The Jewish News - April 2014 by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

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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

April 2014 - Adar/Nisan 5774 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 10A Community Focus 17A Jewish Interest 22A Israel & the Jewish World 27A Commentary 28A Focus on Youth 31A Life Cycle 1B Jewish Happenings

3A Major Gifts Dinner in the Rainforest Garden

7A Birthright Israel: The experience that opened my eyes and my heart

15A Chabad of Venice & North Port Torah dedication

Volume 44, Number 4

Vibrant Jewish community partners By Howard Tevlowitz, Federation Executive Director

hat is the “business” of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee? If we took a poll of the Jewish community, the overwhelming response would probably be fundraising. Let us be clear: Federation is not in the fundraising business. Our Federation’s goal and fundamental mission is to strengthen the Jewish community – through connecting Jews to each other; connecting the Jewish community with the general community; and building a vibrant Jewish future here, in Howard Tevlowitz Israel and around the world. Philanthropy, or tzedakah, is one of the ways we do that, and fundraising needs to be a core competency. This shift in thinking can enable a fresh look at how to deploy an array of products and approaches that will better enable our Jewish Federation to succeed in our core business. We think this is some of the progress we have been making in Sarasota-Manatee during the past few years. And we cannot succeed alone. We are extremely grateful to two Jewish communal partners – Jewish

Family & Children’s Service of the Suncoast and the Jewish Housing Council of Sarasota-Manatee – for the services they provide to the Jewish community. In the March edition of The Jewish News, Jamie Smith, JFCS Director of Marketing, and I enumerated the work JFCS and Federation do together throughout our Jewish community. With regard to the Jewish Housing Council, improving the quality of Jewish life at Kobernick/ Anchin/Benderson is of paramount importance to our Jewish Federation – whether it be through Jewish holiday programming, cultural arts or wellness programming. Staff of both organizations have been working together to create interesting events that serve the needs of JHC residents, as well as collaborating on community programs designed to attract the public to the JHC campus. In addition, Federation provided a grant to support the addition of the Multisensory Room at Anchin Pavilion. This therapeutic room assists residents with dementia and cognitive disorders and can improve mood, calm agitation and promote well-being. We look forward to continued collaboration with both JFCS and the Jewish Housing Council and are honored to work with partners who share our vision of creating a strong and vibrant Jewish community.

Lion of Judah and Pomegranate Chocolate Luncheon By Ilene Fox

he 2014 Lion of Judah Luncheon and Pomelate luncheon in a room decorated in red and gold. granate Luncheon was held on February 14 in The luncheon sponsor was the Community Foundathe Family Jeweler tion of Sarasota CountyInvoice 14276 sponsor the Resort at Longboat Key Club Harbourside and the chocolate Name: ________________________________________________ Ref #: ________________ Dining Room. Co-chairs Nadia Ritter and Bunny was the Resort at Longboat Key Club. Skirboll welcomed a record-breaking crowd of more Nadia Ritter announced that Bunny Skirboll than 120 Sarasota-Manatee Lions, Lions from other will receive the prestigious Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland communities, as well as Pomegranates for a chocoAward at the International Lion of Judah Conference to be held in New York City from September 7-10, 2014. The award is given to one woman from each community This Proof must be signed and returned before Paver we can proceed with your order. This is your who has exhibited leadprior to printing. Please examine all spellership and inspiration in ReligiousProof ing and information carefully. RFJD will not be many facets of FederaSchool held responsible for any unnoticed errors. Any tion life and has made studentserrors found after printing will be customer’s sole a significant impact on responsibility. work with the local and worldwide Approval photographer Jewish community.

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chocolate luncheon...continued from page 1A Federation President-elect Patti Wertheimer thanked luncheon attendees for their generosity, and Associate Executive Director Marty Haberer gave a presentation about Federation, its partnerships and budget. Roxie Jerde, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, addressed the audience, speaking about the importance of women and philanthropy. New Lions recognized by Nashim L’Tova co-Chair Ros Mazur were Allison Silver Schwartz, Hannah Weinberg, Marla Katz, Grace Goldstein, Flora Oynick, Sharon Weinstock, Marsha Eisenberg, Anne Spindel, Rosann Argenti, Barbara Jacob, Lisa Morano, Stacy Hanan, Judy Levinson, Elaine Weill and Simone Knego. Allison Silver Schwartz, Nashim L’Tova coChair, recognized new Pomegranates Irma Blumenthal, Draga Stankovich, Faith Goldman, Sandy Samdperil and

Nancy Milbauer. Endowments recognized by Helen Glaser, Legacy Society co-Chair were Barbara Jacob, Bunny Skirboll and Roz Goldberg. Lauren Yoked of Leket, Israel’s national food bank and rescue organization, spoke about the organization’s support meal rescue program which prevents unnecessary food waste and provides a consistent source of nutrition to the needy. Generous guests at the luncheon raised funds to benefit this project. Although speaker Rabbi Deborah Prinz, author of Jews on the Chocolate Trail, was stranded in New York due to inclement weather, luncheon guests were given a copy of her book. For more information about Lions of Judah and Pomegranates or the International Lion of Judah Conference, please contact me at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org. Photos by Cliff Roles

New Pomegranates Draga Stankovich, Faith Goldman, Nancy Milbauer and Sandy Samdperil

Bobbi Bernstein, Sylvia Samet, Barbara Jacob

FEDERATION NEWS

Federation Mini-Series – Outreach & Engagement By Howard Tevlowitz, Federation Executive Director

elcome to this month’s installment of the Federation Mini-Series; this monthly feature serves to outline the work our Federation does as a result of the support of our generous donors. Each component of this series will focus on one aspect of the important role our Federation serves in our local community and worldwide. Our Federation is focused on helping those Jews most vulnerable or at risk, and working to build a stronger Jewish future. We add value by identifying where there are vital needs or gaps in the community, identifying key opportunities and effective solutions to these challenges, convening partners, leaders and donors to address these issues, and ensuring return on philanthropic investment. Bottom line: we aim to be the most effective mechanism to ensure meaningful – and strategic – impact in our Jewish community. While there are between 9,000 and 10,000 Jewish households in SarasotaManatee, the affiliation rate in area synagogues may be in the low twenties. For this reason, our Federation is focused on programs and services designed to reach out and engage Jews within their Jewish community. We employ what the Jewish Outreach Institute (JOI) defines as a Public Space Judaism model, where Jewish programming takes place in secular venues frequented by the general population, such as parks, retail locations or farmers markets. These programs reach people “where they are.” Our Federation also partners in community events such as the Asolo Rep’s 4000 Miles and the Sarasota Film Festival in order to provide the local population,

urns Ret

both Jewish and non-Jewish, with lowpressure, positive contact with Jewish culture, history and values. Finally, our

Embracing Our Differences exhibit sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

in-house programming is designed to appeal to a broad audience while maintaining a low threshold for participation. Through our cadre of committed donors, volunteer leadership and staff, we are building a 21st century outreach and engagement model. This model has a caring, Jewish heart; we plan; and we are positioned financially to carry out these plans. Our partnerships with faith-based and general community organizations heighten our visibility and shed light on the incredible work our Federation is doing here and around the world. This provides just a glimpse into the work we do daily at our Federation on behalf of the 2,500+ individuals and families giving to our Jewish Federation and fulfilling our mission of saving Jewish lives and enhancing Jewish life. I hope this mini-series helps provide an understanding of the impact your dollars have on the lives of those in our worldwide community. If you have any questions, please contact me at htevlowitz@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2110.

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Questions? Contact Flora Oynick at 941.343.2114 or foynick@jfedsrq.org The Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota FL 34232 941..371.4546 • TheJewishFederation.org

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April 2014

3A April 2014 FEDERATION NEWS

Major Gifts Dinner in the Rainforest Garden By Ilene Fox

n a beautiful February 4 evening, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee held its Major Gifts Dinner in the Ann Goldstein Children’s Rainforest Garden at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The backdrop was the Ein Gedi Pool, funded by donor-directed gifts, and the result of a partnership between Federation and Selby Gardens. The event was co-chaired by Simone and Dr. Robert Knego, and Martin and Irene Ross. “It was a joy and a privilege to co-chair the magical evening in the Selby Children’s Rainforest. It became even more special and meaningful as our major donors were in view of our

Federation’s Ein Gedi Pool, where we brought a little bit of Israel to Sarasota,” said Irene Ross. Guests were treated to a special performance by Abe Feder, principal cello, and Cheryl Losey, principal harp, of the Sarasota Orchestra. Michael Siegal, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Jewish Federations of North America, addressed the guests, providing them with an update on initiatives of the national organization. “It was an honor for Rob and me to co-chair the event with Marty and Irene Ross. By combining a breathtaking venue, savory food, major donors and friends, Federation created a

Allison Silver-Schwartz and Dr. Hardy Schwartz

Photos by Cliff Roles

night to remember,” reflected Simone Knego. For more information about major

Co-chairs Robert & Simone Knego and Irene & Marty Ross with speaker Michael Siegal (center)

Larry and Debbie Haspel

Bunny and Mort Skirboll

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Program/event ads featured in this issue 4000 Miles..................................27A Alexander Muss High School......30A College Scholarships..................29A Confluence: Israel.........................3B Embracing Our Differences..........4B Fifty Shades of J.........................21A Food Bank Partnership................24A Giving Challenge..........................2B Havdalah on the Beach.................3A Holocaust Speakers Bureau..........6B Jewish Educational Loan Fund.....9A Jewish News intern......................29A

gifts or Federation’s partnership with Selby Gardens, please contact me at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org.

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Keyboard Conversations®.............2A Masa Israel Travel Scholarship..30A Music Makes Community...........21A Passover Seder Survival Guide.....2A PJ Library®..................................28A Send-a-Kid-to-Israel Program.....26A Shalom Baby...............................29A STEP Siesta Shakedown.............28A Women’s Giving Circle...............28A Yom HaShoah Commemoration..15A Young Adults Happy Hour............9A

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April 2014

FEDERATION NEWS

Federation to participate 2nd annual Community in 2014 Giving Challenge Havdalah on the Beach By Kim Mullins

By Amber Ikeman

he Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is proud to announce that it will participate in the 2014 Giving Challenge on May 6 and 7, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Patterson Foundation, Manatee Community Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation. Last year’s Giving Challenge raised nearly $3 million for area nonprofit organizations, including our Federation. Thanks to YOU, our generous donors, our Federation raised over $42,000 during the 36-hour event. The Giving Challenge is an initiative to raise funds from existing and new donors using the Internet and social media. Please watch for more details in our weekly Federation email

pen Now oston o in B

newsletter and on Facebook. If you’re not on the Federation email list, simply send an email to info@jfedsrq. org to be added to the list; please be assured that your email address will not be shared with anyone. If you are a Facebook user, we encourage you to LIKE our page at www.facebook.com/ jfedsrq. As The Giving Challenge gets closer, we will be communicating with you via these mediums to let you know how you can support our Federation in this initiative. Your generosity allows us to achieve our mission of saving Jewish lives and enhancing Jewish life in Sarasota-Manatee, in Israel and around the world. If you have any questions about The Giving Challenge, please contact me at 941.552.6300 or kmullins@jfed srq.org.

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hen was the last time you did the horah on the beach? If it was last April at the Federation’s Community Havdalah, you certainly won’t want to miss this year’s event. After last year’s successful gathering of nearly 100 attendees, ranging from toddlers to seniors and everyone in between, we are thrilled to bring back the event and make it even better than before. On Saturday, April 5, the Federation will be spearheading the second annual Community Havdalah on the

Children dancing at last year’s event

Beach at the lovely Turtle Beach. Havdalah is a short ceremony marking the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the week. Little ones will have the chance to create their own Havdalah kits with a candle, spice box and Kid-

dush cup for their family while everyone enjoys dessert together. When the sun begins to set, we will partake in a musical Havdalah and song session. Everyone will be able to use their new Havdalah candles for the first time as a community. It is important for us to not only celebrate together as a Jewish community, but also to remember those in need in our greater community. Therefore, we are asking all attendees to bring at least two canned or non-perishable food items to support All Faiths Food Bank’s Summer Hunger Campaign. The Campaign’s purpose is to meet needs of children who participate in the free and reduced-cost school meal programs but are not in school during the summer and may not otherwise have healthy, nutritious meals or any meals at all. The event is free. All we ask for is a small contribution for the food drive – your tzedakah – and your enthusiasm and energy. Musical instruments are welcomed as well. We look forward to seeing you there! To RSVP for the Community Havdalah on the Beach, visit www. jfedsrq.org/events.aspx.

Another successful Israeli gathering event by Nathan Ziv By Orna Nissan

n February 23, about 35 people gathered at the Ziv home for a lovely and educational evening, not to mention the good company and variety of foods and drinks. The event was planned to be a Hebrew-speaking potluck. However, there was a large interest from many to bring their spouses or friends who do not speak Hebrew but were eager to attend the event. This turned out to be a non-issue as the main event, an AIPAC presentation, was mostly in English. The presentation, by two regional AIPAC senior directors, was short but interesting and informative. We heard about AIPAC’s activities in the U.S. and Israel, as well as how important supporting AIPAC is to the future of the State of Israel.

After the presentation we all gathered at the Food Court (the patio) around a long table which was covered with a huge assortment of foods such as hummus (of course), various salads, cheeses, breads and many desserts. While still eating, we split into smaller groups or just mingled and engaged in lively conversations. Events like this, which are supported by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, and are hosted at private homes, help the Israeli American folks stay together and share with each other aspects of our common culture. We’re looking forward to the next meeting. For more information, contact me at 941.552.6305 or onissan@jfedsrq. org.

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5A April 2014 FEDERATION NEWS

April 2014

Mensch of the Month: Bunny Skirboll By Ilene Fox

Established 1971

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 44, Number 4 April 2014 40 pages in two sections USPS Permit No. 167 May 2014 Issue Deadlines: Editorial: March 28, 2014 Advertising: April 1, 2014 PRESIDENT Nancy Swart EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Howard Tevlowitz ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Marty Haberer COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR Linda Lipson MANAGING EDITOR Ted Epstein CREATIVE MANAGER Christopher Alexander ADVERTISING SALES Robin Leonardi PROOFREADERS Adeline Silverman, Stacey Edelman, Harold Samtur, Bryna Tevlowitz, Deb Bryan JOSEPH J. EDLIN JOURNALISM INTERN Sammy Robbins, Sarah Tedesco 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.

unny Skirboll has been a parttime resident of Longboat Key for ten years. She is an active member of the Federation’s Board of Directors, as well as past co-chair of the Women’s Division and past Vice President of Programming. She has chaired many Federation programs and events including the Lion of Judah Luncheon, Women’s Passover Celebration, Jewish Book Festival and the first ever Purim Masquerade Ball, held in March 2014. Bunny was the 2010 recipient of Federation’s Women of Valor Award.

We are thrilled to officially announce that Bunny has been selected as our Federation’s nominee for the KipnisWilson/Friedland Award, which will be presented at the International Lion of Judah Conference in New York City in September. Among her numerous community involvements, BunBunny Skirboll ny is a member of the Board of Directors of the GlasserSchoenbaum Human Services Center

and has co-chaired its gala. A member of its Maestro Society, the Sarasota Orchestra honored her as a “Leading Lady,” and she has co-chaired its gala and brunch. In 1976, Bunny founded Compeer, Inc., an international non-profit organization that helps adults and children in mental health treatment in recovery through the healing power of supportive friendships. She was the Executive Director until 2004 and presently serves on the national board. For these reasons and many more, we are thrilled to honor Bunny as our Mensch of the Month for April!

“Let all who are hungry come and eat” By Rabbi Brenner Glickman

t this season of Passover, we are commanded to be mindful of those who are hungry and share our bounty with those in need. In this beautiful resort community of Sarasota, we are blessed with so much prosperity. We are the third wealthiest county in Florida. Yet, even here there is hunger. One in eight people in Sarasota receives food each year from the All Faiths Food Bank. These are working people who cannot afford to pay rent and feed their families. These are elderly who sometimes choose between skipping a meal and skipping their medication. And there are over 21,000 children in Sarasota County whose only meal may be a school lunch. This is what upsets me the most. There are so many children in our community who do not know if they are going to get dinner tonight. And if they eat tonight, will there be food tomorrow? The most vulnerable time of the year is approaching. Most of these children receive free or reduced-cost meals at lunch at their schools. But what happens when school lets out for the summer? The regular lunches end. More critically, summer is the time of

year when food supplies dwindle at the food bank. This is why the All Faiths Food Bank is now launching the Campaign Against Summer Hunger. This is a community-wide effort to stock our shelves and ramp up our distributions to find the hungry children of Sarasota and provide them with nourishment. I am pleased to announce that The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is an active partner and collection site. Non-perishable food donations will be accepted at T theO 580P McIntosh S ARoad L Elo-S cation through May 10. See the ad on ASSOCIATE page 24A for more details.

You can help, too. Please donate food, especially if you are going away for the summer. And you can volunteer. If you would like to get involved, call the All Faiths Food Bank at 941.379.6333, call me at 941.371.2788, or visit www. SkipALunch.org for more details. Please rejoice in your Seders. It is a mitzvah for us to recline and eat our fill. It is also a mitzvah to open our doors to the hungry, and share with those in need. We point to the matzah and declare, “This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat.”

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April 2014

FEDERATION NEWS

Dr. Joshua Green to represent The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee on a national level The Jewish Federations of North America taps area resident for prominent leadership role Staff Report tion process is rigorous.” And well it should be. According to the organization’s website, the role “signifies the continuity of excellence in leadership and the awesome responsibilities that go with it.”

Dr. Joshua Green

The National Young Leadership Cabinet is a local, national and international network of socially conscious Jews in their 20s, 30s and early 40s. Programs offer a wide variety of opportunities for next-generation Jews to find meaningful ways to get involved with the Jewish Federation. These activities include helping people in local Jewish communities, ensuring the safety of Jews overseas, being an advocate for social services, and working to strengthen Jewish life in Israel. The work of a co-chair brings all these responsibilities together. During their first year, they will focus on the NYLC campaign and participate alongside the chairs to gain experience in the leadership team. In their second year, they will help shape the vision of

NYLC and help execute its mission. Green’s involvement with JFSM began in 2008 when he went on a mission to Israel and got a firsthand look at the work JFSM does there, including building schools, hospitals and eldercare facilities. When he returned to Sarasota, he was hooked. “Philanthropy has always been an important part of my family’s life – but seeing what my giving actually accomplishes was eye-opening. It was a game-changing experience,” he says. Green’s passion kept growing – and people noticed. In 2009, he was asked to join the JFSM board. His area of expertise was finding ways to inspire younger Jewish people to become more involved with the organization, and to give to Jewish causes – here and abroad. To achieve that goal, Green helped to develop JFSM’s Young Adult Division, which now provides creative outreach initiatives and social opportu-

nities for young Jews in the SarasotaManatee region. He says that Jewish people, especially younger ones, often forget that there are still Jewish people around the world and in our own community who need help. “People can make a tremendous impact with their time, treasure and talent,” says Green. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to find dynamic, meaningful ways to raise awareness about the valuable services that Jewish Federations provide around the world. Together, we can work to inspire younger Jewish people to advocate for those in need locally and globally.” Green lives in Sarasota with his wife, Julie, who is also a member of NYLC, and their three children. For more information about The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, call 941.371.4546 or visit www.jfedsrq. org.

