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

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

Serving our community since 1971!

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

July 2014 - Sivan/Tammuz 5774 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 6 Community Focus 11 Jewish Happenings 15 Jewish Interest 20 Israel & the Jewish World 22 Commentary 24 Focus on Youth 27 Life Cycle

3 March of the Living experience

9 Temple Emanu-El Mitzvah Day 2014

Federation grants over $60,000.00 for local programs By Kim Mullins

ederation’s local granting committee, chaired Carvel, Jason Collier, Paula Fishman, David Grace, by Fran Braverman, completed its most recent Stacy Hanan, Sue Hoffman, Marla Katz, Alison grant cycle in March. The committee vetted Silver Schwartz, Marysue Wechsler and Susan Wolfson. 30 grant proposals from various organizations. After much review and deliberation, the group recomIn order to be considered for a grant, an organimended funding 17 proposals for a total of $64,570. zation must complete an online grant application and These were approved by the Board of Directors at its fulfill specific qualifications. For further informaApril meeting. The detailed list of approved grants tion, please visit www.jfedsrq.org or contact Marty Haberer at 941.552.6303 or mhaberer@jfedsrq.org. is below. AMOUNT Each of the funded programs rePROGRAM DESCRIPTION GRANTED flects our Federation’s mission of ORGANIZATION NAME All Faiths Food Bank Summer Hunger Campaign $10,000 enhancing Jewish life in Sarasota-Man- Sarasota BBYO Teen programming for 8 – 12 grade $5,000 students atee. We strive to be a good community Chanukah on Main Street $3,700 partner, and through our granting pro- Chabad of Bradenton Chabad of Bradenton Rosh Chodesh Society $1,000 cess we can help to ensure that quality Chabad of Bradenton Purim in the Palace $1,500 Chabad of Sarasota A Taste of Chanukah 2014 $10,000 Jewish programs are available to all. $1,800 Federation Associate Executive Chabad of Venice & North Port Loaves of Love Chabad of Venice & North Port Lag Ba’Omer BBQ & Drum Circle $1,500 Director Marty Haberer had this to Chabad of Venice & North Port Jewish Teen Club $4,000 say: “The local granting process is New College of Florida Lunch and Learning Program $1,370 Adult Jewish education $5,000 one of the most satisfying activities I Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva Temple Beth Israel Rabbi Michael B. Eisenstat Miniversity $4,000 have been involved with at our Federaof Judaism tion. I know I speak for everyone on Temple Beth Sholom Family, School, Community, The World! $8,000 Project-based learning for students the committee when I say that decidTemple Emanu-El Tot Shabbat $1,800 ing how to distribute donor dollars is Temple Sinai Annual Jewish Food Festival $3,600 a tremendous responsibility and very UnidosNow Youth Collaborative on College $1,300 Preparation’s Future Leaders Summer rewarding.” Academy Special thanks to our local grant- Volunteer Community On The Spot Volunteer Registration $1,000 ing committee: Fran Braverman, Chair; Connections, Inc. Program $64,570 Rosann Argenti, Isaac Azerad, Randon TOTAL

$67,000.00 in college scholarships awarded to 35 recipients

25 Religious School faculty honored at Teacher Appreciation Shabbat

Volume 44, Number 7

By Andrea Eiffert

T proof

the Family Jeweler 14276 Name: ________________________________________________ Invoice Ref #: ________________

he Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, along with college scholarship fund holders and the College Scholarship Committee members, had the incredible privilege of awarding over $67,000.00 in scholarships to thirtyfive recipients this year! On Tuesday, May 13, close to 100 people gathered in the Zell room on the Federation campus celebrate with the This Proof must be signed and returned to before TBS Schools we can proceed with your order. This is your recipients and learn about the inception prior to of printing. spellbothPlease the examine collegeallscholarship program donatesProof ing and information carefully. RFJD will not be and the stories behind the fund holders’ veggiesheld responsible for any unnoticed errors. Any motivation to start a college scholarship fund. will be customer’s sole to Food errors found after printing This year, a new scholarship, called the Robresponsibility. Bank Sprout ert Michelson Interfaith Scholarship, was awarded program Approval to six recipients. Robert was a Jewish orphan who Approvednever forgot that the skills he cultivated as a teacher

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were taught to him by his Christian mentors. For the majority of his life, he taught electrical skills in vocational schools in Boston and wanted to make certain he could leave a legacy for the Jewish heri-

tage he felt such pride in, as well as provide for the Christian community that had been so kind to him. Consequently, he left his entire fortune, which surpassed one million dollars, to The Jewish Federation

continued on page 2

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July 2014

FEDERATION NEWS

college scholarships...continued from page 1 of Sarasota-Manatee to be used to provide scholarships to three Jewish and three Christian students each year for post-secondary education for university or vocational studies. College scholarship award presenters took a moment during the reception to reflect on the meaning of the scholarships and what they hoped the students would be able to achieve as a result of receiving a scholarship. For some, being able to ease the burden that college debt places on many families was par-

amount. For others, remembering how the Jewish community or Federation helped them achieve their own goals was the catalyst. For everyone, the hope that a scholarship from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee would inspire the hundreds of recipients throughout the years to give back to their Jewish community in some way, exemplifies the tradition of l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation. Congratulations to all of the 2014 college scholarship recipients!

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Fifty Shades of

Federation Mini-Series – synagogue relations By Howard Tevlowitz, Federation Executive Director

elcome to this month’s installment of the Federation Mini-Series. This monthly feature serves to outline the work our Federation does as a result of the support of our generous donors. Each component of this series will focus on one aspect of the important role our Federation serves in our local community and worldwide. Our Federation is focused on helping those Jews most vulnerable or at risk, and working to build a stronger Jewish future. We add value by identifying where there are key needs or gaps in the community, identifying key opportunities and effective solutions to these challenges, convening partners/leaders/donors to address these issues, and ensuring return on philanthropic investment. Bottom line: We aim to be the most effective mechanism to ensure meaningful – and strategic – impact in our Jewish community. This month’s Mini-Series installment is centered on our Federation’s relationships with our area synagogues. We work with our synagogue community in various ways. For the first time this year, our Federation staff worked with youth groups in three major synagogues as well as BBYO. We sponsor and/or partner with the synagogues to support their outreach and education programs. Additionally, the Federation provides scholarships for students attending religious schools and Jewish overnight camps. Chabad of Sarasota: Support for Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) classes. These classes are offered in numerous locations throughout the community – Chabad of Sarasota, the Federation campus, and the Bayfront Park Recreation Center on Longboat Key – in November, January and March each year. Sponsorship of the Community Chanukah Event at Sarasota Fairgrounds in December 2013

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Sponsorship of the Eva Schloss lecture event at Riverview High School in February 2014 Funding for Rosh Hashanah and Passover meals for indigent familes Chabad of Bradenton: Funding for the annual JLI education classes, offered in November, January and March each year Sponsorship of the Lag B’Omer Bonfire and Concert earlier this year Funding for Rosh Hashanah and Passover meals for indigent familes Chabad of Venice and North Port: Funding for the annual JLI education classes, offered in November, January and March each year Funding for the Jewish Teen Club of South County, whose attendance has doubled in the last year Sponsorship of the Lag B’Omer BBQ and Mitzvah Parade earlier this year Support for Chesed Program, which provides counseling, food, shelter and protection for those in need Funding for Rosh Hashanah and

Passover meals for indigent familes Temple Beth Sholom: This year’s Community Tashlich Service was presented in partnership with our Federation Amber Ikeman served as the Youth Director at Temple Beth Sholom this year as part of the Shapiro Teen Engagement Program (STEP). Amber worked with two of its youth groups, USY and Kadima, to plan and implement youth social and leadership programming. Temple Emanu-El: Last year’s Community Family Picnic and Havdalah event, held in August 2013, was co-sponsored by our Federation The Taste of Judaism event in October 2013 was presented by the three area reform congregations and our Federation The Federation sponsors the Shabbat Playdate program at the synagogue Jessi Sheslow served as the advisor for the 4th and 5th grade youth group at Temple Emanu-el this year as part of the STEP Program Temple Sinai: Federation was a major sponsor of last year’s Food Festival at Temple Sinai

SAFETY’s annual kickoff event

Federation partnered with Temple Sinai for a screening of the Jewish Film Festival in March 2014 Len Steinberg served as the Youth Director at Temple Sinai this year as part of the STEP Program. He worked with the two NFTY youth groups, SAFETY and JOOSY, to plan and implement youth social and leadership programming. Temple Beth Israel: Federation partnered with Temple Beth Israel in February 2014 to bring Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat to Sarasota-Manatee Federation partnered with Temple Beth Israel for two screenings during the Jewish Film Festival in March 2014 Jewish Congregation of Venice: Federation sponsors the annual music series at JCV, which attracts over 200 people n addition, our Federation granted in 2013-14 over $37,000 for needbased Religious School Scholarships. Just over 80 applications were received, and 77 were approved. Monies were dispersed as follows: ÎÎ Chabad of Bradenton – 12 students approved for $3,910 ÎÎ Chabad of Sarasota – 7 students approved for $2,698.75 ÎÎ Chabad of Venice – 8 students approved for $3,867.50 ÎÎ Temple Beth El Bradenton – 4 students approved for $1,997.50 ÎÎ Temple Beth Sholom – 7 students approved for $3,740 ÎÎ Temple Emanu-El – 21 students approved for $12,565.55 ÎÎ Temple Sinai – 18 students approved for $8,673.40 We look forward to continuing these successful partnerships in the future. If you have any questions, please contact me at 941.343.2110 or htevlowitz@jfedsrq.org.

July 2014

3 July 2014 FEDERATION NEWS

My experience on March of the Living By Rochelle Prokupets From Len Steinberg: From April 23 to May 7, I had the honor and privilege to be a staff member for the 2014 March of the Living – Southern Region delegation. Our Sarasota-Manatee community brought our largest group to date with eight magnificent students, and joined with cities such as Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Atlanta and Dallas, and even New Zealand. I can say firsthand that every one of our kids was extremely moved and that it will be my goal to ensure

that each member of our community knows and understands that this is an opportunity not to pass up. Having staffed other teen missions to Israel, the love felt during this trip was nothing like I had been a part of before. These students and other adults have become extended members of my family. That is the type of bond this trip brings to us. This is what being Jewish is about. Family. I encourage you to continue reading for a more in-depth look at how a student experienced this journey.

had stolen. In Treblinka, we walked through the hundreds of stone memorials jutting out of the ground. In Majdanek, we touched the shoes that the prisoners were forced to take off upon arrival, and witnessed a pile of six tons of human ash. Words cannot adequately describe the emotions I felt at all of these places. At one point, we were taken to Lopuchowo Forest, where 2,000 Jews were murdered in a mass killing. I did not know where we were being taken, and after walking for a few minutes through the brush, we came to a clearing with three areas sectioned off by short metal fences, forming three rectangles. As we circled these fences, we were told that we were standing at the mass graves of thousands of people who marched the same path that we had just taken through the woods. Only their life ended in that very spot, and we were able to simply leave the site and continue on our trip. This was one of the many moments that struck me as incredible. After the countless horrors that we witnessed and were told of, it is simply amazing to reflect on how far we have come. My group walked through several concentration camps, but contrary to those before us, we were able to freely leave. We had the freedom to memorialize those who were cruelly and unjustly robbed of their lives. We were able to travel through areas where, less than a century ago, we would have been persecuted for who we were. That to me is why the March of the Living is so remarkable. Though I did face many moments of emotional distress, I also felt moments of pride and harmony. These feelings were especially prevalent on the day of the three-kilometer march

verwhelming. Enlightening. Empowering. These are the first words that come to mind when I think about the 2014 March of the Living. When I signed up for this trip, I was hoping to hear from survivors and to learn more about the Holocaust. After having visited several camps, I can testify that learning about the Holocaust at school, reading the various statistics and personal stories, and watching the many documentaries and movies about this atrocity cannot compare to actually standing on the grounds where thousands upon thousands of innocent Jews and other groups denounced by the Nazis were murdered.

In Birkenau, we congregated around an ash pit, where the remains of countless individuals remain. In Auschwitz, we stood in the gas chambers, touched the scratches in the walls that were created by those fighting for a few more minutes of life, and saw the crematorium where the Nazis tried to destroy all evidence of the lives they

from Auschwitz to Birkenau. My feelings were simply indescribable when I placed my plaque in memory of Nate Fuchs, an infant who perished in the Holocaust, and my own family members into the train tracks in Birkenau. I was overcome with a sense of peace and reconciliation with the horrors I had seen when touring AuschwitzBirkenau only the day before. he transition to Israel could not have been more welcome. It was a drastic change to enter the home of the Jewish people. I believe that I can generalize when I say that we all were ready to have our spirits uplifted, and this is exactly what happened. During our time in Israel, we visited the Dead Sea and covered ourselves in mud, marched to the Kotel on Independence Day, and spent time wandering through the Carmel Market, taking in the various sights and smells in the crowded marketplace. Though I had visited Israel less than two years ago, this trip gave me a new appreciation for the land. After having seen humanity at its worst and visiting the sites where the Jewish people were decimated, it was incredible to be in the land where Jews and their culture and religion are thriving. Our time in Israel was especially significant to me because I got to meet several family members. When we stood in the crematorium in Auschwitz, Rose, a survivor who lost much of her family in the Holocaust, told us about how she never had the chance to meet her grandparents. She reminded us of the importance to cherish your family and expressed her grief over the fact that she never had the chance to meet so much of her own family. Her story truly touched me. I only have one living grandparent, and never really had the chance to know the other three.

The eight-student delegation from Sarasota-Manatee on the 2014 March of the Living

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Aside from my grandmother, barely any family members live in the United States. During visitation day in Israel, I was able to meet close to a dozen of my own family members that I had never met before. I had Shabbat dinner with them – something I had never done. At one point, I looked around the table and felt an unbelievable amount of joy at the fact that these people were my family, and promised myself to keep in touch with them. Both this meeting and the time spent with the other teens in Israel left me with a feeling of fulfillment and of pride for the country. I would like to take this chance to thank the donors of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee for providing me with this truly incredible opportunity. I would not have been able to be a participant on the March of the Living without their support. The person who left for Poland and Israel is not the same individual who returned to Sarasota. I have come back with a stronger sense of my Jewish identity and have been empowered with knowledge about the Holocaust, its aftermath, and our recovery. One of the most frightening moments of this trip for me was hearing that Majdanek could be fully operational again in only thirty-six hours. Knowing this, it is my duty to pass on what I have learned and seen to those who have not had the opportunity to hear about the Holocaust or visit the sites that I did. I firmly believe that hatred is perpetuated through ignorance, and I will do my best to rid those who I meet of this ignorance. If we work together to achieve this common goal, we can make “never again” a reality.

