The Jewish News - June 2019 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 PUBLISHED BY

The Jewish Federation OF SARASOTA-MANATEE

THE LARRY GREENSPON FAMILY CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE

June 2019 - Iyar/Sivan 5779 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 11 Community Focus 15 Jewish Happenings 19 Jewish Interest 26 Israel & the Jewish World 27 Commentary 28 Focus on Youth 31 Life Cycle

6 Community partners celebrate the success of Year 2 of LIFE & LEGACY™

11 Community Day School hosts students from Sarasota’s Sister City, Tel Mond, Israel

12 The Jewish Federation and Temple Emanu-El partner for Charity Golf Tournament

25 U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s acquisitions curator visits Sarasota-Manatee

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Volume 49, Number 6

A proactive approach to addressing rising anti-Semitism Staﬀ Report

e will state the obvious: anti-Semitism is on the rise in America and it’s coming from all sides of the political spectrum. It has painfully manifested in violent outbreaks like the ones we’ve seen in Pittsburgh and San Diego. It is now permeating the public consciousness in more subtle – but significant – ways. One major development of concern is that the line between criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism is increasingly blurred, and the public seems to be in denial. Let’s look at the blatantly antiSemitic cartoon recently published in the international edition of The New York Times. The cartoon is anti-Semitic on many different levels, but political commentator and New York Times columnist Bret Stephens eloquently addressed the naivety that allowed it to be published in the first place:

“The problem with the cartoon isn’t that its publication was a willful act of anti-Semitism. It wasn’t. The problem is that its publication was an astonishing act of ignorance of antiSemitism – and that, at a publication that is otherwise hyper-alert to nearly

every conceivable expression of prejudice, from mansplaining to racial micro-aggressions to transphobia.” Compounding this ignorance is the fact that anti-Semitism and antiZionism are often seen as being mutu-

ally exclusive, even when that line is glaringly crossed. Trope-filled attacks on Israel that cross the line into antiSemitism are becoming increasingly common in areas of influence, including college campuses, churches and the halls of Congress. Criticism of Israel or the current Israeli government and its policies is one thing, but to insinuate that the United States is a blind supporter of Israel – and that Israel itself is in charge of American policy – takes things to another level. It is a prime example of the wide overlay between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. Time and time again, Israelis are dehumanized and demonized in a way that moves beyond criticism of certain policies or governmental processes. “Already depicted as a malevolent Jewish leader, it’s just continued on page 2

Federation’s Overseas Granting Committee disburses $302,000 to projects By Jeremy Lisitza, Dir. of Innovation & Volunteer Engagement

he Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s Overseas Granting Committee recently granted $302,000 to 23 projects that met the Federation’s mission of providing for Jewish people in need overseas. The committee included Chairs Steve Lewis and Steve Shapiro, and members Beth Del Pico, Dawn Epstein, Meredith Ernst, Gloria Feibus, Debbie Haspel, Mark Lefton, Bart Levenson, Lori Liner, Barbara Lupoff, David Spector, Merrill Wynne and Larry Zaslavsky. “We experienced an increase in submittals of more than 50 percent over last year’s applications, so the word is getting out that the Federation is a reliable and generous partner to the many non-profit entities within Israel that seek our support,” says Steve Lewis. “Our committee worked tirelessly to evaluate and prioritize the 140 submittals down to the 23 eventually recommended. We’re proud that

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

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our mission, to protect and perpetuate Jewish life here and throughout the world, is so well reflected in the grants we awarded this year. It’s clear that this work is among the most meaningful conducted on behalf of the Federation by the members of our committee. That was shown by our members’ continued willingness to devote the time and effort required to get this worthy effort accomplished.” Grants were made to the following organizations and programs:  American Friends of Leket Israel: To redistribute 17,000 tons of food to more than 100,000 needy people: $18,000  American Friends of Rabin Medical Center: To support the purchase of three to seven hospital beds for Rabin’s Davidoff Cancer Center: $5,000  American Friends of Yad Eliezer: Feed a Baby Program: $18,000 ▼

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 Chaverim Israel Family Services: To teach children about financial responsibility: $10,000  Crossroads: Providing counseling, intervention and crisis services for at-risk teens: $20,000  DVI - Dental Volunteers for Israel: To provide totally free dental care to pre-IDF inductees, veterans and their families who cannot afford dental care: $5,000  ERAN Emotional First Aid by Telephone: To provide a free emotional first-aid hotline dedicated to helping Holocaust survivors: $10,000  Friends of Yad Ezra VShulamit: Weekly food distribution at family and children centers: $18,000  Hand in Hand – Center for JewishArab Education in Israel: JewishArab shared educational programs for children: $10,000 continued on page 2 ▼

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Anti-Semitism...continued from page 1 a short step to depict him [PM Netanyahu] as a malevolent Jew,” Stephens states in his response, encapsulating the issue entirely. The illustration does not criticize President Trump and PM Netanyahu for any credible or understandable reason, but instead focuses on the supposed Jewishness of both of them. The contemporary proliferation of anti-Semitism, often masquerading as criticism of Israel, is perhaps one of the biggest issues our communities face. Anti-Zionism has become so acceptable in certain outlets that there is little understanding or oversight as to when the line is crossed into anti-Semitism. The Heller Community Relations Committee (CRC) of our Jewish Federation will be taking a more proactive approach in calling out anti-Semitic

FEDERATION NEWS

behaviors when they occur. Additionally, the Heller CRC plans to meet with representatives of local media, elected officials representing our local community, community leaders, religious leaders and others to make them more aware of these ongoing threats to our Jewish community. In addition, the Heller CRC has convened community meetings with local law enforcement, Homeland Security and the FBI, and is also planning ongoing workshops to address institutional security and institutional cybersecurity that will help Jewish community professionals and lay leaders become more effective in this regard. If you are interested in finding out more, please email Jessi Sheslow at jsheslow@jfedsrq.org.

Th C

Overseas Granting Committee...continued from page 1  Israel National Council for the structure in peripheral areas on Child: Providing legal and outIsrael’s northern and southern borreach services to child victims of ders: $34,000 sexual and violent abuse: $10,000 More information about each ofBy J  The Jewish Agency for Israel – these grants and their impact will be Wings: Continuum of Support for included in future issues of The Jewish Lone Soldiers: $20,000 News.  Jordan River Village: Welcoming If you have questions about these carin campers with challenging illnessgrants, please contact me at jlisitza@ Wom es, including those who are parajfedsrq.org org or 941.343.2113. to fi plegic and living with permanent child respirators: $12,000 socia  Matnas Arava: To purchase techT nology for basic blood exams: gran $17,000 fund ashar LaChayal is one example  Matzmichim – The Israeli Vioof an Israeli organization that hascuss lence Reduction Organization: received a past grant from The Jewishabou Building leadership skills for JewFederation of Sarasota-Manatee’sties, ish and Arab high school students Overseas Granting Committee. It wasdren with exceptional dialogue and meawarded a total of $30,000 for its pro-– an diation skills: $10,000 assis gram assisting lone soldiers.  Mote Marine Laboratory: Motemore The funds were used to help solIsrael Cooperative Marine Rediers in the Israel Defense Forces whoproje search Program: $10,000 A come from families which struggle fi NATAL - Israel Trauma and ResilCirc nancially. The soldiers were provided iency Center: A toll-free helpline with large food packages to help themmee manned by highly trained volunand their families prepare their holidayEach teers who answer incoming calls $500 meals. from traumatized Israelis seeking Volunteers came together on Aprilbig emotional support: $10,000 15 in Ma’ale Adumim to put togethermee  Neve Michael’s Children’s Vilfood packages for 850 soldiers fromthere lage: Providing personal arrival O over a dozen units throughout the Ispackages for abused children at raise rael Defense Forces. In addition to the Emergency Crisis Center: 2014 $7,500 $230  Operation Lifeshield: Providing P one cuboid life-saving accessible for above-ground protective shelter to open the residents of the Eshkol region: form $13,000 ker  RE-SPECS Frames for the Needy: ema Providing eyeglasses for 416 chilT dren from vulnerable families: fund $10,000 and  United Hatzalah of Israel: To  D purchase portable defibrillators: F $17,500 a  YEDID - The Association for basic food supplies, the Passover packCommunity Empowerment in Isages contained special additions for the rael: Setting up 50 fruit and vegSeder: grape juice, decorative grape etable stands around Israel to serve juice cups, Passover cake and cookies, vulnerable populations: $7,000 matzah and Haggadahs.  ZAKA - Search and Rescue: K-9 These soldiers and their families Leadership Training and Empowwould otherwise not have had the erment Program for Youth at Risk: n funds to prepare such an important $10,000 F family meal. How gratifying to help  ZAKA - Search and Rescue: For a them share a lovely Passover Sedergreg extensive training, volunteer supmeal. port and building of IDF infraThes for p resid need ship need awar cove for t agog more vide I sista sorsh such Fede tions gogu Many of our readers are affluent. Over Jewi half have said they frequently T purchase products or services resen from ads seen in The Jewish News..* of V Klez ice. Reserve your space in this upcoming editions: atten ISSUE DEADLINE look JULY................June 3 shor AUGUST ..........July 1 They the g SEPTEMBER.....Aug. 1 T OCTOBER.........Sept. 4 chan NOVEMBER .....Sept. 27 tive DECEMBER ......Nov. 4 was prog

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June 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

The Women’s Giving Circle grants $57,844!

s on bor-

h ofBy Jeremy Lisitza, Dir. of Innovation & Volunteer Engagement l be  RES-SPECS Frames for the Needy: nder the wide umbrella and wish Prescription eyeglasses for women support of The Jewish Federin need: $6,000 ation of Sarasota- Manatee, a hese  Yozmot Atid: Taking the Leap: A caring group of women, known as The za@ small business incubator program Women’s Giving Circle (WGC), gather for Israeli women earners from the to financially help Jewish women and children in Israel who need a variety of lowest income brackets: $6,000 social services.  Mavoi Satum: Building a New FuThis year, the WGC received 64 ture: Emotional Support for mesoravot get (Jewish women denied grant requests. In the granting and a divorce): $5,922 funding process, the members dis ELI: Israel Association for Child cussed, researched and learned more Protection: School-based cyberabout ways to help those with disabilibullying prevention and awareties, victims of terror, orphans, chilness: $5,500 dren and women in abusive situations  ZAKA - K-9 leadership training and – and to provide educational support, empowerment program for youth assistance is business development and at risk: $5,500 more. WGC granting is a “feel good”  JobKatif: Academic nurses trainproject for those of us involved. Any woman is welcome to this ing program for Ethiopian Israelis: Circle. It’s a wonderful opportunity to $5,922 meet other women in our community.  Jerusalem Rape Crisis Center in Each Circle participant contributes memory of founding member $500. All that is required is that and a Linda Feldman: Sexual violence big heart to help others in Israel. The prevention education afterschool meetings are few but informative, and program for at-risk youth: $4,500 there are some social events, too.  Kaima Nahalal – Project LavenOur dollars matter! This year we der: Treatment for at-risk girls and raised $57,844. Since its inception in young women: $4,500 2014, the WGC has granted more than  YEDID - The Association for $230,000 to organizations in Israel. Community Empowerment in IsPlease consider joining the WGC rael: Women’s Voices: Working for our 2020 granting cycle, which with concerned stakeholders – inopens in September 2019. For more including low income and financially formation, contact Chair Debbie Yonunstable women – to ensure a nuker at debbieyonker@comcast.net, or trition safety net that will protect email me at at jlisitza@jfedsrq.org. and promote food security and The 2019 Women’s Giving Circle nutrition for pregnant women and funded the following organizations their babies based on the WIC and programs: model: $4,500  DVI - Dental Volunteers for Israel:  Orr Shalom for Children and Youth Free dental care for at-risk youth at Risk: Orr Shalom Safe Haven and abused women: $5,000 Camps for Orphans: $4,500

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Federation proudly supports area synagogues By Kim Mullins, Chief Operating Oﬃcer

n this program year, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s support for our area congregations totaled close to $178,000. These funds represent sponsorships for programs ranging from scholar-inresidence weekends to food festivals, need-based religious school scholarships, holiday meals for families in need, and LIFE & LEGACY™ grant awards. For example, we grant funds to cover the cost of Passover Seder meals for those who are identified by our synagogues as in need or at risk. This year, more than $4,000 was granted to provide meals for close to 150 individuals. In addition to direct financial assistance, many of our program sponsorships include marketing support, such as ads in The Jewish News and the Federation’s eblast. These communications vehicles help expand the synagogues’ outreach efforts to the greater Jewish community. This year, I had the pleasure of representing our Federation at the Chabad of Venice and North Port’s Chanukah Klezmer Festival in downtown Venice. It was heartwarming to be part of this annual event and to hear so many attendees tell me it’s something they look forward to every year. Even a short rainstorm didn’t deter the crowd. They all stayed to enjoy the lighting of the giant menorah at sundown. These sponsorships afford us the chance to help bring new and innovative programs to the community. That was the case with the Freedom Song program hosted by Temple Emanu-El

in April. Freedom Song interweaves the Passover Seder with stories of addiction with a cast comprised of addicts who are in recovery from addictions to drugs, alcohol and other destructive behaviors. Rabbi Jonathan Katz, our Community Chaplain, had this to say about the program: “I very much appreciated the opportunity to experience Freedom Song. What an imaginative, stimulating and informative way to present the range of dimensions associated with addiction. Thank you Rabbi Michael Shefrin for advancing the idea, and Howard [and the Federation] for making it possible. This kind of program suggests just how significant the way a particular topic is presented can be in terms of meaningful engagement. The Freedom Song’s poignant, funny and candid dramatizing approach to dealing with such a sensitive, multi-dimensional issue like addiction prompted (or shall I say liberated) me to think about the subject in ways that would not have occurred had it been simply a fairly straightforward, more conventional presentation about addiction issues in the Jewish community. This is why I am so grateful that a program like Freedom Song found its way to Sarasota.” We look forward to continuing this important work with our synagogues, and are eager to see what programs they propose for the coming year. For more information about sponsorships, please contact me at 941.552.6300 or kmullins@jfedsrq.org.

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June 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

An impactful legacy for our Jewish community By Marty Katz, Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing

he ballroom at Michael’s On East was abuzz with jubilation on April 4 as 11 Jewish agencies and their 325 donors celebrated with fellowship, fine dining and music, having met their goals for the second year of the LIFE & LEGACY™ program. Our community can be very proud of the statistics over a two-year period: 536 letters of intent from 463 donors, raising $15,680,079 in estimated value of gifts for our Jewish community. What’s more, the number of people attending the yearly dinner was 40% over the year before. “For next year, if we add another 93 people to get from 325 to 418, that’s a whopping increase of more than 80% over year one. Think of what that would mean for the future of our Jewish community,” said Al Ernst, LIFE & LEGACY Community Chair. LIFE & LEGACY is a national initiative, founded by Harold Grinspoon of Springfield, Massachusetts. Tammy Dolin, Grinspoon Foundation National Consultant, said in her remarks to the donors in the room, “Without you, our organizations would not exist. Your generosity, support, time and hard work over the years has and will continue to educate, support and nurture generations of Jews. As Helen Keller so eloquently stated, ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’” Federation Board Chair Michael Ritter and Federation CEO Howard Tevlowitz had the honor of awarding grants from the Federation to all partnering agencies having met or exceeded their goals for year two. The agencies that secured a minimum of 18 letters of intent received a $5,000 incentive grant to be used at their discretion. Those agencies were Aviva- A Campus for Senior Life, Her-

shorin Schiff Community Day School, JFCS of the Suncoast and Temple Beth Israel. The agencies that secured a minimum of 25 or more letters of intent received a $7,500 incentive grant to be used at their discretion. Those agencies were Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch, Chabad of Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Chabad of Venice and North Port, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, Temple Beth Sholom, Temple Emanu-El and Temple Sinai. The feeling in the room was pure joy and hope for the future of our Jewish community. As Al Ernst and his wife Meredith remarked, “LIFE & LEGACY has changed this community from having 11 different silos to one Jewish family for the entire community. It has changed the culture of philanthropy.” For more information on the LIFE & LEGACY program, please contact Gisele Pintchuck at 941.706.0029 or gpintchuck@jfedsrq.org.

