The Jewish News - April 2019 by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

Happy

Passover

FROM THE BOARD AND STAFF OF

Celebrating Jewish Life in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Israel and the World FEDERATION NEWS PUBLISHED BY

The Jewish Federation OF SARASOTA-MANATEE

THE LARRY GREENSPON FAMILY CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE

April 2019 - Adar/Nissan 5779 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 15A Community Focus 24A Jewish Interest 30A Israel & the Jewish World 33A Commentary 35A Focus on Youth 39A Life Cycle 1B Jewish Happenings

4A Federation awards Chai Grants to three LIFE & LEGACY™ organizations

5A Abe Foxman addresses Sarasota audience about anti-Semitism

www.jfedsrq.org

New committee to study viability of day camp on Federation campus Staﬀ report

uring discussions about how to expand and renovate The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, at The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, the question about a summer day camp has come up time and again. The Sports and Outdoor Activities sub-committee of the overall Campus Utilization Committee has been charged with assessing the feasibility of a summer day camp. Federation board member Tommy Bernstein, who heads up the Sports and Outdoor Activities sub-committee, says, “Many people in the community have wonderful memories of the JCC Summer Day Camp. Having a day camp on the campus would provide a fulfillment of a dream for a number of young families.”

Major Gifts Dinner on Feb. 11 recognizes Federation’s top donors

20A A groovy time was had by all as Federation celebrated its 60th anniversary

Bernstein has appointed two cochairs of a specific day camp committee, Jaime Marco and Brian Hersh. Marco, who attended the original camp years ago when it was on our campus, says, “At this point we are still considering ourselves an explorDay Camp co-chair Brian Hersh with his wife Lauren, 10-year-old Lillian and 8-year-old Gideon atory committee. The desire for a day camp in our area is experience is important for our comsomething that has been on the minds munity. “Sarasota, overall, has a lack of many families for quite some time. of quality all-day camp experiences. This is our opportunity to explore our I want to be part of planning a comoptions, the community demand and prehensive experience that would enall of the possibilities.” gage our youth and families, while Hersh believes a Jewish day camp continued on page 2A

The ﬁrst 10 years of our Jewish Film Festival By Roz Goldberg

Volume 49, Number 4

ow! It’s hard to believe that last month’s very successful 18-film Jewish Film Festival (JFF) was number 10! We have certainly come a long way, and I am thrilled and proud of the amazing communitywide event our JFF has become. In fact, I am told that the JFF is now a “visitor destination” in Sarasota. Apparently, The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee receives dozens of calls every year from tourists who are planning their visits and want to be sure they are here during the JFF! Why was it so important to start a JFF? A critical part of our mission is to strengthen Jewish life and identity in this community. To accomplish that, I wanted to reach out to and engage the entire Jewish community, whether affiliated, non-affiliated, religious, secular, living on Longboat Key, in Lakewood Ranch or elsewhere. I decided that a cultural medium, film, was a good way to do that. I had ex-

A publication of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, FL 34232 Annual voluntary subscription: $25

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perienced the pleasure of Jewish Film Festivals in New York, and recognized their power to provide a multi-dimen-

Roz Goldberg with Theodore Bikel

sional window into Jewish history and Jewish values. The festivals also expose a diverse audience to a variety of historical, personal and emotional experiences – both real and fictional – that could strengthen their connection ▼

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to the Jewish people. We also reached out to the nonJewish community, especially in later years, when we showed films involving Christians and Muslims who saved Jews during the war – in Albania, Greece, Spain and elsewhere. In 2017, we screened a film about a Polish Catholic journalist who fought to unearth antiSemitic atrocities in Poland after the war. We started very small in March 2010, with only four films. Initially, we worked in partnership with the Sarasota Film Festival (SFF). The Federation became a sponsor of the SFF in exchange for help in identifying and obtaining suitable films. In addition, the SFF screened six “Jewish content” films in April at its continued on page 3A ▼

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April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Federation gains almost $3.7 million in legacy commitments in just two years Staﬀ Report

unday, March 31, 2019, will value of $3.7 million. The wonderful mark the completion of the secpart is that we are still gaining new ond year of the LIFE & LEGmembers as donors realize what an ACY™ program jointly sponsored by impact they can have through this proThe Jewish Federation gram,” concluded Spinof Sarasota-Manatee del. and the Harold GrinAlthough the LIFE spoon Foundation. & LEGACY program “We’ve made treinvolves 11 local Jewmendous progress and ish community organiwe’ve significantly exzations, the Federation ceeded our goal each administers the program, year of the program,” provides incentive grants, said Anne Spindel, and offers comprehensive Federation’s LIFE & training to assist them on LEGACY chair. During implementing a culture the past two years, Fedof philanthropy within Anne Spindel eration has received 71 their organizations. In adLetters of Intent designating a legacy dition, organizations are tasked to segift to the Federation with an estimated cure a minimum of 36 donor Letters of

Intent over a two-year period. “A number of women have chosen to endow their Lion of Judah gift through the LIFE & LEGACY program,” noted Ilene Fox, Federation’s Chief Development Officer. “This program has made more women aware that they can use this vehicle to perpetuate

their support and to assure that we will have the resources to sustain our Jewish community.” To make a gift to The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, please contact Ilene Fox at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org.

New member joins Federation board

During its February meeting, the Board of Directors of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee voted to add a new member to its board. Sarasota developer Wayne Ruben joined the board effective February 21, 2019. Ruben owns Ruben Development Companies and WMR Consultants LLC, and is a former executive with Benderson Development. Day camp...continued from page 1A strengthening Jewish identity. It is imperative to build an inclusive, nurturing and welcoming environment to create cohesion and pride within the Jewish community.” Marco adds, “Today’s children have a much different life than we did in the ’80s and ’90s. Camp allows everyone to get back to being children.

From Israeli cooking and dance, arts and crafts, sports, instructional and free swim, to talent shows, field trips and color war, camp teaches children incredible values, relationship and life skills, Israeli and Jewish culture and so much more.” There has been a tremendous response from the community. Already, 28 members of our community have agreed to sit on this committee. In the coming months they will begin researching the various camps that already exist in Sarasota-Manatee and conduct surveys on the needs of young families. They will be working with experts from JCC Association of North America. As Hersh rightly says, “With growth, there is an opportunity to shape the future. How exciting to be part of this community-building experience.” For more information on the day camp committee, please conDay Camp co-chair Jaime Marco with her husband David tact Lisa Feinman at lfeinman@ jfedsrq.org or 941.706.0034. and 3-year-old Hannah

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April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Jewish Film Festival...continued from page 1A world by beating the famous Russian own 2010 Festival. What were the high points over the Army team. The film was directed by 10 years? That is a very tough quesDani Menkin, who was present for the tion because there were so many. I may premiere along with the captain of that forget some big ones, but I will try to famous team, Tal Brody. answer the question. In 2017, we were up to 11 films. As In 2011, prominent actress Tovah I mentioned above, our Opening Night Feldshuh made a guest appearance at film, Bogdan’s Journey, was about the JFF. She was playing in Golda’s a Polish Catholic journalist, Bogdan Bialik, who devoted his life to findBalcony the next evening at the Van Wezel, and graciously came early to ing the truth about the murder of Jewhighlight the JFF. She was our first ish refugees in Poland after the war. “star.” Dr. Bialik was our very special guest. In 2013, which was the 65th anniIn connection with our Closing Night film, In Search of Jewish Cuisine, we versary of the establishment of Israel, on of sponsored a sold-out gourmet dinner operall six films were about Israel, and the at Michael’s On East. The food was SFF continued that theme at its own uben inspired by recipes by famous Israeli Festival in April with a “Blue and utive chef Michael Solomonov, who wrote White Weekend for Israel.” the book on which the film was based. Looking back, our breakout year was definitely 2015. No longer in 2018 was Israel’s 70th anniversary. partnership with the SFF, we showed All 12 excellent films we showed were eight films, and had two unforgettable either made in Israel or about different events alongside those films. On Openaspects of Israeli life. ing Night, we showed In the Shoes of This year, our JFF screened 18 Sholom Aleichem, a beautiful docuvery diverse films. The Opening Night mentary about the famous Yiddish film was Heading Home, about Israel’s author, starring Theo Bikel – and 2017 baseball team that outdid itself Theo was there in person. In fact, his in the World Baseball Classic. The diperformance after the film absolutely rector and members of the team were electrified the 700 people in the audipresent. Also shown was the compelence. It was a night the people present ling documentary, Who Will Write Our will never forget. Sadly, it was one of History. Produced by Nancy Spielberg, his last performances. He died four this film is about the extraordinary months later. His widow, Aimee, has dedication of Jews who were impristold me how much he enjoyed that peroned, and later murdered, in the Warformance. He was a great friend of the saw ghetto, to document what the Jewish people, and of mine, and he is Nazis were doing, and to hide their greatly missed by all. journals so the world would know Our second big event in 2015 was what happened to them after they were planned in connection with the showdead. Last, but not least, for the first ing of The Sturgeon Queens, a delectime, our JFF showed a family film on table documentary about the famous The Larry Greenspon Family Campus appetizing store on the lower East Side for Jewish Life, in partnership with of New York City, Russ & Daughters. PJ Library. After the screening, we held a Russ & If my math is correct, we have Daughters Brunch, featuring nova and shown 86 amazing feature and docuherring flown in from New York City mentary films over our 10-year hisvia Federal Express. So many people tory. They were shot in many different signed up for the brunch – we expectcountries in many different languages. ed 250, but ended up with 500 – that Some were sad, others funny, but all we had to move the venue twice, fiwere, I believe, excellent films. On top nally settling on the Devyn on South of which, we’ve had marvelous guests Tamiami Trail. Bless Phil Mancini, who greatly expanded everyone’s film who managed to handle the event in experience by their participation. And spite of the overflow. we have reached and engaged many In 2016, we were up to nine films, thousands of people in the Sarasotaand began to use Hollywood 20 for Manatee area, which was our goal most of our screenings. Our Opening from the beginning. Night film, Beneath the Helmet, was I am no longer the chair of the dedicated to the Israel Defense Forces, JFF. Two years ago, I passed that role and we were joined by three soldiers to other very capable people who will who appeared in that film. Our Closing continue the legacy of these first 10 Night film was a premiere screening years into the future. I eagerly look forof On the Map, an exciting documenward to the 2020 JFF, and I hope you tary about the amazing 1977 Tel Aviv do, too. basketball team that stunned the sports

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April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Federation awards Chai Grants to three LIFE & LEGACY™ organizations Staﬀ Report

habad of Sarasota, Chabad of Venice & North Port, and Hershorin Schiff Community Day School were the recipients of a $1,800 incentive award from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee for securing eight additional Letters of Intent from December 28, 2018, through February 8, 2019. “The incentive grant from The Jewish Federation enabled Chabad to secure additional legacy gifts,” said Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Chabad of Sarasota. “It was a significant push that got donors to agree to sign a Letter of Intent and make an immediate impact.” Since the implementation of the LIFE & LEGACY program, the 11 partnering organizations have collectively secured over 500 Letters of Intent generating an estimated value of

gifts of over 15 million dollars to sethat organizations have hosted to honor cure the future of the Jewish commuand thank their donors.” nity. For more information about the Upon completion of the second LIFE & LEGACY program, please conyear of the program, all partnering ortact Gisele Pintchuck at gpintchuck@ ganizations are eligible for an additionjfedsrq.org or 941.706.0029. al incentive grant of $5,000 for securing a minimum of 18 Letters of Intent. “Incentive grants allow organizations to put funds back into their LIFE & LEGACY program to be used to steward their donors,” said Gisele Pintchuck, local LIFE & LEGACY Director. “It has been so rewarding to see the Dan Ceaser and Robin Sweeting from Community Day School various special events with LIFE & LEGACY Director Gisele Pintchuck

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Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Chabad of Sarasota with LIFE & LEGACY Director Gisele Pintchuck

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onor

Abe Foxman addresses Sarasota audience about anti-Semitism Established 1971

PUBLISHER The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee the The Larry Greenspon Family Campus confor Jewish Life ck@ 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

April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Published Monthly Volume 49, Number 4 April 2019 48 pages USPS Permit No. 167 May 2019 Issue Deadlines: Editorial: March 28, 2019 Advertising: April 1, 2019 CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Change of address inquiries can be sent to Paula Ivory-Bishop at pibishop@jfedsrq.org or call 941.371.4546.

PRESIDENT Michael Ritter

Staﬀ Report

he Heller CRC (Community Relations Committee) believes that ongoing educational opportunities are key to combatting bigotry, racism, bullying and anti-Semitism. Abe Foxman, former head of the AntiDefamation League, spoke at our Federation for just this reason. Presented by the Heller CRC, we brought you “25 years after Oslo with Abe Foxman.” This discussion, led by Heller CRC vice-chair David Millstone, touched on the most important topic affecting the global Jewish community today: anti-Semitism. As the former head of the ADL, Mr. Foxman was at the forefront of major issues of the day, including the rise of global anti-Semitism, the war on terrorism, church/state issues, religious intolerance and matters relating to the Holocaust. He consistently speaks out against hatred and violence wherever they occur. When asked specifically if the

BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement is anti-Semitic, Mr. Foxman unequivocally said “Yes.” Going deeper into why BDS is an anti-Semitic movement, Mr. Foxman explained that the reason for its conception, and as it operates in its current state, is to boycott, divest and sanction ONLY Israel while ignoring true human rights violations around the globe. These truths mean that double standards are applied to Israel, and those who support BDS demonize Israel while trying to delegitimize it. The three Ds (double standards, demonize, delegitimize) above are included in the U.S. State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism as it relates to Israel. As Mr. Foxman said, “We support our CRC because of the understanding that we are not alone, and you can’t fight prejudice alone. Prejudice is a disease. Today you like this group, tomorrow you don’t. You find a bigot, chances are he doesn’t like you or you

or you or you (pointing to the crowd).” One of the most compelling stories told by Mr. Foxman was a personal one. When he was a child, he was hidden during the Holocaust in Eastern Europe. Saved by his mother’s ability to let another woman raise her child, Mr. Foxman spent a handful of his childhood years in a Catholic home raised by a loving family. When his parents miraculously returned home at the end of the war, there was confusion and anger from both his biological parents and Catholic parents. As you can imagine by his devotion to the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish people, Mr. Foxman returned to his Jewish roots. We hope to see you at future Heller CRC events. For more information about the Heller CRC, contact Jessi Sheslow, Director of Community Relations, at 941.343.2109 or jsheslow@ jfedsrq.org.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Howard Tevlowitz SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Marty Katz MANAGING EDITOR Ted Epstein ADVERTISING SALES Robin Leonardi – 941.552.6307 PROOFREADERS Laurel Ash, Edward D. Cohen, Marianne Mandell, Jack Mansbach, Elliot Ofsowitz, Linda Stern, Bryna Tevlowitz 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.

Jessi Sheslow, Abe Foxman, David Millstone

David Millstone interviews Abe Foxman

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April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Major Gifts Dinner recognizes Federation’s top donorsS Fe The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee hosted its annual Major Gifts Dinner at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota on February 11. Co-chairs Bobbi and Don Bernstein and Marysue and Leon Wechsler hosted 130 generous donors. Guests enjoyed remarks from noted Israeli author, columnist and historian Dr. Daniel Gordis. The Lead Sponsors were Hannah and Norman Weinberg; the Gold Sponsor was Allegiant Private Advisors.

Photos courtesy Cliff Roles

By S

Dr. Daniel Gordis with Hannah & Norman Weinberg

Larry Greenspon & Mary Gratehouse with Graci & Dennis McGillicuddy

Ed & Betty Rosenthal

Bunny & Mort Skirboll

Helen & Len Glaser

Peter & Joan Wells

Co-chairs Leon & Marysue Wechsler and Bobbi & Don Bernstein with Dr. Daniel Gordis

Luke Nicholas, Kristina Eastmond, Paul Cantor and Melissa Walsh from Allegiant Private Advisors

Meredith Ernst, Hadassah Strobel, Alan & Ruth Ades

David & Patti Wertheimer and Lori & David Liner

How

We Help.

The Jewish Federation offers assistance for all ages in Sarasota and Manatee Counties: Camp Grants, Travel Opportunities, Education Scholarships, Religious School Assistance and Women’s Giving Circle Grants. We also support programs: PJ Library, Senior Services and Jewish Healing, including a Community Chaplain.

Learn more at

jfedsrq.org

Martin J. Kossoff CFP® / AIF® Principal, President

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

This is YOUR federation. And we are here to help.

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April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

rsSheldon Gensler: Key architect of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee By Sandy Chase

he Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee – a monumental achievement spanning 60 years – owes its foundation to dedicated, insightful and resolute leaders such as Sheldon Gensler, its first president (1971-1973). Having left a prestigious Minneapolis law practice, Sheldon relocated to Sarasota with his wife Martha and daughter Sheri in 1966. “Vacationing here, Martha and I knew someday it would be home,” says Sheldon. Whether in Minnesota or Sarasota, Sheldon has never faltered in his allegiance to the Jewish community and Israel. “My father was one of our synagogue’s founding members. I even led weekly junior-congregation services until I joined the Navy, sometimes conducting Shabbat services for Jewish sailors and officers.” His role model was his Hebrew high-school principal. “Dr. George Gordon taught us the importance of studying and following the Torah.” At the University of Minnesota, where he received business and law degrees, Sheldon helped found its Hillel. Beaming, he says, “I won $100 in the national Hillel contest, writing an essay on the life of Rashi.” Having been active in the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and the United Jewish Appeal (UJA), Sheldon joined the Federation’s predecessor, the Sarasota Jewish Community Council. Although chartered in 1959, this organization had been faltering until several members asked Sheldon to

assume the helm. “I agreed once assured I would have an office, secretary and executive director. My requests were granted when Ed Kalin joined us,” he says. Before that time, Sheldon and others would meet informally, usually at Kalin’s furniture store, exploring ways to strengthen the emerging Jewish community and support Israel. Coincidentally, the first permanent Federation office was also home to Sheldon’s trial-law practice, whose accolades include the Sarasota County Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award for initiating and coaching Booker High’s mock-trial program. Under Sheldon’s leadership, visionaries helped establish the cornerstone for today’s Federation. Their blueprints encompassed: Raising money for the UJA and Israel bonds. In 1975, he was recognized with the Israel Shalom Award for “...service to Israel and the community.” Establishing an inclusive Sarasota Jewish community to counteract isolation. The Shalom Committee reached out to newcomers, but it was discontinued because of an unenthusiastic response. • His fondest moment was the Council’s 25th anniversary party at the Van Wezel. “The community came out in great numbers – 1,700 people attended. Quite a feat considering we were still in our embryonic stage of developing into the vibrant community

we are now.” Helping cement an effective working relationship with non-Jewish lay and religious leaders. • Sheldon reflects proudly, “At that time, we worked tirelessly to discontinue discrimination, like the penalizing of Jewish publicschool students for being absent during the Jewish holidays. A major achievement was that the Sarasota County School Board adopted a set of teacher guidelines endorsed by our Community Relations Committee.” • Dedicated to erasing all discrimination, Sheldon also helped kickstart the Boxser Diversity Initiative, whose programs help foster an understanding of diversity and inclusion. Encouraging women to play a significant role, establishing their own fundraising campaign. Launching The Chronicle, the forerunner of The Jewish News. Assessing community readiness to build a retirement residence. Laying the foundation for social services. Embodying the Federation, Sheldon has been (1) a trustee of the Sarasota-Manatee Foundation; (2) a member of the M. Aurel Rosin B’nai Brith; and (3) a sponsor for numerous pro-Israel groups, such as AIPAC and Boys Town Jerusalem, to name a few. He was also the Temple Beth Sholom “2006 Man of the Year” for chairing numerous committees, teaching

Sheldon Gensler (right) with his wife Martha and Robert St. John, noted author and foreign war correspondent, at 1975 Israel Bonds dinner honoring Gensler

religious school, and leading Shabbat services in the absence of a rabbi. Patti Wertheimer, the Federation’s past president and fellow congregant, is reminded of Sheldon’s melodious chanting of the haftarah. Having recently celebrated his 99th birthday, Sheldon attends services occasionally, including High Holy Days, when his daughter Sheri blows the shofar. Sheldon’s memories include “... welcoming Israeli leaders, sharing scotch with Colonel Ehud Diskin, and meeting Abba Eban. I also met Miss Israel in the early 1970s, but her name escapes me,” he adds. Patti says, “Sheldon’s integrity and respectful manner have been aweinspiring.” Dan Boxser encapsulates Sheldon: “...a man devoted to his synagogue, Israel and, most important, his family. His proudest moment was helping to found the Jewish Federation and seeing the remarkable landmark it’s become.” The local Jewish community is so fortunate to have had such a key early architect. Our many thanks to Sheldon and all the leaders who followed.

