ISAAC HERSH NETWORKING The benefits of Charitable AGiving Peak Behind The Blinds GIVING MADE SIMPLE THE FINANCE ISSUE BRSNG.ORG of "Full Coverage" A CAUTIONARY TALE Y O U R G U I D E F O R B U S I N E S S N E T W O R K I N G I N T H E B O C A R A T O N S Y N A G O G U E C O M M U N I T Y Even In A Bear Market HOW TO START INVESTING STATE OF THE UNION Not Your Ordinary Dinner F A L L 2 0 2 2 I S S U E N O . 1 0 Hurricane Preparedness PROPER PLANNING
NET OF THIS ISSUE GENEROUSLY SPONSORED
BY:
BRSNG.ORG
WORK ING S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 PRINTING
ors’ note
As we enter our 4th year, communities across the country are reaching out us to replicate our incredible group. While we are apt to share our ideas for Jewish Professional Growth, our successes are a testament to our members and they simply can't be replicated! ...
You can find contact information for all our members in the Member Directory beginning on page 33 Also, don’t forget to follow and like our BRSNG Facebook Page
We’d love to hear from you so reach out at any time!
Editor In Chief & Co Chair 561 929 6536 gila.stern@sparxiq.com Bienenfeld
Marc
Daniel
Oppenheimer, Esq. Editor
Much like this Fall 2022 Finance Issue of NETWORKING , which is generously sponsored by Blinds Pros. Read about their President and CEO, Isaac Hersh in an exclusive member spotlight on page 11 You will find other fascinating articles written by our BRSNG members in this magazine Page 9 explores A Cautionary Tale of ‘Full Coverage’, prepared by Daniel Oppenheimer Avi Genuth explains Proper Planning for Hurricane Preparedness on page 18 Learn How to Start Investing Even in a Bear Market from Marc Bienenfeld on page 21 Rabbi Lyons writes about Demystifying Jewish Burial in our Community on page 28 Eitan Esan shares Giving Made Simple The Benefits of Charitable Giving on page 28
Gila Stern
As we sat down a few months ago to plan our first ever State of of the Union Dinner, it occurred to the three of us that while this vision has come to fruition in many ways, none of us could have predicted the true professional, personal and spiritual impacts this group would and has had on so many of its members and the greater Jewish community (The numbers speak for themselves on page 17 )
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 2022
BRSNG is an extraordinary group of professionals bringing together a collective of like minded, passionate game changers and thought leaders; that delivers inspiration, leadership and business connections that helps you grow your business and forces you to keep asking the questions of yourself, personally and professionally: why?’ why not?’ what can I be doing differently?' how can I make a difference?'
Though this might sound cliche, and while you may have read this on our site, The Boca Raton Synagogue Networking Group truly started with a vision.
Editor & Co Chair 305 778 4744 Mbienenfeld@blsfinancial.com T. & Treasurer 305 555 5555 do@opplawfirm.com
We had a vision to create an authentic, conscious, inspiring entrepreneurial networking group within the Boca Raton Synagogue business community...
We would like to thank Lox N Bagel for catering our monthly breakfasts as well as Cinnaholic for providing delicious treats at every event
Home Insurance Auto Insurance Health Insurance Proudly Serving The Community Since 2008 If you value it, we can insure it. 561-770-7070 hunter@gatelygroup.com www.gatelygroup.com GGI Risk Advisors
CONTENTS ARTICLES CONTRIBUTORS WWW BRSNG ORG 09 11 13 18 TPROFILE IPS HOW TO START INVESTING ISAAC HERSH PRESIDENT & CEO OF BLINDS PROS A CAUTIONARY TALE OF "FULL COVERAGE" MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ISAAC HERSH MAKING CONNECTIONS PROPER PLANNING HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS HOW TO START INVESTING EVEN IN A BEAR MARKET DEMYSTIFYING JEWISH BURIAL IN OUR COMMUNITY GIVING MADE SIMPLE THE BENEFITS OF CHARITABLE GIVING MEMBER DIRECTORY Even in a Bear Market GILA STERN MARC BIENENFELD DANIELT OPPENHEIMER, ESQ EITAN ESAN AVI GENUTH ARIANNE SWISA RABBI JAY LYONS 21 25 28 33 NET WORK ING THE FINANCE ISSUE
APPLYNOW SEND YOUR CV TO : VISIT OUR WEBSITE : shari@senioroptionsflcom wwwsenioroptionsflcom FulltimeandParttimePositionsAvailable MusthavebackgroundinSocialWork,Nursing,orMental HealthCounseling Musthaveatleasttwoyearsexperiencewiththegeriatric population Compensationabovetheindustryaverage Senior Options is growing and looking to expand our team. WE ARE HIRING ! CAREMANAGERS THINKINGOFBUYING ORSELLING? SOUTHFLORIDA'SHARDESTWORKINGREALTOR Yosef Shayowitz/Broker 561 299 0113 YosefSellsFlorida com
“FULL COVERAGE”
If you aren’t sure or have questions about your policy coverages, please give us a call. We offer free consultations and insurance reviews.
Learn more at www.opplawfirm.com or call/text us at 888.677.7796
WRITTEN BY: DANIEL T. OPPENHEIMER, ESQ
A CAUTIONARY TALE OF
Fortunately, thanks to some creative lawyering, we were able to recover ten times the policy limits for Mary to ensure that she received just compensation for her injuries.
However, Mary didn’t realize that all the while, she had never made any changes to her Uninsured Motorist policy and still only maintained the basic limits of coverage.