Atlanta and became attached. It’s a very welcoming congregation. We know it will outlive us and will live here forever. I couldn’t think of anywhere better to make a contribution for life. This initiative has gotten people together in a community purpose…to ensure the survival of Judaism. Dr. Issac Kalvaria, Chabad of Sarasota (incoming president): I have a very strong affiliation to Chabad. I believe they have a big say in the future of Judaism. I am leaving a legacy for posterity for my kids and grandkids through Chabad. This initiative has a huge impact on not only getting people together for a single cause but for sharing a presence for Jews in this town when they are threatened worldwide. Abbie Davis, Chabad of Venice & North Port: I wanted a Jewish home for my son to come home to. We are bringing Yiddishkeit to little Venice, Florida. It is the dream of my grandparents and their parents – that we can make a difference

See page 6 for photos from the LIFE & LEGACY celebration What follows are comments from proud donors who had a lot to say about why they are leaving a legacy to their agency of choice and the impact the LIFE & LEGACY program will have on our area for years to come. Carolyn Kaplan, Aviva: I feel everyone owes an obligation to those who follow us because it was there for us and the future needs to be ensured by each of us. Barbara and Barry Dolin, Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch: We have no children. We love Chabad. We moved here two years ago from

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in the lives of those who embrace our heritage. Keren and Josh Lifrak, Hershorin Schiﬀ Community Day School: Our kids are thriving in this environment. The teachers are incredible and it feels like a family. We are leaving behind an opportunity for growth for our Jewish community. The initiative has brought everyone together. We’re unifying to continue our traditions and grow this community. Gloria Feibus, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee: Federation has always been dear to me and I love the support of Israel. It’s important to give so you can support the future of all of these organizations. Stan Rutstein, JFCS of the Suncoast: I believe passionately in their mission

and the people in the community who need their help and guidance. It should go on in perpetuity. Jewish people should band together to help humanity. It is critically important that our ethnicity be supportive of human beings. The idea of legacies is brilliant! Earl Gordon, Temple Beth Israel: The temple is very much a part of our lives. It felt very important to ensure the continuity after we are gone. This initiative is phenomenal – everyone seems to have a feeling for their organization. Our community spirit has evolved; so beautiful to see. We are part of a total community. Absolutely great! Don Friedman, Temple Beth Sholom: It’s an easy, painless way to help my shul. TBS is central to my wife and me. With all of our activities and involvement throughout the city, our shul comes first. Besides all the money raised, you now have different organizations communicating with one another. Ellyn Bender, Temple Sinai (president elect): It’s a wonderful way for me, as someone with limited funds, to be able to enjoy my lifestyle, yet give something significant long after I am here. Legacy is critical. I committed to a small amount and I hope it can increase. It’s important to feel a part of the temple and the community. This is tremendous for our community. Dr. Dori Goldfarb, Temple Emanu-El: The temple feels like a second family to me and it’s good to leave things to family. This initiative has encouraged people to help out the community. Fabulous! Judy Fox, Federation, Aviva and Temple Sinai: It’s important to continue the future survival of Jewish institutions and we do that by leaving a legacy. My father helped build Aviva. Whether one is observant or not, having Jewish institutions is critical for the non-Jewish community to know they exist.

Our apologies to Seth Berman for not providing credit in the May issue of The Jewish News for his beautiful photography (including the photo below) at the opening night of the Jewish Film Festival. Thank you, Seth!

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June 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

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 49, Number 6 June 2019 32 pages USPS Permit No. 167 July 2019 Issue Deadlines: Editorial: May 30, 2019 Advertising: June 3, 2019

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u-El: mily ADVERTISING SALES gs to Marty Katz – 941.706.0033 aged PROOFREADERS FabLaurel Ash, Edward D. Cohen, Marianne Mandell, Jack Mansbach, and Elliot Ofsowitz, Linda Stern, Bryna Tevlowitz uture d we MISSION STATEMENT: The Jewish News of ather Sarasota-Manatee strives to be the source of news and features of special interest to the e is Jewish community of Sarasota-Manatee, to nsti- provide a forum for the exchange of ideas wish and opinions in the Jewish community, and

Just Reel Films partnership with Embracing Our Differences By Brenna Wilhm

ust Reel Films, a monthly film series that started last December, showcases Jewish-themed movies to audiences around the community. Rosann Black, the chair of the Just Reel Films selection committee, says that some of the films are “biographies of great entertainers who have given us moments of joy, laughter and creative inspiration. Others are educational and stimulate awareness of the history of the Holocaust and the emergence of the State of Israel. Others touch on how racism and prejudice impact lives and communities.” Recognizing the educational value of the films, Embracing Our Differences (EOD) partnered with Just Reel Films and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee in April to show one of the movies to more than 700 area middle and high school students. We chose Big Sonia, a film about one of the last remaining Holocaust survivors in Kansas City. At 4'8", Sonia may be tiny but her fragile frame masks the horrors she endured. We felt this poignant and compelling story would touch students in an immediate way. Sonia was only 15 when she watched her mother disappear forever behind gas chamber doors. Her teenage years were a blur of concentration camps and death marches. On liberation day, she was accidentally shot through the chest, yet again miraculously survived. Sonia is the ultimate

survivor, and a bridge between cultures and generations. Bernadette Bennett, Ed.D., is a member of the Curriculum and Instruction Department of Sarasota County schools and is also the director of curriculum and the school liaison for Embracing Our Differences. She notes that when students saw Big Sonia, many were able to connect with Sonia’s story because she was the age they are now.

how moved they were by Sonia’s story, connecting what they have previously learned in history books to the everimportant message to never forget.” As a nonprofit that uses the transformative power of art and education to celebrate and promote the diversity of the human family, EOD’s community outreach initiatives are vital to its mission. EOD seeks to inspire students to embrace the full potential of inclu-

Big Sonia being screened at a local school

“Her influence spans generations and cultures, and we were able to see how her story helped teenagers examine their own lives,” says Bennett. She adds that each class discussed societal issues after seeing the film, including elder rights and ageism, inter-generational communication, discrimination and injustice. “We were delighted by the reaction of both the students and their teachers,” says Bennett. “Many told us

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sion and diversity. For both educators and students, this new awareness can be life-changing. We’re thrilled to have partnered with the Federation to present a movie from the Just Reel Films series in area schools and look forward to continuing this vital partnership. Brenna Wilhm is the director of operations for Embracing Our Diﬀerences. Her position is partially underwritten by The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee.

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June 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Celebrating the success of Year 2 of LIFE & LEGACY !

™

Michael Ritter, Isaac Azerad, Stephen Fancher, Jay Solomon, Robin Sweeting, Howard Tevlowitz

Al and Meredith Ernst, Howard Tevlowitz, Tammy Dolin, Michael Ritter

Anne Spindel, Michael Ritter, Daryl Worobow, Mark Sharﬀ, David Chaifetz, Rabbi Sholom Schmerling, Tammy Dolin, Rabbi Chain Steinmetz, Rabbi Mendy Bukiet, Howard Tevlowitz

Nelle Miller and Emma Joels

Rachel and Darren Saltzberg

Barbara Jacobs and Karen Litchig

Rosann Black and Ilene Fox

Norma and Albert Cohen

Bruce and Janet Udell

Mark The Sharﬀ , Marion Levine, Conrad and Wendy Wicks, Ken Marsh, Tanice Knopp Jewish Federation offers

Help.

ation. help.

Photos by Cliﬀ Roles

Photos courtesy Cliff Roles

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

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Adrienne Cohen and Stephen Fancher

Mort and Bunny Skirboll

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Temple Sinai guests: Richard Greenspan, Mark and Elana Margolis, Kathy Bernstein, Sarah Johns, Karen Worobow, Judy Swerdlow, (in back:) Steve Weintraub, Myron Bernstein, Daryl Worobow, Len Swerdlow

Robert and Esther Heller, Larry Greenspon

Ruthy Hyatt, Chanie and Rabbi Mendy Bukiet

Elliott and Dana Corn, Jack and Susi Steenbarger

Rabbi Sholom and Rivka Schmerling, Abbie Davis

Gisele Pintchuck, Isaac Azerad, Howard Tevlowitz

Diane and Norman Cohen, Jill Levine

June 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Y !Volunteer Spotlight A passionate educator: Al Treidel ™

By Linda Lipson

change agent, an educator and especially the Jewish community.” a creative thinker all wrapped After attending the Israel at 70 Shuk up in one. How lucky are we celebration and helping Temple Beth at the Federation to have Al Treidel as Sholom receive a grant from The Jewone of our extraordinary volunteers. ish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Al Treidel is a devoted educator in for Dr. Judy Feld Carr to speak about both secular and Judaic areas. He startrescuing the Syrian Jewish commued off his career in Connecticut as a nity, he became very impressed with teacher of English, history and debate, the Federation. “Both instances demand then became a school administraonstrated the importance of having a tor. He also was an educational director strong Federation that not only acts and youth director for congregations. to unite a multi-dimensional Jewish In addition, Al taught at MERKAZ, community but serves as a catalyst to the Community High School of Jewish foster exciting and meaningful Jewish Studies. There, he created the “Adopt programs as well as providing the coma Survivor Program” that paired high munity with a strong and unified voice school juniors and seat critical times.” niors with Holocaust He wasn’t sure how survivors. Each student he could volunteer at the chronicled a survivor’s Federation until he talked story and even signed a with the professional staff pledge to attend a spewho helped him figure cial conference in Washout where his skills and ington, D.C., in 2045 on knowledge would be most the 100th anniversary of effective. Al says, “The the Shoah, to tell their Federation represents the survivor’s story. This exentire Jewish community perience rolled over into and enables the communiAl Treidel Al’s secular life when he ty to speak with one voice, started a program called L’Dor V’Dor, both in good times as well as in times in which high school students created of turmoil. It promotes viable programs relationships and wrote their “stories” and offers valuable assistance to many with the octogenarians in the area. Jewish institutions. As an individual, So how did he find Sarasota? His working with the Federation enables parents lived in Port Charlotte for 22 me to make a valuable contribution to years, and he and his wife Ann visited the entire community.” them often. They got to know Sarasota Al now works with Andrea Eiffert, and fell in love with the community. Federation’s Teen and Family Program They also started attending Shabbat Coordinator, by helping to select stuservices at Temple Beth Sholom. dents for scholarships to participate on It was obvious he would want to the annual March of the Living trip. volunteer in his new city. Al says, “My Al, himself, went on the trip nine parents always emphasized the imporyears ago when he lived in Connecticut. tance of giving back to the community, To help the students be better prepared Frie

witz

for the trip, Al has created educational working with the Federation to create materials which teach them what they quality educational and cultural prowill see, where they will go and the grams to enrich and unify the entire history behind it. Al also shared surviJewish community. He became facilivor stories and his own family history. tator of the group. Andrea Eiffert says, “Al spent “There is something very special about 10 hours with the students, sharabout doing for others without receiving history, anecdotes and personal stoing extrinsic rewards. I feel a sense of ries. It is clear the subject matter is very exhilaration, personal satisfaction, joy important to him and also very personand value by touching others in a posial, and it was evident to the students tive way and building community. Fortoo! We are hopeful he will continue tunately, most of my professional skills this critical volunteer work, which is are employed in my volunteer work. just one way he shares the stories of Naturally, the most enjoyable part of those unable to speak for themselves.” all is bringing a program or project to Al has also been very active in other fruition and meeting new people in the process.” aspects of volunteering – teaching classes at Temple Beth Sholom and chair of Lucky for us, he has brought all his the temple’s Continuing Education. Al knowledge and skills to the Federation says, “I am presently in the exploratory and the local Jewish community. Constages of trying to create an Adopt The a Bridge gratulations to Al Treidel on being seGroup meets Thursday Survivor program in Sarasota which lected June’s Volunteer of pm the Month! afternoons from 1:00–4:00 would involve teens and young parents For those interested in volunteering, on the Federation Campus paired with willing area survivors.” there are many ways to contribute (582 Road). In 2018, Al met with leaders of McIntosh and be part of the volunteer life at the Open to intermediate Temple Beth Israel, Temple Emanu-El, Federation. For more information, advanced bridge players. Temple Sinai and Temple Bethand Sholom contact Jeremy Lisitza, Director of Into discuss working together. For All had novation and Volunteer Engagement, morea information, similar vision of creating DALET, repat 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq. call Bob Satnick resenting these four congregations and org. at 941.538.3739

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June 2019

AIPAC Policy Conference

The AIPAC Policy Conference is the largest annual gathering of America’s proIsrael community. Through demonstrations of groundbreaking Israeli innovations, keynote speeches by American and Israeli leaders, inspiring moments on stage, and intimate educational sessions, Policy Conference delegates experience the full scale of pro-Israel activism in three powerful days. Every year, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee provides full scholarships for local high school students to attend the conference. This year, on March 23-26, four area teens attended the event. They share their reflections below. For more information about AIPAC, visit AIPAC.org. For more information about how to apply for a scholarship to attend the AIPAC Policy Conference, visit jfedsrq.org/AIPAC.

Beyond partisanship

By Aaron Prokupets attended the AIPAC Policy Conference and was impressed that sessions included individuals from both sides of the political aisle, as well as specialists from many different fields who discussed the important relationship between the United States and Israel.

Throughout the conference, there was one common message: the importance of bipartisanism. As a secondtime attendee of the conference, and having listened to many speeches by such prominent politicians as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence over the past two years, it’s evident to me that supporting Israel is an issue that goes beyond partisanship. Without support from both political parties, both houses of Congress and, of course, the President, the safety of Israel would be in jeopardy. Several speakers emphasized that many Americans are unfamiliar with Israel’s history and importance, and they encouraged the audience to spread advocacy to retain good ties with Israel. Additionally, the forces that are striving to delegitimize Israel were mentioned frequently. Movements like BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) were discussed in depth. Over the past two years of attending this conference, I’ve learned that movements like these have infiltrated critical places, including college campuses and even governments worldwide. It’s disappointing that universities around the world promote BDS policies. The most important thing I took away from AIPAC is knowing that taking political action is key to having our voices heard. The conference gave the Sarasota delegation an opportunity to meet with Congressman Vern Buchanan. Going to Capitol Hill and discussing the issues most important to me regarding Israel with Congressman Buchanan was a powerful reminder that our opinions count. Our representatives are here to represent us and, if enough of them hear what we think, they might be inclined to vote in our favor. I would like to strongly thank the Federation and its donors for giving me the opportunity to attend the conference the past two years. The experience has greatly broadened my perspective. Aaron Prokupets is a 12th-grade student at Sarasota High School and will be attending the University of Florida next year.

FEDERATION NEWS

ing off to college soon and want to be more aware of BDS on campus. After the BDS workshop, we were able to intelligently discuss the BDS movement with Congressman Vern Buchanan. Another impactful moment at AIPAC was when Vice President Pence spoke about the ways the United States is helping Israel with its Iron Dome defense system.

Close encounters with policy-making and innovation

By Julian Read was fortunate to attend the 2019 AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. Each day was filled with a rich diversity of speeches, presentations and activities. We were treated to up-close demonstrations of inventions and products from Israeli innovators. We heard from interesting speakers, including politicians and spokespeople from Guatemala, Israel and Romania. Even Vice President Pence was there and addressed us. One especially entertaining presentation was an Israeli version of the TV show Shark Tank. Three Israeli entrepreneurs gave a quick presentation about the products they created. One

was a music subscription service that would allow subscribers to collaborate with artists around the globe to create original songs through a mobile app. Another was a new take on a cast, with an innovative see-through design that’s less bulky and made from biodegradable material. A third entrepreneur showed us a mobile app with a focus on nutrition and diet. Through the app, subscribers could get recipes with allergy and diet ingredient alternatives. I also enjoyed learning about the pro-Israel lobbying process and the role each one of us can serve. We were able to test this out when my three Sarasota colleagues and I were given the opportunity to speak with Congressman Vern Buchanan about AIPAC legislation. It was exciting to sit in the actual offices and chambers where legislation and policies are discussed and made. After returning to Sarasota, I was curious to learn more about Israel’s history and its relationship with the U.S. I thank the Federation and its donors for the scholarship they provided, which allowed me to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Julian Read is a 12th-grade student at Sarasota High School.

Connected for good

By Eliana Stupp ’ve always been interested in the politics of Israel and how the United States impacts Israel. That’s why I was so excited to have the opportunity to go to this year’s AIPAC Policy Conference. My personal experience was very positive. I signed up for workshops that pertained to what I am interested in, including the BDS movement. I’m head-

Looking for something Jewishrelated to do this month? See the Jewish Happenings section for 34 events in June.

The conference also showcased Israel’s scientific, medical, technological and entrepreneurial advancements. One of the entrepreneurial innovations we were introduced to is a startup company that uses artificial intelligence to mimic the knowledge and experience of a chef and nutritionist, enabling users to personalize recipes to their dietary needs. I’m grateful I was given the opportunity to go on this amazing trip and I thank all the donors and sponsors who made this possible. Eliana Stupp is a 12th-grade student at Riverview High School.

Fighting for a better tomorrow

By Tayla Rosenthal ’ve never experienced anything like the AIPAC Policy Conference before. That individuals with such a wide range of views on different topics can come together to promote the Israel/United States relationship in a bipartisan manner is truly incredible. The passion of the people I met there was inspiring. My own interest in Israel advo-

cacy began during my semester-abroad program, Heller High, a four-month academic and experiential program in Israel. During my time there, I fell in love with the country, and have made it my goal ever since to stand up for Israel’s right to thrive. I was also selected as a StandWithUs high school intern. This internship gave me the knowledge and tools to not only educate myself about Israel, but to also educate my community. So, when I was given the opportunity to attend the AIPAC Policy Conference, I applied without question. Without the Federation and its generous scholarship, I would not have been able to attend. By far, my favorite part of the conference was exercising my right to lobby – for the first time in my life! We met with Congressman Vern Buchanan to impress upon him that we believe the BDS movement should not be supported and why he should cosign Resolution 246. I also advocated the importance of a stronger Israel/ America relationship. I felt that the congressman heard our voices and that

Tayla Rosenthal with Congressman Vern Buchanan

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our opinions were important to him – an experience I will never forget. This was proof of the importance of writing, calling and visiting congressmen to let them know how you feel about issues you care about. Thank you AIPAC and the Federation for helping me realize how imperative it is to keep fighting for a better tomorrow. Tayla Rosenthal is a junior at Lakewood Ranch High School.

