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Community Focus Jewish Interest Israel & the Jewish World Commentary Focus on Youth Life Cycle Jewish Happenings
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Jeffrey Tambor touches hearts and minds at “People of the Book”
7A Federation Newcomers Reception a success!
Addressing the issue of anti-Semitism By Howard Tevlowitz, Federation Executive Director
T
he world is turning upside down. There is no way around it. There is no way around confronting this startling reality. We, as Jews, saw it happen in the late 1920s and early 1930s. And yes, it is happening again. In 2015, Jews in general and in Israel – the only Jewish state in the world – are being vilified at every turn and subjected to the “BIG LIE” strategy that helped launch Hitler’s genocidal war against the Jewish people. It starts with silence – silence from the west – and turns into acquiescence and then outright bigotry. Some say that today is different, that Western European governments are in the beginning stages of addressing the issue of anti-Semitism. Yes, this MAY be different. MAY is the operative word. But what’s not different is that Jews – and western culture – are facing an enemy – RADICAL ISLAM – which is as dangerous, fanatical and determined as the Nazis were as they ascended to power. In order to fight or address a problem, one must admit there is a problem. That problem is RADICAL ISLAM. No getting around it. And its focus on Jewhatred is picking up steam – from the European left and the European right. Can it happen in the United
States? Look no further than college campuses in North America. The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee must and will remain strong, determined and focused to meet these growing challenges. We at The Federation are committed to doing this, and we are in the process of developing new plans and strategies to further our ability to combat anti-Semitism in
Europe, and motivate public opinion leaders to do more to combat RADICAL ISLAM. We thank those who support our efforts by contributing to our Federation. These dollars provide the organizational structure, staffing and funding needed to address these urgent issues.
Hypocrisy after the Paris terror attacks
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Kobernick resident guest of honor at Int’l. Holocaust Memorial event
Volume 45, Number 3
Why won’t Europe acknowledge the grave threat to its Jews? By Deborah E. Lipstadt, January 16, 2015 The Family Jeweler Name: ________________________________________________
This article is reprinted from Tablet magazine (www. tabletmag.com), the online magazine of Jewish news, ideas and culture. s thousands flooded the streets in France this week in a show of solidarity reflected across the world in the wake of the Paris terror attacks, I couldn’t help but feel that there was something hypocritical in this massive outpouring of unity and support. I know: how can I criticize such This Proof must be signed and returned before an inspiring public Temple we can proceed with your order. This show is your of solidarity? It just seemed throughout all allthespellcollective mourning, the Jews Proof prior to that printing. Please examine Beth Sholom ing and information carefully. RFJD willand not killed be who were targeted because they were Jews Schools’held responsible for an any afterthought unnoticed errors.–Any were and would always remain so. will be customer’s sole Mensch errors found after printing While the Charlie Hebdo massacre horrified responsibility. all people who value liberty, for Jews the siege on Bench Approval a kosher supermarket in Paris two days later cut Approvedcloser. It was directed at us. I was perplexed when
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some people refused to see that. CNN’s Wolf Blitzer asked a reporter on the scene whether there was “anything to indicate that this was an anti-Semitic act.” Then CNN’s Chris Cuomo and another reporter agreed that because Muslims shop at the store too, it wasn’t necessarily an anti-Semitic attack. It took the killer’s own proclamation that he had chosen the kosher market in order to kill Jews to stifle that line of reporting. Equally infuriating has been the attempt to separate the attacks from Islam. The day after the market massacre, MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry suggested that the “anti-Semitism problem in France is not primarily a problem of anti-Semitism from French Muslims.” In no uncertain terms J.J. Goldberg, a guest on her show, disagreed. He recalled the
continued on page 2A
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March 2015
FEDERATION NEWS
If not you, then who?
Deborah E. Lipstadt...continued from page 1A
An open letter to the pro-Israel campus community By Alisa Laufer
E
arlier this semester, my international affairs professor at the Elliot School of International Affairs at The George Washington University, referred to Israel (in the context of its relationship with the United States) as “the tail that wags the dog.” Little did she know that a dog depends on its tail for balance. A dog without its tail could not stand steadily. In the next lecture, we were presented with maps of Gaza prior to the 2005 withdrawal and told that these settlements remain in place to this day. We spent nearly a quarter of another lecture watching a Mearsheimer and Walt interview that echoed anti-Semitic undertones and narrow-minded bias. There has been no mention in class of a pro-Israel narrative or anything that resembles it. The course is titled, “Intro to International Affairs: A Washington Perspective.” Considering a recent 401-1 congressional vote on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act with overwhelming bipartisan support, I can confidently say that the information presented in class did not reflect a Washington perspective. A friend and I approached the professor after class to express our concern over the maps she projected to the 250-student lecture. We did not want to attack her personal opinions, but knew that the maps were factually incorrect. She apologized and proceeded to tell us that she was not an expert on the Israel-Palestine issue. I appreciated her apology, but there was something fishy
about her “lack of expertise” on such a pertinent issue at a university located at the heart of our nation’s capital. Not to mention that the international affairs school here consistently ranks among the top ten programs in the country. As a freshman in my first semester, I hardly know my way around campus, and yet I already have been confronted face-to-face with anti-Israel bias. Personally, I remain steadfast in my support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and truly believe in its mutual benefits, but I’m not writing to tell you what you should believe. I’m not writing to make my case for Israel. I’m not writing to tell you that Israel is perfect. I’m writing to tell you that if you are a pro-Israel student on a college campus, the time to make your voice heard is now. Because if not now, then when? And if not you, then who? The anti-Israel sentiment on campus has become apparent to me, even in my first months at school, but I continue to be proactive in my support of the U.S.-Israel relationship. I encourage all other pro-Israel students to do the same. There is nothing more important than knowing the facts, staying involved on campus, and maintaining relationships with elected officials who recognize the benefits of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. Israel needs our support more than ever and, from one pro-Israel student to another, I urge you to be an asset to the pro-Israel community.
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case of Ilan Halimi, a young French Jew who was kidnapped and tortured for 20 days by a group of French Muslims, dying shortly after he was found handcuffed near a railway line. He cited the murder of young children on the playground at the Toulouse Jewish school by a French Muslim. He observed that a French Muslim murdered four visitors at the Brussels Jewish Museum in May. He was not suggesting – and I fully echo this – that all French Muslims are responsible. Clearly not. But unless you name a problem you can’t solve it. World leaders, including our own, have been decidedly reluctant to identify this problem. What needs to be said is that there is a problem in a segment of the Muslim world. It is extremism that justifies and celebrates killing individuals for angering them, and Jews just for being Jews. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, however, insisted that the attacks had nothing to do with religion, characterizing them as “criminality.” If it was just criminality, then what happened at the Hyper Cacher supermarket was a hold-up, and not anti-Semitism. By Sunday’s unity rally, an amazing outpouring of people into the streets of a shell-shocked city, all the various victims – cartoonists, Jews and police – had been linked. But my concerns weren’t nullified. Even though the march seemed like a much-needed “kumbaya” moment, almost hinei ma tov u’ma nayim – how good and how pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to sit together, even if it is in sorrow – I should have been pleased, but something kept gnawing at me. The “Je suis Juif” signs felt hollow. European Jews have been under attack for more than a decade. But there were no marches after Halimi’s death, the Brussels murders, and numerous other incidents. There were some protests after Toulouse, most likely due to the general horror at a killer deliberately targeting children, but nothing on the scale of this past week. Many French Jews felt that those protests were quite muted, given the horror of the event. More troubling, nowhere
have I heard an acknowledgement that Europeans have failed to take seriously these attacks on Jews. Instead, people have explained away the attacks by suggesting they’re a response to Israel’s actions in the Middle East. That argument telegraphs the message that, while killing Jews was wrong, it was understandable. The BBC’s Tim Wilcox expressed precisely this sentiment when, during an interview with a Jewish woman at Sunday’s march in Paris, he interjected that “Many critics though of Israel’s policy would suggest that the Palestinians suffer hugely at Jewish hands as well.” (He’s since apologized.) We’ve seen this attitude before. I have said it in these pages: Jewish blood is cheap. In 2012 the International Olympic Committee refused to set aside one minute – 60 seconds – to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the murder of Israeli athletes at the Munich games. The committee claimed that they didn’t want to mar the joy of the opening ceremony. What the committee didn’t admit was that a portion of the opening ceremony was to be devoted to those who had been killed in the London 7/7 bombings and those who had died in other circumstances. In other words, a commemoration was already scheduled but not for Jewish victims. I feel a bit like a curmudgeon when I complain that the march’s wonderful joining of the victims of the attacks – journalists, police and Jews alike – felt hypocritical. But, given the silence at every other attack on Jews, it seems clear that the only reason the public at large paid attention was because of the Charlie Hebdo connection. I sadly predict that in the future, if only Jews are victims, people will just shake their heads and move on. I stress: I am not asking for sympathy. I ask the general European population to recognize that these attacks directly threaten them and the liberal democratic society they treasure. It begins with the Jews but it never ends with them. They must realize that they ignore atrocities against Jews at their own – not just our – peril.
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Don’t miss the 2015 Milman-Kover Jewish Film Festival starting soon! By Roz Goldberg, Jewish Film Festival Chair
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s I write this article, on February 16, we are well on our way to a highly successful festival, and several screenings are already sold out. PLEASE VISIT JFEDSRQ.ORG/ JFF TO FIND OUT WHAT SCREENINGS AND EVENTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. The Opening Night screening and dessert reception are still available at this time because we will be celebrating at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota, where the ballroom is expandable, unlike our other venues. (We wish we could push out the walls, but we can’t.) We moved The Sturgeon Queens to a larger venue, at the Devyn, so that we could accommodate a larger audience, but even that venue is now reaching capacity. As of now, we are accepting names for a wait list for both the screening and for the Russ and Daughters Brunch afterward. You may also have a better chance of getting tickets for films if you can go to the 3:00 p.m. matinee showing of a film rather than the evening showing. Hopefully, you have already purchased your tickets and are as eager to experience the festival’s films and events as I am. We look forward with great anticipation to the appearances of Theo Bikel and Dani Menkin and the exceptional films we have selected for the Sarasota-Manatee community. Having such prominent guests participating in our Jewish Film Festival underscores the stature and importance of this Jewish Federation event. We believe that this year’s Jewish Film Festival – our sixth – will be even more exciting and compelling than last year’s, which was our most successful one to date. It is our goal each year to reach more and more members of our Jewish community by creating a stimulating, entertaining event in which everyone will want to participate. You can find complete details about the eight films and the multiple special events at jfedsrq.org/jff. You can also access updated information there regarding the availability of each screening and event, and you can place your ticket order and receive a prompt confirmation. We urge you to use the website for your ticket purchases. If you wish to become a Sponsor, please contact Len Steinberg at 941.552.6301 or lsteinberg@jfedsrq. org. Here is a brief recap of the films and events: Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem will be the Festival’s Opening Night film on Sunday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. This 75-minute documentary weaves together the stories of Sholom Aleichem, the great Jewish storyteller, and Theodore Bikel, the legendary actor and singer. Mr. Bikel will introduce the film, take audience questions afterward, and even inspire us with a few songs. An elegant dessert reception follows. God’s Slave is a powerful drama
about a “sleeper” terrorist in South America and the Mossad agent who is working day and night to prevent him from launching another terrorist attack in Argentina. Based on actual events of a 1994 bombing, this film is a pulse-pounding and deeply emotional thriller that has won many awards for excellence around the world. Hunting Elephants is a laugh-outloud caper film set in Israel. Think of it as Ocean’s Eleven meets George Burns and Phil Silvers. The film has been nominated as “Best Film” by the Israeli Film Academy. Kidon is a “twists and turns” caper film involving the murder of a terrorist, allegedly by the Mossad – except that the Mossad knows nothing about it and doesn’t recognize any of the faces of the alleged killers that were caught on security cameras. This is an actionpacked story that has been brought to life with humor and suspense. Under the Same Sun is an inspiring contemporary parable set in the near future. Two businessmen – one Israeli and one Palestinian – set out to make money together by building a solar energy company and end up accomplishing something much more important. This film was released in October as a simulcast on both Israeli and Palestinian TV networks, and has won a number of audience awards around the world. Operation Sunflower is a compelling drama about David Ben-Gurion’s decision to develop a nuclear option for Israel in the 1950s-60s, and how that seemingly impossible task was accomplished. This film is thoughtful, exciting and inspiring, and underscores the commitment of the Jewish people everywhere to the survival of the State of Israel. The Sturgeon Queens is a “delectable” 52-minute documentary about the most famous appetizing store in the world, Russ and Daughters, a staple on New York’s Lower East Side for 100 years, and the Russ family that founded the store and still runs it. Famous, devoted customers are interviewed, and longtime fans, in their 80s and 90s, act as narrators while sitting around a table of smoked fish. This film will be shown once at noon on Sunday, March 15 (this screening is “Wait List Only” at this time, unless you are a Sponsor or Patron Passholder), and will be followed by the “Real Russ and Daughters Brunch” with food sent directly from the New York store. A separate reservation is required for the Brunch, which is “Wait List Only” at this time, unless you are a Sponsor or Patron Passholder. Is That You? will have its Southwest Florida premiere on Sunday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Bea Friedman Theater on the Jewish Federation Campus. This touching comedy takes us on a journey to America with a newly-unemployed 60-year-old Israeli man as he attempts to find his long-lost
Program/event ads featured in this issue College Scholarships..................27A Fifty Shades of J...........................5A Jewish Film Festival..................12B Masa Israel Travel Scholarship...30A Mission to Israel..........................19A Newcomers..................................4B PJ in the Park..............................29A PJ Library®..................................31A
Send-a-Kid-to-Israel Program.....30A Shalom Baby...............................31A Speakers Bureau - Holocaust.......10B Speakers Bureau - Israel..............23A Women’s Giving Circle.................8A Women’s Passover Celebration...12A Young Adult Division...................4A Yom Ha’Atzmaut event................2A
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love and pursue “the road not taken” so many years before. We are thrilled that Dani Menkin, the film’s screenwriter and director (who wowed us in 2012 with his Dolphin Boy), will be joining us from Israel for both screenings. The March 15 screening will be followed by a dessert reception. We have scheduled post-film discussions after most of our screenings. Please see the website or the Festival brochure to see when those discussions will take place. Based on the reaction of our Jewish Film Festival Committee
members, who screened and evaluated a number of highly-regarded films to choose our final eight, the 2015 films will provide a remarkable experience for all involved. Members of the Jewish Film Festival Committee are Karen Bernstein, Roberta Berson, Fran Braverman, Jack Braverman, Marsha Eisenberg, Gloria Feibus, Marsha Frank, Barbara Horowitz, Barbara Jacob, Susan Newmark, Ronnie Riceberg, Nadia Ritter, Lois Stulberg, Evans Tilles, Janet Tolbert and Frank Tucciarone.
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March 2015
FEDERATION NEWS
Jeffrey Tambor gets real Jeffrey Tambor touches hearts and minds in his “People of the Book” presentation. By Marty Fugate
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Usually it’s thanks to the false stories ctor Jeffrey Tambor is, to say we believe or the false people-pleasing the least, versatile. His characbehavior we learn.” ters range from the conniving In the tradition of tikkun olam (reGeorge Bluth Sr. on Arrested Developpairing the world) Tambor offered a ment to his Golden Globe Award-wincommon-sense repair kit of the soul. ning turn as Maura, the transgendered Step one? “Forget perfection,” he said. protagonist of Transparent. On top of “If you want to get better, learn how that, he’s a 70-year-old father of five to fail.” To demonstrate this paradox, children and the owner of a bookstore he had two volunteers read an inspirain the age of the Kindle. So, what’s the tional piece by Agnes de Mille – and story with Jeffrey Tambor? deliberately read it badly. They soundFunny you should ask. Tambor ed terrible at first, until their real voices told his story to an audience of about 500 people at the Riverview High School Performing Arts Center in the latest installment of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s “People of the Book” series in January. The theme was “Performing Your Life With a Jewish Twist.” The experience was part stand-up comedy, part performance art, Jeffrey Tamb or (p hotos b y C liff R oles) and part Socratic dialog. emerged. That sounded infinitely better Tambor poured his heart out about his – and earned warm applause from the rocky family history, his Jewish heriaudience. tage, his battles with alcoholism, the “Sometimes it’s just that easy,” roller coaster life of an actor, and the Tambor said. “Sometimes it isn’t. joys of fatherhood. But his autobiograWhat do I know? I’m still learning. My phy was just the starting point. children are my teachers. They get this. The big point? I don’t have to teach them to be authen“Why don’t we get on with it?” tic. They are! You don’t have to prehe said. “What stops us from getting tend to be you. You are you. Life isn’t on with life, instead of constantly raan audition. Don’t fake it and I promise tionalizing, avoiding, procrastinating you’ll be all right.” and blaming?” Rosann Argenti Black, “People of Get on with what? Our destiny, the Book” event chair, said she was of course. As Tambor sees it, we’re thrilled to see how inspired the audiall born to do something. Sadly, most ence was. “Jeffrey touched emotions of us wind up doing something else. but he also made people think – and How do you know the difference? laugh. That’s a rare combination.” “Whatever makes you go ‘yeah!’ that’s it,” he said. “Most of us get off track.
Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota FL 34232 TheJewishFederation.org Jeffrey Tamb or (ce n ter) w ith Fed eration staff: I len e Fox, Jeremy D ict or, Len Stein b erg , Marty H ab erer, H ow ard Tevl ow itz, A n d rea E iffert, Shan a Sub elsky Tib i, R ich ard B erg man
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PUBLISHER The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Road a Sarasota, FL 34232-1959 Phone: 941.371.4546 Fax: 941.378.2947 w E-mail: jewishnews@jfedsrq.org , Website: www.jfedsrq.org
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Holocaust survivor Hilde Mandel shares her story with North Port High students
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March 2015
Published Monthly Volume 45, Number 3 March 2015 44 pages USPS Permit No. 167 April 2015 Issue Deadlines: Editorial: February 27, 2015 Advertising: March 2, 2015 PRESIDENT Nancy Swart EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Howard Tevlowitz ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Marty Haberer COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR Linda Lipson
r e MANAGING EDITOR Ted Epstein
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR . Christopher Alexander ADVERTISING SALES . Robin Leonardi
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Adeline Silverman, Stacey Edelman, Harold Samtur, Bryna Tevlowitz, e Deb Bryan MIMI AND JOSEPH J. EDLIN JOURNALISM INTERNS Allya Yourish, Jackson Cacioppo
s MISSION STATEMENT: The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee strives to be the source of d news and features of special interest to the
Jewish community of Sarasota-Manatee, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions in the Jewish community, and to communicate the mission, activities and achievements of the Federation and its Jewish community partners. OPINIONS printed in The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee, its Board of Directors or staff. SUBMISSIONS to The Jewish News are subject to editing for space and content, and may be withheld from publication without prior notice. Approval of submissions for publication in either verbal or written form shall always be considered tentative, and does not imply a guarantee of any kind. Submissions must be sent electronically to jewishnews@jfedsrq.org. LETTERS to the editor should not exceed 300 words, must be typed, and include the writer’s name, mailing address and phone number. Letters can be submitted via snail mail or email (jewishnews@jfedsrq.org). Not all letters will be published. Letters may be edited for length and content. ADVERTISING: Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement and may require the words “Paid Advertisement” in any ad. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement of products, services or ideas promoted therein.
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magine you are a 19-year-old Jewish girl pretending to be a Christian living and working in Berlin under Nazi rule. Would you be able to assume a new identity and fool all the people around you? I know someone who did. Her name is Hilde Mandel and she managed to live and work in Berlin from 1942 to 1945. Her story starts in a small rural town in Poland surrounded by farmland. She had a younger sister and brother. Her father exported dairy products all over Europe. Hilde lived in a lovely home on five acres of land. She was 16 when Germany invaded Poland. When the Nazis confiscated her house, her family had to move into the kitchen and her mother had to cook for the Nazis, who robbed them of all of their silver, jewelry and her father’s art collection. Hilde could not go to school anymore. This broke her heart as she loved to study, especially history and literature. Her family was eventually forced to leave their home and live in the ghetto where they shared one room with another couple and their small child. Hilde had to work cleaning barracks beginning at 6:00 a.m. every day. Guards and dogs kept watch over the Jewish workers on their walk from the ghetto to the barracks. Food was scarce and everyone was hungry all the time. She saw children dead in the streets from starvation. In 1942, Hilde’s mother and younger brother, Joey, were ordered to report to the plaza where they were loaded onto cattle cars. She found out later that they died in the gas chambers. One day, Hilde’s father took her aside and told her that she was on the list for the next transport. In a desperate attempt to save her, he managed to obtain a baptismal certificate of a Christian girl. He gave this to Hilde and told her that she must escape that very day. On her march back to the ghetto after work, she slid down the mountain and ended up in a ravine. It was a miracle that she wasn’t discovered. Dirty and bruised she made her way to a Christian girlfriend’s home. Her friend let her take a bath and gave her a clean dress to wear but Hilde could not hide there because the family feared their neighbors would turn them in. With the few coins Hilde’s father had found to give her, Hilde went to a train station and bought a ticket to Krakow. When she arrived there, exhausted and scared, she found a park to sleep in. The next day, when she tried to buy some bread, she was asked for her food card. She ran out of the store. As she walked through the city, Hilde noticed an employment office.
She found there were openings for people to work in Germany. She spoke German so she went in and applied for a job. Hilde had to spend two more nights in the park but then she was taken to Berlin on a train to work in a factory that made parts for tanks and airplanes. Her job was typing and making coffee. She lived in a barracks with other workers. When the Russians came to Berlin and the war was over, Hilde had to prove to them that she was Jewish and H ild e Man not German. She did this by reciting the shema prayer to a Jewish Russian officer. In the time that followed, she found out that her immediate family had all been murdered. Hilde eventually made it to the United States. As a valued speaker for The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s Holocaust Speakers Bureau,
Hilde tells this story to students and teachers across the region. Most recently she shared her story with students in a religion class at North Port High School.
d el w ith N orth P ort H ig h Sch ool stud en ts
The Holocaust Speakers Bureau offers a powerful educational opportunity to hear from Holocaust survivors and their offspring. For booking, contact me at 941.923.6470 or luvhula@ gmail.com. For general information about Holocaust programs, contact Orna Nissan at onissan@jfedsrq.org or 941.552.6305.
For a continuously updated community calendar, visit www.jfedsrq.org.
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March 2015
FEDERATION NEWS
Women’s Passover Celebration to celebrate freedom and friendship
DO WE M
By Andrea Eiffert
JNEWS
other-daughter co-chairs Linda Abromson and Lori Yohann, along with The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, welcome women and girls 10 and over to this year’s Women’s Passover Celebration beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, at Michael’s On East in Sarasota. The program will be led by Rahel Musleah, an award-winning journalist, author, singer, storyteller and educator, whose family roots can be traced back seven generations to Calcutta, India.
THE JEWISH NEWS
The Jewish News is looking for journalists to participate in internship
HAVE
FOR YOU! is now available at these locations:
SARASOTA
• SRQ Chamber of Commerce • SRQ Visitors Center • Selby Public Library • Newsrack across from Hollywood 20 • Ringling Post Office • St. Armand’s Circle • Bayfront Park • Nellie’s Deli • Villa Grande • JFCS • Gulf Gate Library • Einstein Brothers Bagels • Landings Racquet Club • Publix @ Landings Plaza • Silverstein Institute • Lakehouse West • SRQ Memorial Hospital – Outpatient • Morton’s Gourmet Bakery • Art Building • Bahia Oaks Lodge • Health Complex East Ave • Kobernick Anchin/Benderson • Fruitville Library • Temple Emanu-El • Temple Beth Israel • Temple Beth Sholom • Temple Sinai • Chabad of Sarasota LAKEWOOD RANCH & BRADENTON
• University Park Country Club • The Meadows • Palm Aire Clubhouse • LakeRidge Falls • LWR Chamber of Commerce • University Cleaners LWR • Dreams Jeweler LWR • Bradenton Library • Bradenton Post Office • Publix @ University Pkwy • Bank of America LWR • Women/Children’s Center • Lake Club • Chabad of Bradenton VENICE
• Venice Public Library • Venice Community Center • Jacaranda Public Library • Chabad of Venice & North Port
Make sure to tell your friends and neighbors! Or contact
941.371.4546 x 107 to become
a subscriber & receive your copy in the mail
www.TheJewishNews.org
Using a contemporary This will be an evening women’s Passover Hagadof eastern music, traditions dah, Rahel will enrich the and food, Indian culture and evening’s program with clothing, and Jewish women her multimedia slide, song of all heritages celebrating and story presentations, our freedom and friendship. Tickets start at $75 and weaving together Indian include dinner. Online resand traditional Jewish culervations can be made at tures. We’ll celebrate the www.jfedsrq.org. For more voices of courageous Jewinformation, contact Andrea ish women, the inclusion of Eiffert at 941.552.6308 or Miriam’s cup, and share the R ahel Musleah significance of including an orange on aeiffert@jfedsrq.org. the Seder plate.