Club Fed celebrates Purim By Flora Oynick, Federation Engagement Ambassador

n February 25, more than 60 people gathered on the Federation Campus to have fun! New and old friends participating in Club Fed (a Senior Havurah) got the opportunity to socialize and enjoy tasting an assortment of wines and hamentaschen. In between tastings we played Bingo! Why wine and hamentaschen? Wine is served in almost every chapter of The Book of Esther, which contains the story of Purim. Mordechai, one of the story’s heroes, leaves us with parting words, instructing the Jewish people to celebrate these days “as days of drinking and rejoicing.” (Esther 9:22) The Jewish festival of Purim cel-

ebrates the successful overthrow of a plot to destroy the Jewish community of ancient Persia (modern Iran) in the fifth century BCE, as recounted in The Book of Esther. At the Purim Pastry Pairing and Bingo, we learned a few things about Purim, but also about how to pair wines and hamentaschen: Cabernet Sauvignon and chocolate hamentaschen Chenin Blanc and poppy seed hamentaschen Gewrztraminer and prune-filled hamentaschen Moscato and raspberry hamentaschen

Just some of the 60+ participants at the Club Fed Purim celebration

DERMATOLOGY

he Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee (JFSM) announces that Dr. Joshua Green was selected as the 2014-2015 co-chair designate of The Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) National Young Leadership Cabinet (NYLC). Green will begin his two-year term in June with co-chair Beth Kaplan Liss of Kansas City. As co-chairs, they will represent Jewish Federation young leadership across North America, which includes 154 Jewish Federations in the U.S. and Canada. “We’re thrilled to see Josh take on such a profound responsibility,” says Howard Tevlowitz, executive director of The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee. “The Young Leadership Cabinet is exactly what the name implies – young men and women who stand as national leaders in the Jewish community. Josh is exactly the right person to take on this role. He’s articulate, passionate and intelligent. It takes the next generation to reach the next generation. It takes leaders like Josh.” Green, 43, a urologist with Urology Treatment Centers in Sarasota, says he’s deeply honored to accept the role. “But I want to stress this is not about me – it’s about the future of Israel and the Jewish people. Securing that future isn’t my idea. It’s a trust handed down from generation to generation. I stand on the shoulders of those who came before. I work for the people who will come after.” According to Tevlowitz, Green’s good-hearted nature and unwavering commitment set him apart. “Few are called to be National Young Leadership co-chairs,” he says. “The selec-

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7A April 2014 FEDERATION NEWS

Birthright Israel: The experience that opened my eyes and my heart By Alexis Jaffer

irthright Israel is a once-in-alifetime kind of opportunity and a pure privilege presented to Jewish children. Growing up in a religious household, most children are familiar with the idea and dream of venturing to the Holy Land one day. My sister Becky, like many others, yearned for her turn to come. Let me just say, I don’t have an ordinary sister by any means; Becky is truly extraordinary. Her life has been far from easy, suffering from developmental delays. I’ve seen her overcome obstacle after obstacle, soaring above anyone’s expectations. With that being said, a typical high-energy Birthright trip was honestly out of the question for Becky. How do you explain to a person who spends 15-20 hours a week volunteering in the Jewish community that she doesn’t deserve a chance to experience Israel? Becky was constantly surrounded by friends who would tell her about the life-changing experience they had in Israel. My mom saw the pain it caused and went out seeking a solution to get Becky to Israel. With the help of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, they discovered a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip for specialneeds adults and their buddies. The moment I got the phone call that Becky would be eligible for Birthright, I knew I wanted to be there. My mom worked diligently to find this unique program in just the nick of time. We were fortunate to be accepted right away. Becky and I were going to experience the magic of Israel together. Ten days together without our mom was the most time we had spent together in ages. I recently moved across the country after graduating college, so I knew

this time together was going to redefine our somewhat distant relationship. I had previously visited Israel on the first Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors Mission, sponsored by the Federation, when I was still in high school. That trip was absolutely amazing, but this Birthright adventure was a completely different experience. Preparing for the trip, I kept telling myself this is a trip for Becky; I am there to help her and the other special-needs adults. I was going to lead by example and help teach them how to be independent. To tell you the truth, I feel I learned more from them than they did from me. On our first days in the Golan Heights we were all still getting to know each other. We began hiking

Becky placing her note in the Kotel

through the Tal Dan Nature Reserve. The hike was very tricky with running water, and stone hopping was involved. Within our group there was a young lady named Melissa, who is legally blind. You can imagine how difficult of a task this would be for her. Almost instantaneously there was a group of buddies and participants holding her hands and directing her through the path. The amount of compassion and caring that our group had was unparalleled to anything I had ever seen before. By the end of day one, when we were back at the kibbutz having our nightly recap, everyone was expressing a sense

of belonging. For a group of thirty, the compassion and bonding that happened within the first day was remarkable. From that day forward we were no longer a group – we were a family. All participants were at different functioning levels; there were some who had physical disabilities while others had intellectual ones. With that being said, it was very hard to tell who was supposed to be a “buddy” and who was supposed to be a “participant.” The strengths of every individual were evident, and labels were quickly dropped. Everyone was more than willing to lend a helping hand. It was a very accepting and loving atmosphere. Even in the crowded streets of Jerusalem, the kindness of our family was celebrated. It was a Thursday evening and we were exploring the shops along Ben Yehuda Street. As it got later into the night, young people started filling the streets. There was one group of young Israelis blasting music on a portable boom box accompanied by someone dressed in a dog suit. Adam, a young man in our family who has Down syndrome, went right up to them and starting dancing. The man dressed in the dog suit and Adam proceeded to have a dance off in the middle of the street. The Israelis didn’t even take a second look at Adam. They just embraced his enthusiastic attitude. It was quite a spectacle. There are so many stories of the indescribable energy that Israel possesses. I witnessed firsthand what this energy can do for these special-needs adults. There was such a huge amount of personal growth in such a short amount of time. The most moving part of my trip was watching how much this trip meant to my sister. She insisted on writing a

Becky and Alexis Jaffer at the Western Wall

prayer for our new family to put into the Western Wall. Watching her put her note in the wall brought tears to my eyes and hers. Another moving moment was after our emotional day at Yad Vashem. After our tour through the museum we all got together to take in what we just saw and discuss our emotions. We were handed paper and pens to try and collect our thoughts. After a good half hour we were given the opportunity to share our feelings. Becky’s hand was the first in the air. She rose to her feet and recited the most moving poem I have ever heard. It was so well articulated and thought out. She got everyone’s tears running again. I have never been so proud of my sister. Becky and I have never been closer than we are now. Returning to the U.S., I now have a new appreciation for who my sister is. I have thirty new family members whom I will never forget. They have taught me to appreciate and celebrate the gifts you are given and not to dwell on the shortcomings you were handed. In addition, I also have a renewed passion for my Jewish identity. None of this would have been possible without the help of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. Becky and I both greatly appreciate it! The Jaffers’ trip was made possible by a grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s Shapiro Teen Engagement Program.

Purchase your GROUP TICKETS for Voices of the Holocaust by April 10 and get 20% off PLUS a FREE display ad promoting your organization in the program guide. “On this one day we remember those who suffered, those who fought and those who died.”

Voices of the Holocaust Yom Hashoah, Monday, April 28, 2014 • 7:30 pm Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota A cantata in five parts, Voices of the Holocaust is a poignant arrangement of music originally written in the ghettos and concentration camps in proud defiance in the face of adversity. Sheridan Seyfried, Composer, ASCAP award winner Elizabeth Weil Bergmann, Choreographer, Retired Dance Director, Harvard University Joseph Holt, Artistic Director and Conductor

Call Robin Leonardi, Group Ticket Coordinator at 941.685.6270 or email voicesgroups@gloriamusicae.org

Brought to you by Gloria Musicae in partnership with Sarasota Jewish Chorale Sarasota Young Voices Booker High School Music Program Sarasota Choral Society Sarasota-Manatee Dance Alliance Chroma Quartet

Reserved seating. Tickets: $25, $40 and $70

This event is sponsored by

For individual tickets contact the Van Wezel box office: www.vanwezel.org

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Mr. Clair E. Johnson The Tourist Development Commission of Sarasota County

April 2014

Connecting the dots

FEDERATION NEWS Sponsored by

By Ellen Goldberg Tishman

he other evening I had the good fortune of listening to and then meeting Eva Schloss: writer, Holocaust survivor and daughter of Otto Frank’s second wife, Fritzi. Otto Frank was the father of Anne Frank and responsible for publishing Anne’s diary, which has been translated into over fifty-four languages and has served as the subject of numerous forms of creative expression, including movies, ballet, theatre, music performances and visual art. It has inspired millions of people of all ages around the world. Even though Eva only knew Anne for two years before WWII began, she considers herself a stepsister to her. Otto and Fritzi did not marry

until after the war. I had wanted to meet Eva for a long time, and had unfortunately missed her prior visit to the area. I shared with her the story of how I came to know Otto and her mother, and my subsequent visit to their home in Switzerland in 1977. As a Holocaust educator, I have read volumes on the topic and have heard scores of survivor stories firsthand. It is important that we hear the stories of survivors of the Shoah, or risk the memories of them becoming extinct. All too often students, both Jewish and non-Jewish alike, are being educated on this topic and may not really understand how it fits into the his-

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tory of the Jews or the history of the world politics and human rights. And world. We mostly see performances their modest home seemed like a small inspired by The Diary of Anne Frank, museum to me, complete with a speseeing it depicted as the story of a cial Anne Frank rose bush in the front. young girl coming of age while hiding I felt like I had stepped into the story of from the Nazis. The diary is not filled Anne Frank myself. with the atrocities of war. In fact, it reThough the emphasis has been ally isn’t a story about the Holocaust placed all these years on the diary itat all; rather it’s the story of just one self, and not the stories of the Frank and group of people in hiding through the Schloss (nee Geiringer) families before eyes of a young girl. and after the war and events leading up In classes, I have taught about some to the hiding of the Franks and their of the places people hid during the Hofriends, it is a great story that can garlocaust in order to encourage my stuner a significant amount of interest in dents to think creatively and consider this particular time in history. When I how this knowledge may help to serve have had the opportunity to present the them in their own lives if they ever subject in my classes, to actors, and in found themselves needing to uproot adult education, I try to make sure paragain because of anti-Semitism. Even ticipants do not simply become voythough there is Israel as a bedrock for eurs of the atrocities of the Holocaust. our security as a people, these lessons This is not easy to do. It is much like teach about the ingenuity of our people watching a science fiction movie from and our intense desire to survive under the comfort of one’s own armchair, or the worst of circumstances. in a movie theatre. It is hard to believe Eva fills in the times before and afthat people have had these horrific exter the diary’s story, so that we don’t periences and have lived to tell their see the diary as an isolated event. Eva stories, paving the way for history to connects her life to the diary and to Anne so that we can see the story as one of thousands that happened. And her own story of survival, with what she calls luck, was perhaps more important than the diary itself. Because of hearing Eva, the story is more complete for me. And, hopefully, if young people study the diary in the proper context it can be appreciated for My Friendship with the Franks, Mixed Media, 2012, more than just a story. by Ellen Goldberg Tishman When I was 13 years old remember and to inspire, and not to enI read The Diary of Anne Frank in my tertain. religious school. Our class was invited Holocaust survivors are now small to hear an actress read excerpts from in number and their stories live on in the diary while sitting in a dilapidated recorded testimonials and literature, attic as her backdrop. I was so imbut only if we share them. Indeed, the pressed and taken by this performance present Holocaust museums do a great that I wrote a letter to Otto Frank. I job on this perpetual education. sought out his address through a writeI also like to remind young people in newspaper question column (before that they can connect to the world and the Internet). They furnished me with to history in many ways, just as I did in his address, which was ultimately puba small way so many years ago. I feel lished in the local newspaper. In my letthat I have finally connected the dots, ter, I told him of my experience about as my correspondence, the sharing of the diary readings in the attic. I never my letters, meeting with the Franks, expected to hear from him, so naturally teaching Holocaust studies, viewing I was quite surprised to receive a letter artifacts and attending museums refrom him just one month later. lated to Anne Frank and the Holocaust This began a ten-year corresponaround the world, and meeting Eva dence with him, as well as with his have shown. I hope that young people surviving second wife, Fritzi, for many will continue to connect the dots, make years after his death. As I came of age contributions to Holocaust education, it seems that I had a lot to relate to them keep the subject alive, and work toward about my life, and they theirs for those making a better world where someday many years. I had the good fortune to there may never be another genocide or receive an invitation to visit them at events so horrific as the Holocaust. their home in Basel, Switzerland, durEllen Goldberg Tishman is an artist, ing a three-month trip I took around designer, and community educator of Europe during the summer of 1977. It Judaica and Holocaust studies. Her was a great day for me. I recorded the experiences as a young woman and entire event in my journal, which I kept connection to the Franks led her to for those three months that I traveled. a lifetime of discoveries and experiEven now I like to go back to read the ences related to Jewish education. Bepages I wrote that day and look at the ginning as a youth advisor, a moshav photos that we took in front of their experience in Israel as a young adult, home. They showed me all the letters and later as a student of the Florence I had written to them and told me that Melton Mini School – which led to her they could not answer all the people education about Israel and Holocaust who wrote to them. Why me, I always studies at seminars and institutes, and wondered? to study at the Conservative Yeshiva in They showed me gifts that people Jerusalem – she became a teacher of had given them, including a Chagall many grade levels in community reliprint of Anne from the artist himself, gious schools and adult enrichment and many other cherished possessions. programs. They were lovely people; interested in

9A April 2014 FEDERATION NEWS

April 2014

No way to attain a two-state solution By Rabbi Howard A. Simon, co-Chair of The Robert and Esther Heller Israel Advocacy Initiative

his is the reality in the Middle pute between Israel and the Palestinian East today. Iran wants to conWest Bank. tinue developing nuclear weapIn a recent interview, Kerry stated the following regarding the Israel-West ons. Syria speaks of ending its civil Bank situation: “Today’s status quo war while, at the same time, continues absolutely, to a certainty, I to kill men, women and promise you one hundred children on a daily basis. percent cannot be mainEgypt wants to establish a tained.” He then went on new government, but now to warn Israel it could be believes it is best to first targeted by a growing boyelect a new president, then cott campaign if peace talks put in place a new Congress. While this all goes with the Palestinians fail. The goal is for Israel to on the United States, Seccapitulate and accept any retary of State John Kerry, the European Union and agreement with the Palesall other Western parties tinians that will establish Rabbi Howard A. Simon a two-state solution that realize they cannot stop the killing, end the nuclear threat or will pacify the West. However, while bring order out of the electoral chaos Kerry continues to prod Israel to make in Egypt. peace, he says little or nothing to the So what is the West, in general, and Palestinians to bring them to the peace table in a cooperative manner. Did he John Kerry, in particular, going to do? express any reservations in December Jump on the back of Israel, demanding concessions from Israel in order when West Bank President Mohammed Abbas posthumously bestowed to forge a “victory” by ending the disThe JeWISh FederaTIon oF SaraSoTa-ManaTee InvITeS You To a

Young Adults Happy Hour

the “Star of Honor” on Abu Jehad, the mastermind of the 1978 Coastal Road Massacre where 38 Israelis, including 13 children, were killed? Did Kerry object to Abbas giving a hero’s welcome to Palestinian murderers released from Israeli jails as he rejoiced in their homecoming? President Abbas, Hamas and jihadists all approve terrorist activities against Israel while, at the same time, calling for the world to boycott, divest and sanction “terrible” Israel. Israel is threatened with boycotts, but the Palestinians are not called to account when they state, as quoted in Haaretz, “Israel has no right to exist and the Jewish people have no claim to the Holy Land.” If that was not blatant enough, the Palestinian source continues to state, “Israel will disappear, this is inevitable, and will happen soon.” Mr. Kerry voiced nary a word regarding such blatant attacks on Israel. Neither did any other leader of the Western world. All remained quiet, as if this

never happened. The Palestinians say they want a resolution to the problems between themselves and Israel, but they do nothing of a positive nature to make this happen. The peace process will fail because Israel has no honest negotiating partner to speak to or with whom they can develop understanding. When this failure happens, who will the world blame? Israel, to be sure. However, that same world could, if it chooses to honestly view the situation, point the finger at President Abbas and say, “You want a Palestinian state? Then realize what you have to do to attain it and act in a manner that will realize this goal.” What a welcome change this would be, but don’t hold your breath waiting for it to happen. For more information about the Heller IAI, visit www.sarasotalovesisrael.com or contact Jessi Sheslow at jsheslow@ jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109.

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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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10A

April 2014

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Don’t miss “Music Makes Community”

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Staff Report

he Jewish Federation of Mandell Fund for New Music, has conSarasota-Manatee, in partnertributed to the expansion of the choral ship with the Rabbinical Assorepertoire through commissions of new Copland and Bernstein; Adelaide ciation of Sarasota-Manatee and area music by the finest composers in North Boedecker, first-place winner in the synagogues, is delighted to welcome America and Israel. Annual Vocal Competition of the NaMaestro Matthew Lazar, conductor of Lazar will lead more than 100 tional Opera Association, singing Sumchoral groups at Carnegie Hall, Linmixed-voice choral singers, 50 musimertime from Porgy and Bess; and coln Center and other major concert cians, many from the Sarasota OrchesRhapsody In Blue played by pianist halls in the United States and Israel, to tra, and cantorial soloists in a Genevieve Beauchamp. our community. program ranging from powBeloved local philanthroMatthew Lazar is the leading force erful sacred masterworks to pist Zita Desenberg is the of the Jewish choral movement in Broadway show tunes. The honorary chair. North America. His superior talents as concert is coordinated by “For all of us it’s been a conductor and interDr. Ann Stephensonexciting and sti-mulating preter of Jewish music Moe, a major musito experience Maestro have elevated the stancal force in Sarasota. Lazar’s patient and medards of Jewish musical Ann co-founded both Dr. Ann Stephenson-Moe ticulous approach to the performance and eduKey Chorale and Gloria Musipieces on the program,” says Stephencated audiences across cae and currently serves as the son-Moe. “So many professional singNorth America. Lazar’s organist and musical director ers joined this chorus because it is an visionary leadership led at Temple Beth Israel and the unparalleled opportunity to sing great to the creation of the Church of the Redeemer. music conducted by a great maestro.” Zamir Choral FoundaHighlights are Ernest This concert shouldn’t be missed! tion, which continues Bloch’s majestic Sacred Ser“Music Makes Community” takes Matthew Lazar to nurture the growth of vice, featuring Metropolitan place on Thursday, April 3 at 8:15 p.m. Jewish choral singing in North AmerOpera baritone Jason Stearns; Hazat the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. ica and Israel. In addition to directing zans Jeff Weber, Cliff Abramson and Get your tickets today by calling the the Zamir Chorale, he has also created Deborah Jacobson singing religious Van Wezel box office at 941.953.3368 the Mantua Singers, the Selah Vocal and popular music from Gershwin, or visit www.vanwezel.org. Ensemble, and Shirah: The Community Chorus of the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades. He has inspired the creation of adult choral ensembles throughout the United States and, through the Zamir Choral Foundation’s Jeanne R.

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“Backstage at The Players” to present Denial “

ackstage at The Players” will present NPR host Peter Sagal’s searing drama Denial from April 3-13 in the intimate backstage studio performance space at The Players Theatre. In Denial, Abigail Gersten is a Jewish ACLU attorney and First Amendment absolutist who has a history of

Sagal, best known as host of the National Public Radio game show Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, is an American playwright, screenwriter and actor. Denial premiered in New York in 2007. Directed by Elliott Raines, the cast includes Kaylene McCaw, Jaszy McAllister, Barry Look, Dylan Jones, Neil Levine and Joe Kerata. This is the final play of the The Players Theatre’s “Backstage at The Players” three-show 2013-14 season. Past productions have included such diverse contemporary works as Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, David Mamet’s Oleanna, and the Florida premiere of Zombie Town: A Documentary Play. The alternative theater’s mission is to present challenging contemporary American work in a spirit of adventure for actor and audience alike. There are only eight performances of Denial – Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. For tickets ($15), call The Players Theatre box office at 941.365.2494 or visit www.theplayers.org. The theater is located at 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

Peter Sagal

defending unpopular clients. Bernard Cooper is courtly, polite and dedicated to convincing the world that the Holocaust was a political hoax. When the federal government seeks to prosecute Cooper for inciting violence, he turns to Abby for help. The conflict that ensues concerns issues of history, memory, the right to free speech and the differences between what is legal and what is morally right.

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11A April 2014 COMMUNITY FOCUS

11A

Cinema Judaica: The War Years 1939-1949 explores WWII, Hollywood and anti-Semitism Important history chronicled in famous movie posters

“

ights, Camera, Action!” are the famous words associated with movie sets. However, the lights were dimmed dramatically for Jews in the industry during World War II. Cinema Judaica: The War Years 1939-1949, on view at the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU (JMOFFIU) from March 4 - August 24, 2014, explores this time period, Nazi influence and the response from American movie studios. Cinema Judaica is an unprecedented exhibition of iconic Hollywood film posters from 1939 to 1949. It illustrates how the motion picture industry countered America’s isolationism, advocated going to war against the Nazis, influenced post-war perceptions of the Jewish people and the founding of the

It’s Fun to be Free, Fight for Freedom Committee, 1941

State of Israel, and shaped the face of contemporary Jewish life. “The contributions of Jews in motion pictures is well known today,” says Jo Ann Arnowitz, JMOF-FIU Executive Director and Chief Curator, “however this exhibition sheds light on the industry’s politics during WWII, not only internally, but on a national and global level.” The exhibition begins with the

Hollywood studios’ compliance with the Nazis’ control of the motion picture industry in Germany, the ban on Jews from employment within it, and their restrictions on the American distribution of films shown in Germany and throughout Europe. All but two of America’s eight largest studios complied with the Nazis’ restrictions. United Artists closed down its German exchanges rather than fire its Jewish employees, but it did accept German content restrictions and arranged for its films to be shown in Germany through another distributor. Warner Bros., however, was the only studio to withdraw from the German market entirely. As Jewish characters disappeared from American films, Harry Warner and his brothers committed themselves to making anti-Nazi movies to alert the nation to the Nazi threat. The exhibition further documents this time period and how Hollywood studios set up the Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors Association (MPPDA) and established a Production Code of Administration (PCA) that prohibited causing affront to foreign states, including Germany. Thereafter, films required a seal of approval from the MPPDA. At the same time, the PCA worked with the U.S. State Department to ensure that American movies did not violate a series of Neutrality Laws enacted by the Roosevelt administration to keep American citizens safe in European and other war zones. Thus, anti-Nazi screenplays and clearly defined Jewish roles, which would not pass the certification process, were transformed through allegory, character name changes, and other disguises and glosses by Warner Bros. and other like-minded independent producers. At the end of 1938, the PCA approved Warner Bros.’ openly anti-Nazi script for Confessions of a Nazi Spy, closely based on the recent historical record of the government’s espionage

case. The film was released in early May 1939. With the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and America’s declaration of war, Hollywood produced patriotic movies, in the guise of “platoon” films, which reflected on the melting pot tradition of American ethnic diversity and helped instill a unified fighting spirit. Also included in the exhibition are posters for World War II espionage and concentration camp escape melodramas set in Germany or another Nazi-occupied country such as To Be or Not To Be, plus films about Nazi Germany’s accountability such as Address Unknown, Tomorrow the World and Hotel Berlin. Following the war, “Exodus” films addressing the attempt by European war refugees to rebuild their lives and cultures after the Holocaust, include My Father’s House, The Illegals, The Search and Sword in the Desert. Postwar Hollywood films also addressed

Gentleman’s Agreement, 20th Century Fox, 1947

anti-Semitism on the home front and the Christian Mobilizers, who blamed the Jews for the war and attacked Jewish citizens, stores and synagogues in major northeast cities. These films, in which an Italian American or Irish American authority figure condemns anti-Semitism, stops an assault, or solves a racist murder, include The House I Live In, Crossfire and Open Secret, while Gentleman’s Agreement addresses the related subject of White Anglo Saxon Protestant anti-Semitism.