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July 2014

FEDERATION NEWS

Kim Mullins to enter the for-profit world Staff Report

fter almost 18 years with The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, Kim Mullins, currently the Director of Operations, will be moving to GravityFree, a web and application design firm located in Sarasota. The number 18 is particularly special in Jewish lore as it translates into chai, which in Hebrew, means ‘life.’ According to Marty Haberer, Federation Associate Executive Director, “In many ways, Kim has become the ‘life’ of our Federation and she will be sorely missed.” He added, “It has been very rewarding watching Kim grow as a professional over the years.” In recent years, Kim completed her bachelor’s degree and will be graduating with her MBA from University of South

Florida Sarasota-Manatee this August. ing/communications, programming and According to Federation Executive technology. Along the way, Kim fell Director Howard Tevlowitz, this is one in love with Judaism and both she and of the more gut-wrenchher husband converted and are ing staff changes he has actively involved in the Jewish endured as a Jewish comcommunity. “When I started at munal professional, “In Federation, we were only two many ways, Kim repreyears into having introduced sents the nuts and bolts of computer technology to the orour organization. We will ganization,” said Kim. “It has undoubtedly miss having been so rewarding to watch Kim Mullins on our team. this Federation morph into On the other hand, Kim the sophisticated multifaceted Kim Mullins deserves this opportunity operation it has become. I am to take on something new and different thankful I could play a role in making and to put her hard-earned credentials the Federation what it is today.” to the test.” When asked what it was that Kim Kim began as a secretary at Fedwill miss the most about leaving the eration in 1996. She has held positions Federation, she said without any hesiin the areas of development, markettation, “The people. Being a part of the everyday lives of my colleagues and the volunteers; watching their children grow and develop and being a part of

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n Sunday, June 1, the Government of Israel approved the Government of Israel-World Jewry Joint Initiative, which aims to “help ensure the continuity of the Jewish people by strengthening young Jews’ Jewish identity and enhancing connections between world Jewry and the State of Israel.” The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) released the following statement: The Jewish Federations of North America welcomed the decision made by the Government of Israel to approve the Joint Initiative, developed to secure the continuity of the Jewish people. The Government of Israel-World Jewry Joint Initiative, introduced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jewish Agency for Israel Chairman Natan Sharansky, in partnership with Minister Naftali Bennett, is a critically important response to this challenge. JFNA President and CEO Jerry Silverman issued the following state-

ment: “The Jewish Federations of North America has been pleased to work alongside many other organizations in the planning, visioning and thinking about how to bring this initiative to the forefront. Today, the Government of Israel has taken a historic leap forward with the passage of the resolution. “Throughout history we have seen what we can accomplish when we speak as one voice; and we are looking forward to working with the Government of Israel, Foundations, the Jewish Agency and others to act now and maximize the opportunity we have in front of us.” *** The Jewish Federations of North America, collectively among the top 10 charities on the continent, protects and enhances the well-being of Jews worldwide through the values of tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (charity and social justice) and Torah (Jewish learning).

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it all. That will be the hardest thing for me. I will make every effort to stay connected but I understand that inevitably, the dynamics change.” In terms of what Kim’s loss means to Federation, Tevlowitz concluded that while it will be next to impossible to replace Kim, “change is healthy, and others, both internally and from the outside, will bring new influences and talents to our team. Our Federation will continue to thrive and grow. We understand that staff changes are part of our reality and that this marks a new chapter for us as well as for Kim.” Haberer ended by saying, “We wish Kim great success moving forward. We know she will be involved as a volunteer at Federation. Kim is the model professional one hopes to work with. Her growth and success is the ultimate satisfaction any supervisor can wish for.”

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July 2014

5 July 2014 FEDERATION NEWS

Justice in the world of art – perhaps By Rabbi Howard A. Simon, co-Chair of The Robert and Esther Heller Israel Advocacy Initiative

Established 1971

PUBLISHER The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Road Sarasota, FL 34232-1959 Phone: 941.371.4546 Fax: 941.378.2947 E-mail: jewishnews@jfedsrq.org Website: www.jfedsrq.org Published Monthly Volume 44, Number 7 July 2014 28 pages USPS Permit No. 167 August 2014 Issue Deadlines: Editorial: June 27, 2014 Advertising: July 1, 2014 PRESIDENT Nancy Swart EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Howard Tevlowitz ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Marty Haberer COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR Linda Lipson MANAGING EDITOR Ted Epstein CREATIVE MANAGER Christopher Alexander ADVERTISING SALES Robin Leonardi PROOFREADERS Adeline Silverman, Stacey Edelman, Harold Samtur, Bryna Tevlowitz, Deb Bryan MIMI AND JOSEPH J. EDLIN JOURNALISM INTERNS Allya Yourish, Jackson Cacioppo MISSION STATEMENT: The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee strives to be the source of news and features of special interest to the Jewish community of Sarasota-Manatee, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions in the Jewish community, and to communicate the mission, activities and achievements of the Federation and its Jewish community partners. OPINIONS printed in The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee, its Board of Directors or staff. SUBMISSIONS to The Jewish News are subject to editing for space and content, and may be withheld from publication without prior notice. Approval of submissions for publication in either verbal or written form shall always be considered tentative, and does not imply a guarantee of any kind. Submissions must be sent electronically to jewishnews@jfedsrq.org. LETTERS to the editor should not exceed 300 words, must be typed, and include the writer’s name, mailing address and phone number. Letters can be submitted via snail mail or email (jewishnews@jfedsrq.org). Not all letters will be published. Letters may be edited for length and content. ADVERTISING: Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement and may require the words “Paid Advertisement” in any ad. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement of products, services or ideas promoted therein.

dolf Hitler had several dreams discovered them while investigating in his lifetime. One was to deGurlitt for import tax evasion. Upon stroy, obliterate and kill all the examination of the paintings, it was Jews in Europe. His death toll reached discovered that almost six hundred six million of our people; thankfully, pieces may have been stolen from Jewnowhere near the total he ish art dealers or from wanted to attain. A secJewish families who fled ond dream was to build the Germany to escape the Fuhrermuseum in Linz, AusHolocaust. tria. His goal was to make In the midst of this one of the leading art the investigation, Mr. institutes in the world and Gurlitt died and it was the envy of every museum discovered that he left in existence. the entire collection to To attain this goal he the Kunstmuseum Bern commissioned an art dealer in Switzerland. The by the name of Hildebrand rightful owners of much Rabbi Howard A. Simon Gurlitt. He assigned Mr. of the collection now Gurlitt the task of searching throughout know the pieces of art have survived occupied Europe for valuable works World War II and are prepared to offer of art to fill his museum, which Mr. proof of ownership of the artworks that Gurlitt was to head when the war endare worth millions of dollars. ed. Hitler’s chosen art dealer was very The question arises: Will these successful at his work. He collected rightful owners ever receive their approximately 1,400 works by artists prized pieces of art? Matthias Freincluding Picasso, Matisse and Marc her, director of the museum in quesChagall. The only problem was, he did tion, stated that the museum’s twelve not pay a cent for most of these clastrustees and the president will decide, sic works of art. Instead, he obtained within the next six months, whether to them from the Nazis who stole them accept Mr. Gurlitt’s bequest and, they from individuals – art collectors and will discover whether German authoriart lovers – many of whom were Jews. ties will allow them to accept this gift. The dreamed-of museum never came If the decisions are in the affirmative to fruition and the artworks seized by and the museum can lay claim to the Gurlitt were left to his son, Cornelius collection, Mr. Freher stated further Gurlitt, who maintained control of that the museum will abide by the 1998 the paintings until German authorities international agreement, known as the

Mensch of the Month: Jesse Schein By Len Steinberg

he Jewish Federation of organizations such as the Federation Sarasota-Manatee has been and Chabad in Lakewood Ranch. Most privileged to send hundreds recently, Jesse returned from the March of students on travel experiences that of the Living, which has a heavy focus take them to Israel. Many of them reon Holocaust and genocide awareness. turn with a new profound If Jesse’s past experioutlook on their Jewish ences didn’t fully impact identity. This is certainly him then, I promise this true for our Mensch of the one did. It has been over Month, Jesse Schein. a month since we reJesse is an outstandturned from this journey, ing student with a drive and to see how much he and a passion unlike most has grown personally is people his age. One of incredible. Shabbat has Federation’s first interacbecome more important, tions with Jesse was when family has become more he became a Bob Malimportant, and overall kin Young Ambassador Jewish pride has become Jesse Schein in the summer of 2012, more important to Jesse. a program which takes high school It is because of this passion that students to Israel on a 15-day leaderJesse has for his Jewish heritage that ship program. It seemed as if Jesse auwe selected him for Mensch of the tomatically fell in love with the land, Month. Jesse will be attending Florida people, culture and, even more so, his Gulf Coast University in the fall and Judaism. Since that time, Jesse has we know that this mensch will contaken on many roles within our Jewish tinue to be a powerful force in our community, volunteering his time with community.

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2014

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“Washington Principles,” under which any and all art institutions must return any looted art or compensate the original owners. Think about the reality of this discovery. Picture our fellow Jews having their treasured possessions stolen from them or being forced to sell them for pennies on the dollar to derive funds used to escape the death camps and save the lives of their families. It is a horror the likes of which should never be visited on anyone. Now, decades later, the families of these same Jews have the opportunity to obtain an element of justice for the havoc wrought upon their loved ones. The art belongs to our people. We are told there are those prepared to find the true owners of these works of art and there is, at long last, a willingness to return said pieces to their rightful owners. The next six months will tell us whether right trumps avarice. Perhaps it will. Perhaps a modicum of justice may yet arise from the ashes of the Holocaust. Such is our hope. For more information about the Heller IAI, visit www.sarasotalovesisrael.com or contact Jessi Sheslow at jsheslow@ jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109.

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July 2014

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Biblical miracles can be a challenge to today’s sensibilities Sponsored by

By Marden Paru, Dean, Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva he idea of miracles fills the Tanach (the Hebrew Bible), yet given our contemporary sensibilities, it is hard to understand them, believe in them or know what they mean. People of faith believe in them, many verbatim. But others are skeptical and would prefer to have them explained in rational and/or in scientific terms. Biblical scholars and scientists have been at work for a long time trying to explain the many mysterious phenomena found in the biblical narrative that many cannot quite accept as simply stated in the text. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is pleased to present a new course which will discuss a variety of explanations of the Bible’s many miracles to see if we can make sense of them and

understand what they represent. For example, how did the sun stand still for a day as stated in the Book of Joshua? Is there a scientific explanation that can – in some simple way – explain the splitting of the Sea of Reeds as stated in the Book of Exodus? It says in the Talmud (Sota 2a): “It is as difficult for a person to find his mate, as the splitting of the Reed Sea.” Is finding your bashert (intended soul mate) also a miracle? Bible Miracles: A Challenge to Today’s Sensibilities is a new course which will begin on Friday, July 18 (10:30 to 11:45 a.m.) and last for eight weeks through September 12. (There will be no class on August 8.) Classes will be held on the Federation Campus in the Hecht Music School Building.

Each session stands on its own merit in case you plan some time off during this late summer course. To enroll, please contact me at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com. The fee is $50 made payable to the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva. Please mail your remittance to 2729 Goodwood Court, Sarasota, FL 34235. No knowledge of Hebrew is required. Students are reminded to bring a Tanach (Hebrew Bible - The Holy Scriptures) with the new modern English translation by the Jewish Publication Society. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization and operates, in part, under a grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

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isual, expressive, written and performing artists are invited to apply to be featured and serve as facilitators within Jewish Artists Explore, a two-part series being developed by the Association of Professional Jewish Artists (APJA), a program of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. For 2014-16, APJA is focusing upon deepening “as a community of Jewish artists exploring the nexus of spirituality and meaning within Judaism, Jewish history and our life stories that culminates in artistic expression at an exhibition open to the public,” explains chair Rabbi Goldie Milgram, herself an award-winning author, visual and performing artist. Founded and long successfully organized by Ellen Goldberg Tishman in 2009, APJA has a membership of over 150 and has offered well-attended programs and exhibitions that highlight the work and interests of members. Ellen has long awaited the interest and development of the connection of Jewish religion and culture to our members’ artistic expressions. Goldie is stepping in at an opportune time and Ellen hopes to help her in the development and expansion of this great vision. Jewish Artists Explore will meet from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month from December 2014 through April 2015. Artists are invited to apply to be professionally

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interviewed during the first hour which is themed: “How Can We Connect Our of slavery and other forms of oppresArtistic Journeys with Our Jewishsion by self or other into the dawning ness?” Audience questions and expresof awareness, liberation, rebirthing.” sions of appreciation will be facilitated Professional artists from all posthrough the opportunity to draw, sing, sible fields of expression are invited write, act, play an instrument, etc., and to apply to be scheduled for an interpose questions or responses in their view or to assist with program facilimedia of choice. tation by sending your resume, jpg/ Part Two of Jewish Artists Explore pdfs of your work and artist stateis “The Exodus Process: A Program ment to the program steering commitof Learning and Artistic Expression.” tee via Rabbi Milgram at rebgoldie Artists are also invited to apply to lead @gmail.com. one of the three experiential components: An expressive arts experience, a Jewish text study and discussion, and a musical piece, each evoking connection to the Passover root metaphor mitzrayim. Rabbi Milgram explains: “Mitzrayim is usually translated as ‘Egypt’ and that means moving through ‘straits’ of stress, ‘the birth canal’ and life’s APJA members tour the Sarasota Museum of Art narrow places, out

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

July 2014

7 July 2014 COMMUNITY FOCUS

Temple Beth Sholom welcomes Rabbi Michael Werbow

fter a long search, Temple Beth Sholom is pleased to announce that Rabbi Michael Werbow will begin conducting services at Temple Beth Sholom in July. Please welcome him to the Sarasota Jewish community as he leads services beginning Friday night, July 4 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 5 at 9:00 a.m. Rabbi Werbow hails from Buffalo, New York, from an observant Conservative Jewish household where the discipline as well as beauty of Judaism was taught. His parents fostered teenage children from disruptive inner-city homes for periods of two to three years. He has fond memories of growing up in this loving environment and the fun weekends of the family going camping and observing Shabbat at campsites. Although Rabbi Werbow initially

went to college to study accounting, his work with special-needs campers at Camp Ramah in New England began his transition into Jewish professional life. He was active in USY (United Synagogue Youth) in high school and spent his first year of college in Israel with NATIV, an academic leadership program. Rabbi Werbow holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a master’s degree in Jewish Education. A position as Youth Director working Rabbi Michael Werbow with teens in Lexington, Massachusetts, motivated him to attend the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish

University (formerly University of Judaism) in Los Angeles, where he was ordained in May 2006. He moved to Pittsburgh to serve as Congregation Beth Shalom’s Assistant Rabbi before assuming the position of Rabbi in 2009. Being cognizant of changing needs in the community, one of his endeavors was a collaboration with lay leaders and local professionals to design a joint Jewish Education Program for his Conservative congregation and a neighboring Reform synagogue. Asked how he met his wife Melissa, he smilingly said, literally, “across a crowded room.” He was a student at rabbinical school in Los Angeles and she was studying for her master’s degree at Hebrew Union College in Jewish Education and Jewish Communal

Service. The Werbows have three children, daughter Maya, 8, and sons Lev, 4, and Asher, 1½. In addition to teaching, preaching and the standard rabbinic endeavors, Rabbi Werbow is known for his warmth and openness. He is excited to be at the helm of the largest Conservative synagogue in this area and is planning to be involved with community activities along with his rabbinical duties. Please visit templebethsholomfl. org to find an interview of Rabbi Werbow by Carolyn Kaplan. For more information about Temple Beth Sholom or Rabbi Werbow, please contact the temple office at 941.955.8121 or info@templebethsholomfl.org.