Staff Report
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he staff and leadership of The Jewish News are looking for young writers to become a Mimi and Joseph J. Edlin Journalism Intern. This paid internship program, generously funded by Sarasota resident Miriam “Mimi” Edlin and her family through the Joseph J. Edlin Endowment Summer Journalism Internship Fund, provides an opportunity for area
students, ages 16-22, to get real world experience with a professional publication, as well as learn about the Jewish nonprofit world. Because of Mrs. Edlin’s generosity, we are able to offer this outstanding opportunity to the community this year. The endowment fund is administered by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis; the St. Louis Jewish Light
publication is also a beneficiary of the fund. The internship requires a 60-hour commitment over the summer. If you’re interested, send a resume, cover letter and samples of your work by Wednesday, April 1 to Chris Alexander at calexander@jfedsrq.org, or mail the items to The Jewish News, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232.
Happy Purim! By Orna Nissan
R
emembering how Purim is celebrated in Israel brings back some of the happiest times of my childhood. I still have memories of how I couldn’t wait for the holiday to arrive. Weeks before the festivities, my classmates and I would talk about little else. The anticipation was almost unbearable with enthusiasm and wild imagination as to which costume we would choose. In the late ’70s, the most popular costumes were a hippie and a cowboy. Our teachers, of course, had inspired this wonderful atmosphere by teaching us the story of Purim prior to the holiday as prescribed by the Israeli school system. Our families were asked to prepare Oznai Haman (hamantaschen), which we brought to school and consumed with great delight. We were busy preparing ra-shanim (noise-
makers) in the art classes Any Israeli will and twirled them while tell you that Purim walking in the street pais embraced by the rade. Purim songs were entire country with heard all over the street. tremendous joy and As I got older, I also pride. Religious Jews celebrated Purim with in Jerusalem, as well the adloyada (Purim caras secular Jews in Tel at ag e 4 d ressed as an I n d ian nivals). And, how great p O rinrn cea ss. Aviv, celebrate far beI t w as her mother’s favo rite was that! Ad-lo-yada co stume as she w as b orn in I n d ia. yond its original relitranslated means “until one no longer gious roots. Purim in Israel truly is a knows.” According to the rabbis, parfascinating time to be in the country. ticipants should celebrate on Purim As for myself, I treasure my Purim until they no longer know the differmemories and the warmth and joy that ence between “blessed be Mordecai” they have imbedded in my heart. and “cursed be Haman.” I still recall We at The Jewish Federation of with awe the beautiful processions of Sarasota-Manatee wish you Chag carnival floats which, by the way, paPurim Sameach. Happy Purim! rade down the streets of major Israeli Orna Nissan is the director of Holotowns to this day. And nightclubs up caust Education and Israel programs and down the country consider Purim at The Jewish Federation of Sarasotato be their biggest night of the year. Manatee
TEMP LE B ETH SH O LO M Passover Seder Join us on the
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Temple Beth Sholom • 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237 941.955.8121 • www.templebethsholomfl.org
March 2015
FEDERATION NEWS
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France and anti-Semitism: What do the Jews of France do? By Rabbi Howard A. Simon, co-Chair of The Robert and Esther Heller Israel Advocacy Initiative
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t has happened again. This time it is a Jewish supermarket where the terrible killing of four Jews who swere in the grocery are purposely killed dby an Islamic terrorist who stated he nwanted to “target Jews.” Today, French Jews g are asking themselves, “What do we do about liv-ing in this country? Should twe stay, should we leave, ewhat are we to do?” Yohan Cohen, a twena rty-year-old student and part-time worker at the market does not have to answer this question. He R ab b i H ow was killed by the terrorist murderer. Francois-Michel Saada, a 64-year-old pensioner shopping in the market does not have to answer this question. He was killed by the terrorist murderer. Philippe Braham, an insurance agent, shopping in the market does not have to answer this question.
ard
He was killed by the terrorist murderer. Yaav Hattab, a twenty-one-year-old student buying gifts to give to his host for Shabbat dinner does not have to answer this question. He was killed by the terrorist murderer. This is the deadliest attack on Jews in France since the 2012 killing of three children and a rabbi at a Jewish school in Toulouse. The reaction to this latest carnage is greater fear held by Jews regarding their safety in France. Daniel Cocas, a sixtyyear-old volunteer at a A . Simon synagogue in eastern Paris epitomized the thinking of French Jewry when he said, “It is impossible to live like this. The Jew is not safe in France. You go to buy food and you’re dead.” Mr. Cocas has already purchased a home in Tel Aviv, where he has moved his children. Seven thousand Jews of
France, part of the almost half a million French Jewish population in France, moved to Israel last year. It is expected that more than 10,000 Jews will leave France this year as they seek freedom and safety in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reflecting on the killings in France said, “I would like to say to French Jewry and all European Jewry, the State of Israel is not just the place to which you turn in prayer. The State of Israel is your home.” The reality is that this Islamicinspired hatred of the Jew and anyone who they believe has disgraced Mohammed means jihad – the killing of one and all. There are five million Muslims in France. No one can tell how many of these people hate France, hate Jews, hate Christians. But the reality is that when terrorism comes to France it will eventually wind up at the door of Jews who will be killed for no reason other than they are Jews. The
tragedy of Paris must be a wake-up call for Jews throughout the world. If they want to get out of their country to enjoy life in a safe, secure area, they should go to Israel where all Jews are welcomed with love, friendship and safety. If Jews are looking for a place to live and freely practice their religion, they should move to Israel where all religious beliefs are protected and accepted, where there is a Jewish majority and a Muslim minority. It is time for world Jewry to think and to decide, “What is best for my family, what is best for me?” For more information about the Heller IAI, visit www.sarasotalovesisrael.com or contact Jessi Sheslow at jsheslow@ jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109.
Federation Newcomers Reception a success! By Linda Lipson and Shana Subelsky Tibi
W
alking into a room of strangers is difficult for most, but at January’s Federation Newcomers Reception, the chatter was constant, the smiles were frequent and the laughter evident. This lively group of more than 130 people enjoyed meeting new friends, sharing experiences, and learning about their new community. “It was my pleasure to welcome so many new people to our area,” said Bunny Skirboll, co-chair of the Volunteer Engagement Committee. “Everyone I spoke to was happy to be living here and delighted to learn more about the Jewish community. They were very impressed by the diversity of Federation’s programs and interested in participating. It was a very warm and
welcoming evening!” For those of us “old-timers,” it was enjoyable to discuss the rich tapestry of Jewish happenings available in the Sarasota-Manatee region. “I met people from my old neighborhood of Washington Heights, New York, and others who went to high school with me,” said Sue Shimmelman, co-chair of the Volunteer Engagement Committee. “But the most important connection was our joint desire to experience a vibrant Jewish life in our new community.” Many of the event’s participants expressed an interest in learning more about how the Federation can enhance and enrich their lives through events, philanthropy and volunteerism. “It was truly a pleasure to meet people who
expressed such enthusiasm to become a part of Federation and our Jewish community,” said Adrea Sukin, a member of the Volunteer Engagement Committee. “I look forward to encouraging this group to be active participants, donors and volunteers.” If you are new to our area and want to learn more about JFSM’s programs, contact Shana Subelsky Tibi at 941.706.0029 or stibi@jfedsrq.org. Melissa an d R ab b i Mich ael Werb ow
San d y an d Terry H ayd
en
(P hotos b y C liff R oles)
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March 2015
FEDERATION NEWS
Federation’s Education Scholarship Program
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By Andrea Eiffert
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hanks to the generosity of many local humanitarians and philanthropists who believe that education is important for everyone, The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee awards dozens of education scholarships each year to individuals attending vocational schools, two-year colleges and four-year universities. We thank people like Robert Michelson, who left his entire legacy – over $1 million – to enable The Federation to provide, in perpetuity, six education scholarships to deserving students each year. Mr. Michelson remembered the benevolence of others who helped him on his journey and
recognized that we all have an obligation to care for others and our future generations. Because of him and so many others like him, last year alone, The Federation awarded close to $60,000 to 31 students to help fund their college educations. This year we are pleased to provide these scholarship opportunities again. From January 1 through April 13, 2015, applications will be accepted online at www.jfedsrq.org. To be eligible, applicants must meet the following general requirements: Be an undergraduate student in the next academic year at a university,
Jewish educational loans available Staff Report
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pplications for interest-free loans for post-secondary education (college, graduate school and vocational programs) are available to Jewish students in the Sarasota-Manatee area for the 2015-2016 school year from the Jewish Educational Loan Fund, in partnership with The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. The loan application will be available from March 1 to April 30 on JELF’s website at www.jelf.org. JELF loans are need-based and offer “last-dollar” financing, meaning
that JELF provides the final dollars that bridge the gap between a student’s total financial resources and the cost of attending school. Applicants must be enrolled fulltime in a program leading to a degree or certificate at an accredited institution that is located in the United States, be a U.S. citizen or have lawful immigration status in the U.S., and be able to demonstrate financial need (FAFSA application required). For more information, email info@ jelf.org or call 770.396.3080.
Join us for Passover Seder with your
Temple Beth Israel Family
Friday, April 3rd, 5:30 PM
college, vocational school or community college Applicant and his/her parent(s) must have resided fulltime in Sarasota County or Manatee County for the past two years, as of the application deadline Primary consideration for these scholarships is financial need; however, a good academic record and community involvement in Jewish activities are important as well Applications must be received prior to deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Additionally, all of our scholar-
ships are offered exclusively to Jewish students with the exception of The Robert Michelson Interfaith Scholarship, which is awarded to three Jewish and three Christian students each year who meet all of the requirements listed above and have demonstrated interfaith involvement and commitment. For more information about The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Education Scholarship Program, visit www.jfedsrq.org and click on “scholarship education” in the “get help” menu, or contact me at aeiffert@jfedsrq.org or 941.552.6308.
Passion – it’s catching Dr. Geraldine Nussbaum
T
he Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee presented a workshop for professionals working in Jewish settings in Sarasota and Manatee counties on Sunday, February 1. Every local Jewish school was represented. The program, “Teaching Jewish Values: Books, Music, Stories, Strategies,” was primarily geared toward early childhood and elementary educators, but we quickly realized that its principles were easily adaptable for teen mentors as well. I titled this review “Passion – it’s catching” because, from her opening sentence, Emily Teck’s excitement for her subject matter was truly infectious. She helped us explore how Jewish and secular picture books could be paired with sacred texts to reinforce understanding of Jewish values. Emily provided varied and rich strategies to make our values come alive and to turn our classrooms into happy, exciting places for our young charges. Jewish music educator Emily Aronoff had us singing within the first
five minutes. While music is her tool of choice, it has now become mine. We started with Ms. Aronoff’s premise that every Jewish value has an enduring understanding, and learned for ourselves how to connect these to our students. Whether the value is “sharing is caring, tikkun olam, embracing our differences, being kind, justice, or think you can,” we now come fully armed into our classrooms with music and drama to capture the minds of our students and to level the playing field with competing activities such as sports and sophisticated electronics. Good teachers always plan their lessons with time at the end of class to see whether our students have learned. With this as a barometer, Ms. Teck was a huge success. We are grateful to Sue Huntting for discovering her and to our Federation for initiating this program. We are all richer educators today than we were yesterday. Dr. Geraldine Nussbaum is the Temple Beth Sholom Religious Education Director
at Temple Beth Israel on Longboat Key Conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Katz and catered by Michael's on East, this Seder is for Temple members & guests only.
Become a Temple Beth Israel member.
Support your only Jewish presence on Longboat Key!
Be a part of it. For the betterment of Jewish women and children in Israel.
2014 Recipients • • • • •
Nebga – Network of Houses of Hope for Children At-Risk Family Nest Ashkelon – Group Parenting Workshops Orr Shalom for Children and Youth at Risk YEDID – The Association for Community Empowerment Livnot U’Lehibanot – Lifting Single Mothers Out of Poverty
WOMEN’S GIVING CIRCLE YOUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD. To become a member or for more information: Contact Ilene Fox at 941.343.2111 or ifox@jfedsrq.org The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232
941.371.4546 • www.jfedsrq.org
March 2015
COMMUNITY FOCUS
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Synagogue Council hosts Sects in the synagogue Leadership Workshop By Marden Paru, Dean, Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva
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he Synagogue Council of Sarasota-Manatee is hosting a h special workshop for all area rTemple board members and professional staff on Sunday, March 22. -The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee provided generous funding eto make possible the keynote speaker, eRabbi Louis Feldstein. Feldstein is a tseasoned professional in the not-forprofit world and he is considered a visionary when assisting Jewish organizations. Laurie Lachowitzer, President of Synagogue Council, explained, “We were looking for an opportunity to provide something solid and worthwhile for our member congregations. Education of this nature will benefit all of us.” In addition to Feldstein’s presentation, the participants will have an opportunity to attend one of four breakout sessions. The topics selected were
The steerin g co mmittee for the Syn ag og N orm O lshan sky of N FP C on sultin g R esource of Temp le E man u- E l; Laurie Lach ow itze r, P resid K athy B rooks, P resid en t of Temp le B eth I srael; B
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intended to be relevant to all types and sizes of congregations – synagogue finances, budgeting, investments and controls; membership recruitment and retention; succession planning and board recruitment; and volunteer recruitment, engagement, retention and recognition. Norman Olshansky of the Sarasota-based NFP Consulting Resources has donated his time and expertise to help coordinate this workshop. It will take place at the Community Foundation in Sarasota and the morning will begin with a catered continental breakfast. The registration fee is eighteen dollars and forms are available at your temple office, via email at laurietemple@verizon.net or by phone at 941.927.3636.
ue C oun ci l B oard Lead ership Workshop : s; Mich ael R ich ker, I mmed iate P ast P resid en t en t of Syn ag og ue C oun ci l of Sarasota- Man atee; en B erman , co - P resid en t of Temp le B eth Sholom
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I
t’s not what it sounds like! The very first mitzvah (commandment) recorded in the Tanach (The Hebrew Bible) is p’ru urvoo – be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). Man has been populating the planet ever since. But the Jewish people have taken this mitzvah a step further; we proudly have given birth to many sects over the course of Jewish history. Here are but a few of the familiar ones: the Kohanim (priests), Levi’im (Levites), twelve tribes, Maccabees, Saducees, Pharisees, Essenes, Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Mizrachim, hassidim, mitnagdim, Galitzianers, Litvaks, maskillim, landsmenshaftn, Yiddishists, Progressive Judaism (Reform), Conservative, ultra-Orthodoxy, Humanist, Reconstructionist, Haredim, Renewal, modern-Orthodoxy, and a major category we’ll call “the unaffiliated.” Add to this list the alphabet soup of contemporary Jewish eleemosynary institutions – welfare, fraternal and youth organizations: JFED, UJA, ORT, WIZO, NCJW, AJC, BB, ZOA, JDC, CJW, OU, HUC, USCJ, URJ, RCC, AZA, BBG, NFTY, USY, YJ, NCSY and on and on. Sects are simply a fact of (Jewish) life. The Jewish penchant for intragroup diversity has always permeated the communities in which Jews live. This emanates, I firmly believe, from our age-old study-of-Torah discipline of asking questions. No one answer has ever satisfied everyone, so different schools emerged. The academies of Shammai and Hillel are prime examples that are mentioned in the Talmud. One group interprets a commandment
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one way and the other disagrees and practices that ritual differently. The opportunity to develop alternative ways of performing the mitzvot – the sancta we hold dear – has brought us to this point where we all have options as to the type of sacred community with which we want to affiliate. There was a time not so long ago when a few members might have disagreed with their synagogue’s board decision to change some of the liturgy, and voila, the dissidents quit and formed a new temple. The nuances might have seemed insignificant at the time but there are always stalwarts who feel it is their duty to uphold the tradition; they feel compelled to break away and form a new entity but retain the old paradigm. Change in fast-moving times has always been difficult for some even though Judaism is always evolving. Just what are the differences at play today within our synagogue sects or denominations? A new eight-week course called “Sects in the Synagogue” will be offered by the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva starting Tuesday, April 7 from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the campus of the Jewish Federation. The class will familiarize the participants with the active divisions of American synagogue life. Expert adherents of each sect will be invited to classes to augment the material and discussions. To enroll or for further information, contact me at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail. com.
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March 2015
COMMUNITY FOCUS
JFCS celebrates National Mentor Month with Sarasota Schools Superintendent Lori White
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By Nina Gitomer, JFCS Volunteer and Volunteer Committee Chair
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anuary has been declared National Mentor Month and each year, Jewish Family & Children’s Service of the Suncoast, Inc., takes the opportunity to celebrate its mentors and offer continuing education. This year, JFCS volunteer school-based mentors and tutors were privileged to hear Lori White, Superintendent of Schools for Sarasota County, talk about how things are going in our district right now. Many of the schools are performing well, with all high schools achieving either an A or B grade from the state. With that, however, many chal-
lenges face the district. Teachers will be retiring, and colleges will not be able to train enough to take their places in the classroom. Students and teachers will face new standards and evaluations. With that in mind, it was highlighted how mentors and tutors can help provide students with extra help during these times, and let teachers know they have partners in preparing their students for success. Through the JFCS School-Based Mentor and Tutor program, elementary and middle school students get one-onone time with an adult who provides a
safe environment that allows the child to grow emotionally and academically. Partnering with the county, mentors and tutors help students with classwork and issues they may be dealing with at home or at school. As Lori White pointed out, the effort to help our students achieve greater success is a joint effort, and we look forward to continuing to work together to Lori White, Sup
build a better future for our students. For more information or to volunteer as a mentor, please contact Sheri Weiss at 941.366.2224 x143 or sweiss@JFCS-Cares.org.
erin ten d en t of Sch ools for Sarasota C oun ty
JFCS’ Jewish Healing Program welcomes Jill Mooney By Suzanne Hurwitz, MSW, Jewish Healing Program Coordinator
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ewish Family & Children’s Service of the Suncoast, Inc., is pleased to welcome Jill Mooney as its new Jewish financial assistance case manager, a position formerly held by Lenice Haber who has transferred to JFCS’ Senior Services Department. Jill began at JFCS as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor intern and is attending school at Argosy University. Her experience in working and volunteering with the homeless and at-risk communities will surely assist
her in the Jewish financial assistance case manager role. We are excited to have Jill on board, and her insights and experience in working with people in
Len ice H ab er, MSW an d Jill Moon ey , B S
“These we honor” Your Tributes ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
BOB MALKIN YOUNG AMBASSADORS
IN HONOR OF Isaac Azerad Muriel Shindler Valerie and Harold Joels – Anniversary Sheri and Art Nadelman
IN HONOR OF Esta Grocer Fremajane and Blair Wolfson Bette and Arnold Hoffman Fremajane and Blair Wolfson Linda and Tom Klein Fremajane and Blair Wolfson
IN MEMORY OF Bruce M. Crissy, Sr. Muriel Shindler Dr. Robert Morrison Betty-Jean and David Bavar
IN MEMORY OF Andrew Schiller Rebecca and Rich Bergman
NOTE: To be publicly acknowledged in The Jewish News, Honor Cards require a minimum $10 contribution per listing. You can send Honor Cards directly from www.jfedsrq.org. For more information, please call 941.552.6304.
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need will surely be utilized. Thanks to the generosity of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and its donors, qualified clients in crisis may obtain assistance through JFCS’s Jewish Healing Program’s Financial Assistance service. The goal of this service is to foster self-sufficiency. Emergency rental assistance, late car payments, and vocational training are some of the ways in which JFCS and
The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee have joined forces to help those in financial need. Clients of Jewish Financial Assistance services must meet specific qualification requirements prior to receiving financial assistance. For more information regarding the Jewish Financial Assistance Program, call our Intake staff at 941.366.2224 x116.
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This month’s advertisers This publication is brought to you each month thanks to the support of our advertisers. Please be sure to use their products and services, and mention that you found them in The Jewish News. Abrams Dermatology...................13A Ackerman, Barbara, REALTOR®...2A Advocates in Aging......................17A AIPAC...........................................9B Arenas Lawn Service.....................3B Asolo Repertory Theatre................9B Bailin, Adrienne, Proofreader.......13A Blinds & Designs...........................4B Camp Shalom...............................29A Care Patrol.....................................8B Cat Depot.....................................25A Center for Sight............................25A Chevra Kadisha............................31A Cohen, Rebecca S., MD, LLC.........2B Cong. for Humanistic Judaism......11A Congregation Kol HaNeshama....11A Cortez Foot & Ankle......................9B Cove Cleaners................................3B Dan Dannheisser..........................11B Dulcefina Chocolates & Sweets...13A Environeers....................................5B Envision Watch & Jewelry Repair.4A Fresh Start Cafe............................25A Gail’s Cleaning Service...............16A Grad, Stacey, Morgan Stanley.........7A Hanan, Stacy, REALTOR®..............7A HearUSA......................................1B Hebrew Memorial........................31A Ian Black Real Estate.....................7A IKOR.............................................5A Inspired Living at Sarasota...........20A Interim Health Care.......................6B Jason’s Deli....................................2B Jewish Housing Council................8B Jewish Museum of Florida - FIU..23A JFCS..............................................1B Jim’s Bathroom Grab Bars LLC...16A Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch........9A Kerkering, Barberio & Co....15A,17A Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson.......12A Lakehouse West...........................14A
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March 2015
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The Florida Holocaust Museum announces “Pass the Plate!” Passover Cook-Off competition & tasting event
Joan n e C aras w ith her co okb ooks
book proceeds to charity. A recent gift to Carmei Ha’ir Soup Kitchen in Jerusalem brings the total contributions to help feed poor and hungry people in Israel to $180,000. The family has raised a total of over $1,000,000 for Jewish groups and charities around the world. Holocaust Survivor Cookbook, dubbed “the most important cookbook you will ever own,” is for sale at the FHM gift shop. For Volume 2, Miracles & Meals, Caras collected more than 100 additional stories (available for purchase at http://survivorcookbook.org/). Caras also hosts JLTV’s Miracles & Meals on Mondays at 6:00 and 9:00 p.m., where she prepares dishes and tells stories from the pages of her book. She has had more than 250 speaking and book-signing engagements around the United States from New York to California, as well as Canada, Mexico, England, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Panama and Israel. Celebrate the FHM Passover Cook-Off with special recipes from local survivors. The public will have a chance to taste the dishes and vote on their favorites, such as challah bread, matzo ball soup, Seder plates, tzimmes and other kosher dishes to award a “People’s Choice” award. Local chefs, food journalists and public personas will act as honorary judges for the Cook-
Off and award a “Judge’s Choice.” Only one dish can win, but everyone will leave with a full stomach and an appreciation for the stories and recipes that connect us to the past. If you are a survivor, or the child or grandchild of a survivor, and you would like to contribute by cooking a family recipe for this event, please contact Erin Blankenship at 727.820.0100 x271 or eblankenship@flholocaustmu seum.org.
About The Florida Holocaust Museum The Florida Holocaust Museum honors the memory of millions of innocent men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. The Museum is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides. For more information, call 727.820.0100 or visit www.flholocaustmuseum.org.
Congregation for Humanistic Judaism PASSOVER CELEBRATION
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he Florida Holocaust Museum (FHM) recently announced plans for its 1st Annual “Pass the Plate!” Passover Cook-Off, a celebration of family, history and delicious Passover recipes on Sunday, March 15 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. World-renowned author Joanne Caras will kick off the inaugural cookoff and share her experiences compiling Holocaust Survivor Cookbook, which is filled with survivors’ recipes and stories to pass down for future generations. Caras was inspired by a 2005 visit to the Carmei Ha’ir Soup Kitchen in Jerusalem. When a close friend and Holocaust survivor passed away not long after, her son suggested the idea of compiling Passover recipes from survivors to tell their stories, share their recipes, and raise funds for hungry Israelis. The Caras family donates all cook-
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Sarasota Jewish Chorale founder steps down By Marcia Polevoi
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ixteen years ago, a germ of an idea began to take shape. Venice resident Arlene Stolnitz, formerly of Rochester, New York, had sung with the Rochester Jewish Chorale and longed for such a group here. She ran the idea past several organizations that could help her, but with little success. Arlene kept trying and finally met Priscilla Shore, an accomplished accompanist who was willing to join the struggle. They decided to put an article in The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee and were surprised at the response. About twenty singers, each in search of a chorus, responded, and Joel Kreiss agreed to help teach the music and to conduct. Next they needed a place with a piano to rehearse. They moved around for a while until Temple Sinai offered temporary space, and the Sarasota Jewish Chorale became the reality of Arlene’s dream. As the chorus rehearsed and grew, other organizations heard about the group and asked them to perform. But the SJC still needed a professional conductor in order to grow further. Soon they found Martha Kesler, a singer who also had conducting experience. The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-
Manatee was approached for rehearsal space and gave the SJC a room at the Hecht School on the Federation Campus. They continue to rehearse there to this day, courtesy of the Federation. Arlene continued to steer the organization, first as president and then by serving on the board and on various committees. She was assisted by many helping hands from the Chorale. When Martha Kesler resigned three years ago due to health issues, a search began for a replacement. Linda Stewart Tucker, who had sung with the group some years back, returned as a conductor. Her resume proved her to be a perfect fit for the Chorale. This season, after all these years, Arlene knew it was time for her to step back from most of her activities. She remains as Chair of the Music Committee and serves as adviser to the group. The Chorale has become known as a professional chorus throughout the area and is succeeding, just as Arlene had hoped! The SJC meets most Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Hecht School on the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For further information, please call Susan Skovronek at 941.355.8011.