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FEDERATION NEWS

June 2019

When school ends, hunger begins – ﬁve things you didn’t know

road onth m inThis year, The Jewish Federation of ll inSarasota-Manatee participated once madeagain in All Faiths Food Bank’s Camor Is-paign Against Summer Hunger. We ctedhave been a leader in supporting this tern.campaign since its inception in 2014. edgeOur cumulative support of $150,000 yselfover the last six years has helped feed mythousands of children each summer. 1. 40,000 kids may not know where ortu-their next meal is coming from this Con-summer tion.In Sarasota County, nearly 50% of ener-children participate in the free and rebeenduced meal programs at school, and in DeSoto County, 100% of children rely theon these meals during the school year. rightThe number is even greater when you life!include younger siblings not yet in the Bu-school system, bringing the total chilt wedren at risk of hunger over the summer d notto more than 40,000. coSo, when school ends for the sumatedmer, how do these children find the rael/help they need? the All Faiths Food Bank’s Campaign thatAgainst Summer Hunger has become our community’s strongest line of defense against child hunger. 2. Lack of food means missing out on summer fun and learning activities For kids who depend on school meal programs, that last school bell could signal the start of three long, hungry months at home with a bare pantry. Consistent, nutritious meals are essential to a growing body and mind. Even relatively short periods of hunger can contribute to developmental delays, behavioral problems and diminished concentration. All Faiths Food Bank’s goal is to

nourish children, which in turn helps boost their ability to learn. Thanks to funds raised through the Campaign and valued partnerships, All Faiths not only provides food for children but addresses the importance of continued learning over the summer through collaboration with child-centric nonprofits including the schools, libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, Early Learning Center and Girls Inc. 3. 203 Partners and Programs work to provide 2.7 million meals Collaboration throughout the two counties are vital in providing a safe place for children to find the food they need. Last year, 203 partners and programs worked together to provide 2.7 million meals to almost 36,000 children. Key summer programs include:  Providing free backpacks with meals and snacks for kids aged 18 and under at different sites including libraries, summer camps and early learning child centers.  Providing fresh produce, meats and groceries for children and families at Mobile Pantries.  Providing food and Nutrition Education at 11 Learning Academies, which teach families how to shop for and prepare healthy, low-cost meals.  Operating School Pantries, which provide families with fresh produce, meat and groceries.  Partnering with Sarasota and DeSoto County School District Food and Nutrition Services to enhance the meal services they provide through the summer schools

A Seder for all

im – By Sydney Harlow, Program Director, Gulf Coast Hillel This hy was this year’s Passover the Haggadah. On the Seder table was ting, Seder, co-hosted by Gulf a beautiful handmade matzah cover o let Coast Hillel and Campus from one of our Hillel presidents, Elly sues Ministries, different from all other Bovarnick (New College ’19). Seders? It was an interfaith Seder and We were able to do a unique variaderadrew in students and staff from New tion on the traditional four questions. mperAs people arrived, they were asked if etterCollege of Florida, Ringling College of Art + Design and USF Sarasotathey spoke any languages and were Manatee. We planned for 40 students given the four questions on a slip of aketo attend but in the end we had almost paper for them to read later in the Sed60 people! Special thanks to Essie and er. We ended up having students, both Harold Garfinkel for underwriting the Jewish and non-Jewish, participate in Seder meal. English, Hebrew, Spanish, German and The evening started with an inChinese! terfaith prayer from Reverend MelaThe maggid (story) portion of the nie Kim, campus minister at Ringling Seder was shared with the students College of Art + Design, and continvia a skit telling the story of Passover. ued with a traditional Passover Seder Many students from different faiths with some twists. The Seder included came together to partake in the storyboth modern and traditional takes on telling. The aﬁkomen was hidden on the first floor of the Ringling College Library. The students had to look for it quietly since other students were studying around them. It was not an easy task. Shir Baron, Ringling College Hillel President, said, “The Seder truly did justice to the Passover holiday. It allowed those of us who are away from our homes and families to celebrate. It encouraged the Jewish tradition of hosting and asking questions, educating many of our guests in our tradition, and allowing them to take part in it.” For more information on Gulf Coast Hillel, contact me at 305.968.6266 or Elly Bovarnick (New College ’19) sydney@gchillel.org. with her handmade matzah cover

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and other community sites where children attend. 4. Over 1,000 volunteers dedicate their time Throughout the year volunteers come together bringing the Food Bank’s mission alive, especially during the summer when they help with programs that provide children with the food they need to succeed. Last summer, 1,112 volunteers dedicated their time. 5. You can make a diﬀerence, too Join us to help feed children this summer by dropping off food supplies at the Federation office at 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota. Visit www.allfaithsfood bank.org to learn more about how you can make a difference.

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Every Saturday Morning:

Shabbat Service & Torah Discussion

June 8:

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Gulf Coast Hillel Program Director Sydney Harlow and Kegan Jones (Ringling ’19) light the candles

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June 2019

FEDERATION NEWS

Hereville graphic novel series author visits Sarasota C

Thi

By Andrea Eiﬀert, Teen & Family Program Coordinator

everal PJ Our Way kids participated in a comic book workshop on April 11 with cartoonist Barry Deutsch, Community Day School’s 2019 Janice Kaplin Author’s Day presenter. He is best known among PJ Our Way readers for his graphic novel series, Hereville, adventures about a monster-fighting 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl. During the presentation, Deutsch captured the attention of participants with a cartoon character creation named “Frederick,” who came to life with the children’s help and suggestions. “What type of nose should this character have?” Deutsch asked the kids. “A really, really long one,” responded one of the children. And, just like that, a ski slope nose appeared on the smartboard, thanks to Deutsch’s tablet technology enabling him to draw

his characters directly on his computer which are then transmitted to the smartboard for viewing. Other features included a tall, spiky Mohawk haircut, a long mustache with people, yes peo-

Cartoonist Barry Deutsch created Frederick with the help of the PJ Our Way kids

ple, walking along its edge, and twenty piercings in his ears. After that demonstration, Deutsch provided the children with worksheets and let them draw their own comic characters with pointers and feedback along the way. Finally, each child received a signed copy of How Mirka

Passover pandemonium By Laura Freedman

n April, PJ Library and Temple Sinai partnered to present a Passover experience for preschool through second-grade children and their families. The fun began with the story of Passover, which included Moses and Pharaoh puppets and even a burning bush! Next, the families rotated among the four different centers featuring crafts, make-and-taste, a song session and a simulation of parting the Red Sea. At the crafts station, children and their parents creatively decorated their aﬁkomen bags, and designed Passover cards for friends and family. At the delicious make-and-taste center, we were invited to follow a recipe for charoset and then taste it atop matzah. The song session was led by song leaders Gil and Snait Ben-Herut. Everyone learned the upbeat renditions of catchy Passover tunes. The final rotation was a test of balance. The children donned sunglasses to represent the plague of darkness and crawled through tunnels to

emerge to a giant “wave” that hugged a balance beam that symbolized the parted sea. At the end of all this pandemonium, everyone united to perform a rowdy rendition of the songs we learned at the songfest center. It was a lively, funfilled time for all in attendance. Laura Freedman is the Director of Early Childhood Education at The Gan at Temple Sinai.

Jett Segal creates a Passover card

Parents and kids learn about the Seder plate and the symbolism

Grinspoon Foundation, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and our incredible donors, including Edie atee and David Chaifetz. For more information about theDay program, contact me at 941.552.6308from or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org. To subscribeMon to PJ Our Way, visit: https://jfedsrq.learn bridg org/pjow. ship T exch time egat “ oppo toge Sara direc Wer relat er’s PJ Our Way participants with author and cartoonist Barry Deutsch frien only W hosp out in a giou tantl ISRAEL PROGRAMS SKIP to m IN MEMORY OF (Send a Kid to Israel) Sara Cleve Fuller bers IN HONOR OF The Partners & Staﬀ impa Wendy & Jerry Feinstein of Ian Black Real Estate S Stephanie & Stan Pastor – sch MAZEL TOV NOTE: To be publicly time Patti & David Wertheimer inclu acknowledged in Bryna & Howard Tevlowitz The Jewish News, Honor Cards tract Bob Heller Mus require a minimum $10 Bryna & Howard Tevlowitz contribution per listing. You can and drum send Honor Cards directly from shop www.jfedsrq.org. For more raud information, call 941.552.6304. boat

Got Her Sword, the first book in the Hereville series. PJ Our Way is a very active program that engages kids between the ages of 9 and 11 years old, and their families, with books and activities that enhance their Jewish journey. The program is completely free for families, thanks to the generosity of The Harold

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Eva Portnow-Rivas stirs the ingredients for charoset

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

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June 2019

COMMUNITY FOCUS

a Community Day School hosts students from Israel This program is Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

rom April 8-16, thanks to a genvisiting Israelis participated in Passwish erous grant from The Jewish over activity centers, the first annual and Federation of Sarasota-ManJanis Kaplan Author’s Day featuring Edie noted graphic novelist Barry Deutsch, atee, the Hershorin Schiff Community and improv activities facilitated by Day School hosted 14 Israeli students the Florida Studio Theatre. from Sarasota’s Sister City of Tel 6308 Amy Meese, Community Day cribeMond. During their visit, the Israelis School’s director of admissions & dsrq.learned about life in Sarasota and built school operations, and parent of a bridges of understanding and friendCommunity Day student, enjoyed the ship with their American peers. This is the third year of the student opportunity to host an Israeli teen. exchange program; it was the second “You learn that even though we have time the Rabin School has sent a delcultural differences, people are people, and families are families,” she said. egation here. “Being together in a home makes it a “This year, I was more focused on opportunities for the kids to spend time deeper connection than if the students together rather than getting to know had stayed in hotels each day. There’s personal time, downtime, riding in car Sarasota,” said Community Day’s director of Jewish learning, Melissa time, kitchen table time... there’s an inWerbow. “My biggest goal is to create timacy and level of exposure that you relationships so that kids see each othwouldn’t get if they stayed off-site as a group.” er’s countries as the place where their This visit continues several years friends live rather than as a place they of interaction between Community only hear about in the news.” Day School and youth from Tel Mond. While here, the Israelis enjoyed In 2017, 15 teens from Tel Mond hospitality at 12 households throughcame to Sarasota to be immersed in out the community. They participated our community; last year, 11 students in a wide variety of educational, relifrom Community Day traveled to Isgious and fun activities. Most importantly, the Israelis had the opportunity rael where they got a glimpse into the to meet and interact with Sarasota community members, which had a dramatic impact on all involved. Some of the activities – scheduled as well as free time with host families – included visits to area attractions like the Ringling Museum, Selby Gardens and Myakka State Park, the drum circle on Siesta Key, shopping at UTC, a Marauders baseball game and Community Day School and Israeli students enjoy drumming, facilitated by Giving Tree Music boating. At the school, the

everyday life of Israeli families, saw some of the most significant historical sites in the country, spent as much time as possible with Israeli peers, and were immersed into Israeli culture. For brothers Matthew and Joshua Cook, the opportunity to live for a week with an Israeli peer was an amazing experience. Matthew is excited to be a part of the trip to Tel Mond next year so he can see everyone again. Both boys plan to stay in touch with the student they hosted this year. Adley Lifrak – who has family in Israel – hopes to see the student his family hosted, if he has his Bar Mitzvah in Israel or when he goes to visit relatives next year. He said, “Personally, I thought it was an awesome experience. It was exciting being able to talk in Hebrew.” “As a Jewish day school, we want our students of all faiths to understand and appreciate the rich history and beautiful culture of Israel,” said Com-

munity Day School head of school Dan Ceaser. “There’s no better way to do that than personal interaction. We’re grateful to the Jewish Federation for supporting this extraordinary learning and cultural opportunity for our students and the Sarasota Jewish community.”

Israeli student Eitan Hadjadj (left) with host family members Keren Shani-Lifrak and sons Micah and Adley Lifrak after playing tennis

Students from Tel Mond and Sarasota’s Community Day School attend a Bradenton Marauders game

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June 2019

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Explaining the longevity of the Jewish people

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

here is one “miracle” that most demographers, historians and anthropologists can agree upon: the longevity of the Jewish people. Living in the diaspora for over two millennia and in spite of rampant antiSemitism, pogroms and holocausts, the Jewish people live. Am Yisroel Chai! Why and how? Often forced to live in ghettoes or special zones for Jews only, the religion and culture has survived against all odds. Various major empires tried to destroy the Jews and Judaism. The Jewish people were forced into exile

and/or were made slaves. Isn’t it fascinating that the Jews persisted and those empires have all vanished? Just how did that happen? There must be some logical reasons to explain 3,500 years of Jewish continuity. With anti-Semitism on the rise, is the Jewish future lying in harm’s way? What can we learn from the past that might guide the next generations of Jews so they may not have to face an existential threat of their own? The secret to longevity might just be hidden from contemporary Jewry because of laxness in observance, Jewish com-

munity involvement or formal Jewish education. Ahad Ha’am famously said, “More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.” Can some of these adverse trends be reversed and will that help Judaism to flourish? There is so much to ponder. Come study the fascinating logic of it all! The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is offering an eight-week course starting Monday, June 3 (3:15 to 4:30 p.m.), titled “Longevity of the Jews.” Classes are held on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, 580

McIntosh Road, Sarasota. To enroll, please contact me atBy G 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail. com. The course fee of $70 includes all materials. This course is open to everyone regardless of background or personal orientation. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)(3) non-denominational not-for-profit organization, which also operates in part through a grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

Temple Emanu-El Charity Golf Tournament

By Barry Gerber & Ben Klein, Golf Committee Co-Chairs | This program is Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

emple Emanu-El, in partnership with The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, held a charity golf event on April 7 at The Meadows Country Club’s private golf course in Sarasota. Run by both the Brotherhood and Sisterhood, the 16-member committee was led by cochairs Barry Gerber and Ben Klein. Ninety-six golfers enjoyed a best ball scramble golf format followed by a delightful lunch buffet, awards ceremony, raﬄe drawings and a silent auction. Prizes were awarded to the team with the lowest gross score, men and

women longest drive in the fairway, longest putt, and men and women nearest to the pin. This tournament was made possible by the extraordinary generosity of our 51 sponsors who donated a total of $21,000. Special thanks go to BMW of Sarasota, Lerner-Cohen Medical Practice, and Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home, our major sponsors. An additional 120 businesses and individual donors provided prizes for the raﬄes and gifts at the silent auction. Proceeds totaled $33,000 from the event and will go to community proj-

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Sarasota-Manatee, and Lauren Yoked, Executive Director of American Friends of Leket Israel. Although no one won the Cadillac SUV at the hole-in-one opportunity at hole #13, the tournament did have a major hole-in-one winner at hole #10. Andrew Hertzfeld, a member of Temple Emanu-El, dazzled his teammates with a fantastic 161-yard shot to the hole. Congratulations to Andy! The charity tournament was an 11-month effort that succeeded because of the efforts and skill sets of Temple Emanu-El’s dedicated temple member volunteers. This was the largest fundraiser ever experienced at Temple Emanu-El aside from major building Tournament foursome of Andrew Hertzfeld (hole-in-one awardee), campaigns. Michael Krasnoﬀ, Merrill Hoyt, Lowell Lakritz

ects at Temple Emanu-El and to Leket Israel, the national food bank of Israel, whose sole focus is rescuing healthy, surplus food from restaurants and farms and delivering it to those in need. VIPs attending the banquet were Howard Tevlowitz, Chief Executive Officer of The Jewish Federation of

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June 2019

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Temple Sinai’s new rabbi recognized by the Clergy Leadership Incubator

e atBy Gail Glickman mail. azon and project director udes Rabbi Sid Schwarz recently n to announced the selection of Cod orhort 4 of the Clergy Leadership IncuLib-bator (CLI), a two-year fellowship for nom-rabbis on visionary leadership. Rabbi tion,Samantha Kahn, who will be joining gh aTemple Sinai as its new rabbi July 1, n ofwas one of the outstanding members to

receive this prestigious award. CLI supports and encourages rabbis in organizational leadership, change management and institutional transformation. It is open to rabbis serving congregations, or rabbis who have created or are in the process of creating new models of spiritual community. Focusing on visionary leadership and innovative practice, the acronym

CLI reminds us that clergy are intended to be human vessels that create sacred communities in which Jews can find meaning and purpose (klei kadosh). CLI’s curriculum was developed at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and is now used all around the world. The CLI program integrates the best thinking and practice in the field of synagogue transformation with the organizational tool kit developed by adaptive leadership. Key elements of CLI include a two-year syllabus with monthly readings, monthly participation in a Community of Practice of rabbinic peers, monthly consultation with a rabbinic mentor with significant experience and success in the field, three retreats,

coaching and training from nationally prominent practitioners. Temple Sinai is proud that Rabbi Kahn has been recognized by CLI and will be welcoming her to the temple on Friday, July 5, as we thank Rabbi Geoff Huntting for his years of service.

Join us, meet our new rabbi and celebrate with the inspirational sounds of the Bruno Family Musicians at the Rhythm & Jews Erev Shabbat Service followed by a community dinner catered by Michael’s On East.