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April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Edie and David Chaifetz to sponsor local PJ Library subscriptions

By G

By Andrea Eiﬀert, Teen and Family Program Coordinator

Local philanthropists and longtime focus on the continuity of our Jewish people.” Edie adds, supporters of The Jewish Federation “We hope books will reach of Sarasota-Manatee, Edie and David Chaifetz have a time-honored hisfamilies of all persuasions tory with PJ Library, dating back to the and that reading together program’s beginnings in 2005, when will strengthen relationships within the family.” they were sponsors at their then local In addition to the books Federation in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The couple feels so strongly about the that are sent directly to benefits of PJ Library that they have children’s mailboxes each decided to also sponsor the PJ Library month, the Federation sponsors monthly programs to book subscriptions in the Sarasotaconnect families through fun Manatee region. David Chaifetz says PJ Library sponsors Edie and David Chaifetz with PJ’s newest initiative, a PJ Library Family Haggadah one of the reasons he and Edie feel so activities and events. Many strongly about supporting the PJ prolocal synagogues and Jewish organizaThere is something for everyone gram is that, “With all the inflENJOY uences DELICIOUS tions have hosted these events, making through the outreach efforts of PJ LiHOMEMADE: PJ Library a meaningful community children are faced with as• Fresh they grow brary. For those looking to connect Pita Bread • Lahmeh • Zaatar • Desserts • Imported Cheeses • Spices • Olives & More! and learn, PJ Library books provide a program, inclusive of all families from with other families in a less formal source of Jewish values and ethics that all denominations, with a common way, local PJ Community Connectors goal of building our Jewish community Amanda Glucklich and Dori Goldfarb C H A P N I I E P S • and passing on our rich traditions and are arranging small networks of famiBOULI • TAB L culture. lies with similar interests for casual E Discover LAF A F As children outgrow PJ Library, meetups. This is great way for families Sarasota’s Finest S• O they can join the program’s next chapnew to town or interested in helping to YR Mediterranean Cuisine ter, PJ Our Way, for kids ages nine build a vibrant Jewish community for & Specialty Market through 11. PJ Our Way provides young families to get involved. Fresh Pita Bread • Imported Cheeses chapter books and graphic novels, and For more information about PJ Li• Spices • Olives & more! enables subscribers to select their own brary, to subscribe or get involved, 4246 S. Tamiami Trail Homemade & Delicious free books which will also be mailed contact Andrea Eiﬀert, Teen and FamSouth of Bee Ridge Rd to them each month. There is even a PJ ily Program Coordinator for The JewMention this ad for complimentary (941) 923-6666 Baklava, Hot tea or Turkish coffee radio station, PJ Library Radio, which ish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, at www.oasiscafesarasota.com with lunch or dinner, or receive a can be streamed online 24 hours a day aeiﬀert@jfedsrq.org or 941.552.6308. Now serving Beer & Wine! BE FREE Hummus, Falafel or Baba H through a free app. Monday – Saturday Ghanouj appetizer w/ your •B ABA 10:30am – 8:00pm meal purchase of $25! GHA Next-day Catering! NOUJ • LAHMEH FREE WiFi • ZAATAR

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hanks to the vision of Harold Grinspoon, whose foundation partners with local organizations and sponsors to send free Jewishthemed books to families with young children, currently more than 200,000 children throughout the United States and Canada, ages six months through eight years, receive a book each month. As a result, more families are snuggling up at bedtime, reading together and talking about Jewish values and traditions that are important to them. With 400 of those books headed to homes in Sarasota and Manatee counties, the program continues to grow locally and also serves to engage families raising Jewish children through monthly activities and programs.

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CONGREGATION FOR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM

Passover Celebration

This month’s advertisers

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

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This publication is brought to you each month thanks to the support of our advertisers. Please be sure to use their products and services, and mention that you found them in The Jewish News.

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April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Fathers now able to experience the magic of Israel By Gisele Pintchuck, LIFE & LEGACY™ Director

ocal fathers now have the a deeper connection with their Jewchance of a lifetime! Two years ish identity, Israel, themselves and our ago, The Jewish Federation of community,” said Josh. Sarasota-Manatee sent its first group “The idea is not to get men to cry and be emotional, but to make a conof local mothers to participate in the nection,” said Lilach Cohen-Holden, Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project digital communications manager for (JWRP) MOMentum Trip to Israel. A JWRP, based in Rockville, Maryland. second cohort of mothers participated The tour includes usual Israel fare – in 2018. JWRP’s mission is to “emKabbalat Shabbat at power women to change the Kotel, visits to Yad the world through Jewish Vashem and Masada, values that transform ourselves, our families and plus Shabbat lectures our communities.” like ‘Who Are You: Body or Soul?’ at the Now it’s the fathers’ turn! The Jewish FederaAish HaTorah World tion is thrilled with the Center.” JWRP’s criteria addition of the JWRP requires that fathers MoMENtum Trip to Ismust be a parent raisrael for men, and will be ing Jewish children sending its first group of with at least one child local fathers this coming Julie and Josh Green, November. Dr. Joshua JWRP and MoMENtum co-chairs under 18 years of age living at home. The trip is highly subsiGreen, who has supported his wife dized by JWRP and the Federation. Julie’s commitment to the program, The Federation is honored to be is looking forward to leading the first taking a third group of local mothers Sarasota group. “The men’s trip gives this summer on another women’s JWRP husbands of women’s trip alumnae a trip. “This is truly a life-changing optaste of their spouse’s experiences and portunity and I have been fortunate to allows every participant to bring home

accompany 32 women to Israel and also witness them come back to their family and community with an awakened and inspired sense of Jewish identity and connection,” says Julie Green, Sarasota’s JWRP chair.

For more information about the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project or JWRP Men’s Trip to Israel, contact me at gpintchuck@jfedsrq.org or 941.706.0029.

Fathers from the United States and Canada, MoMENtum 2017

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April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

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Co Heller CRC joins the FL Hate Crime Coalition Ho By Jessi Sheslow, Director of Community Relations

n February, the Heller CRC (Community Relations Committee) was officially invited to join the AntiDefamation League’s Florida Hate Crime Coalition, which was established in 2016 to advocate for an expanded hate crimes law in Florida. In 2017, the Coalition – then composed of 27 organizations – had legislation filed by Senator Kevin Rader and Representative Sharon Pritchett in the Florida legislature. In 2018, the Coalition grew to 48 members, and our legislation was filed by Senator Kevin J. Rader and Representative Joe Geller. Compared to other states, Florida has a relatively strong hate crimes law. However, it has multiple gaps that need to be addressed. Legislation that will soon be filed for 2019 will address these issues, including gender identity, and adding coverage for “association with” hate crimes, where, for example, a person is victimized for being at a restaurant with African-American or Hispanic friends. It will also address providing a more expansive definition of disability, which is based

on the Florida Civil Rights Act, and allow for prosecution of mixed-motive hate crimes. Under current law, if therespec is a secondary motive for a crime, it is T very difficult to prosecute a criminalcom act as a hate crime. So, for example, atrice hate crime cannotGree be charged if a per-Life petrator involved in a fender-bender assaults the other driver while yelling both racial epithets and angry remarks about the accident at the victim. The Heller CRC of The Jewish Federation on SarasotaManatee was asked to join this coalition as a result of the ongoing work it does in the community and with local elected officials. We are honored to join the likes of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, and the Interfaith Council of Central Florida, to name just a few on the long list of noble organizations. For more information about the Heller CRC, contact me at jsheslow@ jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109.

Club Fed takes a road trip Staﬀ Report

lub Fed hit the road on February 22, visiting the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg to view the exhibit “Jewels of the Imagination” by Jean Schlumberger. Beginning his career as a designer of costume jewelry for couturier Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1930s, Schlumberger was vice president of Tiffany & Co. by 1956 with his own design salon at its Fifth Avenue headquarters. This exhibition brings together the extensive Schlumberger collection of Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon, which was donated to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts between 1985 and 2015. It is

the largest, most comprehensive public collection of Jean Schlumberger’s work in the world. As one of the participants said, “These excursions are always fantastic! I don’t have to worry about a thing. We take a luxury bus to the museum for a private docent tour, and we always finish the day with a fabulous lunch. I’m glad I booked early since it was sold out.” We are currently planning three Club Fed bus trips for next year. For more information on Club Fed, contact Jeremy Lisitza at jlisitza@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2113.

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The ladies of Club Fed are ready for their road trip

A Seder for all

By Sydney Harlow, Program Director at Gulf Coast Hillel

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n years past, Gulf Coast Hillel’s Passover Seders have been on the traditional side and open to all. Most of the students who attended were Jewish, but things are changing. This year, Gulf Coast Hillel is partnering with Ringling College Campus Ministries to hold an interfaith Passover Seder open to students of all faiths. The Seder takes place on Friday, April 19 at 5:00 p.m. on the Ringling College of Art + Design campus. The Haggadah we’ll use is handmade with student input on traditions that are important to them that connect with the themes of the Passover story. The Seder will start with an interfaith welcome from the Rev. Melanie

Kim-Hamill, campus minister at Ringling College. This year will include not only teaching non-Jewish students about the holiday, it will also bring in different elements of Passover from around the world and across traditions, including skits, stories and aﬁkomen scavenger hunts. The Seder is open to college students from around the area, including Ringling College, New College of Florida, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, and State College of Florida. For more information, contact me at 305.968.6266 or sydney@gchillel. org. Gulf Coast Hillel is funded by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

FEDERATION NEWS

April 2019

11A

Commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day Staﬀ Report

very year, the Federation comd almemorates International Holootive caust Remembrance Day with herespecial speakers and performances. it is This year we honored the Greek minalcommunity on January 20 at the Beale, atrice Friedman Theater on The Larry nnotGreenspon Family Campus for Jewish per-Life. We heard from Dr. Mimis Cohen lved nder other lling arks

Jewotajoin ult of does and offied to Jewions MiJewil of each il of w on . the w@

Dr. Anna Kohen and Dr. Mimis Cohen

about the history of Greek Jews, heard Ladino Jewish music from violinists Asi Matathias and Tosca Opdam, and enjoyed a performance from the Hellenic Dancers from the St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church.

Violinsts Asi Matathias and Tosca Opdam

City Commissioner Willie Shaw, Dir. of Community Relations Jessi Sheslow and the Hellenic Dancers of St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church

pubger’s

We love our volunteers!

said,Staﬀ Report ntashe Volunteer Committee of The have the best possible experience. hing. Jewish Federation of SarasoStarting in the fall, the Federation eum ta-Manatee hosted a volunteer will host more volunteer open houses e alappreciation party on February 28 on to engage anyone in our community lous who is looking to get involved. For inThe Larry Greenspon Family Camce it pus for Jewish Life. Patti Wertheimer, formation on how to volunteer, contact along with committee members Linda Jeremy Lisitza at jlisitza@jfedsrq.org hree Lipson and Rosann Black, welcomed or 941.343.2113. For all who attended. ntact Participants talked q.org about their experiences while volunteering with the Federation or one of our partner organizations. Patti Wertheimer reminded them that compliments and positive feedback are fantastic, but we also need to know what we can improve on Jacki Levin, Millie Cole, Ronnie Riceberg to make our volunteers

PASSOVER PASSOVER SEDER R Friday, April 19th 5:30 p.m.

Temple Beth Israel of Longboat Key Conducted by Rabbi Stephen L. Sniderman

This Seder is for Temple members & their guests only.

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Rosann Black, Chief Development Oﬃcer Ilene Fox, Linda Lipson

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

12A

April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Volunteer Spotlight An extraordinary woman: Alice Cotman By Linda Lipson

“Our monthly Jewish-themed film series focuses on real slices of life we can all relate to.” – ROSANN BLACK

SAMMY DAVIS JR. I’VE GOTTA BE ME

Wednesday, April 10, 2019 • 2:00 pm A star-studded roster of interviewees (including Jerry Lewis, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal) pay tribute to the legendary, multi-talented song-and-dance man.

Audience Award, Boston Jewish Film Festival; Winner, Best Documentary, Berkshire Jewish Film Festival

Temple Beth Israel

567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key

BIG SONIA

Sunday, May 19, 2019 • 2:00 pm Among other things, this film offers a laugh-out-loud-funny portrait of the power of love to triumph over bigotry, and the power of truth-telling to heal us all.

Best Film, Cleveland International Film Festival; Best Documentary, Napa Valley Film Festival

Temple Emanu-El

151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota

NO PLACE ON EARTH

Monday, June 17 2019 • 1:30 pm Esther Stermer and a group of families’ harrowing story of survival living in near total darkness in two cold, damp caves is one like no other ever told. It was life… like NO PLACE ON EARTH.

Winner, Audience Award, Hamptons International Film Festival; Freedom Film Award, Chesapeake Film Festival

Selby Public Library

1331 1st Street, Sarasota

WELCOME TO KUTSHER’S

Wednesday, July 17, 2019 • 1:30 pm The last surviving resort in the Catskills. Explore the full Dirty Dancing-era Catskills experience— and how it changed American pop culture in the comedy, sports and vacation industries.

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LIMIT 2 TICKETS PER FILM. THE SERIES IS FREE but audience members are encouraged to bring cans of food as well as new toys and school supplies, which will be donated to All Faiths Food Bank, Toys for Tots and Title 1 Schools.

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ho is an example of a volunoften for a couple of months at a time. teer extraordinaire? When Every time they went, she would visit you look at Alice Cotman’s them and her mother’s cousins. In fact, history of volunteerism, you know exsince 1970, Alice has been to Israel actly the answer. There is a good reaseven times. son that over 150 people were present But Federation is only one place at Temple Emanuel’s Sisterhood event that captured Alice’s heart. Where else in 2012 to honor her for her volunteer has she volunteered? This could take activities at the temple. up three pages of the newspaper, but Yes, she is a wonderful example of let us list a few of many: At Temple philanthropy in a way that is a tribute Emanu-El she was Sisterhood Vice to all. As Alice says, “I am unable to be President, Board of Trustees member, a ‘money’ philanthropist, manager and buyer but I can afford to be a of the gift shop and ‘time’ philanthropist.” part of the temple’s Obviously, the time she Starfish Initiative has given to the Jewish which sent thespiand Sarasota communians to Wilkinson ties is beyond belief! Elementary School Alice was born in to act out stories in Dayton and lived in Chicostume for kincago and Knoxville. In dergartners; ORT 1970, she started workPresident & Treaing at Montgomery Ward surer; NCJW eye as a copywriter for the screener; reading members’ catalogue. In tutor at Gocio and 1972, through new laws, Booker Elementary women were allowed Schools; Assistant Alice Cotman to work as buyers. She City Director of Tel immediately went through the Buyer Mond, Israel, for Sister Cities AssoTraining Program. She was one of ciation of Sarasota; and active with the first women to work in buying at Embracing Our Differences since its the firm and eventually took her skills inception 15 years ago. Theater has also been a passion elsewhere and became a Buyer/Manof her life for 20 years and, as such, ager at Aero Custom Drapery. For the Alice has acted at The Players Centre company, she created the most profitfor Performing Arts Theater, Manatee able branch in four individual cities for Performing Arts Center and Asolo Rep two years in a row. Alice takes great Theatre Guild’s Play Readers Group. pride in this professional accomplishIn addition, she is part of a playwriting ment. group called Sarasota Area PlaywritHer parents had been living in ers, which created and then performed Sarasota since 1978 and she visited for many years. She loved the weather, the a play called The Bintel Brief since 2012. water, the Gulf and the ability to play When asked what she was most tennis all year. After much considerproud of since arriving in Sarasota, ation, Alice and her husband Ed deAlice said, “I was so happy to be able cided to move to Sarasota 22 years ago. to take care of my parents when they At that point, she realized the scope of needed me, to become a Bat Mitzvah opportunities in theater and volunteerin March of last year, being married to ing. She took full advantage of both. my husband Ed for 42 years, and runWhen thinking about volunteering, ning the Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood the first place she went to was The JewGift Shop, which has been able to doish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee nate money to its religious school.” because in the other cities she lived, “If you are thinking of volunteerthe Federations helped local agencies, ing,” she says, “it is important. It is tikIsrael and Jews around the world. She discovered that the local Federation kun olam, giving back. All non-profits had the same goals but was also active serve wonderful purposes. You are in many other areas. This intrigued her needed. You just have to find the right ones which meet your interests.” and she felt it would not only be a good Is “extraordinary” the right word way to “give back” but also to help Isto describe Alice? We think so. Alice rael and meet other Jewish people. She Cotman, we are so appreciative to have started to volunteer in many programs benefited from your knowledge, comat the Federation in 1996 and continues mitment, passion and caring for our her activeness to this day. Federation and our community. ConAlice has been involved in many gratulations Alice on being April’s areas of the Federation, but most recently in Federation’s Teen Travel Extraordinary Volunteer! For those interested in volunteerScholarship Program and the Women’s ing, there are many ways to contribute Giving Circle Grant Committee, which and be part of the volunteer life at the provides grants to organizations in IsFederation. For more information, conrael that help women and children. One tact Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113 or of her major reasons for being involved jlisitza@fedsrq.org. is her love of Israel. Her parents lived in Netanya for a year and returned

FIND JEWISH The COMMUNITY DIRECTORY on The Federation website gives you information at your fingertips. Any time of the day or night, you can Search and Click on our database of Jewish congregations, service providers and retail merchants.

CHECK IT OUT TODAY!

JFEDSRQ.org/Community-Directory

April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Get ready for Yom Ha’atzmaut 2019! By Sydney Harlow, Program Director at Gulf Coast Hillel

his year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration will be bigger and better than ever before! The celebration will take place on Sunday, May 5 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Beatrice Friedman Theater on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life. The event will feature authentic tastes of Israel with traditional foods

Yom Ha’atzmaut 2018 celebration

such as falafel, bourekas and limonana. You can “walk around Israel” and experience fun activities like camel races, a climb to the top of Masada, and writing a note to place in the Western Wall.

You can also learn how to build a tent with our own Sarasota Israel Scouts and test your skills at the IDF training course. For those wishing to enjoy the festivities in other ways, there will be a variety of entertainment, Israeli wine tasting, and shopping at our Israel shuk. When asked about the event, chair Adina Schwartz said, “It will be fun for everyone, from young to young at heart!” This event is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, with support from many community partners, including Gulf Coast Hillel, Shapiro Teen Engagement Program (STEP), Temple Beth Sholom, Congregation Ner Tamid, Temple Sinai, Congregation Kol HaNeshama, Temple Emanu-El, Hershorin Schiff Community Day School, Jewish National Fund, and JFCS of the Suncoast. For more information, please contact Andrea Eiﬀert at aeiﬀert@jfedsrq. org. To register, please visit jfedsrq. org/events.

Israeli expert speaks in Sarasota Staﬀ Report

n February 11, more than 800 people gathered at The RitzCarlton, Sarasota to hear Dr. Daniel Gordis discuss the rift between American Jews and Israel. The audience was mesmerized by his words and important message of reconciliation. The Community Lecture was pre-

sented by the Heller CRC; special thanks to Lead Sponsors Hannah and Norman Weinberg and Gold Sponsor Allegiant Private Advisors. Dr. Gordis is the author of many books on Israel and was named one of the top influential Jews in 2014 by The Jerusalem Post.

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April 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

$87,500 in Jewish overnight camp grants awarded! By Andrea Eiﬀert, Teen and Family Program Coordinator

ampfires just got cozier and dining hall cheers louder because 82 local children just got the news that they will receive grants and scholarships from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee to attend Jewish overnight camps this summer. If you have ever attended a Jewish overnight camp, or have a friend or family member that has attended overnight camp, you know that lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories and creating habits of Jewish practice are often wonderful byproducts of the camp experience. But did you also know that research (CAMP WORKS: The Long-term Impact of Jewish Overnight Camp) shows that camp attendance increases the likelihood of adult participation and identification in the

following areas? As adults, campers are: 30% more likely to donate to a Jewish charity 37% more likely to light Shabbat candles 45% more likely to attend synagogue monthly or more 55% more likely to be very emotionally attached to Israel These powerful statistics are encouraging when we consider the continuing decline in synagogue affiliation rates and engagement of young families within their respective Jewish communities. Now, more than ever, The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee appreciates our local donors with a commitment to Jewish camping, enabling grants and scholarships for Sarasota-Manatee children to attend

Jewish overnight camps each summer. Special thanks go to Marcy Klein for extending need-based scholarship dollars to help an additional six children attend camp this summer, and to Brian and Joan Wides for creating the “Melissa Wides Summer Camp Scholarship,” which provided funds for a Bradenton child with Down syndrome to attend an overnight camp that accommodates children with Down syndrome and other disabilities. With $87,500 in Jewish overnight camp funding available this year, 82 campers from 49 families received grants and scholarships for summer camp 2019. Fifty campers received first-come first-served incentive grants totaling $26,314. Thirty-two campers received $61,186 in need-based scholarships, including $1,336 in funds

from families who received incentive grants and were given the opportunity to donate a portion of their grant back to assist families who applied for needbased scholarships. Many thanks to the Camp Grant Committee, chaired by Saul Landesberg, for their dedication to sending as many children to camp as possible and for their passion in Jewish overnight camping! Applications for Jewish overnight camp grants and scholarships for summer 2020 will be available beginning in November 2019. Mark your calendars! For more information on our camp scholarship program, please contact me at 941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfed srq.org.

Continuing Israel advocacy in college By Gabriella Hazan

am currently a sophomore at Rice University and was honored to be chosen to attend the Saban Leadership Seminar in Washington, D.C., over this past winter break, along with Camryn Cohen, a sophomore at Brandeis University. More than 300 university activists participated in intense pro-Israel advocacy training and political programming. It was organized by AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), and we learned to hone our message in order

to become more effective lobbyists and better communicators. We also had the opportunity to listen to many thoughtprovoking speakers whose credentials ranged from former CIA Middle East experts to CEOs of emerging greenenergy companies in Israel. It was extremely valuable to connect with like-minded students from all over the United States and share our passion for Israel and politics. Israel is not discussed very often on the Rice campus, and it was helpful to talk

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with students from other schools in a similar situation as Rice to strategize on how to make our peers more aware of Israel. We were able to socialize and compare our college experiences as well as learn together. The seminars we attended were diverse. One was taught by a former CIA agent who discussed terrorism in detail: what it is motivated by and paths to combat it. Another seminar focused on Iran and possible strategies for dealing with the rogue nation. In between sessions we met with the field organizer for our region to discuss how to implement the knowledge we were gaining at our individual colleges. Although the seminar was held during the government shutdown, we were still able to enjoy D.C. We visited the Newseum and the National Art Gallery, and ate very well. This was not our first trip to D.C.