A new Conservative congregation emerges

ehillah, a term used in Conservative/Masorti Judaism, describes a group of people who share a common purpose. The Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch (KLWR) is a growing congregation committed to a dynamic Judaism that is pluralistic, joyful, egalitarian and accessible. The Masorti movement has been thriving in Israel for the past 35 years. KLWR has been striving to make this Kehillah a much-needed permanent presence in the Lakewood Ranch area – electing officers and a board, adopting bylaws, obtaining prayer books, and forming a not-for-profit corporation. Our next goal is to affili-

ate with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. President Brenda Schimmel exemplifies the spirit of Kehillah leadership:

“I’m proud to be part of this friendly, dynamic and engaged group of members who are dedicated to doing the hard work it takes to create a permanent Conservative/ Masorti presence in Lakewood Ranch.” Dr. Hal Lewis, President of the Spertus Institute in Chicago – the 90-year-old institution for Jewish learning and leadership – will conduct inspiring High Holiday services. Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch officers: President Brenda Schimmel, Anne Schimberg, Marilyn Abrams, Len Schimberg Join us for ser-

vices at the Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch at the Windsor, 8220 Nature’s Way. Share the joy of Shabbat on the second and fourth Friday of each month, with Torah study and a delicious Kiddush on alternate Saturdays. We look forward to meeting you and your family. Mark these dates and times in July: Saturday, July 5 at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 11 at 6:00 p.m.: potluck dinner after services Saturday, July 19 at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 25 at 5:30 p.m.: wine and cheese For more information, please email kehillahoflakewoodranch@gmail.com.

Call for nominations for 2015 Eight Over 80 honorees

t’s time to nominate honorees for the third annual Eight Over 80 celebration on March 15, 2015, at Michael’s On East. The Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Housing Council Foundation is the fundraising arm of the Jewish Housing Council, which operates Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson senior living community. The Jewish Housing Council Foundation hosts the event with the help of generous community support through sponsorships. Nominees must be at least 80 years of age and demonstrate a legacy of leadership and community enrichment. From the nominations received, eight honorees will be selected by a committee and recognized at the third annual Eight Over 80 celebration. Nominations will be accepted through July 31, 2014. Honorees who were recognized at the 2014 Eight Over 80 celebration are Sharon and Herman Frankel, Ed Kalin, Florence Katz, Alisa and Ernest

Kretzmer, Lee Peterson, Sally and Sam Shapiro, Sally Yanowitz, Jeanne and Bob* Zabelle. Honorees recognized at the 2013 Eight Over 80 celebration were Margot and Warren Coville, Gerard Daniel, Beatrice Friedman, Dan Paradies*, Stanley Kane, Carol and Mort Siegler, Betty Schoenbaum, Marilyn and Irving Naiditch. The first event of its kind in this area, the inaugural Eight Over 80 celebration was named “best new event of the season” by the Sarasota Herald Tribune. The upcoming third annual Eight Over 80 builds on increasing success each year, thanks to generous community support through sponsorships. Proceeds raised support life-enriching programs and services for the residents of Kobernick House, Anchin Pavilion assisted living and secure memory care, and the Benderson Family Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on

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July 2014

COMMUNITY FOCUS

JFCS updates mission statement to reflect long-term vision By Jamie M. Smith, Director of Marketing, JFCS

ince 1985, Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) has been serving the Suncoast community providing an array of comprehensive counseling and social services to those confronting life’s challenges. Our mission has always been guided by the Jewish tradition of helping all people with our services delivered on a non-denominational basis, inspired by the Jewish traditions of pikuach nefesh, tikkun olam, tzedakah, gmilut hassadim and tselem elohim.

After considering JFCS’ growth, ability to provide a broader range of services and the changing needs of our community, JFCS has adapted a new mission statement: Guided by the Jewish tradition of helping all people, JFCS empowers individuals and families toward self-sufficiency. The new mission statement reflects JFCS’ ability to serve the entire community from cradle to grave through our ever-expanding services that aim

to teach community members “how to fish” so they are empowered to live self-sufficiently and sustainably. “We wanted our new mission statement to reflect our vision where everyone in our community is cared for, safe and strong,” said Rose Chapman, president and CEO of Jewish Family & Children’s Service. Furthermore, JFCS implements a wraparound services model using evidence-based practices and in collaboration with community partners to

ensure community members receive comprehensive personalized plans of care specific to his or her needs. JFCS services include employment, financial and housing assistance, individual and group counseling, education and mentoring, support groups, case or care management, intervention and prevention resources, and volunteer opportunities. For more information about JFCS and our programs, visit JFCS-Cares. org or call 941.366.2224.

JFCS of the Suncoast to support Carefree Living at Home By Tara Booker, MNM, Director of Carefree Living at Home

s Baby Boomers turn 65 at the rate of about 8,000 per day nationwide, there’s an increasing need for new ways to enhance and manage the lives and care of older Americans in their home. This is particularly true in Sarasota County, with approximately one third of the population age 65 and older and five percent 85 years and older. In response to this growing need, Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) has expanded its services for older adults to include Carefree Living at Home. The program provides personalized concierge services to

help manage the everyday and ongoing responsibilities for older adults and their families. Provided in the home, including assisted living facilities, JFCS staff will help our growing older adults’ community age comfortably in place. JFCS’ Masters Level Social Workers will meet with those interested in services to review their current needs and desired living accommodations, as well as evaluate their social resources, nutrition needs, cognitive functions, home environment, and sensory abilities. JFCS will provide a personalized care plan to identify the care and

services an individual may need to live safely, confidently and carefree at home. Additionally, JFCS staff will identify and offer to coordinate other necessary services that may include medical care and transportation while serving as a family liaison. “Carefree Living at Home is really an expansion of what JFCS does best – providing our community with services that offer comfort and promote self-sustainability with pride,” said Rose Chapman, president and CEO of Jewish Family & Children’s Service. “Our experienced staff are considered just like family by our clients and have

years of experience.” Carefree Living at Home is a feefor-service program that will empower individuals to live at their optimum level of wellness in the comfort of their own home as long as they choose, as well as support senior services that JFCS provides to those in need. For more information, please contact me at 941.539.9497 or Tara@ CareFreeLivingAtHome.com. More information will also be available online later this summer via the program’s website, CarefreeLivingAtHome.com.

Tel Mond and Sarasota crossover

group of thirteen visitors participated in a Sister Cities Association of Sarasota (SCAS) sponsored tour to the City of Tel Mond and other regions of Israel in April. This group included both those who had previously visited Israel and Tel Mond and those who had not. One highlight was the visit with Mayor Roni Golan, council representatives and staff. Meeting with the group, Mayor Golan pledged an active relationship with Sarasota and Tel Mond. He also hosted a dinner for the group. Another major event was sharing Shabbat with families in Tel Mond, with the travelers hearing about life in Tel Mond and the families’ continuing celebration of this special day. As five

of the thirteen members were not Jewish, it was educational to share in this Jewish religious celebration. The reunion with the previous winners of the Florida Studio Theatre Young Playwrights Program was im-

At the mayor’s dinner in Tel Mond: (seated) Tel Mond Mayor and Mrs. Roni Golan with (standing) SCAS members Dr. Robert Rosenbluth, Linda Rosenbluth, Beth RuyleHullinger (SCAS President) and Craig Hullinger

final dinner in Sarasota. pressive. Certificates were presented to Sister Cities Association of Sarathe winners and the teacher who led the sota looks forward to a rewarding Sisprogram’s participation. Among those at the ceremony was Lia Silber. It was ter City relationship with its twin, Tel an honor to learn that Lia is one of this Mond, Israel. year’s winners. The Sister Cities travelers then reunited with Lia in Sarasota as the Sister Cities Association of Sarasota hosted the award winners from various Sister Cities. The group viewed the plays Tel Mond residents Lia Silber and her mother (back row center) and joined Lia at her in Sarasota for the Florida Studio Theatre Young Playwrights program

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July 2014

9 July 2014 COMMUNITY FOCUS

A day of good deeds and giving back: Temple Emanu-El Mitzvah Day 2014

hree hundred Temple EmanuEl members and community guests. Eighteen hands-on community service projects. Six donation drives. Twenty different organizations benefitting from the activities of the day. Yes, it sounds like N. Peter Morris Mitzvah Day at Temple Emanu-El! Temple Emanu-El’s eighth annual Mitzvah Day was held on Sunday, May 4, and it was another incredible and awe-inspiring day of hands-on community service. After a pizza lunch and socializing while dropping off donations and creating cards for soldiers serving overseas and local hospitalized patients and nursing home residents, participants gathered in the sanctuary to stand as one community in a brief service/rally before heading to their various mitzvah projects. Special guests included temple

member and Manatee County teacher Rebecca Zion, who spoke about what Mitzvah Day’s donations of children’s books have meant to her students, and staff from Honor Animal Sanctuary, who brought adorable adoptable dogs to greet Mitzvah Day participants. Mitzvah Day volunteers then engaged in hands-on activities to benefit organizations including the Salvation Army, Cat Depot, All Faiths Food Bank, Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Suncoast Communities Blood Bank, Take Stock in Children, Resurrection House, SPARCC, Manasota BUDS, Easter Seals, SMART Horse Therapy Stables, Honor Animal Sanctuary, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Anchin Pavilion, Manatee County Schools, Lions Club, the Jewish Center of Sun City, and BeTheMatch. Mitzvah Day participants fulfilled the Jewish tenets of tikkun olam – repairing the brokenness in our world – and caring for those in need. It was a day of hard work, dedication, and amazing spirit, fun and camaraderie. For more information, please call The Felsenfeld family and Lisa and Simone Velez 941.379.1997. created cards for soldiers serving overseas

Jewish Chorale members to attend choral festival By Marcia Polevoi

his year, the North American Jewish Choral Festival will observe its 25th anniversary with many exciting musical happenings. One of the summer’s anniversary events will be exploring Jewish music from exotic places like China, India and Syria. This year, too, will see “The Year of the Woman” through the music of Israel’s female composers. The festival celebrates Jewish choral singing in all of its manifestations, from synagogue and community choruses to the continent’s leading proponents of the Jewish choral arts. There are always new faces and music to be seen and heard, and always returning favorite conductors and classic compositions. A community sing held each morning under a huge tent gives attendees an opportunity to hear new music as presented by the composers and conductors. Ensembles join together to share their talents, along with expanded “community singing.” Evenings continue to provide exciting entertainment as well. Under the direction of renowned director Matthew Lazar, the choral festival features five

days of workshops, seminars and singing sessions all related to the music of Judaica. Several members of the Sarasota Jewish Chorale will be attending this event, which takes place in the Catskills at the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa in Kerhonkson, New York. They are Sandy and Fred Erman, Debby Marshall, and Arlene Stolnitz, the Chorale’s music chair. A former member, Judy Bloch, will attend as well. If you love Jewish music, it’s the place to be! The North American Jewish Choral Festival has something for everyone. This year’s dates are Sunday, July 20 through Thursday, July 24. For further information or to get on the festival’s mailing list, please call 212.870.3335 or email NAJCF@ ZamirChoralFoundation.org. The Sarasota Jewish Chorale is currently booking programs for the 2014-15 season. Anyone interested in singing with the Chorale is always welcome. For more information, call Susan Skrovronek at 941.355.8011 or Arlene Stolnitz at 941.492.6944.

Join locals at the National Jewish Retreat in Chicago

ummertime, often times, brings on thoughts of vacation. If you are looking to attend a true retreat for the body and soul which will enrich your life, you will want to find out more about the Jewish Learning Institute’s National Jewish Retreat, held this year at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago from August 6-10. This 9th annual Jewish retreat is described as a 5-day stationary cruise with luxury living and learning. During the days, the retreat offers a broad range of inspiring workshops – from the wisdom of Jewish mysticism, to Talmudic debate on contemporary medical ethics, to a hands-on challah baking seminar. Evenings at the retreat are dedicated to entertainment – from hysterical comedy shows, to stimulating film screenings, to soulful concerts featuring the biggest names in Jewish music.

Let the power of Jewish thinking enrich your life as you spend five days of learning and discovery with master Torah teachers. Explore new ideas and expand your horizons in an open, embracing environment. Relax, reflect and refresh your spirit in a luxurious setting. Meet new friends and experience meaningful Jewish living. This is a very unique opportunity open to all regardless of background, affiliation or level of Jewish observance. In addition, CLE credits for lawyers and CME credits for doctors are offered. For more information, visit the National Jewish Retreat website at www.jretreat.com or call the Chabad of Sarasota office at 941.925.0770. Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz will be happy to answer your questions and have you join him and other community members for a truly relaxing and memorable experience.

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CNT leads guided walk for “Embracing Our Differences” By Rabbi Barbara Aiello

“

mbracing Our Differences,” an awareness project sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, was embraced by Bradenton’s Congregation Ner Tamid (CNT) as members and friends enjoyed a guided experience that opened their eyes and their hearts to an appreciation of diversity. Led by CNT’s Social Action Chair, Carlos Goebels, participants viewed 39 billboard-sized posters, all of which contained a central message of acceptance of difference. On a bright sunny day in May, with cool breezes wafting from the Manatee River, an interfaith group of local Jews and Christians examined each poster using a series of thought-provoking questions, designed by Goebels to encourage discussion. Participants considered issues such as: Which billboards evoked the strongest emotional reactions for you? How did they make you feel? What can we do as a community and as individuals to embrace the differences within our congregation, within the Jewish community, with our neighbors and fellow citizens?

As participants viewed each poster as it related to their own life experiences, Annie M. spoke for the group when she said, “I think that the biggest thing we can do is to listen to each other and have respect for each other. These posters made me realize how important it is to be a loving presence in the lives of those around me.” Thanks to our local Jewish Federation, the “Embracing Our Differences” billboard project heads to Jerusalem for display in 2015.

Congregation Ner Tamid members Elayne Leopold and Carlos Goebels, Art Walk Moderator, view the “Hold Back Hate” sign at “Embracing Our Differences”

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July 2014

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Interfaith

Passover Seder March 27th, 2014 was an historic day for The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. It was a day when 2 years of relationship building with our non-Jewish friends of Israel culminated in a beautiful and meaningful friendship. We came together as friends, as family and as human beings to celebrate freedom at its core. We had a traditional, but short, Seder led by Rabbi Howard Simon and Pastor Joey Mimbs. Our Musical Directors were Cantor Marci Vitkus and Pastor Randy Burt. They led us in traditional Passover songs and were accompanied by the incredibly talented Gospel Choir from Bethel CME Church. We sang in English and songs in Hebrew and it never once deterred anyone from joining in. This was an evening of pure celebration of freedom. In addition to the lively musical numbers, members of our Heller Israel Advocacy Initiative Executive Committee led us in readings and traditional prayers. What made this Seder unique was the incorporation of readings and songs from nonreligious texts. One example is the poem “First They Came…” by Reverend Martin Niemoeller; this particular poem is about the Holocaust. By incorporating texts like this, we modernize the Seder and connect us to a time in history that many of us still remember. Together we sang Bob Dylan’s anthem, “Blowin’ in the Wind,” while rejoicing in the freedom we all share today. We are honored to have had respected leaders in the community attend this event. It was a huge success and we hope we can recreate it many times in the coming years to help advance the idea that freedom is a human right.