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March 2015
Joining together in fellowship and hope By David Abolafia
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n the anniversary of his birth, the Rev. Martin Luther King’s teachings of peace, brotherhood and understanding were on full display – as two of Sarasota’s most passionate communities joined together in fellowship to break bread, raise their voices in song, and listen to Dr. King’s historic words. On Sunday, January 18, at a breakfast event coordinated by the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of Temple Emanu-El, members of the Jewish and African-American communities shared in the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy, listening to his stirring words and spiritual songs presented by members of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT). In addition, religious leaders from both communities shared inspirational reflections. “The Jewish community played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement in the ’50s and ’60s,” said Rev. Charles McKenzie Jr., who has authored books on both Dr. King and President Barack Obama. McKenzie delivered the words of Dr. King’s speeches – from memory – in what observers considered a spot-on impression of the Civil Rights leader’s voice. Rabbi Richard Klein echoed the
sentiment with a message of hope. “We need to remind ourselves of Dr. King’s message.” Nearly 300 people packed Temple Emanu-El’s newly renovated and dedicated Benderson Social Hall for the event, which was the brainchild of Temple Emanu-El Brotherhood Events Coordinator Donald Malawsky. Malawsky initially broached the subject of an MLK event with WBTT founder Nate Jacobs. Jacobs responded by delivering (and accompanying) a quartet of performers, who entertained and lifted the Sunday morning crowd with spirituals, gospel and pop melodies. In a further example of working together to broaden the scope of its message of harmony, Malawsky – who described WBTT, which has been amazing area audiences for more than 10 years, as “one of Sarasota’s artistic treasures” – presented Booker High School Principal Rachel Shelley with two season tickets for WBTT’s schedule of performances, giving students the opportunity to experience live theater. This was the second successful collaboration between WBTT and Temple Emanu-El; the two worked together to present last February’s “Night at the Catskills” event, and will once again team up for “Remembering the ’70s,” featuring a performance by WBTT’s Soul Crooners – as well as other area musicians and comics – on Saturday, February 28.
COMMUNITY FOCUS
Temple Sinai assists the HIPPY program
H
IPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) is a home-based, earlychildhood education program for three, four and five-year-old children for success in school and beyond. Reading is fundamental and the key to achievement in life. We know that there are many children in Sarasota who will probably not start the school year with a new book of their own. Preschool may not be an option for every Southwest Florida family. That should not mean that a child will not be prepared for school. HIPPY helps parents empower themselves as their children’s first teacher by giving them the tools, skills and confidence they need to work with their children at home. Temple Sinai has been pleased to assist the HIPPY program for many years. Congregants originally took part by occasionally dropping off books in a bin near the sanctuary as well as collecting them on Mitzvah Day. The temple increased its participation via the Social Action Committee. Through the Directors of the Gan, the Religious School, and the
JOOSY and SAFETY youth groups, requests were made that at the start of the school year every student bring a book from home to be donated to a less fortunate child. Books were then collected and presented to HIPPY as a donation from one child to another. Now the Women of Sinai have undertaken to continue this effort by adding HIPPY to its list of community social service organizations. Please note that Goodwill has a large bookstore at Clark Road and Derek Avenue where everyone can find inexpensive children’s books to donate. Since they are also a social service organization, this is truly a community effort: from Goodwill through Temple Sinai to HIPPY. A community mitzvah!
B ook d on ation s to H I P P Y
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March 2015
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Kobernick resident is guest of honor at International Holocaust Memorial event
,By Rabbi Barbara Aiello f he is tiny and delicate, and toa day she depends on her sturdy
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walker to get around, but at 93 -years of age Rose Rosen is a tower of -strength. A longtime resident of Kobernick House, Sarasota’s premier eindependent living community, Rose yhas another distinction that few would ychoose to share. e Seventy years ago, on January 27, 1945, Rose Safar Rosen was liberated efrom the death camp at Auschwitz. For ethis reason Rose was chosen as guest of honor, along with 13 other Kobernick ,residents who suffered Nazi horror in Europe, to represent the Six Million at othe International Holocaust Remembrance Day event held in Tampa on Sunday, January 25. Organized by the Consular Corps of Italy and presented at the Italian
Club of Tampa, the memorial event, which marks its third consecutive year, featured a performance by cantors from the Bay Area Cantorial Association and a moving candle lighting ceremony where European members of the Consular Corps representing Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Hungary and Israel came forward hand in hand with Holocaust survivors. Together they kindled the memorial lights. Consular General Representative Eliahu Levy guided Rose Rosen to the sixth candle and supported her as she was presented to an audience that numbered nearly 350 participants. Later, Rose explained that her story is included in the Florida Holocaust Museum’s permanent collection in St. Petersburg. “I told everything to (director
and Jewish activist Steven) Spielberg,” Rose said. And although it was difficult for her to put into words her years as a slave laborer and victim of Dr. Mengele’s horrific human experiments, Rose added, “No matter what, the facts must be told.” “Beginning in 2005, the European Union has designated January 27, the day that marks the liberation of Auschwitz, as Holocaust Remembrance Day,” said organizer Vincenzo Genovese, an Italian-American who serves as Consular Correspondent of Italy. “Our Italian history compels us to mark this day and to honor those who survived. Given Italy’s alignment with Nazi Germany, we Italians can do no less.”
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Jewish Housing Council Foundation names Barbara P. Simon VP of Development
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he Sarasota-Manatee Jewish 2005. Prior to that, she was senior Housing Council Foundation is development director/consultant for pleased to announce Walters, Pelton, Ostroff that Barbara P. Simon has & Associates, Inc., in Palm Beach Gardens from joined the team as vice president of development, effec1999-2003. There she tive January 26, 2015. worked on Capital Campaigns for the Centre for Simon was vice president of development at Sarasota the Arts at Mizner Park in Boca Raton and for BroOrchestra from 2005-2014. She served as senior develward Jewish Federation. B arb ara P . Simon Simon was director of the opment director at Florida Grand Opera in Miami from 2003West Coast and Central Florida Region
The Federation
Anti-Defamation League from 19951999. “We are happy to welcome Barbara Simon to our team and excited about the unique skill set and leadership she brings,” says Chief Executive Officer Heidi Brown. “We look forward to the positive impact of her well-known concierge-service contributions and the continued growth and success of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Housing Council Foundation.”
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JEWISH INTEREST
The Jews of India and their music By Arlene Stolnitz written by famous medieval poets from the Golden Age of Spain and lesser known poets of the Middle East. “Tsur Mishelo” and “Yah Ribon” are examples of pizmonim. In Cochin, Jewish women have sung Jewish songs both in Hebrew and in Malayalam, the language of Kerala, their ancient homeland. Located on the tropical southwest coast of India, Cochini Jews are halakhically observant, yet sing together with men in synagogue at Shabbat family gatherings and weddings, as well as community-wide events. It was not their custom to prevent men from hearing women’s voices in song. Girls were well educated, in mixed schools with boys, learning at an early age to read and chant from the Torah. Often it was a grandmother or “aunty” who coached young boys on their Haftorah and Torah portions. Cochini women had an extensive repertoire of Malayalam-language Jewish folksongs. These were generally sung without instrumental accompaniment at public gatherings during life cycle and holiday celebrations. Often women sang at women’s bridal parties as well as mixed gatherings. Most of the songs were composed anonymously. These Jewish folksongs in the Kerala style were sung in royal wedding processions with brides clad in gold and colorful flowers in their hair. One song tells of an ancestor who arrived by sea from Jerusalem in a wooden ship carrying materials for the building of a grand synagogue. Other songs are Biblical narratives with a distinct South Indian flavor. Some are 20th century Zionist songs in Malayalam preparing Cochin Jews for Aliyah. And other Zionist songs of today are set to mid-20th century Indian cinema tunes and political chants. The texts of about 300 Malayalam Jewish songs have been preserved and are now housed in the Ben-Zvi
Life with Style
Institute in Jerusalem. Some are over a hundred years old and many are no longer performed or even remembered. They were saved by women who passed them from generation to generation in handwritten notebooks. The thirty-two notebooks, which have been photocopied, are a testament to the literacy level of women in this region of India and their relatively high status within the community. Anna Schultz, Stanford University ethnomusicologist, is researching devotional music of the Bene Israel. She is exploring a form of Indian folk music called kirtan that praises the divine. The Bene Israel used kirtan to teach women and children about Jewish scriptures. The kirtankars (performers of kirtan) used this method of persua-
sive singing and storytelling to instill in its listeners a devotion to the nation. Her research examines the role kirtan played in establishing Jewish identity in India and later Israel. We are fortunate to have Rahel Musleah with us this month to lead us in the Federation’s Women’s Passover Seder which will have a Jewish Indian theme. Arlene Stolnitz, founder of the Sarasota Jewish Chorale, has sung in choral groups for over 25 years. A retired educator from Rochester, New York, and a member of Venice’s Exsultate!, she is a graduate of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Leadership Institute. Her interest in choral music has led to this series of articles on Jewish Folk Music in the Diaspora.
K’zohar Ha-Ivrit To wine! By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin
W
e are blessed with two holidays this season, Purim and Pesach. In both we drink wine to symbolize our joy. On Purim, one is advised by the rabbis to drink to the point of not recognizing the difference between Haman and Mordecai (Megillah 7:2), and on Pesach we drink four cups of wine to celebrate, as tradition teaches, D r. R ach el D ulin freedom, salvation, redemption and becoming a nation. In honor of the holidays, I wish to discuss the word ya-yin, Hebrew for wine. Ya-yin, the intoxicating drink made out of grapes, was well known throughout the ancient world, and the Land of Israel was known for its superb quality of wines (Dt 33:28; II Cr 30:5; et al). In the Bible, ya-yin is mentioned 141 times, stressing both the negative consequences of overdrinking (Gen 9:20: I Sam 1:14; Prov 23:19-20;30; et al) and the positive effects of reasonable drinking. The Psalmist, for example, declared: ya-yin ye-sa-mach lev e-nosh, “wine gladdens the heart of a human being” (Ps 104:15), and the prophet Amos viewed grapes and its produce as a sign of peace and prosperity (Amos 9:13). The origin of the Hebrew word ya-yin is obscure. In ancient Hebrew a ‘v’ sound at the beginning of a word was changed to a ‘y.’ Thus, the Hebrew word for wine is ya-yin (not va-yin). In Akkadian it is inu and in Ugarit it
is yn. In ancient Greek it is oi nos and in ancient Latin the word is vinum. In Italian and Spanish the word for wine is vino, in French vin, in German and Yiddish wein (the ‘w’ reads as ‘v’) and in English wine. These similarities lead most scholars to believe that the word originated in the regions around the Aegean Sea, Asia Minor or the Caucasus, places where grapes where grown and ya-yin was produced from time immemorial. As part of our short discussion on ya-yin I wish to mention two rabbinic observations about the drinking of yayin. The first expression is nich-nas yayin ya-tzah sod, literally “when wine enters a secret exits” (Eyruvin 65). The expression is based in the numerical value of the Hebrew letters. It so happens that the sum total of letters in the words ya-yin is 70, and so is the sum total of the word sod (secret). From this it was deduced that when one drinks too much, one reveals too many secrets. The second comment comes from the Talmud, where it is written, yesh shoteh ya-yin ve-tov lo, yesh shoteh ya-yin ve-rah lo, literally “there is one who drinks wine and feels good, another drinks wine and feels bad” (Yerushalmi Ma-aser Shay-ni 55:3). That is to say, with some, wine agrees and, with others, it does not. In short, following rabbinic teachings, with the exception of Purim, think before you drink. Happy Purim and a joyful Pesach to all. Le-chayim! Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor of biblical literature at Spertus College in Chicago and an adjunct professor of Hebrew and Bible at New College in Sarasota.
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ome of the oldest living Jewish communities in the world whose roots go back to Biblical times exist in India. The Jews in Bombay, Calcutta and Cochin used music as a way of expressing their faith, spirit, and hope of a return to Israel. Today, only about 4,000 Jews live in India, most having resettled in Israel, the U.S., England, Australia and Canada. The majority A rlen e Stoln itz of Jews in India lived among three distinct communities: the Bene Israel of Bombay (now Mumbai), the Baghdadi Jews who settled in Bombay and Calcutta, and the Jews of Cochin, in southern India. Other groups include the Bene Menashe and Bene Ephraim. Their stories point to the historical and cultural depth of Indian Jewry which has been firmly rooted in India for centuries. One of the chief proponents of the history and music of the Jews of Calcutta is Rahel Musleah. A frequent lecturer at the North American Jewish Choral Festival, Rahel was born in Calcutta to a family that lived in India since 1820 and traces its roots to 17th century Baghdad. Her CD, Hodu: Jewish Rhythms from Baghdad to India, is a compilation of songs for Shabbat and holidays featuring a blend of ancient texts, authentic melodies and contemporary rhythms often sung without musical accompaniment. According to Musleah, ‘Hodu,’ in Hebrew, means both ‘India’ and ‘Praise God!’ – “an appropriate double entendre for a community that thrived in the most benevolent of diasporas.” The songs, called pizmonim or shbahot, are sung in Hebrew with texts
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March 2015
JEWISH INTEREST
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Telushkin’s Rebbi: a gigantic challenge supremely met By Philip K. Jason, Special to The Jewish News
l Rebbi: The Life and Teachings of . Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most n Influential Rabbi in Modern History, y by Joseph Telushkin. Harper Wave. 640 pages. Hardcover $29.99. l ebbi is an excellent and highly s original biography, one that r exhibits a mature balancing of n courage, judgment and shrewdly man-aged resources. It comes to us at a time in which other l ambitious biographies of Rabbi a Schneerson have a also appeared. y Though I’ve only r glanced at the s others, my sense c is that this one provides the most P hil Jason rounded picture. How is Telushkin’s treatment original? The author made the provocative decision to organize his material by topics rather than by chronology. The dfirst ten parts of the book, each part nexcept two divided into two or more chapters, move readers steadily across a panorama of ideas, values, skills, dpersonal traits, objectives and achievedments. Some examples of chapter titles dare: “Connecting to Individuals,” “Exepressing Disagreement Without Being Disagreeable,” “There Also Needs to Be a Girl,” “When Is It Wrong to Make eAliyah,” “United States: Prayers in the Schools, Menorahs in the Streets,” and “Mrs. Schneerson from President cStreet.” The eleventh part, at long last, is -“The Life of Rabbi Menachem Menedel Schneerson,” which is called by eTelushkin “A Timeline Designed to l e
R
Be Read” – and so it is. I’d love to see these sixty pages reprinted as a separate pamphlet. Essentially, however, Rebbi is a collection of pointed, carefully sequenced anecdotes that require seventy pages of endnotes to substantiate. In one way or another, most of these vignettes reveal Rabbi Schneerson’s kindness, practical and scholarly wisdom, and unassuming performance as an exemplary figure. Many of the stories show him in action guiding the movement that would become one of the greatest religious outreach efforts ever. The inclusiveness of Schneerson’s Chabad vision rests on the belief that every Jew is important; indeed that all individuals are made in God’s image and thus all are important. The Chabad strategy, which operates worldwide, depends on the hard work of saving one Jewish soul at a time, enlarging the opportunity and longing for meaningful Jewish identity, and providing the foot soldiers – the young Chasidic couples who take their postings to the most remote and most Jewishly sparse locations as fortunate assignments. Telushkin’s stories about these emissaries makes the energy and warmth of Chabad Centers come alive. The author also makes clear that The Rebbi redesigned his transplanted community for the later twentieth century America to which he and so many other Jewish leaders and followers had come in the double-wake of the Holocaust and Soviet repression. Movement headquarters in Crown Heights might show signs of Old World fashion and insularity, but from it Rabbi Schneerson and his aides generated a highly dynamic, technologically current pro-
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gram that could reach out to and affect the diverse Jewish population. Because of his sense of mission, The Rebbi found an argument that made the traditional grand mitzvah of Aliyah take second place. He never encouraged Aliyah when it meant a needed leader would weaken his community by moving to Israel. Many other positions of the great leader were controversial. Among these was his insistence that graduates of Chabad schools (and perhaps Orthodox-leaning young adults in general) should not go on to college. Well, at least not right away. Telushkin understands this negative advice as a recognition of the seductive power of secular culture. People in their late teens and early twenties were still so unformed; why not wait – and learn – within pro-
Josep hTelushkin (p hoto b y Step hen Fried g ood )
tected religious walls before risking exposure to that seduction? The Rebbi was a consummate advice giver. He advised politicians, business leaders and senior Israeli officials – including high-ranking military officers. His own secular studies in science and engineering had sharpened his analytical skills, perhaps even more than did his yeshiva studies in Torah and Talmud. He kept abreast of local, national and international news, forming reasoned and persuasive opinions. It may seem strange to say it, but Telushkin conjures The Rebbi as a man of the world who rarely left home. His late night to early morning meetings with seekers, most often private meetings, brought all kinds of people through the doors of Chabad Central. All seemed to leave transformed in some way. The Rebbi was
quick to understand their situations and needs. With kindness and firmness, he could suggest how difficulties were opportunities, and hint at fruitful directions for the seeker’s future. For thousands of Jews, one of those nighttime meetings with Rabbi Schneerson was something like a Catholic’s audience with the Pope, though probably even more life-changing. Menachem Mendel Schneerson knew how to listen. Author Telushkin records many such meetings, and he keeps readers amazed at how much of Rabbi Schneerson’s time – the time that most people would be sleeping – was occupied with these one-on-one sessions. Telushkin takes on the big questions: the nature of the Chabad movement’s messianic outlook, especially as it applies to the near-anointment of The Rebbi; the family fracture when he was selected to be his father-in-law’s successor that revealed itself in the consequent crime of his wife’s nephew stealing books from Chabad’s rich library of rare treasures; and his attitudes toward evolution and toward the heliocentric planetary system. And don’t think this is some dull, pedantic shuffle of research notes and sycophantic adulation. There is plenty of edgy material in this tome. Every page is alive with fascinating information and – yes – revelation. Joseph Telushkin captures the greatness and the vibrant humanity of an exceptional leader whose leadership, though not his life, is ongoing. He allows us an abundance of glimpses at this childless man who was a spiritual father to the many people who knew him and to the many more who didn’t. In a voice at once sturdy and flexible, Joseph Telushkin justifies and adds to the very high esteem he has earned in his long career as a premier Jewish scholar for the educated masses. Philip K. Jason is Professor Emeritus of English from the United States Naval Academy. He reviews regularly for Florida Weekly, Jewish Book World, Southern Literary Review, and other publications. Please visit Phil’s website at www.philjason.wordpress.com.
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March 2015
Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle “Thrillah in Megillah” by Jonathan Gersch
Difficulty Level: Challenging
JEWISH INTEREST
How do you make a Jewish crossword? By Eitan Arom, Jerusalem Post
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Editor: David Benkof, DavidBenkof@gmail.com Solution on page 25A Down Across 1. On a ____ (like a possible shuk 1. Sport, as tzitzit purchase) 5. A prophet 9. Where Jacob lived in his last years 2. It could be exchanged for about 4.6 14. Brit who analyzes the Arab/Israel shekels in early 2015 3. Former Labor leader Peretz conflict? 4. Miluim, IDF-wise 15. Female U.S. pol who advocated 5. Many Israel dwellers from Africa, for Jews during WWII recently 16. Shekels and such 17. Jerusalem Botanical Garden flower 6. Grape used for sweet kiddush wine 7. “____ Kandelikas” (Chanukah 18. Israeli woman song) 19. Like Israel’s coastal region, topographically 8. What one might do with some 20. Like some frillier mishloach karbanot manot baskets 9. Made Judenrein 23. “Gila, ___....” 10. Weaken, like Jacob’s leg 24. Precursor to shalom? (literally!) 25. Does matanot la’evyonim 11. King David’s nephew 32. Part of an IDF uniform 12. Israel Ballet dancer’s move 33. Slandered beyond lashon hara 13. What one may bring back from 34. T’chelet, e.g Eilat 35. Gershwin and namesakes 21. Kashrut, for one 36. Holiday spirit 22. Gad’s brother 38. Israeli sandal maker 25. 1/20 of a Biblical shekel 39. Did a mitzvah in a sukkah 26. Like some Knesset members, 40. Knesset deputy speaker Nachman during a heated debate 41. What Moses was not at the 27. Greasy like latkes Burning Bush 28. Prepare tzitzit 42. They may put on a shpiel 29. Tel Aviv cinema 46. It may end with .il 30. Big kvetch 47. It supports hasbara for Israel 31. Haggadah verb advocates 32. “Bei Mir ____ Du Shein” (Sammy 48. Megillah figure – one of which Cahn/Saul Chaplin hit) is hidden in each of 20-, 25- and 36. Place to find three wise men - or 42-Across more 55. Rabbi/novelist Chaim 37. ____ Nof (Jerusalem 56. European capital with the Peitav Shul neighborhood) 57. First word in much wedding music 38. British leader who was friends 58. Send ____ package to an Israeli with Chief Rabbi Jacobowitz Soldier (Friends of the IDF project) 40. Histadrut member, at times 59. With the Alliance Israelite 41. Org. which helps Israeli Persians? Universelle? 43. Israel’s weekly Spanish paper 60. ____ Crossing (checkpoint area) 44. “Rock ____” (Chanukah song) 61. Kabbalist’s book 45. Possible kumsitz instrument 62. City where one of Chabad’s 18 48. A little Ladino? locations in Arizona can be found 49. Tabernacle state? 63. Like Maimonidean manuscripts 50. What a teen may do before the bagrut 51. Rosh Hashanah honey-making locale 52. Canadian Jewish actress Strong Don’t Wait to Fall to Call who voiced Dil Pickles on “Rugrats” FREE IN-HOME 53. Adverb describing God’s reign EVALUATION 54. What some men do not do during sefirah 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE Call Jim’s Bathroom Grab Bars LLC 55. Feature of the Golden Age of Spain
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teurs and experts. Even for the advanced puzzles, however, Benkof’s goal is not to stump solvers. “‘Stump’ isn’t the right word,” he said, “because I want them to eventually figure it out. But I also want them to initially think, ‘Wow, this is too hard for me.’” In the first month under Benkof’s stewardship, solvers will indeed face a challenge: Benkof said one of the first puzzles contained a “double-triple stack,” insider jargon for a puzzle where the top three and bottom three answers all have 15 letters. [See page 16A of the February issue of The Jewish News.] He said the puzzle was the first “in the history of crossword puzzles” to combine such a formation with a specific theme. An Orthodox Jew, Benkof, 44, speaks in a gravelly tone that exudes excitement when he starts discussing crosswords. He works as a writer and editor for the Daily Caller, a politically conservative opinion website, and produces crosswords on the side. Part of his fascination with crosswords comes from a genuine love of trivia – he once won $5,000 on the game show Win Ben Stein’s Money. But beyond that, it’s his lighthearted attitude that he points to as central to his pursuit. “I’m a playful guy, and I’m particularly playful with language,” Benkof said, speaking from Orlando, Florida, where he was on vacation, visiting Disney World. “I’ve always liked puns, for example.” But beginning in the upcoming year, his personality will be just one of many features in the Post crossword. “In 2015, the puzzles will be a lot more fun,” he promised. “The themes will delight solvers, the clues will be more clever, and the puzzles will be stamped with the personalities of their constructors.” A version of this article first appeared in the Jerusalem Post.
