JEWISHJACKSONVILLE.ORG | VOL. 32 NO. 12 | SEPTEMBER 2019 – ELUL 5780
A YEAR LATER:
Family heals thanks to local Jewish community support By Rachel Dranetz
When Hurricane Michael hit the panhandle last year, many families were devastated by the destruction inflicted throughout Northern Florida. Fortunately, there were many people who came forward to help, including within the Jacksonville Jewish community. Hurricane Michael was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the contiguous United States since Andrew in 1992. At least 74 deaths were attributed to the storm, which caused an estimated $25.1 billion in damages. After seeing the news coverage of the devastation and knowing that the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville would know what to do, a local community member contacted the office, seeking a way to make a difference for a family impacted by Hurricane Michael. Kellie Smith, director of the Foundation, connected with reputable nonprofit organizations on the Gulf Coast to identify families in need and worked alongside the social service agencies to ensure a great match. The Hester family in Marianna, Florida, was identified to be in great need. Their entire home and many of their belongings were destroyed in the hurricane, and Kaitlin Hester was just weeks away from giving birth to her second child.
See HESTER, p. 12
Elior and Itamar Lubliner present Hilary Rotenberg and Susie Menaged of Jewish Family & Community Services with their first grant award for E.P.I.C. Program at Martin J. Gottlieb Day School and Torah Academy.
Leah and Samantha Zimmerman present Faye Hedrick of the Jewish Federation with a grant award for the BRIDGES Leadership Initiative to help cultivate the next generation of our Jewish communal leaders.
Young philanthropists distribute first installment of NextGen Grant Awards By Kellie Smith
Over the last 20 years, the B’nai Tzedek Young Philanthropy Program has made grants from their collective funds via a voting process with local agencies and synagogues. Earlier this year, our local Jewish agencies, schools and synagogues were asked to submit a program needing funding. A blind ballot was created with the program missions and goals that was then distributed to all fund holders by mail. In addition, a web page was set up so fundholders or interested parties could
review the grant proposals in full. More than 300 young fund holders voted for the top three programs they felt our community needed most. The ballots were tabulated and the winners announced in late spring 2019. The winners for this voting cycle were the Jewish Community Alliance for Just Like Me, a theatre program serving hundreds of children that teaches justice and celebrates diversity, Jewish Family & Community Services for E.P.I.C. (formerly known as Inclusion), a program done in partnership with
our Jewish day schools that offers individualized support services for students and families, and the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville for the BRIDGES Leadership Initiative, a program developed by rGEN which will help educate and grow tomorrow’s Jewish leaders. These agencies are receiving $5,000 a year for three consecutive years for their proposed programs. Our fund holders are looking forward to the success of these incredible programs
See PHILANTHROPISTS, p. 5
Shana Tova! Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish
New Year, begins on the evening of September 29. For a listing of High Holiday services, as well as recipes and other useful information, see page 14-17.
Federation, JFCS partner to serve Jewish seniors
8505 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32217
Jewish Federation of Jacksonville
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By Mindy Rubenstein
Janet Husney was a new bride when she came from Brooklyn to Jacksonville more than 60 years ago. She and her husband, Murray, raised three children here, and now have more than a dozen grand and great-grandchildren. Known for her hugs and positive attitude, she’s very grateful for the help that she and her family receive from the Jewish community. “I was on the giving end. Now I’m on the receiving end,” said Husney, who is one of the hundreds of local Jews receiving assistance and support from Jewish Family & Community Services.
See HUSNEY, p. 12
Partnership2Gether jewish teens and seniors come together for a night of painting and friendship. Janet Husney pictured, far left.
RABBINICALLY SPEAKING
Tasting G-d in the New Year
Jonathan Lubliner, Jack F. Shorstein Senior Rabbi, Jacksonville Jewish Center
The limits of language force us to talk about our relationship with G-d in terms of sensory experiences, e.g., hearing or touching G-d. But can one “taste” Rabbi Jonathan G-d? The Psalmist thinks we Lubliner can: “Taste and see how good the Lord is; happy is the one who takes refuge in G-d” (Psalm 34:9). Rabbi David Altschuler, the 18th century author of Metzudat Tziyon, a commentary on Scripture, explains that in this context the word “taste” means to experience G-d’s qualities in some cognitive fashion. Still, I prefer the literal meaning. The Torah teaches us to “Eat, be satisfied, and give thanks to the Lord your G-d for the good land which He has given you” (Deuteronomy 8:10). Satisfaction in eating is inextricably linked to the taste of what we eat. If we savor G-d’s bounty and are grateful, we are tasting how good G-d is, so to speak. The idea of eating meditations comes from the Buddhist tradition, but it strongly echoes values built into Judaism. The goal is to deepen one’s awareness of the ordinary miracle of eating by making the experience a mindful one. Taking the
See RABBINICALLY SPEAKING, p. 12