The Jewish News - August 2015 by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

“In the middle ages, Jews were hated because of their religion. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, they were hated because of their race. In the twenty-first century, they are hated because of their nation state. Anti-Zionism is the new anti-Semitism.” — Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Fighting Anti-Semitism Today Celebrating Jewish Life in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Israel and the World FEDERATION NEWS

Serving our community since 1971!

Published by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee www.jfedsrq.org

August 2015 - Av/Elul 5775 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 5 11 15 19 22 24 27

Community Focus Jewish Happenings Jewish Interest Israel & the Jewish World Commentary Focus on Youth Life Cycle

3 March of the Living: The experience of a lifetime!

19 Breaking magic records in the name of peace

Rabbi Ed Rosenthal leads ﬁrst-ever underwater Birthright trip

Volume 45, Number 8

The Jewish News welcomes new journalism intern By Federation Staff

he staff and leadership The Jewish Federaaffairs and journalism have been fostered through her tion of Sarasota-Manatee are proud to welparticipation in Model United Nations and her school come Marinna Okawa as this year’s Mimi and newspaper, The Torch, respectively. She also has a Joseph J. Edlin Journalism intern. This passion for music, which paid internship program, generously she has expressed through funded by Sarasota resident Miriam the piano for 10 years, and a love of sweets, which “Mimi” Edlin and her family through the Joseph J. Edlin Endowment Sumshe meets by baking. In the future, Okawa mer Journalism Internship Fund, prohopes to study public vides an opportunity for area students, health in relation to global ages 16 to 22, to get real world expedevelopment, in order to rience with a professional publication help address health needs (The Jewish News), as well as learn in developing countries, about the Jewish nonprofit world. potentially working with Because of Mrs. Edlin’s generosinternational organizations ity, we were able to bring an outstandsuch as the Peace Corps, ing young writer onto our team this the World Health Organiyear. The endowment fund is adminMimi Edlin and Marinna Okawa zation or the United Naistered by the Jewish Federation of tions Development Program. She also hopes, through St. Louis; the St. Louis Jewish Light publication is her writing and journalism, to raise awareness for also a beneficiary of the fund. living conditions that need aid or improvement Marinna Okawa was born in Maryland in 1998, throughout the world. Ultimately, Okawa desires to before moving to Florida in 2002. Her father is contribute to improving the quality of life for others third-generation Japanese, while her mother is firstgeneration Chamorro, from the United States Island to the best of her abilities. territory, Guam. She is currently a senior at Pine See page 2 for Marinna Okawa’s ﬁrst article for View School, and her interests include chemistry, The Jewish News. global affairs and journalism. Her interests in global

Anti-Semitism is alive and thriving throughout the world

By Rabbi Howard A. Simon, co-Chair of The Robert and Esther Heller Israel Advocacy Initiative n every age, in every Name: generation, the question haters Ref such as Hezbullah, the Family Jeweler East, involving Israel Invoice 14276 ________________________________________________ #: ________________

arises: What are the problems facing Israel and the Jewish people? Today, in terms rarely seen in the post-World War II era, anti-Semitism is the most alarming, most threatening concern of world Jewry. Today’s anti-Semitism must not be dismissed This Proof must be signed and returned before as “the age-old worry” United we can proceed with your order. This is your of the Jewish people. Proof prior to printing. Please examine all spell- No, today’s anti-SemiSynagogue ing and information carefully. RFJD will not be is a major threat to Youth held responsible for any unnoticed errors. Any tism the existence of Israel, update errors found after printing will be customer’s sole Jews the world over, responsibility. Rabbi Howard A. Simon and of the Jewish way Approval of life. That threat begins in the United Nations, Approvedspreads to Europe, and then on to the Middle

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Hamas and, the new major threat on the scene, ISIS. It is imperative that Jews and non-Jews alike realize the depth of this threat and that steps must be taken to end this bigotry, this hatred, and end the lies that are written and spoken about the Jewish people. What are the facts surrounding this new antiSemitism? First, let us examine the actions of the United Nations, that organization that is supposed to treat all nations in a fair, honest fashion. 1. In December 2014, the General Assembly of the UN adopted 20 resolutions of condemnation against one member, Israel, as compared to only four resolutions against the rest of the world. 2. On the agenda of every session of the UN Human Rights Council is permanent agenda number 7

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August 2015

FEDERATION NEWS

“Embrace Courage: Bully Prevention in Schools” workshop

Torahs in Russia returned to Jewish community By Marinna Okawa, Mimi and Joseph J. Edlin Journalism Intern

By Nancy Hawkins

Port High School, attending the workshop gave me the opportunity to meet with community organizers who offered vital anti-bullying support and information. Dr. Mary Johnson of Facing History and Ourselves used the film Bully to help direct the discussion about the “universe of obligation,” a concept that explores how circles of individuals and groups perceive their responsibilities to their fellow community members. Dr. Johnson stressed that community members need to understand the importance of fostering empathy and positive action in our schools. Orna Nissan, the director of Holocaust education and Israeli programs at The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee, was on hand to offer opportunities to schedule Holocaust speakers for the attending teachers. My students have indicated that these speakers have been the most important part of their Holocaust training. The Anti-Defamation League presenters, Dr. Deri Ronis and Marcie Shaughnessy, provided the teachers with information about cyber-bullying, a growing phenomenon in which Dr. Deri Ronis, Nancy Hawkins and Marcie Shaughnessy at the “Embrace Courage” workshop people use social media to harass, threaten, embarrass or target fear bullying and that nearly 11 percent another person. have skipped school to avoid it,” said We left with valuable resources to Michael Shelton, executive director of bring back to our schools. Thank you Embracing Our Differences. “This new to all of the sponsors and speakers initiative is designed to provide our who participated in this indispensable educators with the support they need workshop. I feel more confident in our when they encounter such incidents. It abilities as educators to ensure an antiwill also give them the resources necbullying atmosphere for our students. essary to create a safe environment in Nancy Hawkins teaches Holocaust which students can develop a healthy studies and modern world history at respect for diversity and inclusion.” As a Holocaust teacher at North North Port High School. recently had the opportunity to attend “Embrace Courage: Bully Prevention in Schools,” a threeday workshop designed to give area educators the skills and tools they need to take a stand against bullying on and off campus. The local organization Embracing Our Differences presented this workshop with participation from the curriculum and instruction department of the Sarasota County school district, nationally-recognized educators from the Anti-Defamation League and Facing History and Ourselves, and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. “No community is immune to the devastating effects of bullying, including cyber-bullying. Surveys of Sarasota and Manatee counties students show that nearly 40 percent of them

fter 25 years of searching, finding and negotiating, 12 Torahs are being returned from the Lenin Scientific Library in Russia to the Jewish community. Sarasota attorney Peter Pike was part of the process in having the Torahs released, and traveled to Russia as part of the JewMarinna Okawa ish Heritage Foundation, Inc., of Boca Raton, to oversee the return of the scrolls. According to Pike, the main theory concerning the origin of these Torahs is that they were taken from Jewish communities in Hungary during the Holocaust and brought to Berlin, before being sent to Russia and left in storage for decades. Two of the Torahs are being held in the Moscow Chabad’s Aron Kodesh, while the other 10 are in a Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, synagogue. Pike traveled to Russia in May with his wife, Katherine. They were joined on the trip by family members Sibyl Silver, and Marge and Dr. George Leventon, and reporter and journalism professor Will Tizard, who is working on the documentary Buried, which will detail the recovery of Torahs and Judaica that were stolen by the Red Army during World War II. “I think the recovery of the Torahs is really at the heart of the film. It makes the entire story come together because it crystalizes what Holocaust restitution is really all about,” said Tizard. “You have this object from this missing community – the last remnant of a missing community – coming home. The emotional power of that – when people actually see the Torahs – is quite incredible.” Pike first heard about the scrolls through Silver and her husband, Bob, whose daughter’s husband had been involved in recovering Holocaust items since the 1990s. The Silvers became dedicated to finding and returning the Torahs, of which they learned there

are almost 113 in storage in Nizhny Novgorod. Bob died of cancer six months prior to the trip to Russia, but according to Pike, “Bob wanted to see them restored to either their rightful owners, the communities they were taken from or, at the very least, if the communities no longer existed, to the Jewish community in general.” The Silvers and Pike worked on negotiations to have the Torahs released from Russia, working with rabbis from Chabads in South Florida and Eastern Europe. The retrieval of the Torahs coincided with May Day in Russia, a celebration of the end of World War II. Ten of the Torahs have been identified with engravings that detail their possible original owners. Now that the Torahs have been recovered, funds must be raised in order to aid in meeting several different goals regarding their restoration. The scrolls must be repaired and restored to be kosher once again. Although the scrolls themselves are in considerably good shape, the spindles have been damaged. According to two different scribes who examined the scrolls in Moscow, they can be made kosher again. Restoring a Torah to kosher status involves checking and repairing all aspects of the scroll, from the letters that could be cracked or fading to the state of the wooden rollers or the parchment itself. Additionally, dues must be paid to the Russian government for the storage fees. Funds may also be raised for the benefit of the synagogues currently holding the Torahs, especially the one in Nizhny Novgorod. “We would like to do something nice for them through all of this,” Pike said. Where the scrolls will finally be placed will be determined by several factors, including:  If the families or communities of the original owners can be found, they will be returned to them.  If the original owners cannot be found, communities will have the

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August 2015

FEDERATION NEWS

March of the Living: The experience of a lifetime! By Adam S. Caldwell

hen I was accepted to participate in this year’s March of the Living, I was ecstatic to be going to Israel for the second time. At first, the Israel portion of the trip was all that mattered to me, and I thought of the Poland portion of the trip as the price to pay to go to Israel. I now know how wrong that point of view was. I now realize that my time in Poland was extraordinarily important and I value that experience very much. Not only did it show me, firsthand, the horrors of the Holocaust, it also gave me a greater appreciation for Israel and how important it is to stand up for the Jewish people at all times. The first thing we did in Poland was explore the expansive Jewish cemetery in Lodz. The cemetery predates World War II and comprises about 60,000 graves. Some of these graves are very ornate and show that Jewish life in Poland, before the Nazi regime, was vibrant and prosperous. Immediately following the visit to the cemetery, we went to the Radegast train station, which was the site where Jews were taken before being deported to the concentration camps. At the train station, all 150 of the Southern Region delegates packed into a boxcar, just like the Jews of Poland did on their way to the camps. It was at that very moment

day in Majdanek, a Nazi death camp notable for the fact that it largely resembles how it looked in 1944 on the day it was liberated. A few hours after leaving Majdanek, we went to the airport in Warsaw for our red-eye flight to Tel Aviv. The first thing we did after landing in Israel was go to a cafe for brunch. It was a beautiful day, about 75 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. The food was amazing and the view of the Mediterranean was even better. The transition between Poland – with its nasty weather, tragic history, and less than satisfying food – and Israel was palpable. Everyone’s mood changed for the better. We were tired after flying all night, but we didn’t care. Everyone was thrilled to be in the Holy Land. Throughout our week in Israel, we saw the amount of pride Israelis have for their country. We were there on Yom Hazikaron and witnessed how somber Israelis are when they respect their fallen soldiers. We also saw how jubilant they are on Yom Ha’Atzmaut when they celebrate their independence. After the week in Poland, where we bore witness to the darkest period in Jewish history, we gained an unbelievable appreciation for the State of Israel. Ever since we got home, I have been paying close attention to Israeli affairs and

feel personally attacked when someone takes a potshot at Israel. Not only has the March of the Living opened my eyes to the Holocaust, given me 30 new friends, and taken me to Israel, but it also has shown me, up close, the trials and tribulations that the Jews of the world have endured to get to where we are today. I wouldn’t trade my March of the Living experience for anything.

Adam Caldwell poses in front of the ﬂagpole at the Kotel on Yom Ha’Atzmaut

Thousands of Jewish teens from around the world share a once-in-alifetime experience when they march three kilometers from Auschwitz to Birkenau, the largest concentration complex built by the Nazis. The march commemorates Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, by retracing the steps of the March of Death – the actual route hundreds of thousands of people were forced to take on their way to the gas chambers. Participants experience a memorial service in Birkenau, which concludes with the singing of the “Hatikvah.” From Poland, they travel to Israel to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. This April 12-26, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee sponsored five teens from this area to experience this life-changing trip. The next March of the Living is May 1-16, 2016. To learn more, contact Orna Nissan at 941.552.6305 or onissan@jfedsrq.org.

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when I realized how important my experience in Poland was. In the following week, we toured countless historical sites associated with the Holocaust. Everywhere we went, we saw other people wearing the blue jackets indicative of March of the Living participants. This was especially true on Yom HaShoah, when all March of the Living participants 4marched from Auschwitz to Birkenau. It was very uplifting to see 15,000-plus Jews from all over the world together alive, happy and united in these places of death. On our last day in Poland, it was raining, hailing, and about 40 degrees. It was miserable. We spent much of the

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Torahs...continued from page 2

opportunity to adopt the scrolls.  Another option is the construction of a memorial to commemorate their recovery. While 12 Torahs have been released, there are at least 100 more still in Nizhny Novgorod, and more than 1,000 in Eastern Europe. The team that

One of the rescued Torahs (photo courtesy Will Tizard)

traveled to Russia has been informed that the other scrolls in the country will more than likely be released once there have been places set up for them to be held. Pike explained that the issue is that many of these scrolls are considered artifacts and are simply being stored in warehouses. Countries have been wary

of their release if original ownership cannot be proven. Pike and the foundation have been working to open discussions with countries, including Belarus, Poland, Romania and Ukraine to work on the recovery and return of more scrolls. Regarding future hopes in releasing more Torahs or Judaica, Pike explained, “We’re trying to open dialogues now with these other countries to get them to also recognize that it’s time. It’s time to give these items back, at the very least, to the Jewish community of the world.” To find out more or to make a contribution to the Torah restoration project, contact Peter Pike at 941.312.2580 or peter@pikerelaw.com. Tizard is raising money and detailing progress on the project through www.fracturedatlas.org and https:// buriedmovie.wordpress.com. His goal is to have the documentary aired at film festivals in the United States and Europe.