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ou do it by yourself, with thousands of others – nine letters. The answer, of course, is CROSSWORD. And those clues are not easy to craft. Lame though it is, that one took me nearly 20 minutes to write. But David Benkof has perfected the art over two decades, infusing his crosswords with his knowledge of Jewish history and whimsical personality. The result, he says, is much more than a list of questions and answers. “A lot of people think crossword puzzles are a kind of trivia contest, and they’re not,” said Benkof, who has crafted the Jerusalem Post crossword that has appeared in publications worldwide for six years. His role makes him the de facto leader of the world of Jewish wordplay – the Post crossword is syndicated to more than 30 Jewish publications worldwide. “Part of what makes them fun is the wordplay, and seeing words cross each other and figuring out the theme,” he explained. “The idea that it’s just a list of questions, that wouldn’t be any fun at all.” With the recent switch to editor of the Post’s crosswords instead of their sole creator, Benkof plans to open up the range of difficulty and topics for the world’s premier Jewish-themed crossword series. Though Judaica might seem like a narrow topic for a weekly crossword, Benkof, who has a master’s degree in Jewish history from Stanford University, sees no shortage of material. “We draw on everything from Hollywood to rabbis to Israeli history,” he said. “It’s very broad, so that people of all backgrounds have a shot at finishing a puzzle.” Questions cover everything from biblical narrative (“It had a major part in the Ten Commandments” – six letters) to Jewish cuisine (“It takes guts to cook them” – seven letters), and draw as much on wordplay as knowledge of Judaism. (The respective answers, by the way, are REDSEA and KISHKES.) And with Benkof’s editorship, the puzzles will generally include themes
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JEWISH INTEREST
Stars of David
By Nate Bloom, Contributing Columnist Editor’s note: Persons in BOLD CAPS are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of the column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in a faith other than Judaism – and don’t identify with a faith other than Judaism as an adult. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish. Catching Up With TV Premieres CARRIE BROWNSTEIN, 40, is one busy artist. Her hit IFC show, Portlandia, began its 5th season on January 8. Guest stars this season include JEFF GOLDBLUM, 62, VANESSA BAYER, 33, PAUL SIMON, 73, and NATASHA LYONNE, 35. Brownstein also moonlights as a recurring Jewish character on the hit Amazon show Transparent. On top of all this, Sleater-Kinney, the all-woman, feminist rock band that made her famous in the ’90s, has reunited with their first new CD since 2006 (“No Cities to Love”) and has begun a live tour. The band is Brownstein, JANET WEISS, 49, and Corin Tucker. The new HBO series Togetherness premiered on January 11 to good reviews. It stars Mark Duplass and Melanie Lynskey as a couple married for ten years who try and take the strain off their marriage by welcoming into their home her flaky single sister (AMANDA PEET, 42) and his outof-work actor best friend (Steve Zissis). The two guests live in the living room. Peet is a very good and vivacious actress who has had some good roles (The Whole Nine Yards, among others) but never became a star. If Togetherness becomes a hit, she and her husband, DAVID BENIOFF, 44, the co-creator of Game of Thrones, will probably be the first couple to have two hit HBO series airing simultaneously. The couple had their third child, their first boy, in December. Backstrom is a Fox police series that began on January 22. I only recently got a tip that a prominent member of the cast, relative newcomer GENEVIEVE ANGELSON, 28, is Jewish. Rainn Wilson (The Office) plays the title character, Detective Lt.
Everett Backstom, a brilliant guy who is described as having “no filter” on his mouth. He’s been brought back from a nothing assignment to head up Portland’s new Special Crimes Unit. Angelson plays Detective Nicole Gravely, who works hard to counterbalance Backstrom’s irritating behavior. Angelson has stage experience and had a recurring role on House of Lies. Her father, MARK ANGELSON, 64, is an attorney and businessman who worked in high finance and then headed-up the country’s largest printing company. He served as Chicago’s deputy mayor from 2011-2012, streamlining government and bringing in many private sector jobs. In a truecrime sidelight, in 2003, Mark discovered the bloody, murdered body of his business partner, Ted Ammon, at Ammon’s palatial Long Island estate. The murder was a media sensation and Ammon’s wife’s lover was convicted of the crime. Now relocated to New York City, Mark and his wife, Lynn, are major “power couples” in the arts and sciences. (Lynn was not born Jewish and I don’t believe she has converted.) Tweets by Genevieve, and by her sister, JESSICA, 30, a Brooklyn midwife, make it clear that they identify as Jewish. A third sibling, MEREDITH, 32, is a lawyer working for the Southern Poverty Law Center in New Orleans (the SPLC fights racism and anti-Semitism). She is married to successful novelist NATHANIEL RICH, 34, the son of famous writer FRANK RICH, 65. The couple belong to a New Orleans synagogue. The NBC series Allegiance, which began on February 5, co-stars SCOTT COHEN, 53, and Hope Davis as a married couple who are secret (present-day) Russian mole spies. Their
Interested in Your Family’s History? Ten years of doing a Jewish celebrities column has turned Nate Bloom (see column at left) into something of an expert on finding basic family history records and articles mentioning a “searched-for” person. During these 10 years, he has put together a small team of “mavens” who aid his research. Most professional family history experts charge at least $1,000 for a full family tree. However, many people just want to get “started” by tracing one particular family branch.
So here’s the deal: Send Nate an email at nteibloom@aol.com, tell him you saw this ad in The Jewish News, and include your phone number (area code, too). Nate will then contact you about doing a “limited” family history for you at a modest cost (no more than $100). No upfront payment. son, a newly hired CIA analyst, doesn’t know this. Their daughter, played by MARGARITA LEVIEVA, 34, knows the truth. The son is investigating clues about a Russian terrorist plot. His parents are ordered to help the plot and “turn” the son into a spy for Russia, or else. Cohen’s face is familiar to TV watchers, but despite good performances, he hasn’t had a breakthrough role. Likewise, the Russian-born Levieva is also hoping that Allegiance will kick-start her to stardom. Sports Short The Unites States Men’s National Soccer team is composed of pro players
who compete, every four years, for the World Cup and, during “off years” like 2015, play some “friendly” matches with other national teams. On January 28, the U.S. lost to Chile. The U.S. starting lineup against Chile included two Jewish players: DeANDRE YEDLIN, 21, who currently plays for a UK pro team, and STEVE BIRNBAUM, 24, who plays for the D.C. United MLS club. He played in the 2011 Maccabi Games in Israel. The U.S. won their next “friendly” against Panama in February. The U.S. team plays Denmark on March 25 (ESPN) and Switzerland on March 31 (Fox Sports 1).
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A courageous Swede By Paul R. Bartrop, PhD
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eventy years ago this month, on March 31, 1945, a Swedish journalist, Torgny Segerstedt, died. The former editor-in-chief of the Handelstidningen, one of Sweden’s leading liberal newspapers, he resisted Nazism through the pages of his newspaper, defying all attempts to stay quiet – even a direct order from his king. He was a true hero of the anti-Nazi cause. D r. P aul B artrop The son of a teacher, Torgny Segerstedt was born in Karlstad in 1876 and educated at Lund University, where he taught the history of religion from 1904 to 1912. In 1913 he moved to Stockholm University, where he taught until he joined the Handelstidningen newspaper in 1917. Segerstedt’s resistance to Nazism began as soon as Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany in 1933. Through the pages of the press, he launched an unceasing campaign against Hitler and Nazism, starting with the comment that “To force the politics and press of the entire world to deal with that character, that is unforgivable. Mr. Hitler is an insult.” He continued with other articles, prompting a response within days from senior Nazi Hermann Goering, who protested that the tenor of Segerstedt’s articles, if continued, could threaten relations between Germany and Sweden. Segerstedt’s criticism saw him become one of the earliest European journalists to recognize where Nazism could lead, and actually identified that a new global conflict could follow in its wake. In years to come, members of the Swedish government expressed concern at Segerstedt’s condemnations, but he continued his comments unabated. As Nazi anti-Jewish measures intensified, and in response to Sweden’s silence on the passage of the Nuremberg Laws of 1935, he alerted his readers – but, in reality, his government – that “We are responsible for what we say and for what we do not say.” Segerstedt opposed Sweden’s participation at the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936, and was critical of the Munich Agreement of September 1938, the high point of British and French appeasement of Hitler. The excesses of Nazism, culminating on November 9-10, 1938, with what became known as the Kristallnacht, saw his campaign continue with relentless vigor. On November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union – at that time allied to Germany – invaded Sweden’s immediate neighbor, Finland. Then, on April 9, 1940, Norway and Denmark were also invaded by Germany. With war now enveloping Scandinavia, the Swedish government began to fight hard to maintain its neutrality, desperate not to antagonize the Nazis. Press censorship was introduced, and many of Segerstedt’s anti-Nazi editorials were cut. His response was to leave blank columns, as an indication to his readers that press freedom had been attacked. In Nazi-occupied Scandinavia, Segerstedt’s articles and the Handelstidningen newspaper were of course banned, a measure that only served to give inspiration to resistance movements in Norway and Denmark. Indeed,
in Norway the paper was smuggled in, the intention being to give hope to the anti-Nazi fighters that they were not alone. Throughout the war years, Segerstedt continued to defy his government, which held that he was too uncompromising in his sustained criticism of Nazi Germany. In 1940, at the request of the government, King Gustaf V called Segerstedt to Stockholm’s Royal Palace for an audience in which he reproached Segerstedt for his irresponsibility. The king informed him that “If Sweden gets into the war, it will be your fault.” When Segerstedt objected and tried to point out the morality of his stance, the king is reputed to have noted: “We know why you are defending the Jews.” In this regard, Segerstedt’s relationship with his Jewish mistress, Maja Forssman (1881-1942), was being thrown in his face. Soon afterwards, Handelstidningen began to lose its advertising sponsors, while certain editions of the newspaper were actually seized by the government amid threats from Berlin. Despite such pressure, Segerstedt never gave in, and maintained his condemnation of Hitler and Nazi Germany. Segerstedt’s story relates one man’s moral courage in the face of intense pressure to back down for the sake of state interests. When Prime Minister Per-Albin Hansson, a longtime friend, pleaded with him not to drag Sweden into the war, he continued his writing – indeed, it has been estimated that Segerstedt wrote up to ten thousand articles across the span of his career. Inevitably, he made many enemies. Several even played the antiSemitic card in view of his relationship with Maja Forssman, sending him hate mail and calling him a “lackey” of the Jews. On March 31, 1945, after a walk with his dogs (one of whom he had named “Winston” in honor of the British Prime Minister), Segerstedt fell ill and died in Gothenburg. His life and anti-Nazi campaign was recently recalled in an awardwinning movie made in 2012, The Last Sentence (dir. Jan Troell: Swedish title, Dom över död man, or Judgement on the Dead), released on DVD in the United States in 2014. The movie painted a particularly sensitive picture of Segerstedt as a man of intense convictions who struggled with what he saw as his moral duty in a world of increasing immorality. Starring Jesper Christensen in the title role, the film shows a Segerstedt who is zealous in his opposition to Hitler, conflicted in his interpersonal relations with those around him, and a major hero of the opposition to Nazism – against the advice of his friends, the preferences of his government, and the demands of his king. In honor of Torgny Segerstedt, whose death seventy years ago this month will probably go unmarked in the United States, it is worth our remembering such men, who lived through dark times and sought to illuminate that darkness. Lest we forget. Dr. Paul Bartrop is Professor of History and the Director of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. He can be reached at pbartrop@fgcu.edu.
See the Jewish Happenings section for more than 80 Jewish-related community events in March!
March 2015
ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD
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3.3 million visitors to Israel in 2014
Despite Operation Protective Edge, the number of tourists in 2014 remains similar to that in 2013, thanks to the significant increase in the first half of 2013. Ministry of Tourism Statistics Department, January 5, 2015
T
ourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau: “This year, despite Operation Protective Edge, we succeeded in maintaining the same number of tourists and hotel overnights, mainly as a result of the Israeli response to the “Vacation in Israel Now” campaign in the midst of the Operation. Israeli vacationers filled the hotels in the peak season of August, thereby supporting businesses in outlying areas and the Israeli economy. At the same time, we managed to bring down the cost of vacationing in Israel by increasing supply and incentivizing the construction of budget accommodation and camping options, as well as commencing the hotel ratings procedure.” Ministry of Tourism Director General Amir Halevi: “This year, we put our emphasis on digital marketing aimed at independent travelers who are keen to exploit the prices from the open skies policy and are ready to enjoy the city breaks we have on offer – to run marathons in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Galilee, to cycle in the Negev, to enjoy opera at Masada and in Akko, and to have fun in Tel Aviv.” Tourism by mode of travel Out of 3.3 million visitors, 2.5 million arrived by air (78%), a decrease of 2% compared to 2013. About 400,000 came through the land borders (12%), a 5% increase compared to 2013. Tourism by country of origin As in previous years, tourism from the U.S. continued to represent the largest country of origin for incoming tourism to Israel, with 626,000 visitors arriving in 2014, (representing 19% of all incoming tourism), 1% more than 2013. In second place is tourism from Russia with 567,000 visitors, a decrease of 6%. Tourism from France takes third place, with about 301,000 visitors, followed by Germany (196,000) and the
United Kingdom (179,000). Tourism to Israel: characteristics 56% of incoming tourism was Christian tourism (41% of which is Catholic, 26% Protestant and 22% Russian Orthodox), 24% Jewish tourism, with the remaining of other religious denominations or non-affiliated. 58% of tourists were first-time visitors, and 42% were returning visitors. 21% defined their visit as part of a pilgrimage, 26% as tour and travel, 11% as vacation and leisure. Overall, 58% defined their visit for tourism purposes, 23% visited friends or relatives, and 11% came for business or to attend conventions. 27% came as part of an organized tour, 10% on a package deal, and 63% came as FITs (frequent individual tourists). 64% of tourists stayed in hotels, 22% stayed with friends or relatives, 5% stayed in youth hostels, 1% stayed in religious hostels, and 6% stayed in rented or owned apartments. Cities and sites visited Jerusalem is the city most visited by incoming tourists in Israel (82% of all tourists). Tel Aviv-Jaffa holds second place with 67% of all tourists having visited, and in third place is the Dead Sea area with 54%. Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee holds fourth place with 38% of all tourists followed by the Galilee area with 34%. The most visited sites in 2014 include the Western Wall (74%), the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem (68%), the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (59%), the Via Dolorosa (53%) and the Mount of Olives (52%). Tourist satisfaction The satisfaction level of tourists vis-
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iting Israel in 2014 was very good to excellent (4.3 out of 5). Services that received a high rating included: archeological sites (4.5), tour guides and organized tours (4.4), personal security (4.3). Among those services which did not rate so highly: public bathrooms (3.5), taxis (3.4) and value for money (3.1). Tourism’s contribution to the Israeli economy Total revenue from tourism in 2014 is estimated at about NIS 41 billion, a slight decrease from 2013.
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The number of employees in the Israeli economy as a result of tourism activities totals about 110,000, approximately one third of whom are employed in hotels. The total number of employees in the tourism industry (direct and indirect) stands at about 200,000 – 6% of all employees in Israel.
TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM
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in march All Are Welcome! Come Join Us! ONGOING PROGRAMS Daily Morning Minyan Sunday-Friday, 8:00AM
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SUNDAY, MARCH 1 9:30AM, Men’s Club Sunday Morning Breakfast and Speakers Program — Everyone Welcome, “What’s ahead for the U.S. Economy and Financial Markets” Presenter: Dr. William (Bill) Freund WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 1:15PM, Idelson Library Book Review WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 7:00PM, Purimshpiel and Megillah Reading THURSDAY, MARCH 5 9:00AM, Purim Service THURSDAY, MARCH 5 12:00 – 2:00PM, Lunch & Learn - Great Jewish Ideas of the 19th & 20th Centuries, An Exploration of Jewish Thought. Bring a dairy lunch. Classes taught under the guidance of Rabbi Werbow SATURDAY, MARCH 7 7:00PM, TBSS Celebration, Celebrating our Differences SUNDAY, MARCH 8 11:00AM – 2:00PM, Purim Carnival TUESDAY, MARCH 10 1:00PM, Men’s Club Baseball Outing THURSDAY, MARCH 12 12:00PM, Lunch & Learn - Great Jewish Ideas of the 19th & 20th Centuries, An Exploration of Jewish Thought. Bring a dairy lunch. Classes taught under the guidance of Rabbi Werbow FRIDAY, MARCH 20 5:45PM, Congregational Shabbat Dinner FRIDAY, MARCH 20 7:00PM, Shabbat Service – Olivia Knego Bat Mitzvah
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20A
March 2015
ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD
Five years post-quake, Israel is still helping Haiti heal IsraAID runs a medical facility, an agriculture program, a youth empowerment center, and a gender violence prevention program for Haitian women. By Abigail Klein Leichman, ISRAEL21c, www.israel21c.org, January 25, 2015
W
ithin 24 hours of the severe earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12, 2010, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a 220-person team of rescuers, disaster-management experts and medical personnel. Numerous Israeli governmental and non-governmental organizations joined in the difficult work of treating physical and psychological wounds and getting the island country back on its feet. Five years later, Israeli humanitarians are still on the ground helping Haitians rebuild their lives and communities. “Today, on the fifth anniversary of the earthquake, we remember the victims and renew our commitment and dedication to helping the survivors,” IsraAID Director Shachar Zahavi said earlier this month. IsraAID: The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid is always one of the first relief groups to respond to disasters across the globe. Its policy is to stay on the ground after the emergency to create and implement an infrastructure of programs to rehabilitate the affected community, leaving only once those programs are functioning in the hands of local residents trained by IsraAID. That’s why you’ll still find IsraAID workers in Japan, for example, nearly four years after a deadly earthquake and tsunami. They are also currently assisting in areas of crisis including Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, the Philippines, China, Hong Kong and South Korea. In Haiti, Zahavi tells ISRAEL21c, the organization’s focus is getting people resettled at home. Of the 1.5 million citizens initially displaced by the earthquake, an estimated 85,000 remain in temporary tent cities. “We have been running a medical facility, an agriculture program to help returning families earn a liveli-
hood, a youth empowerment center to help teens reintegrate into the community, and a gender violence program for women who were abused [in the tent cities],” Zahavi says. Gradually, each of these programs is being turned over to Haitian NGOs. “Some have been transferred entirely. Others we’re still monitoring and advising,” says Zahavi. “We’ve downsized because most of the staff is local now. We have a small team there, and experts from Israel come as needed to provide training.” “No idea how long we’ll stay” IsraAID is the only Israeli NGO still operating in Haiti as of January 2015. However, MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – also remains engaged in the area on an as-needed basis.
people in education, health, trauma treatment and primary necessities. At least 230,000 Haitians died as a result of the 2010 earthquake, and 300,000 people were injured. In addition to tens of thousands still unable to return home, Haiti has been further devastated by a cholera epidemic in these past five years. One source told ISRAEL21c that individual Israelis are involved in discreet humanitarian efforts such as finding adoptive homes for orphaned Haitian children. Larger coordinated projects cannot stay under the radar, however, because of the need for significant funds to keep them going. Zahavi explains that most of the money needed for IsraAID programs in Haiti is donated by Jewish Federations in North America. “We have also won some contracts with different international aid organizations that saw the work we do, like
several UN agencies and the International Red Cross. This happens in other parts of the world, too,” Zahavi relates. He cannot say when IsraAID will cease its work in the island nation altogether. “We always have an exit strategy, though right now we have no idea how long we’ll stay in Haiti,” Zahavi says. “It depends on the success of the programs and how fast the local NGOs will be able to integrate them. We are not a hit-and-run organization; we stay on longer term to help disaster victims rebuild their lives. There is more than enough Israeli capacity and knowhow to do this.” Abigail Klein Leichman is a writer and associate editor at ISRAEL21c. Prior to moving to Israel in 2007, she was a specialty writer and copy editor at a daily newspaper in New Jersey and has freelanced for a variety of newspapers and periodicals since 1984.
BRIEFS A n I sraA I D healthca re w orker treatin g an earthq uake vi ct im (p hoto co urtesy of the U JA Fed eration of G reater Toron to)
“We sent a MASHAV representative to lead a training session two months ago in one of the clinics we built there after the earthquake,” MASHAV Director Gil Haskel tells ISRAEL21c. Through MASHAV, Israel established a trauma and emergency room in the Central Hospital of Cap Haitien, Haiti’s second largest city; developed farming projects in coordination with the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture; partnered in the creation of a clinic in Leogane together with Chaim Sheba Hospital and others; and worked with various Israeli NGOs in providing assistance and support to the Haitian
AMAZON TO BUY ISRAELI HARDWARE FIRM FOR $350M Online retail giant Amazon was set to buy Israeli semiconductor development firm Annapurna Labs for $350-400 million, industry sources reported Thursday, January 22. Annapurna works on communications and processing systems for data centers. Amazon is one of the world’s biggest cloud service providers. “Like other cloud platform providers, Amazon has a large number of data centers, and is constantly looking for faster and more efficient ways to enable their customers to use their services,” a source said. On Wednesday, January 21, document storage firm Dropbox announced that it was buying Israel-based Cloud-
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On, which allows users to edit Microsoft Office documents from mobile devices. Sources said the deal was worth about $100 million. (David Shamah, Times of Israel)
ISRAELI ENERGY STARTUPS EXHIBIT IN PARIS
Among the Israeli energy startups that recently took part in a conference in Paris were Enstorage, which has developed technology that makes it possible to store electricity produced from renewable resources such as wind or sun. Emefcy has developed a system that facilitates treatment of sewage using a biochemical process that also generates electricity. PowerTags technology enables a building to “know” where people are at any time, and to operate accordingly, for example, by automatically turning on the light or the air-conditioner in a room only when people are there, thereby saving precious energy. ThetaRay provides warnings and solutions for protection of critical infrastructure against cyberattacks and operating failures. Silentium generates an “antinoise” signal that eliminates troublesome noise. It allows the creation of a “bubble” of quiet around the user. The system can be put into a headrest in a car or an airplane seat. (Hedy Cohen, Globes)
YA’ALON: WE WANT THE PALESTINIANS TO ACT AS A RESPONSIBLE NEIGHBOR
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said in a recent interview: “What currently exists between Hamas and us is a balance of deterrence....It will take them a long time to rebuild Gaza and be able to engage in military terrorism again. I hope they learned their lesson, because the blow that Hamas incurred is unlike anything that ever happened to them in the past. Some 30,000 buildings collapsed. Don’t people understand what that means? Hamas was armed with 10,000 rockets, and now they have just one-fifth of that.” “For the past six years, we... have been saying clearly that we do not want to rule over [the Palestinians]...I would like to see them living in economic comfort and security, in a governable structure. I want them as a responsible neighbor. I can live with that. All I
continued on page 22A
ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD
March 2015
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22A
March 2015
ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD
Briefs...continued from page 20A want is for them not to bother me... Over the past six years we have reached out to [Mahmoud Abbas] several times, but our reached-out hands remained hanging in the air.” “We are being threatened with a diplomatic tsunami, but that is an exaggeration. What kind of isolation are they talking about? We have excellent security relationships with various countries in Europe, Asia and other places, which are interested in having relations with us.” “One thing that has become accepted around the world is that there is no peace because of the settlements. I ask, if there is a desire for peace and coexistence, why must people be uprooted from their homes and transferred? I do not deny the rights of Arabs to live anywhere in the State of Israel, so why are there areas which are off-limits to Jews? Why is that acceptable? When Abbas says that he wants to receive territories clean of Jews – that is ethnic cleansing. It is even racist.” (Mazal Mualem, AlMonitor)
HOW DID WE END UP CHEERING FOR ISRAEL? Many on Arab social networks have cheered the Israeli strike that killed six Hizbullah members and a general in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps who were secretly present in Syria’s Quneitra region. Hizbullah, and also Iran, have lost the respect and status they’ve always enjoyed. Hizbullah’s biggest fall came after its members joined the terrible war in Syria, which has killed more than 250,000 people in what is surely the most shameful crime in the history of the region. In my opinion there’s no doubt that if a confrontation occurs between Israel and Hizbullah, or between Israel
and Iran, many Arabs will pray for the defeat of Hizbullah’s militias and the generals of its Iranian ally. (Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, general manager of Al-Arabiya television and former editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, Asharq Al-Awsat - UK)
A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS At the Miss Universe competition in Miami, Miss Israel snapped a selfie with a few other contestants – Miss Japan, Miss Slovenia and Miss Lebanon. Extremists in Lebanon were outraged that Miss Lebanon would even be seen with Miss Israel. They demanded that she be stripped of her Miss Lebanon title and the Lebanese government launched an investigation. It’s sad that a girl would come to an event that is supposed to be about international sisterhood, and would be so paranoid about even being seen with a Jew. But even more gross is her bizarre claim that she was tricked and ambushed by Miss Israel. Take a look at the picture. Does it look like Miss Israel sneaked into the photo? Of course not. All four girls look posed and ready for the shot. (Ezra Levant, Toronto Sun - Canada)
SAMSUNG INVESTS IN ISRAEL Korean tech giant Samsung will invest $10 million in Israel patient monitoring firm EarlySense. EarlySense developed a system that uses sensors embedded into a mattress or chair cushion to monitor heartbeat, respiration rate, and movement. It operates on the theory that the more a patient moves around in bed, the healthier they are, in general. The data is transferred to a monitoring station, with the system setting off alarms in the event that something appears amiss. Samsung also invested in Rounds,
which lets users set up chat groups with friends, allowing any member of the group to communicate with others at the same time, or individually – but with Rounds, users get to see their friends, with the app utilizing not only text, but voice and video as well. Samsung has two Israeli R&D centers, which develop telecommunications products, and do semiconductor work as well. (David Shamah, Times of Israel)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AND THE DESTRUCTION OF RAFAH The government of Egypt is destroying Rafah, a town in Egypt on the border of Gaza, leaving thousands of Egyptians homeless, in an effort to create a buffer zone along the border. Human Rights Watch, which put out report after report criticizing Israel for its conduct along the same border and near Rafah, appears to be dead silent about the same conduct when Egypt undertakes it. (Elliott Abrams, Council on Foreign Relations)
ISRAEL ARMY TO GO VEGAN It hasn’t been a picnic for Israeli vegans serving in the army when it comes to finding something to eat at IDF mess halls. But as of this month (February), it should be a little easier to fill a tray at the army’s countrywide mess halls. The IDF has added vegan options like lentil burgers, grain salads, soybased products and more vegetables to its menus. There are some 500 vegans in the army, according to a report in The Times of Israel. The soldiers who refrain from animal-based foods had received extra allowances to purchase food outside the dining halls. But in October 2014, the vegan soldiers protested their exclusion from the mess halls and the IDF promised a change to its menus. The army is also changing its menu for the general palate – adding more fresh vegetables, cutting back on oil, and reducing salads made with mayonnaise. “We’re already using far less oil in the kitchen,” Colonel Avi Harel, commander of the Food Center, the army’s food logistics arm, told The Times of Israel. “It’s a steep learning curve for the cooks. They’ve had to learn how to cook differently.” Soldiers who identify as vegans will also be able to receive non-leather boots. (Viva Sarah Press, ISRAEL21c)
ISRAELI SOLAR POWER TECHNOLOGY TO LIGHT UP ETHIOPIA Ethiopia signed an agreement with the leading Israeli developer of solar-biogas hybrid power technology, AORA, to provide power for rural communities in Ethiopia. AORA’s technology runs not only on solar radiation, but also on almost any gaseous or liquid fuel, including biogas, biodiesel and natural gas, helping to generate full power when sunlight is insufficient. (Anav Silverman, Ynet News)
TECHNION PRINTS PARTS FOR SPACE INDUSTRY WITH ADVANCED 3D METAL PRINTER Haifa’s Technion-Israel Institute of Technology has installed a milliondollar 3D printer for printing out metal products such as titanium parts for the space industry, dental crowns and implants, bone replacements and more. The printer melts metal powder with electron beams and forms it into a customized solid. The printer has already been used to print a prototype of a satellite fuel container. In the future, the engineers will print engine blades and metal implants
for knees. (Judy Siegel-Itzkovich, Jerusalem Post)
ISRAELI C4I NETWORK EXTENDS IDF’S REACH
“ o
Israel has developed a state-of-the-art communications network that augments the IDF’s ability to command complex operations at its borders and far beyond. In late December the stateof-the-art network was declared fully operational. “No matter where the commanders are or where the forces are, there’s a single network-based radio communications for everyone,” said Col. Yossi Mashiah, who managed the program. (Barbara Opall-Rome, Defense News)
DOCUMENTARY TELLS STORY OF U.S. WWII PILOTS FIGHTING FOR ISRAEL
In the amazing documentary Above and Beyond, Director Roberta Grossman features interviews with surviving pilots from Israel’s 1948 War of Independence who struck some of the most essential blows for Israel’s existence. One key sortie of just four planes stopped a massive Egyptian column in its tracks. The film (produced by Steven Spielberg’s sister Nancy) is nutty, dramatic, surprising and above all inspiring. (Kyle Smith, New York Post)
MOBILE SNIFFPHONE WILL DETECT CANCER ON A USER’S BREATH
The NaNose breathalyzer technology developed by Prof. Hossam Haick of the Technion will soon be installed in a mobile phone – to be called the SniffPhone. A tiny smell-sensitive sensor will be installed onto a phone add-on and, using specially designed software, the phone will be able to “smell” users’ breath to determine if they have cancer, among other serious diseases. The NaNose system can detect the presence of tumors, both benign and malignant, more quickly, efficiently and cheaply than previously possible, said Haick. The system has a 90% accuracy rate. (David Shamah, Times of Israel)
1,600-YEAR-OLD GLASS BRACELET WITH MENORAH DISCOVERED IN ISRAEL
A fragment from a glass bracelet inscribed with a seven-branched menorah from the Second Temple period was discovered during Hanukkah at an excavation in the Mount Carmel National Park, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced recently. The excavation’s co-directors, Limor Talmi and Dan Kirzne, said in a statement that on “the bracelet, which is made of turquoise-colored glass... stamped impressions of two menorahs survived on the small fragment that was found – one a plain seven-branched menorah, of which only the surface of the menorah is visible, and the other one consisting of a seven-branched menorah with flames depicted above its branches.” (Daniel K. Eisenbud, Jerusalem Post)
THE STARTUPS OF NAZARETH
An increasing number of Israel’s Arabs are finding work in the country’s burgeoning tech economy. Arabs are represented at Israel’s top universities in numbers commensurate with their percentage of the population. The 10% of Israel’s Arabs who are Christian actually perform better academically than any other Israeli demographic and are comparatively prevalent among the country’s Arab software engineers and entrepreneurs. (Drake Bennett, Business Week)
ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD
“Global Innovation Award” of $1 million launches First-ever international startup competition of its kind pits innovative companies from China, U.S., Europe, Latin America and Israel against one another.