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My Father’s House, Jewish National Fund, 1947

The exhibition is on loan from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Museum and is curated by Laura Kruger. Local sponsors include the Robert Arthur Segall Foundation; State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; the Miami-Dade Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; the MiamiDade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners and the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council. About JMOF-FIU: The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU is the only museum dedicated to telling the story of 250 years of Florida Jewish heritage, arts and culture. The museum is housed in two adjacent, lovingly restored historic buildings, at 301 Washington Avenue on South Beach, that were once synagogues for Miami Beach’s first Jewish congregation. The museum’s permanent exhibition is MOSAIC: Jewish Life in Florida, 1763 to Present. Its temporary history and art exhibitions change periodically. For more information, call 305.672.5044 or visit www.jewishmuseum.com or Facebook @JewishMuseumofFlorida.

12A

April 2014

COMMUNITY FOCUS

JFCS’ Prison Ministry Program volunteer instrumental in creating extended family in unexpected setting Sponsored by

By Rabbi Ari Shapiro, Guest Author for JFCS

t what point does a group of my greatest “naches,” joy, comes from people go beyond commuworking with the Jewish inmates, most nity and become a family? of whom only knew that they were born At what point does an individual feel Jewish when we first met. Over the years I have officiated at a Bar Mitzsafe enough to bare his/her soul to vah, a Bat Mitzvah, and the people in that community a conversion to Judaand know that s/he will not be ism. It has also been my judged or gossiped about? At custom to celebrate one what point does one transcend Passover Seder in the vulnerability and enter into a prison each year, after deeper relationship? Under normal circumstancwhich the inmates talk about their own slavery es this all happens when two people fall in love and enter into to the things and events a committed relationship. This that brought them to inRabbi Ari Shapiro level of love means being open carceration. and vulnerable while knowing that you On a recent Friday, I gave the are safe with the other. men a teaching by one of my former However, much of my work is instructors and asked them to read the under abnormal conditions. For more entire five pages, try to understand its than twenty-five years I have been inmeaning, and to develop questions to discuss the following week. volved in Prison Ministry. I find it to be To my surprise I found that every extremely interesting work and have one of the men in our community was counseled and taught men and women prepared and a wonderfully spirited of all religions. As you might expect,

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dialogue ensued. When I felt that the discussion was completed, I asked if anyone had a final comment and that’s when it happened. One of the men disclosed that a day or two before our service/gathering he had received a letter from his son with whom he had not communicated for ten years. He opened his heart and talked. The other inmates listened intently and silently as he continued. It was as if space was created for a private therapy counseling session between the two of us and yet the others were there. It was then that I knew that these men, many of whom have done horrible things, have gelled, not just into a Jewish community but into a family with their connection with Judaism binding them together as a loving family. When I felt it was time to put closure on the discussion, I said, “Pete (not his real name), I admire you and honor you for opening yourself in front of all

Essen & Fressen for Yom Tov By Pam Baron, MSW, Director of Senior Services, JFCS

hanks to a new grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, more than 100 seniors will enjoy a festive Seder meal at Jewish Family & Children’s Service of the Suncoast (JFCS) from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9 and Friday, April 11. The sponsorship also provides the funds to purchase a Yom Tov meal from the kosher kitchen at Kobernick House for the holidays of Purim, Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Chanukah. The JFCS Senior Outreach Services (SOS) programs provide Jewish seniors in our community with mental health and caregiver group support, respite and socialization every Wednesday and Friday at the main campus. A critical component of these programs is the celebration of all major Jewish

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holidays throughout the calendar year. These holidays are celebrated with appropriate services through the support of our community rabbis and dedicated volunteers and, most importantly, a traditional holiday meal. For the majority of the SOS participants, these special events are their only opportunities to celebrate and connect to their Jewish heritage. “It means so much to me to know that I can celebrate Pesach with my JFCS friends and family this year,” shared 89-year-old Eleanor B., who lives alone in Bradenton. “I have not enjoyed a traditional Seder meal in so long. I am very grateful for this new program.”

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these other people.” He looked at me quizzically and said, “Why wouldn’t I? These are my ‘buds,’ my family.” *** As part of its Jewish Healing Program, JFCS offers Prison Ministry Outreach services thanks to the dedication and passion of volunteer Rabbi Ari Shapiro. Rabbi Shapiro provides Torah study, group discussions, Shabbat services and spiritual support to inmates in both local and state correctional facilities. Each Friday, he spends time at DeSoto Correctional Facility. In addition to his weekly commitment, Rabbi Shapiro plans to provide a Passover Seder for inmates in April, focusing on the importance of freedom. For more information about, or to support the Jewish Healing Program’s Prison Ministry Program, please contact Suzanne Hurwitz at shurwitz@ JFCS-Cares.org or 941.366.2224 x166.

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everal Sarasota Jewish Chorale members are participating in two major musical events sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee during the month of April. Rehearsals have been underway for the past two months in preparation for “Music Makes Community,” which will be presented at the Van Wezel on Thursday, April 3 at 8:15 p.m. and “Voices of the Holocaust,” which will premiere at the Van Wezel on Monday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. Under the direction of renowned Zamir Choral director, Matthew Lazar, “Music Makes Community” will feature a chorus of over 125 interdenominational singers. SJC singers in the program are Sopranos: Linda Tucker, Arlene Stolnitz, Sandra Erman; Altos: Ronnie Riceberg, Sylvia Gross, Debbie Marshall; Tenors: Sandra Evans, Fred Erman; and Bass: Don Friedman.

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“Voices of the Holocaust,” a collaboration with Gloria Musicae, Booker High School Music Program, Sarasota-Manatee Dance Alliance, Young Voices, as well as the Sarasota Jewish Chorale, is a dramatic 80-minute cantata based on songs sung in ghettoes and concentration camps during WWII. SJC singers involved in this program include: Sopranos: Sybil Broh, Marcy Vitkus, Linda Tucker, Carol Pettengill, Martha Kesler, Arlene Stolnitz; Altos: Tandy Stewart, Helen Kindness, Debby Marshall, Ronnie Riceberg; and Bass: Don Friedman. The Sarasota Jewish Chorale is currently booking programs for the 2014-15 season. For more information, please call me at 941.492.6944 or Susan Skovronek at 941.355.8011.

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13A April 2014 COMMUNITY FOCUS

AJC elects new members to Board of Directors

rian Lipton, AJC’s (American Jewish Committee’s) Regional Director, West Coast Florida, is delighted to announce the election of three prominent community leaders to AJC’s Regional Board of Directors: Debbie Haspel, Jules Rose and Matt Walsh. These new board members have demonstrated their commitment to AJC’s mission – to enhance the wellbeing of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values around the world. They have shown their dedication over the years by serving on event committees for AJC, and participating in last year’s AJC Global Forum in Washington, D.C. They join a successful and distinguished board, led by AJC Regional President Anne Virag, Vice Presidents Gerri Aaron, Ina Rae Levy, Flori Roberts, Stan Rutstein and Stuart Siegel, and Secretary Fran Blum. Debbie Haspel has had careers as both a nurse and an attorney, and was honored, along with her husband Larry, with AJC’s 2013 Human Relations Award. Mrs. Haspel has been on the board of the Sarasota Ballet and Friends of Kobernick/Anchin. She has volunteered for Susan G. Komen Suncoast, and has co-chaired events for the Perlman Music Program, Jewish Housing Council, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Debbie and Larry Haspel support many organizations, including AJC, the Jewish Housing Council, The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee, JFCS, The Asolo Repertory Theatre, The Sarasota Ballet, Perlman Music Program, and Embracing Our Differences. Jules Rose retired from a successful career in the food industry in the New York area, having earned numerous pro-

fessional awards and serving on many industry boards. Mr. Rose moved to Sarasota in 2000, when he married his current wife, Sheila. He was president of his condominium association and was co-chair of the Asolo travel group and Asolo Directors Society. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Perlman Music Program, and was its Chair from 2009 to 2013, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Studio Theater and the Longboat Key Foundation. Jules Rose is a committed and engaged leader, involved in many causes, and loyal to AJC’s mission. Rounding out the group is Matt Walsh. Mr. Walsh is Editor, CEO and co-owner of The Observer Media Group, and has been a loyal supporter of AJC for many years. He and his wife Lisa are devoted to issues concerning Israel and the Jewish people, and were both honored with the AJC’s 2010 Civic Achievement Award. He is immediate past chair of the Florida Press Association and treasurer of the American Court and Commercial Newspapers. He is co-founder and a director of the Gulf Coast CEO Forum, director of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, and a trustee of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. These three new leaders will help AJC address its four major priorities: Prevent a nuclear Iran, Promote Israel’s place in the world, Combat global antiSemitism, and Strengthen interfaith relations. For more than 100 years, AJC has sought to advance the peace and security of the Jewish people through high-level diplomacy, strong legislative advocacy, and effective interreligious and interethnic coalitions. AJC is the preeminent global Jewish advocate having an impact locally, nationally and globally. For more information about AJC, please visit www.ajc.org or email liptonb@ajc.org.

April 2014

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13A

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Judy and Jerry Levinson

Judy was an instrumental part in making that show a success for five years. Judy’s career ran the gamut of interesting culinary jobs including working for Westinghouse, General Foods, and Nazareth Hospital as the Chief Clinical Dietician. Never forgetting her roots in the Jewish community, she even taught ethnic cooking to students in kindergarten through seventh grade at Knesseth Israel Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Judy has been an activist for Israel and our Jewish people, holding the position of VP at American Jewish Congress and heavily involving herself locally with ORT, Brandeis, Kobernick House, and The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee as a Lion of Judah. Along with visiting Israel, Judy has written letters to news editors about the importance of the United States remaining a friend of Israel. Judy and husband Jerry are a committed couple to healthy living and our Jewish community.

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14A

April 2014

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Outdoor expansion supports USF Hillel’s rapid growth Groundbreaking held for new patio donated by Arnie and Diane Ross and the Frances Davis Foundation Sponsored by

By Brandon Schuster, Marketing Coordinator, Hillels of the Florida Suncoast

tudents and community members came out to USF Hillel on February 23 for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Dorothy Ross Patio, generously donated by community members Arnie and Diane Ross, and the Frances Davis Foundation. The 50’x40’ patio, construction of which began on February 24, will support USF Hillel’s rapid growth of the last few years, as more and more Jewish students on campus continue to become involved at Hillel. The new Ross Patio will be comprised of brick pavers, a pathway of crushed shells, and an 18’x18’ covered wooden pergola (pavilion). “The growth that has taken place at USF Hillel over the past several years has been amazing,” said Rabbi Ed

is inspiring. Arnie and I hope that our patio will lead to more involvement as USF Hillel continues to grow. We hope that this will allow for a more nurturing environment for Jewish living and learning on the USF campus.” Debbie Doliner, President of the Hillels of the Florida Suncoast Board of Directors, couldn’t agree more. “As this wonderful Hillel continues to grow, our vision is to see 100 students outside and 100 students inside, all mingling, eating, and celebrating Shabbat and other events on a regular basis,” said Doliner. “We can’t thank Arnie and Diane Ross enough for believing in our Hillel. With this new patio, USF Hillel will solidify its place as one of the largest, most active student organizations at USF.”

Groundbreaking ceremony

Rosenthal, Hillels of the Florida Suncoast Executive Director. “It’s incredible that we don’t have enough space on a regular basis for Shabbat dinners because USF Hillel has become so popular on campus.” After meeting with Rabbi Rosenthal last year, Arnie and Diane Ross instantly became inspired by his enthusiasm, vision and leadership of USF Hillel. “We have faith in USF Hillel’s future,” said Diane, beaming with joy. “This is such a wonderful place to be and the warmth and excitement here is palpable. Meeting with the students

Meyer Weitzman, the lead architect, worked on this project for free. As a 1997 graduate of the USF School of Architecture, Weitzman said during the groundbreaking ceremony that this was his way of giving back, in a very personal way, for what USF gave to him. Weitzman teamed up with Hunter Booth, principal of Booth Design Group, who also worked on this project on a pro-bono basis. Weitzman has already mapped out plans for expanding and renovating the USF Hillel building even more, including construction of a new kitchen and dining room,

which could ultimately be used as a kosher dining hall option for USF students. “My hope for USF Hillel is that the projects will be completed within the next few years,” said Weitzman. “However, these efforts are all completely dependent upon fundraising. We need the community to believe in the importance of Jewish campus life. I sure do, and so do Arnie and Diane Ross.” USF Hillel will dedicate the addition and host its first Shabbat dinner on the new Dorothy Ross Patio during its annual President’s Shabbat Dinner with USF President, Dr. Judy Genshaft, scheduled for Friday, March 28. This event is always one of USF Hillel’s largest and most popular events each year, and because of the new program space, this year’s President’s Shabbat will be extra special. The students attending the groundbreaking ceremony were so excited about the new addition to the building that they were already making a list of all of the events and activities to hold on the new patio before the end of the semester. The graduating seniors, on the other hand, were sad that they would not get to utilize the new patio as much, but were very excited that future students would get to enjoy this amazing opportunity at Hillel. “This is how we leave our mark and legacy for years to come,” said Brandon Schuster at the groundbreaking ceremony. Schuster was the 201213 President of USF Hillel and will be graduating this semester. “I am so proud of USF Hillel. Our Hillel has impacted the lives of hundreds of Jewish and non-Jewish students during their

college years, which is so important. This patio showcases our growth now and our growth for years to come. It’s just incredible. On behalf of all Hillel students, we are so grateful to the Ross family for their generosity and commitment to Jewish student life.” “Just imagine, Shabbat under the stars,” said Danielle Halevi, this year’s student President of USF Hillel. “I can’t wait, and I know many other students who come to Hillel each week can’t wait either.” Shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony, the USF Hillel students put on some gloves, grabbed shovels and axes, and immediately went to work on clearing areas of the “backyard” for a future meditation garden next to the patio. The students worked all afternoon during their “Mitzvah Day.” Hillels of the Florida Suncoast supports Jewish life on six college campuses along the Suncoast of Florida, including University of South Florida (Tampa and St. Petersburg), University of Tampa, Eckerd College, New College of Florida, and Ringling College of Art and Design. USF Hillel is a beneficiary agency of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. For more information about the Hillels of the Florida Suncoast, please visit www. suncoasthillels.org. For more information about USF Hillel or the Hillels of the Florida Suncoast organization, contact Linda Wolf, Assistant Director for Hillels of the Florida Suncoast, at 813.899.2788 or shalom@suncoasthillels.org.

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April 2014

15A April 2014 COMMUNITY FOCUS

15A

Venice Torah dedication

n February 16, the city of Venice witnessed a true historical event as a new Sefer Torah Scroll was completed and dedicated to Chabad of Venice & North Port. The scroll was written in Israel and completed at the actual event by participants and family members. Participants expressed their joy at seeing such a remarkable and special event in the heart of Venice, and being able to show their children and family members something so momentous. The sheer happiness and joy was so vividly expressed as participants danced with the Torah under a Chuppah on US41 toward the Chabad House, accompanied by live music and dancing, with young and old alike! The final three letters were completed by honorees Dan & Shellie Rubin, Steve & Abbie Davis and David Schlesinger along with scribe Rabbi

Yochanan Klein of Miami. Many other participants were able to join in the writing of the final letters in honor of family members or in memory of a loved one. Following the final letters, the very first Hagbah (lifting of the Torah) was done by Robert Goldman, followed by Gelilah (the wrapping of the Torah) by Ron Braun, and the placing of the silver breast-plate by Jerry & Gayle Zingerman, Yad (pointer) by Dr. Alex Gaukhman, and silver crown by Dan & Shellie Rubin. A buffet dinner was held following the dancing, and participants enjoyed great food, music and a presentation from the Hebrew School. On Monday morning a Minyan was held at which the Torah was read from for the very first time by Bar Mitzvah boy, Jacob Isaac Barrett.

Community Yom HaShoah Commemoration

Bryna & Howard Tevlowitz, Samuel Brook, Mordechai Schmerling (child), Scribe Rabbi Yochanan Klein

Temple Sinai, making a difference with at-risk kids

here is no greater need for mitzvah in our community than the needs of the nearly 1,000 Sarasota students, homeless or in transition, from elementary to high school age who, with no home and often no place to sleep nor adequate food to eat, strive to overcome odds and complete their education. The Sarasota Y, under the auspices of the YMCA Foundation, created the Community Coalition for Children that partners with area corporations and professionals to help meet the needs of atrisk children served by the Sarasota Y. Dan Dannheisser, a Temple Sinai trustee and Chair of Coalition, suggested Temple Sinai become involved, and involved it did. Temple Sinai is the only religious organization participating in the Community Coalition, and Mike Benesch, VP of Programming at Temple Sinai, is serving on the Coalition board as well.

During the last year, Temple Sinai congregational members have contributed hundreds of hours tutoring boys and girls with their studies and offering vital life skills mentoring. The congregation also helped the Coalition provide much needed books, study materials, backpacks and clothing. A generous monetary donation was also made thanks to the efforts of Temple Sinai’s Mitzvah Day. Five young at-risk students live at Grammy’s House. When the shelter desperately needed a complete facelift, Temple Sinai members were among several groups that showed up with shovels, rakes and paintbrushes to make it a safe and warm environment for these youngsters. Temple Sinai is proud of its involvement with the Sarasota Community Coalition for Children to help meet the needs of the at-risk children who live in our own backyards.

remembering those who perished in the Holocaust ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

Sunday, April 27, 2014 @ 2pm Temple Beth ISRAEL

567 bay isles rd., longboat key Guest speaker, Dr. paul r. Bartrop, “GooDness DurinG the holocaust: acts of helpinG amiDst the horror.” Dr. Bartrop is recoGnizeD as one of the worlD’s leaDinG scholars of the holocaust anD GenociDe. he is professor of history anD Director of the center for JuDaic, holocaust, anD human riGhts stuDies at floriDa Gulf coast university, fort myers.

come together and create the club they want to be part of,” explained CutlerCohen. “We plan to include a broad range of activities and events – cultural, intellectual, athletic and spiritual. Most of all, we want to help members form new friendships with both men and women in the group,” added Fleischer. Fleischer, Cutler-Cohen and Roth say plans for dinners, movies and cruises are already in the works. For more information or to make a reservation, call or text Rosalyn Fleischer at 941.915.6631.

Looking for something Jewish-related to do this month? See the Jewish Happenings section for more than 50 events in April!

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Temple Beth Israel to launch Sarasota Jewish Singles o better serve the Jewish singles population, Temple Beth Israel of Longboat Key is launching a group specifically for local Jewish singles aptly named Sarasota Jewish Singles. Jewish singles are invited to attend an introductory dinner meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 21 at Café Baci in Sarasota. The dinner is $25 (plus tax and tip). The new group will be organized by Rosalyn Fleischer, Sandie Cutler-Cohen and Marsha Roth. “Our goal for Sarasota Jewish Singles is to provide a relaxed social atmosphere where Jewish singles can

For more information, please visit TheJewishFederation.org 941.371.4546

Yom Hashoah will be observed with memorial candle lighting, music, prayers and songs.