A tale of two Passovers

n keeping with a longstanding tradition at Aviva, residents and staff gathered together on April 19 to usher in the beginning of Passover. Residents spent the holiday telling their stories of tradition and sharing Seders, including one with over 150 attendees. However, the real wonder of the holiday occurred in one of the most unlikely places, an Employee Town Hall

meeting. At the meeting, Campus Rabbi Anne Feibelman decided to provide a broad lesson in the story and customs of Passover. Afterwards, Rabbi Anne turned the conversation over to staff to discuss questions or thoughts on this ancient holiday. At Aviva, staff and residents frequently highlight the fact that the Jewish values built into the campus’ identity are not limited to people of Jewish faith. This point was made abundantly clear when one employee chose to share her own story and how it connected to a holiday about which she knew little. This Aviva team member shared her journey of escaping persecution in her home country. While she and her family may not have wandered for 40 years in the desert, this employee was in awe of how the Passover story echoed her own story of oppression and journey to freedom. The group then discussed how Passover reflects the reality of thousands of people across the globe and how the Passover story can apply to anyone’s story. To Aviva, that moment represents why we believe in our values and in bringing Jewish tradition to the SarasoRabbi Anne Feibelman and Chana Chanover light candles at the Passover Seder at Aviva ta community and its seniors.

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Chazzan Cliﬀ Abramson, Rabbi Samantha Kahn, Rabbi Geoﬀ Huntting

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June 2019

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Temple Emanu-El Starﬁsh Initiative honored by the Sarasota County School District

t its April 19 annual celebration of volunteers and partners in the schools, the Sarasota County School District honored Temple Emanu-El (TEE) as its 2019 Districtwide Outstanding Local Community Partner for the TEE Starfish Initiative at Wilkinson Elementary School. This initiative is implemented by more than 115 participating congregants, family members and friends, and supported by the Temple Emanu-El board, rabbis and staff. Created less than two years ago

in response to already-giving congregants who wanted to do more for public schools, Dr. Tanice Knopp, Ken Marsh, Larry Barnet and Wendy Barnet designed the TEE Starfish Initiative with a mission to improve language and literacy skills of kindergarten students from low-income homes and align with the community’s Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. “We feel fortunate to partner with the dedicated teachers, staff and administrators at Wilkinson Elementary School,” said Knopp. “The school’s

Finding community in morning minyan By Rabbi Michael Werbow

s season comes to a close, the Sarasota population reduces and the pace of programming slows during the summer, one ongoing activity at Temple Beth Sholom continues full steam ahead. This is our morning minyan. Each day, excluding Shabbat and major Jewish holidays, the TBS minyan is held from 8:00 to 9:00 am. Minyan is a great opportunity for those who choose to take time from their daily routine to commune with God and other members of our community or for those observing yahrzeit. At TBS, we have people who make coming to minyan a regular part of their day. They start each morning in the company of the community and immersed in the prayers of our tradition.

Others have their regular schedule, attending once, twice or more times a week. And, we have both members and visitors who attend when they have a yahrzeit or they are in a period of mourning for a loved one. The daily services are given an additional boost on Wednesdays when our Men’s Club arranges for a breakfast, allowing us to strengthen the community by socializing and eating together. TBS is glad to provide this minyan for its members and for the entire Jewish community. All are invited to participate in valuable respite from their worries and pressures in a friendly atmosphere that makes everyone, from the highly experienced to the beginner, feel comfortable.

An array of community members gather for morning minyan

Temple Beth Sholom Sarasota's Conservative Synagogue

"Where community is family and egalitarian Conservative Judaism thrives in Sarasota through prayer, learning, and community service.”

Get to Know Our Synagogue Daily Morning Minyan Continuing Education Youth Groups & Shabbat Holocaust Garden Idelson Library PREP (Paver Religious Educational Program)

Mah Jongg (weekly) Kosher Kitchen Sisterhood & Men's Club Jewish Cemetery Room Rentals Judaica Museum Judaica Shop

1050 South Tuttle Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34237 941.955.8121 Info@TempleBethSholomFL.org • www.TempleBethSholomFL.org Like us on

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welcome, combined with Temple Emanu-El’s enthusiastic response, allowed us to expand our mission to support the school’s STEAM focus, address other needs and include congregant-initiated programs. We are honored to be recognized by Wilkinson as its 2019 Outstanding Community Partner and, as a result, selected as the local partner for the entire school Tempe Emanu-El Starﬁsh Initiative leaders Ken Marsh, Wendy Rudd, and Dr. Tanice Knopp with district! Wilkinson Elementary School principal Susan Nations “Those who support Starfish don’t do so for recognition, but zation interested in implementing the this award does highlight the effectivemodel, which was intended for easy ness of the model that we designed,” replication. Knopp added. The TEE Starfish InitiaFor more information, please call tive Steering Committee will provide 941.371.2788. support and materials to any organi-

Some of Temple Emanu-El’s Starﬁsh Initiative volunteers

Temple Emanu-El Starﬁsh Initiative volunteer storytellers acted out the classic Caps for Sale tale, then presented copies of Caps for Sale to Wilkinson Elementary School kindergarteners

The Toledo Boys’ reunion in Sarasota By David Stone

t all started over 70 years ago in Toledo, Ohio, when seven young Jewish boys became “forever” pals that has lasted to this current day when we’re all reaching the big 80. We grew up together and became “brothers” in grade school, high school and college where we built lasting friendships that flourished with our reunion in Sarasota in late April. Our reunion reunited Harley Kripke and Jack Lenavitt from Toledo, Bob Baron from New York, Gene Davidson from Atlanta, Artie Perlman from Phoenix, and Stan Krawetz and David Stone from Sarasota. All of us have remained close friends throughout the years and have shared happy and sad times together. Unfortunately, Norman Schwartz and Dick Friedmar couldn’t make it, and sadly, Bill Ciralsky, David Kopelman and Steve Gordon will be missed since they’re having their reunion in heaven. We are

indeed brothers, particularly during football season, since six of us went to Ohio State and three to Michigan. We have all taken different roads in our lives but share a common bond in our Toledo heritage. Among us are doctors, lawyers and businessmen who have all had many successful years in their chosen professions. We have gotten together many times over the years to share our life and family experiences, have had some great laughs and even shed a tear or two. We relished reliving the events of our past and the many happy times that we shared that have been indelibly etched in our memories. Our exploits that began in Toledo have blossomed over the four corners of our country and remain as a bond that keeps us thriving together. We are indeed grateful for our reunion in Sarasota and look forward to many more years of treasured friendships.

The Toledo Boys at their reunion in Sarasota

Stay connected @ www.jfedsrq.org

JEWISH HAPPENINGS

June 2019

Jewish Happenings SATURDAY, JUNE 1

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

Shabbat Shaboom and Youth Havurah

Mah Jongg at Temple Beth Sholom

Shabbat Shaboom is our version of Tot Shabbat (for infants through age 7), where kids can play, learn and grow together! Snacks are provided. Youth Havurah hopes to prepare our youth for a life of Judaism! It is for students in grades 3 through 7. No cost. Join us from 11:00 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. For more information, please contact TBS at 941.955.8121 or info@templebethsholomfl.org.

Join us for a dose of healthy competition during Mah Jongg. Beginners are welcome, and healthy snacks are provided! The fun takes place from noon to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, June 4, 11, 18 and 25 at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. Cost: $2 for TBS members; $3 for nonmembers. For more information, please contact TBS at 941.955.8121 or info@templebethsholomfl.org.

Shabbat Shmooze at Temple Beth Sholom Shabbat Shmooze, a lively discussion series, takes place on selected Saturdays after the Shabbat service and Kiddush at approximately 12:45 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. On June 1, Rabbi Michael Werbow and Howard Halpern will hold an interactive informational talk about Jewish values and contemporary issues. No cost. For more information, please contact TBS at 941.955.8121 or info@ templebethsholomfl.org.

Temple Emanu-El Beach Picnic and Havdalah Temple Emanu-El Brotherhood and Sisterhood happily host the annual Beach Picnic and Havdalah at 6:00 p.m. at Turtle Beach Pavilion on Siesta Key, at the south end of Midnight Pass Road. Under the shaded pavilion, Brotherhood members will man the grill for the cookout. We’ll also have delicious side dishes, homemade desserts, and plenty of watermelon and ice-cold beverages. Enjoy cornhole and lawn games, and time on the playground and beach. We’ll conclude with a beautiful, musical Havdalah service as the sun sets over the ocean. All are welcome to this intergenerational celebration. For registration and pricing, please contact Steven Leavitt at 941.587.8944 or leaveit2leavitt@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 Temple Emanu-El “Lunch with the Rabbis” Are you looking for a great lunch date? Join Rabbi Brenner Glickman, Rabbi Michael Shefrin and friendly, interesting companions for lunch, socializing, and a discussion of current events and subjects of Jewish interest. All are invited to this popular, stimulating and enjoyable program at noon at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Attendees are asked to bring a brown-bag lunch and are also welcome to bring a newspaper article for discussion. Homemade dessert and terrific company are provided! For more information, call the temple office at 941.371.2788.

SUNDAY, JUNE 2 “Blessing of the Animals” at Temple Emanu-El Bring your pet and celebrate the gift of animal companionship at Temple Emanu-El’s “Blessing of the Animals.” Enjoy the chance to meet other pet lovers in the Jewish community; a brief and inspirational message from Rabbi Brenner Glickman and Rabbi Michael Shefrin about the importance of kindness to animals in Jewish tradition, and the special love we share with our pets; and the opportunity to have pets individually blessed and a family pet portrait taken. This free event begins at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For more information, please contact Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman at 941.379.1997 or elaine-glickman@ comcast.net.

Jewish Women’s Circle Cheesecake Factory Join Chanie Bukiet to learn how to make delicious cheesecakes and dairy treats. Help make cheesecakes for the Shavuot Dairy Fest and bring one home as well. The event begins at noon at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Admission is $15 for JWC members and $20 for guests. For more information or to RSVP, call 941.752.3030 or email info@chabadofbradenton.com.

Jerusalem Day Celebration with Movie Filmed upon the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel and the Jewish people, In Our Hands recreates and captures the events during the 1967 Six-Day War that led to Israeli control of the Old City of Jerusalem, placing it again in Jewish hands for the first time in 2,000 years. Israel went to great lengths in order to avoid damage or destruction to holy sites of all religions in the Holy City. Join us at 3:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $10 per adult; $5 per student; kosher refreshments included. To RSVP, call Beverly at 941.313.9239.

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June 25 | July 23 | August 6 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Michael’s On East, Sarasota Only $28 Per Lecture! (Includes Lunch!) Eliseo Neuman Director, AJC Africa Institute

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2019

Israel’s reengagement in Africa: A time of change Israel’s involvement in Africa dates from as early as Theodore Herzl’s writings. In the last five years, the IsraelAfrica relationship has experienced a renaissance. What are its drivers, and what are its challenges and opportunities?

Ari Gordon

MONDAY, JUNE 3 NCJW’s “The Blankee Bee” The National Council of Jewish Women has an ongoing project called “The Blankee Bee.” The project has involved its members in making nosew fleece blankets which have been distributed to various agencies, such as Manatee Community Action Agency, HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), residents of Anchin Pavilion, patients at the Florida Cancer Center, and children at Camp Mariposa as a joint venture with JFCS. Join us from 10:00 a.m. to noon on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life (580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota) to make these blankets. For more information, contact Joan Bour at 941.281.2133 or joanbour5@yahoo.com.

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THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.

AJC Director of U.S. Muslim-Jewish Relations

TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2019

Does Muslim-Jewish Relations have a Future? Challenges and Opportunities on the American Scene In the 21st Century Jews and Muslims must overcome mutual suspicion and navigate political differences to promote common democratic values, fight extremism, and confront bigotry.

Holly R. Huffnagle Assistant Director, AJC Los Angeles

TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2019

The Viability of Europe’s Jewish Communities in the Face of Rising Antisemitism Why is antisemitism in Europe increasing? Why is the viability of Europe’s Jewish communities being threatened? And why is this relevant for us, as Americans, as we witness antisemitism rising in our own country?

Reservations Required. R.S.V.P. to 941.365.4955 or email: sarasota@ajc.org

June 2019

JEWISH HAPPENINGS THURSDAY, JUNE 6

JEFFREY KAHANE, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Chabad SRQ’s Rosh Chodesh Society Course

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Classical musicians from around the world converge on Sarasota for three weeks of master classes and breathtaking performances.

All women are invited to join the final segment of this year’s Rosh Chodesh Society course, “Larger Than Life.” This month’s segment, “On Higher Ground: With Liberty and Justice for All,” will explore the concept of what it means for us as Jews to be a light unto the nations. Refreshments will be served. For assistance with underwriting this course, appreciation is extended to Anne Stein. All women are welcome! Join us at 7:15 p.m. at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road. Cost: free for Rebbetzin Circle members; $10 for RCS members; $12 for nonmembers. Anyone joining the class for the first time is our guest at no charge. For more information or to RSVP, contact Sara Steinmetz at 941.925.0770 or sara@chabadofsarasota. com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

JUNE 1 - 22

Shavuot Tikkun (Study) at Temple Beth Sholom

Thursdays 4:30 pm Holley Hall

Join us in the Temple Beth Sholom Chapel (1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota) for one or both study sessions: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 to 11:30 p.m. No cost. For more information, please contact TBS at 941.955.8121 or info@ templebethsholomfl.org.

JUNE 6,13, 20

Temple Emanu-El’s Tikkun Leil Shavuot

FESTIVAL CONCERTS

According to Jewish tradition, God gave us the Torah on the holiday of Shavuot. Since the 16th century, it has been customary to observe the holiday with a Tikkun Leil Shavuot – a special night of Jewish study. Participate in this tradition with a fascinating, inspiring evening at Temple Emanu-El. Rabbis Brenner and Elaine Glickman and Rabbi Michael Shefrin will hold interactive study sessions. In between the sessions, we’ll enjoy delicious dairy desserts. All are welcome at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Free to Temple Emanu-El members; $18 donation requested for guests. For more information or reservations, please call 941.371.2788.

ARTIST SHOWCASES

Fridays 7:30 pm Sarasota Opera House

JUNE 7, 14, 21 SATURDAY SYMPHONIES Saturdays 7:30 pm Sarasota Opera House

SARASOTA

IN JUNE

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Temple Sinai’s Tikkun Leil Shavuot Join Rabbi Geoff Huntting, Chazzan Cliff Abramson, friends and family for an uplifting service with tasty treats. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota (enter only from Proctor Road between Beneva and Swift). For more information, call 941.924.1802 or email office@sinaisrq.org.

Shavuot All-Nighter at Chabad of Bradenton Join the Bukiet family for an All-Night Learning Session beginning with services at The Chabad House (5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton) at 9:30 p.m. Then enjoy a Kiddush and dinner buffet to be served at the home of Rabbi Mendy & Chanie Bukiet at 10:00 p.m. Admission is free. Nominal food fees will apply. For more information or to RSVP, call 941.752.3030 or email info@chabadofbradenton.com.

Tikkun Leil Shavuot at Chabad of Venice Join Jews throughout the world in observing the centuries-old custom of conducting a late-night vigil dedication to Torah learning on the first night of Shavuot. We will explore The Book of Ruth and the festival of Shavuot. The late-night learning begins at 10:00 p.m. at the Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice. To RSVP or for more information, contact Rabbi Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or info@chabadofvenice.com.

All-Night Shavuot Tikkun (Study) Join us at Rabbi Michael Werbow’s home from midnight to 5:30 a.m. No cost. For more information, please contact TBS at 941.955.8121 or info@ templebethsholomfl.org.

SUNDAY, JUNE 9 Shavuot Dairy Party at Chabad of Venice Be there when the Torah is given for the 3,330th time. You don’t have to travel to the desert. It is happening right here at noon at the Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice! Come hear the Torah reading of the Ten Commandments, followed by a delicious buffet of cheesecake, ice cream and blintzes. No cost. To RSVP or for more information, please contact Chaya Rivka Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rivka@chabadofvenice.com.

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How will you be celebrating the Shavuot holiday? Join Chabad of Sarasota (7700 Beneva Road) at 5:00 p.m. to celebrate Shavuot with the reading of the Ten Commandments and a light dairy dinner. Free of charge. All are welcome. To assure that we are adequately prepared, please acknowledge your participation by Wednesday, June 5 by contacting the Chabad office at 941.925.0770 or info@chabadofsarasota.com.

Shavuot Dairy Fest at Chabad of Bradenton Join the Chabad family for a Shavuot Dairy Dinner & Grand Ice Cream Party, with a reading of the Ten Commandments! Open to all ages, this free event begins at 5:30 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. For more information or to RSVP, call 941.752.3030 or email info@chabadofbradenton.com.

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

June 2019

JEWISH HAPPENINGS MONDAY, JUNE 10

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The Tefillin Club at Chabad of Venice Get your week off to a great start at 8:00 a.m. with the Monday morning Tefillin Club. Each week, Rabbi Sholom Schmerling will expound on a different prayer, thus enabling each participant to really learn how to pray. No prior experience necessary. (If you don’t have a pair of tefillin, we will provide one for you.) Join us at the Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice. For more information, contact Rabbi Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or info@chabadofvenice.com.

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NCJW Book Club The National Council of Jewish Women Book Club will discuss The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan at the Gulf Gate Public Library (7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota) from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. The NCJW SarasotaManatee section website (ncjwsarasota-manatee.org) has information about the Book Club, the title selections and dates for the current season. Click on Community Services at the top of the page. You will also find Goodreads reviews of the books. Guests welcome. For more information, email Susan Girese at gireseands@msn.com.

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

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13 “This Month in Jewish History” Significant events during June include: Israel wins a miraculous victory in less than one week in the Six-Day War in 1967, culminating in the reunification of Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty for the first time in over 2,000 years; in 1944, the Allies marched into Rome, as the Jews emerged from their hiding places and the gates to the Great Synagogue were opened. These classes are fascinating and vital to everyone’s Jewish knowledge! Join us at noon at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $10 per adult; $5 per student; kosher brunch included. To RSVP, call Beverly at 941.313.9239.