By Viva Sarah Press, ISRAEL21c, www.israel21c.org, February 3, 2015
C
hinese SME Accelerator and Fund of Funds Platform Shengjing, along with Israeli venture capital firm JVP, have announced the launch of the new “Global Innovation Award,” the first ever international startup competition of its kind. The top prize is $1 million and a global spotlight. The international competition is being held simultaneously in China, Israel, the U.S., Europe and Latin America, with the finals set to take place in Beijing in August 2015. Startups involved in cybersecurity, Big Data & Data Science, Internet and Mobile, Enterprise Software, Storage, FinTech, IoT (Internet of Things), Wearable Computing and Digital Health qualify. “We congratulate our Israeli partners, including many of the leaders of the Israeli high-tech industry,” said Xueling Cao, Director at Shengjing Technology Co. at Shengjing360. “Israel has quickly become a global hub and model for an innovation-driven culture. The goal of the competition is to identify the most promising, innovative startups globally, to open doors and support them, and to help them become groundbreaking, market-leading companies.” Twenty companies will be selected from the competition to compete for prizes totaling $1.5 million in the Beijing finals.
For Israeli startups, the competition presents an opportunity to compete against innovative companies from around the world, gain significant exposure in the global market, liaise with leading industry partners, and raise capital from leading growth- and market-focused investors. The Israeli segment of the competition is being led by JVP, Deutsche Telecom, EMC, Yissum (the Hebrew University Technology Transfer Company), The IDC Executive Education, and Herzog Fox & Neeman law firm. “We are proud to lead the Israel segment of the Global Innovation Awards competition,” said JVP Partner Yoav Tzruya. “Israel is world-renowned for creating innovative, market-leading startups. This is a unique opportunity for companies to achieve a significant breakthrough in both global growth markets, including China, and to liaise with industry leaders. I’m sure this global competition will only generate even more interest in Israeli startups.” Viva Sarah Press is an associate editor and writer at ISRAEL21c. She has extensive experience in reporting/editing in the print, online and broadcast fields. Her work has been published by international media outlets including Israel Television, CNN, Reuters, The Jerusalem Post and Time Out.
March 2015
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2015_Jewish News_Passover_5x6 2/3/15 11:28 PM Page 1
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THE CHOSEN: Selected Works From Florida Jewish Art Collectors
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Hung Liu, Yang, 2008, 74 x 74", Jacquard Tapestry From the Collection of the Brody/Brinberg Family ©Hung Liu
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24A
March 2015
COMMENTARY
Dangerous words and the right to say them From the Bimah Rabbi Geoffrey Huntting, Temple Sinai
I
n the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, and the groundswell of support in the West for the victims of the terror, both at the satirical publication Charlie Hebdo and the kosher market in another part of the city, it is time to step back, take a deep breath and consider all of the ramifications of the event. First and foremost, despite the implications for free speech, attacks like this are rarely if ever separated from the overt anti-Semitism that seems always to be present. The attack on the Charlie was indeed an attack on free speech,
but the attack on innocent shoppers at a market had little if anything to do with any constitutional issue. It was a blatant attack on us and the State of Israel. And so in that regard it was both global and personal at the same time. We were right to protest the attack in the name of western values, but even with regard to the freedom of expression, the extent of how speech is allowed even in the West is very much determined by the conditions existing in each country. In France and other European countries, hate speech that is allowed in the United States is a criminal offense there. The memory of the Vichy regime that governed France under the Nazi occupation caused the post-war governments to legislate against anti-Semitism and other expressions of hatred toward certain communities. Where Charlie Hebdo was free to satirize Islam, or for that matter, Judaism and Christianity, an op-ed piece in Le Monde implying that the Jewish community was responsible for the so-called Jenin “massacre” in 2002 brought prosecution and a fine imposed on both the writers and the
newspaper. Again, ironically, the fact that Jenin was not a massacre would have had little import here, and unlike in France, that same article would have been protected under our First Amendment. But even in this country, while our government does not ban hate speech, an overt expression of anti-Semitism, racism or homophobia will end careers in the media, sports and other professions. When the Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed with an exploding turban were published a decade ago, a journalist from Israel noted that those same cartoons would not have been allowed publication in Israel, despite Israel’s commitment to free speech. While in Israel one can say virtually anything against government leaders there, an insult to a religious community, including the Muslim community is banned under the nation’s religious sensitivity law. Living in a tinderbox, surrounded by Muslim nations hostile to the Jewish state, it was thought, correctly in my opinion, to give as few excuses for violence
and war as possible. In looking for answers to what is a complex question, we need look no further than our own Jewish law. Lashon Hara is the sin relating to hurtful speech. It is sometimes referred to as gossip, but the concept goes beyond that. Any speech, whether false or truthful that hurts someone gratuitously, for no positive reason, is among the most grievous of offenses, because it continues to hurt with each retelling. So in judging speech, it is important to determine the purpose for that expression and whether it is unduly hurtful. Not that I believe that the government should be the judge of that, but perhaps at times, after weighing the risk against the benefit of an expression, a little restraint is in order. In the French context, examining the connection of Islam and violence is in order, in my opinion. This became clear when mobs of pro-Palestinian demonstrators attacked a synagogue in Paris last summer. But in a world seemingly ready to explode at the least provocation, perhaps the vehicle of the message is as important as the message itself.
Einstein’s contradictory statements about God By Betty Pelletz
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hen I was asked to write an article for the March issue of The Jewish News, I thought about what was important to Jews in March. Besides Purim, were there any major events or important happenings that all Jewish people could embrace no matter how they lived their Judaism? Oh yes, a very important and famous Jewish man was born on March 14. He was a genius; he was a philosopher; he was a scientist who changed the study of science with his theory of relativity. Albert Einstein was a man we all looked up to whether we were Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Humanistic or Reconstructionist. We were all proud of his achievements and we all believed that he believed the way we did. But did he? After a friend of mine remarked how surprised she was that the Society for Humanistic Judaism had chosen to
honor Einstein on the 50th anniversary of his death in 2005, I had to research his philosophy. She was sure he was a theist; I was just as sure he was a humanist. I knew that he had been an active member of the Ethical Culture Society and had sat on the board of the first Humanist Society. At various times in his life he described himself as a believer, as an agnostic, as a pantheist. How can we explain his contradictory statements? “I want to know how God created the world. I want to know his thoughts.” “The idea of a personal God is quite alien to me and seems even naive.” “What really interests me is whether God could have created the world any differently.” “Morality is the highest impor-
What do you think? The Jewish News wants to know!
tance – but for us, not for God. “When the solution is simple, God is answering.” “I believe in Spinoza’s God, who reveals himself in the harmony of all that exists, not in a God who concerns himself with the fate and the doings of mankind.” There were pages and pages of philosophical quotes from Einstein. Some pages came from a Jewish website and some came from a humanist website. So what to make of it all? Like us, Einstein was a man who looked for answers. None came easy but he continued his search, always seeking the truth. Wherever his search for truth took him, we can have no doubt of his love for Judaism. David Ben-Gurion offered to nominate Einstein as President of Israel after Chaim Weizmann died. Einstein declined but was deeply saddened that he could not accept because his “bond to the Jewish people has become my strongest bond.” He eloquently expressed the values of the Jewish people in words that are
found at the U.S. Holocaust Museum. They are words that we can all embrace; they are words we can all live by. He truly understood us as a Jewish people. “A desire for knowledge for its own sake, a love of justice that borders on fanaticism, and a striving for personal independence – these are the aspects of the Jewish people’s tradition that allow me to regard my belonging to it as a gift of great fortune.” “Those who today rage against the ideals of reason and individual freedom and who seek by means of brutal force to bring about a vapid state-slavery are justified in perceiving us as their implacable enemies. History has imposed on us a difficult struggle; but so long as we remain devoted servants of truth, justice and freedom, we will not only persist as the oldest of living peoples, but will also continue as before to achieve, through productive labor, works that contribute to the ennoblement of humanity.” Betty Pelletz is a Madrikha at the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism.
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March 2015
COMMENTARY
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After the attacks in France, what next?
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By Nita Lowey and David Harris, January 12, 2015
T
he terrorist attacks in France last week that killed 17 innocent people have provoked widespread revulsion and condemnation. All people of good will stand as one with France. Its citizens were attacked, and so were its laudable values, which have inspired the democratic spirit worldwide for well over two centuries. Those values were precisely the chosen targets of the jihadist gunmen. It began with the weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo, an equal-opportunity critic of religions, politicians and the self-important. At times, its chosen methods of satire and caricature may have offended some, including Christians, Jews and Muslims. But that is a price those living in free societies should willingly pay for the sacred right to express themselves, knowing, as well, that those who take offense are also invited to speak their minds – peacefully, of course. Then it was a police officer gunned down in the line of duty as she was protecting the citizens – and, yes, the values – of French society. And, finally, it was a kosher market, a place chosen by the assailants because French Jews shop there, all the more so on a Friday, hours before sundown, when the Sabbath begins and the observant set aside their daily chores. We know from experience that a big question waits. Once the shock begins to wear off, the rallies end, and the calls for national unity fade away, what happens next? Obviously, this is a decision that only the democratically elected government and people of France can make. That said, as longtime friends of France and the transatlantic partnership, we, too, have a big stake in where France goes from here. Allow us a few observations. First, what happened last week was by no means unique to France. Many other countries, including our own, have been caught in the crosshairs of jihadist terrorists. Moreover, it is painfully obvious that these individuals, whatever their country of residence, represent a transnational phenomenon and a global threat. The ease of their communication and information-sharing via cyberspace; the lure of training, indoctrination and battlefield experience in such countries as Iraq, Syria and Yemen; the lack of border controls in the European Union’s Schengen group, not to mention the proximity to Turkey as a transit nation; and the possibility of acquiring new passports and identities, all demand the closest possible coordination and intelligence-sharing among likeminded Western countries, France and the United States centrally included. Second, it is high time to be clear in our language. If some are not willing to identify our adversaries, that makes
formulating the proper strategies only more difficult. To be sure, the threat does not come from all Muslims or the faith of Islam writ large. Any such assumption would be painfully misguided and inaccurate. But those who repeatedly commit these terrorist acts, whether in Europe, the Western Hemisphere, Africa, Asia or the Middle East, loudly invoke their Islamic faith and teachings to justify their heinous deeds. The perpetrators are exponents of radical Islam, and they should be so identified. Third, much as all democratic societies must stand up resolutely to the magnitude of the threat, there is another essential front line to this battle – what takes place within the Muslim world. Will the many Muslims repelled by these (and other) attacks in the name of their faith join those courageous individuals who have already stood up and seek to marginalize the hijackers of their religion? Much will depend on the answer. Fourth, there has been considerable debate in Europe, including France, about anti-Semitism – its definition, nature and reach. Frankly speaking, there has been too much debate, and it has distracted some countries from tackling the problem in a serious and sustained way. There is no simple answer, no onesize-fits-all solution, to the pathology – and specificity – of anti-Semitism, as Europe, from its long history, knows better than anyone. The response must begin, of course, with the steadfast protection of democratic and pluralistic values. The effort must extend to the spheres of education, law enforcement, the judiciary, media and, critically, civil society. Indeed, history amply proves that the fates of religious minorities and free societies are inextricably interlinked. Therefore, to ensure the health of democracy is to enhance the sense of place of Jews, and, conversely, to guarantee the well-being of Jews is to strengthen the foundation of democracy. Thus, when Jews start marching with their feet out of Europe – as has happened in recent years, most notably in France – it should be a wake-up call for European leaders. As French Prime Minister Manuel Valls aptly told Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, “If 100,000 Jews leave France, France will no longer be France.” Indeed, all Europe is under threat if Jews no longer feel they can be safe shopping in a kosher market, sending their children to Jewish school, visiting a Jewish museum, or worshiping in a synagogue. And finally, it’s time to see Israel in a different light. In Europe and elsewhere, there has been far too much demonization of the Jewish state. Even apart from its inherent unfairness and prejudice, this animus has helped
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create an atmosphere where all Jews feel vulnerable. Israel is a democratic and pluralistic society, with robust domestic debates and unenviable security dilemmas. By dint of geography, it is on the front line in the struggle against radical Islam. Would that its neighbors were Sweden and Norway rather than Syria and Gaza! While there may be distinctions between Islamic State, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, etc., they are united in their rejection of everything our democratic nations embody – other than the freedom, when possible, to hide behind our values to advance their cause. Thus, the threat they pose to Israel is truly a threat to every democratic society. In other words, wherever we may live in the free world, our destinies are truly intertwined. Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) has served in Congress since 1989 and is the Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations. David Harris is the executive director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and a recipient of the French Legion of Honor.
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March 2015
COMMENTARY
The entire Arab-Israeli conflict through the eyes of two little girls By Moshe Phillips and Benyamin Korn, January 22, 2015
O
ne little girl lies in a hospital bed, more than half her body burned by a Palestinian firebomb. Another little girl appears on television, reciting poetry about her dream of destroying Israel. The lives of these two 11-year-olds reveal everything that anybody needs to know about the Arab-Israeli conflict. On December 25, Ayala Shapira was a passenger in her father’s car, on her way back from a math enrichment lesson. As they approached their hometown of Ma’ale Shomron, a Palestinian terrorist hurled a firebomb at the car. Ayala and her father leaped from the car, badly burned, as the vehicle was consumed by the flames. Ayala’s injuries were so severe that the doctors had to put her in a medically induced coma. Seven days later she awoke. Now begins an excruciating, years-long process of surgeries and additional hospitalizations as Ayala fights to rebuild her life. Before anything else, Ayala is a person, an individual with feelings and hopes and dreams just like anybody else. But now she also has become a symbol. What happened to her reminds us of the brutal nature of Palestinian terrorists. They want to kill every Jew, young or old, civilian or soldier, religious or secular. They have no mercy. That is what
the Jewish people are up against. On January 9, as Ayala was struggling to utter her first words since the attack, another little girl was in the news. She appeared on official Palestinian Authority TV. Her name was not mentioned, but from the televised images she appeared to be about the same age as Ayala. She, too, is now a symbol. The TV show is a children’s program called The Best Home. Together with the PA Ministry of Tourism, the TV show’s producers recently sponsored a cultural festival in Bethlehem. The little girl sang a song called “Oh Flying Bird.” The lyrics – courtesy of Palestinian Media Watch – describe sending a bird to various cities in “my country, Palestine.” According to the Obama administration, the European Union, and the Jewish left, the Palestinian Authority does not want to destroy all of Israel, but only wants a small state in the Judea-Samaria (West Bank) areas. And, indeed, a few of the cities in those areas mentioned in “Oh Flying Bird,” such as Jenin, Ramallah and Tulkarm. But then the lyrics take an ominous turn. The little girl tells the bird to “turn to Safed, and then to Tiberias, and send regards to the sea of Acre and Haifa” – all within pre-1967 Israel.
COMMENTARY BRIEFS THE IDEOLOGICAL ROOTS OF MEDIA BIAS AGAINST ISRAEL
In early 2009, two AP reporters obtained details of a peace offer made by the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, to the Palestinians several months before, and deemed by the Palestinians to be insufficient. This should have been one of the year’s biggest stories. But the bureau chief ordered both reporters to ignore the Olmert offer. A peace proposal from the Israeli prime minister to the Palestinian president was not to be reported at all. Jewish hatred of Arabs is a story. Arab hatred of Jews is not. One hundred houses in a West Bank settlement are a story. One hundred rockets smuggled into Gaza are not. The Hamas military build-up amid and under the civilian population of Gaza is not a story. Hamas’ responsibility for the deaths of civilians as a result is not a story.
In my time in the press corps I saw, from the inside, how Israel’s flaws were dissected and magnified, while the flaws of its enemies were purposely erased. I saw how the threats facing Israel were disregarded or even mocked as figments of the Israeli imagination, even as these threats repeatedly materialized. I saw how a fictional image of Israel and of its enemies was manufactured, polished and propagated to devastating effect. Observers of the Middle East in 2015 understand that an end to the occupation of the West Bank will create a power vacuum that will be filled not by the forces of democracy and modernity but by the extremists. This is what happened in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Egypt, and before that in Gaza and southern Lebanon. Creating a new playground for these forces will bring the black-masked soldiers of radical Islam within yards of Israeli homes with mortars, rockets
She doesn’t stop there. The girl tells the bird “Don’t forget Nazareth, the Arab fortress / and tell Beit Shean about its people’s return / Drink the water of Jaffa’s port, don’t forget Ramle…” – all likewise within the pre-1967 areas, all included in what she calls “My beautiful country, Palestine.” Palestinian children are not born with hatred of Israel. They do not begin life with a determination to destroy Israel. They, too, start out with innocent feelings and hopes and dreams. For them to get to the point of singing on television about Israel having no right to exist, and all of Israel is really “Palestine,” somebody has to teach them. That is what the Palestinian Authority has done. It has raised an entire generation of Palestinian children to believe that Israel is evil incarnate, that all of Israel is “occupied Palestine,” and that those who kill Jews are heroes and martyrs. Every day, every week, every month, year after year, PA television programs are filled with this hateful message. It fills the mass media and
saturates the classrooms. The young men who were arrested for making and throwing the firebomb that maimed Ayala Shapira surely heard the same message as they were growing up. That is why there is no peace. It has nothing to do with settlements or refugees or borders or whether there will ever be a Palestinian state. It has to do with the hearts and minds of young Palestinians. That eleven-yearold girl on PA Television truly believes that eleven-year-old Ayala Shapira is a “Zionist occupier” who deserves to be burned to death. That is the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict. t The process of changing the heartsw and minds of an entire generation willc take a long time, just as it took a longc time in Germany after World War II.p But until it is complete, there willi never be peace. [This article originally appeared on thew IsraelNationalNews.com news website.] t The authors are president and chair-w man, respectively, of the Religiousp Zionists of America, Philadelphia.
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Opinions and letters printed in The Jewish News of SarasotaManatee do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, its Board of Directors or staff, or its advertisers. and tunneling implements. Many thousands will die. This threatens to render much of Israel unlivable, ending the only safe progressive space in the Middle East, the only secure minority refuge in the Middle East, and the only Jewish country on earth. No international guarantees or Western-trained military will be able to keep that from happening, as we have just seen in Iraq. Several years ago I might have dismissed this as an apocalyptic scenario. It isn’t. It is the most likely scenario. The only group of people subject
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to a systematic boycott at presentn in the Western world are Jews, ap-c pearing now under the convenientt euphemism “Israelis.” The onlyp country that has its own “apartheidm week” on campuses is the Jewisha country. The time has come forw everyone to admit that the fashion-s able disgust for Israel among many in the West is selective, dispropor-p tionate and discriminatory. (Mattit Friedman, a reporter and editor int the Jerusalem bureau of the As-c sociated Press between 2006 anda w 2011, Fathom - BICOM) n t
“For a time, we thought that the hatred of Jews had finally been eradicated. But slowly the demonization of Jews started to come back. First in articles and on the Internet, in some religious schools and even universities. From there it made its way into mainstream society. It happened so slowly and it all seemed so unimportant that few people paid any attention. Until now, when Europe suddenly awoke to find itself surrounded by anti-Semitism again and it looks more like 1933 than 2015. Once again, young Jewish boys are afraid to wear yarmulkes on the streets of Paris and Budapest and London. Once again, Jewish businesses are targeted. And once again, Jewish families are fleeing Europe.” – Ronald Lauder, World Jewish Congress president, at Auschwitz, January 27, 2015
A triple dose of Dry Bones
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w p o D T c b J i t
A t A h c w e o C g
FOCUS ON YOUTH
“Hineini”
Education Corner By Geraldine Nussbaum
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recent study undertaken at the Harvard Graduate School of Education yielded that 80% of the students agreed that their parents were prouder if they achieved and received high grades than if they were caring people. Only 20% felt that their parents believed that caring for others is the greater priority. Have we become so consumed with our children’s accomplishments that we are failing in the responsibility we have to mold them into more compassionate adults?