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16A

April 2014

Temple Emanu-El renews partnership with Rabbi Brenner Glickman

ight more years! Temple Emanu-El is delighted to announce that the synagogue has renewed its partnership with spiritual leader Rabbi Brenner J. Glickman for eight years in a recently-signed contract. “The contract with Rabbi Glickman continues building on his being our rabbi for a very long time,” commented Temple Emanu-El President Michael Richker. “Rabbi’s first contract was for three years, the current one is for five years, and his next contract is for eight years. We continue building on the future.” Since Rabbi Glickman became Temple Emanu-El’s rabbi in 2006, the synagogue has experienced incredible growth and become a center of Jewish life and meaningful, innovative Jewish programming for all ages. Temple membership has nearly doubled, and many signature events have been created and continue to thrive. The synagogue also received the Union of Reform Judaism’s prestigious Belin Award for outstanding outreach and was featured in Reform Judaism magazine for its welcoming atmosphere. Rabbi Glickman has also served as president of the Sarasota-Manatee

Board of Rabbis, a board member of The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee, and a leader in All Faiths Food Bank. “We are so happy to establish roots in Sarasota. We have found a home and

Temple Emanu-El President Michael Richker and Rabbi Brenner J. Glickman

a community here in Temple EmanuEl. We are hoping to grow old here,” Rabbi Glickman stated. “I feel really honored that the congregation has placed its trust in me,” he added. “I hope that I will make them happy with their decision in the years to come.” For more information about Rabbi Glickman and Temple Emanu-El, please call 941.371.2788 or visit www. sarasotatemple.org.

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Genizah dedication ceremony at Temple Beth Sholom

t the request of Paver Religious School students, Temple Beth Sholom received a genizah created by two members, Norman Walter and Dr. Mark Ballow. A genizah is a depository for holy Jewish items awaiting a proper burial. Genizot are typically found in the attics or basements of synagogues, but can also be in walls, caves or buried underground. During Family Mitzvah Day at Temple Beth Sholom last October, students in grades 7-9 joined Hazzan Jeffrey Weber at the Temple Beth Sholom Cemetery off of Beneva Road to bury old siddurim, tallitot, and pages that had God’s name on them. At the

this tradition and mitzvah. Neither the schools nor the temple had any formal place for storing these items during the year. Synagogues in Jerusalem bury the contents of their genizot every seventh year, as well as during years of drought, believing that this would bring rain. Steven Spielberg built a huge genizah in Los Angeles, taking up an entire city block. Many of the items placed there may remain for future generations to discover. By far, the best-known genizah, which is famous for both its size and spectacular contents, is the Cairo Genizah, discovered by Western scholars in 1864. It had some 280,000 Jewish manuscripts, which allowed us to learn so much about how our ancestors lived. Norman Walter, chair of Family Mitzvah Day, enlisted Dr. Mark Ballow to help build a beautiful ark. This box is now housed in the Temple Beth Sholom Schools’ library to serve as a genizah for our Judaica. The students created a plaque for the ark so that future generations will know to treat these items with respect and love. On February 23, the Paver Religious School held a dedication in the Temple Beth Sholom Schools’ library in appreciation of this wonderful Norman Walter, Dr. Mark Ballow, Donna Newman and gift. Geraldine Nussbaum at the Genizah dedication ceremony Everyone at Temple Beth cemetery, these items were buried with Sholom and in the greater Sarasota the same dignity and respect that a huJewish community is invited to use the man being receives upon burial. After genizah and participate in this mitzvah. returning, the students discussed this If you would like more information, custom in their religious school class. please contact Temple Beth Sholom at They felt the need to participate in 941.955.8121.

Kosher meat available in Sarasota-Manatee Store Name/Location Costco (Sarasota Square Mall)

Publix If your Publix does not carry these items, speak to the manager, as any Publix store can order these for you.

BJ's Trader Joe's (Glengary St and 41)

Type of Meat Cohen's Frozen Hors d’oeuvres Pastrami Brisket Stuffed Cabbage Beef and Veal Sausage Beef Chopped Liver Chicken Chopped Liver Stuffed Cabbage Ground Beef Brisket Roast Ribeye Roast Chicken and Turkey Parts Turkey Breast Sliced Corned Beef Sliced Pastrami Chicken Parts Ground Turkey Chuck Steak Stew Meat Brisket Ribeye Steaks

Kosher Symbol

Items in red are new since the last publication of this chart.

Know of other stores selling Kosher meat in Sarasota-Manatee? Contact Allie Fraidowitz at moosemcalice@gmail.com to add to this list.

April 2014

17A April 2014 JEWISH INTEREST

Colorful political and romantic thriller captures wartime Cairo

17A

Sally PUllman HOTOGRAPHY

By Philip K. Jason, Special to The Jewish News mel’s victory in Egypt. He has cultivated a wide range of informants and is now being noticed by the SS as a useful functionary. hen Mickey Connolly, a He has the particular asyoung American journalsignment of tracking a Jewish ist, comes to the Middle refugee who is has arrived via East to report on the desert war, he is Istanbul. That refugee is Erik astonished to discover Libyans praisBlumenthal, who, with his ing Hitler’s Third Reich and seeing father Viktor and his sister Maya, is their future as Nazi Germany’s allies. staying with the Levin family, cousins In Cairo, his “home” base, he encounwho will shelter them until their final ters much of the same attitude, though papers allow for transit to Palestine. it’s essentially more anti-English than They have just barely escaped from pro-German. Egyptians had lived unGermany. der British martial The host family is headed by Joe law since 1939, and Allegra. Their oldest child, Lili, compromising who is in her late teens, befriends the independence Maya, who is somewhat older, and gained in 1936. after a while the two are sister-like With Rommel fuconfidants. Both young women are riously approachknockouts. We find out later that Aling the Egyptian legra’s brother is a prominent lawyer border, Connolly who is assisting Zionist efforts. wants to wake up Mickey Connolly has been gaining Phil Jason American readers access to personnel at the British and to the facts and significance of this desU. S. embassies, visiting Jewish leadert war theater. For much of the 1941ers and institutions, and reshaping his 42 time of the novel, the Germans seem reportorial focus, narrowing it down unstoppable. to the situation of the So why are Jewish Jewish community in refugees from Germany Egypt and the Arab and elsewhere coming to Middle East. Mickey Egypt in their flight from proves a good sleuth, persecution? There is a and he is recruited by sizeable, well-established the U. S. embassy to Jewish community there secretly hunt down the with mature institutions. very same Erik BluThere are Jewish individumenthal who is Kesals in positions of influner’s target. ence and power. However, Erik is important the stability of Jewish life because of his stature Juliana Maio in Egypt and elsewhere in as a young nuclear the Middle East is threatened by the scientist who has the kind of experdramatic rise of the Muslim Brothertise that can benefit either the Allied or hood and its growing partnership with Axis powers. Nazi Germany. When Mickey encounters and Meet Heinrich Kesner. He works falls for the reserved, intelligent and for the Abwehr, the German military extremely attractive Maya, he has no intelligence operation reporting on doidea that she is the sister of the man he ings in Cairo, allied military strength, seeks. Maya – properly fearful, guardand whatever will prepare for Romed, and yet enchanted to be in “Paris on City of the Sun, by Juliana Maio. Greenleaf Book Group Press. 380 pages. Hardcover $24.95, trade paperback $15.95.

“The Most Romantic Jew”

the Nile” – hides her true identity and whereabouts. Intermediaries help them communicate, and soon enough their torrid love affair begins to overwhelm the political thriller plot, though the two stories are of course interwoven. Each lover has secrets, creating a clash between trust and passion. Juliana Maio winds her story-telling through alternating points of view, weaving a pattern in which readers stand behind Connolly, Kesner, Maya and others. The device of interrupting one character’s thread with another leaves readers hanging, especially as events draw the characters closer and closer together. A sizeable cast of welletched minor characters populates a fascinating landscape at a fascinating time in history. Egyptian born Maio’s lavishly painted setting is one of her novel’s many charms. She takes us to a Cairo still intoxicated by the long cultural aftermath of Napoleon’s conquest and occupation at the turn of the nineteenth century. Pockets of Cairo, including the suburb of Heliopolis (City of the Sun), became effectively Europeanized, and French language, arts and manners became part of the city’s look and social tone up to and well beyond the onset of World War II. Knowing that the Nazis did not conquer Egypt, we are left to anticipate the fates of Erik, Mickey and Maya. My lips are sealed. 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.

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By Beverly Newman

e wooed one of the world’s wealthiest and most beautiful women to become his wife and remain his wife for over sixty years, with songs written for her. Of slight stature and unremarkable, but for his unmistakable Jewish appearance, this man made love poetic and romantic for all ages and for all time. The biography of Irving Berlin, recently taught at the Al Katz Center, was a life’s lesson that will never be forgotten by the class participants in the six-month course “Musical Jews.” Perhaps the largest life-lesson emanating from Berlin’s 101 years is the legacy of the Jewish people – that the worst adversity can be traded for blessings to humanity. And so Berlin blessed humanity with over 1,500 songs created by him in both lyrics and melody. Berlin was the least likely person

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Email: info@templebethsholomfl.org Website: www.templebethsholomfl.org Home of Temple Beth Sholom Schools: • The Martin and Mildred Paver Religious School – 941.552.2780 • Justin L. Wiesner Pre School – 941.954.2027 • Goldie Feldman Academy Grades K-8 – 941.552.2770

18A

April 2014

JEWISH INTEREST

USF and Eckerd take a stand against American Studies Association

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Presidents raise their voices in solidarity with Israel and against boycott backed by BDS movement

niversity of South Florida president Dr. Judy Genshaft and Eckerd College president Dr. Donald R. Eastman III have both publicly rejected the American Studies Association’s boycott of Israeli academic universities, which was backed by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Since the announcement of the academic boycott, incredible outrage was sparked internationally. One-hundred and thirtyfour members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed a letter condemning the boycott and over 200 university presidents have spoken out against it and in support of Israeli institutions. The ASA itself has roughly 4,000 members and lacks any formal ties with Israeli institutions to begin with. The ASA claims on its website that “Israeli academic institutions function as a central part of a system that has denied Palestinians their basic rights.” The resolution voted on also claimed

“there is no effective or substantive academic freedom for Palestinian students and scholars under conditions of Israeli occupation.” Therefore, in solidarity with “Palestinian civil society,” the ASA decided to sever relations with Israeli universities and academics. The ASA also claims that its special election on the matter attracted 1,252 voters, making it the largest number of participants in the organization’s history. Sixty-six percent of voters endorsed the boycott, while thirty percent voted against it and 3.43% abstained. Dr. Genshaft highlighted in her statement the value of academic freedom and her disappointment with the academic association. “The boycott recently proposed by the American Studies Association is antithetical to the core values of academic freedom and the open exchange of knowledge and ideas across institutions of higher education,” Genshaft said. “I stand with the Association of American Universities, the American Council on

Education, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the American Association of University Professors and esteemed colleagues everywhere who oppose this improper call for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions.” Dr. Eastman’s stand against the ASA immediately went viral on social media and became one of the most quoted of all university presidents speaking out against the matter. He said: “One hesitates to respond to anything as silly as an academic boycott. For one academic institution to alienate another is antithetical to any notion of academic freedom, or frankly, education. Academic freedom is a great symbol of a true democracy, and there is no better place than the academy for the discussion of ideas that challenge prevailing views, incite emotion and promote understanding. That makes it ever more confounding as to why the American Studies Association, a professional organization for scholars,

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would lead the charge to boycott Israeli colleges and universities.” Dr. Eastman continued to note how the enrollment of Jewish students at Eckerd College has grown significantly and how Hillel Shabbats have attracted more than one hundred students, Jewish and even non-Jewish alike. In his statement against the ASA boycott, Dr. Eastman spoke about an Eckerd College student he met while in attendance at a Hillel Shabbat dinner. He noted how she was not devout before coming to college and, in fact, was persuaded to first attend a Hillel event on-campus because her non-Jewish roommate encouraged her to go. He was inspired to learn that her attendance at Shabbats put on by Eckerd College Hillel, her Taglit-Birthright trip, and relationships with faculty and students at Eckerd revealed to her important lessons about her history and herself. He said: “Those opportunities to explore, engage in self-discovery, and share knowledge are fundamentally what an educational community – at Eckerd and beyond – should encourage.” Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, Executive Director of Hillels of the Florida Suncoast, agrees. “The Academic Boycott of Israel by the America Studies Association is a blatantly anti-Semitic action by a once-respected scholarly society,” he said. “Unfortunately with this boycott, the ASA has shown that it is more concerned with politics than it is about academics, and is characterized more by hatred than scholarship. The double standard applied to Israel, which has made incredible scientific and academic contributions to the world, while ignoring the horrific human rights violations of other nations, reveals the dark underbelly of the ASA.” Rabbi Rosenthal continued in his remarks, praising Dr. Genshaft and Dr. Eastman for standing up for what is right. “The strong statements condemning the boycott by USF President Dr. Judy Genshaft and Eckerd College President Dr. Donald Eastman reflect that the leaders of these institutions not only reject the concept of an academic boycott, which is antithetical to academia in general, but also reject a boycott of Israel, specifically showing their support for the free flow of ideas and scholarship from Israel to the world.” Dr. Eastman ended his “Presidential Remark” by referring back to a similar boycott by Britain’s University College Union in 2007, in which colleges and universities around the world first came together in solidarity for Israel and against the organization calling for a boycott. He ended by saying: “The ASA boycott is discouraging and sadly familiar. And here we stand again.” Universities around the country, especially USF and Eckerd College, have stood together – yet again – for what’s right and ethical during a time when it is most important. For further information, contact Brandon Schuster, Marketing Coordinator for Hillels of the Florida Suncoast, at 561.699.7904 or bschuster@ mail.usf.edu. Hillels of the Florida Suncoast supports Jewish life on six college campuses along the Suncoast of Florida, including University of South Florida (Tampa and St. Petersburg), University of Tampa, Eckerd College, New College of Florida, and Ringling College of Art and Design. Hillels of the Florida Suncoast is a beneficiary agency of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. For more information about the Hillels of the Florida Suncoast, please visit www. suncoasthillels.org.

April 2014

19A April 2014 JEWISH INTEREST

Stars of David

Interested in Your Family’s History?

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. The Ten Commandments: The Movie – Some Back Story Every year, ABC broadcasts the 1956 film The Ten Commandments, starring Charlton Heston as MOSES. As I write this, ABC has not yet announced the 2014 broadcast date. But it is always broadcast on a Sunday, usually within ten days of Passover/Easter (Passover begins on Monday, April 14 this year; Easter is on April 20.) In 2011, a special Blu-Ray disc edition of the film was released. It includes lots of extras about the making of the film. The new edition was made with the participation of Fraser Clarke Heston, a director, writer and son of the late Charlton Heston. He said the new edition is not simply a re-issue. Rather, “it was a painstaking job, a complete shot-by-shot restoration.” Fraser Heston, by the way, was three months old when he appeared as baby Moses in the 1956 film. Charlton Heston, who played Jewish characters in both The Ten Commandments and in the 1959 Oscar-winning film Ben-Hur, was a devout Christian. He was also a big supporter of Jewish and Israeli charities. The film, as most people know, is not a shot-by-shot re-creation of the account of Moses’ life or of the exodus from Egypt as told in the Bible. The film’s creators took many liberties dramatizing the biblical account. Even so, when it debuted, its special effects were considered to be groundbreaking and audiences loved the film. EDWARD G. ROBINSON (as the evil Dathan) and OLIVE DEERING

(as Moses’ sister, MIRIAM) were the only Jewish actors with important roles in The Ten Commandments. Yul Brynner, who played the Pharaoh of Egypt, had one Jewish great-grandfather. Robinson (1893-1973), most famous for his early gangster roles, was born Emanuel Goldenberg in Romania and came to the United States in 1903. Always proud to be Jewish, he was also a highly cultured man due to a rigorous program of self-education. At one time, he owned one of the finest collections of impressionist paintings in the world. Deering (1918-1986), born Olive Corn, received good notices for her stage work in the 1950s and ’60s, but had a limited film and television career. Deering’s brother, actor ALFRED RYDER (1916-1995), born Alfred Corn, was a top stage actor who also had a slew of TV guest roles through the early ’80s. (He guest starred in the first Star Trek episode.) He was married to actress KIM STANLEY (1919-86) from 19581964. Stanley was one of the most acclaimed Broadway stage actresses of the 1950s and ’60s. She was twice nominated for an Oscar (Seance on a Wet Afternoon and Frances), although she made only a handful of films. Almost everyone has heard Stanley’s voice. She was the unseen narrator of the opening and closing scenes of To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). Stanley converted to Judaism prior to marrying Ryder. Their daughter, a practicing Jew, told a recent scholarly biographer of Stanley that her mother

19A

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 middleoftheroad1@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. continued to observe some Jewish holidays until her death. An amusing sidelight about Deering and the making of The Ten Commandments is found in the 1989 memoir Which Reminds Me, by the late Jewish actor TONY RANDALL, born Arthur Rosenberg. Randall says that Deering originated a line that many actors (stuck filming a bad movie or filming a movie under terrible conditions) have since used. After many weeks of filming The Ten Commandments in the heat and dust of California’s Mojave Desert, Deering said, “Who do you have to sleep with to get OFF of this picture?” Randall also includes a classic, Passover-related, celebrity comic anecdote in his memoir. He admits it isn’t true, but says it is too good a story not to re-tell. Here it is: Marilyn Monroe was eating at a famous New York Jewish deli. A dining companion recommended the matzah ball soup and Monroe replied that she

had never had the dish, but she would order it. The soup came and Marilyn gobbled up her first matzah ball. She told her dinner companion: “Oh, they are absolutely delicious. What do they do with the rest of the matzah?” Oscars Note I didn’t capitalize Marilyn Monroe’s name above. Why? Her conversion, by a very “loose” rabbi, did not follow any study of Judaism and she didn’t practice after her conversion. Quite different is JUNE SQUIBB, 84, who I didn’t know was a convert to Judaism when I reported on Jewish Oscar nominees last month. Squibb got a best supporting nomination for her performance in Nebraska. She converted in the ’50s and has identified as Jewish since, including celebrating Jewish holidays.

Read The Jewish News online at www.jfedsrq.org.