Lunch & Learn: “Jews Move Out West” Who were the Jewish pioneers and what was their legacy? How did they set up Jewish communities, deal with Shabbat, kashrut, clergy and religious education? Were there any Jewish gunslingers or Indian Chiefs? Join us and find out! Classes meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays, June 13 through August 8 at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. No charge for TBS members; $5 per class for non-members. For more information, contact Kelly Nester at knester@templebethsholomfl.org.

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Join us at the Al Katz Center for our annual Father’s Day Barbecue, honoring Jewish fathers throughout the area. While feasting, enjoy a myriad of Israeli and Jewish music, Judaica and beautiful Jewish artwork at the Al and Sophia Katz Jewish Art Gallery, the only Jewish art gallery on Florida’s west coast, open year-round for the public. Join us at noon at 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $10 per adult; $5 per student. To RSVP, call Beverly at 941.313.9239.

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June 2019 MONDAY, JUNE 17

JEWISH HAPPENINGS SUNDAY, JUNE 23

Chabad Kaplan Preschool Summer Camp Program

Sunday Zionist Brunch Club

An exciting preschool summer program is taking place through July 26 for children ages 2.5-5 at the Chabad Kaplan Preschool, 7700 Beneva Road, Sarasota. Incorporated into the weekly program will be yoga, baking, water play, messy art, science and STEAM activities, challah baking and Shabbat celebrations. Themes that will lend excitement are Under the Sea, Camping and Outdoor Fun, and Insects and Creepy Crawlies. The program will be led by experienced preschool teachers. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with an aftercare option until 5:30 p.m. The cost per week is $200. For more information, call Sara Steinmetz at 941.925.0770.

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

Course About Holocaust Babies Dr. Beverly Newman will teach students about the life story of her cousin born in a concentration camp and other Holocaust babies, in a historical and geographical context. Dr. Newman’s series of books for primary, middle school and secondary students, is being used in schools and media centers in multiple states, providing youths with a factual framework of the Holocaust that will stay with them forever. The course takes place Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $80 per child; kosher refreshments included. To RSVP, call Beverly at 941.313.9239.

3-Week Hebrew Reading Crash Course Have you ever wanted to read Hebrew but don’t even remember the Hebrew letters? Do you want to feel comfortable praying from a prayer book in the original text? Would you like to brag to family and friends about your fluency in Hebrew reading? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, now is your time to enroll in a Hebrew reading crash course led by Sara Steinmetz utilizing the award-winning and well-established Aleph Champion system. The three-week, six-lesson course, open to men and women, takes place at Chabad of Sarasota (7700 Beneva Road) and will be offered at 7:00 p.m. on June 17, 20, 24, 27, July 1 and 3. Cost: $75. Space is limited. RSVP by Wednesday, June 12 to 941.925.0770.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 Sarasota Jewish Singles Dinner Meeting The Sarasota Jewish Singles is an outreach program at Temple Beth Israel of Longboat Key to give all Jewish singles in the Sarasota-Manatee area the opportunity to meet other men and women who are single. The group meets once a month for dinner, laughter and a time to turn acquaintances into lifelong friends. Join us at 5:30 p.m. at Miguel’s Restaurant, 6631 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota. To make a reservation or for more information, call or text Rosalyn Fleischer at 941.915.6631 or email rozfleischer@gmail.com.

CTeen – BBQ at the Beach Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

Join CTeen and enjoy a BBQ at the beach! Fire up the grill and enjoy Memory Cubes and Speech Racing, and participate in the Sand Castle Competition. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Cost: $18; free for CTeen members. Special thanks to The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee for sponsoring CTeen 5779. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 or rabbi@chabadofbradenton.com.

MONDAY, JUNE 24 Camp Gan Israel Chabad of Venice’s Camp Gan Israel is part of the largest and fastest growing network of Jewish day camps in the world. Gan Izzy enjoys a well-earned reputation of being the “Hot Spot” for kids of all ages. With its innovative ideas and creative programs, this is the place where kids’ dreams come true in a safe and warm environment. Staffed by dedicated counselors, campers are imbued with a deep sense of pride in their Jewish heritage. Scholarships available. The camp, for kids ages 3-13, is located at the Chabad Education Center, 21560 Angela Lane, Venice. For more information, please contact Chaya Rivka Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rivka@chabadofvenice.com.

“Jewish Heroes of the Bible” Camp In a world full of anti-heroes for our youth, this camp will use the Bible to inspire students to become admirable and moral leaders of America. Every child needs to have role models that impel him or her to make good choices in life and to elevate their aspirations. Biblical role models have been the bedrock of great leaders from Abraham Lincoln to Harry Truman, who were raised on the Bible and as President weighed vital national decisions based upon biblical heroes and teachings. The camp takes place Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5710 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $80 per child; kosher refreshments included. To RSVP, call Beverly at 941.313.9239.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30 Chabad SRQ Annual Meeting Members and friends are invited to attend Chabad of Sarasota’s annual meeting at 9:00 a.m. at 7700 Beneva Road. The meeting will begin with breakfast followed by a D’var Torah, an annual report and the installation of our new president, Dr. Isaac Kalvaria, as well as officers and the advisory board. We will also give recognition to president Dr. Herman Weber, our dedicated board members and a host of devoted volunteers. The event is free. Advance reservations are necessary. To RSVP, call 941.925.0770 or email info@chabadofsarasota.com.

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JEWISH INTEREST

June 2019

Symphony of the Heart and World Doctors Orchestra By Arlene Stolnitz

ecently, I had an appointment with my physician, Dr. Robert Felman, a gastroenterologist who practices in Venice. I knew that Bob is a musician who plays clarinet around town in various local groups including The Venice Concert Band and Klezmania on the Gulf. What I did not know was that he is a memArlene Stolnitz ber of the World Doctors Orchestra, whose program I picked up as I was checking out. So what is this orchestra I had never known anything about? I was surprised to find out that over 1,200 physicians from about 50 nations “trade their white coats for evening attire and perform benefit concerts for those in need of health care.” On February 6, 2019, the orchestra, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Stefan Willich, presented a concert entitled Symphony of the Heart in the Jerusalem Theater, Jerusalem. On the following night they played in the Charles Bronfman Auditorium, Tel Aviv. Both concerts were in support of Save a Child’s Heart, an international pediatric cardiac center at the Wolfson Medical Center in Israel, which serves as a children’s hospital for the local Israeli population. To date, Save a Child’s Heart has provided care for 5,000 children from nearly 58 developing countries and trained more than 120 medical team members from these countries. The World Doctors Orchestra is a registered nonprofit organization that

combines the pleasure of music with charity. It made its debut in Berlin Philharmonic Hall in May 2008. Its U.S. premiere took place in Cleveland, with concerts following in countries around the world. The founder and conductor of the orchestra is Prof. Dr. Stefan Willich, a highly regarded cardiologist and researcher with an extensive musical background in violin, chamber music and conducting. As artistic director, his experience has taken him to places such as Stuttgart, Berlin, Paris, and Tanglewood in the U.S. Looking through the program, names from nearly every country in the world appear. Violinists from Germany, Spain, Australia, Switzerland, South Africa; violists from the UK, U.S., Italy, Israel; double bass players from Germany, Italy… the list goes on and on as each instrument in the orchestra is represented by musicians from around the world. The World Doctors Orchestra is driven by the spirit of its players. The participants cover their own travel expenses, and local costs are kept low. All participants are medical professionals and, at the same time, enthusiastic and active musicians, many of them with professional musical backgrounds. A great variety of medical specialties are represented. Specialists in internal medicine, general medicine, and child and youth medicine take the lead. There is a wide variety of specialization in diagnostic and therapeutic areas, as well as in pharmacology. About 100 musicians participate in each concert, depending on the instruments needed. The Board of Trustees includes such well known musicians as Martin Hoffman, General Manager Berliner Philharmoniker, and Honor-

ary Member Maestro Zubin Mehta. The recent February concerts in Israel featured a program of music that included Antonin Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8,” George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” and a selection of popular works with Ester Rada, an Ethiopian-Israeli jazz singer. (Check out her innovative video, Life Happens, on YouTube.) Dr. Felman told me his next gig with the group will be in Houston in August in conjunction with the Texas

Medical Center Orchestra. Arlene Stolnitz, founder of the Sarasota Jewish Chorale, has sung in choral groups for over 25 years. A retired educator, she is a graduate of the Gulf Coast Community Leadership Foundation. A member of the Jewish Congregation of Venice, the Venice Chorale and the Sarasota Jewish Chorale, her interest in choral music has led to this series of articles on Jewish Folk Music in the Diaspora.

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K’zohar Ha-Ivrit Tikun – Repair By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin

he holiday of Shavuot, “The Feast of Weeks,” which we are celebrating this month, was characterized in biblical times primarily as an agricultural holiday of thanksgiving for the wheat harvest. Therefore, it was known as Chag Ha-Katzir, “The Holiday of the Harvest” (Ex. 23:16). The ToDr. Rachel Dulin rah instructed to count 49 days from Pesach to Shavuot and on the 50th day, known as Yom HaBikurim, “The Day of the First Fruits,” the celebration in the Temple ensued (Dt. 16:9-11). With the years, many traditions and customs infused a historical layer to the celebration of Shavuot, which affected the agricultural nature of the festivities and added to its religious significance. Most notable is the tradition that the Torah was given to Israel on that day. As a result, Shavuot is also known as Chag Matan Torah, “The Holiday of Giving of the Torah” (Brakhot 58; Shabbat 88). An interesting tradition, which was added to the celebration of Shavuot, is known as Tikun Leil Shavuot, literarily, “Repair at the Night of Shavuot.” It is to the concept of tikun that I wish to direct our attention. According to tradition, the night of Shavuot is devoted to a tikun, to the repair of one’s ways in preparation for the reenactment of receiving the Torah. The word tikun means “repair,” “correct,” “reform” and “improve.” It is based in the Hebrew verb le-ta-ken, meaning “to repair” and “to fix.” The word leil is a construct form of the

word ly-lah, meaning “night.” Therefore, Tikun leil Shavuot means “Repair at the Night of Shavuot.” Traditionally, sections of the law and other rabbinic selections are read and studied all night long. The tradition of reading Torah on this night is recorded in the days of the Dead Sea Scrolls (70 CE) and the Kabbalistic Book of the Zohar (2nd Century CE). In the 16th-century CE, the kabbalist rabbi, Isaac Luria, re-instituted the custom and it is practiced in synagogues to this day. It is interesting to note that the concept of tikun expanded through the years and became a central motif in the ethical and moral fabric of Judaism. For example, the concept of tikun midot means “ethics” or “correction of manners.” And the idea of tikun olam, literally “repairing the world” or “putting the world right,” is the Jewish understanding of acting rightly in the interest of the public good (Gitin 4:2). These concepts echo Jewish optimism and hope that the wrong in the world is bar tikun, namely “repairable,” and that life in general and the lives of individuals can be corrected and proceed ke-ti-ku-nam, “as it should be.” So, it becomes clear that the belief the Torah was given to Israel on Shavuot gave the celebration of the holiday a much wider scope. Not only do we thank God for the harvest, but, through study, we become more aware of the ways to bring repair, tikun, to our world and make it ke-ti-ku-no, as it should be, a better place for all. Chag Shavuot Same-ach. Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor of biblical literature at Spertus College in Chicago, and a retired adjunct professor of Hebrew and Bible at New College in Sarasota.

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June 2019

JEWISH INTEREST

Aging Jewishly – What our traditions teach us about growing old

As Holocaust survivors age – what we all need to know By Rabbi Barbara Aiello

ergio Della Pergola, child of the Holocaust, was born in Trieste, Italy, in 1942. He survived to become the leading demographic authority in the study of the Jewish population worldwide. An international award-winning scholar, Della Pergola studied the effects of the factory killing of Jews under the Nazis and applied those statistics to modern-day Jewish numbers. Given that we know that Rabbi Barbara Aiello there are approximately 15 million Jews worldwide and given that somewhere close to six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis, Della Pergola asked, “Where would we be today if the Shoah hadn’t happened?” Through his extensive research and demographic knowledge, Della Pergola extrapolated a number that is both magnificent in its remembrance and horrifying in its grief. Had the Holocaust not happened, there would be 32 million Jews in the world today. In an article that appeared in The Times of Israel (September 2018), Della Pergola was again lauded for his detailed permutations when he said that the world’s Jewish population has been rising by about 100,000 per year, yet the 0.7 percent Jewish growth rate is significantly lower than the overall global population growth rate of 1.1 percent. What does it mean to you when you hear statistics like these? I am reminded of what my father (z”l) said to me when I was just a little girl.

“Remember,” he said, “we adults lost our families and friends, but you children lost that and so much more. You lost the promise of meeting, knowing and learning from Jewish children who would have grown up to be your colleagues and your contemporaries. Our loss was great. Your loss is immeasurable.” My father was a trumpet player, not a scientist, but apparently he was right, because professionals confirm that today we feel the loss as never before. Couple scientific study with information on individual Holocaust survivors and the picture is even more troubling. A recent article on Ynetnews describes the harsh reality. They write that as of January 2019, Israeli Holocaust survivors number just 212,000. Additional statistics emphasize that the number of living survivors is dwindling and by 2025, just 102,000 will still be alive. Then, according to a report published by Holocaust Survivors’ Rights Authority, when the year 2030 arrives, only a quarter of the current number of Holocaust survivors – some 53,000 – will still be with us, but many will be immobile and possibly very ill, especially since all of them will be over 90 years old. In these days when anti-Semitic activity is on the rise, the Jewish population is behind the growth curve and Holocaust survivors are becoming too fragile for public speaking, what can Jewish seniors do to promote Holocaust understanding? Here are several considerations:  Do you have friends who have Holocaust experiences yet to be told? If they feel uncomfortable

locaust and experienced family upheaval or loss, do not minimize your story. One child victim, Clara, who is now 89, recalls, “Our fami-The ly was forced to abandon our home2019 and business and leave GermanyThe in a matter of hours.” When askedBroa why she was reluctant to share heron S story, Clara said, “I wasn’t in aHere nees camp. I’m not a real survivor.” Survivors like Clara will soon beThis the voice of Holocaust remembrance. Itish is important that they have the chancebest A to tell their stories in an atmosphere ing a that is welcoming and respectful. Survivor Magda Rosenberg,reviv whose entire family was murdered inGall Auschwitz, puts it well when she cau-LON tions, “We’re dying out. It feels like inJewi another 10 years there won’t be a Ho-a M ally locaust survivor left.” If indeed our numbers are dimin-beca ishing and survivor status is changing,partn it is imperative that we broaden ourin th definition of “Holocaust survivor,” andand as we age, welcome those who havethe h The childhood stories to tell. For ten years Rabbi Barbara Aiello20 y served the Aviva Campus for Seniorpher Life as resident rabbi. Currently asRain Rabbi Emerita she shares her experi-died ences on Aging Jewishly. She is alsolived program host of the 17-year Radiothat’ Rabbi program, AM 930 The Answer.marr B Contact her at Rabbi@RabbiBarbara. best com. play gay nom bar m is n who PRESENTS JUNE – JULY 2019 COURSES in th Moc LONGEVITY OF THE JEWS in M MONDAYS 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM Starting June 3 (Eight Weeks) beca usin How is it that in spite of every obstacle and existential parts threat placed in its way, the Jewish people carries on? An B enigma pondered by leading philosophers, anthropologists CHA and theologians, the question remains: how are we to show understand the longevity of the Jews? Were they granted tions special protection or did they have a monopoly on survivor tellin skills? This course will address just about every conceivable explanation to 1930 find out the secret(s). Instructor: Marden Paru; $70. mus

discussing what happened to them, emphasize that time is of the essence and that the more that eyewitnesses are willing to share their stories, the greater the opportunity to combat anti-Semitism and foster tolerance and understanding.  Are you a child of Holocaust survivors? Do you have friends whose parents are survivors? Psychologists report that there are specific behaviors, emotions and reactions experienced by children whose parents survived the Shoah. These children, who are now adults, have a unique story to tell, and through them the long-term effects of the Holocaust on Jewish families will not be denied.  Are you a child survivor of the Holocaust? Did you and your parents escape Nazi persecution? Were you hidden? Did your parents make the ultimate sacrifice by sending you to safety via the Kindertransport or did they hide you with compassionate Christians? If so, you have a valuable experience to share. In recent years, psychologists have written about the credibility of childhood impressions and have come to understand that even children as young as seven years have memories that should be acknowledged.  If you were a child during the Ho-

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When exactly did Hebrew first appear? Was it spoken in the Garden of Eden? When did it cease to be a spoken language? Known as lashon hakodesh (a holy tongue), Hebrew has a remarkable history. From PaleoHebrew to Biblical Hebrew to modern Ivrit, this course will study all aspects of the Hebrew language: its history, linguistic changes, use in liturgy, as characters for other languages, to its reintroduction as the spoken language of the State of Israel. Instructor: Marden Paru; fee $70.

WHAT IS TORAH? FRIDAYS 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM Starting June 7 (Eight weeks) To study Torah is to confront and consume all of Jewish religious literature. In its narrower meaning, Torah is the scroll of the Pentateuch (the Five Books of Moses). Who wrote the Torah? How is it made? How are its words chanted and pronounced? What is its mystique.? Why hand-written? Why so many interpretations and commentary? This course will examine the history of the Torah with all its mysterious facets as well as its integral status in Judaism. Instructor: Marden Paru; fee $70.