Mary was in a significant auto accident with a driver who only had minimal liability insurance, leaving her with tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses and only basic limited insurance coverage, despite her annual liability coverage increases to her own policy.
While Mary’s story has a happy ending, her case could have been resolved in a more timely and expeditious manner had she remembered to increase her UM coverage limits during her annual insurance coverage reviews. We urge all of our clients to make sure to check their Uninsured Motorist Coverage Limits so they don’t find themselves in an unexpected position where “full coverage” somehow doesn’t cover them fully.
Mary reviewed her insurance coverage annually. Year after year, on the advice of her agent, she dutifully increased her liability coverage to ensure that her personal assets were protected in case of an accident. For over thirty years, she raised her coverage limits and even purchased an umbrella policy along the way She was sure that she was being responsible and protecting herself with her “full coverage” policy changes.
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 20229
H A P P Y & H E A L T H Y N E W Y E A R F r e e E s t i m a t e s F r e e I n s t a l l a t i o n I N F O @ B L I N D S P R O S . C O M 5 6 1 - 4 1 3 - 0 0 6 0 w w w . b l i n d s p r o s . c o m
A PEAK BEHIND THE BLINDS MemberSpotlight:IsaacHersh PreparedbyGilaStern NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202211
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ISAAC AND BLINDS PROS VISIT WWW.BLINDSPROS.COM
With all the large franchises out there, we have carved a market for clientele that are really looking for a niche boutique widow covering experience where we come directly to the client and provide options that best suit their needs.
The most rewarding part is bringing our clients vision to reality and really being able to transform our clients properties.
LASTLY, WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OUTSIDE OF WORK?
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR CAREER?
WHY DO YOU FEEL YOUR SERVICES ARE NEEDED?
"Our roots started right here on the Circle ... and we are now one of the most recognized local brands in our space"
I'm the President and CEO of Blinds Pros. We sell some of the most magnificent window treatments the industry has to offer to the fine residents of Florida and the Caribbean.
WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
We are extremely grateful and indebted to the BRS community. Our roots started right here on the circle doing a few odd jobs for community members and we are now one of the most recognized local brands in our space. In turn, we offer discounted pricing to members of the community and look forward to growing alongside the community.
Outside of work, my passion is prehospital medical care and outcomes . I am a co-founder and volunteer with the Jewish Volunteer Ambulance Corps (JVAC) which is Palm beach county’s original faith based Emergency Medical Service organization. The goal is bridging the gap between the time someone would call 911 and the arrival of a county ambulance. Working alongside county officials over the last few years and strengthening the ties between our community and local government has been a rewarding experience.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Isaac and his beautiful family reside in Boynton Beach, FL
Service. We strive to go above and beyond for our customers by by providing a wide array of quality products. And by standing behind our products with a lifetime guarantee.
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202212
TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY'S COMMITMENT TO BRS
MAKING CONNECTIONS F R O M O U R A L W A Y S I N F O R M A T I V E M O N T H L Y M E E T I N G S , T O O U R M U C H A N T I C I P A T E D A N D A L W A Y S W E L L A T T E N D E D H A P P Y H O U R S , T O O U R 1 S T A N N U A L S T A T E O F T H E U N I O N D I N N E R . . . F L I P T H R O U G H T H E N E X T F E W P A G E S F O R A L O O K B A C K A T T H E M A N Y R E C E N T O P P O R T U N I T I E S B R S N G M E M B E R S H A D T O D E V E L O P M O R E M E A N I N G F U L B U S I N E S S R E L A T I O N S H I P S A N D C O N T I N U E M A K I N G C O N N E C T I O N S . . . NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202213
Overall, it was a fun event filled with networking, great food and a celebration of our groups' achievements We are grateful for the incredible and powerful efforts of this group
Don't forget to check out the next page for more pictures from this great event.
*At the time of this publication revenue generated to date is now over $1.25 MILLION Dollars!
Here are just some of the success highlights that were shared doing the event:
Not Your Ordinary Networking Dinner
Prepared By: Marc Bienenfeld, Gila Stern, Daniel Oppenheimer
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202214
We have over 80 members since our inception only 3 years go. We have generated over $750,000* in referral revenue for our members. Members, chosen at random, shared their successes they've enjoyed by being a part of this group
For more information about BRSNG or to become a member, visit brsng.org or contact us via our emails on the 'editors' notes' page. We are happy to answer any questions and are open to new ideas!
STATE OF THE UNION
More than 35 members were in attendance, mingling, networking and nibbling at this formal event. Additional special guests in attendance included Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, who shared some words of inspiration later in the evening, as well as Rabbi Broide and Rabbi Magazzinich
The evening began with guests enjoying an open bar and delicious appetizers before taking their seats in anticipation of the night's program
We shared some exciting new benefits and programs currently under development And much more!
This past May we were honored to host the First Annual BRSNG State of the Union dinner hosted at Century Grill.
