moorpark, Calif., Jeff Jolles and Sheila Joy of Hedgesville, W.V., and Gretchen and Bill Taylor of Fruit Cove. Jolles is in the eighth grade at Patriot Oaks Academy where he is an active member of the football team and also spends time taking bass guitar lessons. In his free time Benjamin loves going to the movies, playing airsoft and watching football, especially his favorite team the Jaguars.

and currently works as a performer in musical theatre at the Signature Theatre in Alexandria, Va. The couple will reside in the nation’s capital.

Accomplishments

Congratulations to Kevin Melamed, Master Diver, P.A.D.I., who recorded his 500th scuba dive this summer. Melamed has explored the underwater world in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Caribbean and Red Sea, while receiving certifications in deep diving, night diving and wreck diving. He is most happy beneath the sea with his two buddies and sons, Travis and Brandon, who are both certified divers. His wife Bonnie is a part-time snorkeler and full-time supporter, and really means it, when she says “honey go jump in the ocean”.

Weddings

Isabella Ackerman and Benjamin Lurye were married Sunday, Sept.

10, 2017 at The Carnegie Institute for Science in Washington, D.C. by Rabbi Yaakov Fisch of Etz Chaim Synagogue.

The bride is the daughter of Alexandra and Scot Ackerman of Jacksonville and the groom is the son of Diane and Richard Lurye and Grandson Ackerman and Lurye of Florence and Isidore Wolfe, all of Rockville, Md. The bride earned a BFA from The George Washington University and works as an interior designer at Andrew Law Interior Design in Georgetown. The groom earned a Bachelor’s of Music from University of Maryland

Kevin Melamed and his sons

Sympathies

… To the family of Rosalie ‘Roz’ Cassel, Tuesday, Aug. 29th at the age of 92. She is survived by her children Sheree (Tommy) Spriggs, and Donna Tuttle; grandchildren Lisa (Jason) Hunt, Danielle Spriggs, Jonathan (Lindsey) Spriggs, and Joshua Tuttle; as well as her three great-grandchildren. A graveside funeral took place Aug. 31 at the New Center Cemetery in Jacksonville. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Jacksonville Jewish Center, River Garden, or the Community Hospice of Northeast Florida. … To the family of Bernard Pasternak, who passed away at the age of 93. He is survived by his sister Gail Halpert and his niece Sherri (Adrian) Goldfarb. Ms. Halpert sat Shiva at her home in Jacksonville from Sept. 6-8. … To the family of Sheldon Spevak, who passed away Saturday, Sept. 9th

at the age of 86. He is survived by his wife Claudia, children Adrienne Myles and Marshall (Liz) and grandchildren Danielle, Chloe and Annika.

He was preceded in death by his son and Gary Spevak. Graveside funeral services were held at Temple Cemetery at Evergreen in Jacksonville, Sept. 18th The family requests that contributions in memory of Sheldon Spevak be made to the Jacksonville Zoo. … To the family of Larry Howard Browdy, who passed away Sunday, Sept. 10th. He is survived by his brother Richard (Sharon) Browdy, niece Janet Lewis, aunt Helen Browdy, and cousins Alan Browdy and Barbara Eisensmith. A graveside funeral took place, Sept. 15th at Beth Shalom Cemetery. Contributions may be directed to the River Garden Hebrew Home or the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation. … To the family of Judith Anne Weiner, who passed away Sunday, Sept. 10th at the age of 73. She is survived by her husband Stephen; their daughters Debbie (Brian) Charpiat and Cynthia Weiner; and grandchildren Steven Britt, Courtney Charpiat, and Brian Charpiat Jr. Funeral services were held Sept. 17th at Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Funeral Chapel in Ft. Lauderdale. Contributions in Judith Anne Weiner’s memory may be directed to the Broward County Multi-Agency Honor Guard to honor all of our fallen officers, or to Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech by indicating the contribution is to be ‘In Memory of Judith Weiner’ and select ‘Jacksonville’. … To the family of Laura Goldberg, who passed away Monday, Sept. 11th at the age of 95. She is survived by her children, Carol Doyle (Al Bagocius), Kerry (Susan), Jonathan, grandchildren David (Jane) Doyle, Ross (Soyoung) Doyle, Craig (Stacey), Stacy (Andrew Daniels) and nine great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Goldberg. Funeral services took place Monday, Sept. 18th at the Jacksonville National Cemetery. The family requests that contributions in memory of Laura Goldberg be made to River Garden Senior Services.