Camryn and I were fortunate to be part of the founding class of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s STEP (Shapiro Teen Engagement Program) Fellows and, through that program, we attended the AIPAC Policy Conference in high school. In college, we continue to participate Jewishly on our campuses. I am treasurer of Rice’s Chabad program. We are proud to be Jewish and pleased to share our love of Israel with others on our university campuses. We thank the Federation for giving us the foundation to become leaders in our university communities. I know that both of us look forward to continued Jewish activities. For more information about Federation teen programs and scholarships, contact Andrea Eiﬀert at 941.552.6308 or aeiﬀert@jfedsrq.org.

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COMMUNITY FOCUS

April 2019

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Join The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee in the Campaign Against Summer Hunger. Nonperishable food can be dropped oﬀ at The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee oﬃces.

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April 2019

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Temple Sinai welcomes Rabbi Samantha Kahn

By Gail Glickman

See you in April Every Wednesday:

The Original Brown Bag with Rabbi Huntting

April 5:

Rhythm & Jews Shabbat Service

April 7:

Community Wide Mitzvah Day

April 19:

emple Sinai, a Reform congregation in the Sarasota-Manatee area, is delighted to announce that Rabbi Samantha Kahn will be the synagogue’s next rabbi, succeeding Rabbi Geoff Huntting upon his retirement. The unanimous choice of the Temple Sinai Rabbinic Search Committee and the Board of Trustees, Rabbi Kahn will begin her tenure at Temple Sinai on July 1. The Search Committee engaged in an extensive search process with multiple candidates being carefully vetted by the committee under the leadership

tunities to become part of people’s lives – particularly children, teens and young professionals, to whom she dedicated much of her time and creativity. Students taught by Rabbi Kahn said she helped them embrace their Jewish identities. Rabbi Kahn states that she searches for the best in everyone and everything. She hopes to guide Temple Sinai to foster opportunities for members and friends to feel welcome and find personal growth. She hopes to help the congregation grow, both in its joy for its current members and in numbers for

Passover Seder

April 26:

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of Herb Krasow. Rabbi Kahn won them over with her warmth, scholarship, love of Judaism, sense of community and commitment to guide Temple Sinai along its unique path. Growing up in Miami, Rabbi Kahn had a very rich Jewish life and identity, one that she described as “the lens through which I saw everything else.” She holds a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from University of Florida, Gainesville, and a master’s degree in Hebrew Letters and in Jewish Nonprofit Management from Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles. Rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College brought Rabbi Kahn to Jerusalem and Los Angeles. Rabbi Kahn has been a facilitator, pastor, ritualist, innovator and educator. She describes her philosophy as a “mission to help everyone crack open the treasure chest of Jewish tradition and uncover lessons and secrets for living a meaningful, successful and influential life.” For six years at Temple Emanu El in Houston, Rabbi Kahn taught that “Jewish learning is about Jewish living.” She relished the many oppor-

more members. She envisions a congregation radiating so much warmth that it awakens the souls of members and unengaged neighbors. Her philosophy closely mirrors Temple Sinai’s ongoing welcoming tradition. Rabbi Kahn is married to Matt Kahn, who has been director of American Jewish Committee’s San Francisco office. They have two children, son Roey, age 5, and daughter Stella Mae, age 3. At this time, a transition team is assisting in Rabbi Kahn’s family’s move to Sarasota and in acclimating her to our temple community. She attended our services over the February 8-10 weekend and the Erev Shabbat service March 22. We will also be adding a Rabbi Kahn page to our website so you can gain further insights into her wonderful qualities. Rabbi Geoff Huntting and Chazzan Cliff Abramson participated in the selection process and are thrilled that Rabbi Kahn will be our next rabbi. Temple Sinai is a fabulous place, and we are all confident that we will be in good hands with her.

Stay connected @ www.jfedsrq.org

“These we honor” Your Tributes ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN MEMORY OF Murray Silver Shelley & Alan Lipsky Lori & Jay Solomon

BOB MALKIN YOUNG AMBASSADORS FUND IN MEMORY OF Gerri Aaron Rebecca & Rich Bergman

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, call 941.552.6304.

ISRAEL PROGRAMS IN MEMORY OF Gerri Aaron Bryna & Howard Tevlowitz Gerard Daniel Bryna & Howard Tevlowitz Murray Silver Debbie & Larry Haspel MAZEL TOV Rebecca & Rich Bergman Bryna & Howard Tevlowitz

JEWISH BURIAL FUND IN MEMORY OF Murray Silver Bryna & Howard Tevlowitz

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The prophet Moses

By Marden Paru, Dean, Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva | This program is Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

n Jewish tradition, Moses – the lawgiver, leader of the Israelites and “our teacher” – is regarded as the greatest prophet of the Tanach (Hebrew Bible). What he accomplished in 120 years were fetes never duplicated in quality or quantity by any other notable of the Mosaic persuasion. At this time of the year, Jews are particularly mindful of Moses. When spring arrives, the season and preparation of Passover begins. The Passover Seder, considered the most-attended Jewish ritual event on the calendar, involves telling the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The Haggadah, the ancient manual for telling the story, does not mention Moses in the text. That would

seem rather odd and begs the question “Why?” Perhaps this omission is intentional, so we are compelled to search out and study the legacy of this special individual. It forces us to look at what the Jewish people learned and committed to undertake in a covenant with God that Moses negotiated at Mt. Sinai. From prince to prophet, Moses took his people out of bondage, into the wilderness and then up to the Promised Land. He was not perfect. He had some flaws (don’t we all?) and – according to tradition – paid dearly for them. After 40 years of schlepping through the wilderness, he was not granted the opportunity to enter the Promised Land;

his burial site is unknown. What is remarkable is that Moses’ most notable achievements didn’t begin until he was 80 years of age. Moses never retired. He is the quintessential role model for those of us reaching our twilight years to stay productive, be a part of the community, continue learning, and participate actively in the religious and social fabric of our society. Starting April 2, “Moses the Prophet” will be presented as an eight-week course. It will take place on Tuesdays from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. In addition to Bible narrative, there will be midrash and commentary that will arouse your curiosity and expand your view and understanding of this outstanding leader.

Classes are held in the Hecht Music School Building on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Registration is required; scholarships are also available. The tuition fee is $60. To enroll or for additional information, contact me at marden.paru@ gmail.com or 941.379.5655. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva operates, in part, under a grant from The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee. Now in its ninth year, the Yeshiva is an independent, IRS 501(c) (3) non-profit adult Jewish education institute. Classes are open to all regardless of religion, race, color, national or ethnic origin.

Temple Emanu-El invites community to experience Freedom Song

This program is Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

he story of Israelite freedom from Egyptian bondage is central to Passover. Each of us is obligated to see ourselves as though we had personally come out of slavery. To do this, one must ask “what are you slave to?” Freedom Song poses this question. For many, the answer is addiction. Freedom Song is a live on-stage musical that brilliantly interweaves a Passover Seder with personal stories of addiction. The cast of Freedom Song is not a cast of actors; they are actual addicts in recovery that have broken free

from the shackles of drugs, alcohol, gambling and other destructive behaviors. Using song and dance, tears and

laughter, and an intense post-show discussion with the cast, Freedom Song will open your eyes to the reallife struggle against the disease of addiction that is being fought every day in our world and in the Jewish community. Temple Emanu-El is grateful to partner with The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee in sponsoring this performance of Freedom Song. The

national touring show comes from Los Angeles’s Beit T’Shuvah (House of Return), a residential treatment center and spiritual community that integrates Jewish spirituality, psychotherapy, the 12 steps and creative arts. The performance is free and open to the community at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14 at Temple EmanuEl, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. This program is appropriate for ages 13 and up. Teens are strongly encouraged to attend. RSVP to assistant@sarasota temple.org.

Jewish War Veterans Post 172 is looking for someone to assume the office of Commander for the 2019-2020 Season. If you are interested, or know someone who is interested, please contact the present Commander, Stan Levinson, at stanlevinson172@ gmail.com or 941.226.7185.

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COMMUNITY FOCUS

ID TA K E Y, F L O R

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April 2019

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Fagin Holocaust collection rededicated at New CollegeTh By Ann Comer-Woods

ew College of Florida re-dedicated the Dr. Helen N. Fagin Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Collection in the Jane Bancroft Cook Library on Tuesday, February 26. Originally named the Holocaust, Genocide and Humanitarian Collection when it opened in 2008, the collection includes books, documentaries, audio recordings and other materials pertaining to the Holocaust. Dr. Fagin, a Sarasota resident, Holocaust survivor and retired University of Miami professor, endorsed the new name for the collection to draw attention to the persistent threat to human rights around the world. In announcing the new name for the collection, New College President Donal O’Shea said, “The study of human rights is inextricably linked to studies of the Holocaust and genocide. For to speak of what ought to be, one must, as Dr. Fagin has taught us, have the courage to speak of the unspeakable.” O’Shea also announced the creation of the Dr. Helen N. Fagin Stu-

dent Prize, which will recognize the best undergraduate paper in Holocaust, genocide and human rights studies. The winning essay and up to two honorable mentions will be added to the collection. During her remarks, Helen Fagin read to the audience a portion of her testimony that she called Our Legacy: “We the surviving victims of the Holo-

caust bequeath to you our legacy born of suffering, pain, dehumanization and the loss of our loved ones, in hopes that from this depth of darkness a new light will emerge in your world – a light of hope, of peace, of tolerance and of understanding. We pass to you a symbolic torch that carries the flame of responsibility of and obligation to vouch safe integrity, justice and reverence for life and human dignity for all men, women and children of the world. This is my legacy and a fitting fulfillment giving meaning to my survival.” Rabbi Brenner Glickman of Temple Emanu-El spoke to the importance of the Fagin collection: “The devastation and the horror of the Holocaust has spurred in all of us the most fervent desire to make sure that this never happens again. It is so important to have the New College President Dr. Donal O’Shea with Dr. Helen Fagin witness and testimony so

Holocaust and Genocide Week at FGCU

r. Paul Bartrop, Director of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Center for Judaic, Genocide and Holocaust Studies, is pleased to invite the community to attend the Inaugural Holocaust and Genocide Commemoration Week, which will be held during the week of April 1-5. Four engaging lectures will be presented across the week as follows. All lectures take place from 11:00 a.m. to noon in room CC214. Monday, April 1: Jessica Evers from FGCU will speak on “The Not-So-Secret Role of Magneto and the Holocaust: An Often Un-

known but Vital Story” Tuesday, April 2: Professor Elisa von Joeden-Forgey from Stockton University (New Jersey) will speak on “The Genocide of the Yazidis in the Middle East” Thursday, April 4: The Herbert Hirsch Memorial Lecture – Professor Alex Alvarez from Northern Arizona University will speak on “Nationalism, Identity and Race in the Second World War” Friday, April 5: Professor Paul Bartrop from FGCU will speak on “American Heroes of the Holocaust”

Courtesy of WGCU (the local PBS station), we are also privileged to screen an important film by highlyregarded travel writer Rick Steves, entitled The Story of Fascism in Europe. There will be time for discussion following the screening, moderated by Dr. Bartrop. Screening times will be: Tuesday April 2, 5:00 to 6.30 p.m., room CC214 Wednesday April 3, 11:00 am. to noon, Mareib Hall 200 Reservations for any of the events during the week are not required for visitors from outside the university, but guests should make sure to call into the

By R

that future generations will know what hatred can lead to, what xenophobia and tribalism can lead to, to know that humanity, which is capable of so much love, is also capable of unspeakable horror.” Helen Fagin was born in Poland. In 1939, World War II interrupted her studies at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. She and her family endured unspeakable conditions in a Polish ghetto, where she ran a clandestine school for Jewish children. Dr. Fagin and her two sisters were eventually able to escape and lived under false identities until liberation by the Russian army, but her parents perished in Treblinka. After arriving in the United States in 1946, she concentrated on learning English and pursuing her education, eventually earning her B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Miami, where she was on the faculty for many years. She earned her Ph.D. while teaching fulltime. For more information on the Fagin collection, please contact the library at 941.487.4305.

FGCU Welcome Booth as they enter from Ben Hill Griffin Drive in order to obtain a free parking permit. FGCU is located at 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers. For more information, contact Director Dr. Paul Bartrop at pbartrop@ fgcu.edu, or Associate Director Jessica Evers at jevers@fgcu.edu.

Send your comments and Letters to the Editor to jewishnews@jfedsrq.org.

Create Your

Jewish Legacy Today Impact Jewish Lives tomorrow

LIFE & LEGACY™ LIFE & LEGACY™ is a partnership of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee and ten other local Jewish organizations that promotes after-lifetime giving to benefit synagogues, social service organizations, Jewish day schools and other Jewish entities. The Jewish Federation is the only local organization focused on the whole, all of us thriving together. Whatever you cherish most about Jewish life — learning, community, supporting Israel, combating anti-Semitism, social justice or caring for those in need — you can ensure your values are sustained for future generations by leaving a legacy to The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

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FOR INFORMATION ON LEAVING YOUR LEGACY, CONTACT Ilene Fox ifox@jfedsrq.org | 941.343.2111 JFEDSRQ.org/lLegacy

April 2019

COMMUNITY FOCUS

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geThe Ashkenazim, the LRRK2 Gene and Parkinson’s By Robyn Faucy-Washington, Executive Director of Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s

he Ashkenazi Jewish population reports a higher incidence of Parkinson’s. In seeking to answer the question of why, scientists and researchers may have also found an answer to the disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive, neuro-degenerative disease. It is not fatal, but there is no known cure. Parkinson’s

arises when the brain cells that produce dopamine begin to die, affecting movement. The goal of medical treatment

for Parkinson’s is to replace the missing dopamine in the system. Parkinson’s is not considered a genetic disease as only 10% of all Parkinson’s cases are considered to have a genetic cause. In 2004, it was discovered that a mutation in the LRRK2 gene was the greatest known contributor to typical Parkinson’s. But Ashkenazi Jews, North African Berbers and the Basque showed a much higher predisposition to having this genetic mutation than the general population. Today there are 10 million Ashkenazi Jews, yet just 600-800 years ago, the population had 350 individuals. In

seeking to understand this previous “bottleneck population,” the Ashkenazi Jews have been one of the most genetically-studied populations in the world. The findings in studies conclude: Ashkenazi Jews are 10 times more likely to have a mutation of the LRRK2 gene. 25-35% of the population with this mutation will develop Parkinson’s. (This means that out of 100 individuals with this gene mutation, 25-35 will develop Parkinson’s; 65-75 will not.) The findings have galvanized pharmaceutical companies to find a medical inhibitor for the LRRK2 gene to stop the symptoms of Parkinson’s. But what if you or a loved one

have Parkinson’s now? The treatment is the same for everyone. Parkinson’s is managed effectively with medication and education. Neuro Challenge will host its second annual Parkinson’s EXPO on Saturday, April 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto. (See the ad on page 5B.) It will be the largest annual Parkinson’s event in the country with Parkinson’s specialists coming here from around the U.S. to present their latest findings on the disease as well as their strategies and tips for living well with it. The event is free, but registration is required. For more information, visit www.Neuro Challenge.org or call 941.926.6413.

Chabad of Venice to distribute free handmade shmurah matzah for Passover

habad of Venice & North Port will distribute over 500 boxes of handmade shmurah matzah this year to help local Jews participate in the upcoming Passover holiday. Passover, celebrated this year from Friday evening, April 19, until after

enter er to U is Fort

nightfall on Saturday, April 27, commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt in 1313 BCE. Directed by G-d to leave Egypt hastily, the people of Israel could not wait for their dough to rise, and thus ate unleavened crackers called “matzah.”

Diop@ ssica

A group of volunteers packed last year’s matzahs

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Round, kneaded and shaped by hand, present day shmurah matzahs (lit. watched matzahs) are similar to those eaten by the Jews when leaving Egypt over 3,000 years ago. From the moment the wheat is harvested, the ingredients are carefully watched to ensure they do not become leavened, which is prohibited on Passover. The local effort is part of a global Passover campaign that began in 1954, when the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory, considered the most influential rabbi in modern history, launched the shmurah matzah initiative in an effort to create awareness and promote observance of the holiday. This year an estimated four million hand-baked shmurah matzahs will be distributed by the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. In addi-

tion, millions of Passover guides in 17 languages will educate people on the meaning and practices of the holiday. “The Rebbe taught that no solitary Jewish person ought to be left out. Every Jew, regardless of their background, affiliation or even location, should have access to the provisions they need to celebrate Passover,” said Rabbi Sholom Schmerling at the Chabad of Venice. Community members are invited to participate in a community Seder to be held on Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. The Seder will feature a rich discussion about Passover, excellent food and joyous singing. Rabbi Sholom Schmerling will facilitate the inter-generational program. Chabad of Venice is cooking for 200 people this Passover so they can partake in the Seder.

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

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April 2019 April 2019

COMMUNITY FOCUS COMMUNITY FOCUS

Federation celebrates 60 years of A groovy time was had by all on Sunday, February 24, when The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee celebrated its 60th anniversary. Co-chaired by Bunny Skirboll and Lauren Glassman, the event was kicked oďŹ&#x20AC; with a VIP reception and a sneak peek at the exciting plans for the future of The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life. Guests then joined others from the community in the Beatrice Friedman Theater

Co-chairs Lauren Glassman and Bunny Skirboll received Anniversary and Chloe Convoy, representing Congressm

The Booker

Meredith & Al Ernst with Rich Bergman

VIPs enjoying th

Ian Black and Roz Goldberg

Federation President Michael Ritter

Federation Vice President Randon Carvel

Anne Spindel and Rosann Black

Capital Campaign Co-chairs: Ben & Stacy Hanan, Tommy & K

April 2019 April 2019

COMMUNITY FOCUS COMMUNITY FOCUS

f service to the Jewish community to learn about the history of the Federation, complete with an ovation for our ďŹ rst president, Sheldon Gensler. The Booker Dimension, a group of talented Booker High School VPA students, brought everyone to their feet with a musical â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s review, and then led the audience out of the theater for cupcakes amidst a gallery of images from 60 years of events and accomplishments. Photos courtesy Cliff Roles

y Proclamations from Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert (center, photo at left) man Vern Buchanan (center, photo at right)

r Dimension

Lori Greenbaum with Mitch & Colleen Blumenthal

he groovy theme

Karen Bernstein, Patti & David Wertheimer, Julie & Josh Green

First Federation President Sheldon Gensler with Sheri Gensler and Patti Wertheimer

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COMMUNITY FOCUS

Temple Sinai’s Annual Mitzvah Day By Gail Glickman

emple Sinai will sponsor its annual Mitzvah Day on Sunday, April 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mitzvah Day is based on the concept of tikkun olam, interpreted as helping to repair the world through purposeful acts of loving kindness. The theme of this year’s Mitzvah Day is “I can make a difference.” The event offers all ages of Temple Sinai members and the community a special opportunity to be involved in projects dedicated to performing com-

munity service. Children and teens, along with their families, gain a greater understanding of the joy of helping others. Some of the community service recipients include Resurrection House, SPARCC, Children First, Safe Children Coalition (benefits children in Foster Care), JFCS of the Suncoast, Sarasota Sheriff Animal Services, JDRF (formerly called Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and Maricao Pediatric Clinic in Puerto Rico. Residents from Aravilla and Aviva will be invited to join the activities. The Youth Group Car Wash raises funds for scholarships to Camp Jenny held at URJ Camp Coleman. Camp Jenny gives impoverished children the love of “big brothers and sisters,” three nutritious meals a day, and encouragement Deb Bryan, Temple Sinai Youth Group Director, for the future. They also with donated items at the 2018 Mitzvah Day

enjoy a variety of sports and teambuilding activities. Temple Sinai Youth Group’s Mitzvah Project will support Satchel’s Last Resort, which provides lifelong shelter to dogs deemed unadoptable, nurtures and trains dogs, and offers temporary shelter to adoptable dogs whose owners can no longer care for them. Sinai Youth Groups are collecting dog and

cat food and treats, toys, pet beds and many other items to donate to this worthy organization. Temple Sinai’s 2019 Annual Mitzvah Day is an opportunity to help make the world a better place. For more information, please contact Dr. Rebecca Cohen at rcohen29@comcast.net, or Shelley Markus at shelleyemarkus@ gmail.com.

Youth Group Car Wash at the 2018 Mitzvah Day

Temple Emanu-El realizes dreams of solar power

emple Emanu-El recently dedicated an enormous solar array that will allow the synagogue and school to generate 70 percent of its power from the sun. The array was generously underwritten by Judy Glickman Lauder – mother of Temple Emanu-El Senior Rabbi Brenner Glickman – and Leonard Lauder, and installed by local solar contractor Brilliant Harvest. “The congregational leaders and rabbis got together two years ago and discussed our dreams for the temple,” Rabbi Glickman recalled. “We dreamed of a solar-powered campus. We wanted to help in the fight against global warming. And we wanted to be a beacon to our members and the community, an example of environmental

responsibility. “My mom wanted to make a special gift to the temple, and we discussed different ways she could make an impact,” he continued. “When I suggested solar power, that was the end of the conversation. She loved the idea. She and Leonard have been wonderful supporters of our temple and our mission.” Temple Emanu-El’s array comprises 70 solar panels that generate 24,850 watts of total DC power, producing approximately 37,275 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. This energy output is in addition to the 33,660-watt system that Brilliant Harvest installed for the temple in early 2014. “Temple Emanu-El’s solar energy system is one of the largest in Sarasota

County,” Brilliant Harvest staff stated, “and will allow the temple to enjoy significant annual savings in electrical costs.”

“We hope this will inspire others to adopt solar power on their roofs as well,” Rabbi Glickman concluded.

