The Jewish Federation board and staff wish you a zissen Pesach. May we continue to provide sustenance to “all who are hungry.” ~ adapted from the Passover Haggadah
Anne Frank’s Memory Keeper Don’t miss the April 8 presentation of the inspiring and heartbreaking true story by co-author Dina Kraft.
From freedom to community
The Passover journey continues
Nammie Ichilov, Federation President & CEO
s we celebrate Passover this month, when we gather around our Seder tables, we retell the ancient story of the Exodus. This narrative — our journey from slavery to freedom — has sustained our people through millennia of challenges. At its heart lies the mah nishtanah, four crucial questions asked by the youngest among us, beginning with “Why is this night different from all other nights?”
In the spirit of those four questions, I'd like to share how Jewish Federation of Greater Naples answers four fundamental questions that guide our sacred work, especially as we approach this season of liberation and renewal.
Why does our Jewish Federation exist? What is our mission and vision?
Like Moses who was called to lead our people to freedom, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples exists with a threefold purpose: to convene and gather our diverse Jewish community; to thoughtfully plan for a vibrant, engaged and safe Jewish future; and to secure the resources needed to transform these aspirations into reality. Our vision is a thriving Jewish community where every person feels connected to our shared heritage and responsible for one another.
Who benefits from our annual campaign?
Our annual community campaign supports a tapestry of vital services and programs across our community and beyond. Locally, we provide dignity to Holocaust survivors and the elderly through the Baker Senior Center. We nurture the next generation through our local Jewish educational programs, including preschool scholarships, teen gatherings and young adult mentorships. We cultivate Jewish identity on college campuses through Chabad at FGCU and Hillel International. We preserve our heritage by investing in the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center and the Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida.
This Passover, as we recount how each Israelite — from the highest to the most humble — experienced both slavery and freedom, we remember that Jewish Federation of Greater Naples similarly touches every segment of Jewish life, from seniors to newborns, from the affiliated to those seeking connection.
How do we build local community while supporting our homeland?
Just as the parted Yam Suf created a pathway to the Promised Land, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples builds bridges between our diaspora community and Israel. Through our overseas allocations, we support organizations like Neve Michael Children's Village, American Friends of Leket Israel, and Yad LaKashish's programs for elderly Israelis. In these extraordinarily challenging times for Israel, our support for these programs
becomes even more critical — a lifeline of solidarity that spans oceans.
How do we face an uncertain future amid rising antisemitism and diminishing Jewish connection?
The final cup at our Seder table remains unfinished, symbolizing the incomplete nature of redemption. Similarly, our work continues in a world darkened by record antisemitism, diminishing Jewish literacy and fading optimism. Yet we draw strength from the Passover story itself, a narrative that begins in darkness but culminates in freedom, covenant and purpose.
Through our support for organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, innovative educational programming, and community-building initiatives, we counter hatred with knowledge, isolation with belonging, and despair with concrete action. Like our ancestors who took that first step into the uncertain waters, we move forward with faith that our collective efforts will create ripples of positive change.
As we recline at our Seder tables this year, let us remember that freedom is never merely personal — it comes with responsibility. Through Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, we transform the ancient commandment to “remember that you were slaves in Egypt” into modern action: ensuring no Jewish person stands alone, that our traditions endure, and that the journey from slavery to freedom continues for generations to come.
Chag Pesach Sameach — a joyous and meaningful Passover to all.
A heartfelt appeal for Passover
Supporting our Jewish community
By Rosalee Bogo, 2025 Annual Community Campaign Chair
This season has been incredibly busy, and it's an understatement to say how grateful we are for the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center, which has hosted so many of our programs and events. It has truly become our Jewish home here in the Greater Naples area, a place that is open and welcoming to all.
On April 12, the Jewish world will celebrate Passover. Many of you will soon return to your home communities to celebrate the holiday with family and friends, and we, as full-time residents, will do the same. The Security Community Network, provided by Jewish Federation of Greater Naples to all local Jewish
THE
“MATCHMAKER”
organizations, has worked hard to help us better prepare for safety while gathering for this important occasion.
Each year, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples sends out the Passover appeal, a vital fundraising effort that channels resources to support Jewish communities worldwide. Unfortunately, not all Jews have the means to observe this holiday. This year, we also face the ongoing challenge of combating antisemitism. By standing united against discrimination, the Passover appeal helps
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protect vulnerable populations in places like Ukraine and Israel. Israelis, who have celebrated Passover through difficult times for many years, will continue this tradition once again this year.