PASTOR RANDY BURT, CANTOR MARCI VITKUS, RABBI HOWARD SIMON AND PASTOR JOEY MIMBS LEADING THE SEDER

HOWARD TEVLOWITZ AND MARK SCHLANGER

SADIE VITKUS AND BIANCA GRUBER

BONNIE WILLIAMS AND GLORIA DANVILLE

ESTHER HELLER, JESSI SHESLOW AND BOB HELLER

REBECCA AND RICH BERGMAN, PASTOR JOEY MIMBS AND PASTORS RANDY AND HOPE BURT

DEACON HUMBERTO ALVIA, REV. NICOLETTE PFAFF AND DR. REV. TOM PFAFF

Next year in Jerusalem! “What a joy it was to work together with everyone associated with our Interfaith Seder. Our hopes were to share this special occasion with ever so many people. Our wish was realized with an overflow crowd made up of every facet of our community….The smiles at every table, the wonderful conversations that went on throughout the Seder and the sharing of a delicious Seder meal made the evening all we could wish for and more.” Rona Simon, Seder Co-Chair

THE INCREDIBLE GOSPEL SINGERS FROM BETHEL CME WITH THEIR PASTOR JOHN WALKER

“As a Christian, I have kept Passover for many years out of love and respect for my Lord and Israel, but this event was like nothing I have experienced. I was so touched by the honor and respect shown by the Jewish Community to us as Christians.” Shirley Fenton, Seder Co-Chair

GOLD SPONSOR

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR HARDWORKING EVENT CO-CHAIRS, SHIRLEY FENTON & RONA SIMON DEACON HUMBERTO ALVIA ISAAC AZERAD LARRY BARNET SHIRLEY FENTON RABBI AARON KOPLIN PASTOR JOEY MIMBS

REV. DR. TOM PFAFF RONA SIMON RABBI HOWARD SIMON JOEL SWALLOW GAIL SYLVIA-COX PASTOR JOHN WALKER

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS PREMIER SPONSOR

Mark Schlanger

SILVER SPONSOR

TABLE SPONSOR Citrus Group Associates

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT JESSI SHESLOW AT 941.343.2109 OR JSHESLOW@JFEDSRQ.ORG.

KLINGENSTEIN JEWISH CENTER, 580 MCINTOSH ROAD, SARASOTA, FL 34232 • 941.371.5456 • THEJEWISHFEDERATION.ORG

July 2014

11 July 2014 JEWISH HAPPENINGS

Jewish Happenings MONDAY, JUNE 30

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2

Camp Gan Israel Burst into summer with Camp Gan Israel from Monday, June 30 through Friday, July 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Summer break is right around the corner and Chabad is preparing a fantastic, exciting time for your children, grandchildren and neighbors, featuring Funshops, swimming, Shabbat parties, specialty activities, and field trips to Lowry Park Zoo, Stardust, AMF Bowling, Bounce Down Under, MOSI and more. Extended care is available until 5:00 p.m. A hot lunch menu is optional. Cost is $150 per week; limited scholarships available. For more information and to register, visit www.cgibradenton.org, or contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@chabadofbradenton.com.

Elementary School Summer Camp at TBSS Temple Beth Sholom Schools’ Goldie Feldman Academy is offering summer enrichment sessions for incoming Kindergarten - 3rd grade students. Backyard Science is the theme for Session 3, and Sports and Games is the theme for Session 4. Kindergarten Readiness is also offered during Session 3 for incoming Kindergarteners (5-year-olds). Session 3: June 30 - July 11; Session 4: July 14-25, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. Cost is $400. Extended care is available until 4:00 p.m. For more information, contact Cindi Bavry at 941.954.2027 or cbavry@tbsschools. org. The catalog and registration forms are available at www.tbsschools.org.

Club Fed/Senior Chavurah Sponsored by

Join us for “Ice Cream Sundae on Wednesday – Red, White and Bingo” from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Zell Room on the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Free. To RSVP or for more information, please contact Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org.

“Lunch with the Rabbi” Amish style! Temple Emanu-El’s popular “Lunch with the Rabbi” program is going on the road! Please join Rabbi Brenner Glickman and plenty of nice, friendly, interesting companions at Der Dutchman (3713 Bahia Vista between McIntosh and Beneva) for an Amish buffet lunch, socializing, and discussion of current events and subjects of Jewish interest. We’ll have a private room to enjoy a great afternoon together. All are invited to this stimulating and enjoyable program that begins at noon. No advance reservation is needed. The cost of the buffet lunch (including drink and tip) is $13.80 and may be paid directly to Der Dutchman at the event. For more information, call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

THURSDAY, JULY 3

Preschool Summer Camp at TBSS

Walkers to Talkers

Summer camp sessions are offered at Temple Beth Sholom Schools for walking campers (12 months to 4 years). The theme for Session 3 is Culinary Delights; for Session 4 it is Art Through Literacy. Swim lessons are offered for older campers. Session 3: June 30 - July 11; Session 4: July 14-25, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Justin Lee Wiesner Preschool, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. Cost is $230-$400. Extended care is available until 4:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Cindi Bavry at 941.954.2027 or cbavry@tbsschools.org. The catalog and registration forms are available at www.tbsschools.org.

Mom’s Morning Out at Temple Beth Sholom Schools (1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota) for children through 24 months and walking independently is being offered on Thursdays in July (through July 24) from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Cost is $30 per day. For more information, contact Cindi Bavry at 941.954.2027 or cbavry@tbsschools.org. The catalog and registration forms are available at www.tbsschools.org.

TUESDAY, JULY 1 Bubble Blowers to Cruising Crawlers Summer Baby Play at Temple Beth Sholom Schools (1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota) for children ages 4-14 months and their caregivers is being offered on Tuesdays in July (through July 22) from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Cost is $15 per day. For more information, please contact Cindi Bavry at 941.954.2027 or cbavry@tbsschools.org. The catalog and registration forms are available at www.tbsschools.org.

Join us at

TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM

Sarasota-Manatee’s Conservative Synagogue

in july September 7-10, 2014 The Lions, the most philanthropic, dynamic Jewish women in the world, are returning to New York City, at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square for three amazing days of empowerment and learning.

Join us as Bunny Skirboll is honored as the Sarasota-Manatee recipient of the prestigious Kipnis-Wilson/ Friedland Award.

To learn more about the Lion of Judah or attending the 2014 conference, please contact Ilene Fox at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org.

Lions from around the world will come together to hear from some of today’s most respected speakers on issues affecting our Jewish community at home and abroad. We’ll share strength and sisterhood, learning and laughter. Engage in tzedakah. And marshal our power to invigorate the Jewish world. In short, we’re going to roar.

All Are Welcome! Come Join Us! ONGOING PROGRAMS Daily Morning Minyan Sunday-Friday, 8:00am Minyan Breakfast Wednesdays, 9:00am

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

Chug Ivri, Advanced Hebrew Thursdays, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 10:30am - 12:30pm Yiddish Group Mondays, July 7, 14, 21, 28 1:30 - 3:30pm Judaica Shop Wednesdays, 10am-2pm, for an appointment, call Hannah Puckhaber at (941) 377-8668 Idelson Adult Library Wednesdays, 10am-3pm

Friday, July 4, The TBS office will be closed in observance of Independence Day Thursday, July 24, 10:30am, Knitting Mitzvah Circle

Temple Beth Sholom 1050 S. Tuttle Ave. Sarasota, FL 34237

941.955.8121

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

July 2014 FRI-SAT, JULY 4-5

JEWISH HAPPENINGS SUNDAY, JULY 6

Rabbi Michael Werbow comes to Temple Beth Sholom Temple Beth Sholom’s new spiritual leader, Rabbi Michael Werbow, will begin leading services the first weekend in July: Friday, July 4 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 5 at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to welcome him to our community. Temple Beth Sholom is located at 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. For more information, please contact the temple office at 941.955.8121 or info@templebethsholomfl.org.

FRIDAY, JULY 4 July 4th family barbecue Looking for something to do on July 4th? Join Camp Gan Israel SRQ for a family barbecue at 12:30 p.m. at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road. There will be delicious food, cotton candy, and a short presentation by campers sharing their camp spirit. This event is open to the entire community. The cost is $5 per person, and the sponsorship of Arthur & Sheila Fox makes this event free for campers and their families. Advance reservations are required at 941.925.0770.

Fourth of July Celebration at Temple Emanu-El Did you know that the Fourth of July falls on a Friday this year? Temple Emanu-El (151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota) is ready to celebrate! The 6:00 p.m. Shabbat service will be highlighted by readings and songs that celebrate the blessings of living in the U.S. Following the service is a traditional July Fourth cookout and a fun patriotic singalong. Wear your most patriotic clothing (but please keep it temple-appropriate!) – we’ll award prizes for the best and most inspiring outfits! For reservations and pricing, please call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

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“What to Expect: A Gathering for Expectant Jewish and Interfaith Parents” Are you an expectant parent looking to prepare for the journey ahead, make new friends, share and learn in a warm and supportive Jewish atmosphere? Then please come to “What to Expect” at 11:00 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. We’ll share stories, exchange tips, and see what Judaism has to say about the challenges and blessings of pregnancy. We’ll also explore the possibility of forming a group to meet regularly for learning, support, friendship and Jewish enrichment. Synagogue membership is not required – all are welcome to this free event. For more information or to RSVP, call 941.379.1997 or email elaine-glickman@ comcast.net.

MONDAY, JULY 7 Camp Temple Tots Camp Temple Tots at the Gan of Temple Sinai for toddlers and their caregivers meets Mondays from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. This is a “Mommy & Me” style class with free play, projects, circle time, sing-a-long and outdoor play. And best of all, it is free. For more information, contact Laura at 941.926.9462 or laura@templesinai-sarasota.org.

Close-up: The Ten Commandments This is the first in a 10-part series on the Ten Commandments, which are the shortest and single most influential words ever written or spoken in the history of mankind, to which the world owes its moral compass. Join us in delving deeply into the meanings and consequences to our daily lives of each Commandment, as we enjoy a kosher brunch, intelligent discourse and spiritual relevance. Children are also welcome to learn and participate. The event begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student. To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

TUESDAY, JULY 8 YAD Happy Hour

HELP KEEP YOUR INDEPENDENCE!

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Join other Young Jewish Adults for a drink and schmooze from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Darwin’s, 1525 4th St., Sarasota. Free – just show up. For more information about the Young Adult Division, contact Jessi Sheslow at 941.343.2109 or jshslow@jfedsrq.org.

Tanach Treats: The Book of Ezekiel class

Patriotic

Spectacular FRIDAY, JULY 4 • 4:30 PM First United Methodist Church 104 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota

Gloria Musicae presents a patriotic concert full of choral fireworks celebrating America

Featuring...

Marden Paru will teach this text-based course, covering the Book of Ezekiel with commentary and midrash. The Book records seven visions of the prophet Ezekiel, exiled in Babylon, from 593 to 571 BCE, and is structured around three themes: (1) judgment on Israel; (2) judgment on the nations; (3) and future blessings for Israel. Students are required to bring a Tanach (The Holy Scriptures with the new modern English translation by the Jewish Publication Society). The class takes place from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. Cost: free for TBS members; $5 for nonmembers. Registration is required. Please contact the temple office at 941.955.8121 or info@templebethsholomfl.org.

Summer study and socializing in Lakewood Ranch Temple Emanu-El invites the entire community – especially East County residents – to a special morning of study and socializing in Lakewood Ranch. Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman will lead an adult learning session on “The Most Fascinating Woman in the Bible,” and participants will also enjoy socializing and light bites with old and new friends. The event is part of Temple Emanu-El’s ongoing outreach to the Jewish communities of Lakewood Ranch and East County. All are welcome from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Lakewood Ranch Country Club, 7650 Legacy Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Free, with reservations required by July 3. Reservations will be accepted after July 3 as space permits. RSVP to Felice Hedge at felicehedge@gmail.com.

“One Land: An American Tapestry” by St. Petersburg composer Rand Snell A tribute to American song legends Harold Arlen and Leonard Bernstein Final solo performances with Gloria Musicae by singing sensation Maria Wirries before she heads off to college

Tickets: GENERAL ADMISSION • $35 – 941-953-3368 or GloriaMusicae.org Student tickets $15 at the door the day of the concert

GloriaMusicae.org

GIVE YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH POTENTIAL. AdVERTISE WITH

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

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July 2014

13 July 2014 JEWISH HAPPENINGS THURSDAY, JULY 10

SUNDAY, JULY 13

JFCS Holocaust Survivors Support Group Sponsored by

All survivors are invited to attend these monthly gatherings of friendship, camaraderie and support. The group meets from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at JFCS, South County Human Services Center, 19503 West Villages Parkway, North Port (next door to the State College of Florida). This month, enjoy Jewish Trivial Pursuit. This is a multi-agency event sponsored by JFCS of the Suncoast, Inc., Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and the Claims Conference. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jan Alston at 941.366.2224 x172 or jalston@jfcscares.org.

Temple Emanu-El’s Summer Film Festival Temple Emanu-El’s popular Summer Film Festival continues with the engaging and delightful documentary Hava Negilah. A romp through the history, mystery and meaning of this Jewish standard, Hava Negilah follows the classic celebratory song from its origins in the shtetls of Eastern Europe to the kibbutzim of Palestine to the farthest corners of the globe. The film features interviews with Harry Belafonte, Leonard Nimoy, Glen Campbell, Connie Francis and more! Nagilah v’nismecha! The screening begins at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. $5 at the door. For more information, please contact Wendy Wicks at wendywicks1@gmail.com.

Great Musical Jews: Their Lives & Times The stage of musical Jews contains extraordinarily-talented men and women, often from impoverished backgrounds, who rose to the heights of public acclaim by inspiring and entertaining the world. This session covers Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence. When his wife died, Lawrence paid this tribute to her: “Eydie has been my partner on stage and in my life for more than 55 years. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her and even more the first time I heard her sing.” Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments included. To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

SATURDAY, JULY 12

TUESDAY, JULY 15 “Mr. Death” During the Passover season and Yom HaShoah 2014, thousands of young American students were required to read anti-Semitic propaganda that glorified a man known as “Mr. Death,” due to his pre-occupation with executions and his denial of gassings in the Holocaust. Learn about “Mr. Death,” who honeymooned in Auschwitz at the Auschwitz Hotel, and the infamous Common Core assignment in which he was touted. Read copies of the assignment, and watch movie clips of “Mr. Death.” Join us at 6:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments included. To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Wine tasting and Havdalah Do you remember the wonderful wine tasting and Havdalah events that Temple Emanu-El used to host during the summers? Well, they are back! The community is warmly invited at 6:00 p.m. for an elegant and fun evening as we socialize, sample Israeli wines, and enjoy delicious Mediterranean-inspired light bites at Fresh Start Café, 630 South Orange Ave. in Burns Court. We’ll conclude with a beautiful Havdalah service under the stars. The event and the wine are free of charge, with the freshlyprepared light bites for sale. For more information, call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

The Federation Invites You To

Tailgate With YA D Sunday, September 14th

Attention Bridge PlAyers

Tickets: $40 Tailgate: 12:00 pm Kick-Off: 4:05 pm

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

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

For young Jewish adults between 21-45 years of age.

How Far can a DoLLar go TowarD making a DiFFerence in THe Lives oF women & cHiLDren?

Bucs

vs. Rams

For complete information about this event or the Young Adult Division, please contact Jessi Sheslow at 941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. The Women’s Giving Circle, or Ma’agal Nashim, is a group of passionate and caring women in Sarasota-Manatee who are committed to making a difference in the lives of women and children in need or at risk.

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July 2014 THURSDAY, JULY 17 JFCS Holocaust Survivors Support Group Sponsored by

JEWISH HAPPENINGS WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 Fifty Shades of “J” Happy Hour Sponsored by

All survivors are invited to attend these monthly gatherings of friendship, camaraderie and support. The group meets from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at Kobernick House, 1951 N. Honore Avenue, Sarasota. This month, enjoy Jewish Trivial Pursuit. This is a multiagency event sponsored by JFCS of the Suncoast, Inc., Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota Manatee and the Claims Conference of Germany. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jan Alston at 941.366.2224 x172 or jalston@jfcscares.org.