Temple Emanu-El Senior Rabbi Brenner Glickman and Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman and benefactors Judy Glickman Lauder and Leonard Lauder unveil a plaque celebrating the temple’s enormous new solar array

Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood to present Sophisticated Ladies Celebrate the Arts

he Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood’s Sophisticated Ladies fashion show, luncheon and silent auction will take place on Wednesday, April 3. They are appreciating and celebrating Sarasota’s vibrant arts scene with exhibits and performances. The committee has arranged for a sampling of the local talent at the event. Beautiful costumes used in the Sailor Circus will be displayed. Artist Judy Lyons Schneider will be actively working on a multi-media collage. Pianist Alan Corey will accompany a Sarasota

Youth Opera singer. A special creative surprise from the Ringling College of Art and Design will be viewed. Foxy Lady (with locations on Siesta Key at 209 Beach Road, and St Armands Circle, 481 John Ringling Blvd.) will attire the models as they walk the runway. As in previous years, Ana Molinari Salon Spa Boutique (located at 52 S. Palm Ave. and 8120 Lakewood Ranch Main St.) will provide hair and makeup services for the models. This year’s models are Rachel Brodsky, Stephanie Katz-Lirio, Wendy

L., Diane Rubin Rudd, Ellen Schwartz, Charity Steckel, Sarah Wertheimer and Joyce Weiss. The event is rounded out with a kosher lunch featuring a spring medley grain bowl created by Michael’s

On East and a silent auction. The event raises funds for youth activities and temple projects. For additional information, please call Sue Rosin at 941.586.7662.

Joyce Weiss, Diane Rudd, Charity Steckel, Ellen Schwartz (Photo courtesy RGB Media, LLC)

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JEWISH INTEREST

New light shined on old age

Book review by Philip K. Jason, Special to The Jewish News

ate positive vibes as well as practical gle or despondency along planning advice. the aging journey. Age One of Dr. Agronin’s key points points threaten our ability concerns the accumulated wisdom of to cope. The author guides the elderly. He offers many examples, readers through a series of stories of patients and others, of how stages to work through the his book should be on the desk this wisdom has value not only for othtrauma of an age point. of every geriatric specialist, seers, but as a resource for the person First is recognizing the nior living facility staff member, going through the aging process. He precipitating event, after and senior citizen caretaker. Most searticulates five categories of behavior, which comes a sense of nior citizens will vividly defined and exemplified, to “suspension” – of not being able to also benefit from explore the growth and use of an inrespond to a crisis productively. Next its wisdom, comdividual’s wisdom in old age. These comes a multi-faceted evaluation of passion and sensiare savant, sage, curator, how to “reconcile the ble guidelines for creator and seer. gap between what we successful living Though the categohave and what we at an advanced ries overlap somewhat, need.” Finally, comes age. Carefully orthey are useful concepts. the action of resoganized into four They are not meant to lution and forward easily digested Phil Jason pigeonhole people, but movement, usually parts, each conto find the ways in which attached to an altered taining two complementary chapters, aging is useful, to counperspective and sense Dr. Marc Argonin’s book is nothing ter the customary “dread of positivism. less than a manual for moving beyond and denigration” of agFurther chapters the negative connotations of aging. ing, and to build new reveal and illustrate “We must learn,” he writes, “how habits of identity. Dr. similar tools. Each is to age in a creative manner that is both Agronin calls these catfilled with carefully the antidote to feeling old and the elixir egories the five jewels in crafted case studies of aging well.” It is a philosophy aimed Dr. Marc Agronin the crown of wisdom. that are as uplifting not at recapturing youth, but rather exIn a later chapter, Dr. Agronin deas they are informative. Readers will ploiting the gifts of advanced age. Dr. fines a concept he calls “age points,” recognize themselves, their parents Agronin is an accomplished writer which are periods of adversity, strugand their friends in these vignettes. whose experience and empathy generThey will see how others have pushed away the blocks that stand in the way, it seems, of a fruitful, worthwhile passage through life’s final decades. They will understand how fear and loathing can be transformed into celebration. Indeed, even celebrations with new rituals and the refinement/renewal of “We’ll expose the truth about what most habitual ones. companies don’t want you to know” Aging well requires creativity, and Dr. Agronin pursues this important inThursday, April 11th or gredient in the chapter “Renewal, ReThursday, April 25th invention and Creative Aging.” Once DER DUTCHMAN RESTAURANT 3713 Bahia Vista St. again, the author designs a conceptual Sarasota, FL 34232 frame, in this case an “action plan” that The End of Old Age: Living a Longer, More Purposeful Life, by Dr. Marc E. Agronin. Da Capo Press. 227 pages. Hardcover $27.00.

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leads to performance and accomplishment. Its steps, each clearly articulated and exemplified, are reserve, resilience, reinvention, legacy and celebration. Sample charts and grids help readers to get started on the path to building and maintaining an aging process that will “bring the best possible experience and outcome.” Bolstered by the findings of other professionals in the field, Dr. Agronin provides well-tested roadmaps for successful years and decades of aging. He is a fine stylist whose thoughtfulness, clinical experience and caring nature will give readers confidence in new, attractive possibilities for their aging selves. But there is much work to be done! Marc E. Agronin, MD, a summa cum laude graduate of Harvard University and the Yale School of Medicine, is a board-certified adult and geriatric psychiatrist. Since 1999 he has served as the director of mental health services, clinical research and the outpatient memory center at Miami Jewish Health (MJH), Florida’s largest not-for-profit long-term care provider. He has published essays in The New York Times and Scientiﬁc American Mind, and writes regularly on aging and retirement issues for The Wall Street Journal. The End of Aging is his ninth book. Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus of English from the United States Naval Academy. He reviews regularly for Florida Weekly, Washington Independent Review of Books, Southern Literary Review, other publications and the Jewish Book Council. Please visit Phil’s website at www.philjason.word press.com.

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JEWISH INTEREST

April 2019

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Aging Jewishly – What our traditions teach us about growing old

Teaching Hebrew to seniors – materials, methods and positive results By Rabbi Barbara Aiello

“I know the names of each Hebrew letter.” “I listened in when my brother studied with the rabbi. I learned the verses better than he did!” From the specific information about what the students may have studied years ago, the survey questions also focused on the emotional in order to determine those issues that might become roadblocks to success. Significantly, more than 90 percent of my senior students agreed with the following: “I had a difficult time in Hebrew school. The teacher often embarrassed the students.” “I’m a bit nervous about class. I don’t want to look bad in front of the group.” Past experience matters and negative experiences contribute to a fear of failure. Because long-term memories sharpen as we age, long ago embarrassments are so fresh that a senior may be reluctant to begin again. As a result, the first and most important challenge for the teacher is to acknowledge old wounds and then create a climate where students are free from competition and are rewarded for helping and supporting one another. Materials that Work The challenge for any teacher who works with seniors is to select those materials that are basic yet not babyish. Materials designed for children can evoke early memories of past failures. In addition, these materials can be less interesting to adult students. The National Jewish Outreach Program offers a variety of materials that are not

age-specific, with large-print texts that are easy to use. The most effective lessons present Hebrew letters, not by their names, but by the sounds they make. By Lesson Three, students are reading and translating basic Hebrew words. Sureﬁre Methods But even the best textbook cannot guarantee student success. The trick is to use the text in tandem with additional participatory activities. This combination is key to designing lessons that complement the special learning needs of senior students. To organize the class sessions, I found that I was most successful when I introduced three separate activities in a one-hour class and combined these activities with a short introductory review. Class began with a short meditation to clear our minds and focus on the positive. For example, “Think of our last class. Remember something that you did well. A word you read well, a word you translated. Think of how you helped another student. Remind yourself that you can do it. You ARE doing it. You are learning Hebrew.” Next, I ask the students to open their textbooks to our previous lesson and take a moment to find sentences that they can read smoothly. In this way, class begins on a positive note and someone who has missed the previous class can return to the last page studied and participate along with all the others. Class includes text reading, presentation of new lessons and hands-on activities to reinforce reading and trans-

L i v e w e l l. B e h a p p y.

F lourish!

lating skill. For example, many seniors have learned specific Hebrew phrases, such as the Sh’ma, by heart. Mastering Hebrew basics requires that students read each word. We accomplish this by placing each word on individual index cards and arranging the phrase in order, so that students can read, pronounce and translate the phrase word by word. Positive Results Often, Hebrew study results in a Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony. However, that has not been my only goal. The result of the study program has been the delight of older adults who discover that the Hebrew language is not illusive, but vibrant, alive and accessible to everyone. Resources The Hebrew Reading Crash Course – National Jewish Outreach Program, www.njop.org The Hebrew Alphabet – A Mystical Journey by Edward Hoffman, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, CA, 1998 The Personal Hebrew History Survey – Rabbi Barbara Aiello – rabbi@rabbibarbara.com For ten years Rabbi Barbara Aiello served the Aviva Campus for Senior Life as resident rabbi. Currently, as Rabbi Emerita, she shares her experiences on Aging Jewishly. She is also program host of the 17-year Radio Rabbi program on AM 930 The Answer. Contact her at Rabbi@Rabbi Barbara.com.

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ot long ago, five women were called to the Torah, each as a Bat Mitzvah. Not unusual except for the fact that the women on the bimah were all senior citizens and, most significant of all, the students ranged in age from 82 to 97. The women gathered once a week for one Rabbi Barbara Aiello hour to study the Hebrew language. They learned basic Hebrew and eventually each one was able to read three verses directly from the Torah scroll. As their teacher, I was pleased and happy, as well as proud and astounded, all at the same time. In the process, I learned that there are specific materials and techniques that can guarantee success when working with elderly students. The Survey – Creating a Climate for Success There are many factors that determine why a senior would consider studying Hebrew, as well as many reasons why she might feel reluctant to do so. I’ve learned not to assume but to help students identify their motivation as well as their fears. So before designing the lessons, I asked students to respond to questions about their Personal Hebrew History, a survey I developed that consists of 15 statements. Students check any and all items that apply, such as: “My parents sent me to Hebrew school but I don’t remember much.”

continued on next page

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JEWISH INTEREST

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Contributing Columnist

Editor’s note: Persons in BOLD CAPS are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of the column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in a faith other than Judaism – and don’t identify with a faith other than Judaism as an adult. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish. Game of Thrones Mania This month’s top TV event will be the return, Sunday, April 14, of HBO’s Game of Thrones (GOT) for its sixepisode, 8th and final season. The series’ creators DAVID BENIOFF and D.B. WEISS, both 48, who have often written past season GOT episodes, are the credited writers for all but the first episode of the final season. They also co-directed the sixth and final episode. MIGUEL SAPOCHNIK, 38, directed episodes 3 and 5. Sapochnik is an English Jew of Argentine Jewish ancestry. In the show’s first seven seasons, he directed four GOT episodes, including the great “Hardhome” episode in season 5 and the stupendous “Battle of the Bastards” episode in season 6 (for which he won the Emmy for best director). His wife of 13 years is actress ALEXIS RABEN, 38, a Russian Jew who grew up in America. She now has a recurring role as “Rohm” on the SyFy cable series Krypton. The two Jewish actors in the GOT cast that I know of are PAUL KAYE, 54, and ANTON LESSER, 67. Kaye’s character, Thoros of Myr, a priest with “Brotherhood of Bandits,” died fighting the dead “north of the Wall” last season. Lesser plays the evil Qyburn, an ally of Queen Cersei. If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll love “Game of Thrones Cast

Funny Commercials” – a video of that name is posted on YouTube. Several (real) ads for the Israeli company SodaStream feature the Icelandic actor who plays “The Mountain.” Another SodaStream ad co-stars MAYIM BIALIK, 43, and the GOT character Hodor. All the ads are real, except the first and the last. They are parody ads lifted from a comedy site. New TV/Streaming Starting Wednesday, March 27 on FX is What We Do in the Shadows, a semicomic series that follows three vampire roommates living in New York City. BEANIE FELDSTEIN, 25, the sister of JONAH HILL, 35, has a recurring role. The series is based on a 2014 indie hit film of the same name directed by and co-written by TAIKA WAITITI, 43. He co-produces the TV series, too. From New Zealand, Waititi’s father is native Polynesian (Maori) and his mother is Jewish. He had a blockbuster hit with Thor Ragnarok (2017) and has just about completed Jojo Rabbit, a film with an anti-Nazi theme. SCARLETT JOHANSSON, 34, co-stars. No Good Nick, a sit-com, starts on Netflix on Friday, April 15. Nicole, aka Nick, is a 13-year-old girl who infiltrates a family with the intention of getting revenge for them unintentionally ruining her life. As she gets to know and like them, she struggles

Interested in Your Family’s History? Nate Bloom (see column at left) has become a family history expert in 10 years of doing his celebrity column, and he has expert friends who can help when called on. Most family history experts charge $1,000 or more to do a full family-tree search. However, Bloom knows that most people want to start with a limited search of one family line.

So here’s the deal:

Write Bloom at nteibloom@aol.com and enclose a phone number. Nate will then contact you about starting a limited search. If that goes well, additional and more extensive searches are possible. The first search fee is no more than $100. No upfront cost. Also, several of this newspaper’s readers have asked Bloom to locate friends and family members from their past, and that’s worked out great for them. So contact him about this as well. with whether she’ll go through with her plan. The series was co-created and produced by DAVID H. STEINBERG, 49. He has written and/or produced many comedies. The co-stars include two persons with odd Jewish backgrounds: Sean Astin, 48, and KALAMA EPSTEIN, 19. Astin, the son of the late Patty Duke, found out as an adult that his biological father was Jewish. He thought actor John Astin, his legal father, was his biological father. At last report, he was on good terms with both guys. Epstein, who was born and raised in Hawaii, has a Jewish father. His mother, who isn’t Jewish, has some native Hawaiian royal ancestors. The Red Line will start on CBS on Sunday, April 28. It’s a drama about a white cop in Chicago who mistakenly shoots and kills a black doctor. It follows three different families with connections to the case, and the story is told from each perspective. NOAH WYLE, 47, of ER fame, stars as Daniel Calder, the gay husband of the

African-American doctor who was killed. Wyle, whose father was Jewish, is secular. One of the three families is Calder and his African-American young daughter. There’s also the family of the birth mother of Calder’s child, and the police officer’s extended family. Movies: Brieﬂy Opening on Friday, March 29 is Beach Bum, a comedy about a rebellious stoner (Matthew McConaughey). ISLA FISHER, 43, co-stars. The director is HARMONY KORINE, 45, who has made good documentaries and features (Spring Breakers). Opening Friday, April 12 is After. SELMA BLAIR, 46, who recently disclosed she is battling MS, plays the mother of a college student who is involved in a hot romance with a “bad boy.” Opening Friday, April 19 is Silver Lake, a modern film noir. ANDREW GARFIELD, 35, stars as a guy who uncovers a big conspiracy when a woman he sees swimming in his apartment building’s pool mysteriously disappears.

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call the accused forward for “examination.” Although the court had a prosecutor, it was usually the judge who asked the questions. Defendants were often harangued during the examination and were never allowed to respond. After a barrage of insults and condemnation, the order “examination concluded” would be given. The defendant was not permitted to choose defense counsel, who had to be a lawyer approved by the chairman of the Senate. Defenders and defendants were often given only a day (sometimes only a few hours) notice before the trial. Often the lawyer and the accused did not know each other beforehand, nor could they contact each other before the hearing. After examination, the defense attorneys would be asked if they had any statements or questions. The judge would then ask the defendants for a statement during which time more insults would be shouted at the accused. The verdict, which was almost always “guilty,” would then be announced and the sentence handed down at the same time. In all, an appearance before the People’s Court could take as little as 15 minutes. The death penalty was meted out in numerous cases. There was no possibility of appeal, and verdicts could be carried out immediately. The Nazi courts did not employ standard legal procedures or principles such as the presumption of innocence, trial by peers, or the right to cross-examine witnesses. Appointed by Adolf Hitler, judges in the People’s Courts were expected to be politically reliable. One man alone often acted as judge and jury. The conduct of the Nazi courts worsened after the outbreak of World War II. The number of death sentences increased dramatically. In 1936, eleven death sentences were issued; the year 1943 saw a total of 1,662 executions, about half of which were indictments from the People’s Court. In 1945, approximately 5,200 death sentences were carried out, imposed for offenses such as “disseminating news intercepted on radio,” derogatory remarks about Hitler, or doubts about the so-called

“final victory.” The two notorious judges who shaped the People’s Court were Otto Georg Thierack, who presided from May 1, 1936, to August 19, 1942; and Roland Freisler, who presided from August 20, 1942, to February 3, 1945. After the German defeat at Stalingrad during the winter of 1942-1943, the People’s Court became far more ruthless and hardly anyone brought before the tribunal escaped a guilty verdict. Some hearings were very rapid. An example of this was the treatment of the “White Rose” members. On February 18, 1943, this group of Munich University students was caught distributing anti-war leaflets. On February 22, 1943, three of the White Rose group – Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans and Christoph Probst – were tried and found guilty in less than an hour. The three were guillotined just six hours after their arrest. Many of those found guilty by the Court were executed in Plötzensee Prison in Berlin. The president of the court often acted as prosecutor, denouncing defendants, then pronouncing his verdict and sentence without objection from defense counsel, who usually remained silent throughout. Being hauled before the Court by this stage was tantamount to a death sentence. On February 3, 1945, the Court’s President, Roland Freisler, was killed owing to a near-direct hit on the court building from U.S. Air Force bombers. His body was reportedly found crushed beneath a fallen masonry column, clutching the files that he had tried to retrieve. It is worthy of note that only one member of the People’s Court hierarchy was prosecuted after the war – a salutary observation that sometimes Justice isn’t all that blind, and that we must always be on our guard to see that she remains impartial at all times. Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of History and the Dir. of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. He can be reached at pbartrop@fgcu.edu.

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xactly 85 years ago this month, on April 24, 1934, Nazi Germany’s People’s Court (Volksgerichtshof) was established. Adolf Hitler had earlier ordered its formation, in line with the Enabling Act of 1933 that gave him a warrant to establish his dictatorship. The intention was that the People’s Court would operate outside of the existing court system and constitution, and it had jurisdiction over a broad range of poDr. Paul Bartrop litical offences. In addition, it was given exclusive control over such offences as Conspiracy to wasHigh Treason, State Treason, ListenJew-ing to Enemy Radio Broadcasts (from ilies1939), Criminal Malice, Sedition and icanDefeatism, and Aiding the Enemy ami-(from mid-1941). The notion of “political crimes” hild, ranged from minor offences – from famtrading on the black market, work slowdowns, criticizing Hitler or the eachgovernment, or protesting about work ston-conditions – through to defeatism, SLAespionage and sabotage, and treason or isagainst the Third Reich. These offenchases were viewed by the court as being ures“incapable of a defense,” and were aciday,cordingly punished severely. The court decided the extent of AIR, evidence to consider, and defense atbatlegetorneys could not question the charges. t ro-Defendants were unable to represent Fri-themselves or consult their own attordernney. A case brought before the People’s , 35, Court would follow an initial indictconwim-ment in which a state or city prosecupooltor would forward the names of the accused to the court for charges that were considered to be of a political nature. Defendants were rarely permitted to speak to their attorneys beforehand, and when they did, the defense lawyer would usually simply answer questions about how the trial would proceed and refrain from giving any legal advice. Proceedings began when the accused was led into the dock under armed police escort. The presiding judge would read the charges and then

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April 2019

JEWISH INTEREST

K’zohar Ha-Ivrit Dai-ye-nu – Enough for us By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin

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or sometimes wider meaning to the word. For example, b’daiy means “for naught” (Jer. 51:58), le-ma-daiy means “not enough” (II Chr. 30:3), whereas k’day means “enough” (Lev.25:26) and mi-day means “each time” (Isa. 66:23). Moreover, the biblical text enriched the Hebrew language with many idiomatic expressions in which daiy is at the center. For example, the modern phrase daiy ve-hoter (Ex. 36:7) literally means “enough and to spare.” Also, the phrase mi-daiy Shabbat be-Shabbato, literally “each Shabbat” (Isa. 66:23), and mi-daiy yom be-yo-mo, meaning “daily,” are two phrases which imply regularity. Finally, we will mention the biblical phrase ad b’li daiy, which appears only once in the Bible and means “without limit,” “ample” (Mal. 3:10). Rabbinic literature, too, added phrases to the language based on the word dai. As an example, we shall mention the advice Daya le-tza-rah bish-a-tah, literally “it is sufficient for a problem to effect its own hour,” implying that advance worry is for naught. Should something bad happen, worry then (B’rakhot 9). Another phrase of wisdom teaches us that daiy le-cha-kimah ber-mi-za, meaning “a word or a hint to the wise is sufficient” (Midrash Mishlay 22:6). Dai-ye-nu, then, is based on the word daiy and it echoes plenty and sufficiency. It is attached in our national memory as a reminder of God’s gracious and ample gifts to us as a nation and as individuals. As Pesach approaches, I wish all our readers Chag Pesach Sa-me-ach, “Happy Pesach Holiday” and dai-yenu for now. Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor of biblical literature at Spertus College in Chicago, and a retired adjunct professor of Hebrew and Bible at New College in Sarasota.