Photo Credits: Ariane Swisa / Bella Zoom Photography
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 2022
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202216
Photo & Graphic Credits: Gila Stern
Photo Credits: Ariane Swisa / Bella Zoom Photography
T h a t ' s B R S N G
I n s p i r a t i o n , L e a d e r s h i p a n d B u s i n e s s c o n n e c t i o n s t h a t h e l p y o u g r o w y o u r b u s i n e s s a n d f o r c e s y o u t o k e e p a s k i n g t h e q u e s t i o n s o f y o u r s e l f , p e r s o n a l l y a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l l y : ‘ w h y ? ’ ‘ w h y n o t ? ’ ' w h a t c a n I b e d o i n g d i f f e r e n t l y ? ' ' h o w c a n I m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e ? '
FO FOUR O OUR PROMOT PERTISING ROMOT ERTISING NEEDS! NEEDS! GreenCirclePromotionalAdvertising 561-221-2850 greta@greencirclepromo.com BOCARATON SYNAGOGUE NETWORKING GROUP D E V E L O P I I N T E R A C T I G R O W I C O N N E C T BRSNG Stats BRSNG.ORG Learn More At:
! 300 SUCCESSFUL REFERRALS PASSED More than 1,250,000 REVENUE GENERATED NETWORKING Magazine Your Exclusive Guide for Business Networking in the Boca Raton Synagogue Community A quality forum for respected professionals to create spheres of influence 83 MEMBERS CO FOUNDERS: GILA STERN & MARC BIENENFELD Over
PROPER PLANNING
H U R R I C A N E P R E P A R E D N E S S T I P S
Proper planning and preparation can make dealing with a hurricane less stressful and put you in a better position to make the right decisions immediately following a major storm. Having a plan before the storm strikes is paramount to getting through a hurricane with minimal disturbance.
Scientists at the Colorado State University’s Department of Atmospheric Science are predicting that the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season will be another extremely active one. They project that there will be 19 named storms, 9 hurricanes of which 4 will be major storms.
By Avi Genuth WeDry USA
N O M A D I C | 2 4
THE TIME TO REVIEW YOUR POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ADEQUATE HURRICANE COVERAGE IS NOT AFTER THE STORM IS ON ITS WAY, IT IS NOW!
Help Your Neighbor We are blessed to live in a community that cares for each other. Take special note of any elderly neighbors, reach out to them and see if they need assistance with preparation, or if the need arises, evacuation.
Determine Your Risk Living in South Florida, we know we are at risk for hurricanes.
Strengthen Your Home Hurricane shutters, boarding up doors and windows can do a lot to protect your home from damage from flying debris.
Unlike other natural disasters, such as tornadoes or earthquakes, which strike with little to no warning; there are usually several days of advanced warning before a hurricane makes landfall. Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. With proper planning, preparation and a calm execution of that plan, you and your family can get through this potentially hazardous time of year safe and secure. May we all be protected from damage and injury!
Get an Insurance Checkup This step is hugely important. The time to review your policy to make sure that you have adequate hurricane coverage is not after the storm is on its way, it is now! Make sure you know your coverage levels, deductibles and everything else that would be part of filing a claim if it becomes necessary.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends the following preparedness themes before hurricane season starts:
Avi Genuth is an executive with Wedry USA, a water, fire and mold restoration company They specialize in storm response and perform tarp and board up service as well. Wedry has been servicing SE Florida for over five years and they have recently expanded operations to New York and New Jersey Avi can be reached at 954 543 0868 or Avi@wedryus com
Develop an Evacuation Plan Do you know the evacuation routes? In the event of a major storm do you plan on driving or flying to friends or family in other parts of the country? There will be major traffic issues on the roads and backup at the airports, be sure to factor this into your evacuation plan.
Assemble Disaster Supplies In the event you plan to stay in place, or the storm arrives earlier than expected, it is crucial to have supplies. This includes everything from water, shelf stable foods such as canned goods or MREs (yes there are kosher MRES!) drinking water, medications and flashlights. Testing to make sure your generator works and stocking up on jerry cans of fuel is also a crucial task before the storm is inbound. Once a hurricane is on its way, purchasing fuel for your vehicle or generator becomes significantly more challenging and time consuming.
Complete a Written Plan Using the above steps, write your plan down, this way the guesswork is taken out and you can execute your plan efficiently.
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202219
Marc Bienenfeld, CPA Financial Advisor O: 954-689-9517 C: mbienenfeld@blsfinancial.com305-778-4744
Most of my columns are aimed at people who already have some involvement with stock and bond investing, often using mutual funds or exchange traded funds But this column is a little different It’s written mainly for people who are still in school or just starting in the workforce or just getting around to salting away money for the future.
Clearly, this is not the happiest of times for investors If you have never put money into the market before, this may not seem the most obvious time to start.
The party in the financial markets is long over Chatter about hot stocks and fabulous opportunities in cryptocurrencies and NFTs has died down to a whisper. Recession and bear market are the big buzzwords these days.
HOW TO START INVESTING, EVEN IN A BEAR MARKET
Yet there are advantages to investing in a bear market With stocks falling in value and day traders giving up, you are less likely to be swept away by fads because almost none of them are profitable. Instead, you can focus on the essential goal of increasing your wealth over the long run
It’s for people like Lucy Neal, who graduated this month from North Central High School in Indianapolis, and said in a note, “I feel like I have no idea what to do to ensure my own financial safety (even though I’ve just completed my AP Macroeconomics class!) ”
Original Source: New York Times by Jeff Sommer
PREPARED BY MARC BIENENFELD, CPA FINANCIAL ADVISOR, BIENENFELD, LASEK & STARR LLC
(Continued on next page)
(Continued on next page) NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202222
For longer term secure savings, try I bonds, which are issued by the Treasury Department and are paying 9 62% interest (the rate is reset every six months), bank certificates of deposit and high yield savings accounts.
Buy stocks and, when it’s right for you, bonds using cheap, diversified index funds that track the entire market.
In a phone conversation, Neal said it would be helpful to have basic, trustworthy information about how to start investing and stick with it So here’s a quick rundown. It may be useful even if you are an old hand at this, but it is intended mainly for beginners.