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20A

April 2014

JEWISH INTEREST

Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle

K’zohar Ha-Ivrit

Haggadah: A freedom story By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin

By David Benkof, DavidBenkof@gmail.com

Solution on page 26A

Every clue in this puzzle is Jewish-themed! Across 1. Man who says to a Jewish mother in an old joke “I haven’t eaten in three days,” upon which she replies “Force yourself!” 6. Medical org. that recommends Jews get screened for Tay-Sachs 10. South Africa’s Helen Suzman, as of 1989 14. Ein Gedi is one in the Negev 15. CNN show “The Lead with ___ Tapper” 16. “The Sons of Pigs and ___: Muslim Antisemitism and the Conspiracy of Silence” 17. 1959 Bernard Malamud baseball novel 19. “The winepress is full, the ___ overflow” (Joel 4:13) 20. BNetanyahu@knesset.gov.il and bobdylan@xmradio.com 21. Michael Jackson song by “Somewhere Out There” singer James Ingram 22. Location of the Dublin Hebrew Congregation 23. Torah portion that’s Hebrew for “journeys” 25. Yarmulke-wearing Northwestern University basketballer Liberman 26. Actor Balfour (“24,” “Haven”) 30. Longtime Senator from Alaska Gruening 32. First name of a key character in “Operation Thunderbolt” 35. First word of a major number in Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” 39. Niddah phase 40. Frequent target of Qassam attacks 41. Jack Ruby or Yigal Amir 43. Movement from the sanctuary to the kiddush, often 44. Mezuzah material, since the 1930s 46. 2012 Academy Awards foreignlanguage film result for “Footnote” 47. Willy Loman’s line of work 50. Mishnah, compared to Gemara, more or less 53. How a meshuggah person might run 54. Dalet-Heh-Vav alternative 55. Paul Reiser’s production company (based on a famous line of his from “Diner”) 60. 1973 Lerner and Loewe musical set in Paris 61. Author of “The Closing of the American Mind” 63. Anti, to Al Capp’s Li’l Abner 64. The JDL’s Kahane 65. Balaam had one 66. Island of “The Jewish Star” and “The Jewish World” newspapers 67. Pharaoh Ramesses VI’s daughter 68. To love, Marc Chagall-style Down 1. Schlep 2. Important Illinois Democrat 3. On a kosher cruise, perhaps 4. ___ Israel (tourist attraction)

5. The 23rd is especially famous 6. Loc. of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies 7. Kvetcher 8. Giving a hechsher to 9. Chocolate winter coins 10. “Insomniac with ___” (comedy TV series) 11. “Are we ___?” (Sondheim lyric) 12. ___-Goldwyn-Mayer 13. German hometown of Benno Schmidt, inventor of stainless steel 18. Org. that has based some of its screening procedures on Israel’s 24. Sun Yat-___ (Chinese leader who sympathized with Zionism) 25. Comment to the audience, as during “Angels in America” 26. Hamsas ward off evil ones 27. 14th century Talmudic commentator also known as Rabbenu Asher 28. “He’s Just Not That ___ You” (2009 Scarlett Johansson film) 29. “Beautiful: The ___ Musical” (2014) 31. Bohemian Berlin poet LaskerSchueler 33. Outfits for Anna Sokolow 34. “Rega!” (Israeli’s “Wait ___!”) 36. Peter, Paul, and Mary, e.g. 37. Famous seder plate “___ of Exodus” 38. Israel’s no. 1, no. 2, and no. 6 are very well-traveled 42. Insult comedian Don known as “The Merchant of Venom” 43. Jerusalem’s ___ Yehuda promenade 45. “Tell Me a Riddle” by ___ Olsen 47. “Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me!” radio host Peter 48. Ladino friend 49. Get ready to use JDate 51. Larry King’s old network 52. ___ Bubba (KF-certified kosher gum) 54. Author Attenberg (“The Middlesteins”) 56. Filmmaker Claude Lanzmann’s 57. “Master of Malaprop” Crosby 58. Part of an installation in Dimona 59. Torah portion discussing Jewish holidays 62. He performed “Mrs. Robinson” with Paul

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pring is in the air, Pesach is approaching and, as we do every year, we are about to gather as a family to celebrate the Seder night. At the center of the celebration is the reading of the Haggadah, a recitation which directs the order of the Seder and introduces the theme and the tenor of the holiday. Let us explore the meanDr. Rachel Dulin ing of the word ‘Haggadah’ and thereby better understand what makes this night different from all other nights in the Jewish calendar. The tradition of celebrating the Seder is very old. The Mishnah recorded it (P’sachim 10), and the Haggadah itself testifies that on one Seder night, most likely during the Roman era (circa 132 CE), a distinguished group of rabbis spent the entire night discussing the significance of the Exodus. Through the years, stories, poems, blessings, prayers and tangible symbols centering on the theme of freedom and celebration of renewal, were added to enhance the telling of the story. After a long process of editing, the Haggadah received its final form, probably around the 6th or 7th century CE. The oldest recorded Haggadah can be found in R. Saadia Gaon‘s siddur dated to the 10th century CE and the first printed Haggadah is dated to 1482 CE. What does the word Haggadah mean? Haggadah is a rendition, a lecture. It derives from the root n.g.d,

which in most instances means ‘oppose,’ ‘in front of’ or ‘against.’ However, neged also means ‘to rise,’ be high’ or ‘be conspicuous.’ The name Haggadah fits the book, which tells the story of freedom, for this is a literary collection, which raises the story of the Exodus above all other stories in the Bible. It follows the biblical command ve-hi-ga-de-ta le-vin-kha, “you shall tell your son…what the Lord did for me when I went free from Egypt” (Ex 13:8). Ve-hi-ga-de-ta, which is also derived from the root n.g.d, means ‘tell,’ ‘say,’ ‘relate’ or ‘narrate,’ as well as ‘announce,’ ‘declare,’ ‘reveal’ or ‘make known.’ Choosing the verb vehi-ga-de-ta by the biblical writer was not accidental. The multiple meanings of the verb le-ha-gid enhances the message, making the story of the Exodus central to Israel’s historical experience and thereby solidifying her relationship with God throughout history. Indeed, the title Haggadah befits the book we read on the Seder night for it is the educational tool which imprints the story of freedom on our national consciousness. As we celebrate the Seder night, may we all join in the mitzvah of ve-higa-de-ta le-vin-kha, as we continue in the tradition of the Haggadah, to celebrate the gift of freedom, telling the story in song and with joy. I wish all our readers Chag Pesach Sameach. 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.

September 7-10, 2014

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21A April 2014 JEWISH INTEREST

Escaping the Holocaust By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD

he Talmud tells us, in a very remained bitterly convinced that more well-known phrase, that for he could have been done to save them had who saves a single life it is as the Allies, armed with the information though he has saved a whole world. in his report, chosen to do so. This controversy would surround him until his This month sees the anniversary, 70 death and, even today, the question of years ago, when a Slovak Jew, Rudolf Vrba (1924-2006), whether or not the Allies could have and his comrade, Aldone more continues to be debated by fred Wetzler (1918Holocaust scholars. The Vrba-Wetzler report was cop1988), found themselves in the posiied and given to Rudolf Kastner, head tion of possibly of the Zionist Aid and Rescue Combeing able to save mittee in Bratislava, and from him to a member of the Hungarian Foreign what was left of the Dr. Paul Bartrop Ministry as well as a representative Jewish people in Europe, for it was on April 7, 1944, that of the Vatican. Both the British and they managed to do the seemingly imUnited States governments had coppossible: they began an escape from ies of the report by June 15, 1944. On that day, BBC Radio broadcast part of Auschwitz. it, and a few days later it also received On this day, they broke away from the camp, hid between an internal and attention in The New York Times. Mateexternal perimeter fence for three days, rial then appeared in newspapers and and then, on April 10, escaped the radio broadcasts throughout Europe, camp completely. particularly in Switzerland. As a teenager, Vrba (born Walter Publication of the report had an Rosenberg) experienced anti-Semitism immediate impact, resulting in sponin his home town of Topolcany. This taneous international denunciations. Protests came from the Pope, the U.S. led to an attempt, in 1941, to flee an intensifying scene. He was Admiral Miklos Horthy, Hungary’s regent, arrested and, later, in June, 1942, deported to the conordered a halt to the deportations of centration camp at MajJews from Hungary. By this action, up danek. Two weeks later, to 200,000 Jews in Budapest were saved he was sent to Auschwitz, where he was given the from deportation. number 44070. He was Secretary of State (Cordell Hull), the put to work in arranging for the bodies British Foreign Secretary (Anthony of corpses to be transported to the creEden), the International Committee of matoria. Later, he was given the task the Red Cross, and King Gustav V of of sorting through the possessions of Sweden. those who had been selected for the gas In Hungary, such condemnation chambers or work details. could not go unnoticed. On July 7, His escape, when it came, had 1944, Admiral Miklos Horthy, Hunbeen carefully worked out in advance, gary’s regent, ordered a halt to the and had support from a number of othdeportations of Jews from Hungary, efer prisoners who remained in the camp. fective two days later. By this action, Making their way from Auschwitz up to 200,000 Jews in Budapest were to their native Slovakia, Vrba and Wetsaved from deportation. zler crossed the border on April 21 and The truth about the Auschwitzmade their way to Zilina. Soon after Birkenau extermination camp was the this, Vrba was given his new name by best-kept secret of the Nazi “Final the Slovak Jewish Council as a security Solution.” The whole complex was measure. guarded by more than two thousand SS The report the two men then comand auxiliary personnel, two hundred posed divulged all that they had witguard dogs, and two lines of electrinessed at Auschwitz. It would provide fied fences. Hundreds of prisoners, insome of the earliest and most detailed cluding 76 Jews, attempted to escape information about the mass murders during the five years of the camp’s that were taking place, including inforexistence. Of these, only five attempts mation about the use of gas chambers were successful, in that they managed and crematoria. Before they settled to get away, reveal what was happenon a final draft, it was written and reing at Auschwitz, and survive the war. written several times; ultimately some Rudolf Vrba would always quesforty pages long, it was passed on to tion whether the report was dissemiJewish officials when Vrba and Wetnated and acted upon as rapidly and as zler arrived at Bratislava on April 24. It forcefully as it should have been. It is quickly became known – and remains one of the greatest “what if” questions to this day – as the Vrba-Wetzler report. regarding the Holocaust: If more peoPublic acknowledgement of the reple and governments had known and port was, however, delayed by several acted upon his report, and done so in weeks, meaning that the information it a timely manner, could those who died contained was slow to be distributed have been saved, instead? broadly enough to gain the attention When he was in Auschwitz, Vrba of governments. The senior members promised himself to bring the news of of the Slovak Jewish Council were what was happening in Auschwitz to concerned that if its contents became the wider world. He kept his promise known among the intended victims it – an example, it might be said, to us all would provoke widespread panic and when confronted by dark times. an even more immediate and deathly Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of Hisresponse from the Nazis. tory and the Director of the Center for While discussions concerning Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studwhat to do took place over several ies at Florida Gulf Coast University. weeks, more than 400,000 HungarHe can be reached at pbartrop@fgcu. ian Jews, who had been deported to edu. Auschwitz beginning in May, were murdered. To the end of his life, Vrba

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22A

April 2014

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

Top 22 ways Israel aided Africa in last three years Developing African nations depend on Israeli technological, humanitarian, medical, ecological and agricultural advances in virtually every aspect of life By Abigail Klein Leichman, ISRAEL21c, www.israel21c.org

n a visit to Africa in 1958, Foreign Minister Golda Meir pledged Israeli help to find solutions for severe challenges in food security, water safety and sanitation, healthcare, economic growth, community building, the empowerment of women and education. In the years since then, the Foreign Ministry’s MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, has not only kept that promise, with myriad projects primarily in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, South Sudan and Uganda, but private Israeli companies and nonprofit organizations have also pitched in. As ISRAEL21c has reported, companies and organizations of all shapes and sizes have lent their expertise and people-power to improve life in Africa. To top this off, Israeli agencies such as IsraAID consistently send relief teams to alleviate food and medical emergencies in countries including Kenya and South Sudan. MASHAV Director of Policy Planning Ilan Fluss tells ISRAEL21c that as a small country of only eight million people, Israel can’t invest as much in African aid as larger countries can. However, measuring impact in terms of results puts Israel in a singularly impressive light. “We are constantly making more programs and more partnerships,” he says. Two new projects were announced this year: Grand Challenges Israel (GCI) and the Israeli-German Africa Initiative. GCI is part of a global program to support technological and innovative approaches to public health and food security in developing countries. Israeli researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs can apply for GCI grants to tackle problems in public health and food security, and introduce their innovations to this growing market. Africa Initiative involves an Israeli investment of $7 million and a German investment of $70 million for a joint mission to aid Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia in agriculture, water management,

food security and health. The volume of projects is too vast to cover in one article, so here we focus on some of the most notable Israeli aid programs for Africa in recent years, grouped into categories to illustrate just how extensive the impact is. Better health 1. Malaria, the most devastating disease in sub-Saharan Africa, claims the life of a child every 30 seconds. Researchers at the Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are dedicated to helping Africa wipe out this disease just as Israel did in the 1940s. In December 2013, the university’s Hadassah Braun School of Public Health hosted an international conference of malaria experts to formulate a new strategy for African nations. Representatives from Gabon and Zanzibar were there to see what conclusions they could bring back home, where anti-malaria efforts have been only partially successful. 2. In 2011, a team of Israeli neonatologists went to Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city, to train local doctors and nurses in advanced, low-cost methods to address the city’s high infant mortality rate. The doctors, sent by the Alliance for Global Good in cooperation with MASHAV, also established two new neonatal units in Kumasi’s sole hospital. 3. An Israeli-built emergency room at Kisumu East District Hospital in Kenya was put together in less than a month by Israeli engineers and medical specialists in 2011. It is the hospital’s first fully-equipped ER and serves a region of six million people. 4. Israel has been instrumental in the drive to provide voluntary circumcision to African men as a proven method to reduce the risk of contracting HIV infection. A circumcision clinic for Zulu men set up in 2011 by Israeli doctors in the AIDS-stricken province of KwaZuluNatal, South Africa, has treated thousands of men. PrePex, a non-surgical

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circumcision device from Israel’s Circ MedTech, was prequalified last summer by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use in 14 African nations with high rates of new HIV infections. 5. Nurse-educators at Jerusalem’s Herzog Hospital lead videoconference classes for healthcare personnel at a Christian hospital in rural Ghana in topics such as diabetes prevention and treatment. The live-streaming video setup was donated by Rotary International’s Jerusalem chapter and a partner chapter in Windsor, Ontario (Canada). Diabetes has been dramatically increasing in Africa, with four million cases in Ghana and rising. 6. The Israeli nonprofit Eye from Zion brings Israeli ophthalmologists to volunteer their surgical and training expertise in developing countries including Ethiopia, where 1,000 patients have received free treatment including cataract surgeries in a portable operation room donated by Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. Patients needing more complex procedures, especially children, are brought to Israel for lifesaving eye surgery. 7. For the past six years, Prof. Zvi Bentwich of the Center for Emerging Tropical Diseases and AIDS at BenGurion University of the Negev has been working toward ridding Ethiopia of common parasitic infestations that contribute to AIDS, tuberculosis epidemics and other serious health problems particularly in children. Israelis in his NALA Foundation distribute antiworm tablets and educate hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians on prevention. Better farming 8. Israel is planning to build a model agricultural village in South Sudan to teach local farmers how Israel’s breakthrough agricultural methods and technologies can help the fledgling African nation boost its vegetable output. The idea took shape when former Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon met South Sudan Minister of Agriculture Betty Ogwaro at the Agritech 2012 expo in Tel Aviv. 9. GrainPro markets a simple, inexpensive product developed by Prof. Shlomo Navarro in Israel, intended to help farmers keep their grain marketfresh by sealing out water and air. About 50 percent of every grain and pulse harvest in the developing world is lost to pests and mold, but the GrainPro bags are bringing that number down in Africa and Asia. 10. In 2012, the Foreign Ministry signed a cooperation agreement with Kenya and Germany to bring advanced Israeli fish-farming technologies and training to aid the millions of Ugandans, Kenyans and Tanzanians whose livelihoods depend on the catch from Lake Victoria. Back in 2009, Hebrew University Prof. Berta Sivan spear-

headed a multiyear project to reintroduce nutritious carp to Ugandan fish farms on the lake. 11. After fighting the oil industry, 20,000 Nigerian “rebels” received free land for developing farms. But where could they learn agricultural and farm management skills? At the Galilee International Management Institute in northern Israel, a nonprofit institution that has trained cohorts of Nigerians in many different skills over the past 20 years. In 2011, one-month agricultural training courses were devised for several groups of former rebels. Better business 12. When the Central Bank of Kenya sought a partner to do an eight-month training program for students in the Kenya School of Monetary Studies, they turned to Israel’s Galilee International Management Institute. That’s because many Kenyan bank managers were already graduates of its twiceyearly program in international banking management. The 2012 program also provided in-depth analysis services that helped the bank formulate better policies on pensions, training and human resources management. 13. The Israeli company Nova Lumos devised small mobile solar systems for Africans to charge phones, lights or small appliances – paid for in affordable increments. This solution eliminates so-called “power pimps” who charge fellow rural Africans exorbitant prices for the privilege of charging their phones. The system provides access to green energy, a practical offgrid solution and a good business opportunity for African mobile providers. 14. A similar model for small business has been introduced to residents of rural villages in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda and South Africa by Innovation: Africa , an award-winning non-profit project founded by Sivan Ya’ari to use sustainable Israeli technologies to improve lives in developing African nations. Better emergency response 15. Following a gas-line explosion in September 2011 that sent more than 100 Kenyans to Kenyatta National Hospital with burns, Israel sent 360 kilograms of supplies including bandaging equipment, infusion sets, ointments and painkillers. The aid package was coordinated through the Israeli ambassador to Kenya and MASHAV. 16. An advanced mobile app for emergency responders developed by Israel’s NowForce was adopted last year by Nigeria to dispatch and coordinate police, firefighters and other public-safety agencies. It locates and alerts individual team members wherever they are. Like many African nations, Nigeria has more mobile than land lines.

continued on next page

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23A 2014WORLD ISRAEL & THEApril JEWISH continued from previous page

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17. An IsraAID team went to South Sudan in 2012 to inaugurate a socialworker training program on sexual violence in cooperation with the Israeli NGOs FIRST and Operation BlessingIsrael. Counselors from Confident Children out of Conflict, an organization that provides a safe house for more than 400 abused, abandoned or at-risk girls from the South Sudan slums of Juba, learned to identify and address gender-based violence such as rape and forced marriage. Better schools 18. The Kenya Ministry of Education sought MASHAV’s help in promoting and implementing education for sustainable development (ESD) in Kenya. The Institute for Education for Sustainable Development at the David Yellin Academic College of Education in Jerusalem developed the curriculum, and teacher training sessions were held in Kenya and in Israel. The first ESD project launched in August 2013 at the Joel Omino Mixed Secondary School, where children are learning technology and physics through water purification; science through organic agriculture; economics and entrepreneurship through establishing an organic bakery; history and traditional society by building traditional Luo-tribe houses; and conservation by utilizing recycled materials for art work. Demonstration centers will be set up to serve as training sites for other schools throughout Kenya. 19. Jerusalem science teacher Amir Yechieli began a small company, Yuval Mayim, to build rainwater catchment systems on school rooftops to conserve and reuse the water. Last year, he flew to Kenya to help build a similar system for some 600 villagers without running water. The Jewish National Fund gave him money to develop a rainwater catchment system at Kampala University in Uganda, where he expects to halve the monthly $15,000 water bills. Better energy, sanitation and water 20. Energiya Global, the Israeli affiliate of Gigawatt Global Coöperatief, recently secured $23 million in financing and about $710,000 in grants for an 8.5-megawatt solar energy plant in Rwanda. This will be East Africa’s first utility-scale solar field, and is expected to supply eight percent of the country’s energy needs. 21. Israel’s Paulee CleanTec was hailed at the World Toilet Summit in South Africa in 2012 for its revolutionary toilet that needs no water and leaves no waste. The World Toilet Organization reports that one in three South African households lacks access to proper sanitation and 40 percent of households globally face the same problem. 22. Former Israeli diplomat Ornit Avidar is taking Israel’s “soft” water solutions – decentralized, simple to use and maintain, consuming little energy – and applying them all around Africa through her company Waterways, a channel for Africans to access Israeli technology. Among the Israeli partner companies she is introducing to various African countries are SunDWater, which cleans water in off-grid locations using condensation made from solar rays; water resources management company Tahal and Anyway Solutions, a global leader in providing soil stabilization products to the infrastructure and development sectors. 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.

For daily news stories related to Israel & the Jewish world, visit www.TheJewishFederation.org.

23A

njoy Israel and the ORT network of programs from a peopleto-people perspective through meetings with government officials, attendance at Machane Yehuda as Jerusalemites prepare for Shabbat, sampling the delights of Israeli food and wine, trips to significant cultural institutions and, most importantly, visits to ORT’s Kadima Mada programs in the north and south of the country where you will spend time with the students, staff and families of this revolutionary science and technology curriculum. After Israel, discover ORT Bulgaria in Sofia, and experience how ORT has rejuvenated the Jewish community through its innovative academic and cultural programming. The Israel Mission takes place from October 22-29, 2014, and the optional Post-Mission to Sofia, Bulgaria, takes place from October 29-31. The Israel Mission costs $2,999, land only, per person, double occupancy (based on a per person ORT America subsidy of $500), and includes: 7 nights, 5 Star hotel accommodations All breakfasts, 6 dinners and most lunches Assistance at Ben Gurion Airport Porterage at airport and hotels Transfers on arrival and departure 6 days touring in an air-conditioned coach Tip to guide, driver, hotel staff and restaurants Water on bus Entrance fees on touring day per itinerary Guest speakers to include: Dr. Dany Tirza & Col. (Res.) Kobi Merom

The Post-Mission to Sofia, Bulgaria, costs $1,200 (does not include air), and includes: 2-night accommodations in 4- to 5-star hotels All meals All programming costs To register and for more information, visit www.ORTamerica.org/ Missions or contact Marla Landis, National Senior Director for Major Gifts and Planned Giving, at 818.865.1802 or mlandis@ORTamerica.org. ORT, the largest global non-gov-

ernmental Jewish education organization, educates and trains more than 300,000 students every day. The ORT legacy is over 134 years strong, and remains committed to strengthening communities throughout the world by educating people against all odds and obstacles. To learn more, visit www.ORT america.org, like us on facebook.com/ ORTamerica and follow us on twitter. com/ORTamerica.

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   

     



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April 2014

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

Clear your shelves!

Drop off your non-perishable goods

to the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota

April 1 - May 10, 2014 Campaign Against Summer Hunger in Sarasota

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BLUE

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WHITE

On THE

SILvER ScREEn

APRIL 7th and 8th In partnership with The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, the Sarasota Film Festival has designated April 7th & 8th as Blue & White On The Silver Screen. The Film Festival will show five new, award-winning films that reflect different aspects of the Jewish experience. THE gREEn PRIncE

IDA

Monday April 7 @ 7:30pm Wednesday April 9 @ 1:15pm

Tuesday April 8 @ 7:30pm Thursday April 10 @ 7:45pm

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WHERE?

All Sarasota Film Festival screenings will take place at Hollywood 20. Special guests will join us throughout the weekend; watch your email for further details.

FOR TIcKETS

BLUE & WHITE PASS: $50.00 SUKKAH cITY

WHEn JEWS WERE FUnnY

Tuesday April 8 @ 4:00pm Wednesday April 9 @ 1:30pm

Monday April 7 @ 3:30pm Thursday April 10 @ 2:15pm

ALSO SHOWIng on APRIL 10th and 12th SUPERmEnScH

Thursday, April 10 @ 8pm Saturday, April 12 @ 6pm The Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota FL 34232

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Includes all 5 Federation-sponsored films and a VIP badge. InDIvIDUAL: $12.50

For Tickets And Complete Information Visit SarasotaFilmFestival.com or call the Box Office at 941.366.6200.