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Rabbi Howard Simon...continued from page 1 called “Violations by Israel of Human Rights in the Occupied Territories of Palestine.” Agenda Number 8 is entitled “Human Rights Violations in the Rest of the World.” Thus, Israel is singled out and identified as the “violator par excellence” of human rights. Add to this reality that hatred of Israel is the new anti-Semitism, and Zionism is the equivalent of criminality, and we see that the Jew and Judaism are viewed as “major threats” to humanity. The world has thus moved from hating Judaism, the religion and the Jewish people as individuals, to the defamation of Israel as “an apartheid state.” Truth does not matter. Reality is ignored and, worst of all, the combined hatred of Israel by Hamas, Hezbullah, Iran, ISIS and a growing number of European countries is viewed by more and more people as acceptable. Jews the world over cannot and must not be silent in the face of this

defamation of our people and our faith. Together with our non-Jewish supporters we must be in the vanguard of refuting these outrageous lies and accusations. To do less is to acquiesce to the canards of today. There was a time when we were silent in the face of antiSemitism. That day is past; it no longer exists. Today we speak out. Today we refute. Today we stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel, with our fellow Jews, as we state, unequivocally, “Am Yisrael Chai!” The people of Israel live! For more information about the Heller IAI, visit www.sarasotalovesisrael.com or contact Jessi Sheslow at jsheslow@ jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109.

stay connected @ www.jfedsrq.org

At Braden River Library, two survivors speak about Holocaust experience By Anne Stein

LAWN

FEDERATION NEWS

s part of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s Holocaust Speakers Bureau, Kurt Marburg and Paul Temmer recently spoke at the Braden River Library. Kurt was born in Berlin but his family managed to leave Germany before Kristallnacht because they had relatives in the United States who agreed to sponsor them. It took 14 months to get the paperwork organized due to the restricted quotas to enter the United States. During his talk, Kurt recounted the history of the Wannsee Conference that resulted in the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question.” This meeting took place in a suburb of Berlin known for its lovely lake area. In fact, Kurt used to go there with his family to swim in the lake and he was always fascinated by the beautiful stately mansion he saw there. One day his mother took him inside. A lovely, large mahogany table caught his eye. It was this very table where the members of the Wannsee Conference met. It only took 85 minutes for the 15 men there to decide to kill all the Jews of Europe. Kurt likes to point out that of these 15 men, nine had medical degrees or PhDs. Kurt was 14 years old when he arrived in the United States. After graduating from high school he joined the Army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. After this, he became a military

policeman. His job was to escort General Eisenhower from his villa to his headquarters. Kurt is very excited to have been chosen to go on the Honor Flight for United States Veterans on June 23, 2015, to visit the memorials in Washington, D. C. Paul Temmer is a Hungarian Jew. He was born in Budapest and was nine

Kurt Marburg and Paul Temmer with Braden River Library librarian Aileen Tojais

years old when the situation there got really terrifying. His mother died from complications of childbirth. His father was in Switzerland on business. Paul was stranded there because of the war and could not get back to Hungary. Paul was left in the care of his maternal grandparents. His baby brother was sent to a children’s home where he could be nursed. Paul suffered terribly during the few years until the war ended. He was always hungry and the winters were very cold, especially without warm clothing. There was no heat and they had to melt ice for water. At one point, he and his brother were

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living in a group home. His brother suffered from diarrhea and Paul nursed him through it. Paul and his grandparents were forced to move into the ghetto where they were forced to share a small apartment with 94 other people and one dead woman who could not be buried. They all had to take turns lying down to sleep as there was not enough room. Paul had some very close calls when he decided, one day, to go the opposite way he was told to go during roundups. The way he picked ended up being the way to life. He does not know what made him chose the opposite way. After the war, he was reunited with his father, who had made it to New York City. His brother and grandparents also survived. We’re grateful to Paul and to Kurt for sharing their stories. The Holocaust Speakers Bureau, sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota and Manatee, offers a powerful educational opportunity to hear from Holocaust survivors and their offspring. For booking information, please contact Anne Stein, Speakers Bureau coordinator, at 941.923.6470 or luvhula@gmail.com. For general information, contact Orna Nissan, director of Holocaust education and Israel programs, at 941.552.6305 or onissan@jfedsrq.org.

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August 2015

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PUBLISHER The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Road Sarasota, FL 34232-1959 Phone: 941.371.4546 Fax: 941.378.2947 E-mail: jewishnews@jfedsrq.org Website: www.jfedsrq.org Published Monthly Volume 45, Number 8 August 2015 28 pages USPS Permit No. 167 September 2015 Issue Deadlines: Editorial: July 29, 2015 Advertising: August 3, 2015 PRESIDENT Nancy Swart EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Howard Tevlowitz COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR Linda Lipson MANAGING EDITOR Ted Epstein DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Isaac Azerad ADVERTISING SALES Robin Leonardi PROOFREADERS Adeline Silverman, Harold Samtur, Bryna Tevlowitz, Deb Bryan, Sandra Hayden, Stacey Edelman MIMI AND JOSEPH J. EDLIN JOURNALISM INTERN Marinna Okawa MISSION STATEMENT: The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee strives to be the source of news and features of special interest to the Jewish community of Sarasota-Manatee, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions in the Jewish community, and to communicate the mission, activities and achievements of the Federation and its Jewish community partners. OPINIONS printed in The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee, its Board of Directors or staﬀ. SUBMISSIONS to The Jewish News are subject to editing for space and content, and may be withheld from publication without prior notice. Approval of submissions for publication in either verbal or written form shall always be considered tentative, and does not imply a guarantee of any kind. Submissions must be sent electronically to jewishnews@jfedsrq.org.

magine you were a contestant on Jew-pardy; how much could you answer about American Jewry? For example, did you know:  Florida’s very first senator to Congress was Jewish: David Levy Yulee. (Levy County is named for him and his family.)  South Dakota has the fewest Jews (345) of any of the 50 states and is the only state without a Chabad presence.  John Hays (must have been Horowitz in the old country) was the first Jew to settle in Illinois and served as both postmaster and sheriff in 1798.  The early Jewish community of Minnesota was settled by immigrants entering the U.S. at Galveston, Texas. They arrived in Minneapolis via the Mississippi River which ends there.  Irving Berlin wrote “White Christmas” at Arizona’s Biltmore Hotel.  In 1819 a British adventurer and land speculator proposed mass colonization of European Jews in Iowa and Missouri.

These facts – as well as exposure to many unusual data and demographic phenomena – form the bases of an exciting new Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva course, “Jews by States.” We’ll be traveling along old Route 66 and the Interstate system to get to know more about Jewish America. Come tour with us! Today, Jewish people can be found in every one of the 50 United States and U.S. territories. How did they get there? Why? Tales of Jewish wandering is an age-old story, but how much do you really know about the history of Jewish settlement throughout the U.S.? My research shows that each state has a distinct history, its own set of famous characters, and a separate record of institutional development. What do you imagine were the occupations of the early Jewish settlers to arrive in each state? They weren’t all peddlers, I can attest. In truth, they represented a broad spectrum of 18th and 19th century occupations including being farmers, blacksmiths, medical practitioners, slave owners, cotton producers, plantation owners, mill opera-

tors, distillers, candle makers, teachers, dry goods merchants, military personnel and more. This course is a trek through modern history of just how Jewish communities were established in our goldeneh medina ever since the first Jews stepped ashore in 1654. The course will examine population statistics, notable favorite sons and daughters from each state, and unusual epics of exploration and public response to Jewish settlement. The eight-week course starts Friday, August 7, from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., and will be held on the campus of The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee, 581 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. The fee is $50. To enroll, contact me at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@ gmail.com. The class is open to all regardless of religious or ethnic background. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit independent adult Jewish studies institute. It is partially subvented through a grant from The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee.

Call for nominations for 2016 Eight Over 80 honorees

t’s time to nominate honorees for the fourth annual Eight over 80 celebration on February 28, 2016, at Michael’s On East. The SarasotaManatee Jewish Housing Council Foundation is the fundraising arm of the Jewish Housing Council, which operates the Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson senior living community. The Jewish Housing Council Foundation hosts the event with the help of generous community support through sponsorships. Nominees must be at least 80 years of age and demonstrate a legacy of leadership and community enrichment. From the nominations received, eight honorees will be selected by a committee and recognized at the fourth annual Eight Over 80 celebration. Nominations will be accepted through Monday, August 31.

Honorees who were recognized at the 2015 Eight Over 80 celebration were Isabel Anchin Becker, Alice Berkowitz, Helen and Sidney Fagin, Betty and Howard Isermann, Howard Millman, Alice Rau, Phyllis and Norman Rich, and Marge and Bill Sandy. Honorees recognized at the 2014 Eight Over 80 celebration were Sharon and Herman Frankel, Ed Kalin, Florence Katz, Alisa* and Ernest Kretzmer, Lee Peterson, Sally* and Sam Shapiro, Sally Yanowitz, Jeanne and Bob* Zabelle. Margot and Warren Coville, Gerard Daniel, Beatrice Friedman, Dan Paradies*, Stanley Kane, Carol and Mort Siegler, Betty Schoenbaum, Marilyn and Irving Naiditch were honored at the 2013 Eight Over 80. The first event of its kind in this area, the inaugural Eight Over 80 cel-

ebration was named “best new event of the season” by the Sarasota HeraldTribune. The upcoming fourth annual Eight Over 80 builds on increasing success each year, thanks to generous community support through sponsorships. Proceeds raised support life-enriching programs and services for the residents of Kobernick House, Anchin Pavilion assisted living and secure memory care, and the Benderson Family Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on the campus of Kobernick-AnchinBenderson. To obtain a nomination form and information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Patricia McMahon at 941.203.6237 or pmcmahon@ kobernickanchin.org. * of Blessed Memory

LETTERS to the editor should not exceed 300 words, must be typed, and include the writer’s name, mailing address and phone number. Letters can be submitted via snail mail or email (jewishnews@jfedsrq.org). Not all letters will be published. Letters may be edited for length and content. ADVERTISING: Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement and may require the words “Paid Advertisement” in any ad. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement of products, services or ideas promoted therein.

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August 2015

COMMUNITY FOCUS

The Florida Holocaust Museum announces National Civil Rights exhibition This Light of Ours Also features original exhibition about Tampa Bay, Sarasota Civil Rights Movement and local people who together made the movement happen. The exhibition, generously presented by Bank of America, is comprised of 157 black and white photographs taken in Mississippi and Alabama from 1963 to 1966. The exhibition features an audio guide presented by the photographers, which provides visitors with eyewitness accounts and descriptions of how and why the photos were taken. Clearwater resident Bob Fletcher is one of the photographers whose work is featured in This Light of Ours. He documented “Bloody Sunday” in Selma and spent over two decades capturing the Civil Rights Movement from Harlem to Mississippi, and also went overseas to film the black culture and the struggle for independence in Africa. Fletcher went to law school at New York University in 1987 and currently has a local law firm in the Tampa Bay area. Beaches, Benches and Boycotts: The Civil Rights Movement in Tampa Bay, an original exhibition of The Florida Holocaust Museum sponsored by the Tampa Bay Times, will be on display in conjunction with This Light of Ours, with support for both exhibi-

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tions provided by media partner Bright House. The focus of most Civil Rights history is written about places like Alabama and Mississippi, as if few challenges occurred elsewhere. Tampa Bay remained racially segregated at the dawn of the Civil Rights era and many local institutions and establishments held out on integration for several years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Brown vs. Board of Education. Under “Jim Crow” every aspect of African American life in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and the surrounding cities was segregated, including neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, restaurants, beaches and more. The Civil Rights Movement in Tampa Bay may have had characteristics similar to other areas of the South, but its stories are its own. Beaches, Benches and Boycotts will feature documents, advertisements, photographs and other memorabilia that accurately present the history of Civil Rights in our Tampa Bay-Sarasota communities, while illuminating our region’s struggle with racial equality and shining a light on the local leaders who changed our cities. “This will be the first exhibition to focus on the Civil Rights Movement

UP TO

in Tampa Bay and Sarasota. Through the exhibition and related programs, we hope to engage our communities in conversations about our shared history, a first step toward creating a future without intolerance and hate,” said Elizabeth Gelman, Executive Director of The Florida Holocaust Museum. Join The FHM for the Opening Reception of both exhibitions on August 1 at 7:00 p.m. Photographers Bob Adelman, Bob Fletcher and Tamio Wakayama, whose work is included in This Light of Ours, will be speaking. Free to FHM members, $9 general admission. RSVP by calling 727.820.0100 x271. This Light of Ours is an exhibition organized by the Center for Documentary Expression and Art. Major support for the exhibition has been provided by the Bruce W. Bastian Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. A special thanks to the State of Florida for making these exhibitions possible. About The Florida Holocaust Museum The Florida Holocaust Museum honors the memory of millions of innocent men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. The Museum is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides.