For short term savings, a bank account or money market fund makes sense because your money will be secure and you can get hold of it quickly. You can find money market funds at major companies like Vanguard, Fidelity, T Rowe Price and Schwab The interest rate is low, but it is rising
Pay your bills first, and save for emergencies, before putting any money at risk
First, pay your bills and set aside some savings Investing involves risk-taking. You can minimize those risks, but there is no getting around them entirely, especially when you put money into the stock market
The basics
So before taking any additional risks, please make sure you can pay your bills. After that, try to salt away enough cash for an emergency.
The market decline this year shows how easy it is to lose money, even if you are careful. Yet investing can be rewarding if you start early, focus on the long run and follow some simple steps, which I’ll explain
Think of investing as a marathon, not a sprint, with a 10 year horizon at a minimum and, preferably, with a much, much longer goal in mind
Spend a little less, save a little more and do it regularly. Soon, you will have a nice nest egg. Keep it in a safe place.
Now you ’ re ready to invest.
In fact, despite the pain of the bear market, understanding what I know now, I would invest 100% in stocks if I were in my teens or 20s.
Funds specifically, index funds that track the market are a great, cheap way to buy stocks and bonds. (What do I mean by cheap? You will generally pay much lower fees than in what is known as an actively managed fund.)
Yes, it is a great time to be buying stocks if you are truly in it for the long run Prices are much better for buyers than they were at the beginning of the year because we are in a bear market, which means simply that the stock market overall has fallen at least 20% from its peak. While the past doesn’t guarantee anything about the future, the fact is that the U.S. stock market has always recovered from declines over stretches of at least 20 years. If you can plan on buying and holding stocks for 20 years or more, by all means, buy now.
What about losses?
Buy stock, not crypto
(Continued on next page)
That’s what diversification means. Buy the whole market and you minimize the effect, for better or worse, of any small part of it Now, for stocks and bonds: If I had the great luxury of youth, with decades ahead to recoup possible losses, I would focus on stocks
But no, it may not be a good time if you are trying to make money quickly. The trend in the stock market so far this year has been negative
What’s more, if you invest in the entire stock market through index funds, you will be exposed to these things anyway because you will own pieces of the companies that engage, trade or service them. That includes Coinbase, a platform that enables trade in cryptocurrencies, and PayPal, which owns Venmo and encourages customers to buy crypto. If these or other companies manage to make money through crypto, great; you will, too. If they don’t, the losses will be offset by other stock investments.
The bear market is on Neal’s radar. “I keep seeing that the stock market is at record lows,” she said in a phone conversation Tuesday. “But does that mean it’s a good time to buy stocks?” My answer was equivocal.
I don’t have that luxury, though.
Before going any further, consider this: As an investor, I would put no money at all directly into cryptocurrency, NFTs, gold or wheat, other commodities or anything else You don’t need them in an investment portfolio and will be taking on extra risk if you buy them
You could immediately lose money. Then again, the market could start rising tomorrow and keep trending upward for a long while.
I’m closer to retirement than to my first job, so I own a fair amount of bonds, which are generally more stable than stocks and let me sleep at night But bonds are not what I would buy if I were 18 years old, as Neal is, because stocks return almost double what bonds do over the long run: 12.3%, annualized, for stocks versus 6.3% for bonds, according to calculations by Vanguard of market returns from 1926 to 2021.
I put my own investment dollars only into broadly diversified funds that hold stocks and bonds, and that is what I recommend for anyone starting out Stocks and bonds are the two main asset classes, and you don’t need anything else
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202223
You could immediately lose money Then again, the market could start rising tomorrow and keep trending upward for a long while I don’t think that’s about to happen, but no one really knows.
Keep your investing as simple and as cheap as possible
But if you rely on the emotions of strangers to set prices for you, you can also lose a lot of money when the market falls, as it has been doing lately.
None of that is critical if you invest in the whole market for the long haul, putting money in regardless of the market’s short term movements. This approach is incredibly simple.
In short, understand the risks you are taking. Don’t buy stocks unless you are prepared to endure “paper losses” over the short term and can keep your money in the market for a long time. And consider why you are buying stocks in the first place.
Notice that we’re not talking about picking any particular stocks. Which companies will thrive and which will fail? Which stocks will perform better this year or next? It is hard to know.
The answer may not be obvious. A bunch of “meme stocks” like GameStop and AMC rose sharply last year, not because they were solid investments but mainly because a lot of people wanted them to rise and kept buying Over months and sometimes even years, this kind of herd behavior what economist Robert J Shiller calls “irrational exuberance” can inflate prices and give you a handsome profit
And that’s what you essentially are as a stock investor a shareholder even if you own only a tiny slice of a company through an index fund
You can use just one index fund to capture the entire U.S. stock market, or even the entire world’s stock market. Look for an index fund with low fees by comparing what’s called the expense ratio. Shop around, do your research.
Why is stock investing such an effective way to make money over the long term?
Over very long periods, that growth has been extraordinary. The 12.3% annualized return from the stock market means that, on average, your money would have doubled in less than six years, again and again, over many decades.
As John C Bogle, the founder of Vanguard and creator of the first commercially available index fund put it, “In investing, you get what you don’t pay for ”
Stock index funds
Neal, an economics student, came up with what I think is a good answer: Stocks provide long term returns to shareholders because the economy grows over the long run, and the companies in the stock market, taken together, profit. Those growing profits accrue to shareholders.