BRIEFS ENERGY FIRMS IN TALKS TO SELL ISRAELI GAS TO EGYPT

The drilling consortium led by Israel’s Delek Group Ltd. and Texas-based Noble Energy is holding initial talks on a deal to supply gas to Egypt. The consortium recently signed a deal to supply gas to Jordan. The potential deal with Egypt would involve exporting up to eight billion cubic meters of gas a year from the Leviathan field. It would go to liquefied natural gas facilities run by the UK’s BG Group PLC in northern Egypt via an underwater pipeline or the existing Ashkelon-el-Arish line in the Sinai Peninsula, according to two Egyptian officials. Importing gas from Israel is a cheaper option for Egypt, which has been overwhelmed by local demand and can’t meet foreign export commitments. Such an agreement would be a reversal from previous years when Egypt exported gas to Israel. (Joshua Mitnick and Summer Said, Wall Street Journal)

LAPD EXPLORES ISRAELI SECURITY SOLUTIONS

LAPD Deputy Chief Jose Perez, a 30year veteran of the department, tweeted updates at nearly every stop of his homeland security tour of Israel. The eight-member Los Angeles delegation visited the headquarters of Nice Systems, an Israeli security and cyber intelligence company that can intercept and instantly analyze video, audio and text-based communications. (An inspirational poster on the wall read: “Every voice deserves to be heard.”) The group visited private security firms and drone manufacturers, as well as a “safe city” underground control center in Rishon LeZion, which receives live streams from more than 1,000 cameras with license plate recognition installed throughout the city. Surveillance drones were hot items on the tour, particularly HoverMast, a new tethered drone from Sky Sapience that would be helpful for crowd control at special events. The HoverMast can intercept wireless communications, and its cameras are capable of facial recognition. The LAPD-Israel bond was in large part fused by former LAPD Chief William Bratton during his chiefdom from 2002 to 2009. At a town hall meeting near the end of his term, Bratton said of Israeli intelligence experts: “They are our allies. They are some of the best at what they do in the world.” (Simone Wilson, Los Angeles Jewish Journal)

ISRAEL’S JEWISH BIRTH RATE UP, ARAB BIRTH RATE DOWN

171,207 babies were born in Israel in 2013, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported. Jewish births increased 1.3% to 127,101 over 2012, while the number of births among Israeli Muslim Arabs declined by 5.5% to 34,766. Twenty-one out of every 1,000 Jewish women gave birth in 2013, compared to 18.3 in the year 2000, while 24.8 Arab women gave birth in 2013, compared to 35 in 2000. (Zeev Klein, Israel Hayom)

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...ISRAEL?

The Egyptian film The Square, which follows the uprisings in Tahrir Square, was nominated for an Academy Award. As I watched the Arabs of Egypt scream for their rights, I couldn’t help thinking that they were screaming for precisely what the Arabs in Israel already have.

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Briefs...continued from previous page As I watched Egyptian demonstrators protest the lack of opportunity in their crumbling society, I couldn’t help but think about an Arab-Israeli woman, Mais Ali Saleh, who recently graduated No. 1 in her class at the TechnionIsrael Institute of Technology. The suffering masses across the Middle East would love nothing more than to have the same freedoms and human rights that their brethren have in Israel. While the mainstream media is still obsessed with Israel and its conflict with the Palestinians, The Square cuts through this fog with a missile of truth: The misery across the Middle East has absolutely nothing to do with Israel. During Israel Apartheid Week, proIsrael groups ought to organize showings of The Square and follow these screenings with panel discussions that include Israeli Arabs who can explain how different their lives would be if they lived in any Middle East country besides Israel.” (David Suissa, Los Angeles Jewish Journal)

REVOLUTIONIZING INDIAN FARMING WITH ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY Indian farmer Deepak Khatker, 40, visited the Indo-Israel Center of Excellence for Vegetables in Gharaunda a couple of years ago, adopted Israeli farming skills, and within months saw production increase a staggering fivefold. Last year, over 16,000 farmers were trained at the center. Experts from Israel organize free training sessions, teaching farmers to increase their crop yields while using fertilizer and water optimally. “The idea is to transfer applied research and technologies to the farmers in various states across India,” said Israeli Embassy spokesman Ohad Horsandi. At present there are 10 such Centers of Excellence. By 2015, their number will increase to 28 as they branch out to flowers, bee-keeping and dairying. (Rahul Vaishnavi, IANS-India)

THE ISRAELI TAKE ON START-UP RISK

Israel’s Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) loans money for new ventures and technologies that are promising but also risky. The Israeli state puts up money without asking for equity and demands repayment through a royalty on relevant sales if the business succeeds. Few other countries offer the same ecosystem of support for science, technology, research and funding under one roof, or extend quite the amount of risk capital the OCS does. A recent study on research and

development in Israel by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that every one million shekels lent by the government generated further R&D of two to three times the amount of the grant given. (John Reed, Financial Times-UK)

ISRAEL BOYCOTT? EXPORTS TO EUROPE UP 6 PERCENT IN 2013 The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner and it is the only place where murmurings of sanctions have been raised outside the Arab world. According to the latest Bank of Israel data, direct investment in Israel was $10.51 billion in the first nine months of 2013, up from $9.5 billion for the whole of 2012. Exports to Europe rose 6.3% last year. “The truth is that Israel is a world leader in water technology, next-generation agriculture, cybersecurity, healthcare innovation and start-ups,” said Jonathan Medved, CEO of a platform providing venture capital to Israeli companies. “What sane person is going to walk away from that?” (Crispian Balmer, Reuters)

IDF SEES STEEP RISE IN SUBMARINE OPERATIONS

The IDF’s submarine fleet has seen a sharp increase in the number and duration of its at-sea operations, with a special focus on Lebanon, according to a senior Israel Navy officer. Some of the deployments lasted several weeks and took the submarines thousands of kilometers from Israel. Israel has bought its top-of-the-line Dolphin submarines from Germany, with two new subs to be delivered in the second half of 2014, the INS Tanin and INS Rahav. The new submarines have engines that don’t require surfacing to acquire new air supplies. (Times of Israel)

ISRAEL’S ARABS LIVE LONGER THAN AMERICANS According to a study released in 2010 by Ben-Gurion University, the life expectancy of Israeli Arabs is 79 years, one year more than that of Americans, and almost ten years longer than in the Arab world. Infant mortality for Israeli Arabs is 8 per thousand live births, a figure

driven upward by the Bedouin who are more affected by hereditary diseases. Still, it is less than half of the global median of 17 per thousand. (Joshua Muravchik, Fathom-BICOM)

CHINA LOOKS TO ISRAEL FOR INVESTMENT, ACQUISITIONS Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz are promoting a deal whereby China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) will be entrusted with the construction of the Eilat railroad line – a massive project estimated at $6.5 billion. “Chinese investments in Israel are something new; only three years ago, there was no such thing,” says Director of the Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy Ohad Cohen. “It is the product of years of work aimed at awareness raising. We are going to see an ever-growing flow of investors coming here.” (Al-Monitor)

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REVEALED: HOW SYRIAN REBELS SEEK MEDICAL HELP FROM ISRAEL When a rebel was shot and severely wounded during a new offensive on Syria’s southern front, his colleagues knew the only hope of saving his life was to get him to Israel. After the rebels took the injured fighter to a crossing point, they pulled back and Israeli soldiers checked the patient for boobytraps and weapons, then rushed him to the hospital. This scenario has played out more than 200 times in the past six months, rebels in southern Syria said. Syria and Israel have officially been at war since 1948, and Syrians have grown up with state propaganda blaming the country’s problems on Israel. However, rebels engaged in combat near Israel have begun to reassess who is friend and who is foe. “More than 250 of our people have gone across and gotten amazing medical care there,” said a rebel commander in Deraa. “We’ve had wounded people taken across and get airlifted to specialist facilities far inside Israel. We couldn’t dream of getting that kind of treatment here.” (Phil Sands and Suha Maayeh, National-UAE)

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ISRAEL DESALINATION SHOWS CALIFORNIA NOT TO FEAR DROUGHT Six decades of providing water in a country that’s 60% desert have made Israel a technological leader in the field. Desalination of sea water, reuse of treated sewage for agriculture, software creating an early-warning system for leaks, computerized drip irrigation and careful accounting of every drop

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April 2014

Briefs...continued from previous page have become the norm in Israel, the world’s 40th biggest economy. North of San Diego, Israel’s IDE Technologies Ltd. is helping to build the largest seawater desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere. The facility, when finished in 2016, will provide 50 million gallons of potable water a day. In Israel, desalination now provides one-quarter of the country’s water supply. (Alisa Odenheimer and James Nash, Bloomberg)

ANCIENT TOWN DISCOVERED IN ISRAEL IS 2,300 YEARS OLD The remnants of a rural settlement inhabited for two centuries during the Second Temple Period were uncovered during work on a natural gas pipeline to Jerusalem. The site reached the height of its development in the Hellenistic period during the third century BCE. The excavations yielded numerous finds including grinding and milling tools, pottery cooking pots, jars for storing oil and wine, oil lamps, and over sixty coins from the reigns of the Seleucid King Antiochus III and the Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus. (Israel Antiquities Authority)

NEW THESIS ON HOW STUXNET INFILTRATED IRAN NUCLEAR FACILITY It’s been fairly well documented that the U.S. and Israel created the Stuxnet worm, which ultimately infected and destroyed about 1,000 fuel-refining centrifuges at Iran’s secret Natanz nuclear fuel-enrichment facility. But how did Stuxnet infiltrate Natanz? Critical Intelligence, a cybersecurity firm, outlined a new thesis recently at a security conference in San Francisco. As early as 2004, U.S. intelligence agencies identified an Iranian company, NEDA Industrial Group, that had oversight of the Natanz facility’s computerized industrial control systems. Documents suggest that the U.S. was monitoring NEDA’s efforts to procure components that may be needed for a nuclear weapons program, says Sean McBride, director of analysis for Critical Intelligence. In 2008, the U.S. targeted the Siemens industrial control systems equipment that NEDA had ordered from overseas. Equipment bound for Iran was intercepted, and Stuxnet was installed on it, before it was sent on its way, McBride posits. (Mark Clayton, Christian Science Monitor)

F A Q

SOME QUESTIONS FOR BDS CAMPAIGNERS On February 6, a “Solidarity conference in support of the people of Palestine, Cuba and Western Sahara” took place at the South African Parliament. Vivienne Myburgh, an activist Christian Zionist, was shocked to find that the declaration under consideration was all about BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions), and that nobody had been invited to make the case for Israel. So, when the chair briefly opened a window of opportunity for comments from the public gallery, Vivienne promptly jumped in. “Will BDS also consider a BDS campaign against Lebanon, where apartheid laws legally ban Palestinians from owning property and working in most professions?” she asked. “Will BDS consider a campaign against Kuwait, which expelled a quarter of a million Palestinians?” “Will BDS consider sanctions against a potential future Palestinian state if they practice apartheid, as Mahmoud Abbas has stated: ‘I would not agree...that there will live among us even a single Israeli on Palestinian land.’” “What alternatives are BDS offering the 15,000 Palestinians employed in the West Bank who are presently employed by Israeli companies?” (Ant Katz, South African Jewish Report)

ARGENTINA SHIFTS AWAY FROM TEHRAN AND TOWARDS ISRAEL The Argentinian government has suspended dialogue with Iran, heralding a shift in policy that coincides with improved relations with Israel. The Kirchner government is understood to have taken the measure after becoming frustrated with the lack of progress in the investigation into the 1994 AMIA Jewish community center bombing in Buenos Aires in which 85 people were killed and 300 injured. According to sources cited by the Argentine daily La Nacion, Foreign Minister Hector Timerman has admitted that dialogue with Iran stalled some time ago and has been suspended since December. At the same time, there is talk of cooperation with Israel on human rights, bilateral dialogue on legal matters and a potential purchase of Israeli military planes by Argentina. An aide to Timerman this week said “there is a very good climate with Israel and we are much friendlier than before.” (Isabel de Bertodano, Jewish Chronicle-UK)

How do I get items in The Jewish News? Email your articles and photos to jewishnews@jfedsrq.org. What are The Jewish News deadlines? Items are due the 25th of each month, or the next business day if the 25th falls on a weekend or holiday. Where can I get a copy of The Jewish News? Papers are available at several local libraries, synagogues and offices throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. Can’t find it? Visit www.jfedsrq.org and let us know where you’d like to see the paper. How do I place an ad in The Jewish News? Contact Robin Leonardi, account executive, at rleonardi@jfedsrq.org or call 941.552.6307.

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ISRAEL / COMMENTARY

Emotional freedom From the Bimah Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz Chabad of Sarasota

s we are about to celebrate Pesach and commemorate G-d’s miracles that led the Israelites into freedom, it is a good time to reflect on the concept of personal freedom. There is a physical freedom from slavery as well as an emotional freedom, in which we are able to follow the flow of our thoughts and feelings, having the ability to act according to our true mindset without any interference from outside forces. As the news from around the world makes us nervous and worried, including news about the Ukraine crisis and

the constant threat against our beloved State of Israel and its citizens, Pesach reminds us to put our worries aside and expect miracles. We must realize that there is an external supernatural power above us, making sure to protect us and keep us out of harm’s way. Hence, let us reflect upon “Emotional Freedom” – the freedom which enables us to free ourselves from worries, and allows us to live on an island of joy and peace amid the waves of horrendous news with which the media chooses to barrage us. “Emotional Slavery” embitters us so that, without realizing it, we become emotionally and physically paralyzed. As we sit around the Seder table, let’s resolve to make it a most joyous holiday. Exhibiting “Emotional Freedom” is a phenomenal way to demonstrate that the message of Pesach is as relevant today as it was during the Exodus from Egypt. Wishing you a happy and kosher Pesach.

Israel Hayom believes that “The reports coming from North Korea are calling up the darkest memories of the previous century,” and adds: “Historians will yet settle accounts with the democracies for their inaction as hundreds of thousands of people are being murdered in Syria and North Korea. And now we can better understand how the annihilation of one-third of the Jewish People was made possible, how the silence and the refusal to bomb the railroads to Auschwitz were made possible. Never again, really?”

Don’t buy the Israel boycott hype

he media has bought into the notion that a new wave of Western boycotts against Israel is underway. There were countless editorials for and against the boycott in newspapers around the world, strategies offered up on how to stop it and speculation about who would blacklist Israel next. But as soon as one examines the individual cases, the boycott story melts away. They are either not new, not motivated by the boycott movement or have limited impact. The true story is that after nearly 10 years of campaigning, the global BDS (boycott, divestment and sanc-

tions) movement has not had the slightest economic impact. Its victories have consisted of coaxing a handful of pop stars and academics to cancel appearances in Israel, and winning empty, sanctimonious declarations of support from the likes of student governments, cooperative grocery stores and leftish church groups. Far from being isolated, Israel’s exports are reaching record highs and it attracts billions of dollars in foreign investment. For now the boycott is nothing more than a creature of the media’s imagination. (David Rosenberg, Wall Street Journal)

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27A COMMENTARYApril 2014

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April 2014

29A April 2014 FOCUS ON YOUTH

29A

Have a ball at Temple Emanu-El’s Family Bowling Party

et’s bowl! Temple Emanu-El’s Intergenerational Committee and Religious School Social Committee warmly invite the community to an afternoon of fun for all ages at the third annual Family Bowling Party, to be held Sunday, April 27 at 12:30 p.m. at Sarasota Lanes, 2250 Fruitville Road. The past two years’ Family Bowling Parties have provided a fantastic opportunity for adults and children to socialize with new and old friends in a relaxed and casual setting. Families may choose to bowl together or to divide into groups of adult bowlers and kid bowlers. Empty-nesters and

seniors who like to bowl are also most elaine-glickman@comcast. welcome to attend this welcoming and net or 941.379.1997. See you at the lanes! enjoyable event. In addition to two games of bowling and the rental of awesome bowling shoes, participants may choose to partake in a not-so-healthybut-fun lunch of pizza, nachos and drinks. Although the Family Bowling Party is open to all, paid advance reservations are required. For more information or to reserve your spot, please contact Rabbi (Clockwise from top left) Suzanne Hurwitz, Elaine Rose Glickman at

Community teen event on April 5 at Siesta Key By Amber Ikeman

ne of the greatest needs in the teenage years is a sense of belonging. Teens want to connect with others their age and share common experiences. When we have a gathering of Jewish teens close in age in a community where others like us can be hard to find, it feels like family. Thanks to the Shapiro Teen Engagement Program (STEP), Jewish teen programming in Sarasota has really taken off within the past year. In January, the The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee hosted the 2nd annual Community Teen Lock-in for more than 40 local 9th-12th graders. We are excited to announce that on Saturday, April 5, we will have another great community teen event – Siesta Shakedown! We will meet at the Siesta Key Village in the central parking lot near the Siesta Key Cham-

Temple Emanu-El Religious School girls at last year’s event: (standing) Katie Hurwitz, Danielle Rudd, (bottom row) Felicia Wetsman, Jayme Rudd, Eden Glickman, Emma Hurwitz

Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman, Wendy Rudd and Rita Wetsman at last year’s event

ber of Commerce. From there, everyone will split into teams to partake in a scavenger hunt to win prizes. When we’re done, we’ll all walk over to the beach for the final challenge – an afikomen hunt from which we will make our own matzah pizzas! Then we will enjoy the sunset and drum circle to end the night. This event is free for any Jewish high schoolers. We are inviting 8th graders to join us as well as they transition into high school. For more information about STEP, contact me at aikeman@jfedsrq.org or 941.343-2106. To RSVP for the Siesta Shakedown, visit www.jfedsrq.org/ events.aspx.

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Class of 2018

Each year, the Federation awards college scholarships to qualified applicants.

2014 College sCholarships APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED jfedsrq.org/scholarship.aspx

SHA LOM BA BY Families who are expecting or have recently celebrated the arrival of a baby can receive a Complimentary Gift Basket, which includes special baby items and a helpful resource guide for our Jewish community.

QUESTIONS? Contact Amber Ikeman P: 941.343.2106 E: aikeman@jfedsrq.org

TheJewishFederation.org

APPLICATION DEADLINE APRIL 10th For more information, contact Andrea Eiffert at 941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org

THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY. Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232 941.371.4546 • TheJewishFederation.org

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April 2014

FOCUS ON YOUTH

TBS Schools’ Moses Glickman wins MATHCOUNTS 2014

oses Glickman, an eighth grader at Temple Beth Sholom Schools, was the proud winner of the Myakka Chapter MATHCOUNTS competition in 2014. He will compete in the state competition this spring in hopes of being invited to the national competition later this year. The TBSS team placed 6th out of the 18 middle schools competing from Sarasota and Manatee counties. Congratulations to fellow teammates Ellie Srur, Luca Stine and Jacob Smith. TBS

Schools does well every year, both individually as well as in the team events, due to the solid math foundation in its K/8 academic curriculum. MATHCOUNTS is a foundation that strives to engage middle school students in math skills in order to expand their academic and professional opportunities. Students at this age are at a critical juncture in which their love for mathematics must be nurtured, or their fear of mathematics will overcome. Every child is unique, but the

foundation believes all children are capable of seeing the beauty and joy of math rather than being intimidated by it. TBS Schools prides itself on the values and love of learning instilled in its students throughout their academic career. The Middle School is small, allowing individualized attention, and provides the care and foundation to achieve success! For more information on TBS Schools, please visit www. tbsschools.org.

MATHCOUNTS winner Moses Glickman with TBS Schools teacher Sandy Kahl

Paver Religious School students work with photographer Betty Adler By Dr. Geraldine Nussbaum

aver Religious School students and staff are excited to be working with professional photographer Betty Adler on a creative Holidays Project of inner reflection and photographic images. On Sunday, February 9, students in grades 4-9 learned photographic techniques to create photographic essays which evoke the themes and concepts, and their thoughts and feelings of their favorite Jewish holidays. Betty shared some “toolbox” techniques and gave the students time

to wander both inside and outside to apply them. Betty Adler has been an event photographer for the past 15 years in the D.C. area. She and Connie Reider have developed Inscape - The Healing Art of Photography, and have led retreats and trips exploring photography as metaphorical images connecting personal concepts to spirituality and nature, photographing not “what is...but what else it can be.” The students took many photos of

the same thing from every angle imaginable and photos of many different places in the building and of the gardens outside. The students will then become the “sculptors” by choosing three to five of their photos which best represent their holiday and then write why. Betty will take each student’s information and help to create a collage with each child that will become his/ her photographic essay. The 16" x 20" collages will be exhibited throughout Temple Beth Sholom’s halls and eventually will be sent home to each child’s family. The school will receive a video of the collection and each family will receive the link to the video. For more information, please call me at 941.955.8121.

