Celebrating Jewish Life in Collier County, Israel and the World
Federation Star Published by the Jewish Federation of Collier County serving Naples, Marco Island and the surrounding communities
www.JewishNaples.org INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 5 Men’s Cultural Alliance 6 Women’s Cultural Alliance 10 Community Focus 18 Jewish Interest 23 Israel & the Jewish World 23 Business Directory 26 Tributes 28 Commentary 31 Rabbinical Reflections 32 Focus on Youth 34 Synagogues 35 Organizations 38 Community Calendar 39 Community Directory
3 FED CUP VI golf tournament a fun outing
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February 2015 - Shevat/Adar 5775
7 Jewish Historical Society of SWFL inaugural event
16 Community Chanukah Celebration photos
Thank you for our most successful campaign ever! Phyllis Seaman Federation VP & Campaign Chair
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our generous giving to the 2014 Campaign has raised over 10% more than our record-breaking 2013 Campaign, supporting increases in our allocation of grants for 2015. Speaking of allocations, our allocations process takes 12 months, but really gets rolling the last three to four months of the Campaign after requests arrive in our office. Our committee really gets busy with site visits and meetings to as many applicants as possible. We encourage our board to sit in on meetings to become more aware of the needs and what we provide to meet those needs. For 2015 we were able to grant over $520,000 for needs here in Collier County, nationally, in Israel and around the world. Across the board we
increased all our allocations, and were able to provide more for youth programs and youth education, which includes all the synagogue preschool and Hebrew School scholarship programs, BBYO programs, Hillel national and Hillel FGCU. This is our future. During the last two years we have concentrated on increased grants for our youth programing. Israel, overseas, cultural and adult education, including synagogue film festivals, speakers, the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of SWFL, as well as Jewish Family & Community Services (our largest recipient), have benefitted from increased grants. Our Allocations Committee has really worked tirelessly, with hours of serious discussion that goes into the responsibility of dispersing our Campaign funds. We are the stewards of your gifts to the Campaign and our community needs. Allocations is serious business, but it sure feels great to give money where the needs are greatest. I personally thank all those involved
in what is probably our most important committee, and the most thanks go to the leadership of Chairman Kevin Aizenshtat. Kevin did a great job keeping us on track and organizing all the meetings and site visits. Todah rabah! On to 2015 In January, we kicked off our 2015 campaign with two events and with gifts already made. These early gifts certainly allow us to plan our allocations more efficiently. I am now wearing a new hat, as Chair of Women’s Philanthropy, Lion of Judah, and Lion of Judah Endowment. I will be available to any woman who wants information on levels of giving and recognition of those levels. I have just become an “LOJE” – Lion of Judah Endowment. Please consider joining me. Endowing your Lion is a legacy gift that will guarantee your gift to Federation, our community, Israel and around the world in perpetuity. We Are The Strength of a People – The Power of Community
Federation approves record amount of funds for distribution
t its December meeting, the Jewish Federation of Collier County Board of Directors approved a total of $520,001 to be allocated to beneficiary and affiliated agencies, organizations and programs. “This sum represents an increase of 17% over the previous year’s record allocation amount and was made possible due to the very generous support of our community and the success of Campaign 2014,” said Jeffrey Feld, Executive of the Jewish Federation of Collier County. “The Jewish Federation of Collier County is proud to be able to support all of the recipient agencies, congregations, organizations and programs that provide necessary and important services to our community in Naples, in Israel and around the world,” said Kevin Aizenshtat, chairman of the Federation’s Allocation Committee.
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Vol. 24 #6
Federation 2014 Campaign: $1,155,564
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Major Gifts and Lion of Judah event
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You can also read Connections on your tablet. Search for “Collier Connections”.
Jewish Federation of Collier County Inc. 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 2201 Naples, FL 34109
Prsrt Std US Postage Paid Permit #419 Ft Myers FL
The following represents the approved allocations:
$ Funded
Youth Programs & Youth Education ÎÎBeth Tikvah Youth Education ÎÎBBYO Naples ÎÎChabad - Camp Gan Israel ÎÎChabad - Preschool of the Arts ÎÎChabad - Hebrew School Program ÎÎJewish War Veterans Post #202 ÎÎTemple Shalom - Preschool Scholarships ÎÎTemple Shalom - Religious School Scholarships ÎÎHillel - National ÎÎHillel - FGCU
$5,500 $5,000 $7,650 $9,000 $6,000 $1,400 $10,000 $20,000 $1,500 $2,500
Israel & Overseas Humanitarian & Social Services ÎÎ American Jewish World Service ÎÎ JFNA - Overseas Core Assessment ÎÎ JFNA - Israel Action Network ÎÎ JFNA - Stop the Sirens Campaign ÎÎ JNF - Sderot Emergency Fund ÎÎ JNF - Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center ÎÎ Neve Michael Children’s Village ÎÎ Yad LaKashish ÎÎ Sapir Community Center, Kfar Saba ÎÎ WUPJ - HaTikvah Preschool in Ukraine ÎÎ Birthright Israel ÎÎ ORT (World ORT/ORT America)
$1,500 $81,225 $450 $5,000 $10,000 $2,500 $28,000 $4,500 $11,200 $2,500 $5,100 $5,000
Local Humanitarian & Social Services ÎÎ Jewish Family & Community Services XX Senior Outreach & Support XX Developing Healthy Socialization Skills XX Counseling & Mental Health Support
$109,729 $54,532 $99,565
Cultural Programs & Adult Education ÎÎ Beth Tikvah Scholar-in-Residence ÎÎ Holocaust Museum & Education Center of SWFL ÎÎ Naples Jewish Congregation ÎÎ Temple Shalom Men’s Club ÎÎ Temple Shalom - Speaker Stephen Berk ÎÎ Jewish Cong. of Marco Island - Jewish Film Festival ÎÎ Jewish Cong. of Marco Island - Cultural Series National ÎÎ Anti-Defamation League
$2,500 $17,000 $3,000 $150 $1,000 $2,250 $2,250 $2,500
Total Funds Distributed: $520,001