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he Florida Holocaust Museum has announced plans for This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement, as well as The FHM original exhibition Beaches, Benches and Boycotts: The Civil Rights Movement in Tampa Bay, on display from August 1 through December 1, 2015. The Museum will hold an opening reception featuring photographers whose work is featured in This Light of Ours on Saturday, August 1 at 7:00 p.m. at The FHM. This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement, an exhibition of the Center for Documentary Expression and Art, presents the Civil Rights Movement through the work and voices of nine activist photographers – men and women who chose to document the national struggle against segregation and other forms of race-based disenfranchisement from within the movement. Unlike images produced by photojournalists who covered breaking news events, most of the photographers in this exhibition were affiliated with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and documented its activities by focusing on the student activists

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COMMUNITY FOCUS

August 2015

Directory of Local Temples and Organizations Temples

Organizations

CHABAD OF BRADENTON & LAKEWOOD RANCH 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton, FL 34211 • Telephone: 941.752.3030 • E-Mail: info@chabadofbradenton.com • Website: www.chabadofbradenton.com • Rabbi Mendy Bukiet

AIPAC (AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE) Elana Rickel, North & Central Florida Area Director, 954.382.6110 or erickel@aipac.org; www.aipac.org

CHABAD OF SARASOTA AND MANATEE COUNTIES 7700 Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL 34238 • Telephone: 941.925.0770 • E-Mail: info@chabadofsarasota.com • Website: www.chabadofsarasota.com • Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz

AL KATZ CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS & JEWISH LEARNING, INC. Lawrence Newman, Executive Director, 941.313.9239

CHABAD OF VENICE & NORTH PORT 2169 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34293 • Telephone: 941.493.2770 • E-Mail: info@chabadofvenice.com • Website: www.chabadofvenice.com • Rabbi Sholom Schmerling CONGREGATION FOR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM UNITY, 3023 Proctor Road, Sarasota, FL 34231 • Telephone: 941.929.7771 • Website: www.chj-sarasota.org CONGREGATION KOL HaNESHAMA (Reconstructionist) Services held at South Gate Comm. Ctr., 3145 Southgate Cir., Sarasota, FL 34239 • Telephone: 941.244.2042 • Email: info@congkh.org • Website: www.congkh.org • Spiritual Leader: Jennifer Singer CONGREGATION NER TAMID (Pluralistic) 4802-B 26th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34207 Mailing Address: P. O. Box 10261, Bradenton, FL 34282 • Telephone: 941.755.1231 • E-Mail: shalom@nertamidflorida.org • Website: www.nertamidflorida.org • Rabbinic Advisor: Rabbi Barbara Aiello • Service Leader: Rena Morano JEWISH CONGREGATION OF VENICE (Independent) 600 N. Auburn Road, Venice, FL 34292 • Telephone: 941.484.2022 • E-Mail: jcvenice2@gmail.com • Website: www.jewishcongregationofvenice.org • Rabbi Harold F. Caminker, D.D. • Cantor Marci Vitkus KEHILLAH OF LAKEWOOD RANCH (Masorti) P.O. Box 110497, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211 • Telephone: 941.349.8604 or 941.355.0173 • E-Mail: kehillahoflakewoodranch@gmail.com

AJC (AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE), West Coast Florida Region Brian Lipton, Regional Director, 941.365.4955 or liptonb@ajc.org; www.ajc.org

AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY, Gulf Coast Chapter Chapter Director, 941.378.1500; www.ats.org ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE 561.988.2900 or florida@adl.org; www.adl.org ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL AND ASPIRING JEWISH ARTISTS Rabbi Goldie Milgram, President, 914.500.5696 or rebgoldie@gmail.com BBYO NORTH FLORIDA REGION nfr@bbyo.org; www.bbyo.org/region/northflorida/ B’NAI B’RITH INTERNATIONAL Programming/membership, 941.302.4500 BRANDEIS NATIONAL COMMITTEE Rookie Shifrin, President, 941.907.0985 or rookies@me.com HADASSAH, Greater Venice Chapter Harriet Davidson, President, 941.492.6025 or rklein2692@gmail.com HADASSAH, SaBra Chapter Lee Ruggles, President, 941.924.1338 or lruggles.sabra@gmail.com HILLELS OF THE FLORIDA SUNCOAST Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, Executive Director, 813.765.6364 or rabbied@suncoasthillels.org; www.suncoasthillels.org THE JEWISH CLUB AT LAKEWOOD RANCH Lenny Drexler, thejewishclubatlwr@gmail.com JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN’S SERVICE OF THE SUNCOAST, INC. Rose Chapman, LCSW, President/CEO, 941.366.2224 or info@jfcs-cares.org; www.jfcs-cares.org JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Kim Sheintal, President, 941.921.1433 or klapshein@aol.com; www.jgsswf.org JEWISH NATIONAL FUND Uri Smajovits, Northern Florida Director, 727.536.5263 or usmajovits@jnf.org; www.jnf.org JEWISH WAR VETERANS OF SARASOTA COUNTY POST 172 Stan Levinson, Commander, 941.907.6720 or loustan50@verizon.net

TEMPLE BETH EL BRADENTON (Reform) 4200 32nd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205 • Telephone: 941.755.4900 • E-Mail: tbebradentonfl@yahoo.com • Website: www.templebethelbradenton.com • Cantor Alan Cohn

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN (NCJW), Sarasota-Manatee Section NCJW’s 24-hour answering service, 941.342.1855; www.ncjw.org

TEMPLE BETH EL - NORTH PORT JEWISH CENTER (Conservative) 3840 S. Biscayne Drive, North Port, FL 34287 • Telephone: 941.423.0300 • Email: president@templebethel-np.org • Website: www.templebethel-np.org

SARASOTA JEWISH CHORALE Susan Skovronek, 941.355.8011; Arlene Stolnitz, 941.492.6944; www.sarasotajewishchorale.org

TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL (Reform) 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, FL 34228 • Telephone: 941.383.3428 • E-Mail: info@tbi-lbk.org Website: www.tbi-lbk.org • Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz

ORT AMERICA Ann Baum, Area Development Advisor, 941.355.7200 Kim Sheintal, Area Development Advisor, 941.921.1433 or klapshein@aol.com

SARASOTA LIBERAL YESHIVA Marden David Paru, Dean, 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com SARASOTA-MANATEE JEWISH HOUSING COUNCIL, INC., supporting Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson senior living community Heidi Brown, CEO, 941.377.0781 or hbrown@kobernickanchin.org; www.kobernickanchin.org

TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM (Conservative) 1050 South Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34237 • Telephone: 941.955.8121 • E-mail: info@templebethsholomfl.org Website: www.templebethsholomfl.org • Rabbi Michael Werbow

SARASOTA-MANATEE RABBINIC ASSOCIATION Rabbi Elaine Glickman, President, 941.379.1997 or elaine-glickman@comcast.net

TEMPLE EMANU-EL (Reform) 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232 • Telephone: 941.371.2788 • Email: info@sarasotatemple.org • Website: www.sarasotatemple.org • Rabbi Brenner J. Glickman

STATE OF ISRAEL BONDS, Florida West Coast Reva Azneer Pearlstein, Assistant Director, 727.539.6445 or reva.pearlstein@israelbonds.com; www.israelbonds.com

TEMPLE SINAI (Reform) 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34231 • Telephone: 941.924.1802 • Email: office@templesinai-sarasota.org • Website: www.sinaisrq.org • Rabbi Geoffrey Huntting • Hazzan Cliff Abramson

SISTER CITIES ASSOCIATION OF SARASOTA Linda Rosenbluth, City Director for Tel Mond Israel, sarasotasistercities@gmail.com; http://sarasotasistercities.org/en/city/tel-mond-israel

SYNAGOGUE COUNCIL OF SARASOTA-MANATEE COUNTIES, INC. Laurie Lachowitzer, President; 941.927.3636 or laurietemple@verizon.net; www.synagoguessarasotamanatee.org ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA, Sarasota/Manatee Chapter Dr. Brent Rubin, President, info@ZOAsarasota.org; www.ZOAsarasota.org

This directory is updated each year in the August issue of The Jewish News as well as in the annual Connections magazine.

For a continuously updated community calendar, visit www.jfedsrq.org.

August 2015

COMMUNITY FOCUS

JFCS Pajama Game provides sense of comfort and security to at-risk youth By Sheri Weiss, Director of Volunteer Services & Community Outreach

hanks to a volunteer-led initiative spearheaded by Jewish Family & Children’s Service supporter Sheila Birnbaum, hundreds of clients are benefiting from a new giving program. “The Pajama Game,” modeled after the “Pajama Program,” a 501(c)(3) founded in 2001 in New York, was introduced to JFCS this past February. With a changed name and a simple way to inspire our community to participate locally, hundreds of letters with the heading “The Pajama Game…Play my game while you play yours,” were sent by Sheila and her volunteer troops to personal friends and JFCS support-

ers. The letter explained that the goal of the game was to provide a sense of comfort and security to at-risk children served by JFCS by donating new pajamas and books when coming together for social activities such as mah jongg and card games. To date, thanks to collaborative efforts of JFCS volunteers, donors and staff, over 250 children have received gift bags of cozy pajamas, age-appropriate books, and soft stuffed dogs. For many children, these bags of comfort represent that there are other people in the world who care, and their gratitude is evident in the hugs and beautiful handmade “thank you” cards and

posters received. Thrilled with the outcome of the project, Sheila says, “The community has loved this approach to charitable giving. Apparently, success is the sweetest when it is shared!” For information on how you can give to a kid, senior, family or veteran, or for volunteer opportunities, contact Sheri Weiss at 941.366.2224 or SWeiss@JFCS-Cares.org.

Volunteers Cynthia Folit and Ellen Klein with boxes of Pajama Game gift bags for children (photo courtesy Sheri Weiss)

Be a part of it. For the betterment of Jewish women and children in Israel.

2014 Recipients • • • • •

Looking to connect with other members of the Jewish community?

We Welcome You!

Nebga – Network of Houses of Hope for Children At-Risk Family Nest Ashkelon – Group Parenting Workshops Orr Shalom for Children and Youth at Risk YEDID – The Association for Community Empowerment Livnot U’Lehibanot – Lifting Single Mothers Out of Poverty

The Jewish Federation would like to welcome you to the area. We hope you feel at home and become active members of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish community.

WOMEN’S GIVING CIRCLE YOUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD. To become a member or for more information: Contact Ilene Fox at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232

941.371.4546 • www.jfedsrq.org

NOW AVAILABLE AT MORE THAN 50 LOCATIONS! SARASOTA • SRQ Chamber of Commerce • SRQ Visitors’ Center • Selby Public Library • Newsrack across from Hollywood 20 • Ringling Post Office • St. Armand’s Circle – John Ringling Blvd. • St. Armand’s Circle – Blvd. of the Presidents • Bayfront Park • Nellie’s Deli • Villa Grande • JFCS • Gulf Gate Library • Einstein Brothers Bagels • Landings Racquet Club • Publix at Landings Plaza • Silverstein Institute

SARASOTA • The Jewish Federation Campus • Lakehouse West • SRQ Memorial Hospital – Outpatient • Morton’s Gourmet Bakery • Art Building • Bahia Oaks Lodge • Health Complex East Ave • Kobernick Anchin/Benderson • Fruitville Library • Temple Emanu-El • Temple Beth Sholom • Temple Sinai • Chabad of Sarasota • Founder’s Club • Bird Key Park Newsrack • Temple Beth Israel • Longboat Key Newsrack – Gulf of Mexico Dr. & Cedar St.

LAKEWOOD RANCH/ BRADENTON • Northern Trust Bank • Legacy Golf Club • SMR Corporate Bank • Country Pancake House • Intercoastal Medical Group • FCCI Insurance Group • University Park Country Club • The Meadows • Palm Aire Clubhouse • LakeRidge Falls • LWR Chamber of Commerce • University Cleaners LWR • Dreams Jeweler LWR • Bradenton Library • Bradenton Post Office • Publix at University Pkwy • Bank of America LWR • Women/Children’s Center

LAKEWOOD RANCH/ BRADENTON • Lake Club • Chabad of Bradenton VENICE • The Jewish Congregation of Venice • Venice Public Library • Venice Community Center • Jacaranda Public Library • Chabad of Venice & North Port

Make sure to tell your friends and neighbors! Contact 941.371.4546 x 107 to become a subscriber & receive your copy in the mail

www.TheJewishNews.org

August 2015

COMMUNITY FOCUS

East County Jews encounter “Angels” at community outreach event

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was sponsored by Temple Emanu-El’s Books of Isaiah and Ezekiel describe Outreach Committee and Benderson their physical appearance and refer to Development. For more information the wings, legs and faces of the angels. Postbiblical literature takes these about Temple Emanu-El’s community descriptions even farther, assigning outreach programs or the “Angels in Jewish Tradition” discussion, please names, functions and personalities to a call 941.371.2788. whole host of celestial beings. As Rabbi Glickman concluded, however, our ancient rabbis grew uncomfortable with the emphasis being placed on angels, and with stories that appeared to conflate the power of angels with that of God. In order to counter this troubling phenomenon, our sages sought to de-emphasize the role of angels. Though understandable and perhaps necessary, this action has repercussions to this day as very few Jews are aware of JudaTemple Emanu-El Membership Committee Chair ism’s rich and meaningful tradiJudy Gibbs with “Angels in Jewish Tradition” volunteer Emilie Weil and chair Phyllis Dreyfuss tion of angelology. “Angels in Jewish Tradition” was chaired by Phyllis Dreyfuss with Emilie Weil and Temple Emanu-El Membership Committee Chair Judy Gibbs. The event

capacity crowd of nearly 100 University Park, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton residents gathered for a community outreach program as Rabbi Brenner Glickman facilitated a discussion of “Angels in Jewish Tradition” at the Courtyard Marriott in Cooper Creek on Tuesday evening, May 19. Rabbi Glickman was inspired to learn about angels and their place in Judaism when the mother of his thenfiancee wondered if it would be appropriate to use stamps with angels on their wedding invitations. As he shared with “Angels in Jewish Tradition” attendees, angels are found throughout the Torah, where they serve as messengers and instruments of God. Examples include the angel who comforted Hagar in the wilderness after she was exiled by her mistress Sarah, and the angel who wrestled with Jacob along the bank of the Yabbok River. In the oracles of the prophets, Rabbi Glickman explained, angels are depicted more fully. Passages in the

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Temple Sinai helps out FGCU Hillel

n a good day, the Jewish student organization Hillel at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers can get 60 students to an event. Unfortunately, until now, it was difficult to conduct Shabbat services because they did not have enough prayer books to go around. Thanks to social media, they now have 50 copies of the Reform movement’s Gates of Prayer as they grow their fledgling group. The Hillel president’s mother, a Jewish educator in a Facebook group with Sue Huntting at Temple Sinai, put out a call for prayer books for her daughter’s Hillel group at FGCU. The

temple had copies to spare and a pickup was arranged. Now they are all set to celebrate Shabbat together.

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Rabbi Brenner Glickman with “Angels in Jewish Tradition” attendees from East County

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August 2015

COMMUNITY FOCUS

JFCS welcomes new Intake Sarasota Jewish Chorale volunteer, Jerry Fleischer begins “Sweet 16” season By Jamie M. Smith, MBA, Director of Marketing

By Marcia Polevoi

erry Fleischer, a retired clinical psychologist, and his wife relocated from Columbus, Georgia, about a year and a half ago after 36 years of enjoying the Georgian life. He still considers himself new to the area and, like many, was looking for ways to enjoy and give back to the community. Introduced to JFCS by his friends – Realtor Stacy Hanan and Temple Emanu-El Administrator Ken Marsh – Jerry elected to volunteer for the organization in the Intake department. Given his background of clinical psychology, it is a natural fit to be able to talk to and guide callers to the appropriate JFCS programs and/or community resources. Since volunteering two times a week for JFCS, Jerry has learned more about the depth and breadth of the programs and services offered, noting “he loves the organization as well as the caring and compassionate staff.” He is also impressed with the large volunteer base and JFCS’ ability to reach and help so many in the community. Jerry has volunteered for a number of organizations over the years, including for the arts and religious, however, this is his first time doing so with a

n the evening of Thursday, September 10, the Sarasota Jewish Chorale will launch its 16th year with the first rehearsal of the 2015-16 year. It will be an “open” rehearsal. Returning members will be delighted to be back and newcomers will have a chance to get acquainted. They will also learn about programs and events for the coming winter season. Singers of all faiths and all voice parts are welcome, with the ability to read music preferred. Future rehearsals will be concentrating on polishing up the cantata “Hear Our Voice,” the sequel production to the successful first one, “Esther’s Story.” Other rehearsals will focus on learning new music, which may include songs of Yiddish, Ladino and Israeli origin. Linda Stewart Tucker, the Chorale’s conductor, is looking forward to leading the group to further their musical experience. Some of the events coming up

social services agency. When asked why, given all the nonprofits to choose from in this community, Jerry said, “The [volunteer] service I offer here feels like a keystone of JFCS and offers more value to the community.” JFCS is proud and privileged to have so many dedicated volunteers like Jerry. To learn more about our volunteer opportunities, including from your home, please contact Sheri Weiss at 941.366.2224 or SWeiss@JFCSCares.org.