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

Classes are held at The Jewish Federation on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. To register or seek more information, please contact Marden Paru, Dean and Rosh Yeshiva at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com. Please make checks payable to the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva and mail to Marden Paru, 5445 Pamela Wood Way #160, Sarasota, FL 34233. NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency. It is funded, in part, by a grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

B DES

JEWISH INTEREST

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Contributing Columnist

Editor’s note: Persons in BOLD CAPS are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of the column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in a faith other than Judaism – and don’t identify with a faith other than Judaism as an adult. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish. The Tribe Goes to the Tonys: 2019 Edition The Tony Awards, for excellence in the Broadway theater, will be presented on Sunday, June 9 at 8:00 p.m. (CBS). Here are the confirmed Jewish nominees in all but the technical categories. This is an atypical year in that no Jewish playwrights were nominated for best (new) play. Acting: ELAINE MAY, 87, leading actress in a play. She co-stars in a revival of the 2001 play The Waverly Gallery by Oscar-winner KENNETH LONERGAN, 56 (whose mother was Jewish). May plays the Jewish owner of a Manhattan art gallery who is gradually declining due to Alzheimer’s. May became famous in the late ’50s as the partner of the late MIKE NICHOLS in the brilliant comedy team of Nichols and May. Later, she wrote and directed the hit film The New Leaf and directed The Heartbreak Kid. Her life partner of 20 years, the great director/choreographer STANLEY DONEN (Singin’ in the Rain; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) died in February at age 94. May outlived two Jewish husbands and maybe that’s why she declined Donen’s many marriage proposals. BRANDON URANOWITZ, 32, best featured (supporting) actor in a play (Burn This, a 1987 play with many gay themes). This is the third Tony nomination for Uranowitz, who had a bar mitzvah. Also in the same category is nominee GIDEON GLICK, 30, who plays the child character “Dill” in the new stage version of To Kill a Mockingbird. All the child characters in Mockingbird are played by adults because the logistics and legalities of using “real” children in large stage parts were daunting. Best director, musical: RACHEL CHAVKIN, 37, Hadestown. This show grabbed the most Tony nominations of any show this year. It’s a retelling of a Greek myth, re-set in the 1930s. Chavkin won best director of a musical Tony in 2015. Best director, play: SAM MENDES, 53, Ferryman. Mendes is British

and his mother is Jewish. He won an Oscar for directing American Beauty, and he directed the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. Composers: DAVID YAZBEK, 57, is nominated for writing the score for the stage musical version of the hit film Tootsie. Last year, the musical The Band’s Visit, about the interaction of Egyptians and Israelis, swept the musical categories, and Yazbek won the Tony for his score (music & lyrics). Yazbek’s mother is Jewish. He competes in this category with his old friend ADAM GUETTEL, 54, who wrote the score for To Kill a Mockingbird. Years ago, Guettel and Yazbek played in a band together. In 2000, Guettel declined an offer to write the score for The Full Monty and gave Yazbek his big career break when Yazbek got the job because Guettel recommended him. Guettel is the grandson of the late great composer RICHARD RODGERS. His mother, the late MARY RODGERS, also composed (Once upon a Mattress) and wrote (the original Freaky Friday movie). Guettel won the best score Tony in 2005 for The Light in the Piazza. A musical co-written by his grandfather in 1943, Oklahoma!, is Tony-nominated this year in the best musical (revival) category. Oklahoma! vies with just one other revival for the Tony, Kiss Me, Kate. LARRY HOCHMAN, 65, is nominated for his orchestration for Kiss Me, Kate. He’s won four Emmys for his compositions and a Tony for orchestration (The Book of Mormon). His works include the orchestration of a Chanukah album and composing the song poem “In Memoriam” in commemoration of the Holocaust. Catching Up with Netﬂix Options Wine Country is an original Netflix film that premiered on May 10. It is a comedy/drama about six very different female friends who set out to sample new wines in Napa Valley, but end up re-examining and re-discovering their decades-long friendships. The actresses playing the friends include

June 2019

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

So here’s the deal:

Write Bloom at nteibloom@aol.com and enclose a phone number. Nate will then contact you about starting a limited search. If that goes well, additional and more extensive searches are possible. The first search fee is no more than $100. No upfront cost. Also, several of this newspaper’s readers have asked Bloom to locate friends and family members from their past, and that’s worked out great for them. So contact him about this as well. SNL veterans MAYA RUDOLPH, 46, RACHEL DRATCH, 53, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (who also directed). Poehler says the film is loosely based on an actual trip that she and some other women took to Napa to celebrate Dratch’s birthday. Last March, a 50th anniversary Laugh-In special was filmed live at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater. The tape of the special premiered on Netflix on May 14. It’s hosted by original Laugh-In cast member Lily Tomlin, who appears as two of her famous Laugh-In characters. Jewish stars appearing include BILLY CRYSTAL, 71, TIFFANY HADDISH, 39, BRAD GARRETT, 59, JON LOVITZ, 61, JEFF ROSS, 53, NATASHA LEGGERO, 45, and MICHAEL DOUGLAS, 74. Also appearing on stage was GEORGE SCHLATTER, 88, the creator of Laugh-In and a co-producer of the 50th anniversary show.

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June 2019

JEWISH INTEREST

CELEBRATING SHAVUOT

anyone ?

cheesecake che esecake SHAVUOT IN ISRAEL

Photo by Te’enainjerusalem

Israelis eat cheesecake, have water fights, show off their agriculture and learn all night on this holiday honoring the receipt of the Torah Photos by Sliman Khader, The Times of Israel

Photo by Te’enainjerusalem

Shavuot customs include • Stay up all night learning Torah • Wake up early to pray in the morning • Study the Book of Ruth • Hear the reading of the Ten Commandments

at synagogue • Eat at least one dairy meal • Decorate the home and synagogue with flowers • Wear all white

Shavuot is celebrated in June. In Israel, it is a very tasty and colorful holiday. Children in Israeli preschools (ganim) wear white to school and wreaths of flowers on their heads. Learning to make a wreath or zer is a prized skill for many parents who also make them for their young children to wear at birthday celebrations. Baskets of fruits (fresh and dried), vegetables and dairy treats are brought to school. There is a very strong custom to eat dairy on Shavuot, which has made cheesecake the most popular food of the holiday. There are several reasons that are given to explain this custom, but the most popular one is about the laws of kashrut. Israelis also devour blintzes and bourekas (Sephardic cheese, mushroom, potato-filled pastry pockets) during the holiday. Many kibbutzim celebrate the holiday of first fruits with great fanfare, hosting colorful ceremonies that display produce from the kibbutz. In urban areas, in contrast, women and men often hurry off to a Tikkun Leil Shavuot—a night of Torah study.

June 2019

JEWISH INTEREST

The traumas of our individual and collective pasts do not simply vanish Book review by Philip K. Jason, Special to The Jewish News

who seek a recovery and renewal. The peculiar history of Jewish populations – a history weighted with pogroms, genocide, exclusion and endless epochs of plain old anti-Semitism – receives startling, illuminating attention. Rabbi Firestone knows of what she speaks. Her discussions include ere is one of the most valuable slices of her own family history. new books for 2019. Though it Significant here, beyond but yet seems at first that it is aimed entangled with the family dynamics, at health professionals and religious is the author’s withdrawal from Jewish leaders, particularly of the Jewish life and identity and – some time later faith, it has a much wider application. – her reconnection. Her discovery of Someone in your family needs this the wisdom in Judaism’s fundamental book to help come texts opened channels of learning that to terms with the eventually led to her studies and work residual effects of as a psychotherapist and her emergence complex trauma as an influential rabbi in the Jewish – trauma that is Renewal Movement. transmitted, someHowever, the value of this study is times within a not limited to Jewish sufferers or Jewparticular ethnic ish families and communities. group from genOne theme of the book is that we eration to generaPhil Jason have, or can develop, the insights and tion. tools to make our lives whole again Others need this book to underif they were fractured by trauma. Anstand the seemingly strange and ofother theme is that “intergenerational ten self-destructive behavior of loved trauma” is a genuine, verones, close friends, ifiable medical condition, co-workers and other and that it even has a sigvictims of psychonificant physical dimenlogical trauma who sion. Yet another theme is suffer without even that such a condition must knowing why. be attended to – it will not Rabbi Firestone’s cure itself. book is intellectually Rabbi Firestone’s exchallenging, spirituploration of this condition ally rich, infinitely includes the introduction patient and filled with of recognizable behaviors healing optimism. It Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Ph.D. (warning signs) and the offers understanding, professional vocabulary that assists in strategies for overcoming trauma, and the understanding of trauma-induced accessible case histories of a varied or trauma-prolonged behaviors. group of trauma survivors whose paths Other provocative explorations in and personalities will encourage all Wounds into Wisdom: Healing Intergenerational Trauma, by Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Ph.D. Monkfish Book Publishing / Adam Kadmon Books. 240 pages. Hardcover $26.95.

this book include a productive revisioning of the stigmatizing label that the Jews are a “chosen people.” Similarly refreshing is Rabbi Firestone’s perspective on the troublesome biblical pronouncement about the sins of the fathers being visited upon the children for generations. The understandings she suggests are a fine capstone to her tonic presentation exploring “intergenerational trauma.” Of immense practical value is her construction of the seven “principles of Jewish cultural healing.” A lively mind, a caring heart and a love of Judaism’s profound soul make this a must-have contribution to the literature of healing. About the author Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Ph.D., is an author, Jungian psychotherapist and founding rabbi of Congregation Nevei Kodesh in Boulder, Colorado. Or-

dained by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi in 1992, she is a leader in the international Jewish Renewal Movement and has served as co-chair of Rabbis for Human Rights, North America, which is now known as T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. She holds a doctorate in depth psychology from the Pacific Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, California. She has written several other books, including With Roots in Heaven: One Woman’s Passionate Journey into the Heart of Her Faith. Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus of English from the United States Naval Academy. He reviews regularly for Florida Weekly, Washington Independent Review of Books, Southern Literary Review, other publications and the Jewish Book Council. Please visit Phil’s website at www.philjason.word press.com.

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June 2019

JEWISH INTEREST

The Night of the Long Knives By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD

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ighty-five years ago this month, on June 30, 1934, an event that became known as the Night of the Long Knives took place throughout Germany. The event saw a series of extrajudicial executions carried out that were intended to consolidate the hold on power of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Dr. Paul Bartrop Party. Hitler, together with Hermann Göring and Heinrich Himmler, sought to bring the head of the Sturmabteilung, Ernst Röhm, to heel, as it was feared that this huge paramilitary organization numbering nearly four million might be about to launch a coup of its own against Hitler. Ernst Röhm was one of the first members of the Nazi Party, and was perhaps Hitler’s oldest and closest friend. The son of a railway official, he was born on November 28, 1887, in Munich. Joining the Army, he was commissioned in 1908 and was wounded three times during World War I, including a serious wound to his face that left him permanently disfigured. He was awarded the Iron Cross First Class in 1916, and by 1918 had been promoted to the rank of captain. After the war he remained in the military but soon revealed an interest in politics. Among other things, he helped to put down left-wing movements in April and May of 1919 that sought to replace the newly installed Weimar Republic with a communist government in Munich. Of greater importance, it was shortly after the war that Röhm first met Hitler. In 1919 he joined the German Workers’ Party, a tiny right-wing fringe party that would soon change its name to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party – the Nazi Party. Röhm recognized Hitler’s oratorical and leadership skills, and they became fast friends. Even after Hitler rose to power in Germany, Röhm was one of the very few people who called him by his first name. It was Röhm who protected Hitler in his Beer Hall Putsch in November 1923 that rebelled against the Weimar Republic. It was a stunning failure, with Hitler and Röhm (among others) arrested and convicted of treason. Although Röhm did not actually serve time (instead, he resigned from the military), he nonetheless had earned his place in Hitler’s inner circle as an “Old Fighter” who had shown his unquestioning loyalty to the future Führer. During the 1920s and 1930s, street brawls took place between competing German political parties, making it necessary to have groups of men on hand to protect speakers and officials and intimidate the opposition. For the Nazis, this task fell to a paramilitary unit founded by Hitler in 1921, the Sturmabteilung (SA, also known as the Stormtroopers or Brownshirts). Röhm became the leader of the SA in early 1930. By late 1933, due in part to his popularity, the organization had become a force of awe-inspiring size, dwarfing the German military. The SA’s growth eventually became a problem for Hitler, the Nazi

Party and the Army. Röhm, who saw himself gaining steadily in both power and importance, had high expectations for the SA, and made demands of Hitler that ultimately caused an irreparable rift between the two old friends. Röhm and many of the SA members expected that Hitler would lead a political revolution that would lean more heavily on socialism than on capitalism. This was of great concern to Germany’s business leaders, including – much to Hitler’s disquiet – the major financial contributors to the Nazi Party. Even as Hitler was shifting some of the Stormtroopers’ former responsibilities – such as protecting party leaders – to Heinrich Himmler and his SS, Röhm continued to insist that he and the SA should play a larger role in the Party. Perhaps of greater concern was Röhm’s demand, made in early 1934, that the SA would form the core of a new Germany military. This was anathema to the professional officer corps that viewed the SA as a group of undisciplined thugs. Hitler, recognizing his need for the Army’s support, was unwilling to agree to Röhm’s demands. In addition to rejecting his play for power, the Army’s officer corps also rejected Röhm’s personal habits, finding them to be offensive to the standards of the professional military. Specifically, Röhm was homosexual and made no efforts to hide the fact. When combined with the image of the SA as little other than thugs and drunks, the military’s opposition to Röhm and the SA was complete. Hitler increasingly saw Röhm and the SA as a threat, and became concerned about the possibility of a coup attempt. Tasking Göring and Himmler to draw up a list of SA leaders who should be killed in order to dismantle the SA and integrate it into the German military, Hitler contacted Röhm and ordered him to call all senior SA leaders to a conference that would be held on June 30, 1934. Hitler personally supervised his arrest and imprisonment, as many SA men were killed outright. Reluctant to kill his old friend, Hitler nonetheless bowed to pressure from Göring and Himmler, and on July 1, 1934, had Röhm shot. The purge, codenamed Operation Hummingbird, solidified the Army’s support of Hitler, and greatly increased Himmler’s power within the regime. At least 85 people (and perhaps many more) died during the purge, including former Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher and leading Nazi Gregor Strasser. More than a thousand others were arrested. The purge also provided a legal grounding for Hitler’s regime, as German judges hastened to demonstrate their loyalty to Hitler. The Night of the Long Knives was a turning point for the German government, establishing Hitler as the supreme authority in Germany. Hitler then had his actions retroactively legalized with the passage of the Law Regarding Measures of State Self-Defense, explaining his actions by reference to the need to protect the state against treason. With this, the Nazi dictatorship was almost complete. Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of History and the Dir. of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. He can be reached at pbartrop@fgcu.edu.