Beth El - the Beaches to show film at its next member & guest mixer

BY SHERILL HERZFELD

Beth El – The Beaches Synagogue

Beth El – The Beaches Synagogue will hold its next member and guest mixer, Sunday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m., when the film ‘Raise the Roof’ is shown. A wine and cheese social will take place prior to viewing of a film that centers around Poland inspired artists Rick and Laura Brown who embark on a 10-year pursuit to reconstruct the elaborate roof and painted ceiling of

the Gwozdziec synagogue. Leading more than 300 students and professionals from 16 countries, they not only reconstruct a lost synagogue, they recover a lost world. In 2014, the Gwozdziec roof was unveiled as the centerpiece of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. This event is free and open to the community; however donations are gratefully appreciated. For more information, contact Gail Greenfield at 904-534-7381 or at gailsgreenfield@hotmail.com.

‘Raise the Roof’ is a film about the decade long restoration of the roof of a historic synagogue in Poland

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

page 25

Oct. 2017 - Tishrei & Cheshvan 5778

To include your adult education event in this listing please e-mail the Jacksonville Jewish News at jjn@jewishjacksonville.org, with the time/date or frequency of the event from your specific organization or synagogue, along with a short description of each program or event.

Special Events

October 10th

Jacksonville Jewish Center (7:30 p.m.)

JEWISH BOOK CLUB - Open to all interested adults and meets at the Starbuck’s section at Barnes & Noble on San Jose Blvd.

October 11th

Jewish Family & Community Services (10:30 a.m. / 6:30 p.m.)

SECOND GEN HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR WRITING WORKSHOP – This season’s Second Generation Holocaust Survivor Writing Workshops started in September and will be held at JFCS’s new location, 8540 Baycenter Drive. The two monthly workshops, offer adult children of Holocaust survivors and opportunity to be together, write and share their experiences. Although the writing workshops are focused on the second generation, all are welcomed. It is not a requirement to write in order to participate. In 2017, workshops will take place on Wednesdays and in 2018, the workshops will take place on Tuesdays. If you would like to find out more, contact info@gen2search.com or JFCS 448-1933.

October 14th

Jacksonville Jewish Center (9:15 a.m.)

SHALom MEDITATION - Please join us for 25 minutes of meditation in a Jewish environment.

From 9:15-30 a.m., some basic instruction of meditation technique and approach will be offered.

Then, we will start our actual practice at 9:30 and go until 9:55 (in time for the Torah service).

October 15th

Jacksonville Jewish Center (12:30 p.m.)

YIDDISH ‘CLUB’ - Monthly meetings are held in the JJC Kramer Library. This is an informal group of all ages with varying levels of ability where you can meet other local speakers to practice the language, or to just shmooze a bisl! We’ll listen to Klezmer music, watch videos and films, read and speak in Yiddish, so join the fun.

October 16th

Jewish Community Alliance (6 – 7 p.m.)

WHY WEIGHT: WOMEN AND STRENGTH TRAINING – Certified personal trainer Sarah Perfido debunks common strength training myths about women and weights. The fee is $5, however JCA valued members are free but registration is appreciated.

October 17th

Jewish Community Alliance (6 p.m.)

SLEPLESS IN JACKSONVILLE – Sleep expert Peter Nassar, MD, from the Jacksonville Sleep Center, shares how to help your body heal with proper sleep. This is free and open to the community.

October 18th

Jewish Community Alliance (6:30 – 8:30 p.m.)

PAINTING: SPONTANEOUS REALISM – Local artist Aaron Shelton leads this workshop exploring this painting method recently featured in his Vandroff Art Gallery show. The fee is $60 and $40 for JCA valued members.

Registration required by Oct. 11.

October 19th

Jewish Community Alliance (6:30 – 8:30 p.m.)

FIVE PILLARS OF OPTIMAL HEALTH – Holistic health prac-

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

adult education titioner Dr. Jon Repole introduces held Oct. 22, 29. a new paradigm of health. The From the Bookshelves of fee is $30 and $20 for JCA valued Jewish Community Alliance members. Registration required (5 – 6 p.m.)

by Oct. 16.

WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSE the Second Generation – Reality-based, self-defense October 21st

Jacksonville Jewish Center (8 – 9 a.m.)

COFFEE & TORAH - 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.

October 23rd

Jewish Community Alliance (6:30 – 9 p.m.)

MAKE AND TAKE: DEMYSTIFYING ESSENTIAL OILS – Learn about essential oils, extracts and hydrolats with master herbalist Donna McGee. The fee is $30 and $20 for JCA valued members.

Registration required by Oct. 18.

October 24th

Jewish Community Alliance (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

SMART DRIVER COURSE – Join an AARP trained instructor in this class for licensed drivers 50 and older. The fee is $20 and $15 for AARP members.

October 25th

Jewish Community Alliance (6:30 – 8:30 p.m.)

PAINTING: SPONTANEOUS REALISM – Local artist Aaron Shelton leads this workshop exploring this painting method recently featured in his Vandroff Art Gallery show. The fee is $60 and $40 for JCA valued members.

Registration required by Oct. 11.

October 26th

Jewish Community Alliance (12 – 1 p.m.)

HEALTHY AGING THROUGH THE YEARS – Raphael Balbino, MD, from Baptist AgeWell Center for Senior Health, covers changes to make now to maintain health and reduce risk of disease and disability. This is free and open to the community.

Jewish Community Alliance (6:30 – 8:30 p.m.)

FIVE PILLARS OF OPTIMAL HEALTH – Holistic health practitioner Dr. Jon Repole introduces a new paradigm of health. The fee is $30 and $20 for JCA valued members. Registration required

by Oct. 16.

November 7th

Jewish Community Alliance (1 – 3 p.m.)

TOTES! PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP – Learn the basics of carving and stamping your own linoleum block for a customized tote bag. The fee is $60 and $40 for JCA valued members. Registration required by Oct. 31. An additional workshop will be held Nov. 14th

Regular Events Sundays

Jacksonville Jewish Center (10:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.)

FOUNDATIONS OF JUDIASM CLASS - Classes are held at the JJC, and are open to all, whether you are considering conversion, seeking to understand a friend or relative’s religious choices, or simply trying to go beyond your childhood Jewish education.

Classes held Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29.

Jacksonville Jewish Center (9:15 – 10 a.m.)

BEGINNING HEBREW CLASS - This year’s class will be taught

by Etta Fialkow. Alef-Bet reading skills and fluency. Classes scheduled for Oct. 22, 29.

Jacksonville Jewish Center (10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.)

HEBREW CONVERSATION This new class will be taught Dr. Melvyn Cohen using the Pimsleur Method. No Hebrew reading skills are needed; the class is completely oral. Please call Lois Tompkins and reserve your spot. Classes.

introduction for women only. The fee is $90 and $60 for JCA valued members. Sessions held from Oct. 1 – 22.

Mondays

Jacksonville Jewish Center (morning following minyan) MONDAY MINYAN MAPQUEST - Rabbi Lubliner takes us on a tour of Jewish cities, explaining history and current statistics of some well-known and not-sowell-known Jewish communities around the world. Classes held Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.

Jacksonville Jewish Center (7 p.m.)

TALMUD CLASS - Rabbi Lubliner explores communal responses to crisis in tractate Ta’anit. Open to all and classed scheduled for Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.

Jacksonville Jewish Center SERVICE SKILLS - (intermediate Hebrew level). This is an ongoing class, designed to increase prayer fluency and help our congregants to become more comfortable in our Jacksonville Jewish Center weekday and Shabbat services.

Basic reading skills are necessary, but we will work together on fluency and prayer vocabulary. All are welcome to join on Oct. 9, 16, 23.

Thursdays

Jewish Community Alliance (6:30 – 7:30 p.m.)

POTTERY – Learn the fundamentals of clay forming, handbuilding and wheel throwing.

The fee is $216 and $144 for JCA valued members. Sessions held from Oct. 19 – Dec. 14.

Jewish Community Alliance (7 – 9 p.m.)

PAINTING: ACRYLICS – Explore acrylic techniques for novice and experienced artists. The fee is $204 and $136 for JCA valued members. Registration required

by Oct. 16. Sessions held from Oct. 19 – Dec. 14.

The Musical

by B.A. Shapiro

Reviewed by Sophia Pentel

The author mixes true characters and historical facts to create a riveting story. Artists Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Lee Krasner, de Kooning and fictional character Alizee, are working for WPA, with Hans Hoffman as their teacher in the 1930s-40s.