Jerry Fleischer (photo courtesy Jamie M. Smith)

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IN MEMORY OF Judy Fein Carol and Steve Altaker Norman David Rosenberg Janice and Al Frankel MAZEL TOV Vincent Giura Golda Friedman

BOB MALKIN YOUNG AMBASSADORS

IN MEMORY OF Jules Rose Rebecca and Rich Bergman Bryna and Howard Tevlowitz

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DIFFERENT TOGETHER – ISRAEL

IN HONOR OF Alan Bandler – Birthday Fran and Jack Braverman Susan and Marvin Leder Cheryl and Mel Taub

Get to know Israel and her people!

www.SarasotaLovesIsrael.com

We’ll educate you on the various care options and point you in the right direction at NO Cost!

• We Help Families Find Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and In Home Care Options • We Review the Care and Violation History of the Communities With Whom We Work • We Personally Tour You to Recommended Facilities That Meet Your Needs • We Are a NO COST Community Service!

ISRAEL PROGRAMS

IN HONOR OF Marti and Marc Grinberg Dick Mottino Sheldon Ross – Birthday Barbara and Alan Katz

SKIP (Send a Kid to Israel)

IN HONOR OF Sheldon Ross - Birthday Linda Kennedy

MAZEL TOV Dvora and David Millstone – Grandson’s Bar Mitzvah Joyce and Steve Oppen

NOTE: To be publicly acknowledged in The Jewish News, Honor Cards require a minimum $10 contribution per listing. You can send Honor Cards directly from www.jfedsrq.org. For more information, please call 941.552.6304.

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Our Certified Senior Advisors will chart a course directing you or your loved one to an Independent Living, Assisted Living or Memory Care Community.

Registering for The Jewish Federation’s weekly email means you won’t miss important community events or notices. Get updated every Thursday!

Call Wendy Merlino MBA, CSA to steer you to the caring community perfect for you or your loved one.

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are the Kristallnacht Commemoration sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee on Monday, November 9, at 7:00 p.m., and the Brandeis-Midday Concert at BNC Showcase, at Temple Emanu-El, on Friday, November 13. The SJC meets most Thursday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Hecht School (580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota), courtesy of The Jewish Federation. The Chorale is currently taking bookings for the winter season, January through April, and performs at all venues, including temples, schools, social and interfaith organizations. For more information or for newcomers planning to attend a rehearsal, please call Susan Skovronek at 941.355.8011. To book a program for your organization, call Phyllis Lipshutz at 941.924.6717. You can visit us at www.sarasotajewishchorale.org. Check us out on Facebook, too.

Just click the button and enter your email address! www.jfedsrq.org 941.371.4546

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August 2015

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

Jewish Happenings WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

Jewish Mini-Film Festival

Temple Emanu-El’s summer film series

The film, A Safe Haven, details the extreme heroism of the entire family of Jan Zabinski, who hid endangered Jews in zoo cages to save their lives from the Nazis in Warsaw. For three years, Zabinski sheltered hundreds of Jews in animal cells and in the family home on the zoo’s grounds. Films shown by The Al Katz Center are appropriate for youth as well as adults, in dedication to creating a family-friendly Jewish learning environment. Join us at 5:30 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Temple Emanu-El’s popular summer film series concludes with 100 Voices: A Journey Home. Hailed as “warmhearted,” “profound,” “rewarding,” “inspiring” and “glorious,” 100 Voices is a compelling musical documentary chronicling the history of Jewish culture in Poland – and its amazing resurgence – through the personal reflections and musical selections of a group of cantors and acclaimed composer Charles Fox. The screening begins at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $5 at the door. For more information, please contact Harold Zabin at 941.487.8820.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11

“Halacha: The Jewish Way” Marden Paru will lead a lunchtime eight-week course, “Halacha: The Jewish Way,” taking an in-depth look at Jewish law, how it evolved, and how we have reached our current levels of Judaic practice and customs. Materials provided; bring a dairy or pareve lunch. Everyone is welcome on Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. There is no fee for TBS members; tuition for nonmembers is $40. Advance registration is required. Please contact the temple office at 941.955.8121 to register, or Marden Paru at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com for more information.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 Rhythm & Jews Shabbat Service and Shabbat dinner Feel the Shabbat spirit and enjoy the company of old and new friends at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. Join us at 5:15 p.m. for a Welcome Reception, and at 6:00 p.m. for the Rhythm & Jews Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Geoff Huntting and Chazzan Cliff Abramson. A catered Shabbat dinner follows services. The dinner is $15 per member, $18 per guest, and $30 per school family. For more information, call the temple office at 941.924.1802.

stay connected @ www.jfedsrq.org

Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva LATE SUMMER SEMESTER 2015 – EIGHT WEEK COURSES

Fifty Shades of “J” Happy Hour Sponsored by

This is an opportunity for singles and couples to meet new and old friends. Join us at 6:00 p.m. at Roast Restaurant and Bar, 1296 1st St., Sarasota. There will be a cash bar; light snacks offered. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org. You can also register at www. jfedsrq.org/events.

Mitzvah Knitting Group Are you a knitter or crocheter interested in using your talent to brighten the lives of others while making new friends? If so, please come to the Mitzvah Knitting Group sponsored by Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood. We gather monthly to craft and socialize, and our beautiful handiwork has been donated to local new parents as well as needy families in SarasotaManatee and in Israel. Bring your needles or crochet hook and a favorite pattern – we’ll supply the yarn and great company! This free event begins at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For more information, contact Susan Bernstein at susanhope22@comcast.net.

“For the Love of Israel: Roots of Zionism” How deep are the roots of Zionism? From Biblical times through the 1917 Balfour Declaration, Zionism was a yearning pervasive in the Jewish people wherever they lived. Jewish holy writings and secular authors reflected the same love of Israel throughout the ages and fervent desires to inhabit the Holy Land Divinely promised to the Jews. No other land would do for the Jews than the one they were promised. Zionism is religious and geographic identity. Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

SARAH: THE MATRIARCH AND OTHER SARAHS

Tuesdays 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM • Starting August 4

Sarah, the Matriarch, holds a very special place in our tradition as the wife of Abraham, the first Jew and founder of monotheism. Scripture lacks a lot of detail about the life of Sarah but we glean a great deal when we visit other Jewish sources: Midrash, Talmud, the Women’s Bible, etc. Her life will unfold before our eyes as we review this remarkable heroine of the Jewish People. Her name serves as a blessing for all female converts whose new Hebrew name includes “bat Sarah” (daughter of Sarah). During this course we’ll introduce you as well to other notable Sarahs. Fee $50.

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JEWS BY STATES

Fridays 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM • Starting August 7 Jewish people can be found in every one of the 50 United States and US territories. The history of Jewish wandering is an age old tale but how much do we know about Jewish settlement in the USA? Each state has a distinct history, set of characters, and record of institutional development. This course is a modern history study of how Jewish communities were established throughout the land ever since 1654. We’ll examine population statistics, notable sons and daughters from each state and unusual tales of exploration and public response to Jewish settlement. Fee $50.

BEING JEWISH

Mondays 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM • Starting August 10 We live in a most remarkable and hectic time in human history having survived as a Jewish People since the great exodus from Egypt some 3500 years ago. A course has been designed to learn about how Judaism has settled into the modern period. Unusual stories of discovery and adaptation will tickle your fancy and bring you up to date on being Jewish in the contemporary world. The Jews’ contributions to civilization are well-known but with seemingly increased anti-Semitism and the international isolation of Israel, there is much to learn and do in order to feel more comfortable in a rapidly changing geo-political climate. Fee $50. Classes are held on the Campus of the Jewish Federation, 580 McIntosh Rd. in Sarasota. To register or seek more information, please contact Marden Paru, Dean and Rosh Yeshiva at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com. Please make checks payable to the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva and mail to Marden Paru, 2729 Goodwood Court, Sarasota, FL 34235. NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency. It is funded, in part, by a grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

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August 2015

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

Jewish Mini-Film Festival

STEP - teen back-to-school event

Iranium is a startling film about the realities of jihad facing the entire world today, which can no longer be minimized or trivialized as non-existential threats to human beings everywhere. What does Iran promise to its foes, including America? What does Iran promise to Israel? Hear and see the actual recorded interviews and speeches of Iranian leaders threatening terrorism against the West. This is a movie that you owe your family and your community to see. Join us at 5:30 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 Nike Shabbat Nike says “Just Do It,” and Congregation Ner Tamid takes off on the famous theme to rev up for the High Holy Days. Cantorial Soloist Joey Spinella will refresh your spirit with familiar melodies and involve you in the tunes we know and love. It’s Ner Tamid’s kickoff of a yearlong program, “Go to BATT for Shabbat” – Bradenton’s Adult Talmud Torah program that designates Shabbat as a learning event every second Friday at 7:00 p.m. Free and open to the public, Nike Shabbat takes place at Lakeside South Clubhouse, 3817 40th Ave. W., Bradenton. For more information, visit www.NerTamidFlorida.org, call Elaine at 941.755.1231 or email atshalom@NerTamidFlorida.org.

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TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM

Sarasota-Manatee’s Conservative Synagogue

in august All Are Welcome! Come Join Us! ONGOING PROGRAMS Daily Morning Minyan Sunday-Friday, 8:00am

Morning Minyan Breakfast Wednesdays 9:00am

Chug Ivri, Advanced Hebrew Thursdays 10:30am

SHABBAT SERVICES Fridays, 6:30pm Saturdays, 9:00am

Shabbat Shaboom Saturdays, 10:30am

Judaica Shop Hannah Puckhaber

Summer Hours: Wednesdays, 10:00am-2:00pm For appointment please contact Hannah Puckhaber tbsjudaica@gmail.com or call 941-552-2785 or 941-377-8668

Idelson Adult Library

Wednesdays 10:00am-3:00pm

TBS Lunch & Learn Adult Education Course HALACHA: THE JEWISH WAY August 6 – September 24, 2015 Thursdays 12 Noon–1:30pm Instructor: Marden Paru Cost: TBS members no charge Non-Members Tuition $40

TBS Open House Happy Hour & Kavanah Service Friday, August 21, 5:30pm

Be comfortable and come as your are! Check out Temple Beth Sholom before our alternative 6:30pm Kavanah service, which includes singing & music. Wine and light refreshments for Happy Hour. Please contact the Temple to RSVP.

NEW OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY – CLOSED TUESDAY – FRIDAY 9am – 3pm

HOME OF TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM SCHOOLS • The Martin and Mildred Paver Religious School

941.552.2780

TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM 941-955-8121

1050 South Tuttle Ave Sarasota, Florida 34237

• Justin L. Wiesner Pre School

941.954.2027

• Goldie Feldman Academy Grades K-8

941.552.2770

email: info@templebethsholomfl.org

www.templebethsholomfl.org

Join us for a pool party at Sun-N-Fun (7125 Fruitville Road, Sarasota) from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, contact Andrea Eiffert at aeiffert@jfedsrq.org or 941.552.6308.

“Two Families, Two Ways: Pieter Kohnstam & Anne Frank” Pieter Kohnstam was an adorable little boy in Holland when Anne Frank, his beloved babysitter, lived in the same apartment building. But all their childhood joys and innocence as children of beautiful Jewish families ended forever when one family decided to flee from the Nazis and the other chose to hide. At one point, little Pieter, frozen in fear as his family fled its home, saved his entire family! Hear his breathtaking story live, and watch his film. Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 “For the Love of Israel: Roots of Zionism” How did Zionism fare from the Balfour Declaration through the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948? This fateful time period for the Jewish people is critical to Jewish history for it encompassed the Holocaust, growing collaboration between Nazis and Arab leaders, and decades of Jewish persecution throughout Europe and the Middle East. Jewish leaders arrived at the same inescapable conclusion: since the world had closed its doors to the Jews, the Jews must open their own homeland. Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Sarasota Jewish Singles get-together The Sarasota Jewish Singles is an outreach program of Temple Beth Israel to give all Jewish singles in the area the opportunity to meet other single men and women. The group meets once a month for dinner, laughter and a time to turn acquaintances into lifelong friends. Join us at 6:00 p.m. at Seasons 52, 170 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota. For more information or to make a reservation, please call or text Rosalyn Fleischer at 941.915.6631or rozfleischer@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 JFCS Holocaust Survivors’ Havurah Sponsored by

All survivors are invited to attend these monthly gatherings of friendship, camaraderie and support. Enjoy a light nosh and a lively discussion. The group meets from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at Kobernick House, 1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. This month’s conversation topic is “Fascinating Things in a Changing World.” This is a multi-agency event sponsored by JFCS of the Suncoast, Inc., Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and the Claims Conference of Germany. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jan Alston at 941.366.2224 x172 or jalston@ jfcs-cares.org.

For a continuously updated community calendar, visit www.jfedsrq.org.

L’Chayim HERE’S “TO LIFE” ON THE GULF COAST Committed to the Jewish Community for almost 20 years, Stacy is passionate about real estate and strives to build everlasting relationships based on exceptional service, uncompromising values and a strong work ethic.

Stacy Hanan, Realtor 941.266.0529

StacyHanan@michaelsaunders.com

1801 Main Street | Sarasota, Florida 34236 | 941.951.6660

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

August 2015

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 Back-to-School Meet & Greet at Menchie’s Meet with Temple Sinai clergy, staff and other Jewish Lakewood Ranch families at 3:00 p.m. at Menchie’s, River Club Plaza off of State Road 70, Bradenton. Free frozen yogurt. Please bring school supplies to donate to the Y. For more information, call the temple office at 941.924.1802.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24 Classes begin for TBSS elementary students Today is the first day of kindergarten through grade 5 at Goldie Feldman Academy under the leadership of Dan Ceaser, who became Head of School on July 1. Anyone wishing to set up an appointment with Mr. Ceaser, or looking for more information about Temple Beth Sholom Schools, can do so by calling 941.552.2770. School begins at 8:30 a.m. at 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota.