With programming our children for high grades, sports teams, music classes, ballet and theater – where is the room for kindness and civility? Character and kindness are not inherited. They are built daily at home and in school when parents and teachers role model and live lives of integrity. There is a word in our vocabulary that mirrors exactly the qualities that we need to nurture – menshlichkeit: gentility, fairness, sensitivity, caring, responsibility, refinement, tikkun olam, derech eretz, respect for learning to love our fellow man (klal Yisrael), and pride in being Jewish. A tragic event, but a perfect opportunity, presents itself today to teach our children to say, “hineini.” Our eyes have been focused on Paris, France, where we have watched acts of terror perpetrated on the employees of the satiric magazine, Charlie Hebdo, in defiance of freedom of the press. On the heels of this murderous act, four people in a kosher supermarket were killed just because they were Jewish. Would this incident have received the press it did had it not happened within days of Charlie Hebdo? Perhaps not, but in
March 2015 defiance of both acts of terror, a massive rally took place in Paris. One and a half million people took to the streets, along with leaders of 40 countries, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, German Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, and British Prime Minister David Cameron. People were carrying placards saying, “Je Suis Charlie” (I am Charlie), identifying their solidarity with the slain members of the magazine. These placards showed defiance toward the terrorists and stood in support of freedom of the press. At the same rally, much fewer in number but very visible, were placards saying, “Je Suis Juif” (I am a Jew), also in direct defiance of the terrorists. At the rally were many men and boys wearing teffilin (phylacteries) as a fearless demonstration of their identification as Jews and their solidarity with the four Frenchmen who were killed. Unfortunately, history is providing us today to teach caring and kindness for the thousands of Jewish children in Paris whose lives have been upended emotionally not only by what happened in the supermarket,
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but by what else has been happening lately to the Jews in France. We will be closing our eyes and imagining how those French boys and girls are feeling. Certainly they are afraid. Paver Religious School students will be writing to them, alongside their teachers, parents and myself, on paper created by our older students and which include the words HINEINI and JE SUIS JUIF. We will be extending this project to the entire Sarasota community. Will our students ever forget January 2015? I think not. We are expanding their level of concern and challenging them to care about people outside of their circle. By writing alongside our children we are teaching them to take our places in the next generation. We are raising them to the challenge of the everyday and to be ready to respond to other human beings, “Hineini, here I am, ready to act so that the world we inhabit should be a decent and just world.” Dr. Geraldine Nussbaum is the Temple Beth Sholom Religious Education Director
Camp Ramah Darom provides Southeast’s first Tikvah Camp Experience for children with autism spectrum
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hildren 12 to 17 throughout the Southeast diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) now have a special Jewish summer camp with a supportive environment that encourages social interaction and personal growth. Beginning this summer, Camp Ramah Darom will offer a new Tikvah program with two fourweek summer experiences designed specifically for ASD campers. Camp Ramah Darom’s Tikvah program will be the first program in the Southeast focused on providing a traditional, immersive, Jewish summer camping experience to teenagers with autism spectrum disorder. The program will be fully integrated into a community that is steeped in Jewish celebration, learning and ritual. “We are thrilled to open our doors wider and give more children the opportunity to experience the magic of our camp,” said Camp Ramah Darom Director Geoffrey Menkowitz. “The Tikvah program will enhance the entire camp, enabling us to teach our campers by experience what a truly inclusive Jewish community can look like, and inspire them to bring that model home to their schools and synagogues.” Ramah Darom has added Dr. Audra Kaplan to its professional staff to serve as director of the new program. A clinical psychologist, Dr. Kaplan has extensive experience with Jewish camps and in working with children with disabilities. She will employ an experienced, mature staff with a ratio of one staffer for every three campers. Campers will benefit from the small group focus and counselors who come
from a variety of disciplines, including college students majoring in special education and language therapy. “Our Tikvah program supports the varied aspects of autistic children, providing more transition time for programs and activities so campers feel comfortable and involved,” Dr. Kaplan pointed out. “When campers can participate within their own atmosphere, it creates a powerful experience for them and they return home with a new level of maturity.” Dr. Kaplan received her doctorate of psychology from The Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 1996 and has a private practice in clinical psychology. The mother of four children, she has decades of experience in day and residential camp programs as a camper, counselor, educator, director and consultant. Since 2010, Dr. Kaplan has been the director of Camp Firefly, a residential summer camp program for children with social disorders. With the new program, Ramah Darom will build upon expertise gained during 10 years of operating its nationally recognized Camp Yofi – a fiveday camp for families of children with ASD. Ramah Darom also is expanding the reach of the National Ramah Tikvah Network of programs that serve Jewish children, teens and young adults with a variety of disabilities. Applications are being accepted now for Ramah Darom’s Tikvah program. To learn more, visit www.campramahdarom.org. About Ramah Darom Celebrating its 18th anniversary, Ramah Darom (Ramah of the South) is a
world-class Jewish overnight camp and retreat center nestled on 122 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ramah Darom offers exceptional experiences in Jewish living and learning to youth, adults, families and communities year-round. Ramah Darom features crystal-clear mountain brooks feeding a picturesque lake, an inspiring 100-foot waterfall, and more than 10,000 acres of wilderness and hiking trails in the adjacent Chattahoochee National Forest. Camp Ramah Darom is an award-winning, ACA-accredited program that integrates experiential Jewish living and learning with an atmosphere of friendship and fun. In addition to renowned sports and arts programs, campers find a caring approach to social, intellectual and spiritual growth. For more information about Ramah Darom, call 404.531.0801 or visit http://ramahdarom.org/. About the Ramah Camping Movement and National Tikvah Network Ramah is the camping arm of Conservative Judaism. Its programs provide Ramah experiences to more than
10,000 children, teens and young adults annually. The Ramah Camping Movement is a pioneer in the field of inclusion for Jewish campers with a wide range of disabilities. Tikvah, Breira B’Ramah, and Camp Yofi comprise a National Ramah Tikvah Network of programs for campers with disabilities. Overnight and day camp programs, vocational education programs, and family camps currently operate in Ramah camps across North America. Regard-
less of their geographic location, families are directed to the Ramah camp that best suits their child’s needs. The National Ramah Commission of The Jewish Theological Seminary provides oversight, educational planning and coordination on behalf of Ramah’s network of camps throughout North America, as well as Ramah Programs in Israel.
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March 2015
FOCUS ON YOUTH
Celebrating Our Differences slated for March 7
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emple Beth Sholom Schools is excited about its upcoming event on Saturday evening, March 7. Celebrating Our Differences is a special collaboration with Embracing our Differences. We are reinventing our signature fundraising gala and hope you will decide to join us as the support of friends and families has helped to make every year successful. Embracing Our Differences is an
TB S Sch ools mid d for the 2 015 E
organization that believes that diversity is one of the world’s greatest assets, stressing the need for respect, inclusivity and valuing individuality. The centerpiece of Embracing Our Differences is an outdoor juried art exhibit at Sarasota’s Island Park and the Bradenton Riverwalk, featuring billboard-sized images created by artists, writers and students locally, nationally and internationally, reflecting their interpretations of the theme “enriching lives through diversity.” Last year’s exhibition received over 6,000 submissions from 52 countries. Temple Beth Sholom Schools students have been active participants since the event’s inception in 2004. Over 200 children from four months to 8th grade attend the Temple Beth Sholom Schools, le sch ool stud en ts w ork on sub mission s mb raci n g O ur D ifferen ce s exh ib ition and our prestigious pro-
gram is well respected throughout the community for its strong academics, close-knit relationships with teachers, social justice, and values-laden curriculum. All proceeds of this fabulous event
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will directly benefit our schools. We are now actively seeking sponsors. Visit www.tbssfamily.org/celebration. Kyla Weiner and Hilary Yunis are the co-sponsors of this event.
Students from Temple Beth Sholom Schools benefit from the annual Celebration fundraising event, rein ve n ted this ye ar as C eleb ratin g O ur D ifferen ce s
Ruach, Kavod, Kehillah, Tzedek and Limud form TBS Schools’ curriculum By Dr. Wendy Katz
Ruach (Spirit) is evident in the daily activities that take place within the classroom, hallways, and even on the playground where you will find the Mensch Bench, a brightly painted bench where children can find companionship and comfort when they are feeling sad or left out.
Stud en ts w ho sit on the Temp le B eth Sholom Sch ools’ Men sch B en ch are lookin g for a frien d ly b ud d y
TBSS students and staff exemplify Kavod (Honor) by showing acceptance and understanding of all within the school community regardless of differences in religion, ethnicity, physical disability or age. In a monthly schoolwide Shabbat service, students honor and Tw o TB celebrate the individuals who have helped build, strengthen and maintain our schools. A sense of Kehillah (Community) and Tzedek (Justice) exists throughout the school as students participate in various service-learning projects such as working with Easter Seals, the Salvation Army, and Everyday Blessings, and interacting with Kobernick House and Anchin Pavilion residents. During a recent Family Math Night entitled “Feeding the World,” students researched the issues of hunger, food shortage, waste, nutrition and malnutrition. TBSS is also collaborating with the Embracing Our Differences organization to further promote and encourage tolerance, peace and coexistence. At TBSS, Limud (Learning) is
SS mid d le sch ool stud en ts stud y p hysi cs usin g P roj ect - B ased Learn in g
taught using a Reggio inspired and Project Based Learning curriculum. Collaboration, communication and 21st century skills are incorporated into lessons teaching comprehensive, academic content. Recognizing the new paradigm in education, the schools teach their students to succeed as they live, work and play in the real world.
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T
emple Beth Sholom Schools is proud of the core values that both the Justin Lee Wiesner Early Childhood Learning Center and the Goldie Feldman Academy embody. The schools offer a curriculum that reaches far beyond the academic content.
Celebration of Imagination in collaboration with
Embracing our Differences presents
RSVP by February 26, 2015 to skabel@tbsschools.org or tbssfamily.org/celebration
Celebrating our
Differences Saturday, March 7, 2015 7 p.m. · Michael’s on East · Tickets: $175
Sponsorship Opportunities from $500 contact skabel@tbsschools.org for more information
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Or give it to a friend to read and ask them to recycle it. You can also read The Jewish News online at www.jfedsrq.org.
The Jewish News is also available online. Visit The Jewish News page at www.jfedsrq.org and you’ll be just one click away!
March 2015
FOCUS ON YOUTH
USY Winter Formal in Clearwater
TEE’s “Strawberry Fields Shabbat” returns March 28
By Camryn Cohen, SRQUSY President
O
n the evening of Saturday, January 3, five SRQUSYers headed to Clearwater, Florida, for the Second Annual West Coast Winter Formal. Five USY chapters from Florida’s West Coast participated and over 35 teens attended! The five chapter presidents hosted and planned the entire event. The evening’s activities included dancing, a photo booth, winter-related snacks, and a bounce house! Everybody was dressed in formal attire, but a visit to the bounce house was essential! The West Coast Winter Formal is
becoming a new tradition for the five chapters. Even though the event was initiated just last year, there is already excited anticipation from the five West Coast chapters for next year’s event. Are you interested in joining SRQUSY? Our February events included the Yom Universal HaNegev regional event at Universal Studios in Orlando, and the SRQUSY Scavenger Hunt. For more information, please contact Elaine Tedesco at etedesco@tem plebethsholomfl.org. You won’t want to miss any of our other fun events!
FLORIDA’S ONLY CO-ED JEWISH SLEEP-AWAY CAMP!
LOCATED ON THE EDGE OF THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: (305) 279-0401 E-MAIL: CAMPSHALOMFL@GMAIL.COM VISIT: WWW.CAMPSHALOM.NET SHELLEY & DAVE SOKOL, FOUNDERS • SARAH & MIKE SOKOL, OWNERS
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A resume, cover letter and samples of your work by Wednesday, April 1, 2015 to Chris Alexander at calexander@jfedsrq.org or mail to: THE JEWISH FEDERATION The Klingenstein Jewish Center 580 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232
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aturday, March 28, at 10:00 a.m. will mark the third annual “Strawberry Fields Shabbat” – a special strawberry-picking Tot Shabbat sponsored by Temple Emanu-El with The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee. Held at Hunsader Farms in East County/Bradenton, this event has become a much-anticipated opportunity to celebrate Shabbat, the blessings of nature, and the taste of fresh-picked strawberries with other Jewish and interfaith families. In addition to picking strawberries, attendees will enjoy
Temp le E man u- E l E arly Learn in g C en ter stud en t A lex Jefferson en j oye d time w ith her mom Tammy at “ Straw b erry Field s Shab b at” last ye ar
Sponsored by
a picnic breakfast of bagels, cream cheese and juice; free playtime outdoors; the chance to feed and pet farm animals; and age-appropriate Shabbat prayers, songs, movement, and a story with Rabbi Brenner Glickman. The morning will finish up with ice cream cones for all the little ones! Although this special event is designed especially for families with children up to age 6, older kids are also warmly invited. “Strawberry Fields Shabbat” has become a signature part of Temple Emanu-El’s Tot Shabbat programming as well as a wonderful outreach to unaffiliated Jewish and interfaith families in East County. Thanks to the generosity of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, Temple Emanu-El is able to offer “Strawberry Fields Shabbat” at no cost for families who register before Monday, March 23. For more information or to register for “Strawberry Fields Shabbat,” contact Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman at 941.379.1997 or elaine-glickman@ comcast.net. We hope to see you among the strawberries!
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March 2015
FOCUS ON YOUTH
Temple Sinai SAFETY Youth Group members attend NFTY-STR Winter Regional
E
ight of Temple Sinai SAFETY youth joined 190 Jewish teens from 28 Florida congregations and approximately 40 adults – including advisors, North American Federation of Temple Youth-Southern Tropical Region (NFTY-STR) collegeaged alumni, and other guests – for five fun days and four crazy nights for the NFTY-STR Winter Regional.
Everyone had a great time during innovative mixers, creative spiritual experiences, and programming that inspired all who were there with a multitude of new ideas. In addition, David Solomon, Assistant Principal of NFTY-EIE High School (in Israel) was there to share information for those interested in going to school in Israel. Other guests included the Central
Leav in g Temp le Sin ai for Win ter R eg ion al are D an iel N issan , Max Lasd ay , Marisa Freed man , Jamie Metzg er, Sam Sklar an d A llison Juce am
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Shlicha for the Union for Reform Judaism; the Director of URJ Kutz Camp, who shared the values and core concepts teens learn when they attend this special summer program; and other important people involved with NFTY-STR. According to Regional Director Julie Marsh, H aley D en n is, Jamie R oss, Sam Sklar, Jamie Metzg er, D an iel N issan , Max Lasd ay , Meg an Warren b ran d , Marisa Freed man Haley Dennis, the NFTYSTR Religious & Cultural Vice PresiWarrenbrand, SAFETY Social Action dent (and Temple Sinai SAFETY youth Vice President, said that “it was ingroup member) “created beautiful, credible and jam-packed with several entertaining and insightful programs. meaningful and experiential Shabbat services.” Jamie Metzger, ProgramThis, and the community as a whole, ming Vice President, said, “My last made the entire week one of the most enjoyable events to date.” Winter Regional was amazing. I was For more information about our chosen to be the Voting Delegate on behalf of SAFETY during both elecSAFETY and JOOSY youth groups, tions for the new Regional Board and please contact Deb Bryan, Youth Group Director, at dbryan@sinaisrq.org. during an Asefah, which is a Constitutional Amending Session.” Megan
“FOCUS ON YOUTH” PHOTO OF THE MONTH
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C hab ad of Sarasota’s Wein stein R elig ious Sch ool K ittah A lep h stud en ts are ve ry p roud that they learn ed the H eb rew letters that sp ell C hab ad
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F O R M O R E I N F O CO N TAC T: J E R E M Y D I C TO R 941.343.2106 O R J D I C TO R @ J F E D S R Q.O R G
Send-A-Kid-to-Israel Program
The Jewish Federation offers programming for all ages! From PJ Library & Shalom Baby through teen leadership missions to YAD, women’s events, Club Fed & 50 Shades of J to senior services - your Federation provides support throughout Sarasota and Manatee.
Learn more at jfedsrq.org/whatwedo
TheJewishFederation.org The SKIP program is funded in large part by the Betty and Herb Schiff Send-a-Kid-to-Israel Fund.
MASA ISRAEL TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP The Federation offers scholarships to applicants who have been accepted to a MASA program! Scholarships are first come, first serve. (Up to $2,000 to cover travel to and from Israel only.) Visit www.TheJewishFederation.org.
Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232 Jeremy Dictor, Director of S.T.E.P. and Family Programs 941.343.2106 • jdictor@jfedsrq.org
March 2015
LIFE CYCLE
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ANNIVERSARIES 30th James & Linda Essenson Temple Emanu-El 30th Bruce & Sabrina Silverberg Temple Emanu-El 25th Bruce Black & Rabbi Susan Marks Temple Emanu-El
15th Lauren & Daryl Bernstein Temple Emanu-El 10th Brian & Lauren Hersh Temple Sinai 5th John & Liana Bryant Temple Emanu-El
B’NAI MITZVAH Brett McDowall, son of Randi McDowall, grandson of Nancy and William Behrenfeld, March 21, Temple Emanu-El Benjamin Quale, son of Thomas and Audrey Quale, March 28, Temple Sinai
IN MEMORIAM Robert Diamant, 92, of Sarasota, formerly of Chicago, IL, Jan. 11 Lois Bender Edwards, 85, of Sarasota, Dec. 30 Josefina Dolores Fenix, 70, of Sarasota, formerly of Manila, Philippines, Jan. 7 Adele Fiderer, 84, of Longboat Key, Jan. 12 Dr. Eugene L. Green, 87, of Sarasota, Feb. 8 Eva Ruth Herzog, 79, of Longboat Key, Jan. 26 Gladys Lillian Levitt Lavine, 94, of Sarasota, Jan. 27 Robert J. Morrison, 90, of Longboat Key, formerly of Harrisburg, PA, Jan. 7 Eugenia Press, 91, of Sarasota, formerly of Hartford, CT, Jan. 20 Marvin Rosenstein, 92, of Sarasota, formerly of Albany, NY, Jan. 1 Joey Evan Schlosberg, 44, of Bradenton, Jan. 2 Irene E. Stein, 79, of Bradenton, formerly of New York, NY, Dec. 30 Shirley L. Vetstein, 84, of Sarasota, Dec. 19 Milton M. Yanow, 98, of Sarasota, Jan. 28
Please submit your life cycle events (births, B’nai Mitzvah, anniversaries) to jewishnews18@gmail.com. Photos are appreciated; email as JPGs at 300dpi.
Sarasota-Manatee Chevra Kadisha TAHARA admin 941.224.0778 men 941.377.4647 941.484.2790 women 941.921.4740 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237 During times of need for generations Jewish members of the Sarasota community have turned to Toale Brothers.
FUNERAL SERVICES
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Trust 100 Pre-Arrangement Center Locally Owned & Operated by the Toale Family www.ToaleBrothers.com
(941) 955-1075
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Jewish Family Coordinator OFFICE
24 Hour Information at
941-955-4171 CELL
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F A Q
How do I get items in The Jewish News? Email your articles and photos to jewishnews18@gmail.com. What are The Jewish News deadlines? Items are due the 25th of each month, or earlier if the 25th falls on a weekend or holiday. Where can I get a copy of The Jewish News? Papers are available at several local libraries, synagogues and offices throughout Sarasota-Manatee. See the ad on page 6A. Have another location where you’d like to see the newspaper? Email jhanley@jfedsrq.org and let her know. How do I place an ad in The Jewish News? Contact Robin Leonardi, account executive, at 941.552.6307 or rleonardi@jfedsrq.org.
SHA LOM BA BY The PJ Library program supports families in their Jewish journey by sending Jewishrelated books and music on a monthly basis to children for free.
Families who are expecting or have recently celebrated the arrival of a baby can receive a Complimentary Gift Basket, which includes special baby items and a helpful resource guide for our Jewish community.
REGISTER YOURSELF REGISTER A FRIEND QUESTIONS? Contact Jessi Sheslow P: 941.343.2109 E: jsheslow@jfedsrq.org
jfedsrq.org/shalombaby
facebook.com/pjlibraryofsarasota Visit the Federation website to sign up!
jfedsrq.org/pjlibrary Questions?
Contact Jeremy Dictor at 941.343.2106 or jdictor@jfedsrq.org ns?
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March 2015
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AROUND YOUR PASSOVER TABLE
10 over 20 s s a P & Ita De b o ra h
The Shapir o Family Passover 2015
Deborah & Feiv el - Passove r 2 015
Add a fresh new flavor to your Passover Seder this year with our newest recipe ebook, Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller, download your FREE copy today!
To find a kosher store near you visit winndixie.com/passover
Celebrating Jewish Life in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Israel and the World FEDERATION NEWS
Serving our community since 1971!
Published by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee www.jfedsrq.org
March 2015 - Adar/Nisan 5775
Volume 45, Number 3
Jewish Happenings SUNDAY, MARCH 1 Sunday Morning Breakfast and Speakers Program The Temple Beth Sholom Men’s Club cordially invites you to hear Dr. William Freund discuss “What’s Ahead for the U.S. Economy and Financial Markets.” Dr. Freund served as the New York Stock Exchange Senior Vice President and Chief Economist for 18 years. Women are invited. Breakfast is at 9:30 a.m. and the presentation is at 10:00 a.m. The temple is located at 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. A $5 per person voluntary contribution to the Men’s Club to cover the cost of food would be appreciated. Please call the TBS office at 941.955.8121 to let us know you will be attending.
Keeping Sarasota Beautiful: Jewish Arts Sale Artistic creations in various media are displayed indoors and outdoors, including photography, paintings, sculptures, jewelry and crafts. Spend the day experiencing the beauty of Sarasota’s accomplished Jewish artists’ pieces and admiring their creative spirit. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the art works will be used to fund the Al Katz Center’s year-round advocacy services, provided without cost, to Holocaust survivors and other elders in distress and need nationwide. Applications to exhibit are required. The sale runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.
“Purim Pandemonium” at Temple Emanu-El Enjoy the Purim spirit at this fabulous celebration! The fun begins with a Megillah reading, costume parade, Purimshpiel and Purim songs, then continues with an amazing Purim carnival for all ages, including a climbing wall, bounce house, dunk tank, inflatable slide, face painting, games and prizes. Try your luck at the 50/50 raffle and silent auction. Lunch and homemade desserts – including lots of homemade hamentashen! – for everyone. All proceeds benefit Temple Emanu-El Religious School. The event takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Free admission; nominal fee for attractions and food. For more information, contact Temple Emanu-El Religious School at 941.371.2788 or teers@sarasotatemple.org.
Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch Open House The Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch welcomes you to a continental breakfast at 10:30 a.m. at the Windsor ALF, 8220 Natures Way, Lakewood Ranch. The Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch is a Conservative congregation committed to a dynamic Judaism that is pluralistic, joyful, egalitarian and accessible. It provides an intimate setting to pray, learn and celebrate. Come and learn more about this innovative and growing presence in Lakewood Ranch. For additional information, email kehillahoflakewoodranch@gmail.com or call 941.281.2587.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2015 GOLF CHALLENGE 12:30 P.M. n FOOD & WINE TASTING 6:00 P.M.
The Resort at Longboat Key Club, Islandside Featuring chefs from 28 premier local restaurants, select wines, silent auction, golf challenge & live music.
Purim in the Lab Experiment with the four mitzvot of Purim with this Purim-themed lab. Discover optical illusions of the Purim story, the science of noise, money, food and more! Purim refreshments will be served. The event takes place from 11:00 a.m. to noon at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Cost: $5; free to CHS students and families. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@ chabadofbradenton.com.
Temple Sinai Purim Carnival Join in on the fun of our Purim Carnival with carnival games, a climbing wall, face painting, prizes, food, a drawing for an iPad Mini and so much more! One price for all you can play! Cost: $5 for ages 0-4; $10 for ages 5 and above. Food tickets sold separately. The fun starts at 11:00 a.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call the temple office at 941.924.1802.
CONNECT with your Jewish Community facebook.com/jfedsrq
For tickets or to become a sponsor visit www.JFCS-Cares.org or contact Monica Caldwell 941.366.2224 ext. 142 mcaldwell@jfcs-cares.org CelebrityChefsSarasota MEDIA SPONSOR
VENUE SPONSOR
2B
JEWISH HAPPENINGS
March 2015
Effective Solutions. Compassionate Care. Rebecca Cohen, M.D. is an expert clinician in psychopharmacology (medication management) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). She treats a broad range of psychiatric symptoms and disorders. Now in private practice, Dr. Cohen is accepting new patients. For more information, please call 941.404.0545 or visit rebeccacohenmd.com. Rebecca S. Cohen, M.D., LLC Board Certified | Adult Psychiatry | Psychopharmacology
3665 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 306, Sarasota | rebeccacohenmd.com
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SARASOTA CONCERT ASSOCIATION
2015 Great Performers Series at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra
Michael Sanderling, conductor Johannes Moser, cello
Sunday, March 1 • 4 p.m.
MONDAY, MARCH 2 Torah Tots Join other parents, grandparents and caregivers as we explore the child’s world through story, song, cooking, crafts and circle time. Torah Tots encourages multi-sensory experiences that stimulate emerging language, motor development, socialization and bonding between parent and child. Explore child rearing from a Jewish perspective, participate in group activities and learn Jewish customs that will enhance this unique time in your toddler’s life in these formative years. Torah Tots takes place from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Suggested donation: $6. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@chabadofbradenton.com.
TUESDAY, MARCH 3 Caffeine for the Soul Join the most popular Jewish women’s book club in town at Caffeine for the Soul. Get your weekly social and spiritual boost during a roundtable discussion led by Chaya Rivka Schmerling. Delve into the book for this year, Simple Words by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. This group meets weekly. No cost. Join us at 10:00 a.m. at Chabad of Venice, 2169 S. Tamiami Trail. For more information, contact Chaya Rivka Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rivka@chabadofvenice.com.