The protagonist is an immigrant from France who was raised by her aunt and uncle after her parents died accidentally. She tries desperately to bring her relatives to the United States, but there were a lot political obstacles along the way. The US State DepartThe Muralist depicts a fictational ment in Roosevelt’s time was very character named Alizee who works Anti-Semitic as Undersecretary with famous artists in the 1930s/40s Breckinridge Long was very active in blocking Jewish imrepresents. The book has many migration. He limited or delayed emotional highs and lows as the the issue of visas, and at a time background of political players completely eliminated them, so that added to demise of our relaJews could not escape the atrocitives is eye opening. This was not ties of Europe Nazism. a favorite among my book group, The book generates natural but they do not have the same life discussion about art and abstract history as me, therefore I loved expressionism. I myself am very it and have started the author’s ignorant on abstract art, but in earlier novel, entitled, ‘The Art some ways it teaches me how to Forger’. look at a cube and see what it

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

high holy day service schedules

288 Roscoe Blvd. N. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 904-273-9100 bethelbeaches.org Friday, September 29th Erev Yom Kippur Kol Nidre Service – 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 30th Yom Kippur Main Service – 10 a.m.

Youth Service – 10 a.m.

Yizkor Service – 4:30 p.m. (followed by Neilah and Havdalah) Break Fast – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 7th Shabbos Chol Hamoed Shacharis – 9 a.m.

Sephardic Minyan – 9 a.m.

Mincha then Seuda Shlishis – 6:30 p.m.

Maariv and Havdalah – 7:48 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 11th Hoshana Rabbah Shacharis – 6:30 a.m.

Candle lighting – 6:42 p.m.

Mincha – 6:45 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 12th Shemini Atzeres Shacharis – 9 a.m.

Yizkor – 10:30 a.m. (Approx.)

Mincha – 6:45 p.m.

Candle lighting – after 7:42 p.m.

(Please light from existing flame) Friday, Oct. 13th Simchat Torah Shacharis followed festive singing and dancing – 8 a.m.

Candle lighting – 6:40 p.m.

Mincha – 6:40 p.m.

8727 San Jose Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32217 thetemplejacksonville.org 904-733-7078 Friday, Sept. 29th Kol Nidre Family Service – 5:30 p.m.

Evening Service – 8 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30 Yom Kippur Morning Service – 10 a.m. (Children and teens will proceed mid-morning to their own experiences) Adult Discussion – 2 p.m.

Afternoon Service – 3 p.m.

Yizkor/Neilah/Havdalah – 4:30 p.m.

Congregational Break-the-Fast – 6 p.m.

10167 San Jose Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32257 etzchaim.org 904-262-3565 Friday, Sept. 29th Erev Yom Kippur Selichos and Shacharis – 6:30 a.m.

Mincha – 3 p.m.

Kol Nidre – 6:50 p.m.

Candle Lighting – 6:57p.m.

Sermon with Rabbi Fisch – 7:20 p.m.

President’s Address – 7:40 p.m. *Explanatory Class with Rabbi Avi Feigenbaum (The Narrow Bridge to Yom Kippur) - 7:50 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30th Yom Kippur Main Minyan (Wolfson Sanctuary) - 8 a.m.

Sephardic Minyan (Mirkis Chapel) – 8 a.m.

Youth Programs (school wing) – 8:45 a.m. *Explanatory Class with Rena Schochet (Loyalty, The Crown of Creation: The paradigm of dedication and determination in life and prayers) – 10:15 a.m.

Sermon with Rabbi Fisch – 11 a.m.

Torah Reading – 11:20 a.m.

President’s Address – 11:50 a.m.

Yizkor – 12 p.m. *Explanatory Class with Rabbi Feigenbaum (Fight Till The End-How to close the deal) – 12:30 p.m.

Mincha – 4:55 p.m. *Explanatory Class with Rena Schochet in the social hall (A Whale of A Story to Strengthen our Commitment) – 4:55 p.m.

Pre Neilah Remarks by Rabbi Yaakov Fisch followed by Neilah – 6:15 p.m.

Conclusion of Yom Kippur and Shofar Blowing – 7:56 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 4th Erev Sukkot Shacharis – 6:45 a.m.