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pring is in the air and Pesach is just around the corner. The Seder and the Haggadah at its center, which usher the holiday, remind us through many songs, recitations and blessings that Pesach is not only the holiday of spring, but also the holiday that commemorates the historical event of the Exodus from Egypt and the return of our people to the Promised Land. Dr. Rachel Dulin One of the most recognizable liturgical songs in the Haggadah is Dai-ye-nu. Here, the melody is catchy, and the lyrics recite the history of our people from the Exodus to the days of the building of the Temple in Yerushalayim. The origin of this poem is unclear. Since it ends with the building of the Temple, many scholars believe that Dai-ye-nu was written during the 2nd Temple era by a priest. However, it first appeared in the 9th-century Haggadah of Rabbi Amram Gaon of Sura, which was found in the famous Cairo synagogue archive of sacred books, known as the G’nizah. What does Dai-ye-nu mean? The word consists of two parts. First is the adverb daiy, meaning “enough,” “sufficient,” “adequate” and “plenty.” Secondly, the pronominal suffix nu, indicating third person plural, namely “us.” Thus dai-ye-nu literally means “enough for us,” and in the context of the poem it translates to “It would have been enough for us.” It is interesting to note that in the Bible, the adverb daiy appears 39 times and usually means “sufficient.” But there are places in which daiy is attached to a prefix, which gives a new

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29A

Simon & Garfunkel: A couple of nice Jewish boys s who made good! By Arlene Stolnitz

ack in the ’60s, following the the assassinations of Martin Luther “for King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, eans and the escalation of the war in Vietereas andnam, Simon & Garfunkel came up with :23).a hit song that expressed the despair en-that was prevalent in our country. The manysong, “America,” was a metaphor for iy is“America’s sense of restlessness and dernconfusion,” according to Rolling Stone magazine. In a rally 2014 poll of Roll, the ing Stone readbato, ers, it was voted :23), one of the duo’s ning greatest songs. mply Paul Simon n the and Art Garfunh apkel, one of the eans bestselling music 0). Arlene Stolnitz combos of the dded ’60s, were friends from grade school n the and from their teenage years in Forest shall Hills, Queens. Musically talented, with -rah for aPaul as songwriter and Art as singer mply-and musical arranger, in their early caught.reer they called themselves Tom and orryJerry (Tom Landis and Jerry Graph), e offearing their given names sounded a-ki-too Jewish. Later, they used their own or a rash

the sufonal graation

names, Simon & Garfunkel, and became famous for their legendary songs “The Sound of Silence,” “Scarborough Fair,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and many others. Paul and Art were born in 1941, just a month apart. They met in a gradeschool play. Garfunkel had already been singing in synagogue, where his soulful renditions of the prayers drew standing-room-only crowds. In junior high they started working together, modeling their music after their idols, the Everly Brothers. As 16-year-olds, they cut their first record, which came out (coincidentally) during the birth of rock and roll. It caused a sensation with their demo song “Hey Schoolgirl,” eventually selling 150,000 copies. Art’s 2018 book, What Is It All but Luminous, tells of his life before, during and after Simon & Garfunkel and the folk-rock music that was their groundbreaking sound. He writes about growing up in the ’40s and ’50s, being the son of a traveling salesman, and a lower middle-class Jewish boy from Kew Gardens, Queens. His partner, Paul, was born in Newark, New Jersey, later moving to Queens. Paul’s parents

were Hungarian Jews. His father was a college professor and dance band leader who went under the name Lee Sims. His mother was an elementary school teacher. Paul’s childhood has been described as a “stereotypical Jewish upbringing” with interests mainly in baseball and music, influenced primarily by his parents. Their career as a duo lasted from 1964 through 1970 and has had many ups and downs since their partnership dissolved in 1970 at the height of their popularity. Art describes the conflict of the rivalry between them, and the brotherly love that characterizes their relationship. Speaking candidly about his relationship with Paul, Art states, “We are indescribable; it’s an ingrown deep friendship.” Through the years, they’ve attempted to work together on occasion with several highly-anticipated and well-received concerts, only to realize they are better off working solo. In his book, Art states, “For two-

thirds of a century his (Paul’s) arm has been around my shoulder. He dazzled me with gifts. I nurtured him in his youth. He brought me into prominence. I taught him to sing. He connected my voice to the world. I made us stand tall. All of our personal belongings are intertwined. We say it’s exhausting to compete, but we shine for each other.” According to an article in Moment magazine, “Despite their solo careers, they will remain conjoined to the very end. …their recent joke, asking each other who will write whose eulogy.” Arlene Stolnitz, founder of the Sarasota Jewish Chorale, has sung in choral groups for over 25 years. A retired educator, she is a graduate of the Gulf Coast Community Leadership Foundation. A member of the Jewish Congregation of Venice, the Venice Chorale and the Sarasota Jewish Chorale, her interest in choral music has led to this series of articles on Jewish Folk Music in the Diaspora.

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30A

April 2019

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

“Twice Promised Land and 100 Years War” – The turbulent ’90s A series by Dr. Steven Derﬂer

he 1991 Gulf War saw Israel exercise incredible restraint. In exchange for the restraint, the U.S. supplied Israel with batteries of Patriot Anti-Missile Missiles. While her civilians lived in “sealed rooms” with gas masks, 39 SCUD missiles rained down on the nation. Haifa and Tel Aviv were hardest hit. But Israel’s Dr. Steven Derﬂer warning and defense system prevented the catastrophe from being a disaster. The loss of life was minimal. But this would lead to secret, then open, negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Authority. Those negotiations would be spearheaded by the King of Morocco, Hassan II. He was

one of those rare leaders in the Arab world who, following in the footsteps of his father, Mohamed V, and his father’s father, respected his Jewish constituents in the kingdom. This respect trickled down to the Jewish community around the world, including Israel. In 1992, he would work through back channels to have Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin come on a one-day visit to his palace in Ifrane, Morocco, high in the Atlas Mountains. Also attending was Yasser Arafat. Finally, on September 13, 1993, both parties, with President Clinton looking on, signed a Declaration of Principles for peace. The work of Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and President Yasser Arafat would lead to the honor of the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1994.

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In the midst of this all, President Clinton declared in February 1992, at the height of the Democratic primaries, that he supported recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. It would take another three years for movement on this issue. On both sides, some were ecstatic, while others would be vehemently opposed to any negotiation. Violence would flair anew with more homicide bombings. Once again Israel would become the target of radical Palestinians… and Israeli troops would be brought in to root out the sources of terror. Israeli closures of Gaza and the West Bank would bring terrible hardship on the Palestinian civilian population held hostage by the small minority of Palestinian terrorists who were intent on pushing for the violent destruction of Israel. The 1994-95 Oslo II accords would call for phased Israeli withdrawal from 80% of the West Bank and Gaza. Yet Jerusalem would not be resolved. However, peace would become contagious. Jordan and Israel would soon follow with the Washington Declaration to end hostilities on July 25, 1994. This was followed by the signing of a peace treaty at the Arava Crossing, Negev. This treaty proved that territorial “give and take” could pave the way to peace. In addition, plans were made for joint economic projects such as an international airport and water desalinization plant. Yet extremists on both sides opposed peace. November 4, 1994, was the day that changed Israel forever: the assassination of Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin by a right-wing Jewish fanatic. The world mourned the loss of a great leader and friend of peace. Everyone grieved – Jew and Arab alike. To me, and many others, this was when the State of Israel lost its innocence. I would compare it to the United States and its modern loss of innocence with the assassination of President Kennedy in November 1963. Each country would be radically changed forever as it mourned, and then tried to recover. The Jerusalem Embassy Act was passed by wide margins in both houses of Congress by the 104th Congress on October 23, 1995, but was left unsigned by President Clinton. The bill stated that the American embassy should move to Jerusalem within five years. The act asserted that every country can designate the capital of its choice, and that Israel has designated Jerusalem. Further, “the city of Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s President, Parliament and Supreme Court, and the site of

numerous government ministries and social and cultural institutions.” Jerusalem is defined as the spiritual center of Judaism. Furthermore, it stipulates that since the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967, religious freedom has been guaranteed to all. But the following two U.S. presidents had all made sure to sign a waiver every six months, tabling the implementation of this legislation for security reasons. At Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in March 1996, King Hussein challenged participants to tackle terrorism with a balanced and realistic approach. “If we are to eliminate terrorism,” he said, “we must first of all establish an international mechanism to define it.” President Clinton would convene an emergency summit at Wye River on October 23, 1998. Steps were taken to further the 1995 accords and, in November, the Palestine Authority revoked clauses of its charter calling for the destruction of Israel. It called for Israel to transfer more territory in the West Bank to the Palestinians. In return, the Palestinians agreed to take steps to curb terrorism. They also agreed to a timetable to negotiate a final resolution of the Palestinian fight for an independent state. Yet tragedy would strike the cause of peace once again. The man who everyone looked to when it came to a passion for peace, King Hussein ibn Talal ibn Abdullah, died February 7, 1999. His son, Abdullah II, would continue his father’s legacy. His open meetings with Prime Minister Barak of Israel would further enhance Israeli-Jordanian relations. The Sharm el Sheikh Memorandum of September 4, 1999, restored the commitment by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to the 1993 Oslo accords with full implementation. In spite of the fact that Israel was offering to withdraw control from a considerable percentage of land, the settlements were still a major difficulty. With 85% of the 150,000 settlers living on only 15% of the land, the notion of certain territorial “adjustments” seemed to be reasonable. Yet the Arafat government would reject this notion out of hand. The problem was exacerbated by the fact that most of the water table resources are also under that same chunk of land. Dr. Steven Derﬂer is an international educational consultant, public speaker, archaeologist, historian, researcher, teacher and writer. He has been uncovering the histories of ancient civilizations for 40 years.

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April 2019

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

BRIEFS

BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL SEES andRECORD PARTICIPATION Jeru-IN 2018

enterA record 48,000 participants from latesabroad and 8,300 Israelis took part in usa-10-day Birthright Israel tours in 2018. Since 1999, 650,000 young Jews has low-from 67 countries have participated. made(Yori Yalon, Israel Hayom) nths, leg-ISRAEL OPENS NEW

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT inNEAR EILAT

t, ngedPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withrecently inaugurated the new Ramon . “IfAirport near Eilat, named in memory said,of astronaut Ilan and pilot Assaf Ranter-mon. Located 18 km. north of Eilat in the Timna Valley, the $460 million veneairport will replace Eilat and Ovda airRiverports for commercial flights. The airtak-port is the first entirely civilian airport d, into open since Israel’s independence. It oritywill also serve as a backup option for llinglarge aircraft in the case of rocket fire alledor inclement weather at Ben-Gurion itoryAirport. ians. Eilat has witnessed rapid growth d toin tourist demand. In 2015, there were alsofour weekly flights between Eilat and a fi-Europe. This winter there were 57 fightweekly flights. Due to the airport’s proximity to the Jordanian border, a ause4.5 km., 26-meter-high smart fence o ev-was constructed to protect incoming pas-and departing aircraft from a range of Talalcross-border threats, including missile 999.fire. (Eytan Halon, Jerusalem Post) inue ingsSOARING INDICATORS sraelSHOW ISRAEL’S ECONOMY dani-IS STRONG Israel’s gross domestic product has oran-been rising at an average annual rate of ored3.69% since 2000, inflation has been d the1.57%, and unemployment has fallen Osloto 3.6%. n. In The nation of 8.4 million people eringhas outperformed European stalwarts ider-since 2009. Israel’s GDP growth of ments69% since then is more than 17 times 85%what Austria managed and almost three only rtain o be ment and. the e rehunk

FIND JEWISH

times what Switzerland mustered. Among the 36 developed economies that make up the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Israel will be the 4th fastest growing (tied with Chile) this year with 3.6%, behind Slovakia, Poland and Slovenia. (Matthew A. Winkler, Bloomberg)

TOURISM TO ISRAEL STAYS STRONG IN FEBRUARY

362,000 visitors entered the country in February, maintaining record levels of tourism to Israel. In January and February, 683,000 visitors came to Israel, up 16% from

the first two months of 2018, the Central Bureau of Statistics reports. (Simon Griver, Globes)

ANCIENT JERUSALEM ATTRACTS GROWING CHINESE TOURISM

Jerusalem has seen growing tourism by Chinese tourists in recent years. Doron Spielman, vice president of the City of David Foundation in Jerusalem’s Old City, said Chinese people love coming here and seeing a wall which was built by Jews at the same time as the Great Wall of China. The City of David park has translated its popular nighttime sound and light show into Mandarin, so that bib-

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31A

lical characters now speak Chinese to tell the ancient story on the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City. “There aren’t too many places in the world that the Chinese people can come and find another group of people that go back thousands of years as they do,” Spielman stressed. Israel has launched initiatives to better cater to the needs of Chinese tourists, such as inviting Chinese chefs to teach how to cook the Chinese cuisine. Direct flights between China and Israel further increased in frequency in 2018, with now dozens of weekly continued on next page

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Friday, April 19 | 7:30 7 30 PM Downtown Sarasota Cost: $45 Address upon RSVP RSVP required: require rabbi@chabadofdowntownsrq.com | 941-928-9267 Looking forward to spending the Seder together! Rabbi Levi and Leah Steinmetz

32A

April 2019

BRIEFS

Ahead of Israel were South Korea, Germany, Finland and Switzerland. (i24News)

continued from previous page direct flights between the two countries. (Keren Setton, Xinhua - China)

ISRAELI-JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP: A POTENTIAL YET TO BE REALIZED

ISRAEL RANKED WORLD’S FIFTH MOST INNOVATIVE ECONOMY

Israel has the 5th most innovative economy out of 60 countries, according to Bloomberg’s annual Innovation Index. Last year Israel was ranked 10th.

Although relations between Jerusalem and Tokyo have improved significantly since the end of Japan’s participation in the Arab League boycott, the two countries have yet to develop a close relationship to the extent that Israel has with its Western allies and even China. Because of Jerusalem’s improved relations with the Arab states and Japan’s declining reliance on Middle Eastern oil supplies, Tokyo will not need to be as cautious in improving political relations with Jerusalem or fear pressure from its other Middle Eastern partners. As geopolitical obstacles from other Middle Eastern countries decline in significance and the economic benefits

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD of technological cooperation become clear, there is little reason for Israel and Japan not to increase their cooperation. (Shaun Ho, Institute for Contemporary Affairs - Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)

HOW BREXIT HAS BENEFITED ISRAEL

When the British decided to leave the EU, many Israelis rejoiced because “the EU’s attitude toward Israel reflects the lowest common denominator in Europe,” in the words of one Israeli ambassador. Therefore, when such an important European power quits the EU, it isn’t surprising that Israelis feel a sense of relief. Ever since that decision, we’ve seen continuous improvement in Britain’s approach to Israel. The Palestinian obsession has waned, along with the customary condemnations. Meanwhile, commerce and cooperation are soaring. Another important benchmark was reached when Britain announced it will label Hizbullah a terrorist organization. The incessant refusal of Germany, France, Italy and the EU itself to define the murderous organization accurately is the height of folly. (Ariel Kahana, Israel Hayom)

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The majority of Americans remain partial toward Israel in the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, with 59% saying they sympathize more with the Israelis whereas 21% sympathize more with the Palestinians, according to Gallup’s World Affairs survey conducted February 1-10, 2019. In the same poll, 69% of U.S. adults view Israel very or mostly favorably, within the 66-72% range seen between 2010 and 2017, while 21% view the Palestinian Authority favorably, similar to most years since 2010. (Lydia Saad, Gallup)

TALKS UNDERWAY TO BUILD GAS PIPELINE TO EGYPT, ISRAEL SAYS

Talks are in progress to build an underwater natural gas pipeline from Israel’sBy R offshore Leviathan and Tamar fields to Egypt’s existing liquefied natural gas plants for processing and re-export, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said recently in Cairo at the first East Mediterranean Gas Forum. The new line would allow Israel to export much more to Egypt than the maximum 7 billion cubic meters per year that can flow through the existing EMG pipeline connecting Israel to Egypt’s Sinai. Steinitz said Egypt would begin to receive significant quantities of Israeli gas through the EMG pipeline in October. (Mirette Magdy, Bloomberg)

“

TRUDEAU: “I WILL CONTINUE TO CONDEMN THE BDS MOVEMENT”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said recently, “I will continue to condemn the BDS movement” that calls to boycott Israel. Trudeau said the anti-Semitism that was commonplace decades ago still exists, as evidenced by hate crimes against Jewish Canadians. He added that Canada must be very careful “not to sanction this new frame around anti-Semitism and undue criticism of Israel.” “When you have movements like BDS that single out Israel, that seek to delegitimize and in some cases demonize, when you have students on campus dealing with things like Israel apartheid weeks that make them fearful of actually attending campus events because of their religion in Canada, we have to recognize that there are things that aren’t acceptable, not because of foreign policy concerns but because of Canadian values.” (Ryan Maloney, Huﬃngton Post - Canada)

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

Rabb

April 2019

COMMENTARY

An essential act of support and solidarity

Personal freedom

nderael’sBy Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz, Community Chaplain ds to f you haven’t had a loss like brought to bear, it can point to possigas mine, if you haven’t walked in bilities of strength and hope that have port, my shoes, you can’t really unbeen obscured by loss. initzderstand what I’m going through,” We don’t look forward to going to Eastremarked a member of a recent bea house of mourning because, notwith-

From the Bimah

“

reavement support group in the wake of sraelhis wife’s passing. Unsurprisingly, the n the comment elicited per a range of rexistsponses. srael Yes, in a cergypt tain respect, one cant can’t appreciate the someone else’s rette experience with-

out having endured the same reality. We are all unique individuals N with particular life journeys, relationships and happenings. We can never ustinfully comprehend our own full inteinuerior and emotional dimensions, much thatless others. Consequently, even if two d thepeople suffer a seemingly similar loss, placethis does not mean they are going to rencedspond to it in the exact same way. anaTo express empathy is not to sugst begest that another’s pain can be grasped. newTherefore, while well intended, to claim ndue“I know how you feel” is presumptuous. Feelings can be very involved and likedeeply intertwined with myriad aspects seekof our personal histories. They are to be s de-acknowledged, not compared. s on Empathy, in the case of mournsraeling, represents the capacity to draw on fear-one’s own acquaintance with sorrow ventsin order to be as “present” as possible , wein the engagement and comforting of ingssomeone in grief. It is not a conclusive e ofappreciation of the individual’s anauseguish but identification with affecting oney,elements of it. Obviously, such empathy is easier said than done. However, if sensitively Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz

standing the sadness that occasions the visit, we are reminded of our own mortality. But comforting a mourner is not only a commandment but an essential act of support and solidarity. It can also be a source of personal growth because we are called to confront a realm that engenders our own discomfort. Mourners are hurt when those they’d assumed would reach out to them don’t do so. Perhaps, not having dealt very often with such situations, friends and even relatives may feel a sense of inadequacy and harbor anxieties about saying the wrong thing. Though there is no exact way to relate to a mourner, one should avoid making trite comments like “It’ll be all right,” “Time will heal” and “Be strong.” They are not helpful. Don’t shy away from encouraging the mourner to share about the deceased and, as well, offer your own memories of him or her. Tears may be prompted but so too can joy. We don’t go to a shiva house to distract or cheer up mourners but to join with them and convey they are not alone at such a vulnerable time. Indeed, in consoling the mourner, we are said to fulfill the aim of “walking in God’s ways.” For more information on the next bereavement support group, please call 941.366.2224 x116. Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz serves as a Community Chaplain and Director of JFCS’s Jewish Healing Program, a partnership between The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and JFCS of the Suncoast.

Rabbi Zev Steinmetz Chabad of West Bradenton

very Jewish holiday has specific mitzvot that are intrinsically linked to its basic theme. The theme of Passover is to transcend our self-imposed limits to undergo a personal exodus from Egypt. Accordingly, the mitzvah connected to Passover is eating matzah, which helps us internalize that experience. The food we eat becomes a part of our physical bodies, so eating matzah converts the experience of self-transcendence into our actual beings. To understand the significance of

matzah, it helps to compare it to chametz. Chametz, or leavened bread, becomes fluffy as it rises, thus symbolizing self-inflated egotism and pride. Matzah, which remains flat, reflects selfless humility. The self-inflation represented by chametz is one of the primary reasons a person may stumble and sin. Someone who is selfishly consumed by his own desires, places them above all other goals, thus increasing the possibility that he will sin. In contrast, a person with humility, the quality symbolized by matzah, will be more willing to put aside his personal desires to do the right thing in G-d’s eyes. With Passover approaching, let us resolve to put our ego at bay and make the choices in our personal lives a reflection of what G-d wants from us. With this approach, may we merit to transcend our personal Egypt, our self-imposed limitations, and experience true freedom with Passover in Jerusalem.

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34A

April 2019

COMMENTARY

Anti-Semitism in Congress By Rabbi Howard A. Simon

were quickly challenged by the leadlhan Omar is the recently elected ership of both Democratic and Repubrepresentative for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. On Februlican parties, which prompted her to make what can only be called a halfary 10, Representative Omar tweeted hearted apology. the following: Congressional support Sadly, Omar is not for Israel is “all about the Benjamin baby” (a slang alone in her hatred of Israterm for $100 bills). When el. Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan beasked who she believed is gan her congressional capaying American politireer by joining Omar in cians to be pro-Israel, her proclaiming support for answer was “America’s the Boycott, Divestment Israel Public Affairs Comand Sanctions (BDS) mittee (AIPAC).” This movement that calls on testifies to Representative all countries to sever ecoOmar’s ignorance of the Rabbi Howard A. Simon nomic and cultural ties facts, since AIPAC does with Israel. These two politicians and not donate to political candidates at all. other BDS supporters fail to acknowlThis is not the first time Omar has edge or recognize that Muslims and attacked Israel. Recently she told YaArab citizens of Israel enjoy full rights hoo News, “I almost chuckle” at the and are represented in the Knesset, idea Israel is a democracy. In 2012, the governing body of Israel. To emshe tweeted, “Israel has hypnotized the phasize Tlaib’s feelings about Israel, world, may Allah awaken the people one of the first things she put up in her and help them see the evil doings of office was a map with a sticky note Israel.” with the word “Palestine” pointing Representative Omar’s comments

What do you think? The Jewish News wants to know!

Send your comments to jewishnews18@gmail.com. Letters Policy Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words, must be typed, and include the writer’s name, mailing address and phone number. Letters can be submitted via USPS or email (jewishnews@jfedsrq.org). Not all letters will be published. Letters may be edited for length and content.

THERE ARE

HATE GROUPS

IN THE STATE OF

FLORIDA

What are we doing about it?

EDUCATION.

The Robert and Esther Heller Community Relations Committee takes a firm stand against anti-Semitism. We use community resources and influence to combat a rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Zionist sentiments, which often result in aggressive acts and rhetoric against Jews. Through education, advocacy, and building relationships with the greater community, together we can combat hatred, bigotry, and harassment of Jews and other minorities.