Temple Emanu-El Preschool begins Temple Emanu-El Early Learning Center happily opens its doors for another wonderful year of learning and growing in a loving Jewish environment. Children ages 18 months through five years thrive at this nationally-accredited and Gold Seal-certified preschool, which offers traditional preschool hours as well as extended care to accommodate working families. VPK is also offered. Outstanding secular learning is enhanced by weekly Shabbat celebrations, joyful Jewish holiday activities, and the acclaimed “Six-Pointed Stars” Judaic enrichment curriculum. School begins at 8:30 a.m. at 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For a schedule and tuition information, call Elaine Sharrock, Temple Emanu-El Preschool Director, at 941.377.8074.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 Opening Day for Justin Lee Wiesner Early Childhood Education Center The Justin Lee Wiesner Early Childhood Learning Center for children through 4 years old opens at 8:00 a.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. The preschool program implements a curriculum that is consistent with our goals for children and promotes learning and development in each of the following areas: social, emotional, physical, language and cognitive. Our curriculum is based on NAEYC Accreditation Criteria for Curriculum and The High/Scope Educational Research Foundation. For more information about the curriculum or admissions, please visit tbsschools.org or call 941.954.2027.

Goldie Feldman Academy middle school begins Today is first day for grades 6-8 at Temple Beth Sholom Schools. Middle school students take an active role in their learning. Ethics and values are not only infused into our everyday curriculum, but are a core part of our beliefs in how to help adolescents become mature, positive, active members of their community. School begins at 8:30 a.m. at 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. For more information about the curriculum or admissions, please visit tbsschools.org or call 941.552.2770.

“For the Love of Israel: Roots of Zionism” From 1948 through the present, how has the face of Zionism changed or remained constant? How have Zionists withstood constant attacks on Israel proper and Israel’s propriety as the Jewish homeland? The miraculous development and durability of the State of Israel are grounded in Zionism and Divine attention to a tiny real estate tract known as the Holy Land, neglected for centuries under Arab control and nurtured now by Jewish souls cradling it in their arms. Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

This stunning drama by Celeste Raspanti shows us joy in the most horrific conditions. A Holocaust survivor from Terezin tells the true story of the children she taught during the war.

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There were no butterflies at Terezin, but for the children, butterflies became a symbol of defiance and hope, making it possible for them to live and play.

Advertise in SPACE DEADLINE

August 3 September 1 September 30 October 30

ISSUE SEPTEMBER (Rosh Hashanah issue) OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER (Hanukkah issue)

Robin Leonardi • 941.552.6307 rleonardi@jfedsrq.org

www.TheJewishNews.org

School-Time Performance: Sept. 18, 2015 at 11 a.m. ● Tickets: $10

Includes a talk-back with the cast and director following the show. Recommended for grades four and up.

Information & Tickets for this special performance: kgeddie@venicetheatre.net | 941-488-1115 ext. 247.

GENERAL TICKETS: 941-488-1115 | VeniceStage.com 140 W. Tampa Ave. on the island in Venice

For more information, call Bob Satnick HAPPENINGS JEWISH at 941.538.3739

August 2015

Temple Beth El Bradenton Invites the Jewish Community to Join Us for the Observance of the High Holy Days 5776

ROSH HASHANAH

Sunday, September 13TH Monday, September 14TH

7:30 pm Erev Rosh Hashanah 10:00 am Morning Service (Tashlich to follow)

Do youThursdays play??? / 12pm to 4ish Federation Campus Jerusalem Room, Thursdays / 12pm to 4ish

(582 McIntosh Jerusalem room, Federation Campus Road) 582 mCintosh road $5 pie. $5 Friendly pie. but serious game!

Contact Contact Marilyn OslanderMarilyn Oslander

ENJOY

941.951.2029 marasota@yahoo.com marasota@yahoo.com

941.951.2029

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Tuesday, September 22ND 7:30 pm Kol Nidre RD Wednesday, September 23 10:00 am Morning Service & Yizkor 4:30 pm Musical Meditation CONTACT US 5:30 pm Neilah & Havdallah Donations Greatly Appreciated

A Reform Synagogue, 4200 32nd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 JFCS Bereavement Support Group Sponsored by

This group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursdays from August 27 to October 1 at JFCS, 2688 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. Cost: $36 per person for the six-week session. For more information, please contact Jennifer Singer, 941.366.2224 x166 or jsinger @JFCS-Cares.org.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 Shalom Baby Mommy and Me Sponsored by

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COLLEGE PREPARATION AND INFORMATION SERIES

Presented by Debra Landesberg, M.S. Founder of My College Resource in partnership with The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

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KICK-OFF EVENT September 9 , 2015 • 7– 8:0 0 The Zell Room at The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee 580 McIntosh Road

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FIRST EVENT INCLUDES

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All presentations designed for 8-12TH grade students and families. Applicable points will be emphasized for each grade.

UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS

Insider Tips to College Admissions Tips for Writing the College Essay Test Prep Strategies – Be Ready Where’s the Money? FAFSA, Scholarships, and more! Surf’s Up! What Are You Doing This Summer? Specialty Topics – Visual/Performing Arts/Athletics Beat the Curve in College Admissions

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For additional information about this series, please contact Debra Landesberg, M.S. at DL@MyCollegeResource.net or 941-704-5553

Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232

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Rhythm & Jews Shabbat Service and BBQ dinner Feel the Shabbat spirit and enjoy the company of old and new friends at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. Join us at 5:15 p.m. for a Welcome Reception, and at 6:00 p.m. for the Rhythm & Jews Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Geoff Huntting and Chazzan Cliff Abramson. A Shabbat BBQ dinner follows services. The dinner is $15 per member, $18 per guest, and $30 per school family. For more information, call the temple office at 941.924.1802.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 “Welcome Back” Family Picnic and Havdalah Sponsored by

When and how to start preparing for college College admissions and what counts Different types of colleges The college application: parts and prep Standardized testing requirements What to know about the college essay Ways to highlight extracurricular, service, and enrichment activities Financial aid overview

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 OCTOBER 14, 2015 NOVEMBER 11, 2015 JANUARY 13, 2016 FEBRUARY 10, 2016 MARCH 9, 2016 APRIL 13, 2016

Join us for a gathering of mommies and babies to sing Jewish and/or Israeli children’s songs and to bond with other moms! Free with registration, this event begins at 11:00 a.m. at the Hecht Building on the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jessi Sheslow at jsheslow@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109.

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Jewish and interfaith families are warmly invited to this fun, welcoming evening. Enjoy playground time, lawn games, socializing, balloon animals created by Rabbi Brenner Glickman, face painting, crafts, a nail-polish-and-braiding station, a parkour demonstration and instruction – and even a waterslide! Families are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner; cold drinks and ice cream will be sold by the youth group for a nominal fee. A beautiful musical Havdalah service will conclude the gathering. Sponsored by Temple Emanu-El and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, this free event begins at 6:00 p.m. at 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For more information, contact Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman at 941.379.1997 or elaine-glickman@comcast.net.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 Back-to-School Bash A Back-to-School Bash to welcome students to Temple Beth Sholom Schools and the Paver Religious School will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the Siesta Key Pavilion, 948 Beach Road, Sarasota. Anyone interested in youth groups for grades 3-12 is also welcome. Please call 941.955.8121 for more information or to register.

Open House and High Holiday karaoke party Join the brand new Chabad Hebrew School of the Arts from 11:00 a.m. to noon at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Enjoy a High Holiday karaoke party, High Holiday-themed refreshments, and learn about the CHS Arts program, Minute to Win it, Read for Need, Aleph Champ and more. For more information about this free event, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@chabadofbradenton.com.

JEWISH INTEREST

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Contributing Columnist Editor’s note: Persons in BOLD CAPS are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of the column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in a faith other than Judaism – and don’t identify with a faith other than Judaism as an adult. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish. Jerry and George Popular music impresario and Oscarwinning film producer JERRY WEINTRAUB died on July 6 at age 77. Not noted in any obit I saw was how Weintraub became great friends with President George H.W. Bush. In the late ’60s, Weintraub bought a summer vacation home in Maine. He wanted to play tennis, but the clerk at the Kennebunkport (tennis) Club made it clear to him, after hearing his last name, that Jews weren’t allowed in. “We have no courts,” she said, although the place was empty, and then suggested he go somewhere else. George Bush, then a businessman, is the son of Senator Prescott Bush of Connecticut (who had many ties to Kennebunkport). Jerry’s wife, a Maine native, knew George and told him what happened to Jerry. Not long after speaking to her, George invited Jerry to play at the club with him, his brother and his father. After their first match, Senator Bush told Jerry he would put him up for membership – telling him “to come to him if there are any problems.” Of course, given the local prestige of the Bush family, Jerry got his membership in that tennis club. The Bush family later cleared the way for Weintraub’s membership in other local clubs that had few, if any, Jewish members. Best Quotes of the First Half of Summer 2015 “In this world, with great power there must also come – great responsibility.” So said Justice ELENA KAGAN, 55, quoting the first Spider-Man comic

in her June 22 decision (writing for the Court in a 6-3 ruling) that Marvel Comics does not have to pay royalties to the inventor of a Spider-Man toy after its patent expired. In her decision, Kagan cleverly worked in a number of Spider-Man references and puns, and mentioned the name of Spider-Man creator STAN LEE, 92, who co-wrote the 1962 comic where this quote first appeared. (Lee drew on similar quotes in earlier sources.) As you no doubt know, Kagan joined the court’s majority in groundbreaking decisions issued the same week which upheld Obamacare and allowed same-sex marriage nationwide. Proving, I guess, that the Spider-Man quote applies to Supreme Court Justices as well. During this year’s July 4th celebration, it occurred to me that the “founding fathers” would be more than surprised to learn that some 239 years after independence that the Supreme Court has three women members and no Protestant justices. There are three Jews: Kagan, Justice RUTH BADER GINSBURG, 83, and Justice STEVEN BREYER, 76. All the rest are Roman Catholics (Clarence Thomas is a convert to that faith). Of course, the same founders would be even more surprised that we have an African-American President. “Forty years through the desert to now, it’s a long journey but they made it.” So said PETER GUBER, 73, the majority co-owner of the Golden State Warriors, during the presentation ceremony of the NBA championship trophy

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Interested in Your Family’s History? Ten years of doing a Jewish celebrities column has turned Nate Bloom (see column at left) into something of an expert on finding basic family history records and articles mentioning a “searched-for” person. During these 10 years, he has put together a small team of “mavens” who aid his research. Most professional family history experts charge at least $1,000 for a full family tree. However, many people just want to get “started” by tracing one particular family branch.

So here’s the deal: Send Nate an email at nteibloom@aol.com, tell him you saw this ad in The Jewish News, and include your phone number (area code, too). Nate will then contact you about doing a “limited” family history for you at a modest cost (no more than $100). No upfront payment. on June 16. The Warriors last won the title in 1975. Guber, the son of a Boston-area junkman, has been a leading entertainment industry executive and film/TV producer since the mid-’70s. He also has a minority interest in the Los Angeles Dodgers. His Warriors’ co-owner, JOE LACOB, 59, also comes from a poor Boston-area family. His college and grad degrees in medical sciences led to a business career as a venture capitalist primarily financing medical companies. Jurassic Jewish Notes Jurassic World has turned into the super-duper mega hit of the summer and is probably still playing at some nearby theater. Here’s the Jewish 411: World is produced by STEVEN SPIELBERG, 68, who directed the first two Jurassic movies. The screenplay was co-writ-

ten by COLIN TREVORROW, 38, AMANDA SILVER, 52, Rick Jaffa, 53, and Derek Connolly. Silver, who is Jewish, and Jaffa (who has some remote Jewish ancestry), have been married for 25 years and have two children. (The family are regular synagogue-goers). The couple scored big as the co-writers of the two most recent hit Planet of the Apes movies. Trevorrow also directs and this is his first outing at the helm of a bigstudio movie. Spielberg selected him based on an indie film (Safety Not Guaranteed) Trevorrow directed that cost less than $1 million. Trevorrow’s mother is Jewish and his maternal grandmother came from a long line of Sephardi Jews who settled in the Caribbean (Panama and the Virgin Islands) centuries ago.

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JEWISH INTEREST

Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle “At Your Service” By Alan Olschwang

Difﬁculty Level: Easy

Rummikub game to make it more interesting 9 Some of Philip Roth’s novels have mature ones 10 Kissing the mezuzah, for many people 11 Blessed 12 Word repeated in the title of a Livingston/Evans song made popular by Doris Day 13 Biblical bk. named after a woman 21 Samson’s was very impressive in his prime 22 “___, My Love” (Debbie Friedman song) 25 Place atop one’s head, as a yarmulke 26 Eldan rent-a-car alternative 27 Reheated the kugel, the fast way 28 Where glasses get broken 29 Early stand-up comic Mort 30 Bagel shape 31 The locust plague, e.g. 32 Biblical symbol of mourning 34 What the bar mitzvah’s Hebrew pronunciation should be done to?