Hannah Levison

Marielle Newmark and Amanda Green with teacher Linda Schwartz Amy Kessler, Lana Katz, photography instructor Betty Adler, Emma Hershorin

“FOCUS ON YOUTH” PHOTOS OF THE MONTH

For Dental Health Month, the children of The Gan at Temple Sinai learned about making healthy choices for snacks and brushing and flossing twice a day every day with Dr. M & M (Dr. Malik of Smileworks).

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Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232 Amber Ikeman, Youth Engagement Coordinator 941.343.2106 • aikeman@jfedsrq.org

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The Federation will offer scholarships to applicants who have been accepted to a MASA program! Scholarships are first come, first serve. (Up to $2,000 to cover travel to and from Israel only.) Visit www.TheJewishFederation.org.

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MASA ISrAel TrAvel ScholArShIp

Questions? Contact Amber Ikeman at 941.343.2106 or aikeman@jfedsrq.org

Students of Chabad’s Kaplan Preschool harvested three cabbages and made cabbage soup to share with their families.

Alexander Muss High School in Israel is the only pluralist, non-denominational, coeducational English language study abroad program in Israel for high school students. The Jewish Federation will provide subsidy to teens for the opportunity to spend part of the academic school year or summer in Israel during the sophomore, junior or senior year on a fully accredited academic and fun experience, earning high school and college credit. These scholarship opportunities are generously sponsored by The Friedman Family.

31A LIFE CYCLE

ANNIVERSARIES th

April 2014

65 Cantor Don & Marceline Decker Temple Emanu-El 55th Marlene & Arthur Silverman Temple Beth Sholom 45th Lillian & Eugene Green Temple Beth Sholom

35 Betty & Cecil Berman Temple Beth Sholom 15th Allan and Gail Shaivitz Temple Sinai 10th Randi & David Greenfield Temple Emanu-El

Sarasota-Manatee Chevra Kadisha

B’NAI MITZVAH

admin 941.224.0778 men 941.377.4647 women 941.921.4740

Jared Newman, son of Dr. Joshua & Donna Newman, April 26, Temple Beth Sholom

Jacob Isaac Barrett

IN MEMORIAM Edwin Baker, 79, of Lakewood Ranch, Feb. 10 Norma Cohen, 85, of Sarasota, formerly of Syosset, NY, Feb. 10 Robert Henry Hirsch, 88, of Sarasota, Jan. 27 Dorothy J. Kohn, 81, of Sarasota, formerly of Homewood, IL, Feb. 24 Ruth Grossman-Kruglick, 91, of Sarasota, formerly of Coral Gables, Feb. 19 Linda Kurm-Moldre, 95, of Venice, Jan. 14 Margery M. (Marge) Mansbach, of Sarasota, formerly of New York, NY, Feb. 2 Alvin Eli Merriam, 90, of Sarasota, Feb. 17 Janet “Jan” Filer Silberstein, 92, of Sarasota, Feb. 2 Howard Swartz, 86, of Longboat Key, formerly of New City, NY, Feb. 9 Edward Toffler, 85, of Sarasota, Feb. 1 Herbert Wasserman, 86, of Sarasota, Feb. 1

It has been our honor to serve Sarasota’s Jewish Community for over 10 years

Palms-Robarts Funeral Home & Memorial Park 170 Honore Avenue, Sarasota FL 34232

(941) 371-4962

Sarasota’s first and only Funeral Home/Cemetery Combination

Orthodox – Conservative – Reform & Non-Affliated Jewish Gardens –Tahara Room – Unveilings As your local Dignity Provider we offer many benefits to our Jewish families.

1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237

Please submit your life cycle events (births, B’nai Mitzvah, anniversaries) to jewishnews18@ gmail.com. Photos are appreciated; please email as JPGs at 300dpi. Advertise in The Jewish News and reach an established and powerful demographic of over 9,000 homes in Sarasota-Manatee. Call Robin Leonardi at 941.552.6307 2013-14

www.PalmsMemorial.com

DONATE IT! THINKING OF SELLING OR TRADING

THAT CAR, BOAT, OR RV?

• Our online form makes it easy. • Support a worthwhile cause. • Receive tax benefits.

Visit TheJewishFederation.org

GOLDEN GATE $500,000+ Anonymous Beatrice Friedman Esther and Robert Heller Gertrude Jais* Jerry Lavin* Beatrice and Arthur* Michaels Robert Michelson* Sally and Sam Shapiro Sylvia G. and Robert M. Zell*

ZION GATE $250,000-499,999 Sylvia and Joseph Bloom* Sylvia and Gershom Cohn* Lois and Willard Cohodas Helen and Len Glaser Rita and Herbert Gold* Edna Rogers* & Jonas Kamlet* Lawrence S. Klotz* Hope Leuchter Daniel Logan* Olga O. Schwartz* Susan Shimelman Marvin Wolf

JAFFA GATE $100,000-249,999

Do you enjoy the Jewish News? Become a voluntary paid subscriber! We want to continue to supply our Jewish community with a topnotch paper. Think about how much you enjoy receiving The Jewish News in your mailbox each month. It’s also available online! Become a suBscriBer Today! contact Kim Mullins at 941.552.6300 or via email kmullins@jfedsrq.org. or visiT: http://www.jfedsrq.org/jewishnews.aspx

During times of need for generations Jewish members of the Sarasota community have turned to Toale Brothers.

TAHARA

Jacob Isaac Barrett, son of Michelle & Eric Barrett, February 17, Chabad of Venice & North Port

Chelsea Volosin, daughter of Felice & Chris Volosin, granddaughter of Carole & Howard Friedman, April 26, Temple Emanu-El

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Anonymous Marcia Abel Barbara Ackerman Rebecca and Richard Bergman Mandell (Bill) Berman Barbara and Donald Bernstein Jacob Carmen* Edie Chaifetz Ellen and Joel Fedder Jacqueline Siegel Frascella Joshua Green Julie Green Sylvia and Daniel Hamberg Sandra & Lewis Hanan Kates Foundation Renee Irene Katz* Alisa and Ernest Kretzmer Josh Leuchter Audrey Lucow Marjorie E. Meyers* Frank Paul* Flori Roberts Betty and Bert Rosen Irene and Martin Ross

Trust 100 Pre-Arrangement Center Locally Owned & Operated by the Toale Family www.ToaleBrothers.com

Gerry Ronkin

Jewish Family Coordinator Office

941-955-4171 cell

941-809-5195

“A Place of Natural Beauty” Honoring all traditions in the Jewish Community The Garden of Abraham offering, Upright Monuments, Flat Markers & Benches

Private Family Estates available David L. Stasney Pre-Need Specialist “serving the Jewish Community Since 1998”

Skyway Memorial Gardens 5200 US Hwy 19 North Palmetto, FL 34221 (941) 722-4543 www.skywaymemorial.com We would like to recognize and thank those who have made the most personal and thoughtful gift of all: a commitment to The Jewish Federation through a will, trust agreement, prepaid life insurance policy or other estate planning vehicle. Paulette and Martin Samowitz Barbara Saphier Betty and Herbert* Schiff Betty Schoenbaum Claire Sischy Lois and David* Stulberg Naomi and Bruce Wertheimer Geri and Ronald Yonover

LION’S GATE $10,000-99,999

Herbert Angel* Sidney Bernstein* Ruth Bregman* Patricia E. Burnes* Karl Ebner* Seymore Fenichel* Martha and Joseph Forman* Gitta Frankl* Leda Freedman* Roz Goldberg Grace and Sam Gorlitz Ruth and David Gorton Sheila and Erwin Horwitz Ruth and Jerome Kapner* Robert Kaufman* Elizabeth and William Karbell Litt* Herbert Karol* Raena Korenman David Leavitt* Claire M. Levin Edith Becker Lilienfeld* Sandra and Neil Malamud Mehler-Lublin Family Suzanne and David* Lutkoff Harvey Mendelow* Gladys Mittleman* Majorie and Nelson Newmark* Molly Nierenberg* Ethyl C. Ornstein* Marguerite and Joseph Persky* Ernest Rice* Susan Rosin Marjorie* and Earl Sharff Golda Sands Sharon* Rose and Rabbi Albert Shulman* Sondra and Judge Marvin Silverman* Ned F. Sinder* Helen A. Sobin* Salli Struble* Thea Becker* Trust Gertrude Willens*

The Legacy Society includes Bequests, PACE/LOJE Funds, Scholarship Funds, and Restricted Funds. Please contact Martin Haberer at 941.552.6303 if you have made a bequest in your will, insurance policy, or retirement fund OR if we happened to have missed you. *Deceased The Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota FL 34232

941.371.4546 TheJewishFederation.org

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April 2014

On behalf of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, thank you for your continued support and involvement. The success of the Federation is completely dependent on the generosity of caring and responsible donors just like you.

Donate at www.TheJewishFederation.org now, while you’re thinking about it.

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

April 2014 - Adar/Nisan 5774

Volume 44, Number 4

Jewish Happenings TUESDAY, APRIL 1 Keyboard Conversations® returns with Jeffrey Siegel Sponsored by

Keyboard Conversations® is primarily a concert; each work on the program is performed in its entirety. As the significant plus, Jeffrey Siegel will speak briefly and informally to the audience before performing each composition, illustrating with a few pertinent musical examples from the keyboard. Mr. Siegel’s third and final performance this season is entitled, Mistresses and Masterpieces: Loveinspired music by “significant others” in the composer’s personal life. Poetic, fiery, impassioned music of Brahms, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt and others. The event begins at 8:00 p.m. in the Beatrice Friedman Theater on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota. Tickets start at $36. To RSVP or for more information, visit www.TheJewishFederation.org or contact Len Steinberg at 941.552.6301 or lsteinberg@jfedsrq.org.

Mah Jongg: The Tiles That Bind Mah Jongg: The Tiles That Bind is a light-hearted yet deeply moving portrait of the Asian- and Jewish-American women who play this centuriesold game. See clips of lots of different people of all ages talking of their memorable experiences playing the game. Join us at 1:30 p.m. on the Jewish Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Members and guests are invited at no charge. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Kim Sheintal at 941.302.1433.

Moving Mavens

Assisting older adults and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of relocation.

“ I’ve moved 15 times. Now it’s

time for me to help you!”

Wendy Wicks, Moving Mavens

Specializing In: • Developing an overall move or age in place plan • Organizing, sorting and downsizing • Disposing of unwanted items via estate sales, consignment, auction, buy-out, or donation • Interviewing, scheduling and overseeing movers • Arranging shipments and storage • Unpacking and setting up your new home

Call today for a complimentary one-hour onsite consultation: 941-554-4746 movingmavens@gmail.com • www.movingmavensflorida.com

BACKSTAGE AT THE PLAYERS PRESENTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 “Lunch with the Rabbi” Are you looking for a great lunch date? Join Rabbi Brenner Glickman and plenty of nice, friendly, interesting companions for lunch, socializing and discussion of current events and subjects of Jewish interest. All are invited to this popular, stimulating and enjoyable program. Attendees are asked to bring a brown-bag lunch and are also welcome to bring a newspaper article or suggested topic for discussion. Homemade dessert and terrific company are provided! This free event begins at noon at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For more information, call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

THU-FRI, APRIL 3-4 APJA Art Showcase Enjoy the sights and sounds from members of the Association of Professional Jewish Artists as they showcase their art on Thursday, April 3 (2:00 to 5:00 p.m.) and Friday, April 4 (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.) at the Center for Building Hope, 5481 Communications Pkwy., Sarasota. These local Jewish artists participate in a variety of art disciplines (fine arts, fine crafts, commercial art, music, writing, performing arts, tranquility arts, and arts administration). Items will be for sale. Readings will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, followed by a musical guest artist. For more information, contact Joan Magiet at jmjournals@aol.com.

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

DENIAL BY PETER SAGAL APRIL 3rd-13th

8PM & 2PM PERFORMANCES

Tickets: $15

A Jewish attorney is asked by the ACLU to represent an anti-Semitic propagandist who alleges that the government violated his free speech rights. DENIAL explores the conflict between morality and justice. Written by NPR host Peter Sagal.

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

April 2014

GIVE YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH POTENTIAL. ADVERTISE WITH

Robin Leonardi • 941.552.6307 • rleonardi@jfedsrq.org www.TheJewishNews.org

THURSDAY, APRIL 3 “Music Makes Community” Sponsored by

Join us for a celebration of Jewish music! From the stirring Fanfare of Aaron Copeland to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue; from the luscious Ladino Folk Song to Ernest Bloch’s Sacred Service; from the Broadway hits of West Side Story and Carousel to the noble Kaddish of Kurt Weill, you will find this evening of music exciting, stimulating, and fun for the whole family. A festival chorus of 120 men and women, members of our church and community choirs, and a professional orchestra of over 50 will delight you with huge and exciting sound. Soloists: Cantor Jeff Weber, Cantor Cliff Abramson, Cantor Deborah Jacobson, Metropolitan Opera soloist Jason Stearns. Plus pianist Genevieve Beauchamp and National Opera Association Vocal Competition Winner Adelaide Boedecker. Conductor: Matthew Lazar, from New York and Tel Aviv. The performance begins at 8:15 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For tickets, call the Van Wezel box office at 941.953.3368 or visit www.vanwezel.org.

“Little-Known & Very Interesting Facts About Passover” Although you have been celebrating Passover all of your life, the secrets of Passover are multitudinous and most enlightening, such as: Why are most matzahs round? Why is the Haggadah recited at the Seder? Why is the front door opened for Elijah during the Seder? The answers to these questions and dozens more will make the meaning of Passover deeper for you, your family and friends. Come share secrets with us at 7:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $5 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments included. RSVP to Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

N’shei Chabad Women’s Rosh Chodesh Society

BENEFITTING LOCAL NON-PROFITS, INCLUDING: HOW TO HELP: • VISIT GivingPartnerChallenge.org from March 6 at 12PM to March 7 at 12PM. • SEARCH for The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and make a secure online donation. • SHARE info & pictures on /jfedsrq:

N’shei Chabad Women invites all women to attend the Rosh Chodesh Society, featuring a talk entitled “Redefining Freedom in the 21st Century.” Passover is known as the festival of our freedom. What does freedom mean to us today when governments give us the autonomy to live as we choose? We are no longer enslaved, but does that mean we are truly free? How do we attain a sense of internal freedom from our personal enslavements? Following the class, participants will enjoy the freedom of painting an abstract painting with Janice Getty. For underwriting the Rosh Chodesh Society course, we thank Chabad’s First Lady, Anne Stein. Refreshments will be served. The event begins at 7:15 p.m. at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road. Cost: Rebbetzin Circle members, free; N’shei Women members, $10; nonmembers, $12. To RSVP or for more information, call 941.925.0770.

FRIDAY, APRIL 4 The Passover Seder Survival Guide Sponsored by

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE IN THE HISTORIC ASOLO THEATER

A funny and compassionate exploration of growing up, growing old and discovering the moments in-between.

“PERFECTION!” THE NEW YORK TIMES

“THE BEST PLAY OF THE SEASON” TIME MAGAZINE

This unique prep is a free, fun and interactive session that will prepare parents and grandparents to celebrate Passover in a meaningful way with their families. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. on the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For more information, contact Flora Oynick at 941.343.2114 or foynick@jfedsrq. org. RSVP online at http://www.jfedsrq.org/events.aspx.

Rhythm and Jews Shabbat honoring our teachers Temple Sinai hosts its popular Rhythm and Jews Service at 6:00 p.m. This service will honor our Gan and Religious School teachers for a successful year. Accompanied by The Bruno Trio on drums, a bass and synthesizer, Rabbi Huntting and Chazzan Abramson (on guitar) create an upbeat fusion of Israeli, Chasidic, American and Middle Eastern sounds that delight young and old alike. Join us at 5:15 p.m. for the Welcome Reception. Temple Sinai is located at 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. For more information, visit www.templesinai-sarasota.org or call 941.924.1802.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5 Community Havdalah on the Beach Sponsored by

Join the community from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Turtle Beach Pavilion (8918 Midnight Pass Road) for an evening of music, dancing and fun for all ages! Together we will enjoy crafts, singing and dessert as we celebrate Havdalah (a beautiful ceremony marking the end of Shabbat and the beginning of a new week). This is a free event. RSVP online at http://www.jfedsrq.org/events.aspx.

“Religious Liberty - The True, The False and The Ugly”

by Amy Herzog

Directed by Tea Alagić

April 4-27 • Previews April 2–3 ASOLOREP.ORG 941.351.8000

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE

Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church & State, an organization dedicated to preserving the Constitution’s religious liberty provisions, is the guest speaker. A frequent guest on television and radio, he has appeared on PBS, ABS, CNN, CBS, MSNBC and FOX. He writes frequently on religious issues and is the author of Piety and Politics: The Right-Wing Assault On Religious Freedom. A long-time activist and lawyer in the civil liberties field, he is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, offering him a unique perspective on churchstate issues. The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism invites you to this 10:30 a.m. talk at Unity Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd. Free for CHJ members; $5 for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.chj-sarasota. org or call 941.929.7771.

The Jewish News is a monthly nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

SUNDAY, APRIL 6 Chabad Men’s Club breakfast & presentation Chabad of Sarasota Men’s Club “Club 770” invites all to attend a breakfast at 9:00 a.m. at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road. Following breakfast, David Rossin, Ph.D. will present “Does Nuclear Power Still Have a Future?” Dr. Rossin is a retired engineer and expert in nuclear energy. He holds a doctorate degree in metallurgy from Case Institute of Technology/ Case Western and formerly served as president of the American Nuclear Society. Both men and women are welcome to join us for this informative presentation and the best kosher breakfast in Sarasota (scrambled eggs and onions, whitefish salad, bagels, lox and cream cheese). Cost: $7 for Club 770 members; $10 for nonmembers. To RSVP or for more information, call 941.925.0770.

Kim Sheintal on Jews of Sarasota-Manatee The Temple Beth Sholom Men’s Club and Sisterhood have invited Kim Sheintal to discuss her book, Jews of Sarasota-Manatee, at a joint meeting. Everyone is welcome at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. No cost, but please contact Randi Brodsky at 941.924.7682 or mrsmomdoc@verizon.net to reserve your space.

TBE Sisterhood Afternoon Tea and Dessert The Sisterhood of Temple Beth El Bradenton is having its annual Afternoon Tea and Dessert. We will serve a delicious English tea and wonderful desserts. Bring a friend and meet the wonderful women of Temple Beth El – everyone is invited. The event begins at 2:00 p.m. at 6008 Courtside Dr., Bradenton. Our host is Sisterhood President Sheila Kovalsky. Cost: $10. For more information and reservations, please call the TBE office at 941.755.4900, Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon.

April 2014

Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU CURRENT EXHIBITIONS CINEMA JUDAICA: The War Years 1939-1949 March 4 - August 24, 2014

Exhibition on loan from Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion Museum and is curated by Laura Kruger. Pumpernik’s Child’s Menu, Miami Beach, c. 1965

JEWISH HAPPENINGS 3B April 2014

GROWERS, GROCERS, & GEFILTE FISH:

A Gastronomic Look at Florida Jews & Food On view through October 5, 2014 Sponsored by Congregation Beth Jacob and Morris & Rhoda Levitt & Families. Additional support includes: Publix Super Markets Charities; Southern Wine & Spirits.

301 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305.672.5044 • JewishMuseum.com info@jewishmuseum.com Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am - 5pm

The Museum is supported by individual contributions, foundations, memberships and grants from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners and the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council.

2-for-1 admission with this ad SMJN

CONFLUENCE: ISRAEL

Temple Emanu-El Gala honoring Michael Richker Temple Emanu-El is delighted to honor its wonderful President Michael Richker at this elegant and festive evening. Finishing his second term as president, Michael has overseen tremendous growth in the size, vibrancy, programming and spirit of Temple Emanu-El. His leadership, vision and dedication are unparalleled. Michael has also served as a leader in the Synagogue Council and as a tireless volunteer at Resurrection House. The entire community is invited to enjoy this special night of dinner and entertainment in Michael’s honor. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Michael’s On East, 1212 S. East Avenue, Sarasota. For more information, pricing or reservations, please contact Gala co-Chairs Joan Blum at 941.355.5066 or Renee Gold at 941.379.3298.

TUESDAY, APRIL 8 YAD Happy Hour Come join other young Jewish adults for a beer and some darts from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The White Horse British Pub, 6240 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. No cost, no RSVP – just show up! Cash bar. For more information, contact Jessi Sheslow at 941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org.

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is collaborating with Art Center Sarasota in the area’s first exhibition showcasing art by emerging and established Israeli artists in different mediums such as painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, woodwork, video, jewelry and embroidery. The exhibition runs from March 13 through April 25, 2014, with an opening reception for the public on March 13, 5-7pm.

www.artsarasota.org Presented in partnership with

Presented as part of

Mitzvah Knitting Group at Temple Emanu-El 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, call Judy Sauertieg at 941.349.5260.

