The Israel Scouts are coming to Naples! Tuesday, June 9 7:00 p.m. at Temple Shalom See page 3 for more details.
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 6 7 10 16 16 18 19 20 22 22 23 26 27
Men’s Cultural Alliance Women’s Cultural Alliance Community Focus Jewish Interest Tributes Israel & the Jewish World Commentary Business Directory Focus on Youth Rabbinical Reflections Synagogues Organizations Community Calendar Community Directory
9 JNF honors Myra and Dr. Morton Friedman
14 Exhibition: “The Seventh Day: Revisiting Shabbat”
17 FIDF Miami event benefits Israeli soldiers
21 Naples BBYO spring events
May 2015 - Iyar/Sivan 5775
If it weren’t for WCA. . . By Susan Pittelman, WCA Publicity Director
W
hen snowbirds try to explain to friends up north how busy life is in Southwest Florida, people who don’t live here have difficulty believing what we are saying! Why do so many of us live such full, rich lives while we are here? Much of it is due to the Women’s Cultural Alliance (WCA). WCA was formed in November 2008 after the membership of the local Brandeis chapter decided to sever its ties with Brandeis University National Women’s Committee. With guidance and support from Evy Lipp, Donna Wasser (both past presidents of the chapter) and David Willens, who was then the Executive Director of the Federation, a new organization, Women’s Cultural Alliance, was created as an affinity group of the Jewish Federation of Collier County. By January 2009, with Donna Wasser and Jane Hirsch as co-presidents, the newly formed Women’s Cultural Alliance had approximately 200 members and 19 program offerings. Dues were $60. Jane became president in 2010 and continued to serve in that role until November 2013. During Jane’s presidency, WCA flourished! Jane was a star at recruiting new members, and when she stepped down as president, WCA membership had reached 1,000 members and the number of program offerings had increased to nearly 500. Elaine Soffer, who had been WCA Programming Director, was unanimously elected WCA president in early 2014, and under the guidance of Elaine and the WCA Board of Directors, WCA has continued to grow. As of this printing, WCA has nearly 1,200 members and ever expanding programming. WCA formed “satellite groups” for women who live North of Naples (into southern Lee County) or South of Naples (down to Marco Island), and nine “Summer Branches” so that when women return home for the summer, they can continue the friendships they made in Southwest Florida. WCA has a huge impact on so many of us. From the multiple study, social and special interest groups to the hundreds of programs and events that
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WCA offers – the skills we have learned, the experiences we have had, and the friendships we have formed all greatly enrich our lives. Can you imagine your life in Southwest Florida if it weren’t for WCA? If it weren’t for WCA: . . . I would not have had the opportunity to continue to further my intellectual curiosity and have had as much fun doing so! I never could have met so many fabulous women. ~ Barbara Karp . . . I would never have met women who were so interesting, stimulating, diverse, and filled with a desire to do and to learn. WCA has enriched my life with art, music, crafts, reading, lectures, and food and fun. True Paradise . . . ~ Gail Nizin . . . I would ask myself, “What will I do today?” rather than “Which book club, lecture, art tour, craft activity, luncheon or day trip should I choose to do today?” ~ Linda Simon . . . our Jewish community would not be as vital and vibrant as it is. Because of WCA, our community engages more than 1,000 women in cultural, educational, social and philanthropic activities from which they benefit AND so does our entire Jewish community! ~ Jeffrey D. Feld, President/CEO, Jewish Federation of Collier County . . . I would have to fly back North for every holiday. But now I have a second family here. ~ Marilyn Litz . . . I wouldn’t feel so alive and involved. ~ Nancy Kahn . . . I would not feel connected to so many women. We share a common
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Vol. 24 #9
BRIEFS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC VOTES TEL AVIV ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP TEN OCEANFRONT CITIES
In a recent posting by the National Geographic website, Tel Aviv was ranked as one of the top ten oceanfront cities of the world, joining San Diego, Tallinn, St John’s, Marseille, Perth, Brisbane, Durban, Vladivostok and Portland. National Geographic groups these cities together, saying that the “glittering seascapes provide both the backdrop and the beat of these waterfront urban meccas.” There’s always plenty of action along Tel Aviv’s shoreline. Tel AvivYafo boasts nearly nine miles and 13 beaches along its shores, equipped with lounge chairs, restaurants, bars, outdoor gyms, children’s playgrounds and a promenade along the shoreline with continual movement from walkers, joggers or those just enjoying the view and taking a stroll. Often referred to as “the city that doesn’t sleep,” the shoreline of Tel Aviv boasts dozens of restaurants, cafes and ice cream parlors busy all day long, while pubs, discos and jazz clubs blossom after dark. Regardless of the hour, there is always something happening on the sea front, from clowns and caricaturists to tattoo artists, hairbraiders and magicians, as well as the popular and iconic paddle-ball game called matkot, and even Israeli folkdancing. The city’s beaches are well-
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is pleased to announce the 1st annual
Jewish Book Fair of Collier County
The Jewish Book Fair of Collier County will take place next season over several days and at different venues throughout the area. It will feature about ten authors talking about their new books. As details become available, they will be published in the Federation Star, in Federation eblasts and on www. jewishnaples.org. To help create the best possible Jewish Book Fair, we need several committee members as well as readers to review potential authors/books. Book readers are needed during the two-week period of May 29 - June 11, 2015. If you are interested in being a book reader or on the committee, please email Ted Epstein at fedstar18@gmail.com. More detailed information will be sent in early May to those interested in helping make the 1st annual Jewish Book Fair of Collier County a huge success.