This is an opportunity for singles and couples to meet new and old friends. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. at Café Epicure, 1289 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota, with light snacks and a cash bar. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org, or visit www.jfedsrq.org/events.aspx.

AJC’s Summer Lunch & Learn

Great Humorous Jews: Their Lives & Times

AJC (American Jewish Committee) is proud to present its Keynote Speaker, Jason Isaacson, at its inaugural Lunch & Learn event of the season. The event takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Michael’s On East, 1212 East Avenue South, Sarasota. Mr. Isaacson, AJC’s Director of Government & International Affairs, is returning to Sarasota by popular demand. He is one of AJC’s leading experts in world affairs, and his topic will be “Hard Road to Peace – After the Failure of the Latest U.S.-Led Effort, Is There a Realistic Path to a Two-State Israeli-Palestinian Solution?” Williams Parker is the generous sponsor of this Summer Lunch & Learn Series, which will conclude with a Lunch & Learn on Thursday, August 14. The cost of $25 includes the lecture and luncheon. Advance registrations are required. Contact Monica Caldwell at AJC at 941.365.4955 or sarasota@ ajc.org.

Jewish humor is the best in the world, for it has served for centuries as our vehicle of survival in the worst of circumstances. How did such a persecuted people become so immersed in voluminous jokes and produce world-class comedians like George Burns, whose facial expressions alone caused laughter for nearly 100 years? You will delight in the personal histories of your favorite comedians and their favorite jokes! This is the first of a six-part course. Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments included. To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Psalms and prayers for Israel Come to the Al Katz Center for a kosher brunch and prayer meeting for the State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces, the Jewish people, and Jewish captives. In these treacherous times, every act we perform on behalf of Israel is vitally important. You are also welcome to make special prayer requests for the safety and welfare of your Israeli family members and friends, especially those in Judea and Samaria, where dangers are everpresent. Join us at 10:00 a.m. at 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student. To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva LATE SUMMER SEMESTER 2014

bible miracles: a challenge to today’s sensibilities

Fridays Starting July 18 – 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM (Eight Weeks)

The idea of miracles fills the Bible yet given our contemporary sensibilities, it is hard to understand them, believe in them or know what they mean. People of faith believe they occurred, many verbatim. But others are skeptical and would prefer to have them explained in more rational or scientific terms. Biblical scholars and scientists have been at work for a long time trying to explain the many mysterious phenomena found in the biblical narrative that many cannot quite accept as simply stated in the text. This course will discuss a variety of explanations of the Bible’s many miracles to see if we can make sense of them and understand what they represent. No knowledge of Hebrew is needed. Requirement: A Tanach (Hebrew Bible - The Holy Scriptures) with the new modern English translation by the Jewish Publication Society. *No class Aug 8

is JeWish langUage necessary For JeWish sUrViVal?

Mondays Starting July 21 - 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM (Eight Weeks)

This course will review the history of various languages spoken by the Jewish People over the last 3500 years. Many may not agree but the USA seems to be the first country in Jewish history in which the Jewish Community does not insist that Jews learn Hebrew on a grand scale although it is still the main language of prayer, chanting of Torah and reading from the prophets. What impact will this phenomenon have on future synagogue life and ritual? How important is it to have Jewish language as part of Jewish culture and not relegated to the dust bin of history. This course will also discuss how the ancient Hebrew language was rejuvenated and revitalized as the main language of the State of Israel. Going forward, just how important is having Jewish language? *No class Labor Day All courses are $50 Classes are held on the Campus of the Jewish Federation, 580 McIntosh Rd. in Sarasota. To register or seek more information, please contact Marden Paru, Dean and Rosh Yeshiva; at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com . Please make checks payable to the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva and mail to Marden Paru, 2729 Goodwood Court, Sarasota, FL 34235. NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other schooladministered programs. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency. It is funded, in part, by a grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

FRIDAY, JULY 25 4th Friday Shabbat and Supper Temple Sinai continues its tradition of a casual supper following the 4th Friday services during the summer. Services begin at 6:00 p.m., preceded by a Welcome Reception at 5:15 p.m. Dinner by Demetrio’s will include pasta with all the trimmings, drinks and dessert. Cost: $15 for members, $18 for guests; after July 21, $18 for members, $21 for guests. Register at www.sinaisrq.org or send your check to Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota, FL 34233. For more information, call 941.924.1802.

TUESDAY, JULY 29 Ashkenazic Jews: Sephardic Roots The rich Sephardic culture is part of Ashkenazic culture as well, but unbeknownst to most Ashkenazim are their centuries-old Sephardic roots tracing back to the massive Jewish migrations from the Iberian Peninsula in the late 1400s to towns throughout Eastern Europe. We can never know how many of today’s Ashkenazic Jews emanate from the Mediterranean, but you could be one! Enjoy traveling into this geographical-biographicalhistorical, multi-media journey into our Jewish roots. Join us at 7:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 713 South Orange Avenue, Burns Square, Sarasota. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments included. To RSVP or for more information, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.

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

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

FRIDAY, JULY 18

THURSDAY, JULY 24

GROWERS, GROCERS, & GEFILTE FISH:

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July 2014

15 July 2014 JEWISH INTEREST

Ophir’s Carlebach: the inclusive, healing message of a true original By Philip K. Jason, Special to The Jewish News Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: Life, Mission, and Legacy, by Natan Ophir (Offenbacher), Urim Publications. 503 pages. Hardcover $39.95.

n this monumental biography, the author strives to capture the facts about and legend of the man who was the Pied Piper of late twentiethcentury Judaism. In so doing, Dr. Ophir provides a portrait of several decades in North American, European and Israeli culture through a very special lens. These are decades of spiritual revival, experimentation and the reconfiguring of traditional religious institutions. In the realm of Jewish experience, Rabbi Carlebach Phil Jason (hereafter “Shlomo,” as most people came to know him), was a central figure, most likely the presiding genius, of what is still an ongoing revolution. Dr. Ophir divides the book into two main sections: The Mission and The Impact. The Mission traces the evolving sense of purpose that shapes Shlomo’s unusual career. Here, the author introduces the Carlebach family’s European background and “Rabbinical Legacy” until the relocation to Brooklyn in 1939 when Shlomo was fourteen years old. The Carlebachs are centered in Brooklyn for six years and then Manhattan into the early 1950s. Shlomo’s education is provided in detail, particularly the influence of the major Hasidic communities of Bobov, Modzitz and Chabad. In New York, the Bobover Rebbe repeated his father’s pattern of developing “kindergartens, schools, synagogues and Talmud academies.” Shlomo and his twin brother Eli Chaim had a strong relationship with this group. Importantly, Shlomo was attracted to the Modzitzer Rabbi, whose community was involved with musical composition. He studied and went to summer camps within this community. Most formative, however, was the influence of Chabad. A frequent visitor to Crown Heights, Shlomo, in his own way, became a Chabad disciple. Eli Chaim married into the Schneerson family. Well before the neo-Hasidic renewal movement was popular, Shlomo was tapped to be an emissary, partnered with Reb Zalman Schachter. By 1950, Shlomo was launched into his outreach career as a special assistant to Menachim Mendel Schneerson (the 7th chief Lubavitcher Rebbe). He and Zalman were to be “outreach messengers to ‘lost souls’ outside of the committed Hasidic camp.” Shlomo studied, informally networked, traveled and, most importantly, played his guitar. He set liturgical phrases to new tunes that would, over the decades to come, seem like they had always been around. At the beginning of his career, “the Singing Rabbi” was an oddity. Before long, he was famous. Through the 1960s and 1970s, he was

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a phenomenon, attached powerfully that it received a new name to these important decades of youth – a “Shabbaton.” The term rebellion, peace and environmental entered modern parlance advocacy, folk music and communal as a colloquial expression life. Shlomo did, indeed, bring young for a Shabbat experience people back to Judaism and strengthreplete with singing, spirened the engagement of those already ited praying, communal involved. meals and Torah study. Some say he was too liberal with But in actuality, this is a his hugs, but his message was joy. He Neo-Hasidic innovation of spread it across the Americas, Europe Reb Shlomo. He redesigned the Haand Israel. He was everywhere and sidic Shabbat, expanded it to be gender anywhere. His records sold in astoninclusive, and pioneered ways of ‘getishing numbers, given what was truly ting high’ on Shabbat. Today, the idea a niche genre. His last name became an of a “Shabbaton” is taken for granted, adjective: a Carlebach but in the late 1960s the Shabbat (“Shabbos,” idea of transforming an he would say), a CarOrthodox-type celebralebach farbrengen, a tion of Shabbat into a soCarlebach service. cial-spiritual-emotional In his book’s sechappening that is open ond part, The Impact, to all was a rather avantDr. Ophir details the garde concept. extensive outreach and Perhaps you haven’t “wide reach” of the heard of The House of global rabbi. At times, Love and Prayer, an althe pages read like ternative commune for an annotated planning Jewish hippies. Develcalendar, the main text oped (where else?) in the supplemented by page San Francisco area under Natan Ophir notes that include genShlomo’s inspiring tuerous amplifications as well as sources. telage, it was a place for all kinds of The author is careful to portray Carlecommunal events – and a crash pad. bach’s innovative manner as an adaptaFostering its own special Jewish dress tion of traditional Hasidic modes. But code that blended observant norms what an adaptation. with hippie styles, it was just what lost In retrospect, Reb Shlomo initiated souls and disenchanted seekers needed. a concept that soon became so popular Many of Shlomo’s most able disciples

were spiritually nourished and gained leadership skills in one or another manifestation of the HLP. Through the 1980s and up to his death in 1994, Shlomo’s global spiritual healing continued. In the chapter “Lifting the Iron Curtain,” Dr. Ophir records the power of Carlebach’s melodies, particularly for Am Yisrael Chai, in rallying world Jewry to the eventual liberation of the Soviet Union’s Jewish population. Shlomo’s influence on Jewish Renewal rabbis is described at length, as are other aspects of his rich legacy. Though it is (deliberately) skimpy on Shlomo’s personal life and on the antagonism his outreach style sometimes generated, Dr. Ophir’s biography is a great gift, unlikely to be superseded for decades to come. We can be especially grateful for the valuable appendices: a Timeline, a Bibliography, a list of Sites Accessed, a Discography, an Index of Carlebach Songs, an Index of Names, and an Index of Places. Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus of English from the United States Naval Academy. He reviews regularly for Florida Weekly, Jewish Book World, Southern Literary Review, and other publications. Please visit Phil’s website at www.philjason.wordpress.com.

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July 2014

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By David Benkof, DavidBenkof@gmail.com Across 1. Measurement for the gold in a mezuzah 6. Hebrew language alternative 11. It tapes Mayim Bialik on “The Big Bang Theory” 14. “The Producers” was ___ Mostel film 15. Emulate Charles Krauthammer 16. “Six by Sondheim” cable network 17. Herman Wouk’s “War and ___” 19. “Shalom ___” (Prayer for peace in the silent Amidah) 20. A mezuzah is affixed ___ angle 21. Hamentashen beginner, to Brits 22. Large collection of shekels 23. ___ Hotels (Israel’s largest luxury chain) 25. They sometimes carry plain pine boxes 27. Psychologist who popularized the “hierarchy of needs” 32. Sound from Noah’s dove 33. ___-Zionism (BDS cause) 34. Pay ___ to Shylock 37. NBC Chief White House Correspondent Chuck 39. “___ and a leg” (Israeli taxes demand) 42. Mixes linen and wool in the same garment, according to the Torah 43. ___ fress 45. Circumcise, in some people’s minds 47. Wissotsky makes it 48. President of Israel after Zalman Shazar 52. Something Bernie Madoff will probably never be 54. ___ Dolorosa (Jerusalem site) 55. “I’ll have ___” (order never heard in kosher deli) 56. Dance that sure ain’t the hora 59. Dunn whom Lorne Michaels hired for late-night TV 63. Six-Day War gun 64. 1976 Dustin Hoffman film 66. Day after Shabbat (abbr.) 67. Author Solomon with a new book on the history of “Fiddler” 68. Feature of Hasidic men 69. Kind of matzah 70. Judaism believes in exactly one 71. Part of the city where many Jewish ghettos were Down 1. See 3-Down 2. “I’m Jewish, not ___ Buddhist...” 3. He commented on the major work of 1-Down

Solution on page 21

4. Eastern European Jewish economic system 5. Funnyman Lehrer who put the names of the chemical elements to music 6. Bagel shapes 7. ___ on the back (something to give when saying “Mazal Tov!”) 8. Afternoon prayer 9. Some yads for reading Torah measure approximately nine or so 10. Stan of comics fame 11. He directed “American Pie” with his brother 12. ___ of hay (Kibbutz sight) 13. Tries to amend a Knesset bill, perhaps 18. “Top ___” (phrase introduced by Harry Steppe) 22. They might be used with cattle on a moshav 24. North Carolina Jewish boarding sch. 26. “___ Juive” (phrase in the name of many Jewish dishes) 27. Part of Yasmina Reza’s play “Le Dieu du Carnage” 28. Reacts poorly to a Borscht Belt act 29. Host of “The Twilight Zone” 30. Hermon, e.g. 31. ___ Boys Choir (Orthodox music ensemble) 35. Synagogue name word 36. Michael Stanislawski’s “___ Nicholas I and the Jews” 38. Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station, for example 40. Spiritual teacher Dass 41. Ritual bath 44. Sport league whose commissioner is former AEPi brother Gary Bettman 46. ___ Thai Glatt (Queens kosher restaurant) 49. Peddler’s activity 50. It doesn’t happen every year 51. Author Deborah (“You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation”) 52. What to do at the cantillation mark “Sof Pasuk,” when reading Torah 53. Bella with famous hats 57. Remain, like Chanukah oil in the Temple 58. Refuse to make aliyah 60. Arab nation 61. Asian-American Jews, pretty much 62. “R ___” (common activity in Eilat) 64. Filled with righteous indignation 65. Carrie Fisher’s character’s “only hope” in “Star Wars”

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July 2014

17 July 2014 JEWISH INTEREST

Stars of David

Interested in Your Family’s History?