For more information contact Jessi Sheslow at 941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org

jfedsrq.org

directly at Israel. This blatant anti-Semitism is not limited to our government. The American Civil Liberties Union has made the recently-passed Senate act combatting BDS an object of attack as the ACLU favors the BDS supporters who wish to destroy Israel. In 2016, dozens of Black Lives Matter groups accused Israel of “genocide” as they endorsed the BDS movement. In 2017, the Democratic Socialists of America, at its national conference, endorsed BDS as they chanted, “From the river to the sea Palestine will be free.” The reality facing Israel, as the state deals with these hateful attacks, is that while 79% of Republicans are more supportive of Israel than of the Palestinians, a Pew survey taken a year ago showed a split among Democrats with 27% favoring Israel and 25% favoring the Palestinians. The continued rebuke of anti-

Semitic statements and beliefs by the leadership of our government is critical if the support Israel needs and deserves is to remain a part of the relationship between the two countries. Politicians from all sides need to recognize that Israel is the country that supports the United States in its Middle East actions more than any other country in the world. Israel and the United States are in agreement regarding support for the Jewish state and all it means to each and every citizen of the country. Representative Omar and those who share her opinions need to understand how vital and how important this is for both the United States and Israel. Rabbi Howard A. Simon is the founding chair of the Robert and Esther Heller Community Relations Committee, formerly known as the Heller Israel Advocacy Initiative.

COMMENTARY BRIEFS REP. TED DEUTCH: WHY CAN’T HOUSE RESOLUTION “SINGULARLY CONDEMN” ANTI-SEMITISM?

Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) called on the House on Thursday, March 7, to pass a resolution that would “singularly condemn” anti-Semitism in the wake of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s recent comments. “We are having this debate because of the language of one of our colleagues, language that suggests Jews like me who serve in the United States Congress and whose father earned a purple heart fighting the Nazis in the Battle of the Bulge, that we are not loyal Americans?” said Deutch. “Why are we unable to singularly condemn anti-Semitism? Why can’t we call it anti-Semitism and show we’ve learned the lessons of history?... It feels like we’re only able to call out the use of anti-Semitic language by a colleague of ours...if we’re addressing all forms of hatred. And it feels like we can’t say it’s anti-Semitism unless everyone agrees that it’s anti-Semitism.” “Jews control the world? Jews care only about money? Jews have dual loyalty and can’t be patriotic members of the country in which they live? Words matter. For generations, they have had dangerous consequences for me, for my family and for my people. This shouldn’t be so hard.” (Juliegrace Brufke, The Hill)

ILHAN OMAR KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT SHE IS DOING

Rep. Ilhan Omar does not like Israel. That’s a shame, not least because Israel is the only country in its region that embraces the sorts of values the Democratic Party claims to champion. When was the last time there was a gay-pride parade in Ramallah, a women’s rights march in Gaza or an opposition press in Tehran? America is a free country, and Omar is within her rights to think what she will about Israel or any other state. There’s rarely a social or reputational penalty for publicly criticizing Israeli policies today. It’s ubiquitous on college campuses and commonplace in editorial pages. Omar, however, isn’t just a critic of Israel. For those who don’t get it, claims that Israel “hypnotizes” the world, or that it uses money to bend others to its will, or that its American supporters “push for allegiance to a foreign

country,” repackage falsehoods commonly used against Jews for centuries. Those who support Israel should not have to face allegations that their sympathies have been purchased, or their brains hijacked, or their loyalties divided. As the criticism of Omar mounts, it becomes that much easier for her to seem like the victim of a smear campaign, rather than the instigator of a smear. The secret of anti-Semitism has always rested, in part, on creating the perception that the anti-Semite is, in fact, the victim of the Jews and their allies. (Bret Stephens, New York Times)

ILHAN OMAR IS GETTING OFF THE HOOK

No one ever accuses supporters of the U.S.-Britain “special relationship” of owing allegiance to a foreign country. Nor do supporters of the U.S. alliances with Canada, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Poland or any other country face such accusations. Only supporters of Israel. This is an old and ugly anti-Semitic canard. It should be a no-brainer for Democrats to condemn what Omar said. Omar’s defenders suggest that to criticize her is to “stifle” debate and to equate any criticism of Israel with antiSemitism. Wrong. It’s perfectly legitimate to criticize Israel. I do it myself. But Omar wasn’t criticizing Israeli policies. She was criticizing Israel’s supporters by suggesting that they are not loyal Americans. That’s textbook anti-Semitism. (Max Boot, Washington Post)

ILHAN OMAR IS HURTING THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE

Palestinians will not benefit from the controversy resulting from Rep. Ilhan Omar’s repeated use of familiar antiSemitic themes. If Ms. Omar wants to support Palestinians, there’s no end to the urgent tasks she could champion as Palestinians are enduring a crisis in relations with the U.S. Omar’s rhetoric is a disaster that reinforces divisive stereotypes about supposed Muslim hostility to Jews. As someone who has spent more than 20 years in Washington working on Arab and Muslim-American problems and championing the Palestinian cause, I implore Omar to learn more about the issues at stake. In the meantime, I have one thing to say to her: Please, just stop it! (Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Bloomberg)

Opinions and letters 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.

April 2019

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Passover “experience” for our little ones

Education Corner

By Laura Freedman

t is spring! Along with new blooms undand warmer weather, Jewish famisther lies begin planning for the holiday Comof Passover. Families gather, houses eller are swept, glorious aromas of delectable dishes are cooking, and the story of Passover is shared. This story that is told at the Seder is loaded with details that are tough for young children to hear, for the adults to share, for the children to grasp, and for them to be comable to sit through. But, those of us in entuan early childhood setting think about ould how to reach our littlest children in an their age-appropriate and meaningful way d, or for them to engage in and to celebrate lties the holiday. As the Director of Early Childhood unts, Education at The Gan at Temple Sinai, er to I strive to reach all ages that attend our camschool, from 15 months to 5 years old. of a This can be a tricky task. One teaching m has philosophy suggests that children at the g the preschool age learn best through expes, in riencing and discovering through their their senses. They connect best with the acmes) tivities that are engaging sight, sound, G taste, smell and touch/motion. So, activities are developed for the students to learn about the holiday through exf the periences and play. ” of ntry. nces audi other Only and be a emn

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The story of Passover tells of the Jewish people crossing the desert to escape Pharaoh and his men while carrying all their belongings with them, and Moses parting the sea for a safe getaway. Our young children are very unfamiliar with the desert, a large wall of ocean water and certainly carrying a heavy pack for a long journey. In order to help them to better understand this part of the Seder story, we construct a station that simulates these aspects. We create a designed set with murals of water along both sides of a balance beam. The children don a backpack loaded with a few towels as they march across the parted sea. This simulates the details in the story to help them to better understand those details. Another sense that can be used for experiential learning is taste. The Jewish people had no time to allow the bread to rise when making their escape so many years ago, so today we eat only unleavened bread (matzah) during the holiday. The children can make and taste their own matzah. They can roll their own matzah balls and drop them into the soup to smell the fabulous aromas as they cook, and taste when the food is ready. While that is warming on the stove, they can chop, measure, mix and taste the charoset that is made up of fruits and juices to symbolize the mortar of the bricks of the pyramids of ancient Egypt. Using the classroom block station, they can build their own pyramids, too! All of these ideas and more are used in preschools to help children learn about the holiday of Passover. Families can incorporate many of these activities at home, as well. It truly helps children “experience” by doing, which translates into lifelong learning. Laura Freedman is the Director of Early Childhood Education at The Gan at Temple Sinai.

Temple Emanu-El Religious School hosts Kindergarten Round-Up

amilies with children who will enter kindergarten in 2019-20 were welcomed Sunday morning, February 24 to Temple Emanu-El Religious School’s first-ever Kindergarten Round-Up. The Kindergarten Round-Up was the brainchild of Alisha Leopold – a Temple Emanu-El Tot Shabbat leader whose daughter Sasha will graduate from the Susan Schwaid Early Learning Center of Temple Emanu-El this spring – and was also organized by Associate Rabbi Michael Shefrin, Director of Education Sabrina Silverberg, MARE, and Membership Committee Chair Kim Sheintal. With activities for both adults and children, the Kindergarten Round-Up introduced families to Temple EmanuEl Religious School’s vibrant learning community and warm, friendly atmosphere. A parent session enabled parents to meet with temple leaders and other religious-school parents, and to build bonds and friendships. Children

had the opportunity to visit classrooms and to participate in the happy handson learning that is the school’s hallmark. “The Kindergarten Round-Up was spectacular,” Rabbi Shefrin stated. “The visiting children had so much fun meeting other kids and our fabulous teachers. They made Purim crafts along with the kindergarten class – and two kids did not want to leave when our program ended! “My favorite part was watching the parents interact with one another,” he concluded, “talking about their Jewish hopes for their kids.” Temple Emanu-El Religious School is currently accepting enrollment for 2019-20, and invites prospective families to tour the school, participate in our welcoming “Religious School for a Day” opportunity, and speak with Director of Education Sabrina Silverberg, MARE. For more information, please email teers@sarasotatemple.org or call 941.378.5567.

Temple Emanu-El Associate Rabbi Michael Shefrin and Director of Education Sabrina Silverberg, MARE welcome children to the Kindergarten Round-Up

Kindergarten Round-Up attendees and Temple Emanu-El Religious School students create Purim masks

PASSOVER

PANDEMONIUM

6 WEEK SESSION MAY 28 TH – JULY 3 RD

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Full- and Part-Time Offered | Ages 2-5 Years Old

Calling all preschool through second grade children and their families! Come enjoy a PASSOVER EXPERIENCE including crafts, make and taste station, song sessions, and “walking” the parted sea! Food and favors to take home!

FREET EVEN

Registration Required

FRE EVENTE

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 10:00-11:30 am Temple Sinai

4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota REGISTER AT

JFEDSRQ.org/PJ

PJ Library Sarasota-Manatee is generously funded in part by Edie and David Chaifetz. SPONSORED BY

CALL

(9 41) 377-8 074

For more information, please contact Laura Freedman at 941.926.9462 or laura@templesinai-sarasota.org

TO REGISTER!

S C I E N C EMES

WEEKLY THE S ATER DAY

Susan Schwaid Early Learning Center at Temple Emanu-El 151 McIntosh Road | Sarasota, FL 34232 License #58-03-00112

Stay informed throughout the month. Sign up for the Jewish Federation’s Enewsletter at www.jfedsrq.org.

234394

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35A

36A JEWISH CAMP AT THE BEACH

April 2019

FOCUS ON YOUTH

SABABA BEACHAWAY WELCOMES SARASOTA CAMPERS

This program is Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

Sababa Beachaway is a co-ed Jewish sleepaway camp where young people make friends, relax, and ride the waves. Our campers have a chance to live Sababa, tackle new experiences, be inspired, and find passion. At Sababa, we surf, sail, scuba, offer ocean science and art and have a blast at the beach. Join us this summer for a unique Jewish summer experience.

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Jewish pride in Times Square

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L E V A R T N E E T ENTURES ADV

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The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and its generous donors are committed to providing teen travel scholarships for the following educational, experiential, and exploratory programs: • Alexander Muss High School in Israel Participate in a 6-, 8-, or 18-week program. Enjoy college living in a high school environment in Israel. APPLICATION WINDOW OPEN MARCH 1–APRIL 10, 2019.

housands of teens from around every individual, in any situation, can the world celebrated Jewish make a significant difference,” shared unity, heritage and pride at the Ella Steinmetz, Sarasota CTeen Directh 11 annual CTeen International Shabtor. “That is what CTeen is all about.” baton. The convention, which drew You may find yourself alone, the 2,600 participants, was the most eleconly Jew in your public school, or you trifying and meaningful event to date. may feel like a minority, but remember, From world-class guest speakers, to a there is no such thing as a small Jew,” life-changing closing ceremony with shared Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Chair a surprise guest appearance by Adam of CTeen. “I hope you take the energy Neumann, founder of WeWork, teens you gained this weekend and carry it left exhilarated and ready to share their into every aspect of your lives back at Jewish pride with the world. home.” The inspirational weekend inWith more than 500 chapters in 23 cluded a traditional Shabbat expericountries, CTeen creates a nurturing ence in the heart of Crown Heights, environment where giving to others the Hasidic neighborhood of Brooklyn, encourages self-discovery. The netmeaningful hands-on workshops and work’s mission is to empower tomorlectures about Judaism, and the popurow’s generation of leaders through lar Times Square takeover, featuring Jewish education, and by providing world-renowned Jewish popstar Yaaa strong Jewish network across theThi kov Shwekey. globe. Teens develop awareness and The The theme of the historic ShabbaBy J ton was I-Matter. Its goal was to emn power teens to recognize and use their s inherent, true value that is not depenI dent on achievements or status. It is a cred message that resonated with thousands of teens who have found their voices and personal missions through their involvement in CTeen. “There are things that every teenCTeen takes over at Times Square ager goes through, but that we rarely confidence, while connecting with intalk about. Watching my fellow CTeendividuals sharing similar experiences ers on stage was like a breath of fresh and beliefs, becoming an integral part air. Hearing their stories reminded me of a group that focuses on building that I am not alone. None of us are,” core values and stresses positive char-gram shared Shaina Davidovich. acter development. CTeen is open toSara Fifteen teen speakers shared perJewish teens regardless of affiliation. mun sonal stories of struggle, triumph and The teens of CTeen SRQ are7 fr strength in the face of adversity. The grateful to The Jewish Federation ofPlac stories – ranging from students who Sarasota-Manatee for its partial spon-west fought for Jewish rights at school, to BBY sorship of the event. teens who lost family members to drug For more information about CTeenas m addiction – captivated the crowd, leavSRQ, please contact Ella Steinmetz atcom ing a deep impression on the audience. 941.928.2220 or ella@chabadofsaramun Adam Neumann shared an important sota.com, or visit sarasotachabad.com/jessz message about presence, connecting O cteen. with others, and the incredible impact BBY of celebrating Shabbat. “The secret of my life and success is keeping Shabbat,” Adam Neumann said in a powerful, electrifying appearance. “Disconnecting from the world for 25 hours and connecting to something greater than myself makes me who I am. There has never been a more relevant time in history to celebrate being Jewish. If you come away with one thing today, I hope it’s that you disconnect to connect.” “Our intrinsic worth is not based on achievements. Every individual can connect to G-d, no matter the circumstances. It Teens enjoy NYC Shabbaton: Shaiel Jones, Eva Bella is because of this connection that

S ha

Serebro, Sadie Siegel, Shaina Davidovich, Austin Pearl

• Domestic Teen Travel Take part in an accredited academic, experiential, or volunteer-based domestic teen travel program and receive a scholarship from The Jewish Federation. APPLICATION WINDOW OPEN MARCH 1–APRIL 10, 2019. • SKIP (Send A Kid to Israel Program) Take part in an accredited academic, experiential, or volunteerbased program to Israel and receive a scholarship from The Jewish Federation. APPLICATION WINDOW OPEN MARCH 1–APRIL 10, 2019.

BOB MALKIN YOUNG AMBASSADORS TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

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Outside Chabad headquarters: Ella Steinmetz, Eva Bella Serebro, Shaiel Jone, Shaina Davidovich, Sadie Siegel, Austin Pearl

April 2019

FOCUS ON YOUTH

37A

Sarasota’s Jewish day school is enrolling for 2019-20

hile the enrollment of the Hershorin Schiff Community Day School has grown tremendously over the past few years, its diverse and pluralistic nature hasn’t changed much. With a close to 50:50 Jewish to non-Jewish ratio and families from diverse backgrounds, the school showcases inclusivity in action. At its core, Community Day is emphatically a Jewish institution. Ongoing emphasis is placed on enjoying a love of learning (simchat limmudim), finding connections between generations (l’dor vador), strengthening ties to Israel (klal Yisrael), caring for our earth (shmirat ha-adamah), positively impacting our world (tikkun olam) and promoting peace (shalom). Jewish

teachings are at the heart of everything the school does. Judaics are woven through the academic curriculum. Beginning in

Sarasota BBYO happenings

writing, and history. The Board of Trustees requires rabbinical representation. Students participate in Shabbat services every Friday and celebrate Jewish holidays throughout the year. Jewish dietary guidelines are observed. The tikkun olam curriculum incorporates age-appropriate community service opportunities lovingly performed throughout the year. Through travel and technology, Community Day works to ensure students of all faiths understand and appreciate the rich history and beautiful culture of Israel. The school is currently enrolling for the 2019-2020 school year. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 941.552.2770.

preschool, all students receive classes in both Hebrew and Cultural Jewish Studies. In upper elementary, students may elect either Intensive Jewish Studies or Comparative Religion, with every topic approached from an informed Jewish perspective. The Torah Academy pilot program – for students in grades 1-4 – will make its debut in the 2019-2020 school year, with intensive Torah study, daily prayer, and lessons that will address Jewish holidays, Hebrew reading and

NOW ENROLLING FOR 2019-2020!

This program is Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee By Jessica Zimmerman, Associate Regional Director

n February, three teens from Sarasota represented our community at International Convention, an incredible weekend that brings together 3,000 Jewish teens from 50 countries. To learn more about International Convention, visit aza/ bbg.bbyo.org/ic. Join Sarasota BBYO this April for Jessica Zimmerman some exciting programs! We are welcoming ANY teen in Sarasota-Bradenton to earn some community service hours on Sunday, April 7 from noon to 4:00 p.m. at Nate’s Place. We are participating in Southwest Florida’s J-Serve, an international BBYO initiative that seeks to involve as many Jewish teens as possible in community service in their home communities. To participate, email me at jesszimmerman@bbyo.org. On Sunday, April 21 join SRQ BBYO at TreeUmph. Teens must be

BBYO members to participate in this event. The cost of $30 includes the entire TreeUmph adventure course. If you get a friend to join BBYO, your admission will be free. Sarasota’s much-awaited overnight will be held on the weekend of April 27-28. For more details, email me or call Caterina Cappelli at 941.928.3499. Also keep a lookout for Sunday, May 5. BBYO will be inviting parents along with teens for elections and a special guacamole-making party. The event will take place from noon to 2:00 p.m. on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Email me to receive the spring calendar, which contains all our program dates and meetings. Follow us on Instagram @ anachnutamidbbg. We want to know if you are a BBYO alum! Write to me and tell me which region you represented and the years you were a member.

Mirka wants to slay dragons, but her stepmother wants her to…

Call (941) 552-2770 or email admissions@communityday.org to schedule a tour.

• Preschool - 8th grade • Rigorous, project-based curriculum • Individualized instruction • Judaic curriculum / Torah Academy • Competitive athletics • Foreign languages and fine arts • Intensive outdoor learning and play • Variable Tuition Model – affordable for every family • Accredited by FCIS, FKC & PRIZMAH

Hershorin Schiff Community Day School 1050 S. Tuttle Ave. Sarasota | (941) 552-2770

www.CommunityDay.org

IVE

LO VE

L E LAUGH CELEBRAT DREAM

knit ?

RE I P S IN READ

Create

Comics

Workshop with creator of Hereville graphic novels,

Barry Deutsch

Thursday, April 11, 2019 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. The Desenberg Room at The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota

PJ Library helps families on their Jewish journey by sending Jewishcontent books and music on a monthly basis to children from age six-months to eight-years. This program is completely free for families, thanks to the generosity of The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and our incredible donors.

Sign-up Today at JFEDSRQ.org/PJ

Learn to create comic strips like a pro with comic book creator Barry Deutsch. Live drawing presentation. Learn about the animation process. Make your own comic strip with help from the artist. Pizza dinner will be served. Cartoonist Barry Deutsch lives in Portland, Oregon, in a bright blue house with bubble-gum pink trim. His 2010 graphic novel Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword was the first graphic novel to win the prestigious Sydney Taylor Award, and was also nominated for Eisner, Harvey, Ignatz, and Nebula awards. His second Hereville graphic novel, Hereville: How Mirka Met a Meteorite, won the Oregon Book Award.

or Perfect fn childre 2 ages 9-1

This event is free, but you must register at: jfedsrq.org/events For more information contact Andrea Eiffert or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org

FR E E

Don’t miss the newest chapter of PJ Library for kids...ages 9-11!

pjourway.org

941.552.6308

For more information, contact Andrea Eiffert at aeiffert@jfedsrq.org or 941.552.6308

38A

April 2019

STEP Israeli Cook Off

STEP

Sunday, April 7, 12:30-2:30 pm The Zell Room on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, FL

STEP

All high school teens are invited for a fun-filled event appreciating Israeli culture by competing to make cultural foods as well as eating a variety of Israeli foods, snacks, and desserts!

This event is FREE, but please register at JFEDSRQ.org/Events QUESTIONS? Contact Andrea Eiffert at 941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org Check us out on

step_941

STAY CONNECTED

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FOCUS ON YOUTH

The Gan celebrates National Dental Health Month

By Gail Glickman

he kids of The Gan at Temple February is National Dental Health Sinai participated in a program Month and this program was an excelpresented by dental hygienists lent way to keep the kids informed and of SmileWorks Kids Dentistry on Febaware of what they need to do to stay ruary 25. healthy. As a parting gift, Szilvia and Szilvia Holdas and Bryan Mateer, Bryan gave each kid a toothbrush kit to take home. trained dental hygienists, emphasized the importance of good dental health and brought their delightful personalities and professional expertise to The Gan to give tips to the children. They explained how to choose between healthy and non-healthy foods in order to maintain a healthy mouth, teeth and gums. Szilvia stated that the goal of SmileWorks is to have kids examined by age one and to teach dental hygiene and make it a fun experience. Conducting an enlightening session with the young students, Szilvia and Bryan highlighted the importance of good dental health armed with a giant toothbrush, with which they brushed the kids who were dressed as giant teeth. They demonstrated how brushing is done and how important Joseph Rodriguez and James-Allan Mesia brushinging teeth it is to keep the gums healthy as well. Large green pieces of paper were put in between the kids dressed as teeth to represent giant pieces of lettuce caught between the teeth. They proceeded to floss away those papers. While the kids enjoyed the presentation, they gained an understanding of why it is important to brush and floss their teeth twice a The Gan kids enjoy the National Dental Health Month presentation day.