Don’t put yourself in a spot where short term declines in the market or in the fortunes of individual stocks can really hurt you. Instead, set yourself up with solid, diversified, inexpensive index funds and you will be in a great position to prosper from the growth of the economy over the long run.
Similarly, no one knows where the stock market is going from day to day or year to year In December, the vast majority of Wall Street forecasters said the stock market would rise in 2022 Whoops They got it wrong.
Informationfromthirdpartiesmaybeproprietary privilegedand/orconfidential anyuse copying retentionordisclosureisstrictlyprohibited SecuritiesandinvestmentadvisoryservicesofferedthroughqualifiedregisteredrepresentativesofMMLInvestorsServices LLC MemberSIPC Theviewsandopinionsexpressedarethoseoftheauthor(s)andmaynotaccuratelyreflectthoseofMMLInvestorsServices,oritsaffiliatedcompanies LocalcfirmsaresalesofficesofMassachusettsMutualLifeInsuranceCompany(MassMutual),andarenot subsidiariesoraffiliatesofMassMutual,MMLInvestorsServices,ortheiraffiliatedcompanies CAInsuranceLic #MitchStarr,CAInsuranceLicense#0E56538 CraigNovek,CAInsuranceLicense#0I85626 HowardBienenfeld,CAInsuranceLicense#0A66710,JennaBienenfeld CAInsuranceLicense#0H70626 ShirKeidan CAInsuranceLicense#0N04941 NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202224
DEMYSTIFYING JEWISH BURIAL IN OUR COMMUNITY
When it comes to planning for end of life expenses, there are three pieces to the puzzle; the funeral home, the cemetery, and the memorial. Let’s first gain a general understanding of how these fit together, and then go into more detail about the issues especially relevant to us as observant Jews.
BY RABBI JAY LYONS, DIRECTOR OF SOUTH FLORIDA JEWISH CEMETERY
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202226
In order to ensure that everything proceeds according to halacha, you as the consumer need to request that the Chevra Kadisha be involved from the beginning, and confirm that there will be a Taharah and Shomer. At the time of need, it is important that no Jewish people are breaking Shabbos in the process of making arrangements (Speak to your Rav about protocol when a death occurs on Shabbos.) There are funeral homes that are run by Orthodox Jews and can be trusted to conduct this process correctly. Currently, in South Florida, the only such establishment is Neshama JFS.
10% of every grave sale is contributed to a trust fund, and that becomes an endowment fund when the cemetery is sold out, so there is no additional cost to the consumer. Some cemeteries use a concrete vault inside the grave, which is charged as an additional cost
(Continued on nexrt page)
The memorial is the monument, which includes the actual stone, the transportation, the engraving, the
When making arrangements with a cemetery, it is important to understand their process of vetting the Jewish status of a person before selling them plots; otherwise, you might be buried next to a non-Jew. It is also important to find out if they can bury expeditiously. Some cemeteries have a 24 hour waiting period before they will bury.
In addition, we as observant Jews have a very strong custom of not burying a man and woman next to each other if they are not related Can the cemetery you are working with accommodate that?
Even though a funeral home may advertise as a “Jewish funeral home,” that does not mean they do everything according to Jewish practice. Some “Jewish funeral homes” even offer options like cremation, and some even advertise it! (This raises the question of what would happen if we collectively avoided patronizing any establishment that calls itself Jewish but promotes cremation…)
The cemetery services include reserving the actual burial plot, the burial process (the labor of preparing the grave and grounds for the burial), and the perpetual care of the grounds Perpetual care in Florida works differently than in many states up north. In Florida it is understood that the cemetery maintains their grounds while they are in operation.
Most people think of the funeral home as the chapel, the place where the service is held but the chapel is arguably the smallest part of what they do. In fact, there are many funeral homes that do not have a chapel at all. The funeral home is the first call the family makes when someone passes away A funeral director from this funeral home organizes the transport and preparation of the deceased, and provides the casket and shrouds. In addition, the funeral home handles the logistics of scheduling the funeral, and liaising with the Department of Health to procure a burial permit for the cemetery and the death certificate given to the family. (The death certificate is a legal necessity that allows ownership changes, account closures, and disbursement of life insurance) If there is a chapel service, the funeral home hosts the service. Finally, the funeral home transports the deceased to the cemetery.
An Overview
What to look out for as an observant Jew
Unfortunately, some establishments charge more for at need because they are taking advantage of the grieving family who won’t want to shop around. It is a dishonorable practice and any establishment that does it should be seen as dishonorable.
All companies (funeral homes, cemeteries, monument companies) need to itemize their contracts, so read carefully and make sure you are getting what you need and nothing extra that you don’t want. Remember, these are businesses trying to make a profit (except for South Florida Jewish Cemetery and Nefesh Monuments, which are nonprofits) so they aren’t necessarily going to start with the lowest price package. If you are planning pre need, time is on your side, and you can shop and compare. (“At need” means someone passed away and now the family is immediately making arrangements, and “pre need” means the person is putting plans in place before their death.)
Many cemeteries use the aforementioned concrete vault, which is placed in the grave with the casket inside it. There are Halachic issues with the vault beyond the scope of this work. Please discuss with your Rav. (South Florida Jewish Cemetery does not use a vault.)
When it comes to the monument, find out the pricing structure of the engraving, make sure they can engrave in Hebrew, and speak to your Rav about what should be included. Any Florida monument company can install monuments at any cemetery in Florida, so there are multiple options available.