35 Tzitzit, so to speak 37 Randall’s character in the ’70s sitcom “The Odd Couple” 38 Masada’s Snake Path, for one 43 Application on which you can download Neil Diamond music 44 Judy Garland had them when she starred along with Bert Lahr in “The Wizard of Oz” 45 “Cast thy bread upon the waters, and it shall return to thee,” for one 46 Cattle ___ (a bird of Israel) 47 Non-Biblical Ruth 48 Poet born in 3717 49 Aaron Sorkin’s “The West ___” 50 Like computer maker Camillo Olivetti: Abbr. 51 Mount from which Moses viewed the Promised Land 52 Notion from Marcel Marceau 53 Moira Kelly voiced her opposite Matthew Broderick’s Simba in “The Lion King” 54 Instruments occasionally used by Klezmer groups, briefly

DONATE IT! Editor: David Benkof, DavidBenkof@gmail.com Across 1 Shoes for Jennifer Grey in “Dirty Dancing” 5 “Downton Abbey” Lady whose father was named Isidore Levinson 9 “___ Were the Days” (song recorded by Theodore Bikel in Russian) 14 Many a Spielberg movie 15 ___ Man (Robert Downey Jr. role) 16 Ingredients in some gefilte fish 17 Shin preceder 18 Campaigner against Mordecai Manuel Noah’s Tammany Hall organization 19 Siskel’s one-time partner 20 Do it while standing, at your service 23 A Jewish congregation was initiated there during its gold boom of 1900 24 Like Shimon Peres: Abbr. 25 She preceded Ruth onto the U.S. Supreme Court 28 How a ’60s Sabra may be sold 30 They don’t like it when you bring a bottle of Mogen David? 33 Ends of Jewish years 34 “Oy vey!” 35 Removes payot, with off 36 Do it before chanting the weekly portion, at your service 39 One-tenth of an ephah 40 Paul Newman’s “Hud” costar Patricia 41 431 is in the south of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area 42 Land of Cain’s exile 43 Disney CEO 44 Emulates Sid Luckman with a football 45 Ended Yom Kippur observance 46 “Night” author Wiesel 47 Do it while chanting the final prayer, at your service 55 Like 46-Down 56 Garr who costarred with Richard Dreyfuss in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” 57 Home st. of Burt Bacharach’s second wife, Angie Dickinson 58 Overdo it at the Seder, say 59 Help stealing the afikomen, say 60 Remove from an article intended for this publication 61 2001 Holocaust movie “___ of the Lord” 62 Feast of ____ (Purim) 63 Red and Dead

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Down 1 Deborah who starred in Fred Zinnemann’s “From Here to Eternity” (1953) 2 Sword favored by Israel’s Boaz Ellis 3 Medium on which you can download Neil Diamond music 4 “___’s Ark” (Australian title of Thomas Keneally Holocaust novel) 5 MGM’s milieu 6 Abba Eban was known to do this well 7 New Year opener 8 This might be added to a

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JEWISH INTEREST

Gertrud Luckner, friend of the Jews By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD

wenty years ago this month, on August 31, 1995, a most remarkable friend of the Jewish people died in her hometown of Freiburg, Germany. Gertrud Luckner, who at the time was just a few days short of her 95th birthday, was born as Jane Hart on September 26, 1900, in Liverpool, England. Following the early death of her parents, and having no other family, she was sent Dr. Paul Bartrop to live with foster parents in Germany. As a young adult she acquired German citizenship. She studied economics, with a specialization in social welfare, at the Universities of Königsberg, Birmingham, Frankfurt and Freiburg. In 1938, at the University of Freiburg, she earned her doctoral degree. Raised as a Quaker, in 1934 she converted to Catholicism, and the year before her conversion she was already working in Freiburg with the Catholic aid organization Caritas. She was also a member of the German Catholics’ Peace Association. Gertrud was one of the first Catholic lay leaders to identify the true meaning behind Nazi anti-Semitism, and saw that her position in an international aid organization provided her with the opportunity to save lives. As a result, she utilized her international links to obtain a way out of Germany for many refugees. She organized assistance networks for Jews, helped many to escape, and worked with antiNazi priests such as Bernhard Lichtenberg and Alfred Delp. After the outbreak of war in 1939, she continued her work for the Jews by attempting to establish a national underground network through Caritas cells. In 1941, the Archbishop of Freiburg, Conrad Gröber, invited her to find further ways to help, leading to her organizing a special “Office for Religious War Relief” within Caritas. This, in turn, was further supported by the President of Caritas, Benedikt Kreutz. The new office became the instrument through which Freiburg Catholics helped racially persecuted “non-Aryans,” both Jews and converted Christians of Jewish background. It also provided Gertrud with increased financial and travel possibilities, which she used for her underground activities. As a result, she was able to transmit messages, request and obtain forged passports, and help refugees escape from Germany. The funds she received from Archbishop Gröber were used to smuggle Jews over the Swiss border. From 1940 onward she sent packages to Jews deported from Stettin to Lublin, and continued this scheme for Jews originating in Baden who had been deported to the French internment camp at Gurs – a remarkable situation in which the Jews of Baden (mainly women, children and the elderly) were evacuated from Germany in October 1940 and incarcerated under French administration. Gertrud also exploited the Caritas network to establish contacts with people from other religious traditions prepared to help. In addition, she maintained close contact with Rabbi

Leo Baeck, the Berlin-based spiritual leader of German Jewry, until his arrest and deportation to Theresienstadt in early 1943. In a police state such as Nazi Germany, secret activities such as these could not be maintained for long, and the Gestapo eventually learned of Gertrud’s various endeavors. Gestapo headquarters in Düsseldorf assembled a detailed dossier on her activities until, on March 24, 1943, she was arrested for “activity in favor of Jews and contacts with groups against the state” and transferred to the Gestapo detention center in Düsseldorf. Here, she was interrogated and tortured for a number of months, but refused to disclose anything about her actions on behalf of the Jews. Eventually, she was released but watched closely, and on November 5, 1943, as she was about to transfer five thousand marks to the last remaining Jews in Berlin, she was arrested once more by the Gestapo and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp, where she spent the rest of the war until liberated on May 3, 1945. After the war Gertrud rededicated herself to the cause of building bridges of understanding within the ChristianJewish relationship, a cause that had formed so much of her life through the dark years of the Third Reich. In 1948 she established a journal, Freiburger Rundbrief (Freiburg Circular), which she used to promote the cause of Christian-Jewish dialogue, and then, in 1951, Rabbi Leo Baeck invited her to visit Israel – one of the first non-Germans to do so. On February 15, 1966, in acknowledgment of her involvement in the German resistance and for rescuing Jews during the Holocaust, she was recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among the Nations. Gertrud continually showed her unconditional solidarity with the State of Israel. When the Yom Kippur War broke out in 1973, she immediately flew to Israel. When the conflict was over, she initiated the establishment of a physiotherapeutic pavilion in the rehabilitation home for wounded soldiers on Mount Carmel. She also took on another humanitarian problem: the fate of Christian women who had helped Jews to survive under Nazi rule, and had married them contrary to the Nuremberg Laws. Many of these women had converted to Judaism after the Holocaust and had migrated to Israel with their husbands. When their husbands died, they often remained alone and lacking sufficient means. Gertrud threw herself into finding ways to assist them, eventually establishing a home where they could retire in safety. Gertrud Luckner’s deep Christian sense not only sustained her personally during the period of the Third Reich, it gave her inspiration to live her faith, resisting an evil she viewed as antithetical to everything in which she believed. This month, on her twentieth yahrzeit, it is worth recalling her memory with reverence and gratitude. Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of History and the Director of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. He can be reached at pbartrop@fgcu.edu.

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A POWERFUL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY HOLOCAUST, GENOCIDE AND TOLERANCE EDUCATION

MANY INSPIRING SPEAKERS TO CHOOSE FROM INCLUDING:

The Holocaust Speakers Bureau offers teachers a unique opportunity to expand their students’ classroom experience. We have a large number of Holocaust survivors who reside in this community. They are very motivated to visit school children and give their eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust. Also available are speakers who were hidden children, those saved through the “Kindertransport”, resistance fighters, refugees, as well as World War II camp liberators.

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All speakers are authentic to their respective experiences and feel a strong commitment to bring an awareness of the consequences that result when evil is allowed to flourish. They feel privileged and grateful to live in this wonderful country where their voices are being heard. For Booking Contact Anne Stein, Speakers Bureau Coordinator 941.923.6470 • luvhula@gmail.com

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August 2015

Young adult novel teaches the Holocaust By Philip K. Jason, Special to The Jewish News Escape in Time: Miri’s Riveting Tale of Her Family’s Survival During World War II, by Ronit LowensteinMalz; Leora Frankel, trans.; Laurie McGaw, illus. MB Publishing, 2015. 176 pages. Trade paperback $9.99.

s there a way of approaching the Holocaust that can be educational for teenage readers without leaving them with horrible dreams? This intriguing fact-based novel presents a dual narration. An Israeli girl, Nessya, reacts to her grandmother’s experiences in war-torn Hungary by reading a narrative prepared by the grandmother based partly on family letters never sent for fear of the contents falling into Nazi Phil Jason hands. These letters are also read by Nessya. In 1944, the young Miri Eneman, along with her parents and three older sisters, attempts to flee the persecu-

Ronit Lowenstein-Malz

tion of her community’s Jews, already confined to a ghetto. The father, Naftuli, is the story’s hero. His exceptional foresight allows him to see that doing

nothing, the stance of his Jewish neighbors, is to end up dead. Carefully and stealthily, he arranges for false documents as well as well-compensated assistance from friendly gentiles. The family members escape the ghetto and make their way to Budapest, where it seems that they can find greater safety until the Russian forces defeat the Nazis. Naftuli’s schemes are successful, though there are many close calls and much suffering along the way. Upon Nessya’s questioning, Miri’s youthful perspective, enhanced by the knowledge gained through her adult years, is now tapped. She releases a lifetime of repressed memories, allowing her granddaughter Nessya to gain a moving and meaningful understanding of the Holocaust without confronting the horrid realities of the death camps. The characters are crisply differentiated, superb illustrations help us relate to them, and suspense runs high. First published in Hebrew in 2006, this book is perfect for youngsters twelve and older. Adapted from a review ﬁrst published in Jewish Book World, Summer 2015, Vol. 33 No. 2. Reprinted with permission. Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus of English from the United States Naval Academy. He reviews regularly for Florida Weekly, Jewish Book World, Southern Literary Review, and other publications. Please visit Phil’s website at www.philjason.wordpress.com.

Your great-grandchildren will be glad we met. Establishing a legacy comes with its challenges. The High Point Group at Morgan Stanley Stacey R. Grad

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JEWISH INTEREST

K’zohar Ha-Ivrit Sim-cha – Happiness and joyous event By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin

any are the words and phrases in the Hebrew language that express joy and celebratory events. Indeed, the language is rooted in a culture that is rich in celebrations, immersed in festivities and exultations of life. The most recognized word for happiness in Hebrew is sim-cha. The wisdom writer considered it a gift to mankind (Ecc 2:26) and the Torah advocated ve-ha-yi-ta ach sa-me-ach, “you should have Dr. Rachel Dulin nothing but joy” (Duet 16:15). Let us briefly explore the meaning of this word. The noun sim-cha is mentioned in the Bible 94 times and is derived from the verb sa-mach, which appears 154 times in the text. It is rooted in the Akkadian word sha-ma-hu, meaning “sprout” or “flourish.” Interestingly, in Hebrew the verb received two opposite meanings. Most of the time sim-cha means “rejoicing,” “happiness,” “gaiety,” “contentment,” “joyful occasion” and “festivity.” But, occasionally, the word is used negatively, expressing mockery, ridicule and malice. Indeed, on the dark side, sim-cha exposes those who wish ill on others and rejoice in their misfortune. The prophet Micah (7:8), the Psalmist (38:17) and the wisdom writer (Prov 14:13), all recognized that the word sim-cha may evoke a sneering emotion. The modern Hebrew idiom simcha la-aid, “malicious joy,” is based on the old teaching sa-me-ach la-aid, lo yi-na-keh, literally “He who rejoices in another’s misfortune will not go unpunished” (Prov 17:5).

On the bright side, sim-cha is a word laden with exhilaration and festive activities. Sim-cha expresses not only the joy of an event, but it is also the noun which means a happy event. A holiday is a sim-cha, a family gathering is a sim-cha, a wedding is a simcha, the birth of a child is a sim-cha and a bar/bat mitvah is a sim-cha. The host of an event is a ba-al sim-cha and the sound of joy resonating from the event is kol sim-cha. And, last but not least, sim-chat ye-tzi-rah, “a joy of creativity,” is a way to describe the exhilaration one feels while being engaged in a creative process. We should mention two interesting rabbinic teachings related to simcha. The first advocates ain me-ar-vin sim-cha be-sim-cha, literally “one joy should not be mixed with another,” as for example, a wedding should not be celebrated on a holiday (Mo-ed ka-tan 8). But, figuratively, the phrase teaches that different and unrelated matters should not be mixed in discussion or action. Each issue or event should be dealt with separately and on its own merit. The second rabbinic teaching concerning sim-cha points to the inner self as the source of contentment and joy. Ai-ze-hu a-shir? Ha-sa-me-ach bechel-ko, “Who is rich? He that rejoices in his own portion” (Avot 4:1). We will conclude with the old idiom, which exclaims ain sim-cha e-la be-ya-yin, “wine brings joy.” Therefore, let us raise a cup together and say le-cha-yim together with those who are celebrating a special sim-cha. Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor of biblical literature at Spertus College in Chicago and an adjunct professor of Hebrew and Bible at New College in Sarasota.

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ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

Breaking magic records in the name of peace World-record-breaking magic lesson highlights the significant coexistence work of Beit HaGefen Arab-Jewish Cultural Center in Haifa. By Abigail Klein Leichman, ISRAEL21c, www.israel21c.org, June 14, 2015

n June 1, 1,573 Jewish, Christian and Muslim schoolchildren from across Haifa helped set the world record for the largest magic lesson. The students, representing every school in the city, participated in “Haifa Magic for Peace,” led by Israeli magician Cagliostro. Beating the previous world record held by Scottish magician Kevin McMahon from 2012, “Haifa Magic for Peace” was extensively covered in the

here,” says Beit HaGefen Executive Director Asaf Ron, who frequently goes on speaking tours abroad to publicize the center’s efforts to foster dialogue, neighborliness and tolerance. “We’re not a holy site specifically, but we have people who want to live harmoniously and the feeling is one of pluralism.” Even if they don’t enjoy the same fanfare, it’s the day-to-day events at Beit HaGefen that make the most lasting inroads. Getting to know you “One of our daily missions is to have two classes from the different societies meet here,” Goshen tells ISRAEL21c. “Every school in Haifa has some connection with Beit HaGefen.” Beit HaGefen promotes intercultural ties and interrelations through programs for all ages, including leadership training, concerts, theater, a library and an art gallery that showcases works by all sectors of Haifa society. “The most important thing is that our programs should speak to everyone with a common theme that will invite Jews and Arabs, Hebrew- and Arabspeakers,” says Goshen, who dreams of creating a cooperative of Jewish and Arab street artists. “Not everything I plan is in both languages, but I always have things to involve the two societies with the goal of getting to know each other better.” Beit HaGefen also offers tours – available in Hebrew, English, Spanish and German – along the art routes in Wadi Nisnas, the world-famous Bahá’í Gardens, Stella Maris, the German Colony, the Ahmadi Mosque and other Haifa landmarks exemplifying a message of acceptance, tolerance and respect. In addition to programs planned and publicized by the center’s cultural and educational staff, sometimes very successful ventures come from the public, Goshen notes. One such endeavor is the JewishArab Youth Club that began three years ago at the initiative of nine 15- and 16-year-olds. Today this club has 140 members and professional facilitators. Recently, a group of eighth-graders asked Beit HaGefen to open a similar club for younger kids. “These teenagers were looking for a place to hold a Jewish-Arab youth club, and had knocked on other doors before they came to us and we said yes,” Goshen relates. “The first year they attracted another four or five kids, and ran the club themselves once a week around cultural activities like movies, with a small

Magician Cagliostro making history in Haifa (photo courtesy Zvi Roger/Haifa municipality)

Israeli media and helped put the sponsoring organization, the Beit HaGefen Arab-Jewish Culture Center, in the spotlight. “Magic was a good tool to bring together nearly 1,600 Jewish and Arab fifth- and sixth-graders and their teachers,” says Beit HaGefen Cultural Director Hila Goshen. “The vice mayor told the children this day was like an oasis in the middle of a desert of racism and fear.” Beit HaGefen is not a new kid in town. The nonprofit center was inaugurated in 1963 as a common meeting ground for Haifa’s Jewish and Arab populations, offering educational, cultural and tourism activities to a local, national and international audience. The municipality and citywide school system actively support the center’s activities. Perhaps the best-known Beit HaGefen program is the annual interfaith Holiday of Holidays Festival

Beit HaGefen’s front fence makes its mission clear (photo courtesy Ze’ev Barkan)

staged every Thursday through Saturday in December. Tourists and Israelis flock to the Wadi Nisnas neighborhood, right next to the center’s main building, to celebrate Hanukkah, Eid-Al-Adha and Christmas through a street festival featuring ethnic music, art and food. “We honor everyone who lives

Vision 20/20 Looking Back/Looking Forward Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU 20th Anniversary Exhibition On view through October 25, 2015 Floridian Jewish families have played an integral part in every area of the development of the Sunshine State, from the pioneers who settled here more than 250 years ago, to contemporary movers and shakers. In honor of our 20th Anniversary, Vision 20/20 provides a glimpse into our collection of more than 100,000 items, documenting the history makers of yesterday to those of today. Formed from the Collections of the Jewish Museum of Florida, originated by Marcia Jo Zerivitz, Founding Executive Director.