By Nate Bloom, Contributing Columnist Editor’s note: Persons in BOLD CAPS are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of the column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in a faith other than Judaism – and don’t identify with a faith other than Judaism as an adult. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish. Tony Notes The Tony Awards were held on Sunday, June 8, and many people (not me!) were surprised when SOPHIE OKONEDO, 46, referenced her Jewish background when she accepted the Tony for best featured actress in a play (A Raisin in the Sun). She said the Broadway theater community had welcomed a “Jewish Nigerian from Britain.” While Okonedo’s looks favor her Nigerian father, she was raised by her white English Jewish mother (her parents split up when she was very young). She identifies as Jewish and even knows a smattering of Yiddish. Okonedo was Oscar nominated for her performance in Hotel Rwanda. Congrats to ROBERT FREEDMAN, 56, and STEVEN LUTVAK, 56, the co-authors (music and lyrics) of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. It won the Tony for best musical, and Freedman won another Tony for his book (script) for the show. Lutvak made me laugh as he told a San Diego Jewish website about his background: “I grew up in a modern kosher home (we ate lobster in the backyard).” Another Douglas Bar Mitzvah Acting legend KIRK DOUGLAS, now 97, became an observant Jew in 1991. He celebrated his second bar mitzvah in 1999, at age 83. In 2012, thirteen years later, he had his third bar mitzvah. However, his most famous son, MICHAEL DOUGLAS, 69, while respectful of his father’s faith, has always made it clear that he was

“half Jewish” and firmly secular. (To his credit, Michael has participated in a number of Jewish cultural “things,” like narrating several documentaries on Jewish/Israeli subjects.) In 2003, the press was full of reports that Michael and his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, were flying to Wales, her homeland, to have their young son and daughter baptized at a charming Roman Catholic chapel. A raft of celebs was supposed to attend. This event was mysteriously called off at the last minute. I was, frankly, surprised, when the New York Post reported on Thursday, May 8 that Michael told guests at a party celebrating a new book by his friend, producer JERRY BRUCKHEIMER, that he injured his leg the previous week while dancing at the bar mitzvah of his son, DYLAN, 13. Clearly, there is a family story here – how Dylan came to be confirmed. But I don’t know it. Still, I would bet big money that Dylan’s Jewish grandfather is shepping nachas. By the way, Michael Douglas and Catherine ZetaJones, who announced a trial separation last summer, are now officially back together again. At the Movies Michael Douglas stars in And So it Goes, as a self-centered businessman who enlists a neighbor (Diane Keaton) to help him when his estranged son drops off a granddaughter he never knew existed. Directed by ROB REINER, 67, the film opens on Friday, July 11. Reiner, of course, is the son of

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

So here’s the deal: Send Nate an email at nteibloom@aol.com, tell him you saw this ad in The Jewish News, and include your phone number (area code, too). Nate will then contact you about doing a “limited” family history for you at a modest cost (no more than $100). No upfront payment. comedy legend CARL REINER, 92. Likewise, director JAKE KASDAN, 39, whose comedy farce, Sex Tape, opens on Friday, July 18, is the son of famous director LAWRENCE KASDAN, 65 (The Big Chill). Jake had a big hit with Bad Teacher (2011). Bad Teacher star Cameron Diaz and JASON SEGEL, 34, co-star in Tape as a couple who make a sex tape and when they wake-up the next morning – to their horror – they discover the tape is missing. Zeppelin Deflated? Finally, the heirs of guitarist RANDY CALIFORNIA (1951-1997) are bringing a lawsuit to obtain royalties for what has seemed obvious to many for decades – that much of the opening music of the Led Zeppelin classic song Stairway to Heaven was lifted from a 1968 tune that California wrote and Zeppelin band members heard many times when they toured with Spirit, California’s band.

California’s heirs may well prevail after a full trial or via a lucrative settlement. Led Zeppelin has already lost several copyright infringement suits brought by other musician/composers claiming the band lifted their work, too. Born Randy Wolfe in California – Randy California drowned while saving his young son from drowning. His stage last name was given to him by Jimi Hendrix. He played in a band with Hendrix during the summer of 1966 and Hendrix dubbed him Randy California to distinguish him from another Randy in the band. Spirit is best known for its monster 1968 hit I Got a Line on You, which Randy wrote. He also wrote a song called Jewish that appeared on the same album as I Got a Line on You. No, it wasn’t a hit, but it has long been a choice trivia nugget for those who follow Jews in rock music.

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July 2014

JEWISH INTEREST

The Vatican and the Nazis

K’zohar Ha-Ivrit Cho-fesh – freedom or vacation

By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD

By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin

ummertime, conjures the word ‘vacation.’ It is hot outside and humid, and the pace of life slows down. Many kids are enjoying their summer break and some of us are allowing ourselves to spend a few hours on the beach or maybe even the freedom to take a family trip. As we enjoy the break let us examine the Hebrew word for ‘vacation’ namely cho-fesh, a word which also means ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty.’ The Hebrew root ch.p.sh meaning ‘to be free’ or ‘set at liberty,’ is related to the ancient Ugaritic word hps where it means ‘freeman’ or ‘soldier.’ Interestingly, this root appears only twice in the Bible as a verb in reference to a female slave who was redeemed or freed (Lev 19:20), and only once as a noun with an unclear meaning (Ezk 27:20). However, as an adjective, chof-shi, meaning ‘freed’ or ‘liberated,’ is used seventeen times in the Text and usually in reference to freed slaves (Ex 21:2; Dt 15:12 and more). There are a few cases in which the adjective chof-shi describes people who are not enslaved yet free (Isa 58:6), as well as animals that roam freely (Job 39:5). An interesting case is the phrase chof-shi beIsrael translated to ‘free in Israel,’ and referring to a person exempt from royal levies (I Sam 17:25). It is only later, in the time of the Second Temple, that cho-fesh was used as a noun and meant ‘freedom’ (Ben Sirah 7:20). And, in the middle ages, the verb was more widely used to mean ‘liberated’ or ‘released.’ Many phrases have been coined

in Modern Hebrew where the noun chofesh or the adjective chofsi are at the center. We will mention but a few, starting with ha-chofesh ha-ga-dol, ‘the big vacation,’ which refers to the break from school that children enjoy during the summer. A commonly used phrase in Israel is chofesh ha-di-bur, meaning ‘free speech’ (the verb daber means ‘speak’). Yet another is chofesh p’ulah, meaning ‘freedom to act,’ ‘carte blanche’ (the verb pa-al means ‘act’). As an adjective we should mention the phrase chofshi mi-de-ah-gah meaning ‘free from worry’ (de-a-gah means ‘worry’), and also ahavah chofshit meaning ‘free love’ (ahavah means ‘love’), and, last but not least, be-chirah chof-shit, meaning ‘free choice’ (ba-char means ‘choose’). We will conclude our short survey with the well-known line from the Israeli national hymn: Lih-yot am cho-fshi be-ar-tzey-nu, which literally expresses the hope ‘to be a free people in our land.’ I wish all our readers a lovely summer. I hope all will have the opportunity to enjoy a chofesh na-im, ‘a pleasant vacation.’ May you have the chofesh, the ‘liberty’ to spend the time in the company of those you love, and may your break be chofshi mi-de-ahga, ‘carefree.’ Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor of biblical literature at Spertus College in Chicago and an adjunct professor of Hebrew and Bible at New College in Sarasota.

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ighty-one years ago this month, on July 20, 1933, Germany’s Nazi government signed an agreement with the Vatican. The Latin word ‘Concordat’ was appropriately employed on this occasion, as it involved a treaty entered into between the Vatican and a foreign government. Earlier, in 1929, Pope Pius XI had signed a Concordat with the Italy of fascist leader Benito Mussolini, so that of Dr. Paul Bartrop July 20, 1933, did not come as a complete surprise for many. The purpose of both these agreements was to guarantee the rights of the Pope’s Roman Catholic citizens in Italy and Germany, as well as the right of the Church to administer its own affairs and manage its own properties. As it would turn out, neither the Nazis in Germany nor the fascists in Italy were to uphold their end of these agreements. Throughout his pontificate, Pius XI spoke out against racism, anti-Semitism, unwarranted persecutions, totalitarianism and excessive nationalism. While not a philosemite, he was nonetheless a humanitarian, and saw the need to reach an accommodation with both dictators as a way to attain some measure of space within which to mitigate their excesses. He thus considered the Concordat with the Nazis as a way to protect Catholic rights in Germany. Whatever good might accrue beyond this, he felt, would be a bonus. However, this had a negative effect for the Jews of Germany. The Concordat legitimized the Third Reich in the eyes of the German Catholic hierarchy, and congregations all over Germany saw that they could square their consciences with the new regime and at the same time remain good Catholics. The international community, moreover, now had a different lens through which to view Nazism. In this way, the Concordat helped to pave the way for the much fuller Nazi takeover of all facets of German society during the period the Nazis referred to as Gleichschaltung or coordination. Pius XI eventually realized what he had unleashed and later condemned Nazism. On March 14, 1937, he issued the papal encyclical Mit brennender Sorge – “With Burning Anxiety” (sometimes translated as “Concern”). The document reproached the Nazis’ excesses, even though it made no explicit mention of the Jews. Five days later, on March 19, 1937, he issued a further encyclical Divini Redemptoris (“Divine Redeemer”), wherein he condemned communist persecutions in the Soviet Union, Spain and Mexico. One further encyclical, Humani Generis Unitas (“On the Unity of the Human Race”) was planned, though it was never promulgated owing to Pius’s death on February 10, 1939. It condemned anti-Semitism, racism and the Nazi persecution of Jews. Because it never went forward, it is sometimes referred to as “The Hidden Encyclical,” and the draft text remained secret until it was unearthed and published in France in 1995. Since learning of the draft encyclical, historians have been left wondering as to what effect it

might have had on Germany’s Catholics – and thereby, obviously, on Germany’s Jews – if it had seen the light of day before the outbreak of war in September 1939. History, of course, does not allow any alternatives. After the death of Pius XI, his successor, Eugenio Pacelli – who took the Throne of St. Peter as Pius XII – was to be much less conciliatory towards the Jews. He had earlier served as Papal Nuncio to Germany, and negotiated and signed the Concordat of July 20, 1933. He was intensely opposed to communism, was theologically conservative, and was a Germanophile – hardly qualifications suited to confront the Nazis over their anti-Semitic persecutions. As we know, controversy continues to surround his pontificate regarding the lack of any public condemnation of the Nazi assault and genocide of the Jews. Those who continue to defend him argue that the actions of the Vatican during World War II to give comfort and succor to Jews, much of it in secret, were all done with Pius XII’s knowledge, and that, had he chosen to speak out, their fate would have been even worse. Those who attack him for his public silence argue that had he chosen to speak out, given his position as the acknowledged moral voice of the Western world, it could possibly have lessened the tragedy since a worse fate for Jews other than what took place cannot be imagined. Complicating these issues is an at-times simplistic misunderstanding regarding his concern for the preservation of the Church, as well as the fate of Roman Catholics involved in all theatres of war. To this can be added his view of the ongoing struggle between Nazism and communism, which he saw as an atheistic force determined to destroy Christianity. Moreover, his own religious perspective regarding Jews saw them as a people antithetical to Christianity, and as a deicide community they did not deserve any special favors when the struggle against communism was, in his opinion, much more important for the future of humanity. What was not realized at the time was that Hitler – the former Catholic choirboy from Linz – had no intention of adhering to any agreements with the Vatican, as his attack on Rome in 1943 was to show. (This is to say nothing of the unrealized plot to kidnap Pius XII, often overlooked in historical analyses.) Knowing this, however, is not to let the Vatican off the hook. Eighty-one years ago this month the Concordat was signed, signaling to Hitler that the Catholic Church was prepared to turn a blind eye to his excesses. Ironically for the Church, this was to include the incarceration and murder of large numbers of dissenting Catholic priests at the hands of those same Nazis. The failure, if indeed there was one, could be put down to a severe lack of imagination at least, if not outright collusion at worst. The most fundamental questions, unfortunately, remain unanswered. Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of History and the Director of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. He can be reached at pbartrop@fgcu.edu.

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19 July 2014 JEWISH INTEREST

July 2014

ADL poll of over 100 countries finds more than one-quarter of those surveyed infected with anti-Semitic attitudes

ew York, NY, May 13, 2014 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today released the results of an unprecedented worldwide survey of anti-Semitic attitudes. The ADL Global 100: An Index of AntiSemitism surveyed 53,100 adults in 102 countries and territories in an effort to establish, for the first time, a comprehensive data-based research survey of the level and intensity of anti-Jewish sentiment across the world. The survey found that anti-Semitic attitudes are persistent and pervasive around the world. More than one-in-four adults, 26 percent of those surveyed, are deeply infected with anti-Semitic attitudes, representing an estimated 1.09 billion people around the world. The overall ADL Global 100 Index score represents the percentage of respondents who answered “probably true” to six or more of 11 negative stereotypes about Jews. An 11-question index has been used by ADL as a key metric in measuring anti-Semitic attitudes in the United States for the last 50 years. “For the first time we have a real

sense of how pervasive and persistent anti-Semitism is today around the world,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “The data from the Global 100 Index enables us to look beyond anti-Semitic incidents and rhetoric and quantify the prevalence of anti-Semitic attitudes across the globe. We can now identify hotspots, as well as countries and regions of the world where hatred of Jews is essentially non-existent.” Made possible by a generous grant from the New York philanthropist Leonard Stern, the ADL Global 100 Index constitutes the most comprehensive assessment ever of anti-Semitic attitudes globally, encompassing 102 countries and territories in seven major regions of the world and accounting for about 88 percent of the world’s total adult population. Available through an interactive website at http://global100.adl.org, the survey will give researchers, students, governments and members of the public direct access to a treasure trove of current data about anti-Semitic attitudes globally and how they vary widely along religious, ethnic, national and

regional lines. The survey also ranks countries and territories in numerical order from the least anti-Semitic (Laos, at 0.2 percent of the adult population) to the most (West Bank and Gaza, where anti-Semitic attitudes, at 93 percent, are pervasive throughout society). “The level of anti-Semitism in some countries and regions, even those where there are no Jews, is in many instances shocking,” said Barry CurtissLusher, ADL National Chair. “We hope this unprecedented effort to measure and gauge anti-Semitic attitudes globally will serve as a wake-up call to governments, to international institutions

and to people of conscience that antiSemitism is not just a relic of history, but a current event.” At the same time, there are highly encouraging notes in the ADL survey. In majority English-speaking countries, the percentage of those with anti-Semitic attitudes is 13 percent, far lower than the overall average. Protestant majority countries in general have the lowest ratings of anti-Semitic attitudes, as compared to any other majority religious country. And 28 percent of respondents around the world do not believe that any of the 11 anti-Semitic stereotypes tested are “probably true.”

The full ADL press release can be found at www.adl.org/press-center/. For an incredibly detailed interactive website, visit http://global100.adl.org.

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ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

Squeezing energy out of our unwanted food Israel’s Bluesphere is building a 5.2-megawatt waste-to-energy power plant in North Carolina, with others planned in the coming years. By Karin Kloosterman, ISRAEL21c, www.israel21c.org

lose to half of the food that the world produces goes to waste, whether it’s on the farm, at the production or packaging plant, or from the dinner plate. An Israeli company with past experience in building renewable energy plants in China has stepped up to the plate in America, aiming to transform food waste to biofuel. Israel-based Bluesphere, founded in 2010, is now building a 5.2-megawatt waste-to-energy power plant in Charlotte, North Carolina. An anaerobic digester will convert food and organic waste into biofuel, to be turned into electricity onsite using steam turbines. The Bluesphere project is backed by $17.8 million in financing from Caterpillar and another $6 million from an undisclosed clean-tech fund. Once the system is operating, it will be able to offset the energy costs of 2,500 homes in North Carolina every year, and another 1,500 homes in Rhode Island in the same timeframe once the company’s second plant comes online. The first plant is expected to be operating by 2015; the second by 2018. Bluesphere plans to take in organic waste and then sell the end-product as

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renewable energy and compost. Two major energy purchasers, Duke Energy and National Grid, have signed on to buy power from Bluesphere for the long term. One of the largest privately held composting companies in the world says that it will buy compost generated by the plant. “Our skill is squeezing out the value of every project,” Bluesphere chief carbon project developer Mark Radom tells ISRAEL21c. The structure of the deal and the fine-tuned details of the plant are what makes this project innovative, says Radom, who is a lawyer by training and worked extensively in the area of carbon credits in the UK before the bottom fell out of the green bucket. Energy from last night’s leftovers While the business model seems lucrative – basically taking trash and turning it into money, “There are barriers to entry,” says Radom, pointing out that they had to put together some $25 million in financing to make the project work. “The details and the minutiae are very complicated,” Radom tells ISRAEL21c. But he is not worried that the waste will run out one day. “As long as there are people, there

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fewer burnable materials will be sent to landfills. New restrictions on burying waste in the U.S. are expected to give Bluesphere a competitive edge. To date, there are only about 200 biogas generating plants like it in the U.S., as compared to some 7,000 in Germany. Bluesphere employs five people in Tel Aviv, two in the U.S. and one in Africa. In addition to the plants in North Carolina and Rhode Island, 11 additional plants are on the drawing board, with six already under development. “I would not say our product is superior,” says Radom. “It is energy and it is fungible. What’s unique is our approach. Other companies in the U.S. tend to get involved in this business because they are farmers and have a lot of manure or are in the compost business or connected to the waste industry. “We came in through another way,” he says, hinting that his skilled business team with Israeli chutzpah will be able to squeeze a lot of great green energy out of waste because they come from the energy business. For more information, see www. bluespherecorporate.com. Karin Kloosterman lives in Jaffa, Israel. She is a journalist, writer and blogger who focuses on the environment and clean technology from Israel and the Middle East. Published in hundreds of newspapers around the world, Karin also writes for the Huffington Post and Green Prophet.