Torah & Tea Join Chanie Bukiet in her home for a weekly dose of delicious tea and refreshments spiced with thoughts on the weekly Torah portion and roundtable discussions. Torah & Tea takes place every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. to noon. No cost. Sponsor a class in someone’s memory or honor for $25. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@chabadofbradenton.com.
JFCS Holocaust Survivors’ Purim Luncheon Sponsored by
All area Holocaust survivors and their spouses are invited to a Purim luncheon from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (location TBA). This event is sponsored by JFCS of the Suncoast, Gulf Coast JFCS, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and the Claims Conference of Germany. To register or for more information, please contact Jan Alston at 941.366.2224 x172 or jalston@jfcs-cares.org.
Tanya for Women There are days when one feels inspired by Judaism and spirituality, and there are days when they are a real bore. There are times when nothing seems more important than studying Torah or praying, and there are times when nothing seems greater than a steak and a good ballgame. There are moments when one is disgusted by the world’s immorality and there are moments when one is tempted by it. So who are we really? It is Tanya that guides us through our dual personality. It gives us the insight to understand and overcome the struggles we deal with on a day-to-day basis. Tanya teaches how to bridge that gap to create a unity between Judaism and the inner psyche. It allows us to truly feel, not merely act, like a Jew. This group meets weekly. No cost. Join us at 11:15 a.m. at Chabad of Venice, 2169 S. Tamiami Trail. For more information, contact Chaya Rivka Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rivka@chabadofvenice.com.
“History of the Jews of Sarasota-Manatee” GulfsidePalm ORT chapter presents “History of the Jews of SarasotaManatee” at 1:30 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. When did the first Jewish person settle in Sarasota-Manatee? What impact have Jewish residents made to the Sarasota-Manatee community in the arts, circus and medical field? Kim Sheintal will answer these questions with her favorite photos and stories. Refreshments will be served. For more information and to RSVP, call Kim Sheintal at 941.921.1433.
Sarasota Jewish Chorale at Kobernick House Join us at 7:15 p.m. for an evening of entertaining and enjoyable music as the Sarasota Jewish Chorale singers will be performing familiar and notso-familiar Jewish songs. The program is open to the public. Kobernick House is located at 1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. For further information about the Chorale, please call Susan Skovronek at 941.355.8011.
Bridge...
Takács String Quartet Joyce Yang, piano
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Murray Perahia, piano Wednesday, March 25 • 8 p.m.
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For more information
The Bridge Group meets Thursday afternoons from 1:00–4:00 pm on the Federation Campus (582 McIntosh Road). Open to intermediate and advanced bridge players. call Bob Satnick at 941.538.3739
JEWISH HAPPENINGS
March 2015
3B
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 “The Musical Liturgy of the Worship Service”
Congregation Kol HaNeshama Purim celebration
Through a series of lectures, discussions and musical examples, the prayers that are already a part of our Friday night service will be given a new meaning through the lens of history, musical analysis and personal connection. This free course takes place on Wednesdays in March from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call the temple office at 941.924.1802.
Join us at 6:00 p.m. and enjoy Pasta for Purim, hamentashen and costumes. Share in the reading of the Megillah and be entertained by our own Standing Chorus. The celebration takes place at Southgate Community Center, 3145 Southgate Circle, Sarasota. Cost: $5 suggested minimum donation. For further information, please email rr5205@att.net or call 941.926.3701.
Megillah Reading & Purim Masquerade Party
Art in the Afternoon presents “Lifelong Music Makers”
Come and celebrate Purim in a joyous manner while hearing the Megillah. Enjoy refreshments, cocktails, music and masquerade. Admission is free. The event takes place at 7:00 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. For more information, contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@chabadofbradenton.com.
Join the Brandeis National Committee for a conversation with Robyn Bell, Director of the Sarasota Pops Orchestra. Hear about this unique group that was founded in 1975 as the Sarasota Community Orchestra. Today it is composed of over 60 musicians with some of the area’s finest professional and non-professional musicians of all ages. The event begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Polo Grill, Boardwalk Loop at Main Street in Downtown Lakewood Ranch. Cost for the lecture and lunch: $35 for BNC members; $40 for guests. For more information, contact Sharyn Nassau at 941.373.3941 or slnassau@aol.com.
Purim Megillah Reading & Animal Adventure Show On Purim eve at 7:00 p.m. all are welcome to join Chabad of Sarasota for a Megillah reading followed by an animal adventure show which will feature a 12-foot Burmese python, capuchin monkey, blue-crowned conure, tortoise and hedgehog. All children dressed in costume will receive a prize. Hamentashen will be served. This free event is open to all and takes place at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road. For more information or to RSVP, call the Chabad office at 941.925.0770.
Book review and discussion Dr. Howard Levin will review and lead a discussion of the novel An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris. It is a fictionalized version of the true story of Alfred Dreyfus, a respected Jewish captain in the French Army, who was falsely accused of passing secrets to the Germans. Newly appointed to Army Intelligence, somewhat anti-Semitic, but a staunch believer in truth and justice, Colonel Georges Piquart shows the reader how he gradually becomes convinced of Dreyfus’ innocence. This free program is open to the public and begins at 1:15 p.m. in the Band/Desenberg Chapel, Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Arlene Hamburger at 941.921.2554.
Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch Purim Celebration Celebrate Purim with us at 7:00 p.m. at the Windsor ALF, 8220 Natures Way, Lakewood Ranch. The Megillat Esther will be read and congregants are encouraged to wear costumes and masks. Hamentashen will be served following the service. For additional information, please email kehillahoflakewoodranch@gmail.com or call 941.281.2587.
Purim events at Temple Beth Sholom
Temple Sinai Purim service
All events take place at 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. Join Temple Beth Sholom for the Megillah Reading and Purimshpiel for all ages at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4. Costumes encouraged! Purim morning service is on Thursday, March 5 at 9:00 a.m. in the Chapel. On Sunday, March 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., join us for the annual Purim Carnival, jointly sponsored by the TBS day schools and religious school. It features a costume contest, dancing, games, food and many children’s activities. Everyone welcome! For more information, please contact the temple office at 941.955.8121.
Join Temple Sinai for a fun-filled musical Purim, Rhythm & Jewish Service, and Megillah Shpiel. The service starts at 5:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call the temple office at 941.924.1802.
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JEWISH HAPPENINGS
March 2015 THURSDAY, MARCH 5
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
Chabad of Venice Grand Purim Party
Shalom Baby Mommy and Me Group Sponsored by
Have you thought about how you will celebrate Purim in a meaningful and fun way? We have the answer to your question. Celebrate Purim in Israel! Once again, Chabad is hosting the annual Purim around the World, and this year we’ll be stopping off in Israel. Join in a joyous party celebrating the miracle of Purim against the backdrop of the Kotel, squeeze oranges in Jaffa, make sand art in the Negev, enjoy an Israeli buffet dinner in Tel Aviv, and much more! Experience a multimedia presentation, masquerade (optional), fun entertainment, awesome Israeli trivia, and a children’s program running simultaneous to the adult program. The fun begins at 5:00 p.m. at 406 Shamrock Blvd., Venice. Cost: $18 per adult; free for children ages 3-12. For more information, contact Rabbi Sholom Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rabbi@chabadofvenice.com.
Join us each Friday at 11:00 a.m. for a gathering of mommies and babies to do holiday crafts, sing Jewish and/or Israeli children’s songs and bond with other moms! Free with registration. The group meets at the Hecht School on the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. To RSVP or for more information, contact Jessi Sheslow at jsheslow@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2109.
BNC General Meeting - Embracing Our Differences Carol Buchanan, President of UNIFEM, will relate the history of this unique project. Since 2004, Embracing Our Differences has graced downtown Sarasota’s bayfront with colorful billboard-sized images created by artists, students and writers from around the world reflecting their interpretation of the message “enriching lives through diversity.” The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. on the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Free to Brandeis National Committee members and the community. For more information, call Lenore Weintraub at 941.377.5958.
Purim USA celebration Enjoy Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch’s Purim USA at The Chabad House (5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton) with an All-Star American menu (vegetarian available), American ventriloquist show, interactive Megillah reading, hamentashen, caricatures, American song parody, patriotic masquerade, American Hero Awards, and much more. The celebration, which starts at 6:00 p.m., is open to all ages. Cost: $15 per adult, $10 per child (3-12) for pre-paid admission. Payment at the door is $20 per adult, $15 per child. Seating is limited so reserve early. Contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at 941.752.3030 x3 or info@chabadofbradenton. com.
Temple Beth El celebrates Purim Join the Temple Beth El Men’s Club for its annual Purim Barbeque. Enjoy your meal outside on our beautiful covered patio then join the entire congregation for the Purim celebration. Along with Rabbi Harold Caminker reading the Megillah, enjoy our wonderful “Sing Out – Purim – Live” musical group. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. at 4200 32nd St. West, Bradenton. Cost for the barbeque: $10 per adult; $5 for children under 12. For more information and to reserve your space at the barbeque, please call the temple office at 941.755.4900, Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Sarasota Jewish Chorale rehearsal dates The Sarasota Jewish Chorale will be rehearsing every Thursday evening in March from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Hecht School on the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, courtesy of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. Newcomers are welcome to sit in on any rehearsal to sample our songs, spirit and camaraderie. For more information, please call Susan Skovronek, SJC manager, at 941.355.8011, visit www.sarasotajewishchorale.org or check us out on Facebook. To book a program for your organization, call Phyllis Lipshutz at 941.924.6717.
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Temple Beth Israel will celebrate Jewish Music Month with a special Shabbat service at 8:00 p.m. at the temple, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. Cantor Riselle Bain of Bradenton will be chazzan for the Temple Choir and orchestra in a service composed by Cantor Bain. Her original compositions will be integrated into the service, along with some traditional melodies. The Shabbat service will be preceded by a Shabbat dinner at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to both the dinner and service. There is a fee for the dinner, catered by Michael’s On East, and prepayment is required. Reservations for the dinner may be made by calling the temple office at 941.383.3428.
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Join Rabbi Barbara Aiello for the annual Purim celebration in story and song featuring the untold story of the Jews of Australia, “Jews and Kangaroos – Is There Yiddishkeit Down Under?” The event begins at 7:00 p.m. at Congregation Ner Tamid’s new location, Lakeside South (Clubhouse), 3817 40th Ave. West, Bradenton. No charge for tickets but donations accepted. Reservations are a must. For more information or to RSVP, call Elaine at 941.755.1231.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7 CHJ presents Cliff Roles The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism will host Cliff Roles for our Purim service at 10:30 a.m. He will present “A Photographer’s Views of Europe, Israel, Australia & New Zealand with a Focus on Jewish Sites.” Cliff is a man of many enthusiasms and accomplishments. Sarasotans began getting to know him 12 years ago as he made his mark in the arts and social scene as an award-winning theater actor and tuxedo-clad emcee for the season’s must-attend events. His popular daily radio show, Talk of the Suncoast, aired for more than four years, during which time he interviewed over 2,500 guests. CHJ is located at Unity, 3023 Proctor Road, Sarasota. For more information, call 941.929.7771 or visit www.chj-sarasota.org.
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JEWISH HAPPENINGS
March 2015
SUNDAY, MARCH 8 Opening Night – Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem with special guest Theodore Bikel The one-and-only Theodore Bikel will be joining us at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota (1000 Boulevard of the Arts) in connection with the Southwest Florida premiere of his new film Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem – an enchanting and inspiring documentary that weaves together the stories of two beloved Jewish icons: Sholom Aleichem, the great Jewish storyteller, whose prose portrays the true soul of the tragicomic Jewish shtetl; and Theodore Bikel, the legendary actor, singer, troubadour, Jewish activist, and interpreter par excellence of Aleichem’s stories. Mr. Bikel’s numerous stage, film and television credits include Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music, and his recorded collections of Hebrew and Yiddish folk songs hold a unique place in Jewish music libraries. Using vintage film, interviews with celebrities, and footage of Bikel performances, this film is filled with laughter, tears and music. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Opening Night sponsored by Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson. The cost of $25 includes the film screening and a post-film dessert reception. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Chabad of Sarasota Men’s Club Breakfast The Chabad of Sarasota Men’s Club (Club 770) will host its March breakfast 9:00 a.m. and feature Dr. Herman Weber who will present “Hypertension - The Silent Killer.” Enjoy an enchanting presentation and a delightful breakfast including scrambled eggs and onion, whitefish salad, bagels, lox and cream cheese. Cost: $7 for Club 770 members; $10 for nonmembers. Women are welcome. The breakfast takes place at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road. For more information or to RSVP, call the Chabad office at 941.925.0770.
“Preserving the Memory of the Holocaust” Meet and hear Dr. Thomas Hecht in person, one of the founders of the State of Israel and founder of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, which has advised all of Israel’s administrations on policy decisions for the past twenty years. Dr. Hecht is one of the leading figures in contemporary Jewish history, internationally renowned, and a Holocaust survivor with extraordinary insights into the relationship between global events today and the realities of the Holocaust. Join us at 11:00 a.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $12 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher foods and discussion materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.
“Jewish Artists Explore” features Joy Weston The fourth of the five-part “Jewish Artists Explore” series, sponsored by The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee and the Association of Professional Jewish Artists, will take place from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on the Federation Campus (580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota) with a live interview of photographer, author and motivational speaker Joy Weston. Additional artists will explore Jewish spirituality through the Exodus Process with music, a creative activity with author Ronni Miller, and mystical text study with Rabbi Goldie Milgram. Each “Jewish Artists Explore” event is $5 for APJA members, and $10 for nonmembers (payable at the door). Refreshments will be served. For further information, contact Kimberly Sheintal at klapshein@aol.com. Sponsored by
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5B
MONDAY, MARCH 9 Film: God’s Slave God’s Slave is a powerful, “riveting” drama about the making of a terrorist. Based on the actual events of a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires, this film follows Ahmed, a committed young Kuwaiti “martyr for Islam,” who has been trained since childhood as a “sleeper” terrorist. Living in Caracas, Ahmed has become a successful and compassionate surgeon, with a loving wife and young son – but destiny demands that he respond when called upon to carry out a terrorist attack. Working day and night to prevent such an attack is David, an embittered Mossad agent in Buenos Aires. God’s Slave is a pulse-pounding and deeply emotional thriller that pits two determined men against one another, culminating in violent, if unexpected, consequences. The screening begins at 3:00 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Film: Hunting Elephants Hunting Elephants is a laugh-outloud caper film (think of it as Ocean’s Eleven meets George Burns and Phil Silvers – Israeli-style). A 12-year-old Israeli boy named Jonathon is dealt a cruel double-blow: his father dies in a freak accident while working at a local bank, and the bank refuses to provide any compensation to the family. Pushed to the financial brink, Jonathan decides that he wants revenge – and money – and enlists a team of unlikely senior citizens to help him rob the bank, including his grandfather and a penniless English Lord, played by Sir Patrick Stewart. You will love this film! The screening begins at 7:00 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Film: Kidon Kidon is a “twists and turns” caper film involving the murder of a terrorist, allegedly by the Mossad, except that the Mossad knows nothing about it. On the morning of February 18, 2010, the whole world wakes up to discover, on the front page of all the world’s newspapers, security camera footage of the four alleged Mossad agents suspected of killing Mahmoud al Mabhouh in Dubai a month earlier. The story shocks the world but no one is as surprised as the Mossad itself, which claims not to recognize any of the faces caught on camera. From then on, a race against time is undertaken to figure out why everything seems upside down. This action-packed film, based on real-life events and starring Sasson Gabay and Bar Rafaeli, brings this tumultuous story to life with humor and suspense. The screening begins at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
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JEWISH HAPPENINGS
March 2015 TUESDAY, MARCH 10
Film: Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem
Mindfulness-Based Meditation at Temple Emanu-El
Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem is an enchanting and inspiring documentary that weaves together the stories of two beloved Jewish icons: Sholom Aleichem, the great Jewish storyteller, whose prose portrays the true soul of the tragicomic Jewish shtetl; and Theodore Bikel, the legendary actor, singer, troubadour, Jewish activist, and interpreter par excellence of Aleichem’s stories. Mr. Bikel’s numerous stage, film and television credits include Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music, and his recorded collections of Hebrew and Yiddish folk songs hold a unique place in Jewish music libraries. Using vintage film, interviews with celebrities, and footage of Bikel performances, this film is filled with laughter, tears and music. The screening begins at 3:00 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
As 2015 continues with all of its hectic activity, simply taking the time to meditate can make all the difference in your health and well-being. Judy Fleischer will teach a three-week course on Mindfulness Based Meditation, focusing on breathing, progressive relaxation and visualization. While meditation has its roots in Buddhism, this class teaches a non-religious form of mindfulness that requires nothing more than sitting quietly and focusing on your breath. Join us at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, March 10, 17 and 24 at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Reservations are recommended. Free admission for Temple Emanu-El members; a donation of $18 is requested of community members. For more information or to make a reservation, please contact Temple Emanu-El Adult Education Chair Beth Ann Salzman at bethannys@comcast.net.
YAD Cocktails and a Movie Join Sarasota-Manatee’s Young Adult Division (ages 22-45) for cocktails and lite appetizers in conjunction with the Milman-Kover Jewish Film Festival. The evening’s film is God’s Slave. More information about the film can be found in the listing below or at www. jfedsrq.org/jff. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. The cost of $15 includes the film screening. For more information, please contact Len Steinberg at 941.552.6301 or lsteinberg@jfedsrq.org.
Film: God’s Slave God’s Slave is a powerful, “riveting” drama about the making of a terrorist. Based on the actual events of a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires, this film follows Ahmed, a committed young Kuwaiti “martyr for Islam,” who has been trained since childhood as a “sleeper” terrorist. Living in Caracas, Ahmed has become a successful and compassionate surgeon, with a loving wife and young son – but destiny demands that he respond when called upon to carry out a terrorist attack. Working day and night to prevent such an attack is David, an embittered Mossad agent in Buenos Aires. God’s Slave is a pulse-pounding and deeply emotional thriller that pits two determined men against one another, culminating in violent, if unexpected, consequences. The screening begins at 7:00 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
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The rich Sephardic culture is woven into Israeli life across the board, but is virtually unfamiliar to many American Jews. Join the Al Katz Center for the fourth of a seven-month series on an enlightening journey through centuries of time and multiple continents to learn about and experience the depth and breadth of Sephardic and Ashkenazic traditions. Despite having been scattered to the far corners of the globe, Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews have preserved their religious heritage, which is lively and vibrant. Join us at 2:00 p.m. at 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher refreshments included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.
Israel Tennis Centers exhibition The Israel Tennis Centers Foundation will host a tennis exhibition and dinner at 4:00 p.m. at the Longboat Key Club Resort Tennis Gardens, 220 Sands Point Road. The event, chaired by Karen and Tom Bernstein and Larry Greenspon and Mary Gratehouse, will feature a diverse team of ITC children and coaches who will tell their personal stories about how their lives were turned around by the ITC. Cost: $180. For more information or to attend the event, contact ITC Development Director Yoni Yair at 954.480.6333 or yyair@israeltenniscenters.org. The ITC is a partner organization of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. To learn more about the ITC, visit www.israeltenniscenters.org.
JLI course: Justice and the War on Terror In 2011, Israel set 1,027 prisoners free in exchange for the release of Gilad Shalit. More recently, the rise of ISIS and the murders of James Foley and Steven Sutloff and others have forced us to revisit this heartwrenching debate: Should we pay hefty ransoms or release dangerous criminals in exchange for the life and freedom of an innocent hostage? This two-week course continues on Tuesday, March 17 at Chabad of Venice, 2169 S. Tamiami Trail, at 7:30 p.m. Cost: $36. Eligible for 3 CLE credits for attorneys. For more information, contact Rabbi Sholom Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rabbi@chabadofvenice.com. Sponsored by
WED-THU, MARCH 11-12 Estate/Rummage Sale Support Temple Emanu-El Religious School while finding incredible items at incredible prices! The items donated for Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood and Brotherhood’s fourth annual Estate/Rummage Sale fill multiple storage units and include indoor and outdoor furniture, electronics, appliances, toys, collectibles, tools, sporting equipment, shoes and clothing for all ages, dishes, china, books, DVDs, fabulous tchotchkes, and much more. The community is enthusiastically invited to check out the merchandise – and the bargains! All proceeds support the religious school. The event takes place both days from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. For more information, please call 941.322.0614.
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JEWISH HAPPENINGS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11
March 2015
7B
THURSDAY, MARCH 12
Film: Under the Same Sun
Film: Operation Sunflower
Under the Same Sun is a troubling, but inspiring, contemporary parable, set in the near future, about two businessmen – one Israeli and one Palestinian – who struggle to build a solar energy company together, against the odds. Since both men come from societies where there is strong opposition to cooperating with the other side, these men of good will must overcome enormous obstacles, including the hostility of those around them, while uniting an ever-expanding group of people who support their goal. Although they set out to make money, they end up accomplishing something much more important. The film was made by an award-winning Israeli producer, Amir Harel, and a prominent Palestinian director, Sameh Zoabi, and was released as a simulcast on both Israeli and Palestinian TV networks in October. Be prepared to make a leap of faith. The screening begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, 10715 Rodeo Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www. jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Operation Sunflower is a compelling human, political and scientific drama about Israel’s decision to develop a nuclear option in the 1950s-60s. Against the backdrop of a threatened Iranian missile attack, a drama is reconstructed that took place in Jerusalem and Paris 60 years earlier: David Ben-Gurion gives an order to the head of the Mossad to develop a nuclear option to protect the Jewish people from future Hitlers – a mission that seems totally impossible at the outset. How this mission was accomplished, despite the soul-searching of those involved, and the lack of technical and scientific expertise, is both exciting and inspiring. In addition, a crucial element in the story is the commitment of the Jewish people around the world to the survival of the State of Israel. The screening begins at 3:00 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq. org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
t u o d l so Film: Kidon
Film: Under the Same Sun
Kidon is a “twists and turns” caper film involving the murder of a terrorist, allegedly by the Mossad, except that the Mossad knows nothing about it. On the morning of February 18, 2010, the whole world wakes up to discover, on the front page of all the world’s newspapers, security camera footage of the four alleged Mossad agents suspected of killing Mahmoud al Mabhouh in Dubai a month earlier. The story shocks the world but no one is as surprised as the Mossad itself, which claims not to recognize any of the faces caught on camera. From then on, a race against time is undertaken to figure out why everything seems upside down. This action-packed film, based on real-life events and starring Sasson Gabay and Bar Rafaeli, brings this tumultuous story to life with humor and suspense. The screening begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, 10715 Rodeo Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Under the Same Sun is a troubling, but inspiring, contemporary parable, set in the near future, about two businessmen – one Israeli and one Palestinian – who struggle to build a solar energy company together, against the odds. Since both men come from societies where there is strong opposition to cooperating with the other side, these men of good will must overcome enormous obstacles, including the hostility of those around them, while uniting an ever-expanding group of people who support their goal. Although they set out to make money, they end up accomplishing something much more important. The film was made by an award-winning Israeli producer, Amir Harel, and a prominent Palestinian director, Sameh Zoabi, and was released as a simulcast on both Israeli and Palestinian TV networks in October. Be prepared to make a leap of faith. The screening begins at 7:00 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq. org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Film: Hunting Elephants
Chai NA’AMAT Book Discussion
Hunting Elephants is a laugh-outloud caper film (think of it as Ocean’s Eleven meets George Burns and Phil Silvers – Israeli-style). A 12-year-old Israeli boy named Jonathon is dealt a cruel double-blow: his father dies in a freak accident while working at a local bank, and the bank refuses to provide any compensation to the family. Pushed to the financial brink, Jonathan decides that he wants revenge – and money – and enlists a team of unlikely senior citizens to help him rob the bank, including his grandfather and a penniless English Lord, played by Sir Patrick Stewart. You will love this film! The screening begins at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Join us at 9:30 a.m. at First Watch (1395 Main Street, Sarasota) for breakfast and to discuss The Tenth Song by Naomi Ragan. An RSVP is a must by March 8. For more information or to RSVP, contact Davida at 941.757.8512 or bandit44124@yahoo.com.
Chabad of Sarasota Gala
Join us for a weekly (also on March 19 & 26) pastrami sandwich lunch with a schmooze on a variety of current hot topics. The lunch begins at noon at Chabad of Venice, 2169 S. Tamiami Trail. Cost: $8. For more information, contact Rabbi Sholom Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rabbi@ chabadofvenice.com.
t u o d l so
Chabad of Sarasota will be holding its 20th Annual Gala to honor and acknowledge its 25 years of serving the community. The gala will feature entertainer extraordinaire Shalom Sherman. Please consider acknowledging Chabad of Sarasota’s extensive efforts to create a most vibrant, active and heimish (family-friendly) community, by attending the gala or placing a tax-deductible advertisement or greeting in the gala journal. Proceeds from the gala will benefit the Children’s Scholarship Fund which presently has a demand that far exceeds our resources. The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at Michael’s On East, 1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota. Cost: $150. For more information or to RSVP, call the Chabad office at 941.925.0770.