The Seventh Day: Revisiting Shabbat On view through October 25, 2015 This exhibition explores, through a 21st century perspective, the very meaning of the Sabbath, with leading international artists creating and sharing their interpretations of "the seventh day - a day of rest." Traveling exhibit from Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion Museum, New York.

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budget from us and the Rotary Club. The second year we saw they needed us to help facilitate it because it grew so much. It’s an amazing group and it still wants to grow more. I can say for sure these kids would never meet if not for this option.” The mass card trick performed under Cagliostro’s wand at “Haifa Magic for Peace” also had a specific message. The children were given packs of eight cards, and wrote words such as “hope,” “friendship,” “coexistence” and “dialogue” on blank playing cards. Then each asked someone sitting nearby to choose one card and add it to the eightcard deck. Cagliostro threaded a small wooden wand through holes at the top of the cards, said the magic words, and the card that the person had chosen mysteriously flew out of the deck. “It was really interesting, and the fact that it was magic for peace made it all the more special,” 10-year-old Shira told The Times of Israel. “I believe that peace is in our hands, and working

pen Now oston o in B

Haifa fifth- and sixth-graders created this multilingual mural of hands

together as one I really felt that it was within reach.” The program continued with an arts-and-crafts project to cement that very idea. All the kids contributed to a huge “It’s in our hands” mural in Hebrew, Arabic and English. Abigail Klein Leichman is a writer and associate editor at ISRAEL21c. Prior to moving to Israel in 2007, she was a specialty writer and copy editor at a daily newspaper in New Jersey and has freelanced for a variety of newspapers and periodicals since 1984.

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August 2015

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

$100 million JNF Boruchin Israel Education Advocacy Center opens

Largest estate donation in JNF’s history comes at crucial time as anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment grow stronger; partnerships to be created to promote Israel and Zionist programs.

new innovative projects in partnership rael and the Jewish people would conwith individuals, foundations and other tinue through their bequest to JNF,” non-profit and non-governmental orgasaid Mike Lederman, chairman of the JNF Boruchin Israel Education Advonizations based on their commitments cacy Center. “The Boruchins wanted to match funds on a multi-year basis. JNF to undertake bold initiatives conInitial funding comes from a $100 million distribution from the Boruchin necting Jewish youth to Zionism and Family Estate, and additional fundadvocating for the Jewish state. The Boruchin Israel Education Advocacy raising for the JNF Boruchin Israel Center is their liv“We in Sarasota fully embrace this exciting initiaing legacy and their gift comes at a crititive that helps in a concrete way to reach out to cal period in history the young generation, and are fully committed as Israel and world to raise the much needed dollars and awareness.” Jewry face serious challenges with ris– Mark Schlanger, JNF Sarasota Board President ing anti-Israel senEducation Advocacy Center will be timent and anti-Semitism. This center coordinated by JNF. is needed now more than ever.” The JNF Boruchin Israel Education The JNF Boruchin Israel EducaAdvocacy Center will have the flextion Advocacy Center, managed by a ibility to evaluate and fund appropriate committee appointed by JNF President non-JNF programs, as well as enhance Jeffrey E. Levine and approved by the current dynamic JNF Zionist AdvoJNF’s Board of Directors, will function cacy and Education programs: within the JNF structure. It will fund School Programs Dedicated to Keeping Sarasota Athletes  Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI) – Acquired by IN THE GAME Since 1993 JNF in 2013, AMHSI has graduated over 22,000 individuals since Shapiro Sports Medicine concentrates on helping athletes 1972 and currently provides 1,200 maintain optimum health and peak performance. high school students with the only pluralistic, college-prep, internaDr. Shapiro received tional study abroad program for his fellowship training in sports high school students in Israel. medicine from  Blue Box Bob activities – Across Stanford University. the U.S. students in grades pre-K-4 AT are connected to modern Israel while learning the history of the Jewish homeland with age-appro6050 Cattleridge Blvd. I Sarasota, FL 34232 I (941) 365-0655 priate educational materials. www.ShapiroSportsMedicine.com  My Israel Trees – A school program that will annually reach 15,000 students in the U.S.  Tu B’Shevat Across America – This program works together with Same Great Doctors and Care schools, colleges and synagogues across the U.S. to promote environmentalism and commitment to the land of Israel. In 2014, 400 elementary schools and 50 college campuses took part. College Programs  Alternative Break in Israel – College students travel to Israel on their school breaks to work on Formerly Manatee Sarasota Eye Clinic projects for which they raise monFeaturing nine board-certified ophthalmologists: ey. • Murray Friedberg, M.D. • Pooja Khator, M.D.  Birthright – JNF sends thousands • Robert Edelman, M.D. • Allison Menezes, M.D. • Scott Silverman, M.D. • Jeffrey Davis, M.D. of young people to Israel for a free • Eric Berman, M.D. • Anita Shane, M.D. 10-day trip on Taglit-Birthright Is• Robert Sambursky, M.D. rael together with Shorashim.  Campus Fellows – Currently acCoastalEye.com • (941)748-1818 tive on 18 college campuses, stu217 Manatee Ave. E, Bradenton • 6310 Health Park Way, Suite 340, Lakewood Ranch dents represent JNF, advocate for 1427 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota • 2020 Cattlemen Rd., Ste. 500, Sarasota Israel on campus, plan Positively

ewish National Fund (JNF) announced that it has created the new $100 million JNF Boruchin Israel Education Advocacy Center to focus on Israel and Zionist educational programming, designed to be one of the most powerful new initiatives in the Jewish world. The JNF Boruchin Israel Education Advocacy Center will concentrate its resources on advocating for Israel, Israel education in the Diaspora, and countering the BDS movement, all with the goal of strengthening the connection of all Americans, now and in the future, to the land and people of Israel. The center, administered within JNF, was created as a result of an estate gift of the late John and Dora Boruchin of California. No previous bequest has ever funded such a bold initiative to promote and develop Zionist education on this magnitude. “John and Dora Boruchin saw that their lifelong commitment to Is-

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Israel and Tu B’Shevat programs, and recruit for Alternative Break in Israel.  Caravan for Democracy Student Leadership Trip to Israel – This annual trip brings a highly selective group of 30 college students of all faiths who have never visited Israel.  Faculty Fellowship Summer Institute in Israel – Academics from colleges and universities around the U.S. participate with Israeli scholars from diverse disciplines. Since 2008, more than 70 fellows have taken part and return to their campuses eager to change the conversation about Israel and spread awareness of Positively Israel.  Positively Israel – This popular initiative raises awareness for Israel on American college campuses about the ways in which Israel makes the world a better place. In 2014, 40 campuses took part. Young Adult Programs  JNFuture – A national group of like-minded 25- to 35-year-old professionals committed to the environment and community development in the Jewish homeland.  JNFuture Leadership Institute (JLIM) – JLIM brings a highly selective group of committed JNFuture members on a leadership journey to Israel.  JNFuture Volunteer Vacation – Young professionals reconnect with Israel to work on projects for which they raise money. Israel Education & Advocacy  Hugey Sayarut/Green Horizons – This youth organization has provided informal educational programming to 20,000 Israeli children and teens over the past 30 years.  Israel Fire Scouts – A yearly community service program that introduces 1,500 Israeli tenth-graders to the Israeli Fire Scouts, providing them with required training, important responsibilities, equipment, and educational trips to Israel’s north, south and Jerusalem.  Speakers Bureau – A library of experts who speak to American audiences at meetings and community events on wide-ranging topics that include: Perspectives on Israel and Jewish History, Anti-Terrorism and Security, Environmental Sustainability, U.S. Government Relations, JNF’s Work in Israel, Media and Current Events, Middle Eastern and Foreign Affairs, and Positively Israel. John Boruchin was born in Poland and met his wife Dora in Russia after World War II. While most of John’s family perished in the Holocaust, Dora’s immediate family survived, and now live mainly in Canada and the United States, and remain active supporters of Israel and Jewish National Fund. John and Dora came to the States and he slowly made his fortune in real estate, eventually becoming one of the largest tract home builders in California. Both are survived by their son, Isak. The Boruchin’s love and passion for Israel and Zionism has led their goal to connect young people to Israel and their Jewish roots through JNF. For further information about the JNF Boruchin Israel Education Advocacy Center and to request a partnership opportunity, please contact JNF at boruchin@jnf.org.

Get to know Israel and her people! Visit SarasotaLovesIsrael.com

August 2015

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

BRIEFS WORLD JEWISH POPULATION BACK AT PRE-HOLOCAUST LEVELS

, A full 70 years since the end of World n War II and the horrors of the Holocaust, the total number of Jews in the world, t including the offspring of mixed mars riages, has reached 16 million – nearly the 16.6 million of 1939 before the s Nazi genocide began. The encouraging picture of population recovery emerges from a new annual report by the Jerusalem-based m Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) d published recently in Yedioth Ahai ronoth. . The report indicates that since 1945, when there were 11 million Jews r in the world, the Jewish population has steadily grown. Between 2005 and d 2015, the Jewish population grew by more than 8%, the highest growth perr centage of any decade since the end of World War II. In compiling the statistics, the rel port based itself on halakhic (Jewish n legal) definitions of who is a Jew for those living in Israel, and self-definition for those living abroad. f Those seeking to be more lenient with the Jewish definition of Jewish status could include the non-Jewish offspring of Jews, a group comprising 350,000 people in Israel, as well as e “partial Jews” who largely come from y mixed marriages – in America alone one million such people exist. p Adding these groups to the global Jewish population, which is a subjec– tive decision, raises the number to t nearly 16 million. Without the addition r of these groups the total number stands at 14.2 million in 2015. Focusing in on Israel, the pros portion of the Jewish population rose s from 82% of the total population at the l founding of the modern state in 1948 i to 89% in 1958. However, there has 0 since been a gradual decline, with the percentage hitting 75% at the start of 2015. While that figure indicates an overall decline, it also indicates the s Jewish population has remained largely stable. , The largest single Jewish population in the world is still in the U.S. as it has been since the end of World War II, although Israel’s Jewish population has nearly surpassed it. While nearly five million Jews y lived in the U.S. in 1957, that number t rose to 5.7 million in 2013, a relatively d stable number that has been balanced m between the conflicting forces of a low birth rate on the one side and a positive increase in conversions on the other a side, although as noted the Jewish population in the U.S. was figured based on self-definition rather than on the Jewish legal definition. (Arutz Sheva d staff, internationalnews.com)

s -SURROUNDED BY dHOSTILE NEIGHBORS, eHOW IS ISRAEL THE 11TH -HAPPIEST NATION IN THE lWORLD? According to the latest World Happilness Report, published by the Sustaineable Development Solutions Network, -Israel now ranks 11th out of some 158 ,countries evaluated. The top 10 are afnfluent, secure, and some haven’t been rinvolved in a war in 70 years. They aren’t living in the middle of ongoing, violent conflicts or are the objects of einternational campaigns to isolate or -boycott them. None have groups on -their borders with thousands of high ttrajectory weapons pointed at their civilian population centers. The Bloomberg Innovation Index ranked Israel as the fifth most innovative country in the world, ahead of both the U.S. and the UK. According to an OECD study, Israel is the fourth most

educated nation. Above all, perhaps, in explaining the happiness stuff, is the very strong sense of identity that still seems to shape the way Israelis look at themselves and the rest of the world. Amidst all the fractiousness and divisiveness, there’s still among Israelis a real sense of purpose, community, and pride of accomplishment. (Aaron David Miller, Foreign Policy)

ISRAELI COMPANIES BRING JOBS TO AMERICA

In May, three Israel-based firms opened or finalized plans to build new facilities in the U.S. Avgol, a global producer of fabrics, announced it will expand its North American operations by building a new production line at its Mocksville, North Carolina, plant, creating dozens of new jobs. Bram Plastics Industries, a major producer of food storage and kitchen products, said it would invest $3 million in a new plant in Savannah, Georgia, which will generate at least 60 new jobs. Kitchen counter maker Caesarstone, based in Kibbutz Sdot Yam in Israel, officially opened its first American manufacturing facility in Richmond Hill, Georgia. The factory currently employs 107 people, with an additional 80 to be hired when the factory expands later this year. (David Shamah, Times of Israel)

ISRAEL WINS 12 MEDALS AT EUROPEAN GAMES

The 140-member Israeli delegation at the European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, which ended on Sunday, June 28, claimed 12 medals – two gold, four silver and six bronze. Judoka Sagi Muki won a gold medal, as did swimmer Ziv Kalontarov. Israel also won medals in shooting and rhythmic gymnastics. (Allon Sinai, Jerusalem Post)