Speaking of itemizing, it is also important to understand the difference between merchandise and services as listed in your contract. There are establishments that are counting on consumers not knowing this difference, and they will move the prices around to make the merchandise constitute more of the total cost and services less. If the consumer cancels the contract, the services are fully refundable, but the only merchandise which is refundable is undeliverable merchandise (not undelivered, undeliverable which is basically nothing). This also allows them to commit less money to the regulated pre need trust fund. If you’re comparing two contracts that are both $4,000, and Funeral Home A charges $2,000 for the casket, $1,000 for the shrouds, and $1,000 for various items under “services”, and Funeral Home B charges $900 for the casket, $200 for the shrouds, and $2,900 various items under “services” Funeral Home A is manipulating the numbers and putting you at a disadvantage.
This is wholly inaccurate. In reality, a pre need contract is heavily regulated and therefore costs the establishment more than an at need contract.
(Continued from previous page)
What to look out for in general
There is, unfortunately, a very common practice of charging more for at need services than for pre need. The public is led to believe that this is based on the establishment’s ability to invest pre need funds, allowing them to charge less.
Rabbi Jay Lyons is the director of South Florida Jewish Cemetery and the manager of Nefesh Monuments He is the Southeast Regional Director of the National Association of Chevra Kadisha, and was appointed by the Governor sit on the regulatory board of the Department of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer services He can be reached at Rabbi@SFJC org
One final point: It is understandable that people push off final-expense planning, as it is complex and no one wants to think about death. But as Rabbi Goldberg has often said, “Failure to plan is planning for your family to fail.” It will be hard enough for our families to cope with the loss, so let’s make sure we do what we can now in order to not add to that burden, and put these plans in place.
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202227
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202228
GIVING
(Continued on next page)
Charitable Giving is a cornerstone in almost every culture and religion. There are deep philosophical and theological discussions about the extent of giving, levels of charity and what to give. Countless research studies have been conducted about the mental and physical benefits of giving charity. We teach our children to volunteer, and we give time and money. Every charitable organization around the world can show how the time and money they utilize has a positive effect.
Some charitably inclined individuals donate every time a charity asks for money, they write checks, send a Zelle payment or give their credit card number. Then wait to get the receipts from the charities and gives them to their accountant I would ask these donors why not fund all their charitable giving through a Donor Advised Fund (“DAF”) They generally have a perplexed look come across their face, this is why I try to educate and share this incredibly powerful tool.
A DAF is a financial account designated for charitable purposes and established at a public charity or bank It allows donors to make a deposit, receive the possibility of an immediate tax deduction, invest the gift to accumulate tax free income to be used for future charitable donations, and then recommend grants from the fund to specific charities over time Donors can contribute to the fund as frequently as they like, and then recommend grants to their favorite charitable organizations at their own discretion.
made SIMPLE
WRITTEN BY: Eitan Esan, MBA, CFP®, CEPA
Create a tradition of giving You will not live forever, but your passion for helping others can The DAF enables you to create a legacy of giving in your family name, reap the benefits in your lifetime and designate a successor donor, your children, grandchildren, or other important people in your life, to recommend grants for you after your death
AnyopinionsarethoseofEitanEsanandnotnecessarilythoseofRaymondJames Expressionsofopinionareasofthisdateandaresubjecttochangewithoutnotice This materialisbeingprovidedforinformationpurposesonlyandisnotacompletedescription norisitarecommendation Youshoulddiscussanytaxorlegalmatterswith theappropriateprofessional Investinginvolvesriskandinvestorsmayincuraprofitoraloss
An immediate tax deduction is available (up to the maximum allowed by law), for the amount donated Then, the donor can build a philanthropic strategy, and grant recommendations to a qualified charity can be made at any time in the future
Same advantages of a private foundation without the expense Unlike private foundations, there are no start up costs, no tax on the fund's investment income, no individual payout requirement, and all record keeping services are provided
No capital gains tax If the client contributes appreciated assets to the fund, they can avoid recognizing the gain and being subjected to the capital gains tax Their potential tax deduction is still based on the full fair market value of the gift.
No estate taxes Assets donated during the life of the client are no longer part of the client's estate, and therefore, are not subject to probate The fund can also be named as a beneficiary of a charitable remainder trust, an IRA or other assets
The Benefits
While people support different charities, the one common denominator among donors is a generous spirit You want to make a difference, and now, you can watch your giving work harder and smarter for years to come
Grow your donation, tax free While you're deciding which charities to support, your donation can potentially grow, making available even more money for charities Most sponsoring organizations have a variety of investment options from which you can recommend an investment strategy for your charitable dollars
Simplify recordkeeping and organization With a DAF, you don’t have to keep track of every gift acknowledgment from every charity you support When you ’ re ready to support your favorite charity, you can simply log in to your account and recommend a grant to any IRS qualified public charity
1 Town Center Rd Boca Raton FL, 33486
Timing of tax deductions
Eitan Esan, MBA, CFP®, CEPA Financial Advisor
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202229
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC
NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202231
HoneySyrup: Pourinto masonjarandcovertightly Canbestoredfor1month
3/4cuphoney
Directions:
Ingredients:
hot water) Ice Lemon
Directions: combineallingredientsinashaker.AddiceAnd shakewelLPourintochilledcocktailglassandgarnish withlemontwist.
Mixhoneywithwarmwateruntilhoneydissolves
Inashaker,combinegingersyrup/beer,honeysyrup, lemonjuiceandwhiskeywithafewicecubes and shakevigorously.
parts honey to 1
3oz freshlysqueezedlemonjuice 1 5oz gingersyruporgingerbeer 1 5oz honeysyrup(seebelow) 4sprigsrosemaryforgarnish
HappyHour
Makes4cocktails.