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June 2019

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s acquisitions curator visits Sarasota-Manatee By Su Byron

s one of the world’s foremost saw authorities on Holocaust histoower ry, the United States Holocaust ions Memorial Museum is actively collectHitableing and preserving the evidence of öhmthe Holocaust. Given South Florida’s ctedsizeable community of Holocaust surevo-vivors and their descendants, the museavilyum recently named Aimee Rubensteen Thisas the acquisitions curator devoted to ny’srescuing the evidence of the Holocaust ch toin our region. Rubensteen has been tasked with ncial covering the tri-county area in an effort ometo recover testimonial objects related onsi-to the Holocaust before the last genead-eration of Holocaust survivors passes, SS,and before delicate documents and arandtifacts disintegrate. The materials will n thebe housed in the museum’s David and wasFela Shapell Family Collections, Con934,servation and Research Center where of athey will be cared for in perpetuity and nath-made available via the museum’s loan orpsprogram to serve the needs of local and un-international Holocaust institutions. zingAdditionally, the museum is making a wasmajor investment in digitization so that nds.researchers worldwide have access to y forthe evidence. “As a South Florida native, returno redinging home to carry out the mission of ds ofrescuing and preserving the material ally,evidence of the Holocaust is of persone noal and paramount importance to me,” inedsays Rubensteen. “We’re letting people otherin the community know that I am availary’sable as a local resource to speak with wassurvivors, their descendants and people with a personal connection to the andHolocaust.” Rubensteen adds that for many surconvivors and their relatives, parting with coup their personal artifacts is an emotional mler whodecision. “If they choose to donate antletheir artifacts to the museum, they may manrest assured that their personal items andwill become part of the world’s most ead-comprehensive Holocaust collection heldand made accessible to partner organiy su-zations and researchers. Each donation ment,will preserve Holocaust memory and ight.enable future scholarship,” she says. The museum seeks original artiHitler fromfacts from survivors (or their heirs) y 1,– Jewish and non-Jewish – who were displaced, persecuted or discriminated ationagainst by the Nazis and their collaboramy’stors between 1933 and 1945, as well as asedfrom liberators and other eyewitnesses ime.to these events. This includes materials manyrelating to the immediate postwar era, dinglife in the displaced persons camps and cheremigration from Europe. To get the word out about this More project, locals Edie and David Chaifetz ed. hosted a reception at their home in egal April for Rubensteen. The subject is Gertrateclose to their hearts. Edie’s mother’s f the t for hing Geretroe of State ns by state dic-

“It’s more than a repository for objects. It’s a living, interactive museum that teaches us how citizens and governments can run amuck and become evil,” says David. “None of us are immune to that – even now. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” “The museum is pivotal in raising awareness,” says Edie. “And this project is vital to its mission. We’re on a deadline because the survivors are passing away. It’s imperative that we respond to this call now.”

communities of Holocaust survivors in the country. As the first Florida-based acquisitions curator for the museum, I can visit with local survivors and their relatives quickly and in the convenience of their home. Do most people you meet with want to hold on to at least a few of the artifacts and heirlooms? Most people donate their entire collection of artifacts to the museum when I meet with them. Before each meeting, I speak to the survivor or their relative about their collection and do preliminary research on their biography and artifacts. This helps to create a dialogue where I have an understanding of whether they are ready to donate or not, and gives the person who might donate an artifact the opportunity to ask me questions and learn the process of donating materials to Edie Chaifetz’s grandfather and grandmother and three of their the museum’s collection children – the photo was taken in Poland, probably in 1940 or 1941; all ﬁve people in the photo were murdered even before our meeting. Individuals or families who are This can be an ongoing process, and I interested in sharing their Holocaust am patient with each person that I meet artifacts or family keepsakes with the with. If someone chooses not to domuseum can contact Aimee Rubennate, then I am still happy to meet with steen at 786.496.2788 or arubensteen them and review their artifacts. @ushmm.org to schedule an appointHow do you respond to people ment. who are unsure about donating these I recently spoke with Aimee Ruprecious artifacts? bensteen about her role. I explain the importance of presWhat inspired you to serve in ervation and how the museum is prethis role? pared to safeguard and digitize their When the United States Holoprecious artifacts. Many of the letters caust Memorial Museum contacted and photographs are fading and startme about being the first Florida-based ing to fall apart. We need to preserve acquisitions curator, I accepted the these artifacts before it is too late. role immediately. As an art historian Why should people give up their and granddaughter of Holocaust surtreasured heirlooms for this cause? vivors, I am grateful to add historical The museum’s Holocaust collecartifacts to the museum, which guartion is the most comprehensive in the antees to safeguard the world’s most world, but it depends on you. Each incomprehensive Holocaust collection, dividual and personal story, and each documenting the murder of six milunique photograph, letter, document lion European Jews, and the millions and oral testimony will enable us to of others persecuted and killed by Nazi teach the lessons of the Holocaust toGermany for racial or political reasons. day and for generations to come. What objects are you looking for Why is this project important? in particular, and what objects are We are losing Holocaust survivors most people donating? every single day, and with them we are The museum seeks original artilosing eyewitnesses. As the window of facts from survivors (or their descenopportunity to collect these fragile madants) who were displaced, persecuted terials closes, the museum has intensior discriminated against by the Nazis fied its efforts, actively collecting in 50 and their collaborators between 1933 countries on six continents. and 1945, as well as from liberators and other eyewitnesses to these events. This includes artifacts, photographs, letters, documents and oral testimonies relating to the immediate prewar and postwar eras, life in the displaced persons camps, and emigration from Europe. Many of the artifact collections

Hisr Ju- Naomi Katz, associate director, Planned Giving and Endowments, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; udies Robert Tanen, southeast regional director, USHMM; Edith Chaifetz, USHMM supporter; Judith E. Fagin, national chair of the Legacy of Light Society, USHMM; David Chaifetz, USHMM supporter; . He Aimee Rubensteen, acquisitions curator, USHMM; Dana Mandelbaum, development coordinator, USHMM edu. parents and four of their five children that I have acquired in South Florida were exterminated during the Holoinclude, but are not limited to, prewar caust; her mother was the only surfamily photographs, various forms of vivor. Her father, Max Jakubowitz, immigration documents, passports, survived his first wife and two sons. birth certificates, newspaper clippings, Both of her parents had been born in and handwritten letters of corresponPoland. Edie was born in Germany and dence between family members during waited three years before the family the war. was granted a visa to leave. The couple Why is South Florida such a cruare longtime supporters of the United cial area for this mission? States Holocaust Memorial Museum. South Florida has one of the largest

These meetings must be emotional for both you and the person oﬀering the artifact. How do you prepare yourself before each visit? It can be challenging, but I prepare by having a conversation with the person beforehand and doing research on this person’s experience before I meet with them in person. This enables me to have some context and background. I focus on balancing my role as a historian rescuing the evidence, while being respectful, receptive and empathetic to this person who is sharing their story of survival, trauma and grief. My grandparents were Holocaust survivors, so I know firsthand that each survivor (and second and third generation) shares their family’s experience during the Holocaust differently. Do you feel a sense of urgency in your mission as the eyewitness generation will no longer be alive within the decade? Yes, I meet with aging Holocaust survivors on a regular basis, and I can’t overstate how urgent my role is.

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June 2019

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

“Twice Promised Land and 100 Years War:” A new century – a new hope? Part 2 A series by Dr. Steven Derﬂer

omicide bombings would continue throughout the summer of 2002. Israelis would continue life “under siege,” with internal security of utmost importance. In response to these attacks, Israel would enforce new closures of the West Bank and Gaza. Ariel Sharon would declare that Israel would unilatDr. Steven Derﬂer erally abandon all land and settlements in the Gaza District, while announcing that some West Bank settlements would not be negotiable. This plan would be endorsed by President Bush to the dismay of the Arab World. The illness of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in the fall of 2004 would once again throw the Middle East into turmoil as uncertainties about the handing down of leadership arose again. He would go to Paris on October 29 for treatment and never return to Palestine. He would die on November 11 of organ failure, with the exact cause unreleased to the public. After a public memorial service in Cairo, Arafat would be interred in a tomb in Ramallah. The anguish was palpable in much of the Arab and Palestinian Arab world, but at the same time many felt that the opportunity for a just and lasting peace in the region could now be at hand. On January 9, 2005, elections were held in the PA. Mahmoud Abbas won the presidency and immediately began to “clean house” of those still supporting the old ways of Yasser Arafat. The cabinet was shaken up in February, with PM Ahmed Qureia losing a number of old Arafat ties to fresh

See page 23 in the May issue for Part 1 of this article.

leadership. Abbas would take the radical step of deploying Palestinian police in the north in great numbers in order to crack down on the terrorists. In February 2005, the Israeli government adopted modifications of the Security Fence line that would be seen as a major step in defusing the tense situation of division of Palestinian villages and farmlands. In other gestures of good faith, the Israeli government began to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in the spring of 2005. In return, in Southern Lebanon, Hezbollah presented to the Red Cross the bodies of three Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon. Israeli and Palestinian officials began to draw a bit closer in their quest for peace, with the aid of Egypt. However, there were those within the Israeli political spectrum who saw any unilateral overtures toward peace as a capitulation. In June and July, as the government moved to total Gaza withdrawal, the political and religious right would begin an anti-government campaign in earnest. Anti-government support from portions of the UltraOrthodox community spanned the spectrum, hearkening back to pre-State political stances. Although the official Israeli withdrawal was to begin on August 15, 2005, many of the 20 settlements, like Nitzanim, were already “ghost moshavim” by the 12th. At midnight on August 15, nearly 50,000 Israeli soldiers sealed off the Gaza District as they prepared to finally evacuate Israeli settlers. Thirty-eight years of an Israeli presence in Gaza would be about to end. For the next week, both violent and non-violent civil disobedience

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would occur, as opponents to the withdrawal made their positions felt. Most of the activists at the Kfar Darom Synagogue were not even Gaza residents. The same would hold true at Neve Dekalim, where Israeli soldiers used water cannons to disperse demonstrators. These episodes of Israeli vs Israeli conflict were heart-wrenching. By August 21, Israel would begin dismantling the settlement infrastructure and buildings according to plan. And the Palestinian flag would fly over Neve Dekalim. The political landscape of Israel would be forever changed, as new parties would be formed and then fall by the wayside, and Israel searched its collective soul for answers. Changes swept through Israel’s Likud as Ariel Sharon created a new centrist party designed to counter right-wing opposition in Likud led by Bibi Netanyahu. It took members from Labor as well. But perhaps the most tragic event would be on Dec 18, 2005. Ariel Sharon suffered a somewhat minor first stroke. On January 5, 2006, a second more massive stroke forced emergency surgery and doctors induced a medical coma in order to stabilize his condition. Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert became Acting Prime Minister. The Palestinians began to make preparations for their historic elections at the end of January. Hamas would assume control of the Gaza District, and would vehemently oppose any overtures by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. They would reject all calls to recognize Israel, and Israel would find itself caught in a nutcracker between Hamas to the west and the PA to the east. This would be compounded by the March 2006 elections in Israel. She would be taken in a pivotal direction – tragically, an apathetic one. The perception was that the Israelis were “tired” of everything that had been assaulting them… from Sharon’s debilitating illness to the Hamas elections in the Palestinian Authority. This translated into the ‘tepid’ voter turnout of only 63%, and Olmert’s newly created centrist Kadima Party struggled with its so-so victory. If anything would be taken from both the Palestinian and Israeli elections, it was that both the newly installed Kadima Party-led Israeli Government of Ehud Olmert, in a coalition with Labor, and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah Party shared the same concerns regarding the Hamas-led threat to possible peace. One way that Israel saw to address the issue was the continued notion of unilaterally drawing what would become the borders of the State of Israel. In April 2006, for the first time, serious plans began to build in the area known as the E1 Corridor, linking the village of Maale Adumim with Greater Jerusalem. Things would take a dramatic turn for the worst as Hamas-backed terrorists completed digging a tunnel beneath the armistice line with Israel. The attack, near Kibbutz Kerem Shalom inside Israel, left one soldier wounded and two dead. Nineteen-year-old Cpl. Gilad Shalit would be taken hostage back into Gaza. In addition, Elyahu Asheri, a resident of the West Bank community of Itamar, would be kidnapped and executed as well. After all diplomatic avenues aided by Egypt and France were explored, the Israelis entered Gaza with the sole goal to rescue its soldier. This took place the night of June 27/28. With violence raging, on July 10, Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas leader in Damascus, called Gilad Shalit a POW.

He condemned the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and called for the immediate release of hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails. In the north, things would deteriorate as well. Hezbollah ratcheted up the spiral of violence by kidnapping two Israeli soldiers in a foray into Israel proper. Israel would then retaliate with devastating airstrikes aimed at Hezbollah and Lebanese infrastructures. Across the border, in Israel, her civilian population would bear the brunt of over 3,900 missiles launched by Hezbollah into civilian centers across the north of the country: Nahariya, Carmiel and Kiryat Shemona. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis would move into bomb shelters in the north of the country, a situation not seen for a decade and a half. From July 18-23, as Israeli shells continued to devastate Lebanese infrastructure, European governments scrambled to evacuate their citizens. Press photos and Israeli aircraft video had clearly shown that the missiles launched from Hezbollah positions had clearly been in residential neighborhoods, placing Lebanese civilians directly in harm’s way. As the war continued, it became more and more clear that the press was manipulated by Hezbollah, a common practice that all terror movements use. “Photo ops” to places journalists were led to by Hezbollah, in many instances, were clearly staged, such as a vehicle “hit” by an Israeli rocket. All experts say such a strike would have obliterated the car. Other instances of fraud and deceit came with a report that Israel destroyed two Red Cross ambulances on July 23. The photo evidence was picked up by all and widely distributed. But Brit Hume of Fox News, through due diligence, exposed this libel. Or the now-famous Reuters images of a “doctored” Israeli airstrike on Beirut, complete with “enhanced smokey fire” and “stamp-added” duplicate destroyed buildings. Another instance “stamps” multiple rockets from an Israeli airstrike onto the scene. The contrails are clearly, precisely repeated. The horrors of war in themselves are terrible, yet the manipulation of the press and public by Hezbollah is a cold calculation designed to engender heightened anger against Israel’s fight to survive. Finally, with the work of the United States and France, a Security Council Resolution called for a ceasefire that would be designed to send in upwards of 15,000 UN forces joined with 15,000 Lebanese soldiers to gradually replace the Israeli military presence in South Lebanon, creating a buffer to protect Israel from Hezbollah rockets. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 called for a ceasefire to take place at 2AM GMT on August 14, 2006. Along with cessation of hostilities, and the disarming of any military groups other than the Lebanese army, it reiterates the 1949 “Blue Line” as the border between Israel and Lebanon, and calls for international mediation of disputed territories such as the Shebaa Farms. Dawn on August 14 saw Israeli troops standing down and observing the ceasefire. As the UN gathered its forces, the Lebanese army began to move into Southern Lebanon for the first time in years. However, the question was whether it would act against Hezbollah to enforce the UN or if it was largely just “ceremonial.” Dr. Steven Derﬂer is an international educational consultant, public speaker, archaeologist, historian, researcher, teacher and writer. He has been uncovering the histories of ancient civilizations for 40 years.

June 2019

COMMENTARY

Why did Bibi win the election? By Rabbi Howard A. Simon

rior to Israel’s recent election, of 18 and 34 still voted in large numPrime Minister Benjamin Nebers for the prime minister. He had the tanyahu’s most formidable adsupport of almost two-thirds of people versary, Benny Gantz of the Blue and between 18 and 24, and received 54 White party, stated, “I think Benjapercent support from those 25 to 34 min Netanyahu has done years old. He also rea lot for the country. He ceived almost two-thirds is a son of the country. of votes from voters beBut, as they say, enough is tween the ages of 35 and enough.” Israelis went to 44. the polls knowing that Bibi The question is, what was seeking a fifth term as prompted such support? The answer? Security. prime minister and that, if elected, would become the No matter what oplongest serving prime minposition parties said were ister the country had ever the reasons to not vote for Rabbi Howard A. Simon known. That same elecBibi, when the majority of the electorate went to the polls, they torate also knew that Netanyahu faces said, “Bibi keeps us safe. Bibi is the charges of bribery, breach of trust and champion of Israel’s security.” fraud. He is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts in One of the major factors to conexchange for favors, as well as cutting sider when assessing Israel’s election deals with media publications. Knowis that more than 55 percent of Israelis ing all of this, Israelis between the ages now call themselves part of the right

wing, up from 40 percent just a decade ago, and Netanyahu is the champion of the right wing. Naftali Bennett of the New Right party stated that, “Israel has moved about 20 degrees to the right over the past 20 years.” That being said, another reality of Israeli political life is that it is among the most liberal countries in the world on gay rights and has a universal health care system. On many social issues and economic issues, liberalism plays a major role in Israeli life. Netanyahu won the election based on security. He and the Likud party have calmed the fears of the people concerning threats from Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, and those who would strike from Gaza. The electorate believes that Bibi can and will stand up to all foes, and that he has the support of the United States, and many of the Sunni Arabs in the Gulf States and Egypt. No other Israeli leader has the

standing of Netanyahu when dealing with world leaders. He can and does hold his own and, as seen in his most recent statement regarding the annexation of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, he is not afraid to take steps to strengthen Israel’s borders and maintain the safety of Israel’s population. The people believe in Bibi and he has made it clear he believes in them. Prime Minister Netanyahu knows his people, and his people trust him. The election is over, and the electorate feels safe. It was Netanyahu’s election to lose but, as he has proved over the years, he can and does pull victory out of defeat, because Israelis are most willing to give him their most precious asset – their vote. Rabbi Howard A. Simon is the founding chair of the Robert and Esther Heller Community Relations Committee, formerly known as the Heller IAI.

Identical twins and the man who stood at Sodom’s gate By Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz, Community Chaplain

here can be no denying that, composed millennia ago, the Torah is replete with double standards in terms of men and women. For example, in the book of Deuteronomy we read that when a husband suspects his wife of adultery, she goes before a priest to drink a truth cocktail made of holy water mixed with dust from the floor of the mishRabbi Jonathan R. Katz kan (the desert sanctuary) and pieces of parchment containing curses that are to befall the woman if she is guilty, i.e., her thigh will rupture (perhaps a reference to her uterus) and belly greatly swell. If nothing happens after consuming the bitter water, she is deemed innocent of the charge and returns to her husband. Later, our sages sought to curtail the likelihood of this practice taking place by requiring witnesses who’d actually seen the adultery occur. Though this “ordeal of bitter water” strikes us as unfathomably sexist, it nonetheless produced one of my favorite midrashim. Identical twin sisters lived in nearby Israelite communities. The suspicious husband of one compelled his wife to drink the bitter water. Before going to the priest, she went to her sister in tremendous fear. “Don’t worry,” the sibling consoled. “All will be okay because I will go in your place.” So she donned her twin’s clothing, made her way to the priest, drank the bitter water and emerged unscathed. Her innocence declared, she immediately returned to the anxiously awaiting sister. But, tragically, when they embraced, a trace amount of the water that still remained on her lip entered into her twin’s mouth causing an immediate violent reaction and death. Yes, this midrash, too, was designed to keep women in their place by warning that any attempt to circumvent established patriarchal process will result in grave misfortune. Nevertheless,

I think it also conveys the overarching theme that sin will, ultimately, be accounted for. This is not to suggest that sinners will always be punished. We all know of individuals who’ve gotten away with everything from tax evasion, corporate fraud and insider trading, to sexual abuse and even murder. However, when corruption, depravity and violence become rampant, the macro foundations of society are threatened to their core. As Rabbi Leon Harrison once powerfully expressed, “We are not punished for our sins but by them.” Consider how our nation continues to suffer the repercussions of its embrace of slavery, how environmental despoliation is endangering our natural resources, how dismaying economic disparities are fueling ill-will toward one another, and how social media and an untrammeled internet can sow enormous distrust. There are no easy answers to these transgressions, but the accounting is taking place. We are increasingly on edge, depression rates continue to rise along with opioid-related deaths, climate change threatens earth’s future sustainability and national divisions are reaching fever pitch. Indeed, we are now drinking the bitter waters of the inequities, intolerance and lack of personal responsibility warping our societal virtue. In certain respects, nothing has changed since Dickens’ opening lines of The Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.” Yet, the stakes are greater today, and our resolve to engage in the struggle on behalf of the good and just is now often stymied by cynicism, apathy

What do you think?