ISRAEL DEMONSTRATES ANTI-DROUGHT TECHNOLOGY

FRENCH IMMIGRATION TO ISRAEL SURGES

The number of French Jews who have made or are making aliyah to Israel between January and August 2015 rose from 4,000 in 2014 to 5,100 in the same period in 2015, an increase of 25%. The Immigrant Absorption Ministry estimates that in 2015 the total number of immigrants from France will reach 9,000, compared to 7,200 in 2014. (Itamar Eichner, Ynet News)

cessity and inventiveness, Israel has become one of the world’s leaders in how to wring the most out of parsimonious amounts of rainfall and turn a parched landscape into a productive garden. The Israelis are turning seawater into tap water, pioneering new types of irrigation, and reusing wastewater at the highest rate of any country in the world. (Christa Case Bryant, Christian Science Monitor)

HOW ISRAEL DEFIES DROUGHT

At Ein Yahav in Israel’s Arava desert, they grew roses when others said it was impossible. They created naturally airconditioned greenhouses by setting up “wet curtains” – honeycombed walls that allowed water to seep through slowly. They planted flowers in trenches of volcanic ash instead of the sandy soil. Later they switched to dates and peppers. Today the former moonscape has become an agricultural Eden, with rows of greenhouses. This narrow strip of land along the Jordanian border produces 65% of Israel’s vegetable exports. Driven by a combination of ne-

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At Expo Milano 2015, the Israeli Pavilion is showcasing innovative agricultural technologies. Its “vertical garden,” a 70-meterlong, 12-meter-tall wall, is planted with rice, wheat and corn, managed by a computer program and a mobile application. For 1 kilo of rice, you generally use 5,000 liters of water. With a vertical system, you only need 1,500 liters of water. The biggest advantage of vertical farming is that it requires only drip irrigation and can be applied on the walls of residential buildings, thus saving valuable water and land resources. It also provides soundproofing and insulation for houses. (Xinhua - China)

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August 2015

COMMENTARY

UN Human Rights Council? UN Human Wrongs Council! By David Harris, Executive Director, AJC, July 3, 2015

he 47-member UN Human Rights Council in Geneva just voted to assail Israel because of the Hamas-triggered war in the summer of 2014. That’s right, assail Israel, not Hamas. There will be those silver-tongued diplomats from Europe and elsewhere who will try to explain that the text could have been worse, as if this should be a source of gratification. No doubt, the text could have been still worse – it always can be – but that’s not the point. The point is it shouldn’t have happened in the first place. But then again, this is the inaptly named UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). When it comes to Israel, these things are so routine they barely raise an eyebrow in the international community. After all, hard as it may be to believe, tiny, democratic Israel has been the target of more country-specific resolutions at the UNHRC than all other nations combined. Think about it for just a moment. There are 193 UN member states, including some of the worst human rights violators in modern history. Yet many, if not most, get off scotfree. Even more, they get to pile on Israel, while avoiding the UNHRC’s scrutiny and wrath. Why? Actually, the answer is really quite simple – and telling. It’s, above all, about numbers. The UN is nothing more or less than the collective expression of its member states. So, let’s take the example of an anti-Israel resolution. Right off the bat, the Palestinians can count on the automatic support of the 21 voting members of the Arab League (if it’s the entire UN General

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Assembly, or the league’s representatives in the case of a smaller body like the UNHRC). So, too, with the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). There won’t be any dissent coming from this group, irrespective of how biased, one-sided or outrageous the antiIsrael text might be. Group solidarity counts for far more. And then comes the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Suffice it to say that the current chairman is Iran and Venezuela is on deck. That’s close to two-thirds of the UN membership, providing a decisive majority for any anti-Israel text. But, alas, it doesn’t end there. In some ways, the most problematic voting can come from the 28-member European Union and those nations who tend to follow this group. After all, these are democratic countries that have relations with Israel and shouldn’t necessarily be in lockstep with the Arab League, OIC or NAM. And, true, there are times when, voting as a bloc, the EU will abstain on an Israel-related matter, for which they congratulate themselves on their courage, even if sitting on the fence can be contradicted by the facts on the ground. And indeed, every so often, the EU won’t achieve a consensus, in which case individual nations will go their own way, sometimes variously ending up in the “yes,” “no” and “abstain” columns. But today in Geneva, the five EU countries all voted together – and voted “yes.” While such a vote from Ireland or France may not be a complete surprise to observers of the world body, a comparable vote by Germany, the Netherlands and U.K. is more noteworthy

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– and deeply disappointing. Let’s be frank. It bespeaks, above all, political expediency, not political courage. Standing with Israel yields few benefits and, potentially, many costs. Conversely, standing against Israel yields few costs and, potentially, many benefits. Apropos, when France wonders why Israel is opposed to initiatives from Paris in the UN on the peace process, this vote, and some that preceded it (e.g., at the UN Security Council, World Health Organization, and UNESCO) offer an answer. Paris cannot present itself to Israel as fair-minded and balanced, on the one hand, and then, when push comes to shove on a UN vote, go in the opposite direction. Once again, as in the case of last summer’s vote on the Hamas-Israel war at the UN Human Rights Council, only one country out of 47 stood tall, defended the truth, and displayed courage – the United States. (Had Australia and Canada also been members, they doubtless would have joined with the U.S.) Five others thankfully abstained – Ethiopia, Kenya, Macedonia, Paraguay and, notably, India, which had hitherto voted with the automatic majority on Israel-related measures. So by a vote of 41 to 1, with five abstentions, the UNHRC adopted yet another measure against the one and only liberal democracy in the Middle East. In doing so, it showed that it couldn’t – or wouldn’t – distinguish between a terrorist entity, Hamas, calling for Israel’s destruction – and Israel, a UN member state seeking to defend itself against the onslaught of crossborder missiles, mortars and tunnels. Shame!

Of course, what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, or at least that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Let’s see what happens when other democratic countries, faced with increasing threats from Hamas-like foes, realize that fighting back against enemies who use civilians as human shields, and hospitals and mosques as weapons depots, isn’t all that clean, neat and simple. Will they, too, face commissions of inquiry and one-sided resolutions from the automatic majority that circle the wagons around dangerous actors like Hamas, Iran and Venezuela? But, frankly, what’s most troublesome of all about this vote, and the countless hours of discussion, debate and decision that led up to it, is that it denied genuine victims of human rights abuses the attention and protection they deserve. That’s what the UNHRC is supposed to be doing – giving voice to the voiceless, protecting the defenseless, shining the spotlight on the perpetrators, calling them to account. But how can it, when it is pathologically obsessed with Israel, numerically captive to those ready to protect the guilty parties, and willing to throw truth to the wind? No, tragically, the UNHRC, doesn’t begin to live up to its name, far from it. And those who truly care about the defense of human dignity and human rights should be the first to express their outrage at this daily travesty. For more information, visit www.ajc. org.

The AJC West Coast Florida oﬃce, located in Sarasota, can be reached at 941.365.4955.

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August 2015

COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY BRIEFS

WESTERN ANTI-SEMITISM MAY DRIVE ISRAEL -TOWARD ASIA

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Contrary to what Western societies would like to believe, Western antiSemitism is not a phenomenon of the past. It is very well alive. How can we understand the interest, if not the obsession, of the West for anything Jewish? Israel, the Jews’ national expression, is treated as the archetype of anything bad and evil in the world. No word is strong enough to condemn Israel. Why threaten to impose special labelling for Israeli products manufactured in the West Bank, when such a treatment is not even considered for products from Chinese-occupied Tibet or Turkish-occupied (half of) Cyprus? How can we understand the French proposition, encouraged by many EU members, to impose a solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and declare that Jerusalem – the Holy City of Judaism before there was Christianity or Islam – is Palestinian? Asian countries – where the religions are Confucianism, Buddhism and Hinduism – are not obsessed by Jews. Today, Israel’s second-largest trading partner is China, and India is coming close. South Korea estimated that the intellectual ability encouraged by the study of Talmud was one of the explanations for Israel’s economic success, and so decided to introduce Talmudic studies in the schools. It has nothing to do with religion but was considered a tool for the specific goal of enhancing Korea’s place in the field of knowledge. The mere idea of a Western country doing the same is ludicrous. The West is unconsciously encouraging Israel, and its high technology sector, to be increasingly linked with Asian countries. (Julien Bauer, National Post - Canada)

WHY FLOTILLAS SAIL TO GAZA, NOT SYRIA

The latest publicity stunt by pro-Palestinian activists ended harmlessly as the Israel Navy intercepted a ship off the coast of Gaza that was attempting to break the blockade. But, like previous Gaza flotillas, the effort has little to do with the plight of the people of Gaza

and everything to do with the long war being waged to end Israel’s existence. More to the point, the continued focus on Gaza by those calling themselves advocates for human rights at the very moment that a genuine human catastrophe is occurring inside Syria without much of response from the international community tells us all we need to know about the Israel-bashers. While the situation in Gaza isn’t pleasant, the popular notion of a humanitarian crisis there is a myth. That’s because there is no shortage of food or medicine. It is true that there is a shortage of building materials because most of the concrete brought into Gaza is being used for tunnels or elaborate fortifications. Those who want to help Gazans need to think of ways to free them from the despotic control of Hamas, which executes its enemies without mercy and represses every kind of free expression as it enforces its ruthless Islamist ideas on the population. (Jonathan S. Tobin, Commentary)

HOW ACADEMIC EFFORTS TO BOYCOTT ISRAEL HARM OUR STUDENTS

In March 2014, I stood with 27 Vassar College students at the Auja Spring in the West Bank together with Palestinian environmental educators. This learning experience almost didn’t happen due to opposition from faculty and students at our own academic institution. I am a tenured geology professor who teaches about the connections between land and water resources and social justice. Several months before the trip, my course and the study trip associated with it were subject to a boycott debate on campus. Protesters bearing anti-Israel signs stood chanting outside my classroom; students were pressured by their peers to drop the course. I would have liked for the students holding placards and chanting slogans outside my classroom to come inside and debate in full sentences. By fostering narrow perspectives, bullying stymies learning and is anti-intellectual. I understand that what happened at Vassar is happening at academic institutions across the country. Instead of engaging in debate, students and faculty are shutting down avenues of inquiry and blocking attempts to examine difficult issues. (Jill S. Schneiderman, Washington Post)

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August 2015

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Back to school…but for whom is it toughest – children or parents?

Education Corner

By Laura Freedman

s our calendar pages turn toward the month of August, parents of school-age children feel the change in the air. Summer is coming to a close. The television and radio advertising begin to focus on back-to-school sales and deals on new

clothes, new shoes and new backpacks. The office supply stores are touting the need for everything a student could use in the classroom once they have on all their new duds. The air is charged with the excitement of all the possibilities of a new school year. What friends will I make? Who will be my teachers? What will my schedule of classes be like? In the preschool environment, the children are typically anxious at the start of a new school year. Especially when they are starting schooling for the very first time. The fear of the unknown can be overwhelming. Children tend to cling to their parents at dropoff, and separation can be very difficult for the young child. That is where warm, loving teachers step in to ease children’s worries. They gently redirect them to classroom activities and peers that entice new students to adjust without their caregiver present. In no time, the consistency of a morning

routine creates a simple transition and anxieties are quickly relieved. On the other hand, anxiety levels are high for the parent of a preschool age child, too. They do not have the benefit of those warm, loving teachers comforting them and redirecting them to new friends and activities. Very often the adjustment period can be prolonged for the parent. Separation anxiety is not just for little ones. When parents are accustomed to having a “shadow” with them all day, every day, this sudden absence is a huge change. Schools can help. Reminding the parents of all the benefits of enrolling their child in a preschool always helps ease parents’ anxieties. They are reassured that their decision to start their child in school was a good one. Some of these benefits include positive peer interaction, creating lifelong learners, fostering a sense of identity, building oral language skills, and developing a

Rabbi Ed Rosenthal leads ﬁrst-ever underwater Birthright trip

ore than a year ago, when Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, Executive Director of Hillels of the Florida Suncoast, had an idea for the first-ever scuba diving Birthright trip, he never imagined that his dream of taking 30 young adults – all certified scuba divers – to Israel would become a reality. Working with Hillel colleagues in Jerusalem, a proposal for the idea was presented to the Birthright Foundation. To Rabbi Ed’s delight, the proposal was approved by Birthright, and this summer from June 1-12, Rosenthal accompanied his group on this history-making Birthright experi-

ence. The program was funded by the Charles Bronfman Foundation, one of the original Taglit-Birthright program founders. Impressed with Rosenthal’s idea, Charles Bronfman met the group in Jerusalem to personally share how pleased he was to be able to make this happen for Rosenthal and the group. Rosenthal, a certified scuba diver for more than 30 years, was very excited about the opportunity to give young Jews the ability to connect with Israel and their Judaism through the water. He received 61 applications from college students and young adults around the country who wanted to be part of this groundbreaking experience. Of the 30 young adults on the trip, 10 were students at Eckerd College and part of Scubi Jew, also known as EC Environmental Divers, an Eckerd College student club created by Hillel that is now one of the largest and most popular student clubs on campus. Ten Israeli soldiers and students also took part in the trip. The itinerary for the underwater Birthright trip included the traditional, not-to-bemissed highlights of a regular Birthright experience, including visRabbi Ed Rosenthal (bottom photo at right) with students in Israel its to Jerusalem, Tzfat,

Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea and Masada, but this group spent as much of their time in Israel underwater as they did on land. The group went on a total of 12 dives throughout the country. They dove in the underwater archaeological site at Caesarea and in the Gulf of Eilat. They also snorkeled in the grottos of Rosh HaNikrah on the Lebanese border, but because of security restrictions, were not allowed to scuba close to Lebanon. While in Israel, the group drew attention from the Israeli media, including a feature article in Israel Hayom, one of Israel’s daily newspapers, a segment on Mabat Channel 1 News, and a live interview with some of the trip’s participants appearing on Israel’s version of ESPN. One of the scuba divers on the trip was Samuel Marcadis, son of Betsy and Abe Marcadis, who grew up in Tampa, and has been scuba diving since he was a teenager. Although Sam had previously visited Israel with his family several times, he never had the opportunity to see the country, and his Judaism, through the water. According to Marcadis, “The trip was incredible. I had the time of my life! I was able to see the true beauty of Israel from a very different perspective than the traditional Birthright experience allows.

love for learning and for school from an early age. Another way schools can help is by encouraging a sense of community within the school and among the parents. Once the parents have made connections with other parents who may be struggling with the exact same feelings and worries, those concerns become normal feelings that then dissipate. Administration can provide activities that allow for parents to meet, mix and mingle right there in the school’s lobby or at parent workshops or evening events/ get-togethers. Once the students have made their adjustments and are settled into their new classroom environments, parents can see their children’s joy. Parents have made their own adjustments to the new dynamic of parenthood. And, all is right in the world again. Laura Freedman is the Director at The Gan at Temple Sinai.