From all the residents, families, staff, volunteers and Board of Directors of The Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Housing Council and The Jewish Housing Council Foundation

Kim Sheintal on Jews of Sarasota-Manatee Join author, Jewish Genealogical Society of Southwest Florida president, and Temple Emanu-El and ORT leader Kim Sheintal as she speaks about her book Jews of Sarasota-Manatee. Although never more than five percent of the population, Jewish professionals, entrepreneurs and civic leaders played a vital role in Sarasota-Manatee’s success. Many local and visiting Jewish notables have enlightened, inspired and entertained the Sarasota-Manatee community. Boasting more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by, Sheintal’s book – and her talk – will illuminate Sarasota-Manatee’s fascinating Jewish history. This free event begins at 11:00 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Please email Temple Emanu-El Adult Education Chair Beth Salzman at bethanny2@comcast.net with your reservation.

kobernickanchin.org | 941-377-0781 1951 North Honore Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34235 Sponsored by Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Housing Council, Inc., Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson operates on a non-discriminatory basis for admissions, services and employment. Assisted Living Facility # 8951 • Skilled Nursing Facility # 130471046

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

April 2014

4 of every 5 minority and low income students do NOT complete a post-secondary education

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION Support education access for low income, first generation students

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 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 6:30 p.m. at Louies Modern, 1289 N. Palm Avenue, Sarasota. Cash bar; light snacks offered. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org. RSVP online at http://www.jfedsrq.org/events. aspx.

Mah Jongg Mania: Spring Tournament and Luncheon

Unid o wish sNow Happ es you a y Pas sove r! Photography by Rick Benítez

DONATE TODAY TO THE

Youth Collaborative on College Prep Every dollar raised supports continuing education to bridge families out of poverty

ORT America SaraMana Chapter invites you to one of the largest mah jongg tournaments on the west coast of Florida. Proceeds from this fundraiser benefit ORT schools in the United States and sixty other countries. Guests and non-tournament players welcome. The event takes places from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Palm Aire Country Club Ballroom, 5601 Country Club Way, Sarasota. Cost: $38 per person payable to ORT America. For more information, contact Lynn Sacks at lynndsacks@yahoo.com or 941.907.8907.

Success in America: Amy Chua & Jed Rubenfeld It may be taboo to say, but some groups in America do better than others. Cubans in Miami climbed from poverty to prosperity in a generation. Indian and Chinese Americans have much higher incomes than other Americans; Jews may have the highest of all. Husband-and-wife team Amy Chua (author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother) and Jed Rubenfeld – both Yale professors – discuss their new book, The Triple Package, and expose the three unlikely traits that explain the rise and fall of cultural groups in America. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. Cost: $5 (free for TBI members). For more information, contact the TBI office at info@tbi-lbk.org or 941.383.3428.

THURSDAY, APRIL 10 JFCS Holocaust Survivors Support Group Sponsored by

Cathaleen Kaiyoorawongs

Director of Education Initiatives

catalina@unidosnow.org

941-256-0625

www.EducationInitiatives.us

FuE ADfyn! The 11th Annual International Outdoor Art Exhibit Celebrating Diversity

All area survivors and their spouses are invited to hear the lecture “My History, My Story: What will I Share?” The group meets from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at JFCS, South County Human Services Center, 19503 West Villages Parkway, North Port (next door to the State College of Florida). Sponsored by JFCS of the Suncoast, Inc., Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and the Claims Conference. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jan Alston at 941.366.2224 x172 or jalston@jfcs-cares.org.

Sephardic poetry The rich Sephardic culture is woven into Israeli life across the board, but is virtually unfamiliar to many American Jews. Join us for the fourth of a six-month series on an enlightening journey through centuries of time and multiple continents to learn about and experience the depth and breadth of Sephardic Judaism. The Sephardic poetic heritage stretches across the millennia and is prominent throughout Jewish liturgy. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments included. RSVP to Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11 Social Action Shabbat

ON DISPLAY MARCH 30-JUNE 31

This service will highlight the good works of volunteers in attendance and provide the opportunity to shine light on the many important activities and services provided by large and small social organizations in our community. Join us at 8:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. For more information, contact the TBI office at info@tbilbk.org or 941.383.3428.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12 SRQUSY Murder Mystery Party

2 Locations! Sarasota Island Park & Bradenton Riverwalk SPONSORED BY

EmbracingOurDifferences.org

Jewish 8th graders and high schoolers are invited for pizza and a fun-filled role-playing mystery game! You will receive information about your character after you RSVP. The party takes place from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. Cost: $12 for SRQUSY and 8th grade Kadima members; $15 for nonmembers. RSVP to Amber Ikeman at aikeman@templebethsholomfl.org by Monday, April 7.

Tot Shabbat at Temple Emanu-El Join us for a welcoming and festive Shabbat celebration for young Jewish and interfaith families. There will be playground time, a bagel breakfast, and age-appropriate Shabbat prayers, songs and movement with Rabbi Brenner Glickman. We’ll also prepare for Passover with a special craft, story and matzah-tasting. Although Tot Shabbat is designed for families with children ages 1-6, all are invited. Tot Shabbat is sponsored by Temple Emanu-El and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. This free event begins at 10:30 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For more information, call Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman at 941.379.1997.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13 Youth Chocolate Seder at Temple Beth Sholom Celebrate Passover with a yummy chocolate Seder! Students in grades 3 to 12 are welcome. The Seder takes place from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 South Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. Free to TBS Youth Groups’ members; $5 for nonmembers. RSVP by April 7. For more information, please contact Amber Ikeman at aikeman@templebethsholomfl.org.

RAFI (Relatives and Friends of Israelis) meeting RAFI is a social group that is the bridge between loved ones in Israel and the U.S. RAFI is a non-political, non-fundraising group. Members enjoy sharing news about loved ones in Israel and have fun, interesting meetings. Connect with people who have the same interests. Join us at 1:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. For more information, contact Harriet Joy Epstein at hjesarasota@yahoo.com or 941.342.1818.

THURSDAY, APRIL 17 JFCS Holocaust Survivors Support Group Sponsored by

All area survivors and their spouses are invited to Kobernick House, 1951 N. Honore Avenue, Sarasota, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., to hear the lecture “My History, My Story: What will I Share?” 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.

“Great Musical Jews: Beverly Sills” The stage of musical Jews contains extraordinarily-talented men and women, often from impoverished backgrounds, who rose to the heights of public acclaim by inspiring and entertaining the world. Each one of these accomplished Jews has given immeasurable pleasure to diverse cultures hungry for beauty and melody. The accomplishments of opera star Beverly Sills are described in the fourth class of a six-month course covering the beautiful music of Jews that transcends the bounds of age, race, nationality and religion. The class begins at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $5 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher for Passover refreshments included. RSVP to Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

FRIDAY, APRIL 18 TBS Live in the Sanctuary Join us for a lively musical service for all ages where the congregation welcomes Shabbat through music and dance with the traditional Sabbath prayers. Open to the public, this event begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Temple Beth Sholom sanctuary, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. For more information, please call the temple office at 941.955.8121.

Yom HaShoah Service Sandy Mermelstein’s parents, Edith and Walter Loebenberg, refugees from Nazi Germany, were instrumental in creating the Florida Holocaust Museum. She is the tour manager for the museum. Ms. Mermelstein regularly teaches groups about the Holocaust and is the liaison for “Speak Up Speak Now,” a program for middle school students that promotes the idea of being an “upstander, not a bystander.” A Life Member of Hadassah, she served on the boards of Kent Jewish Community Center and Pinellas County Medical Auxiliary. The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism invites you to hear Ms. Mermelstein at 7:30 p.m. at Unity Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd. Free for CHJ members; $5 for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.chj-sarasota.org or call 941.929.7771.

Send your Jewish Happenings to jewishnews@jfedsrq.org Chabad of Sarasota

Community Seder

There's a seat waiting for you at our table... When:

First night of Passover Monday, April 14 • 7:30 pm Cost: $50 for adults, $30 for Children Where: Chabad Center

The Seder is a time for questioning... Be here to learn the answers! The Seder will be conducted by Rabbi Boruch and Chani Steinmetz To secure reservations call 925-0770 or log onto: www.chabadofsarasota.com No one will be turned away due to financial constraint

April 2014

Passover begins at sundown on Monday, April 14. Many of the area’s temples will hold first- and second-night seders open to the community. Contact the temples for more information.

Congregation for Humanistic Judaism PASSOVER CELEBRATION

H al Se f Je c w So ula ish rt r Je ? Cu a Je wi ltu wi sh Us ra sh ? ta lly ? Bo -B- Je rn Je wi Je wi sh? w sh is ? h?

JEWISH HAPPENINGS 5B April 2014

Are You Jus Tuesday, April 15, 6:00pm Jewish?

Join us as we celebrate Passover with a warm, wonderful, humanistic Haggadah.

Michael’s On East Millions of Jews connect with Jewis 1212 East culture butAvenue, not with Sarasota traditional Juda You may one of them. - $60 Members - $50be• Non-members Children underCalendar 12 - $25 and Vis Check our Event

www.CHJ-Sarasota.org Congregation for Humanistic Judaism or call 941.929.7771 Unity, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, F

Reservation deadline: April 5 941.929.7771 www.chj-sarasota.o

Congregation for Humanistic Judaism wishes a Happy Passover to all!

Join us for Passover Seder with your

Temple Beth Israel Family

Monday, April 14, 6 pm

at Temple Beth Israel on Longboat Key Conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Katz and catered by Michael's on East, this Seder is for Temple members & guests only.

Become a Temple Beth Israel member. Call the Temple office to learn about our Introductory Offer. Temple office 383-3428.

Support your only Jewish presence on Longboat Key!

CeLEBRATE WITH OUR

PASSOVER

SEDER

Monday, April 14, 2014 • 6 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2009 • 6:00 pm Seder conducted by

Rabbi Harold Caminker & Cantor Alan Cohn Seder conducted by Full Kosher-Style Seder Meal ChickenAlan & Brisket Rabbi Larry Mahrer and -Cantor CohnFamily Style - With All The Trimmings Kosher Meal with all the trimmings th

at The Renaissance on 9 Members $47; Age 12 and under $25 Non-Members $57;1212and andunder under$17.50 $25 Members $50; Age $30 special offer for college$55; students (without family) in the area Non-Members 12 and under $19.50

Catered by “FETE” of PATTIGEORGE’S

Visa/MC accepted RSVP DEADLINE IS: RSVP DEADLINE:

Wednesday, April41, 2009 Friday, April Call today for your tickets ~ limited seating!

Call today for your tickets ~ limited seating!

Temple Beth Beth El El Temple

941-755-4900 941-755-4900

420032 32ndndStreet StreetWest WestBradenton, Bradenton,FL Fl 34205 4200

April 2014

Attention Bridge PlAyers The Bridge Group meets Thursday afternoons from 1:00-4:00 pm on the Federation Campus (582 McIntosh Road). Open to intermediate and advanced bridge players.

For more information, call Bob Satnick at 941-538-3739.

JEWISH HAPPENINGS MONDAY, APRIL 21 Yizkor Memorial Services The solemn Yizkor prayers will be part of the 10:00 a.m. service at Temple Sinai on the last day of the pilgrimage festival of Passover. The community is welcome to attend to honor the memory of their deceased loved ones. Temple Sinai is located at 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. For more information, visit www.templesinai-sarasota.org or call 941.924.1802.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23

SUNDAY, APRIL 20 STEP Siesta Shakedown Jewish 8th-12th graders from all over the community will embark on a scavenger hunt, make their own matzah pizza, win prizes and enjoy the drum circle on Siesta Key! This free event takes place from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Drop off: Siesta Key Village, 5118 Ocean Blvd. (parking lot with Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce). Pick up: Drum Circle on the beach. For more information, contact Amber Ikeman at 941.343.2106 or aikeman@jfedsrq. org. RSVP online at http://www.jfedsrq.org/events.aspx.

Kosher Passover Barbeque Temple Beth Sholom continues the Pesach tradition with its Annual Passover Barbeque. Save the date for an afternoon of socialization and community, mixed with ritual and fun while enjoying a kosher for Passover barbeque. This event, jointly sponsored by the Men’s Club and Sisterhood, begins at 12:30 p.m. at 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. Cost: $20/adult member, $25/adult nonmember, $10/children 13-18, and free for under 13. Reservations required. Please contact Randi Brodsky at 941.924.7682 or mrsmomdoc@verizon.net for more information.

JGS “Show and Tell” This is it! This is the time for Jewish Genealogical Society of Southwest Florida members as well as nonmembers to bring family trees, family stories, family books and heirlooms to share. Your eyes may glaze over when someone is enthusiastically explaining how to tell a second cousin from a third cousin, once removed, but hearing about the – ahem – questionable behavior of Cousin Charlie during Prohibition makes the “olden days” more real and very human. Show us what you’ve done so far. Attendance is free and everyone is welcome at 1:00 p.m. at Kobernick House, 1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. For more information, contact Kim Sheintal at 941.921.1433 or klapshein@aol.com, or visit http://jgsswf.org/.

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. A large number of Holocaust survivors who reside in this community are willing to come into your classroom and give their eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust. Also, a group of second generation survivors vividly recount their parents’ stories of survival. Also, of great interest are speakers who were hidden children, those saved through the “Kindertransport”, resistance fighters, refugees, as well as World War II camp liberators.

HILDE MANDEL PAUL MOLNAR RIFKA GLATZ MARK SOLENT HENRY TENENBAUM

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: Carolyn Kaplan, Speakers Bureau Coordinator 941.362.4440 • kaplan112@comcast.net PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

For questions contact: Orna Nissan, Director, Holocaust Education and Israeli Programs 941.552.6305 • onissan@jfedsrq.org www.TheJewishFederation.org

NCJW meeting and scholarship awards Your spirits will be lifted as you hear the compelling stories of college students whose education was interrupted by life’s circumstances. These students overcame the situation later in life to continue their studies. Each year, the Sarasota-Manatee section of National Council of Jewish Women sends notices to area colleges to let students know about the available scholarships. The Scholarship Committee, headed by Eve Pokornicky, reviewed applications, made their selections, and the awards will be presented at our April meeting. The scholarships help the selected non-traditional students obtain their degrees. Light refreshments will be served, and there is no charge. All are welcome at 7:00 p.m. on the Jewish Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Reservations are needed by April 17. To RSVP or to learn more about NCJW, please call our 24-hour hotline at 941.342.1855.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24 Day trip with Women of Sinai Pompano Beach is the destination for this year’s motor coach adventure. Nonmembers and spouses are welcome, too. The Festival Flea Market, also known as Sample Row, will be the highlight. Bagels, snacks, water and driver gratuity is included in the cost of $36 per person. Departure time is 7:00 a.m. from Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. We return at 6:30 p.m. To RSVP, call Karen at 941.321.7486.

“The European Jews Who Could Not Speak Yiddish” While most of us derive from the great waves of German and Eastern European Jews who immigrated to the United States, we forget those who preceded them and who looked down on them as newcomers and upstarts! Learn about the early Sephardic colonists who were here before the American Revolution. Rabbi Michael Eisenstat will present this twopart Miniversity class on Thursday, April 24 and Monday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. Cost: $5 per session (free for TBI members). For more information, contact the TBI office at info@tbi-lbk.org or 941.383.3428.

a place for everyone A place where we meet, appreciate, and embrace the unique spark in each member of our community. Adult B’Nai Mitzvah Classes ✡ Shabbat Services Lunch and Learn ✡ Book Club and so much more! An open, accessible, friendly shul, where no one leaves a stranger...

for more information: c o n g k h . o r g

941-244-2042 Sarasota’s Reconstructionist Synagogue South Gate Community Center · 3145 Southgate Circle · Sarasota, FL

WE HAVE A LOT TO SAY WANT TO DISPLAY THE JEWISH NEWS IN YOUR OFFICE OR BUSINESS?

Robin Leonardi, Account Executive: 941.552.6307 • rleonardi@jfedsrq.org

JEWISH HAPPENINGS 7B April 2014 FRIDAY, APRIL 25

April 2014

THURSDAY, MAY 1

Good News Jews: Technology

Jewish Comedy Night featuring Rabbi Bob Alper

Come to the Al Katz Center for a kosher brunch and to learn about current Jewish contributions to the world in high tech. Surrounded by enemies totaling over 500 hundred times its size, Israel is at the cutting edge of technologies, such as extraordinary developments in robotics systems that save human lives in ingenious ways. Be informed and inspired by the achievements of the Jewish people in ensuring the survival of Israel. The event begins at 10:00 a.m. at 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student. RSVP to Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Back by popular demand, nationally-known comedian Rabbi Bob Alper will perform at Temple Emanu-El (151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota) at 7:30 p.m. “The world’s only practicing clergyman doing stand-up comedy… intentionally,” Rabbi Alper is well-known for his 100-percent clean yet hilarious takes on Jewish life. He is also the producer of two bestselling comedy CDs. Sponsor tickets, which include a pre-show dessert reception with the comedian and reserved front seating, cost $36. Regular advance tickets for general seating are $20. Checks may be sent to Temple Emanu-El, attention Jewish Comedy Night, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232. For more information, please contact Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman at 941.379.1997 or elaine-glickman@comcast.net. The deadline to purchase advance tickets is Friday, April 25.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27 Chalutzim Israelipalooza Jewish 3rd-5th graders are invited to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day with Israeli-style snacks and treats, games and a fun end-of-theyear party with friends! The event takes place from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. Cost: $5 for Chalutzim members; $8 for nonmembers. RSVP to Amber Ikeman at aikeman@templebethsholomfl. org by Monday, April 21.

Jewish War Veterans meeting Sarasota Post 172, Jewish War Veterans of the USA will hold its meeting at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. The meeting is a week later than usual due to the Passover holiday season. Join us for our lox and bagel breakfast at 9:15 a.m. The meeting and presentation will start at 10:00 a.m. The featured speaker will be Stuart Weisner, a Florida attorney, who will speak on the subject of Elder Law. The business meeting will include plans for decorating graves of Jewish veterans for Memorial Day. We will also discuss the upcoming convention in Palm Beach in June. All Jewish veterans are eligible to join our meetings. For more information, call Commander Stuart Krupkin at 941.342.3413.

MONDAY, MAY 5 CHJ presents Ted Merwin and The Jewish Deli The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism invites you to hear Ted Merwin, Ph.D., associate professor of religion and Judaic studies at Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pennsylvania). A professor, writer, journalist and dynamic public speaker, he is a frequent guest lecturer on Jewish delis, the food and the families, among many other things Jewish. His 90-minute presentation of comedy sketches, history and the facts of the deli make for much laughter (and hunger). Ted’s talk begins at 11:00 a.m. and will be followed by an optional lunch from TooJay’s. The event takes place at Unity Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd. The cost for the lecture is $10 in advance or $12 at the door. The box lunch from TooJay’s is $13 and must be ordered no later than April 28. A reservation form, including menu choices, can be found at www.chj-sarasota.org or call 941.929.7771.

“Local Survivors in Books and Films” Among the numerous Sarasota-area Holocaust survivors whose lives are recorded in books and films are Pieter Kohnstam, Dr. Thomas O. Hecht, Sonia Fuentes, Dr. Edward and Halina Herman, Margot Coville, Elie Wiesel and Marie Winkelman. Within this extraordinary group are great leaders in science, academia, law, art and the building of the State of Israel. In observance of Yom HaShoah, books and films documenting the lives of these local survivors and others will be featured. The event begins at 11:00 a.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher brunch included. RSVP to Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

MONDAY, APRIL 28 Voices of the Holocaust Sponsored by

Gloria Musicae collaborates with the Sarasota Jewish Chorale, Sarasota Young Voices, Booker High School Music & Dance Programs, Sarasota-Manatee Dance Alliance and the Chroma Quartet in this multimedia production. We celebrate the proud defiance of the human spirit in the face of adversity through this dramatic and poignant cantata. Sponsored by Clair Johnson, the Tourist Development Commission of Sarasota County and The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee. This event begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For tickets ($25-$70), call the Van Wezel box office at 941.953.3368 or visit www.vanwezel.org.

Mah jongg/cards/games day Join the Greater Venice Chapter of Hadassah from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Bay Indies Resort (950 Ridgewood Ave., Venice) in the Indies Hall. The cost of $19 includes breakfast and lunch. Bring your own game or we can assign you a group. For more information, call Ruth Klein-Bauers at 941.492.6025. Send your check to Ruth at 4220 Tennyson Way, Venice, FL 34293.

Cteen “Click” Cteen is a Jewish teen club that compacts exhilarating fun and meaningful projects into a program that’s thrilling and uniting. Cteen events happen at least monthly, but the moments last a lifetime. Happy birthday to us! Come celebrate the birth of our people and unite in friendship with special-needs children. This month’s humanitarian focus: Special-Needs Partners and Partners with The Friendship Circle. This free event begins at 7:30 p.m. at Chabad of Venice, 2169 S. Tamiami Trail. For more information, please contact Rivka Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rivka@ chabadofvenice.com.

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