SEE AND BE SCENE

from August Edition - Northeast Florida Jewish Life Magazine

by JewishLife Magazine

WORTH THE SCHLEP

Setzer Youth Education at the Jacksonville Jewish Center had fun this summer—whether virtually or socially distanced on our campus.

On Saturday, June 13, at 7:45 pm, Temple held an in-person, sociallydistanced Havdalah Under the Stars for all congregants who wanted to join. They convened in front of The Temple, spread themselves out, and said goodbye to Shabbat together...in protective masks, of course! Attendees were welcome to bring (for themselves and their family) chairs, blankets, food and refreshments. 42

Summer fun was on display at the DuBow Preschool. Coloring, water play, games, and more! Just check out the smiling faces

JCA J Days of Summer participants enjoyed a safe, fun summer.

Thank you so much for joining us July 12th to say your farewells to our amazing Shaliach, Rotem Gabay. We are sad to see Rotem leave us after two years of amazing work he did in our community. We have loved having him with us here in Jacksonville and wish him all the best as he returns to Israel to begin the next chapter of his life. For now, we will say l’hitraot as this is not goodbye...this is just “see you later” when we come to visit him in Israel!

THE BEST SEATS IN TOWN!

JANUARY 9 - FEBRUARY 9 SEPT. 24 - OCT. 18

the musical

PRESENTING SPONSOR

o c t. 2 2 - n o v. 2 2 OCT. 22 - NOV. 22

five-star to-go MEALS! ALHAMBRA THEATRE & DINING Take it easy.

ORDER AHEAD, THEN PICK UP & ENJOY!

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! 9 0 4 -6 4 1-1212 | alhambrajax.com

NORMAL, cont. from pg. 9

building after nearly three weeks of outdoor minyanim. Once we were inside the building, there were many modifi cations to ensure that our congregants’ safety was never compromised. Most of

BEQUESTIONS, cont. from pg. 8

If we truly believe that what we are doing is sacred work; if we truly believe that Jewish education is a sine qua non for Jews and Judaism to continue to make meaningful contributions to our communities and our nation; if we truly believe that synagogues, new-age Jewish engagement organizations, and the myriad of amazing start-ups and Jewish learning institutions that have emerged over the past 100 years in America are important to robust Jewish life, then why haven’t we developed large endowments that ensure these entities can live in the the sanctuary seats were covered in tape so people would not sit in any space that was not inconsistent with social distancing. Masks must be worn by all people entering the shul at all times. The service itself required some modifi cation as now the Torah was not taken

face of pandemic, or earthquake, or hurricane, or great fi nancial recession?

Isn’t the survival of these great organizations, and thereby the richness and very survival of Jewish life in America a moral imperative? In addition to the survival of family and loved ones, if survival of Jewish life and its contributions to the great American experiment in freedom and democracy is not a moral imperative, then what is?

The pandemic will end. Some great scientists will develop a vaccine or cure, and the crisis will abate. America will get back on its fi nancial feet. Like I said, I am a Jewish educator. Optimism is an absolute

around the sanctuary, and people were not allowed to kiss the Torah scroll.

Additionally, the Torah reader would remove the Torah from the ark and not only read the Torah but performed hagbah and geliia (lifting and tying) as well. There is a glass partition

necessity.

Then what? Will we return to our complacent fi nancial ways?

Will we fi gure that this kind of crisis only occurs once every 100 years, so why worry?

Or, will those with vision envision the next 100 years, build endowments, and thereby create solid fi nancial foundations?

Doing so will be a statement of what we truly between the Torah reader and anyone that receives an Aliyah. These are just some of the adjustments made to have a platform for spiritual connection and relief for our souls during these troubled times.

believe, and will be a partial fulfi llment of our obligation to secure the covenant God made with all of us at Sinai.

Dr. Bruce Powell is president of Jewish School Management, an educational consulting fi rm, is founding head emeritus of de Toledo High School in Los Angeles, and serves on the faculty at the American Jewish University. This article was published by ejewishphilanthropy.com.