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SaBra Chapter of Hadassah Spring Luncheon Join us at 11:30 a.m. at Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club (7650 Legacy Blvd.) as we celebrate snowbirds and guest members. Entertainment will be provided by vocalist Rhonda Liss, accompanied by Sybil Broh. Ms. Liss has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera and performed at Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall, among other venues. Hadassah members, Associates and friends are all welcome. For more information, contact Lee at 941.924.1338 or lruggles.sabra@gmail.com.
Schmooze & Pastrami
Great Humorous Jews: The 3 Stooges The stage of humorous Jews contains extraordinarily-talented men and women, often from impoverished backgrounds, who rose to the heights of public acclaim by inspiring and entertaining the world. Sons of immigrants, the three Horvitz brothers – Moe, Shemp and Curly – teamed up with Larry Fine to become comedy icons, giving generations of laughter to diverse cultures hungry for hilarity. These energetic Jews are still enjoyed today regardless of the bounds of age, race, nationality and religion. Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; materials and healthy kosher refreshments included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.
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8B
JEWISH HAPPENINGS
March 2015 SUNDAY, MARCH 15 Film: The Sturgeon Queens
Jewish War Veterans brunch/meeting
The Sturgeon Queens is a “delectable” documentary about the most famous appetizing store in the world, Russ and Daughters, a staple on New York’s Lower East Side for 100 years. Live wires 92-year-old Anne Russ Federman and 100-year-old Hattie Russ Gold, the “Daughters” in the store’s name, reflect on the four generations of the Jewish immigrant family that created and continue to run Russ and Daughters. Famous, devoted customers are interviewed, including Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writer Calvin Trillin, actor Maggie Gyllenhaal, chef Mario Batali, and 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer. Instead of a conventional narrator, six colorful longtime fans of the store, in their 80s and 90s, sit around a table of smoked fish reading the script in the style of a Passover Seder. The screening begins at noon at The Devyn, 7113 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. (Please note: This ticket only grants access to the screening of the film and not the Russ and Daughters brunch. The brunch is a separate ticket. See below.) For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Jewish War Veterans, Sarasota Post 172, will hold its monthly brunch/ meeting at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 South Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. The lox-and-bagel brunch will begin at 9:45 a.m. and will be followed by a short business meeting at 10:30 a.m. The cost remains $5 per person, and spouses/significant others are always welcome. Our guest speaker will be Denise Cotler, from the Sarasota All Faiths Food Bank. Please join us and meet the members of Post 172. For more information, please contact Stan Levinson, Commander, Post 172, at stanlevinson172@gmail.com or 941.907.6720.
Russ and Daughters Brunch After the screening of The Sturgeon Queens, we invite you to join us for brunch with food provided by Russ and Daughters, New York’s most famous appetizing store, at The Devyn, 7113 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Cost: $25. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. (Please note: This ticket only grants access to the Russ and Daughters brunch and not the film. The film is a separate ticket. See above. Tickets to the brunch are limited and will be first come, first served.) For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Film: Is that You? – Dessert reception to follow featuring Director Dani Menkin Is that You? is a tender, romantic comedy about a newly-unemployed, 60-year-old Israeli man who comes to America to find his long-lost love (from 35 years ago) and pursue “the road not taken,” a theme that will resonate with every audience member. With no real prospects for the future, Ronnie decides to look back to the past – to seek the lost love of his youth, Rachel. Accompanying him on his journey to upstate New York is an unlikely partner, a young American film student who is working on a documentary about “regrets.” This touching film starts with an individual quest to recapture what was lost, but becomes a wider commentary on the “what ifs” of life, with vignettes that are poignant and funny in equal measure. The screening begins at 6:30 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $10, includes post-film dessert reception. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Jewish Genealogical Society of SWFL meeting Dora Feldman McDonald, the daughter of German Jewish immigrants, made the front page of Chicago newspapers in 1907 when she shot her lover. Dora, married to one of the most powerful political bosses in Chicago at the time, used murder to end this affair and her lover’s blackmail. But what ever happened to her after her dramatic acquittal the following year? Genealogist Mike Karsen uses every trick in his tool bag to set the record straight in his presentation “Sex, Murder and Genealogy?” Join us at 1:00 p.m. at Kobernick House, 1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. Attendance is free and everyone is welcome. For more information, contact Kim Sheintal at 941.921.1433 or klapshein@aol.com, or visit http://jgsswf.org/.
Humanaires concert The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism invites you to attend the Humanaires’ 2015 concert “Our Lives in Many Languages” directed by Robert Lischetti. The program will include selections sung in English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Italian, Ladino and Armenian. The concert begins at 4:00 p.m. at Unity, 3023 Proctor Road, Sarasota. Tickets are $10. A reservation form is available on www.chj-sarasota.org. Send your completed form with a check (payable to CHJ) and a self-addressed stamped envelope to CHJ, 3023 Proctor Road, Sarasota, FL 34231. For more information, call 941.929.7771.
Temple Beth Israel to honor Rabbi Michael Eisenstat The Temple Beth Israel Men’s Club invites you to a Tribute Night fundraiser in honor of Rabbi Emeritus Michael Eisenstat, who served the congregation as its rabbi from 1997 until his retirement in 2008. The event starts at 6:00 p.m. at the temple. Scheduled are a cocktail hour with wine and hors d’oeuvres, followed by tributes from family, friends and community leaders. A musical program by Sarasota Philharmonic members, Concert Master and Principal Violinist Dan Jordan and Principal Pianist Jonathan Spivey, will follow. They will perform and discuss music composed by famed Jewish composer Ernest Bloch. Cost: $50 for general admission and $75 for Patron seating. Reservations can be made by calling the temple office at 941.383.3428) and forwarding a check (payable to the TBI Men’s Club) to Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isle Road, Longboat Key, FL 34228. For more information, contact Bob Vigder, Men’s Club co-President, at 941.388.2568.
For a continuously updated calendar, visit www.jfedsrq.org presents
Join us for Brunch Sunday, March 15, 2015, 10:30 a.m. Michael's on East, 1212 East Avenue South, Sarasota
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Celebrate our 2015 Eight over 80 honorees for their outstanding community achievements. Howard Millman Isabel Anchin Becker Alice Rau Alice Berkowitz Phyllis and Norman Rich Helen and Sidney Fagin Marge and Bill Sandy Betty and Howard Isermann Special thanks to Premier Sponsors Debbie & Larry Haspel, KBR FOUNDATION and Susan and Randy Mallitz and Presenting Sponsors Isabel Anchin Becker and
We thank all our sponsors for their continued support. Event Chair: Helen Glaser For more information contact Patricia McMahon at 941-377-0781 x124 or pmcmahon@kobernickanchin.org The Jewish Housing Council Foundation supports the mission of Kobernick House, Anchin Pavilion and Benderson Family Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. ALF # 8951 • SNF # 130471046
JEWISH HAPPENINGS
March 2015
MONDAY, MARCH 16
9B
TUESDAY, MARCH 17
Film: Is that You? – featuring Director Dani Menkin
Club Fed Lecture Series
Is that You? is a tender, romantic comedy about a newly-unemployed, 60-year-old Israeli man who comes to America to find his long-lost love (from 35 years ago) and pursue “the road not taken,” a theme that will resonate with every audience member. With no real prospects for the future, Ronnie decides to look back to the past – to seek the lost love of his youth, Rachel. Accompanying him on his journey to upstate New York is an unlikely partner, a young American film student who is working on a documentary about “regrets.” This touching film starts with an individual quest to recapture what was lost, but becomes a wider commentary on the “what ifs” of life, with vignettes that are poignant and funny in equal measure. The screening begins at 3:00 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Dr. Steven Derfler will present “Exotic Jewish Communities Around the World – Jews of Egypt” from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. on the Federation Campus, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. This event is free, but RSVPs are required. This event is SOLD OUT! If you are unable to attend, please contact Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org.
Closing Night Film: Operation Sunflower Operation Sunflower is a compelling human, political and scientific drama about Israel’s decision to develop a nuclear option in the 1950s-60s. Against the backdrop of a threatened Iranian missile attack, a drama is reconstructed that took place in Jerusalem and Paris 60 years earlier: David Ben-Gurion gives an order to the head of the Mossad to develop a nuclear option to protect the Jewish people from future Hitlers – a mission that seems totally impossible at the outset. How this mission was accomplished, despite the soul-searching of those involved, and the lack of technical and scientific expertise, is both exciting and inspiring. In addition, a crucial element in the story is the commitment of the Jewish people around the world to the survival of the State of Israel. The screening begins at 7:00 p.m. on the Federation Campus, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $10. Patron and Festival Passes are also available. For more information, please visit www.jfedsrq. org/jff or call 941.552.6304.
Cteen “Family Circus” Sponsored by
Cteen is a Jewish teen club that compacts exhilarating fun and meaningful projects into a program that’s thrilling and uniting. Cteen events happen at least monthly, but the moments last a lifetime. The impact is magnificent, the experience priceless. Join us at 7:30 p.m. at Chabad of Venice, 2169 S. Tamiami Trail. Cteen programs are underwritten by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. No cost. For more information, contact Chaya Rivka Schmerling at 941.493.2770 or rivka@chabadofvenice.com.
Sponsored by
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 Idelson Library Film Matinee Series In Fill the Void (2012; 90 minutes), eighteen-year-old Shira, an Orthodox Hassid living in Tel Aviv, is looking forward to marrying a handsome, promising boy her own age. But when her elder sister dies in childbirth and the father considers leaving Israel to remarry, Shira’s mother proposes a union between her daughter and son-in-law to keep her only grandchild in the country. Shira must then make the terrible choice between her heart’s desire and her family duty. The screening begins at 1:15 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, Madeline L. Sainer Social Hall, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. Refreshments, including popcorn, will be served sponsored by the Men’s Club. Sandi Kligman will lead a question and answer session after the film. Suggested donation is $3 for members and $5 for nonmembers. For more information, please contact the temple office at 941.955.8121.
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WORLD CLASS THEATRE • MADE IN SARASOTA
“Poetic...whimsical, sensual” –Miami Herald
By Nilo Cruz
April 2–26
Previews March 31 and April 1 In the Historic Asolo Theater A woman’s past resurfaces when a young Jewish-Cuban writer contacts her regarding the tragic WW II voyage of the S.S. St. Louis.
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10B
March 2015
Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva SPRING SEMESTER 2015
JEWISH HAPPENINGS THURSDAY, MARCH 19 Women’s Passover Celebration Sponsored by
SECTS IN THE SYNAGOGUE
Tuesdays, Starting April 7 • 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM As Judaism has evolved, sects have come into existence representing the diversity in the liturgy, customs and practices inherited from previous generations. The differences are remarkable in that Yiddishkeit has flourished for over 3500 years by adapting to the new surroundings and conditions of where Jewish people resided. By studying the various sects of American Jewry, we can all gain a better understanding of our differences. Active representatives from each sect will be invited to join in the classroom discussion.
TANACH TREATS AND BIBLE SPECIALS
Mondays, Starting April 13 • 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM The Hebrew Bible is filled with unusual stories and events that captured the imagination of our people from the day of Revelation at Sinai down through the ages. They form our Written Law. On the other hand, the Talmud—the Oral Law— added insight and understanding of Scriptures as did the great commentators such as Rashi and a whole host of others. We’ll share the not well-known lessons and episodes about biblical characters, their challenges and successes from the perspective of the Jewish values learned that we transmit to our children and contribute to the world at large.
ISRAEL UPDATE AND ANTI-SEMITISM 2015
Fridays, Starting April 17 • 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM As an update to our fall 2014 seminar, this course will review the swift–moving pertinent events of the last six months. Actual news coverage as well as opinion will be presented for classroom discussion. We live in a day and age of virulent anti-Israel sentiment, boycotts and rampant anti-Semitism. While we feel comfortable here in America, Jews in Europe and in Israel deal with constant threats to life, limb, and freedom. Could it happen here? Do we have the luxury of being passive and/or complacent? Let’s schmooze! Je suis Juif!
All courses are eight weeks; fee $50 Classes are held on the Campus of the Jewish Federation, 580 McIntosh Rd. in Sarasota. To register or seek more information, please contact Marden Paru, Dean and Rosh Yeshiva; at 941.379.5655 or marden.paru@gmail.com. Please make checks payable to the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva and mail to Marden Paru, 2729 Goodwood Court, Sarasota, FL 34235. NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs. The Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency. It is funded, in part, by a grant from The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.
A POWERFUL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY HOLOCAUST, GENOCIDE AND TOLERANCE EDUCATION
MANY INSPIRING SPEAKERS TO CHOOSE FROM INCLUDING:
The Holocaust Speakers Bureau offers teachers a unique opportunity to expand their students’ classroom experience. We have a large number of Holocaust survivors who reside in this community. They are very motivated to visit school children and give their eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust. Also available are speakers who were hidden children, those saved through the “Kindertransport”, resistance fighters, refugees, as well as World War II camp liberators.
HILDE MANDEL PAUL MOLNAR RIFKA GLATZ MARK SOLENT HENRY TENENBAUM
All speakers are authentic to their respective experiences and feel a strong commitment to bring an awareness of the consequences that result when evil is allowed to flourish. They feel privileged and grateful to live in this wonderful country where their voices are being heard. For Booking Contact
Anne Stein, Speakers Bureau Coordinator 941.923.6470 • luvhula@gmail.com
Experience the Passover traditions of India in a program led by Rahel Musleah, a seventh-generation Calcutta Jew, who will share Indian and Sephardic music, traditions and cuisine. An Indian Courtyard Bazaar begins at 5:00 p.m. and the program begins promptly at 6:00 p.m. at Michael’s On East, 1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota. Ticket prices begin at $75 ($36 for students). To RSVP or for more information, contact Andrea Eiffert at 941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org.
JFCS Bereavement Support Group Sponsored by
This group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursdays from March 19 to April 23 at JFCS, 2688 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. Cost: $36 per person for the six-week session. For more information, contact Suzanne Hurwitz at 941.366.2224 x166 or shurwitz@ jfcs-cares.org.
Eminent Jewish Authors: Sir Martin Gilbert For thousands of years, Jewish authors have blessed mankind with their extraordinary creativity and depth of knowledge. The incomparable Sir Martin Gilbert has incorporated his masterful historical expertise in books filled with incredibly-detailed maps and facts tracing Jewish history from Biblical through modern times. If you do not know his works already, you will be astounded at the breadth of information you can absorb from any chapter you pick! Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; materials and healthy kosher refreshments included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.
“Life After Retirement” panel discussion “Life After Retirement: What’s Next?” explores the profound impact of retirement, and how it can be a transforming, life-enriching milestone. Panelists include Joel Ehrenpreis, retired business executive, independent consultant and entrepreneur; Janna Overstreet, executive director of the Lifelong Learning Academy; Laurel D. Rund, artist and published author; and Shelley Stein, psychotherapist, experienced group leader and facilitator. The panelists will address issues such as loss of identity, breaking through the fear of trying something different, and keeping one’s intellect and motivation alive. Dessert and coffee follow. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Reservations are recommended. Free admission for Temple Emanu-El members; a donation of $5 is requested of community members (payable at the door). For more information or to make a reservation, please contact event chair Linda Joffe at lfjoffe@aol.com.
N’shei Chabad Women’s Rosh Chodesh Society N’shei Chabad Women invites all women to attend the Rosh Chodesh Society class, which includes a talk entitled “Becoming a Better Half – Jewish Insights into Preserving Marital Harmony.” Jewish text and tradition is rich with effective tools, tips and meditations to let our “humanness” shine and turn the rough patches of our marriage into catalysts for becoming a better half. Following the talk, led by Sara Steinmetz, women will enjoy learning and understanding how skin ages, with esthetician, Shelley Waldman. For underwriting the course we thank Chabad’s First Lady, Anne Stein. All are welcome at 7:15 p.m. at Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road. Cost: Free for Rebbetzin Circle members; $10 for N’shei Women members; $12 for nonmembers. Advance reservations are required to 941.925.0770.
FRIDAY, MARCH 20 “Jewish Interfaith Children” Join Rabbi Barbara Aiello from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the South Manatee Branch Library (6081 26th St. West, Bradenton) for a practical, hands-on workshop, “Jewish Interfaith Children – Parenting and Grandparenting Challenges.” A Q & A follows the presentation. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by Congregation Ner Tamid. For more information or to RSVP, call Elaine at 941.755.1231.
CHJ presents attorney Robert Gary The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism will host Robert Gary following the 7:30 p.m. service. Robert will speak on “Iran and Israel: Lost Opportunities and Epic Consequences.”.Gary is a practicing classaction attorney with cases litigated in State and Federal courts across the country. Prior to 9/11, he was appointed by the U.S. District Court in Ohio to represent Muslims seeking religious expression in the Federal Prison System. His interest in terrorism was born on 9/11. Gary’s youngest daughter, a communications manager for the Red Cross for 9/11, was one of the first Red Cross workers on the scene. . CHJ is located at Unity, 3023 Proctor Road, Sarasota. For more information, call 941.929.7771 or visit www.chj-sarasota.org.
SATURDAY, MARCH 21 PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
PJ in the Park Join your friends at PJ Library for a fun Saturday morning in the park. Play on the playground and enjoy a wonderful Jewish-themed story time. This free event takes place from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Payne Park, 205 S. School Ave., Sarasota. To RSVP or for more information, please contact Jeremy Dictor at 941.343.2106 or jdictor@jfedsrq.org. Sponsored by
For Questions Contact Orna Nissan, Director, Holocaust Education and Israel Programs 941.552.6305 • onissan@jfedsrq.org www.TheJewishFederation.org
March 2015
JEWISH HAPPENINGS SUNDAY, MARCH 22
11B
TUESDAY, MARCH 24
Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood Fashion Show You are warmly invited to an afternoon of fashion, food and fun! Mingle with old and new friends over an elegant light lunch buffet and a fabulous intergenerational fashion show featuring designs for men, women and children from Fugate’s. Proceeds benefit the Temple Emanu-El Religious School Scholarship Fund. The event begins at noon at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Cost: $18 with paid reservations by March 16, or $20 at the door. The cost for children under 13 is $10. Paid reservations may be mailed to Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood Fashion Show, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232. For more information and babysitting reservations, please contact event chair Melissa Howard at 941.587.8166 or sisterhoodfashionshow@hotmail.com.
“Paint a Pot for Pesach” The Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood is gearing up for Passover with its “Paint a Pot for Pesach” program at 1:00 p.m. at 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. Sisterhood members will decorate flower pots to fill with your favorite herbs or flowering plants. There will be a visit to the TBS Schools’ gardens on campus, weather permitting. Cost: $5 per person for supplies. For more information and to RSVP, contact Hannah Puckhaber at 941.377.8668 or hjpuck@comcast.net.
Patriot Plaza guided tour As part of the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism’s 2015 Education Series, a visit has been arranged to Patriot Plaza, the third most visited site in Sarasota. Patriot Plaza is an art installation located on the grounds of the National Cemetery in Sarasota. It was funded by the Patterson Foundation and took two years to build. This art collection is unique to the national cemeteries as it introduces documentary photography for the first time. Trained guides will be provided by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. The tour starts at 1:30 p.m. at 9810 Clark Road (State Road 72), Sarasota. Guides will meet us in the parking lot. Registration by March 1 is required for both CHJ members and nonmembers. You may leave name(s) and phone number at 941.929.7771 or email chjsarasota@ hotmail.com.
Cantorial concert and dinner at Temple Sinai Chazzan Cliff Abramson will present a program of liturgical music, operatic arias and songs in several languages from Hebrew to Italian and Yiddish to Ladino. Chazzan will surround himself with pianists, vocalists, cellists, violinists and other amazing musicians. The concert starts at 3:30 p.m.; dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. Cost: $35 for concert and dinner; $15 for concert only; members’ children 18 and under, free for concert. Temple Sinai is located at 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. For more information, call the temple office at 941.924.1802.
Club Sholom to honor Donald Friedman Temple Beth Sholom Men’s Club presents Club Sholom, honoring Donald Friedman as the “Man of the Year” in recognition of his tireless work for TBS Schools and other organizations. Musical entertainment will be provided by Freylekh Klezmer Band, and Michael’s On East will cater a kosher brisket and salmon buffet with wine and dessert. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. Sponsorships are $180 and include two tickets. Tickets are $65 per person, checks only. For more information, please contact the temple office at 941.955.8121.
Rosh Chodesh Society – Soulmates Sponsored by
Join Chanie Bukiet for RCS’s intriguing seven-week course, “Soulmates: Behind Closed Doors.” The fifth class is entitled “Becoming a Better Half.” This course is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. The course begins at 7:30 p.m. at The Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. Cost: $75 per course, textbooks included; $15 per class. For more information, please contact Rabbi Mendy Bukiet at info@chabadofbradenton.com or 941.752.3030 x3.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 TEE Sisterhood’s Fifth Annual Interfaith Tea “Symbols of the Faith” is the theme of this special afternoon of learning, celebrating, and building bridges. Female religious leaders and laypeople from four faiths – Hindu, Russian Orthodox, American Indian, and Jewish – will share and discuss the symbols of their religions and their significance. A question-and-answer session will follow. People of different religious backgrounds will be encouraged to sit together, and delicious tea and homemade sweets will be served. The event takes place from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Free, with donations gratefully accepted. Reservations are encouraged. For more information or to RSVP, please call Lila Feldman at 941.893.5432, Aida Florsheim at 941.922.5711, or event chair Dorothy Quint at 941.359.9417.
THURSDAY, MARCH 26 Jewish Victories in History: The Exodus It was the landmark event of Jewish history in which a people enslaved for hundreds of years were freed and given boundless blessings as they departed from Egypt and wandered in the desert for 40 years. How does The Exodus symbolize the fate of the Jews throughout history? Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Al Katz Center, 5910 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. Cost: $7 per adult; $3 per student; healthy kosher foods and study materials included. To RSVP, call Beverly Newman at 941.313.9239.
FRIDAY, MARCH 27 Temple Beth El Sisterhood Shabbat Join the Temple Beth El Sisterhood as it leads our Erev Shabbat service along with Rabbi Harold and Cantor Alan. We will also be honoring some very special “Women of Valor” who work hard to make our temple family the special congregation it is. Following services enjoy the wonderful “Chocolate Oneg” that is a specialty of our TBE Sisterhood. Free and open to the community, the service starts at 7:30 p.m. at 4200 32nd St. West, Bradenton. For more information, please call the temple office at 941.755.4900, Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to noon.
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
AJC 2015 Spring Award Dinner AJC West Coast Florida will honor local philanthropists Alfred and Jean Weidner-Goldstein with its prestigious Human Relations Award at a Tribute Dinner at Michael’s On East, 1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota. The event will include a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m. with dinner following. This award is presented to individuals who reveal a thoughtful combination of humanitarian idealism and extraordinary response to the needs of our community. Dinner chairs are Teri Hansen, Hillary Steele, Marcia Jean Taub and Ron Taub. Sponsorships start at $1,000. Please contact Brian Lipton at 941.365.4955 or liptonb@ajc.org for further information.
Dinner and a movie with Rabbi Geoff Huntting Temple Sinai invites you to attend the third in a series of four “Dinner and Documentary Film and Discussion” with Rabbi Geoff Huntting. The topic is the Jewish diaspora in film, surviving and thriving as one people in many homelands. The event begins at 5:00 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota. Cost: $35 for a single film and dinner; $55 for remaining series of two. No walk-ins. For more information and to RSVP, call Janet Tolbert at 941.388.9624.
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Lives change every day due to the negligence of others. Loved ones are lost. Families face mounting medical bills. Paychecks stop. Lives unravel. You need an attorney you can trust... one who personally helps you. You can count on Dan Dannheisser to... Aggressively represent you and use his three decades of trial experience and all of his firm’s resources to obtain the very best possible outcome and recoveries for you.
Call Dan at 702-2103 to schedule your FREE consultation. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP At a time when our community and many charitable organizations continue to struggle, they need our support more than ever. 5% of my fees received from personal injury litigation will be donated to Judaic organizations & other local charities.
1834 Main Street • Sarasota, FL 34236 • 941.702.2103 • dandannheisser.com
WRONGFUL DEATH • PERSONAL INJURY • ACCIDENTS • AUTO & MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
The Jewish News is a monthly nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.
12B
March 2015
JEWISH HAPPENINGS
Milman-Kover
FEATURED
FILMS
MARCH 8-16, 2015
FEATURED
FILMS
SPECIAL GUESTS AND EVENTS!
GOD’S SLAVE
OPENING NIGHT: SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH THEO BIKEL in person plus Dessert Reception
HUNTING ELEPHANTS KIDON
SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH: “Real Russ and Daughters Brunch”
OPERATION SUNFLOWER
SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH: DANI MENKIN in person, “Is that You?” Premiere, plus Dessert Reception
15 SCREENINGS OF EIGHT GREAT NEW FILMS!
THE STURGEON QUEENS
6TH ANNUAL UNDER THE SAME SUN
THEODORE BIKEL: IN THE SHOES OF SHOLOM ALEICHEM
IS THAT YOU?
LIMITED TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
jfedsrq.org/jff Questions?
Contact Len Steinberg at 941.552.6301 or lsteinberg@jfedsrq.org