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

and indifference. For our personal sake and that of the world at large, voices of moral integrity must continue to be heard. They may not always find victory, but they speak to the potential for moral character our Maker has placed within us. A story is told about a man who stood at the entrance of Sodom day after day crying out against the injustice and evil in that city. Someone passed by and said to him, “For years you have been urging the people to repent,

and yet no one has done so. Why do you persist?” “When I first came,” the man responded, “I protested because I hoped to change the people of Sodom. Now I continue to cry out so that I will not be changed and become like one of them.” Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz serves as a Community Chaplain and Director of JFCS’s Jewish Healing Program, a partnership between The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and JFCS of the Suncoast.

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

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

THERE WAS A

60%

rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States from 2017 to 2018

Newnan, GA; April 22, 2018

Photo by Spencer Platt, Getty Images

What are we doing about it?

EDUCATION.

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

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

jfedsrq.org

June 2019

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Lori’s legacy can be your legacy Education Corner

By Sara Steinmetz

eceiving a compliment is always nice. A compliment that takes you by surprise or that is unexpected is even nicer. An honest compliment that is not said to flatter or one that is said without an expectation to return a compliment is, most of the time, appreciated at its face value. There is an old saying in Yiddish, “A gast far a veil zet far a mile,” which translates as “A guest for a while sees for a mile.” I interpret this saying to mean that someone who does not see you frequently can often quickly detect, observe or sense an essential truth, a reality or a core value system that is fundamental to you, your family or your workplace. Hence, a comment or compliment from someone with whom you do not interact on a daily basis can hold genuine truth and accuracy.

Since moving to Sarasota in 1990, I quickly realized that wherever I go – even when shopping at the larger stores like Walmart, Publix or Costco – as I am usually accompanied by some of my children and boys wearing kippot, and pushing a shopping cart filled to over-capacity, store managers, cashiers and other employees remember us, acknowledge us and briefly engage with the kids and me. Usually, the exchange involves simple chit-chat, inquiries about the children and guessing the total cost of all the items in the cart. Recently, while coming back to the same store for two consecutive days accompanied by two children, an employee commented or complimented me by saying, “You’re a woman with a mission.” Although I did not recognize this employee, he must have noted something that compelled him to state his observation. Usually, I am one to quickly brush off comments or compliments, but this one made me smile ear to ear. Inwardly, I feel that in both my personal and communal life I have delineated objectives and goals, and although I don’t quite meet each goal

at the 100% mark, it certainly provides drive, energy and passion. And when I received the comment (compliment) from this stranger, I felt that he was like the “guest who saw for a mile” – who saw deeper than what the eyes can see. The reason I am sharing this personal incident is because herein lies a message for all of us. We just dealt with a hard blow, the anti-Semitic atrocity at the Chabad of Poway, located on the outskirts of serene San Diego. Lori Gilbert-Kaye of blessed memory, who came to shul on Passover to recite the Yizkor prayer, died while taking the bullet which was aimed at Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein and perhaps others. Lori was not just visiting the synagogue. She was a true “woman with a mission” who was a pillar of strength in her community, helped build the community and the shul, and truly made this world a better place with all her dedication to many communal causes. As we are reeling in the aftermath of this despicable act of anti-Semitism, and also about to usher in the forthcoming Shavuot holiday, which com-

memorates the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, I want to urge every individual to contemplate how to be the best role model for the next generation and to be recognized as “a woman or man with a mission.” Each of us, in small or big ways, has the ability to positively influence our family and immediate surroundings, and to impact our community. Lori Gilbert-Kaye was a true “woman with a mission.” You can personify this as well, as you make her legacy one that you, too, can claim as your own. As we recommit ourselves to the principles of the Torah on the Shavuot holiday, I want to suggest that everyone find a way – no matter how simple or small it may seem – to demonstrate commitment, dedication and devotion to your family, surroundings and community that will ultimately have far-reaching results as it paves the way for all of us to tangibly feel Am Yisroel Chai. Sara Steinmetz is the education director at Chabad of Sarasota.

Temple Sinai’s youth attend the L’Taken Social Justice Seminar for Jewish teens By Gail Glickman and Noah Leinweber

en of Temple Sinai’s teens, accompanied by Rabbi Geoff Huntting, Cindy Guttman, Lisa Kleinberg and Audrey Quale, attended the L’Taken Social Justice Seminar in Washington, D.C., in January. L’Taken means to correct or repair. Noah Leinweber, one of those who attended from Temple Sinai, describes

the impact of this special trip. “L’Taken was an amazing trip. I met Jewish kids from Florida and other states, and I learned about politics. Political issues have an immense impact on our society, and without L’Taken, I would not be as aware of their importance. We conversed with senators and state representatives on issues that spoke to us. “Every temple was split up by state and assigned political issues. My group’s topic was the rights of the disabled. This issue is important to me because my mother taught children with disabilities, and my uncle is on the board of the Miracle League, a baseball league for kids and adults with disabilities. After writing the statement and presenting it to our state representative, I feel that I’ve changed Katherine Carnes, Noah Leinweber, Ben Quale and Liya Elan work on presentation at L’Taken the world somehow. I

believe that all people should be treatSinai’s Erev Shabbat Service. Confired with respect. mation is the culmination of 10 years “The L’Taken experience changed of formal Jewish education. Each stumy life from a Jewish and political dent writes and reads a part of the serperspective. It was enlightening and vice and chants from the Torah. educating. I realized what matters in the world and how we can change it.” This event leads up to the Confirmation of four students who participated in L’Taken – Ava Einstein, Liya Elan, Leo Hellawell and Anna Labiner – on May 17 at Temple Maxwell Fletcher, Ben Quale, Noah Leinweber and Leo Hellawell at L’Taken

Temple Sinai Youth Group at L’Taken meeting with representative

Sarasota BBYO happenings

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

n April, Sarasota BBYO held Lives and Pasta Making at the Cappellis’ home. The event was a success and it turns out we need a lot of practice on the pasta-making front. This summer, while BBYO teens are away at leadership summer camps or traveling the world with BBYO Jessica Zimmerman Passport, we will be on hiatus in terms of local programming until early August, when school is back in session. If you are interested in being added

to our email list to receive information about middle and high school programs, contact me at jesszimmerman@ bbyo.org. And if you are interested in helping Sarasota BBYO flourish in the coming years, consider making a donation this summer at https://bbyo.org/ donate/nfr. We are searching for two advisors for our Sarasota BBYO chapters. Advising is a volunteer position and asks anywhere from six to ten hours of your time a month. If you are interested, please email me. Your friends at Sarasota BBYO wish you a lovely summer.

June 2019

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Community Day School Panthers repeat as tennis champions

orah very o be or the second year in a row, nerathe Hershorin Schiff Commuman nity Day School tennis team has f us,reigned supreme in the Florida Gulf bilityCoast League. Community Day is the andonly Jewish day school in the league, pactwhich includes five other area private wasschools. The Purple Panthers, led by YouCoach Christine Adelman, earned a make5-0 record over the course of the sealaimson and took the 2019 FGCL Tennis Championship match against Incarnao thetion in April. vuot Tennis will be among the central verymple trate evoand have way sroel

features at the new Community Day School of 2021 on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, promising the Purple Panthers a bright future in the sport. While this is Coach Chris’s first year at the helm, it didn’t take her long to realize that the students’ skills and experience – as well as the school’s “Kavod Code,” which helps to foster a culture of respect and compassion – made this a team to be reckoned with. “Throughout the season, I was thoroughly impressed with their intel-

ligence, level of effort and the obvious respect these students have for one another,” she said. “I am very proud and impressed by these athletes and everyone who helps make Community Day School such a fantastic environment to learn and grow!” The 2019 Community Day School

tennis team members are Noah Bach, Caroline Ceaser, Oakley Clements, Gustavo Trope Mayer, Michel Trope Mayer, Adley Lifrak, Gabrielle Meese, Madison Murray, Tyler Murray, Aiden Pressman, Dexter Reichel, Jake Saltzberg, Josh Saltzberg, Ella Schaefer, Isaac Shereff and Ari Shulman.

Where LEARNING is HANDS-ON

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

• Preschool - 8th grade • Rigorous, project-based curriculum • Individualized instruction • Competitive athletics • Multiple foreign languages • Fine arts programs daily • Intensive outdoor learning and play • Variable Tuition Model – affordable for every family • Accredited by FCIS, FKC & PRIZMAH

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

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The 2019 FGCL tennis champions, the Community Day School Purple Panthers

Temple Beth Sholom youth groups update

emple Beth Sholom’s Chalutzim and Kadima members enjoyed a day of fun in the sun by playing mini golf at Smugglers Cove! Temple Beth Sholom’s youth groups, including Chalutzim (grades 3, 4, 5), Kadima (grades 6, 7, 8) and USY (high school) are constantly putting on events such as their recent Kosher Taco Bar & Slime Making and End-of-theYear Ice Cream Party. Youth group members have a say and voice in their events that are planned throughout the year. The events are generally open to non-TBS youth group members as well. If you

THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.

would like to be involved or have any questions, please contact Evie ShanTal at EvieSRQ@gmail.com. We’d love to hear your ideas for this upcoming year!

READ—SING—DANCE—GATHER—GROW Lev Werbow, Isaac Shereﬀ and Alan Daniel taking a much needed ice cream break

PJ Library® has partnered with The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee to provide families raising Jewish children with the gift of free, high-quality children’s books, music, and resources that foster deeper engagement with Jewish life in our community.

Join one of our PJ programs below to start enhancing your family’s Jewish journey.

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Maya Werbow and Alivia and Ashton Graber practice good sportsmanship

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June 2019

FOCUS ON YOUTH

Temple Emanu-El Tot Shabbat families celebrate Passover

oung Jewish and interfaith families celebrated Shabbat and prepared for Passover at a special Passover-themed Tot Shabbat on Saturday morning, April 13. The morning began with free play and socializing on Temple Emanu-El’s colorful, shaded playground as old and new friends enjoyed the sunshine and spent time together. Families then went inside for a lively Shabbat and Passover song and movement session led by Morah Nancy Bossov, followed by a musical retelling of the Passover story by Temple Emanu-El Associate Rabbi Michael Shefrin. After singing HaMotzi together, attendees noshed on a delicious breakfast highlighted

by hostess and host Shaina and Kevin Swan’s amazing homemade French toast bake. They then participated in a selection of adorable, meaningful crafts prepared by hostess Tammy Jef-

ferson, including decorating Elijah’s Cups, making Ten Plagues masks and crafting aﬁkomen covers. Children also hunted for the aﬁkomen and redeemed the special matzah for a prize! The morning concluded with a Shabbat service and special blessings for children, parents and grandparents celebrating birthdays in the month of April. Temple Emanu-El holds Tot Shab-

bat events monthly. Thanks to an anonymous “angel” donor, Tot Shabbat is open to the entire community and is free of charge. For more information about Temple Emanu-El Tot Shabbat, or to receive personal invitations to Tot Shabbat events, contact Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman at elaine-glickman@ comcast.net or 941.379.1997.

Ziva Sheslow holds up a mask representing the plague of hail

Temple Emanu-El Tot Shabbat members Sloane and Josh Roberts made an Elijah’s Cup

Dr. Susan and Josie Beck decorate an aﬁkomen cover

A Commitment to Education, A Love of Children NOW G LIN ENROL

CTeen of Sarasota responds to Poway with mitzvot

n response to the unfortunate attack that occurred on Passover at Chabad of Poway, California, the teens of CTeen SRQ have been empowered to add goodness, kindness and mitzvot to their lives, showing that evil and hate will not win. On Monday, April 29, four boys who usually do not put on tefillin donned them. Two of them gave up their recess for the mitzvah, and the other two proudly stood in the middle of the Sarasota High School parking lot and said “Shema Yisrael” while wearing kippot. On Friday, May 3, teens attended shul and lit Shabbat candles in memory of Lori Gilbert-Kaye. From CTeen SRQ, the message has

Full and Part Time Programs 7:30am 5:30pm 18 months to 5 years old VPK Program Accredited

Susan Schwaid Early Learning Center at Temple Emanu-El License #58-03-00112

Shmuli Steinmetz and Gustavo Trope-Mayer at Community Day School

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been made clear: hate and evil will not win. For more information about CTeen, which creates social and outreach programming for teens in grades 7-12, call Ella Steinmetz at 941.928.2220.

Plug In TO YOUR COMMUNITY

Mendy Steinmetz and Ben Weitzner at Sarasota High School

Mendy Steinmetz and Julian Read at Sarasota High School

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June 2019

LIFE CYCLE ANNIVERSARIES

65th Fred & Florence Axelrod Temple Emanu-El 60th Marilyn & Stuart Goldfarb Temple Sinai 60th Ruth & Harold Kornman Temple Sinai 60th Elaine & Akiva Pipe Temple Emanu-El 60th Loretta & Seymour Ziegelman Temple Sinai 50th Janet & Louis Gross Temple Sinai 50th Greta & Malcolm Roberts Temple Sinai

45th Pamela & John D’Ambrosio Temple Emanu-El 45th Rita & Barry Mazer Temple Emanu-El 35th Drs. Jonathan & Andrea Adler Temple Emanu-El 35th Michael & Linda Thames Temple Emanu-El 30th Ethel & Richard Gross Temple Emanu-El 15th Aaron & Leslie Ruben Temple Emanu-El 5th Steven & Gina Tillman Temple Emanu-El

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

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

Sarasota-Manatee Chevra Kadisha TAHARA men

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

BIRTH

Hinda Schmerling, baby girl to Rabbi Sholom & Chaya Rivka Schmerling, Chabad of Venice & North Port

BAR MITZVAH

Tyler Ruben, son of Aaron and Leslie Ruben, June 1, Temple Emanu-El

IN MEMORIAM

Myron Becker, 94, of Sarasota, formerly of Aberdeen, SD, March 9 Michael M. Duke, 89, of Sarasota, formerly of London, England, April 15 Judith G. Haber, 76, of Sarasota, April 21 Helga Harris, 91, of Sarasota, formerly of New York, NY, March 25 John W. Hurley, 95, of Sarasota, formerly of London, England, April 10 Viktor Kantor, of Sarasota, March 21 Claire Love, 99, of Sarasota, formerly of Chicago, IL, April 12 Bina Nadler, 98, of Sarasota, formerly of Chicago, IL, April 5 Eugene Oberdorfer, 86, of Sandy Springs, GA, formerly of Sarasota, March 31 Evelyn Osterweil, 91, of Sarasota, March 28 Carole Randis, 80, of Whiting, IA, formerly of Sarasota, April 7 Sylvia Rosen, 94, of Sarasota, formerly of Detroit, MI, March 30 Harvey Sabinson, 94, of Sarasota, formerly of New York, NY, April 18 Helene L. Seeberg, 105, of Longboat Key, April 16 Howard B. Seidmon, 92, of Sarasota, April 4 Ronald Weismehl, 79, of Sarasota, formerly of Chicago, IL, April 18 Martin A. Zawatsky, 89, of Longboat Key, formerly of Wakefield, RI, April 1

Celebrating Jewish Lives As our liaison to the Jewish community, Rabbi Howard A. Simon provides guidance and outreach keeping with the traditions and customs of Judaism.

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ROBERT TOALE & SONS,

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

THE DIGNITY MEMORIAL NETWORK

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

For more information, call or visit today.

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June 2019

Y i s m r ael C h A ai Photos by Seth Berman

The Federation and other community partners came together to celebrate Israel in a fantastic Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration. It took place at The Federation campus on May 5, 2019. It was a day full of food, fun and camel races! We would like to thank our community partners Temple Beth Sholom, Jewish National Fund, JFCS of the Suncoast, Congregation Ner Tamid, Community Day School, Temple Sinai, Temple Emanu-El, Congregation Kol HaNeshama, STEP and Gulf Coast Hillel for all their hard work and dedication to the event.

Everyone loves a mensch!

Tel Aviv hand-painted mural by Temple Sinai

Randon Carvel, president elect, and Adina Schwartz, chair

Janis Collier at the Israeli Wine Tasting booth

Making bracelets at the Haifa station

Some of the many mezzuzot on display at the shuk

At the Kotel station

Camel races: Rabbi Jennifer Singer, Rabbi Michael Shefrin, Howard Tevlowitz

Teens at STEP booth

Lisa Kleinberg with mother, Carole Kleinberg

Hillel students at IDF Training station

Aiden Pearson, emcee

Maya Werbow at Eilat station

JNF blue (tzedakah) boxes

Marla Katz’s ceramic booth at the shuk

Israeli Wine Tasting booth

Debbie Dannheisser’s booth at the shuk

Preparing for “Walk for Israel” opening ceremomy

International food vendor booth at the shuk

Manuel & Anne Spindel, David Chaifetz, Rich Bergman

Melissa Werbow & Community Day School students