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will be waste. In the U.S., the amount of variation, even in a bad year, shows they are not [generating] less waste,” says Radom. All manner of organic waste is good to go in the Bluesphere system, from the pasta salad you didn’t eat last night to all the farm waste one can imagine. Anything that would normally be sorted in a green bin as organic waste is suitable. Often overlooked as a renewable energy, waste-to-energy (WTE) – also called refuse-derived fuel (RDF) – is a growing segment in the renewable energy market. SBI Energy estimates the market will reach $29 billion by 2022. Environmental advocates say this is one strategy the United States should take to reduce its dependence on foreign oil, while reducing climatechange-causing greenhouse gases and achieving green energy security. WTE is still considered in its early stages in the U.S., but it has a lot of potential to solve problems beyond the carbon question. According to Bluesphere CEO Shlomi Palas, WTE diverts organic waste that would be buried in landfills and repurposes it for something positive. 11 more Bluesphere plants planned With the abundance of open land in the U.S., unlike in Europe, Americans have been slow to adopt the practice of turning organic matter into fuel. Some believe that the best solution is more WTE plants, but at the same time educating the packing industry so that

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July 2014

21 2014WORLD ISRAEL & THEJuly JEWISH

BRIEFS MACCABI TEL AVIV WINS EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL TITLE Maccabi Tel Aviv won its sixth Euroleague title by beating hot favorite Real Madrid 98-86 in overtime on May 18. More than 10,000 Israelis flew to the final held in Milan, and all over Israel citizens watched on TV. (Ynet News)

ISRAELI BUSINESSES IN MASSACHUSETTS PROVIDED 6,600 JOBS Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is leading a trade mission to Israel of 120 Massachusetts business leaders. According to the New England Israel Business Council, more than 200 Israeli-founded businesses based in Massachusetts booked $6 billion in revenue in 2012 and provided 6,600 jobs. (Josef Federman, AP)

ISRAEL’S NEW FRIEND IN NEW DELHI Narendra Modi is the next Prime Minister of India. As Chief Minister of Gujarat State (2002-14), with a population of 60 million, he turned the economy around and today Gujarat’s per-capita GDP is much higher than India’s average. Every year more than 2,000 farmers from Gujarat visit Israel to be trained in advanced farming techniques – at their own expense. He welcomed Israeli companies to enter the water management and recycling sector in fifty cities in Gujarat. He created an industrial fund to promote joint ventures between Israeli and Gujaratbased companies. Modi is a friend of Israel, the likes of whom India has not seen before. He is the first Indian leader to have actually visited Israel, and has often expressed admiration for Israel’s achievements. Ideologically, Modi is sympathetic to the notion of the Jewish homeland. (Vijeta Uniyal, Times of Israel)

younger brother’s life. The boy had congenital heart disease and was operated on in the Palestinian territories, but was not doing well. The SACH team performed further surgery and the 14-year-old is now well enough to be back at school. “When I came to SACH in 2006, it was very hard at the beginning to get used to working with Israelis, finding a way to trust and understand them. But the Wolfson team embraced me, and I quickly became part of the SACH family,” he said. Today, five Palestinians are training at SACH, which since its founding in 1996 has treated – free of charge – more than 3,400 children from 48 countries, over half from the Palestinian territories and other neighboring countries including Iraq, Jordan and Syria. “SACH is saving the hearts of children, but it is touching the hearts of all of their families,” Othman said. (Janice Arnold, Canadian Jewish News)

ISRAEL SOLVES WATER WOES WITH DESALINATION Israel experienced its driest winter on record, but thanks in large part to an aggressive desalination program,

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ISRAELI ARABS LIKE ISRAEL; WHERE’S THE COVERAGE? According to “The Index of ArabJewish Relations in Israel,” a study by Professor Sammy Smooha of the University of Haifa, 63.5% of Israeli Arabs consider Israel to be a good place to live in 2013, up from 58.5% in 2012. The percentage of Israeli Arabs

who accepted Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state rose to 52.8% from 47.4% the year before. That is a majority. Further, the number of Israeli-Arabs who accept their identity as such without identifying as Palestinians increased from 32.5% in 2012 to 42.5% in 2013. (CAMERA)

AUSTRALIA DROPS ‘OCCUPIED’ FROM REFERENCES TO ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS

The Australian government has ruled out using the term “occupied” when describing Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, suggesting a shift in its foreign policy. Attorney general George Brandis, speaking on behalf of the minister for foreign affairs, Julie Bishop, said, “The description of East Jerusalem as ‘occupied’ East Jerusalem is a term freighted with pejorative implications which is neither appropriate nor useful.” “It should not and will not be the practice of the Australian government to describe areas of negotiation in such judgmental language.” (Australian Associated Press-Guardian-UK)

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PALESTINIAN MD LAUDS ISRAEL FOR SAVING CHILDREN

Palestinian doctor Wafiq Othman is an anesthesiologist who completed six years of training at Save a Child’s Heart (SACH), an international humanitarian program based at the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel. He returned to the West Bank and is now coordinator for all the Palestinian doctors and other medical professionals who come to the program to upgrade desperately needed skills. Othman recently told a Montreal audience how the program saved his

this perennially parched land has been transformed into perhaps the most well-hydrated country in the region. “We have all the water we need, even in the year which was the worst year ever regarding precipitation,” said Avraham Tenne, head of the desalination division of Israel’s Water Authority. “This is a huge revolution.” Since 2005, Israel has opened four desalination plants, with a fifth set to go online later this year. But reliance on this technology also carries risks, as a key element of the country’s infrastructure is vulnerable to attack. Missile strikes or other threats could potentially knock out large portions of the country’s water supply. (Josef Federman, AP-ABC News)

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what we’ve been taught, create our perceptions. However, is there really anything we can claim to know, absolutely? July in the Northern Hemisphere is the warmest month of the year. For many of us, the thought of snowfall in July seems comical. Nonetheless, our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are experiencing the coldest month of their year. It’s odd how two people can perceive the same label as polar opposites. The Talmud (Eruvin) relates that scholars from the houses of Hillel and Shammai were locked in a dispute until a Heavenly voice intervened. The answer was, “Eilu V’Eilu divrei Elokim chayim, these and these are the words of the living G-d.” Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, in Jewish with Feeling, reinterprets the verse to teach “the attitude that ‘These and these are the words of G-d,’ – this is chayim, life.” He explains that “the way G-d/Life operates…is not either/ or; it is both/and. Life survives in the proliferation of possibilities, of viewpoints.” Thus, July is both the warmest

and coldest month of the year. In the introduction of Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra’s commentary on the Torah, he writes that famous Jewish saying, “Shivim Punim L’Torah, there are Seventy Faces to the Torah!” Classically, this is a reflection of the myriad of ways in which a single verse can be interpreted. However, we may deduce that this teaching encourages us to develop a greater sense of acceptance and understanding for others. Voltaire said, “Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” As Americans, we celebrate Independence Day this month. America has provided us with great freedoms and opportunities to create dynamic Jewish and secular lives. We are blessed to live in a country that appreciates differences and diversities. Let us remind ourselves of the need to be humble within our views and perceptions, and embrace an unconditional fellowship throughout our communities. May artificial division lines cease to cause any conflict within our community and throughout the world! Amen!

Off-key representations: pop stars and Jewish stereotypes By Allya Yourish, Mimi and Joseph J. Edlin Journalism Intern opular music, known for a regressive, negative light, some catchy hooks and danceable celebrities responsible for today’s beats, is catching national popular music attention for its tendency toward are also responanti-Semitism. From dressing up sible for offendas Jewish stereotypes to making ing some Jewish comments that play off of those listeners. very stereotypes and cast Jews in Most recently, hip-hop artist Ben Haggerty (stage Allya Yourish name “Macklemore”) donned a prosthetic nose, wig and black beard, defending himself against claims of antiSemitism by tweet. (The Federation

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941.371.4546 theJewishfederation.org

posted about this at http://jfedsrq. wordpress.com/2014/05/21/rabbimacklemore-random-costume-orjewish-stereotype/.) Last month, Katy Perry donned a prosthetic nose of her own, complete with wig, moustache and yarmulke as a mimicry of a bar mitzvah entertainer to promote her new music video, Birthday. To be clear that this isn’t a new phenomenon, eight months ago Miley Cyrus com- Katy Perry in a still mented that her from Birthday music and dance moves are simply misunderstood by executives in the business, saying, “It can’t be like this 70-year-old Jewish man that doesn’t leave his desk all day, telling me what the clubs want to hear.” For Macklemore and Perry, the costumes recollect for some viewers Nazi propaganda. Jewish identity is not, of course, a costume that can be taken on and off. By wearing some key accessories – the large nose, the wig and facial hair, the yarmulke – Macklemore and Perry become rec-

ognizably Jewish characters. Of course, not every Jew (not even most Jews!) look like their costumed approximation, and it would be unreasonable to claim that Perry or Macklemore was aiming to look like Nazi propaganda. But just because neither meant to be anti-Semitic doesn’t mean that the costumes weren’t offensive. The costumes play off stereotypes of Jewish people that have been used in propaganda and other forms of anti-Semitism for decades. Wearing a wig and a large fake nose links modern-day Jews to stereotypes from the past, which may stop Jews today from overcoming those old images. Cyrus’ comment similarly uses a generalization that has historically been employed to hurt Jewish people, connecting them to censorship and power in the media. “Jews own the media” is an old cry, and it is echoed in Cyrus’ statement that she is unable to express herself and her music because a faceless Jewish man is out of touch with reality. The link between these three celebrities, aside from their fame and tendency to create catchy music, is that none of their representations of Jewish men are grounded in fact. They use the generalization of costumes and nebulous descriptors to represent Jewish people without actually representing anyone in particular. This is where the real issue lies, because Jewish people are not a monolith. We are different from one another in almost every way conceivable, from political ideologies to physical appearance. The effort to simplify the Jewish people into consumable costumes or blamable scapegoats promotes these celebrities at the expense of Jewish fans. For Jewish listeners of pop music today, this is a low note. Do you agree or disagree? We want to hear from you! Visit www.federationblog.org to share your thoughts!

Opinions and letters printed in The Jewish News of SarasotaManatee do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, its Board of Directors or staff, or its advertisers.

July 2014

23 COMMENTARYJuly 2014

Europe, wake up!

Service & Integrity Beyond Expectation

By David Harris, Executive Director, AJC, May 27, 2014 The deadly attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels on Saturday, followed by a violent assault on two kippahwearing brothers outside Paris on Sunday, have triggered new concerns for the well-being of Europe’s Jews. Add to that the success of several extremist parties in this weekend’s European Parliament elections and the situation becomes still more worrisome. The piece below puts these tragic events in the larger context of the past 14 years, during which, together with our European Jewish friends, we have energetically sought to alert Europe’s leaders to a growing threat to Jews – and to core European values. Many, however, were slow to recognize the extent of the emerging challenge. urope needs to wake up to the threat posed by anti-Semitism. Sure, it thinks it’s awake, but, in reality, only partially. The problem is bigger and deeper than many realize. And the stakes couldn’t be higher, not just for Jews, but for Europe’s core values, beginning with the protection of human dignity. As a long-time Europhile whose wife and three children are EU citizens, I have some familiarity with this subject. We were living in Europe in 2000-1, when the anti-Semitic genie reemerged from out of the bottle in several West European nations. It was obvious, and it was close at hand. There was the rally in the center of London, where the speaker told the crowd the latest “joke” about the Jews – What do Jews and pizza have in common? They both go into the ovens, but at least the pizza makes no noise. The crowd roared with delight. And when my wife protested, a welldressed Englishman looked her straight in the eye and said “F--k the Jews!” No one uttered a word of protest. There were the incidents at our children’s international school outside Geneva. In one, an older student, the son of a UN ambassador from a Persian Gulf nation, cornered our youngest child. He said he heard a rumor that we were Jewish and hoped that wasn’t the case, as he didn’t like Jews. Our son was frightened, but admitted that, yes, he was Jewish, before running across the campus in search of his older brother’s protection. When we protested the incident, school officials didn’t bat an eyelash. They simply were not interested. Perhaps they didn’t want to run the risk of offending their substantial Arab clientele. And then there was the case of the Israeli student at the school. On International Day, when children were asked to wear something from their native countries, she wrapped herself in an Israeli flag. A group of hostile students approached, taunted her, and then humiliated her by dripping soda on her head. She broke from the group and rushed in search of an official. Finding one, she breathlessly began to recount what had just happened. The official responded stone-faced: We don’t get involved in political matters at the school. That’s between you and them. Meanwhile, with Arafat having turned down the Clinton-Barak proposal for a two-state accord and unleashing a second intifadah, Israel’s need to defend itself became the target of often incendiary reporting in many European media outlets. I developed an ever-growing folder of one-sided examples, including shocking cartoons and headlines in the mainstream Spanish media that inverted the Holocaust, suggesting that Israelis were the new Nazis and Palestinians the new Jews.