NOW AVAILABLE AT OVER 80 LOCATIONS! SARASOTA

• 1217 East Ave Medical Plaza • 1219 East Ave Medical Plaza • Aviva Independent Living • Aviva Memory Care • Bayfront Park • Brookdale Waterside Retirement • Brother Geenen Way (across from Sarasota Ford) • Chabad of Sarasota • Davidson Drugs • Desoto Beach Club • Desoto Palms • Einstein/Caribou Café • Friendship Centers • Fruitville Library • Gulf Gate Library • Integraclick • Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) • Landings Racquet Clubhouse • Main Street (across from Hollywood 11) • Medical Arts Building • Midtown Plaza • Morton’s Gourmet Bakery • Nellie’s Deli • Overture Grand Oaks • Poet’s Walk

SARASOTA

• Publix at the Landings Plaza • Ringling Post Office • Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Outpatient • Sarasota Visitors Center • Selby Public Library • Silverstein Institute, 2nd floor • Temple Beth Sholom • Temple Emanu-El • Temple Sinai • The Jewish Federation Campus • The Meadows

VENICE

• Chabad of Venice & North Port • Friendship Centers • Jacaranda Public Library • Jewish Congregation of Venice • Venice Community Center • Venice Public Library

LAKEWOOD RANCH/BRADENTON • Bradenton Chamber of Commerce • Bradenton Library • Bradenton Post Office • Cyprus Springs Retirement

LAKEWOOD RANCH/BRADENTON

• University Park Office • Inspired Living at Lakewood Ranch • Wildwood Professional Park • Integrative Medicine • Women & Children’s Center • Intercoastal Medical Group • John Cannon Homes BEACHES • Lakeridge Falls Clubhouse • Bird Key Park • Lakewood Ranch Chamber of Commerce • Longboat Key • Lakewood Ranch Pharmacy - Longboat Key Education Center • Legacy Golf Club - Temple Beth Israel • Palm Aire Clubhouse • St. Armand’s Circle • Palmetto Library - Fillmore Drive • Parkway Cleaners - Adams Drive & John Ringling • Publix at LWR Shopping Center - Madison Drive & Blvd. of the Presidents • Siesta Key • Publix University PKWY Plaza - Morton’s Siesta Market, 205 Canal Rd. • San Marco Plaza - Davidson’s Drugs, Siesta Key Village • SMR Corporate Park - Davidson’s Drugs, South Siesta Key • Temple Beth El Bradenton • The Family Jeweler • The Sheridan at Lakewood Ranch 19 • The Windsor 6-17, 20 MARCH L GUESTS IA EC SP D JF F19 S AN • Town Center Parkway SR Q.OR G/ NDING FILM VI SI T JF ED 18+ OUTSTA tion 1 OR Op , 53 th e W or ld 8.718.42 - Bank of America Is ra el an d S CA LL 88 Co un ti es , FOR TICKET ee at an M ta an d - FCCI Insurance in Sa ra so JeNwNisEhWLiSfe ish RAinTgIO Eat leDbr Ce FE The Jew on - Northern Trust Bank ti a r e d Fe • University Cleaners by Publix

Make sure to tell your friends and neighbors! Would you rather get your copy by mail?

Contact 941.371.4546

Naiditch Family

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create who will architects gets. needs to the accompanying bud nity erand commu s and cat drawings over 70 y, kitchen the are urit all tees. re sec h mit the r, plis theate In all, on these com l be perer to accom the utilizayou ing ord of In sitt . ny ff ers etc wil Sta t ma ing, done, memb ction work e e know tha a ‘behind the needs to be n broken down The constru , with the first thre for work that tee has bee which report are eager we are phases es, k at what tion commit formed in ence: Fam-committe scenes’ loo group. ucture ing preced Greenspon into four sub back to the overall phases tak will address infrastr our Larry s r staff ency for 1 ing Ou erg ng e. ase find em : nni Lif ir Ph pla the es are ess for for Jewish g with ing -committe luding acc ily Campus p are busy meetin Programm Those sub needs, inc additional parking. tners shi and Family nt and tion of and leader potential campus par g a Youth Eve vehicles and will be the renova atin ming Arts, center Phase 2 vendors and our options for cre and teen Perfor Space ng all g recreation and welleting rts stin es Me surroundi exi spo iliti : to discover the Fac asium and unity Day ish campus ry arts or/Sports gs (gymn mm ldin t vibrant Jew r day camp, culina pus Outdo Co bui aus ds of n Holoc me cam our camhave bee for the nee to Israel and es e as) ness, sum more. Though this cat itte are mm l relo ch se sub-co ss, we are s how to , which wil gre The cus ool pro and so mu dis Sch in to fuand l a work h you! regularly e 2021. current and ce plan is stil re some details wit meeting pus in Jun will be the renovation g ispace for sha spa einber lished util Phase 3 excited to best use the , and what kind of Flanzer-W a well-estab Ian ms of the ch on We have on page 2 chaired by ture progra conducting resear expansion continued g conmittee, cod; es; meetin citi zation com don Carvel, which and is require er oth their Ran ces in community Black and similar spa nals; and conveying mbers of the ers who have sio sists of me mb with profes board me lding, Federation in construction, bui ds backgroun

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MARCH

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ind uos beh ynamic d…Together! d e th t e Me Future

April 2019

LIFE CYCLE

ANNIVERSARIES

55th Richard & Jill Simons Temple Emanu-El 35th Michael & Sandy Levitan Temple Emanu-El

20th Dr. Jon & Linda Hoﬀberger Temple Emanu-El 20th Gail & Allan Shaivitz Temple Sinai

BAR MITZVAH

Samuel Howard, son of Lydia and Dr. Joshua Howard, April 27, Temple Emanu-El

Please submit your life cycle events (births, B’nai Mitzvah, anniversaries, weddings) to

Sarasota-Manatee Chevra Kadisha TAHARA

jewishnews@jfedsrq.org Photos are appreciated; email as JPGs at 300ppi.

IN MEMORIAM

Gerri Aaron, 91, of Sarasota, formerly of Philadelphia, PA, February 14 Betty Bell, 97, of Sarasota, formerly of Westfield, NJ, February 22 Dorothy Bloom, 91, of Sarasota, February 15 Murray Charash, 92, of Sarasota, formerly of New York, NY, February 23 Marilyn Eisenberg, 87, of Sarasota, formerly of Providence, RI, February 18 Arnold Freedman, 87, of Sarasota, February 8 Betty Hillman, 88, of Sarasota, formerly of New York, NY, January 27 Rabbi Richard Klein, 74, of Sarasota, formerly of Concord, NH, February 18 Margo Lee, 91, of Sarasota, February 5 Doris Libman, 99, of Sarasota, January 30 Eugene Lieberman, 95, of Sarasota, formerly of Brooklyn, NY, February 16 Paul Molnar, 89, of Siesta Key, formerly of Bingham Farms, MI, February 15 Alan Portnoﬀ, of Longboat Key, February 6 Lois Rosenfeld, 91, of Sarasota, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, February 7 Judy Rubenfeld, 90, of Sarasota, formerly of Oneonta, NY, January 28 Edward Rudnitsky, 87, of Sarasota, formerly of Philadelphia, PA, February 6 Susan Schayes, of Sarasota, formerly of New York, NY, January 20 Lois Schulman, of Sarasota, formerly of Merrick, NY, December 2 Murray Silver, 93, of Lakewood Ranch, formerly of New York, NY, February 2 Florence Stein, 96, of Sarasota, February 4 Shirley Taradash, 83, of Lakewood Ranch, formerly of Minneapolis, MN, February 13 Hanna Temkin, 97, of Sarasota, February 7 Martin Wilheim, 82, of Sarasota, February 26

39A

men

941.484.2790 941.224.0778

women 941.377.4647 941.921.4740 941.346.6446 941.921.4740 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237

FUNERAL SERVICES

The Area’s ONLY Jewish Owned & Operated Funeral Home Specializing in local burial, out-of-state transfers, and burial in Israel • REFORM • CONSERVATIVE • ORTHODOX • • • • •

Chevra Kadisha Pre-need Trusts Cremations Free Burial Plots for Veterans/Spouse

24 Hour Information at

2426 Bee Ridge Road Sarasota, FL 34239

(941) 955-1075

Michael, David, Pati and Steven Gross

Hebr e w M e m or i a l S a r as ota . c o m

Welcome Rabbi Simon to the Toale Family We’re pleased to welcome Rabbi Howard A. Simon as our liaison to the Jewish community. Rabbi Simon will provide counseling and outreach, with a focus on serving the needs of Jewish families.

Trusted for Generations

www.toalebrothers.com

941-955-4171

FIND JEWISH EVENTS JFEDSRQ.org/JewishEvents

STAY CONNECTED

ROBERT TOALE & SONS,

Welcome to the Dignity Memorial® family. is pleased to welcome Robert Toale, Debbie Toale and their sons, Jason and Jeff, to our family of firms in Sarasota and Manatee County. As proud members of North America’s largest network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers, the Toale family will continue their commitment to serving families with personal, compassionate care.

THE DIGNITY MEMORIAL NETWORK

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W or ld

sh on TE E

STAY CONNECTED

ON FAMI SH LIFE

For more information, call or visit today.

Nu m be r 3

ate o will cre hitects wh s. ing budget ccompany community e over 70 s. tee mit com g on these per be l rk wil e uction wo the first thre ses, with e: precedenc ure uct astr infr s will addres ency erg em for ing access king. par of additional renovation will be the center and teen recreation nding and surrou ymnasium mmunity Day Co camhe needs of cate to our ich will relo e 2021. tion and the renova g 3 will be r-Weinber nze Fla of the on page 2 continued

d r!

In honor of the Toales and in recognition of their longstanding dedication to the Sarasota and Bradenton area communities, three local funeral homes will be renamed to reflect this change in leadership, and two of the funeral homes will undergo renovations to better serve our community with beautiful new facilities and enhanced capabilities. Rely on the Toale family and your local Dignity Memorial professionals to help you and your loved ones celebrate each life like no other.

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DignityMemorial.com

ROBERT TOALE & SONS

FUNERAL HOME AT PALMS MEMORIAL PARK SARASOTA

FUNERAL HOME AT MANASOTA MEMORIAL PARK BRADENTON

FUNERAL HOME – WIEGAND CHAPEL SARASOTA

941-371-4962

941-755-2688

941-921-5755

April 2019

the

2019 PASSOVER APPEAL

40A

5questions How will I send my child to Jewish camp this summer?

Why is there a growing rise in anti-Semitism? Will their stories be forgotten? How can I strengthen my connection to Israel?

n Passover, tradition reminds us to ask THE FOUR QUESTIONS. This year perhaps we should ask a fifth: Will you help us make a difference in the lives of Jewish children, families, and seniors here at home and around the world? By giving to The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee you feed hungry children. You connect families to Judaism through literacy and holiday programs, Jewish summer camp and teen travel to Israel. You provide a voice for Holocaust survivors and generations after. You help Jewish families in France, Ukraine, Israel, and more. So this Passover, our fifth question is, Will you help make a difference in the lives of Jewish children, families and seniors? Please answer yes and give as generously as you can.

Merrill Wynne

Ilene Fox

Development Chair

Chief Development Officer

DONATE ONLINE AT: jfedsrq.org/donate

AMOUNT

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o $1,000 o OTHER: ____________ (USD)

Mail to: 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232

Make checks payable to: The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

NAME: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE: ___________________________________________________________________ E-MAIL: _________________________________________________________________________________ BIRTHDATE: ________________________________________ PAYMENT METHOD (CHECK ONE):

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19JNPS

Celebrating Jewish Life in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Israel and the World FEDERATION NEWS PUBLISHED BY

The Jewish Federation OF SARASOTA-MANATEE

THE LARRY GREENSPON FAMILY CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE

April 2019 - Adar/Nissan 5779

www.jfedsrq.org

Volume 49, Number 4

Jewish Happenings MONDAY, APRIL 1 The Tefillin Club at Chabad of Venice Get your week off to a great start at 8:00 a.m. with the Monday morning Tefillin Club! Shacharit will be followed with coffee and bagels, and a 15-minute “Living Torah” film. Each week, Rabbi Sholom Schmerling will expound on a different prayer, thus enabling each participant to really learn how to pray. No prior experience necessary. (If you don’t have a pair of tefillin, we will provide one for you.) Join us at the Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice. For more information, contact Rabbi Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or info@chabadofvenice.com.

Kabbalah & Coﬀee at Chabad of Venice Start your week with a spiritual boost! Discuss, explore and journey through the world of mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life. This ongoing Tanya class will probe the esoteric through a unique program of English text-based study. No prior Kabbalistic experience required. This is a free event and walk-ins are welcome. Join us at 9:00 a.m. at the Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice. For more information, contact Rabbi Sholom Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or info@chabadofvenice.com.

THROUGH JUNE 30 LEAD SPONSORS:

900 SOUTH PALM AVENUE, SARASOTA, FL 34236 SELBY.ORG

I B L E R A a L YESHIVA t o s a r sa PRESENTS APRIL – MAY 2019 COURSES

Spring “Parent and Me” Classes

KABBALAH AND JEWISH MYSTICISM

Families with newborns and tots are warmly invited to make connections, build friendships, and engage in Jewish time together at Parent and Me classes at the Susan Schwaid Early Learning Center of Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. The spring session continues on Mondays at 9:30 a.m. throughout the month. Make new friends, share parenting challenges and tips, and enjoy free play, Hebrew songs, fingerplays, movement, storytime, circle time and more in a nurturing, Jewish environment. Contact facilitator Evie Shen-Tal at eviesrqwork@gmail.com to register or for more information.

MONDAYS 3:15 PM–4:30 PM Starting April 1 (Eight Weeks)

NCJW’s “The Blankee Bee” The National Council of Jewish Women has an ongoing project called “The Blankee Bee.” The project has involved its members in making nosew ﬂeece blankets which have been distributed to various agencies, such as Manatee Community Action Agency, HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), residents of Anchin Pavilion, patients at the Florida Cancer Center, and children at Camp Mariposa as a joint venture with JFCS of the Suncoast. Join us from 10:00 a.m. to noon on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life (580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota) to make these blankets. For more information, contact Joan Bour at 941.281.2133 or joanbour5@yahoo.com.

Kabbalah (“mysticism”) is the body of esoteric teachings of Judaism and Jewish mystical literature, particularly from the 12th century onward. The kabbalah draws on early rabbinic mystical tradition about the divine chariot (“maaseh Merkavah”) and the mysteries of creation (“maaseh bereshit”). It is concerned with doctrines about God and creation, the problem of evil, the soul, and the mystic way. This course will discuss the key literature as well as its renewed popularity in pop culture. Instructor: Marden Paru; fee $60.

THE PROPHET MOSES TUESDAYS 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM Starting April 2 (Eight Weeks) Moshe is the lawgiver, leader of the Israelites, teacher and prophet. What he accomplished in 120 years were feats never duplicated in quality or quantity by anyone else of the Mosaic persuasion. In partnership with the Almighty, he took his people out of bondage, into the wilderness and then up to the promised land. In addition to the bible narrative, there are midrash and commentary that will arouse your curiosity and expand our collective view and understanding of this outstanding individual. Instructor: Marden Paru; fee $60.

ISRAEL 2019: THRIVE AND SURVIVE THE ICONIC ROCK PROMOTER WHO USED MUSIC FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AND BROUGHT YOU

J I MI HENDRIX

THE

GRATEFUL

DEAD

JANIS JOPLIN

THE

WHO

! D E AUG.18 D N E T FEB.10 X E

FRIDAYS 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM Starting April 5 (Eight weeks) Constantly under threat from its neighbors, how has Israel thrived and survived in spite some of the most heinous attacks on its civilian population? Its political system seems wacky yet democracy prevails in an ever-changing multi-party system. Known for its high technology and educational institutions, modern society would not have advanced without Israeli know how and ingenuity. What is the current state of affairs? Let’s assess it and opine Israel’s future, Instructor: Marden Paru; fee $60.

Inquire about multi-course discounts. Scholarships are also available.

AT Classes are held at The Jewish Federation on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. To register or seek more information, please contact Marden Paru, Dean and Rosh Yeshiva at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com. Please make checks payable to the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva and mail to Marden Paru, 5445 Pamela Wood Way #160, Sarasota, FL 34233. In response to visitor demand, Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution has been extended through June 30, 2019! Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution explores the extraordinary life of renowned music promoter Bill Graham (1931 - 1991) who helped launch and promote the careers of countless rock & roll artists. It also traces the indomitable spirit of a man brought to the United States as an elevenyear-old Jewish refugee fleeing the Nazis, fueling a lifelong passion and advocacy for justice.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.

Presented locally by:

BILL EDWARDS &

Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution is organized and circulated by the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, in association with the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation, and made possible by the support of Alex Graham, David Graham, and Danny Scher.

55 Fifth Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727.820.0100 • www.TheFHM.org

The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency. It is funded, in part, by a grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

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

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

April 2019

TUESDAY, APRIL 2 A Cup of Joe & the Five Books of Mo Join Rabbi Michael Werbow as the java and Torah discussion ﬂow while personal meaning is found through an exploration of rabbinic texts relating to the weekly parasha. Meet at Temple Beth Sholom (1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota) from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. on Tuesdays in April. No cost. For more information, please contact the temple at 941.955.8121 or info@ templebethsholomﬂ.org.

“Caﬀeine for the Soul”

Live at Aviva. Play at The Meadows. Experience the possibilities at Aviva, now offering residents membership to The Meadows Country Club. Call or visit our website today to learn more about lifestyle and membership options!

941-225-8369 avivaseniorlife.org

Join the most popular Jewish women’s book club in town at 10:00 a.m. at the Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice. Get your weekly social and spiritual boost over a roundtable discussion led by Chaya Rivka Schmerling. Delve into the book for this year, A Time to Heal: The Rebbe’s Response to Loss & Tragedy. Enjoy coffee and homemade pastries. This is a free event and walk-ins are welcome. For more information, contact Chaya Rivka Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rivka@chabadofvenice.com.

Mah Jongg at Temple Beth Sholom Mah Jongg is an addictive game of skill, calculation, strategy and chance. Bring your friends or meet new ones and have a great time at Temple Beth Sholom (1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota) every Tuesday from noon to 3:00 p.m. Healthy snacks will be provided, including during Passover. Cost: $2 for members; $3 for nonmembers. For more information, please contact Felicia Servetz at 941.351.5280 or joelsinﬂa@verizon.net.

Leyen Kreis – Yiddish Reading Circle The Leyen Kreis group meets biweekly at Temple Beth Sholom (1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota) to practice and expand the member’s knowledge by reading original Yiddish literature. Reading knowledge of Yiddish is essential. Join us from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, April 2 and 16. No cost. For more information, please contact the temple at 941.955.8121 or info@templebethsholomﬂ.org.

Temple Beth Israel Miniversity Course Sarasota’s only rental non-profit senior community offering all levels of living: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

Join us at 2:00 p.m. for a lecture and discussion on “The History of the Passover Haggadah” with Rabbi Stephen Sniderman. No cost to Temple Beth Israel members; $10 for nonmembers. The temple is located at 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key. To register or for more information, call the temple office at 941.383.3428.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 The Original Brown Bag with Rabbi Geoﬀ Huntting Temple Sinai has a longstanding tradition of Rabbi Geoff Huntting hosting a brown bag lunch and discussion of timely topics. Join with congregants, friends and neighbors in spirited conversations surrounding worldly events. Bring a bag lunch and an open mind to discuss important issues. This free workshop is open to the community. Participants are encouraged to introduce ideas for discussion, analysis and/or debate. Meet at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays, April 3, 10, 17 and 24 at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road between Beneva and Swift). For more information, contact the temple office at 941.924.1802 or office@sinaisrq.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 4 Experience new possibilities and a community where we live life to the fullest! Take advantage of our exclusive spring promotions today! Sign a lease for a new apartment at Aviva’s Kobernick Independent Living by April 17th and claim one of our exclusive incentives!

1 Month

Up to

FREE $3,000 in moving RENT (Up to $5,187)

Meadows Country Club

services

• Spacious Apartments with Lanais • 24/7 Front Desk Services • Weekly Housekeeping Services • State-of-the-art Wellness Center • Onsite Campus Rabbi

Exclusive

Membership for Life

• Fine & Casual Kosher Dining • Educational Seminars & Cultural Experiences • Complementary Transportation • Weekly Shabbat Services • And So Much More!

Aviva – A Campus for Senior Life Leasing: 941.225.8369

1951 N. Honore Ave.

Main: 941.377.0781

Info@AvivaSeniorLife.org www.avivaseniorlife.org Assisted Living Facility #8951 Skilled Nursing Facility #130471046

“Living on a Prayer” at Temple Emanu-El Director of Education Sabrina Silverberg, MARE facilitates this interactive four-part course connecting students with their personal meaning of prayer as they explore the purpose and origin of traditional prayers and learn how to chant each prayer. “Living on a Prayer” will provide students with deeply-rooted learning and the skills to participate actively in a service, or even serve as service leader. No prior Hebrew knowledge is necessary. Classes continue on Thursdays through April from 11:00 a.m. to noon at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For reservations and pricing, please call the temple at 941.371.2788.

Chabad of Sarasota Rosh Chodesh Society Course Women are invited to join RCS’s latest course, “Larger Than Life.” The Rosh Chodesh Society meets monthly, yet each segment stands alone. This month’s segment, entitled “A Soul-ar Panel on Social Activism,” will explore the struggle we face with our limited time and resources regarding the many important causes that call for our help. Following the class, participants will enjoy a Zumba class with Yael Campbell. Refreshments will be served. For assistance with underwriting this course, appreciation is extended to Anne Stein. Join us at 7:15 p.m. at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road. Cost: free for Rebbetzin Circle members; $10 for RCS members; $12 for nonmembers. Anyone joining the class for the first time is our guest at no charge. For more information or to RSVP, contact Sara Steinmetz at 941.925.0770 or sara@chabadofsarasota.com.