Mincha – 6:50 p.m.

Candle lighting – 6:51 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 5th First day of Sukkot Shacharis – 9 a.m.

Sephardic Minyan – 9 a.m.

Youth Programs (School Wing) – 9:45 a.m.

Mincha – 6:50 p.m.

Candle lighting after – 7:50 p.m.

(Please light from existing flame) Friday, Oct. 6th Second day of Sukkot Shacharis – 9 a.m.

Sephardic Minyan – 9 a.m.

Youth Programs (School Wing) – 9:45 a.m.

Candle lighting – 6:48 p.m.

Mincha - 6:50 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 14th Shabbos Bereishes Shacharis – 9 a.m.

Sephardic Minyan – 9 a.m.

Mincha followed by Seuda Shlishis and Neilas Hachag – 6:25 p.m.

Maariv and Havdallah – 7:40 p.m. *Explanatory classes sponsored by Michael and Jill Abel in honor of the rich and meaningful educational opportunities that Etz Chaim provides to the Jacksonville Jewish community.

3662 Crown Point Road Jacksonville, FL 32257 jaxjewishcenter.com 904-268-4200 Friday, Sept. 29th Erev Yom Kippur Morning Service - 7:10 a.m.

Minhah - 6:30 p.m.

Kol Nidre (following Minhah) Candle lighting - 6:55 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30th Yom Kippur Day Shaharit - 7:45 a.m.

Torah Service - 9:30 a.m.

Kavanah (Alternative) service - 10:30 a.m.

K-12 youth services - 10:30 a.m.

President’s address – 11 a.m.

Preschool family service - 11:15 a.m.

Musaf Service - 11:30 a.m.

Rabbi’s sermon - 1:45 p.m.

Yizkor (following Rabbi’s sermon) Yom Kippur dialogue/discussion with Rabbi Lubliner – 4 p.m.

Healing Service – 4 p.m.

Minhah – 5:00 p.m.

Ne’ilah youth service - 6:15 p.m.

Ne’ilah - 6:30 p.m.

Fast ends - 7:48 p.m.

Ma’ariv, Final Shofar and Break-the-Fast (following end of fast)

Friday, Oct. 13th Simchat Torah Shaharit/Family Simchat Torah Service – 9 a.m.

Minhah/Ma’ariv - 6:00 p.m.

Candle lighting – 6:39 p.m.

161 Cordova Street St. Augustine, FL 32084 first-congregationsonsofisrael.org 904-829-9532 Friday, Sept. 29th Erev Yom Kippur Kol Nidre services – 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30th Yom Kippur morning service – 9 a.m.

(Yizkor Memorial Service will be held after the Haftarah. Mincha afternoon service starts at 5:30 p.m. and Neelah or the concluding service will take place at 7 p.m. break-the-fast immediately follows the Neelah service.)

2055 Wildwood Drive.

St. Augustine, FL 32086 templebetyam.org 904-819-1875 Friday, Sept. 29th Erev Yom Kippur Kol Nidre – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30th Yom Kippur - 10 a.m.

(Children’s service begins at 9 a.m., while the afternoon service begins at 3 p.m., and lasts until 4:15 p.m. followed by Yiskor and Neilah. At approximately 6 p.m. a break-thefast oneg will be served.)

Friday, Oct. 6th Second Day Sukkot Services Shaharit – 9 a.m.

Sukkot youth services - 10:30 a.m.

Minhah/Ma’ariv: 6 p.m.

Congregational Sukkot Dinner in the Sukkah (RSVP required for Dinner): 6:45 p.m.

Candle lighting: 6:47 p.m.

Wednesday, October 4th Sukkot Chabad HQ/Mandarin–6:30 p.m. evening services Chabad of Clay County – 7 p.m. Shwarma in the Sukkah (RSVP required) Chabad of S. Augustine – 10 a.m. morning services Thursday, October 5th Sukkot Chabad HQ/Mandarin – 9:30 a.m. morning services / 6:30 p.m. evening services Chabad of S. Augustine – 10 a.m. morning services Friday, October 6th Sukkot Chabad Headquarters/Mandarin – 9:30 a.m. morning services / 6:30 p.m. evening services Chabad of S. Augustine – 10 a.m. morning services

1326 Egmont St. Brunswick, GA 31520 www.bethtefilloh.org 912-265-7575

Wednesday, October 11th Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Chabad HQ/Mandarin – 6:30 p.m. evening services

Friday, Sept. 29th Erev Yom Kippur Kol Nidre services – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 12th Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Chabad HQ/Mandarin – 9:30 a.m. morning and Yizkor services / 6:15 p.m. Mincha followed by Simchat Torah Hakafot and Kiddush

Saturday, Sept. 30th Yom Kippur Morning Service – 10 a.m.