2 oz of Gin .75 oz Lemon juice 75 oz Honey Syrup
garnish
SIGNATURECOCKTAILS
Sweet Summertime Bees-ness MoJito (2 Part twist for
1/4cuphotwater
These signature cocktails were featured exclusively at Roadhouse for BRSNG Happy Hours. Take a sip and enjoy the benefits of membership! Drinks Crafted by Gila Stern Please Drink Responsibly
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
ServeoverIceInawhiskeyglass.Garnishwithasprig ofrosemary
6oz.Scotchwhiskey
Makes1cocktail.
Ingredients:
Enjoy!
Networking opportunities with other professionals at monthly meetings
Member-exclusive Facebook group
The BRSNG is a quality forum for respected professionals to create circles of influence. The Group strengthens relationships among our community’s Jewish professionals through education, networking and communal and philanthropic engagement. The BRSNG provides opportunities to expand your professional and social circles while making a meaningful difference within our community.
30-second business spotlight at networking meetings
BRSNG Annual Membership Fees: Synagogue Members: $180 Non-Members: $500
Benefits of a BRSNG Membership:
DEVELOP I INTERACT I GROW I CONNECT MISSION:
ABOUT BRSNG
ABOUT US:
Your company materials displayed at networking meetings
The Rambam says that the highest form of Tzedakah (Charity) is to help establish someone in Business. The BRSNG will create the avenue where people will have the opportunity to fulfil this mitzvah. Not only by helping other professionals expand their circle of influence but also by donating portions of membership fees. As a member of The BRSNG, your annual membership fee of $180 will be allotted toward events and a donation to Tomchei Shabbos or The Rabbi’s discretionary fund. (We are a registered 501c3 organization and your contribution is tax deductible.)
Member listing and link to company website featured on the BRSNG webpage
Interested in becoming a member? Visit www.BRSNG.org
Access to sponsorship opportunities
The Boca Raton Synagogue Network Group (BRSNG) is committed to providing excellent opportunities to develop business connections and growth enhanced with Jewish values through interaction with fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders in a relaxing, social and professional setting.
By bringing together the business professionals of the BRS Community in a sophisticated, exciting and supportive environment, that is based on common Jewish heritage, values and spirituality, we endeavor to help BRSNG members make great contacts, leading to great business opportunities.
Membership Directory (as of 8.25.2022) NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 202233
JEFF LEWIN New Compass Coaching 954 205 3479 drjefflewin@gmail com SHARI DEBORAH MATZ, MPA, PCC Signature Coaching Services 561 703 0016 southernbelle1717@msn com GORDON HAAS Haasco Marketing LLC 908 313 0246 ghaas.gecc@gmail.com AVI FRIEDMAN The Penguin Group 347 531 6057 avi@thepenguin group Actuary / Expert Witness Accounting Services SHLOMO HALBERSTAM, CPA Prime Consultants 347 522 1745 shlomo@primeconsultants.us TZVI (STEVE) SHERR, CPA Dazskal Bolton LLP 954 551 4980 Ssherr@dbllp.com ILANA WITTELS Beyond Bookkeeping Services Corp 201 280 0153 bbscorpnj@icloud.com TOVA CHAIT, CPA Echelon CFO, LLC 561 768 5363 tova@echeloncfo com ETHAN KRA Ethan E. Kra Actuarial Services, LLC 201 294 0649 actuary.kra@gmail.com Business & Personal Coaching Media / Branding GILA STERN SPARXiQ 561 929 6536 gila.stern@sparxiq.com Consulting NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 2022 Business / Leisure Travel Services Vista Travel Inc. 617 777 8477 jbernten@vistatravelinc.com JAY BERNTEN
GRETA BAUM Green Circle Promotional Advertising 561 221 2850 greta@greencirclepromo.com Promotional Advertising Products ALEX BERGER Brilliant Events by Alex 561 414 9358 alex@brillianteventsbyalex com Entertainment Services HOWARD PITCH The Howard Pitch Entertainment Co., Inc. 312 998 0910 howard@howardpitch.com arianekadoch@hotmail com NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 2022 Century Grill 561 571 6144 centurygrillboca@gmail com AVI STERN MICHELLE & ROB MEADOWS SoBol 561 485 4200 bocaraton@mysobol com TODD & NAOMI COHN Cinnaholic 561 617 7277 cinnaholicboca@gmail com