ConneCt with your Jewish Community facebook.com/jfedsrq

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

April 2019

FRIDAY, APRIL 5

Outdoor Pops

WOMEN ROCK

Rhythm & Jews Erev Shabbat Service Join Rabbi Geoff Huntting and Chazzan Cliff Abramson at 6:00 p.m. for the Rhythm & Jews Erev Shabbat Service and hear the Bruno Family Trio as they join the rabbi and chazzan for an uplifting service with a variety of traditional, Israeli, Sephardic and Chassidic melodies. A welcome reception begins at 5:15 p.m. The service takes place at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road between Beneva and Swift). For more information, contact the temple office at 941.924.1802 or office@sinaisrq.org.

Friday Night Live for Teens in Grades 7-12 CTeen at Chabad of Sarasota hosts Friday Night Live on the first Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at 7700 Beneva Road. It is open to all teens in grades 7-12 free of charge. Participating teens will join the congregation for the short Kabbalat Shabbat service, which will be followed by a special teen Oneg Shabbat. Friday Night Live always has great food and lots of fun with old and new friends while everyone enjoys the excitement of Shabbat in a meaningful way. Advance reservations are required. Call 941.925.0770 or email ella@chabadofsarasota.com.

FEATURING:

Grammy-nominee

CASSIDY CATANZARO The Voice contestant

KATRINA ROSE

Broadway and jazz vocalist

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Yom HaShoah Service Leo Melamed, recipient of the highest award bestowed on an individual by the emperor of Japan for his outstanding contribution to Japan-U.S. relationships, will be the special guest speaker at this service at 10:30 a.m. Join the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, which meets at Unity, 3023 Proctor Road, Sarasota. For two years, this Holocaust survivor and his family outwitted the Nazis and KGB. The odyssey spanned three continents. For more information, call 941.929.7771 or email chjsarasota@ hotmail.com.

SHAYNA STEEL

MAY 10-11 8:00 pm Ed Smith Stadium

Join Sarasota Orchestra for a rocking good time with three powerhouse vocalists in this tribute to the women of classic rock. Showcasing Sarasota Orchestra’s breadth with lush strings, bold brass, and snappy percussion, this concert includes Joan Jett’s I Love Rock n’ Roll, Tina Turner’s Proud Mary, and Pat Benatar’s Hit Me with Your Best Shot. Grab some ballpark fare and move to the music of Carole King, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Judy Collins, Pat Benatar, and Heart in a concert for all ages that concludes with a spectacular fireworks display. Tickets sold by the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium

(941) 893-6300 - Orioles.com/Sarasota

Shabbat Shmooze: Passover with Rabbi Werbow Shabbat Shmooze, a lively discussion series, takes place on selected Saturdays after the Shabbat service and Kiddush at approximately 12:45 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. Today, Rabbi Michael Werbow will hold an interactive informational talk about Passover. For more information, please contact the temple at 941.955.8121 or info@templebethsholomﬂ.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

YEARS OF MUSIC 1949-2019

STEP Israeli Food Cook-oﬀ Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

High-school teens are invited for a fun-filled event appreciating Israeli culture by competing to make cultural foods as well as eating a variety of Israeli foods, snacks and desserts! Join us at 12:30 p.m. in the Zell Room on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. This event is free, but please register at jfedsrq.org/events. For more information, please contact Andrea Eiffert at aeiffert@jfedsrq. org or 941.552.6308.

T H E

P E R L M A N

M U S I C

P R O G R A M /S U N COAST

PMP Alumni: Around Town Final performance of the Season! Sunday, April 7 • 3:00 PM • $15; Under 18 Free

Temple Sinai Mitzvah Day

Beatrice Friedman Theater on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, 582 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota

Temple Sinai will sponsor its annual Mitzvah Day from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mitzvah Day is based on the concept of tikkun olam, interpreted as helping to repair the world through purposeful acts of lovingkindness. The theme of this year’s Mitzvah Day is “I can make a difference.” The community is invited to participate in this rewarding and important day at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road between Beneva and Swift). For more information, email Dr. Rebecca Cohen at rcohen29@comcast.net, or Shelley Markus at shelleyemarkus@gmail.com.

Featuring the PMP Alumni String Quartet:

Fifth Annual Celebration of Children’s Day Each year, the Al Katz Center honors children in memory of Liora Goldberg, a loveable Israeli-American child who passed away from a progressive debilitating disease at age 14 and whose brief life made the world a more beautiful place. Activities include make-and-take Passover crafts, Passover music and song sheets, edible and inedible creations, Seder table centerpieces to make, gifts to buy, and Passover stories. This is a joyful Passover activity for the entire family to partake in. Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $10 for adults or free with children; $5 per child; kosher refreshments included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Temple Beth Israel Dinner Cruise Sponsored by the TBI Men’s Club, the moonlight dinner cruise aboard Marina Jack’s yacht begins at 6:30 p.m. from 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota. The cost is $75. For more information, please call the temple office at 941.383.3428.

KJ McDonald, violin

Rinat Erlichman, violin

Hannah Geisinger, viola

Derek Louie, cello

Thank you to all of our PMP Alumni: In Schools and Around Town Sponsors Bernie Friedland, in loving memory of Shirley Friedland

Grand Bay Pelican Cove

140 kosher characters: twitter.com/jfedsrq

Tickets available at PMPSuncoast.org • 941-955-4942

April 2019 MONDAY, APRIL 8 Mah Jongg/Cards/Games Day

The Greater Venice Chapter of Hadassah is having a mah jongg/cards/ games day from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Indies Hall at Bay Indies Resort, 924 Freeport Street, Venice. Breakfast and a homemade lunch will be served. Bring your own game or we can put you in a game. The cost is $23. Mail your check, payable to Hadassah, to 4220 Tennyson Way, Venice, FL 34293. For more information, call Ruth at 941.492.6025.

NCJW Book Club The National Council of Jewish Women Book Club will discuss Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin at the Gulf Gate Public Library (7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota) from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. The NCJW Sarasota-Manatee section website (ncjwsarasota-manatee.org) has information about the Book Club, the title selections and dates for the current season. Click on Community Services at the top of the page. You will also find Goodreads reviews of the books. Guests welcome. For more information, contact Barbara Aferiat at barbara@aferiat.com or 703.338.7112.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9

JEWISH HAPPENINGS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 Just Reel Films Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me is based on the 1965 Davis memoir, Yes, I Can: The Story of Sammy Davis, Jr., penned by Burt Boyar with Davis and his wife Jane. The screening begins at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. The film series is free, but audience members are encouraged to bring cans of food, as well as new toys and school supplies, which will be donated to such community organizations as All Faiths Food Bank, The Food Bank of Manatee, Toys for Tots and Title 1 Schools. To register, visit jfedsrq.org/reel19. For more information, contact Jeremy Lisitza at jlisitza@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2113.

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

Mitzvah Knitting Group at Temple Emanu-El

Family Passover Fun Day for Ages 4 & Up

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! The group meets at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For more information, email Susan Bernstein at susanhope22@comcast.net.

All families with children ages 4 and older are welcome to join Chabad of Sarasota’s (7700 Beneva Road) Jewish Enrichment Program from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The program includes Passover fun with crafts, songs and games to elicit excitement and anticipation for the forthcoming holiday. Although the program is being offered free of charge, advance reservations are required at 941.925.0770 or sara@chabadofsarasota.com.

CTeen – Passover Chocolate Seder Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

Join CTeen and celebrate the holiday of Passover and help pack matzah boxes. Also enjoy a Passover Chocolate Seder with chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-covered matzah, chocolate-splattered popcorn and four cups of chocolate milk. The fun begins at 7:00 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Special thanks to The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee for sponsoring CTeen 5779. The CTeen annual membership is $180 including all trips and activities except for the International CTeen Shabbaton in New York. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 or rabbi@chabadofbradenton.com.

Chabad of Bradenton Men’s Club Bowling Trip Join the Chabad of Bradenton Men’s Club for a fun bowling event at 7:30 p.m. at AMF Bowling, 4208 Cortez Road, Bradenton. The cost is $15. For more information or to RSVP, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 or rabbi@chabadofbradenton.com.

FAMILY jfedsrq.org

THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.

JEWISH HAPPENINGS THURSDAY, APRIL 11

April 2019

Sir Peter Wright’s

“This Month in Jewish History” Significant events during April include: the Dutch West India Co. granted Michael Cardoso the right to practice law in Brazil in 1645, a privilege no other Jew enjoyed at that time anywhere else; in 1655, it refused to grant permission to Governor Peter Stuyvesant to exclude Jews from New Amsterdam, putting an end to official efforts to bar Jews from North America; in 1936, anti-Jewish riots broke out in Palestine; in 1945, the 7th U.S. Army liberated Dachau. Join us at noon at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $10 per adult; $5 per student; kosher brunch included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

26 - 27 April 2019 | Sarasota Opera House

Chabad of Bradenton Rosh Chodesh Society Course Women are invited to join RCS’s latest course, “Larger Than Life – Weaving G-d in the Details.” This sixth class is entitled “Cause & Effect – A Soul-ar Panel on Social Activism.” Lunch will be served. Join us at noon at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. The course fee is $75 (textbooks included) or $18 per class. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 or rabbi@chabadofbradenton.com. Victoria Hulland in Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle | Photography Frank Atura

92Y Program at Temple Beth Israel The evening’s program, “The Future of God,” begins at 7:30 p.m. at 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key. Refreshments will be served 30 minutes prior to the pre-recorded program. No cost to temple members; $10 for nonmembers. To register or for more information, call the temple office at 941.383.3428.

A Tale of

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

Young Love,

Family Passover Fun Day for Ages 2-5 Get your preschool child all excited and enthusiastic about the forthcoming Passover holiday. Families with children ages 2-5 are welcome to join the Chabad Kaplan Preschool (7700 Beneva Road, Sarasota) at 9:00 a.m. for a fun morning of holiday crafts, games and songs. Although the program is being offered free of charge, advance reservations are required at 941.925.0770 or sara@chabadofsarasota.com.

Romance, and Loss. Media Sponsor

Erev Shabbat Service Addresses Immigration Join Rabbi Geoff Huntting at 6:00 p.m. for our Erev Shabbat Service with guest speakers Malcolm and Carole Schwartz, who will address the topic of immigration and refugees based on the concept in the Torah, “we were strangers in a strange land.” A welcome reception begins at 5:15 p.m. The service takes place at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road between Beneva and Swift). For more information, please contact the temple office at 941.924.1802 or office@sinaisrq.org.

THE SARASOTA BALLET BOX OFFICE

941.359.0099 |SarasotaBallet.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Tot Shabbat at Temple Emanu-El Tot Shabbat is a relaxed, welcoming and festive Shabbat celebration for young Jewish and interfaith families. Please join us for playground time, a bagel breakfast, crafts, and age-appropriate Shabbat prayers, songs and movement with Rabbi Brenner Glickman and Rabbi Michael Shefrin. This month we’ll get into the Passover spirit with a special themed craft, Passover foods, stories and fun surprises. It’s a wonderful time with old and new friends! Although Tot Shabbat is designed for families with children ages 1-6, all are invited at 10:30 a.m. to Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For more information, call Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman at 941.379.1997.

Temple Beth El Bradenton Baseball Outing

FREE EVENT Registration required. Online registration is strongly encouraged at www.neurochallenge.org Call 941-926-6413 for more information.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Bradenton Area Convention Center 1 Haben Blvd. Palmetto, FL

9AM–3PM

Join the Temple Beth El family at 6:00 p.m. as we spend an evening watching our Marauders baseball team play at LECOM Park, 1611 9th St. W., Bradenton. Included in the event is a Marauders hat, drink and collectible cup. Our group seats make it easy to watch every aspect of the game. Tickets cost $10. For more information or to RSVP, call the TBE office at 941.755.4900 by Friday, April 5.

Doors open at 8am www.neurochallenge.org

This event is presented to the community at no charge thanks to the following partners:

Exclusive Presenting Sponsor

Bridge...

Anyone? THE BRIDGE GROUP meets

Thursday afternoons 1:00–4:00 pm

For more information

The Hecht School, The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life

The Parkinson’s Expo will feature presentations from medical experts on treatment options, the latest in research, managing the non-motor aspects of the disease, and more.

Platinum Sponsor

Media Sponsor

Diamond Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

A complete listing of speakers and topics is available at www.neurochallenge.org

Open to intermediate and advanced bridge players.

call Bob Satnick at 941.538.3739

Silver Sponsors Acadia • Bioclinica • Medtronic • Rough & Ready Slater-Kassan Charitable Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation SYNOVUS • Trulieve

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

April 2019

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 PJ Library Passover Pandemonium

One Family’s struGGle with addictiOn. One natiOn’s path tO recOvery. “What are you a slave to?” Freedom Song is a transformative musical performance that interweaves the story of Passover and personal stories of addiction through songs, dance, tears and laughter. The cast is made up of addicts in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other destructive behaviors.

Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

Calling all preschool through second-grade children and their families! Enjoy a Passover “Experience,” with crafts, a make-and-taste station, song sessions, and “walking” the parted sea! You’ll receive food and favors to take home. Join us at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road between Beneva and Swift). Register for this free event at jfedsrq.org/events. For more info, contact Laura Freedman at 941.926.9462 or laura@templesinai-sarasota.org.

CKids – 3D Pesach Experience Your time machine awaits. Experience the wonder, the freedom, and the triumph of our ancestors in Egypt, as we travel back in time with a miraclefilled Pesach experience, featuring an interactive 3D video, games and teamchallenges. The fun takes place from 11:00 a.m. to noon at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Admission is $10 per child; free for Chabad Hebrew School students. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 or rabbi@chabadofbradenton.com.

Sunday Zionist Brunch Club

Sunday, April 14th @ 2:00 pm Temple Emanu-El

151 McIntosh Road • Sarasota, FL 34232 941-371-2788 • sarasotatemple.org Please RSVP to assistant@sarasotatemple.org Stay for a post-show discussion with the cast. Light refreshments will be served FREE and open to the community

What is more important than spending time in support of Israel with fellow Zionists? The delightful Sunday Zionist Brunch Club brings Jews of Sarasota-Manatee together over brunch to discuss Israeli current events and urgent issues. Israel always has an overabundance of pressing matters to review, debate, research and take action upon. Indeed, this club can inspire everyone to act on behalf of Israel in multitudes of ways. Help the Jewish homeland even from thousands of miles away! Join us at 11:30 a.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $10 per adult; $5 per student; kosher brunch included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Chocolate Passover Seder Students in grades 3-8 are invited to Temple Beth Sholom (1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota) from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. to explore the Seder through chocolate! Cost: $5 per TBS youth group member; $8 per nonmember. For more information or to RSVP by Friday, April 12, contact Evie Shen-Tal at eviesrq16@gmail.com.

Cooking with the Rabbi for Kids

Generously sponsored by:

This is a great opportunity for children to have fun with Temple Beth El Rabbi Michael Sternfield while learning to cook some favorite Jewish foods (and a few others), and also learn about the history of Jewish cooking. This class will last for four sessions (3:00 to 4:30 p.m.) and will take place at Temple Beth El Bradenton, 5150 Peridia Blvd. East. The cost is $5 per session per child (payment in advance). Call the TBE office at 941.755.4900 for more information and to register your child/children.

Temple Emanu-El

celebr

at e

YOM HA’ATZMAUT

Israel Independence Day SUNDAY, MAY 5 3 – 6 PM

BEATRICE FRIEDMAN THEATER THE LARRY GREENSPON FAMILY CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE 582 MCINTOSH RD, SARASOTA

• Walk for Israel • Authentic Israeli food • Krav Maga demonstration • Make candles in Tzfat • Camel races • Climb Masada • Visit the Kotel • Mini Shuk and more!

R FUNl FagOes!

Contact Andrea Eiffert 941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org

Seder Prep Tips For anyone not joining this year’s community Seders at the Al Katz Center, there are many tips that can make every Seder more delightful and inspirational. Beginning with beautiful Seder decorations, including live plants, this Passover can be the most memorable ever. Decorating and details make all the difference in how Seders are remembered. After hosting Seders for hundreds of people over the past 50 years, Beverly Newman happily shares her time-tested tips for wonderful Seders! Join us at 10:00 a.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $10 per adult; $5 per student; kosher refreshments included. To RSVP, call Beverly at 941.313.9239.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16 Sarasota Jewish Singles Dinner Meeting

ACTIVITIES:

FREE ION S ADMIS

MONDAY, APRIL 15

For more information, visit

jfedsrq.org/events

The Sarasota Jewish Singles is an outreach program at Temple Beth Israel of Longboat Key to give all Jewish singles in the Sarasota-Manatee area the opportunity to meet other men and women who are single. The group meets once a month for dinner, laughter and a time to turn acquaintances into lifelong friends. Join us at 6:00 p.m. at Café Baci, 4001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. To make a reservation or for more information, call or text Rosalyn Fleischer at 941.915.6631 or email rozﬂeischer@gmail.com.

CHECK IT OUT TODAY!

JFEDSRQ.org/Community-Directory

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

Passover begins at sundown on Friday, April 19. Many of the area’s temples will hold first- and second-night Seders open to the community. Contact the temples for more information. FRIDAY, APRIL 19 Temple Emanu-El Mitzvah Day Registration Deadline Register now to be a part of Temple Emanu-El’s Mitzvah Day. Spaces are filling quickly for wonderful hands-on projects benefiting the entire community on this day of outreach and community service. Wrap gifts for needy children, prepare lunch for the homeless, care for homeless animals, visit nursing home residents, host a Family Fun Day for disadvantaged families, sort food at the food bank and much more. Mitzvah Day is Sunday, May 5, beginning at noon. For registration materials, please contact Mitzvah Day Chair Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman at 941.379.1997 or elaine-glickman@comcast.net.

Siyum Bechorim All community members who are firstborns are invited to join us at 8:00 a.m. at Chabad of Sarasota (7700 Beneva Road) for the morning Minyan and Siyum Bechorim – the completion of a tractate of the Talmud, alleviating firstborns from fasting on this day. For more information, call the Chabad office at 941.925.0770.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21 Jewish Genealogical Society of SWFL So many Jewish women in our history were creative, heroic and talented. Familiar names from the Torah are D’Vorah, Miriam and Ruth. There were strong and brave women such as Hannah Senesh, Zionist and heroine during the Nazi regime; and Golda Meir, one of the founders of the Jewish state and former Prime Minister of Israel, among many others. In “Women of Valor: from the Torah and Beyond,” Rosalie Leon tells the stories and sings the songs dedicated to the strength of the human spirit. Attendance is free. Everyone is welcome at 1:00 p.m. at Aviva, 1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. For more information, contact Kim Sheintal at 941.302.1433 or klapshein@aol.com.

April 2019 SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Meal of Moshiach

Come and join us on the last day of Pesach to celebrate with a special meal, the Kabbalistic Moshiach Seudah, complete with matzah, wine and Chassidic songs. This is a custom established by the Baal Shem Tov. The meal will be led by Rabbi Mendy Bukiet. Admission is free to this event that begins at 6:00 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 or rabbi@chabadofbradenton.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28 NCJW Scholarship Awards Brunch The National Council of Jewish Women will present scholarships to nontraditional students working toward completing their degrees. Participants and their guests and NCJW members will attend. Additional guests are welcome to join us from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Palm Aire Country Club, 5601 Country Club Way, Sarasota. For cost and additional information, please contact Julie Kupersmith at 941.896.4690 or kupersmithjulie@ gmail.com.

Counter-Assault Training with John Brockhoﬀ Startling tactics save lives in crisis situations, during which most victims “freeze,” unable to protect themselves and others through the proper mindset and mental preparation. Israeli self-defense Krav Maga expert John Brockhoff will teach participants the techniques that anyone of virtually any age can use to divert attackers from deadly or injurious intents. Join us at 3:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $18 per adult; $10 per student; kosher refreshments included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

MONDAY, APRIL 29 “Nazi Scientists in America – Part 2” In 1948, President Harry Truman strongly protested Congress’s new immigration bill that discriminated against Jewish immigration to the United States, even in the face of the recent Holocaust. At the same time, the U.S. was eagerly admitting thousands of Nazis, many of whom were complicit in Holocaust Jewish slave labor and mass murders and were welcomed to America with open arms; while Jews remained in displaced persons camps. Nazi war criminals were even given major American awards. Join us at 11:00 a.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $10 per adult; $5 per student; kosher refreshments included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26 Erev Shabbat Service and Tot Shabbat Join Rabbi Geoff Huntting and Chazzan Cliff Abramson for an uplifting Erev Shabbat Service at 6:00 p.m., with a welcome reception at 5:15 p.m. The Gan at Temple Sinai will hold a Tot Shabbat Service at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Gan Shabbat Dinner. Temple Sinai is located at 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road between Beneva and Swift). For more information, contact the temple office at 941.924.1802 or office@sinaisrq.org.

GET THE SCOOP WEEKLY! New to the Sarasota-Manatee area?

We Welcome You

Shalom! Welcome to paradise! We hope you feel at home and become active members of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish community. Please stop by and visit us! Ilene Fox • 941.343.2111 • ifox@jfedsrq.org Get Newcomer information: jfedsrq.org/new

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The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life • Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

April 2019

Pesach Sameach

ALWAYS WITH HEART AND MIND W E A LT H P R E S E R V A T I O N G E N E R AT I O N A L P L A N N I N G

C H A R I TA B L E G I V I N G

T R U S T S & E S TAT E S

BUSINESS SUCCESSION

TA X P L A N N I N G

FLORIDA RESIDENCY

200 South Orange Avenue | Downtown Sarasota | (941) 366-4800 | WilliamsParker.com

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