Then came 9/11 and a frantic query from our friends in Greece. Some Greek papers were buying the outlandish notion that the whole thing was a “Zionist plot,” and that thousands of Jews had been alerted in advance to stay away from the World Trade Center on September 11. Could AJC send a list of Jewish victims of the terrorist attacks to disprove the ghoulish rumors swirling in Athens? And I vividly recall a tense meeting in November 2001 with Hubert Védrine, the French foreign minister, during the postponed opening of the UN General Assembly session. We expressed our concern about the growing threat to Jews in France, a threat I witnessed from my Geneva perch just across the border and that I had discussed with French Jewish leaders on many visits. His response was immediate and categorical: There is no problem of anti-Semitism in France. The problem is one of “hooliganism.” And indeed, he and his French colleagues would more or less stick to that line, until Nicolas Sarkozy became Minister of the Interior and then President, and began to face things headon, followed by the current leadership team of President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls. Occasionally, we’d be told in France in those early years that anti-Semitism was, in reality, “intercommunal violence.” That Jews were always on the receiving end of the attacks didn’t seem to matter to those who peddled this “even-handed” formulation. Or that the danger was a regrettable but inevitable result of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, meaning that the targeting of French Jews could somehow be contextualized – and, yes, held hostage to a conflict a continent away for as long as the peace that Israel sought went unfulfilled. I could recount literally hundreds more meetings with European officials, not to mention dozens of op-eds, speeches and conferences, with which AJC was involved in an effort to press the point. More often than not, we were met with varying degrees of skepticism and doubt. It was as if by pretending otherwise – that age-old temptation of denial – the problem might somehow magically disappear of its own accord. Along the way, though, some European leaders, to their credit, became more attuned and assertive, but precious time had been lost and the dangers had become more deeply rooted. Years of failing to call anti-Semitism by its true name had taken their toll. Years of media irresponsibility in demonizing Israel – from dubbing Gaza the new Warsaw Ghetto to branding Israel the killer of the second Jesus, the Palestinian; from claiming Israel was harvesting the organs of Palestinians to asserting that Israeli prime ministers devoured Palestinian children – had had an effect. Years of looking the other way, averting eyes, rationalizing hateful behavior, issuing statements that weren’t necessarily followed by appropriate actions, and underestimating the growing threat had had their impact. When an EU survey last year of European Jews revealed shocking results, including the fact that more than 40 percent of Jews in Belgium, France and Hungary have considered emigrating, and that more than 20 percent of European Jews avoid Jewish events or sites out of fear, it should have raised alarm bells and stepped-up, and sustained, efforts to grapple with this assault on European values. When openly anti-Semitic, neoNazi political parties gained a foothold

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in national parliaments and regional councils, and now in the European Parliament itself, more alarm bells should be raised. And after deadly attacks, inter alia, at a Jewish school in Toulouse killed three children and one adult, at the Jewish Museum in Brussels on Saturday killed four people, and on two kippah-wearing brothers outside Paris the day after, still more alarm bells need to be raised. It’s high time for Europe to face the stark reality that anti-Semitism is alive and well in its midst, and more action – real action – is needed, and now. From better intelligence-gathering to enhanced protection, from tough prosecution to improved civic education, from media responsibility to public solidarity, from confronting anti-Semitism at sports events to monitoring social media, there are many pressing fronts to pursue. The menace comes from a far right

that’s been given a new lease on life by populist anger over economic pain and seemingly uncontrolled immigration. It comes from a far left that relentlessly questions only one nation’s right to exist, Israel, and vilifies the Jewish state at every turn. And it comes from within Europe’s growing Muslim population, some of whom have embraced the deadly virus of anti-Semitism nurtured in the mosque, the madrassa, or the media. If there’s good news, it’s that, apart from some question marks about Hungary, no European government today condones anti-Semitism, much less encourages it, and that Jewish communities are determined to stand tall and proud as European citizens – and as Jews. The future of Jews in Europe depends on getting this right. No less, perhaps, the future of Europe itself may hang in the balance. For more information, visit www.ajc.org.

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

July 2014

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Balance strength and compromise in parenting

Education Corner

By Rivka Schmerling

usie and her four-year-old daughter, Judy, are in the checkout line in the grocery store. The racks near the counter are laden with tempting sweets. Judy notices one particularly mouth-watering chocolate bar and begs for it. Susie firmly refuses since it will spoil Judy’s appetite for dinner. Judy’s wails begin to grow louder because she has already determined that the louder and longer she cries, the greater the chance of her mother giving in to her demands. Soon Susie gives in and Judy is contently sucking on her treat. One row over, Susie notices, the same scene is being played out with another mother and child. Yet, as that child’s wails begin to grow louder, the mother simply says, “I’m sorry, honey, but that candy bar is not kosher and we may not eat it.” To Susie’s amazement, the child’s whimpering halts. It is as though the child is intuitively aware that his tantrum will be futile. From past experience, he understands that this is an unyielding rule which neither tears nor screams will succeed in breaking. Are there “red” lines in parenting – certain rules and standards that our children should realize cannot be broken? If there are, does this leave any room for flexibility in our guidance of our children? The names of two Torah portions in the upcoming week teach a fundamental principle of successful parenting. The first Parsha is called Matot, meaning ‘tribes’ or ‘rods,’ and the second one is called Massei, meaning ‘journeys.’ The Torah refers to Israel’s tribes either as shevatim, ‘branches,’ or matot

‘rods.’ In our case, the Torah chooses the term mateh, which connotes a firm, inflexible stick. The basis of successful parenting is establishing matot – firm, unbending principles through which to guide our children. Children thrive on consistency, and appreciate uniformity and stability in their lives. They will intuitively discern which standards and values we regard as essential, and which can be challenged and negated. Especially in today’s precarious world, our children look to us for a set of morals and standards that don’t yield to outside pressure or public opinion. If these are instilled in our children in the earliest stages of their development, then, when unsuitable choices tempt them, or when others taunt them for who they are and what they believe to be right, they will be able to draw strength from the fixed values of their upbringing. They will have the fortitude of matot, unyielding rods. At the same time, however, there are moments in parenting when it is necessary, for the sake of our child’s growth and progress, to stretch boundaries and overlook nuances or details. Children are not stagnant beings. They are vibrant, emotional individu-

als with their own perspectives, developing intelligences and inborn needs and wants. Rules are meant to be constructive, creating positive results while providing guidance to advance our children through life’s journeys. If the rules are stifling and destructive, that alone should indicate that there is something amiss in how they are being taught and applied. The second portion of this week’s Torah reading is Massei, ‘journeys,’ which chronicles the travels of the Jewish people in the Sinai Desert to their destination in the land of Israel. Unlike the rod, a journey is, by definition, a fluid movement, a passage forward towards a goal. On the face of it, these two principles of Matot and Massei seem contradictory. Matot instructs us to establish a steadfastness, like the strong nonpliant rod, while Massei encourages us to move forward and transform. The Torah is telling us that both can, and should be incorporated in our own approach to life and in guiding our children. In our roles as parents, we need to first establish Matot, strong, uncompromising values as a basis. The Torah guides us with definite rules of right

and wrong. Yet at the same time, the Torah provides a space and flexibility to accommodate the unique needs of our children. At challenging times, small exceptions, detours or a different approach must be explored for their optimal growth, while still remaining true to our essential principles. Parenting is the skill to navigate these two modes – to balance strength and compromise, immobility and flexibility. We need to exercise proper judgment and sensitivity on which mode to pursue in which area of our children’s lives. Moreover, we need to integrate both modes into our daily life-experiences so that we remain steadfast in crucial areas while exercising conciliation in peripheral ones. Because at all times, we must remember that the goal is to keep our child journeying forward. Rivka Schmerling is a program director at Chabad of Venice & North Port. She runs the Hebrew School, Camp Gan Israel and Teen Club. She can be reached at rivka@chabadofvenice. com.

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

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July 2014

25 July 2014 FOCUS ON YOUTH

TBS youth groups wrap up another amazing year By Allison Davis

s Jewish rapper Drake would say, “We started from the bottom, now we are here.” Just two years ago, we were at the bottom with no SRQUSY, and now we are here with thriving SRQUSY, Kadima, and Chalutzim chapters. As we’ve recently wrapped up our year of programming, it’s a great time to reflect on all of our accomplishments. I had the honor of leading SRQUSY through yet another amazing year of chapter, joint-chapter, sub-regional and regional events that forever left an impact on our members. We brought home the Mercaz sub-regional spirit mascot, the Schmooze Lips, something unheard of for a chapter of our size! One of our own “knights,” Sydney Hanan, was elected Mercaz 20142015 Sub-Regional president! Mazel tov, Syd! And we also brought home three recognition awards at Regional Convention. On the chapter level, we became a closer-knit group of high-schoolers through programs including Jumpin’

Fun, Trivia, Murder Mystery Party, Bowling Knight and many more! SRQUSY isn’t at the bottom anymore, and now with a sub-regional and regional presence, we are making our way to the top! I can’t wait to see the amazing things that we, as a chapter, can accomplish together in the future. The future of USY, SRQ Kadima, also had an amazing year including being led by President Sy Schimberg and his fantastic board. With a strong presence at Mercaz Kadima convention in Jacksonville, and Hannah Levison representing the SRQ at 8th grade Gesher Convention at Camp Shalom, Kadima also showed the region and sub-region what SRQUSY is made of! They had some fantastic programs including the Latke Cook-Off with USY, ice skating and lunar golf. Way to go, Kadima! Eight graders, welcome to USY! Our youngest youth group, Chalutzim, certainly didn’t miss out on the fun! The third through fifth graders of Temple Beth Sholom participated

in exciting events, from Challahween to the Thanksgivikkah Party and the “Maccabi” games. Fifth graders, welcome to Kadima! The laughs we shared, the events we participated in, and the friendships that we created and kept throughout this year in SRQUSY, Kadima and Chalutzim would not have been possible without the SRQUSY and Kadima boards, Youth Advisor Jess Zimmerman, Youth Director Amber Ikeman, the fabulous Youth Commission and,

2014-2015 SRQUSY board: Jordan Phillips, Samantha Hanan, Allison Davis, Sy Schimberg, Jessica Zelitt, Gabriella Hazan, Camryn Cohen

most importantly, the supportive Temple Beth Sholom community! Programming will start back up in August, with a new SRQUSY board leading the way. Camryn Cohen was elected as president in May, along with a wonderful board including Jordan Phillips (Executive Vice President), Gabriella Hazan (Programming Vice President), Samantha Hanan (Social Action/Tikkun Olam Vice President), Jessica Zelitt (Religion/Education Vice President), Sy Schimberg (Freshman Representative), and me as Membership/Kadima Vice President. We invite you to join us for another amazing year and look forward to seeing you soon. For more information about youth groups at Temple Beth Sholom, call 941.955.8121.

Religious School faculty honored at Teacher Appreciation Shabbat

he faculty of Temple EmanuEl Religious School (TEERS) is deserving of every honor – so Temple members and guests took special delight in recognizing them on Friday, May 2 at Teacher Appreciation Shabbat. Temple Emanu-El members, religious school families, and guests filled the sanctuary, participating in a lively Family Shabbat Service and paying tribute to the wonderful teachers and staff of TEERS. Faculty members Paula Berkowitz, Suzan Brodsky, Monica

Caldwell, Lou Gluchov, Lesley Lempel, Shosh Nadel and Rebecca Zion were called to the pulpit to kindle the Sabbath candles and to receive certificates of appreciation and gifts from Director of Education Sabrina Silverberg and Religious School Chair Rita Wetsman. Rabbi Brenner J. Glickman also offered a special blessing for the teachers, and the Family Shabbat Band sang Kaddish d’Rabbanan in their honor. Also recognized were the teenaged madrichim and madrichot, Alena Barwick, Anna Barwick, Zachary Moyle

and Elinor Sevy, who volunteer weekly in the classroom, as well as new religious school assistant Beth Steiner. “I always look forward to Teacher Appreciation Shabbat and the opportunity to honor these special teachers and madrichim,” one religious school parent stated. “I feel lucky to have Sabrina

and her staff teaching my child about his Jewish heritage.” TEERS is accepting registrations for the 2014-15 year and looking forward to another wonderful year of living, learning and loving Judaism! For more information, please call 941.378.5567.

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Temple Emanu-El Religious School faculty honored during Teacher Appreciation Shabbat included (front row) Rabbi Brenner J. Glickman, Beth Steiner, Director of Religious Education Sabrina Silverberg, Monica Caldwell, Lesley Lempel, (middle row) Zach Moyle, Shosh Nadel, Rebecca Zion, Paula Berkowitz, (top row) Anna Barwick, Elinor Sevy, Suzan Brodsky, Alena Barwick and Lou Gluchov

July 2014

FOCUS ON YOUTH

TBS Schools donates harvested garden veggies to All Faiths Food Bank Sprout program

econd and third grade classes at Temple Beth Sholom (TBS) Schools harvested more than a dozen bushels of fresh vegetables from their school garden and donated them to the Sprout truck for the Campaign Against Summer Hunger. “As part of our Native American studies curriculum at TBS Schools, our second and third graders planted corn, beans and squash this season. We thought partnering with All Faiths Food Bank for this harvest would truly exemplify our service-based initiatives here at the school, demonstrating to our students how important it is to give back to the community,” said Robin Sweeting, assistant principal at TBS Schools. In addition to the corn, beans and squash, students harvested onions, kale, radishes and several other vegetables that were full grown. Students picked

the fresh veggies and loaded them onto the All Faiths Food Bank Sprout truck. The Sprout mobile produce program is the first of its kind in the area. It delivers fresh fruits and veggies to almost 5,000 families in Sarasota County. “We could not be more thrilled to see kids helping kids in the community,” said Sandra Frank, executive director of All Faiths Food Bank, who stopped by to thank the children personally. “What a fantastic event to help wrap up our Campaign Against Summer Hunger,” she said. The All Faiths Food Bank Campaign Against Summer Hunger began on April 1 and concluded on May 10 to coincide with the National Letter Carriers Food Drive. There are 21,000 Sarasota County students (50%) on free and reduced lunch. During the summer, when school is out, those kids – and

their siblings and families – may go without regular meals. All Faiths Food Bank is leading the Campaign Against Summer Hunger to encourage Sara-

sota residents to “empty their shelves” and make a cash gift so no child in our community goes hungry. To donate online, visit www.allfaithsfoodbank.org.

TBS Schools students with All Faiths Food Bank staff in front of the Sprout mobile food truck with their harvest

Temple Beth Sholom youth groups’ annual banquet

emple Beth Sholom’s youth groups held their annual banquet on Tuesday, May 20. During this event, highlights of the current year were presented along with videos from Hazzan Jeffrey Weber and incoming Rabbi Michael Werbow. After the installation of next year’s USY (United Synagogue Youth) officers, humorous “paper plate awards” were given out. An anonymous donor sponsored the gourmet pasta dinner, prepared by the TBS Youth Commission under the instruction of international chef Giuliano Hazan. Allison Davis, outgoing USY President, spoke to the audience about the symbolism of Sir Qusy, the USY mascot, “On the outside, he may look small and unable to accomplish anything, just like our chapter may look on the outside with a small number of members and a scattered history. But, if you look on the inside of this little man, you see

a group of teens dedicated to the Conservative Movement and to leaving our footprint on this community and on our USY region of HaNegev.” This year’s USY events included the Party Bus, Murder Mystery, Bowling Knight, West Coast Winter Formal and the Latke Cook-Off. Allison con-

cluded, “To my [USY] board, my rockin’, so fabulous and amazing board, you guys were such a delight to work with. Thank you for an amazing year filled with memories that I will remember forever, friendships I will keep forever and, most importantly, a kehillah that I can turn to whenever.” Temple Beth Sholom sponsors groups for area youth interested in camaraderie and activities: Chalutzim for grades 3-5, Kadima for grades 6-8, and USY for high school students. Affiliation with TBS is not necessary to par-

ticipate. TBS greatly appreciates this year’s partnership with The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and the support of Amber Ikeman, Youth Engagement Coordinator and TBS Youth Director.

Amber Ikeman, Youth Director, was given a pink cowboy hat by USY President Allison Davis

“FOCUS ON YOUTH” PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Allison Davis, Sydney Hanan, Gabriella Hazan, Jordan Phillips, Camryn Cohen

The Confirmation class from Temple Sinai, along with chaperones Rabbi Geoff Huntting and David Berkowitz, recently attended the L’taken Social Justice Seminar in Washington, D.C., organized by the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center. Pictured: Rabbi Geoff Huntting, Aspen Kaye, Danny Gardi, Dana Berkowitz, David Berkowitz, Kaitlyn Siegel, Ethan Blumenstein, Dana Saltz, Michael Fallacaro, Marisa Freedman, Fiona Marlowe

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