S i l N d Pl ing GGI Risk Advisors 561 770 7070 brian@gatelygroup com BRIAN GATELY Comprehensive Financial Planning / Insurance Wealth Management Financial Advisory & Insurance Services Home/Auto Insurance Public Insurance Adjuster ALAN LINKER, AIF , CHSNC EITAN ESAN Raymond James 561 981 3613 Eitan Esan@RaymondJames com MARC BIENENFELD, CPA Bienenfeld, Lasek & Starr LLC 954 689 9517 mbienenfeld@blsfinancial com Stifel Financial Corp 561 982 2668 Alan.linker@stifel.com Echelon Public Adjusting LLC 561 797 8991 EchelonPublicAdjusting@gmail com ELI SCASPER TEVE ABRAMS Aflac 561 213 5257 Steven Abrams@us aflac com Employee Benefits RHEA COHEN Web Design & Marketing 561 715 3115 rheacohenwebdesign@gmail com STEPHEN PLOTSKER Noora Digital 212 882 1557 stephen@nooradigital com Computer/IT Services CARMI GROSS Greenlight Tek 561 702 6500 cgross@greenlighttek com Web/App Development & Design Services NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 2022
Healthcare Dentistry SHARI M GELLER, MSW, CMC Senior Options 561 372 8026 shari@senioroptionsfl com DR. CRAIG LUSTMAN Kids United Pediatric Dentistry 561 483 9334 hello@kidsunitedsmiles com DR GIL BLOOM Wendroff & Bloom Dental 617 584 8553 dgbloom@gmail com DR MARC (MORDY) GOLDENBERG Goldenberg Orthodontics 561 756 9227 info@goldenbergorthodontics com JOSEPH (JB) BENSMIHEN Visiting Angels 561 289 9495 jbensmihen@gmail.com Internal Medicine DR. AARON KLEIN Boca Care Concierge 561 955 5847 aklein@brrh com Pediatric Medicine Emergency & Pediatric Medicine DR. Y. AARON KAWEBLUM Boca Del Mar Pediatrics 561 573 8993 akaweblum@aol.com NATALIE AKERMAN, FNP East Boca Family Care 347 432 1063 eastbocafamilycare@gmail com Home Health Care Care Management Podiatry ELIEMENDELSON,DPM,FACFAS,CWS Next Step Foot & Ankle 561 483 4448 DrM@nextstepboca com NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 2022
Physical Therapy ANDREW HAUPTMAN Physical Therapy Now West Boca 561 327 4252 westboca@physicaltherapynow com TREVOR MEYEROWITZ Preferred Physical Therapy 561 542 0600 tmeyerowitz@gmail com Lymphedema Therapy PAMELA COHEN, PT CLT/LANA LymphaTx 561 392 5131 PCohen@lymphatx.com General & Addiction Psychiatry DR AKIVA M DAUM, MD, FAPA The Daum Difference 954 755 2885 drdaum@kimmelpsychology.com Healthcare Consulting JUSTIN ROSENTHAL 415 910 9910 healthcareconsultantsint com@gmail com Healthcare Consultants International com Addiction & Rehabilitation Treatment Facility JUDAH SCHOCHET, LCSW Onward Living 561 803 2648 jschochet@onwardliving org Non-Profit Funeral/Cemetery DEENA BORZAK South Florida Jewish Cemetery 561 264 4364 dborzak@sfjc org Children/Family Services MATTHEW WEISBAUM Chai Lifeline Southeast 561 962 5459 mweisbaum@chailifeline org NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 2022
ALEX
4201 Muschel@kolawyers com NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 2022
Labor / Employment Law
2772 jessicaw@weissiplaw com
MUSCHEL KO Lawyers 954
Law
ESQ Law
SILVERMAN
Real Estate Law
hammond
Immigration Action Law
Silverman P A 561 289 9319 smslawfirm@gmail.com
South Florida 789
OPPENHEIMER The Oppenheimer Law Firm 888 677 7796 do@opplawfirm com
SHKOLYAR Kanner & Pintaluga 646 644 4999 Ashkolyar@kpattorney com
MARK MATIASH, Offices
BINYAMIN (BEN) 332
JULIAN HAMMOND Law, P C 310 601 6766 julian@gmail
DANIEL
Law Class
of Mark Matiash 561 571 5725 markm@matiashlaw com
Legal Services
0710 info@southfloridamediationservices com
JESSICA WEISS, & Moy, 380
DEBORAH BEYLUS
Hammond
com
4274 jeremy@sfllp.com Business Litigation /
Mediation
ESQ Weiss
JEREMY ZISHOLTZ Cooperman, Recondo & Weiss, LLP 634 Commercial
PC 602
Stuart M
Personal Injury Law
STUART
786
Solomon,
Mediation Services 561
YOSEF
561
Lokation Real Estate 299
AVIVA Home Advisors 702 1018
845
Home Inspections
MATIEL
BUCHNIK Mosquito Hunters of South Florida 561 270 6422 mattbuchnik@mosquitohunters.com
LEORA KAUFMAN
Golden
JL 405 0643
barg@hypotec com
Mortgage Services
JOSEPH
Home Inspections 561
0113 yosefsellsflorida@gmail com
Real Estate Services
REICH Realty
LANDSBERG
Hypotec Inc 561
HERSH BlindsPros 561 413 0060 info@blindspros com Home Services & Solutions Kitchen Design/Cabinetry ens.com NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 2022
BAR GAFRI 908 4342
6008 goldencityhomeinspections@gmail com
avivareich@att net
561
JAY ZUSSMAN City 451
Residential Mortgage Services 561
SHAYOWITZ
lkaufman@fmm com
ISAAC
FM Home Loans, LLC 216 4514
joseph@jl residential com Real Estate Services & Solutions
GIL
Construction / Home Improvement Services
STEIN AVI GENUTH URI NACHIM up com Auto Leasing / Financing YITZCHOK WOLBE Plaza Auto Leasing 917 613 7561 yitzi@plazaautoleasing com MARK APPLEBAUM Golden Apple Transportation 561 870 7404 info@gataride com Transportation Services Fitness & Health Coach ESTER MIZRAHI FitGoModest 954 709 9970 Estimann@gmail com MARK APPLEBAUM Uniform Security Agency 561 406 4888 mark@uniformsecurityagency com Security Services NETWORKING MAGAZINE FALL 2022 M y
Advertise in the next issue NETWORKINGof SHOWOFFYOURBUSINESS! Formoreinformationemailgila.stern@sparxiq.com www.brsng.org