Mid-day Rabbi discussion – 12:30 p.m.

Children’s Service – 2 p.m.

Afternoon Service – 2:45 p.m.

Yizkor followed by Neilah/Havdalah – 4 p.m.

Break-the-Fast – 6:30 p.m.

Chabadjacksonville.org

8505 San Jose Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32217 www.jcajax.org 904-730-2100 Tuesday, Oct. 10th Sukkot (6-7 p.m.)

Pizza in the Hut – Celebrate Sukkot and carry on the tradition of shaking the lulav and holding the Etrog, while enjoying various crafts and a festive family meal. This event is free for JCA valued members only.

Wednesday, Oct. 11th Hoshanah Rabbah/Erev Shmini Atzeret Shaharit – 6:45 a.m.

Minhah /Ma’ariv 6 p.m.

Candle lighting – 6:41 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 12th Shemini Atzeret/Erev Simhat Torah Shaharit 9 a.m. (with Yizkor) Shemini Atzeret youth services - 10:30 a.m.

Young family Simchat Torah Celebration 5:30 p.m.

Minhah - 6:30 p.m.

Ma’ariv and Simchat Torah Celebration 7:30 p.m. (for Adults, Teens and Children) Candle lighting - 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, September 30th Yom Kippur Chabad HQ/Mandarin – 10 a.m. / 1 p.m. (approx.) Yizkor (memorial) Service / 5 p.m. Mincha and Neila (closing) Service / 7:48 p.m. Break-the-fast Chabad at the Beaches – 9:15 a.m. / 10:30 a.m. Children’s Service / 12 p.m.

Yizkor (memorial) Service / 5 p.m. Mincha Service / 6:15 p.m. Neila (closing) Service / 7:40 p.m. Havdalla and Break-the-fast Chabad of Clay County – 10 a.m. / 12 p.m. Yizkor Memorial Service / 6:45 p.m.

Neilah - Closing Service / 7:49 p.m. Final Shofar blast and break-the-fast * Location Fleming Island Library Chabad of S. Augustine – 10 a.m. / 12 p.m. (approx.) Yizkor (memorial) Service / 6:15 p.m. Mincha and Neila (closing) Service / 7:48 p.m. Break-the-fast Chabas of S. Johns – 10 a.m. / 6:30 p.m.

Neilah followed by Break-the-fast Chabad of Southside – 10 a.m. followed

by Yizkor (memorial) Service / 6:15 p.m.

Mincha and Neilah (closing) Service / 7:48 p.m. Break-the-fast

Wednesday, Oct. 4th Sukkot – 5:30 p.m.

(Refreshments will be served after service)

Wednesday, Oct. 4th Erev Sukkot Morning Service – 7:10 a.m.

Minhah /Ma’ariv - 6:30 p.m.

Candle lighting - 6:49 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 5th First Day Sukkot Services Shaharit - 9 a.m.

Sukkot youth services - 10:30 a.m.

Preschool family service - 11:00 a.m.

Minhah - 6:30 p.m.

Study session and Ma’ariv (following Minhah) Candle lighting - 7:43 p.m.

Chabad of Clay County – 7 p.m. Kol Nidrei Service * Location Fleming Island Library Chabad of S. Augustine – 6:45 p.m. Kol Nidre Service Chabad of S. Johns – 7 p.m.

Chabad of Southside – 6:45 p.m. Kol Nidre Service

Chabadbeaches.com

Jewishclaycounty.com

Southsidechabad.com

CHABAD SERVICE SCHEDULES Friday, September 29th Erev Yom Kippur Chabad Headquarters/Mandarin – 6:15 p.m. Kol Nidre Service Chabad at the Beaches – 7 p.m. Kol Nidre Service / 7:15 – 8:15 p.m. Children’s Service.

Chabadsaugustine.com

Jewishsjohnscounty.com

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017

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Jacksonville Jewish News • October 2017