Fundraising efforts in the United States, through Jewish Federations of North America, will provide critical support for those affected by war, particularly for heightened security around major cities and religious sites. With so many people losing their homes, many Israelis will respond to the opening line in the
Haggadah: “All who are hungry, let them come and eat.”
Through your generous contributions, we can ease suffering and provide essential resources. The Passover appeal is a call to action to help impoverished Jewish communities around the world. Your donation ensures that our traditions and values will be passed on to future generations. Let us be remembered by those who come after us for our strength, compassion and unity. Please give generously.
THIS MONTH’S ADVERTISERS
This publication is brought to you each month thanks to the support of our advertisers. Please use their products and services, and mention that you saw their ad in Federation Star
Rosalee Bogo
Commitment, continuity and legacy Honoring Silver Circle members
By Paula Filler, 2025 Endowment Chair
More than 40 Silver Circle members were honored at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center last February for their support of Jewish Federations for 25 years or for their endowment at Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. Our Federation leadership recognized the individuals who have been the foundation of our community. Despite coming from so many different communities across the United States, we easily became friends and formed lasting bonds here in Greater Naples. It is through our shared values and deep commitment to Jewish Federations that our lives have intertwined.
Paula Filler
vital role in their family’s life. Both have volunteered countless hours to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and are true community leaders.
This was an opportunity in which various members shared a bit of their journey of Jewish philanthropy. Joel and Susan Pittelman briefly described their experience as a young couple in Wisconsin and how Jewish Federation played such a
JFGN Board Chair Nat Ritter and Bruce Sherman enjoy the string duet
Alan Gordon shared his experience as a young man on his first trip to Israel. Gordon was so impressed by the character of the Israeli people that he met, the sacred sites he visited and the history he observed that he wrote a journal about his experience. Through the years, despite several household moves he managed to save the original journal. Holding back tears, he read heartfelt passages describing the Israeli courage and strength he witnessed. Helene and Alan Gordon have supported Jewish Federations for much more than 25 years.
Jewish Federation of Greater Naples President and CEO Nammie Ichilov inspired us with the deeper meanings of the word silver for the Jewish people, sharing many ancient meanings of the word silver used in the bible. His closing reference was from Proverb 25:11, which left us all on a mission to inspire the next generation to continue the work ahead.
As Proverbs 25:11 tells us, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
Your sustained commitment provides the setting and framework that holds our communities together. Like the artwork surrounding us today, your dedication creates something beautiful that inspires others to join in this sacred work.
Federation Launches Silver Circle to Honor Long-Time Donors
The Silver Circle Society honors and recognizes a very special group of loyal, long-time supporters who have given to the Jewish Federation, here or in any other community, for twenty-five years or more. Members of this esteemed group have consistently supported the Jewish community, locally and around the world. Your gift reflects a shining example of tzedakah in action.
Have you, or someone you know, been giving to Federation for 25 years or more?
Please proudly let us know so we can celebrate you and your commitment to Jewish philanthropy. Contact Alicia Feldman, Development Director, at (239) 449-8266 or email at afeldman@jewishnaples.org to find out more.
Anne Schuchman and Stephen Light
Event Chair Paula Filler looks on as Joel Pittelman shares his story
Alan Gordon shares his inspiration from his first trip to Israel
Jane Schiff and Granddaughter
Hannah Fleekner enjoy the event
Jennie Elias Stein and Hal Stein chat with Nat Ritter
JFGN President and CEO Nammie Ichilov
Susan Pittelman and Jan Magids
4720 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL 34119
Phone: 239.263.4205 www.jewishnaples.org
Email: info@jewishnaples.org
Officers
Board Chair: Nathaniel Ritter
Vice Chairs: Robin Mintz, Marc Saperstein, Arlene Sobol
Secretary: Rosalee Bogo
Treasurer: Steve Strome
Immediate Past Chair: Jane Schiff
Board of Directors
Felicia Anchor, Frank Baum, Shelly Bell, Myra Benedikt, Mark Blaskey, Patti Boochever, Harvey Cohen, Marcia Cohodes, Max Deifik, Paula Filler, Cheryl Ginsburg, Mia Hyatt, Steve Iser, Larry Israelite, Tammy Katz, Elliot Lerner, Joel Pittelman, Michael Rubenstein, Anne Schuchman, Michael Sobol, Jay Weiss, Beth Wolff, Emerita Phyllis Seaman
Past Board Chairs
Gerald Flagel, Dr. William Ettinger, Ann Jacobson (z’’l), Sheldon Starman, Bobbie Katz, Rosalee Bogo, Judge Norman Krivosha (z’’l), Alvin Becker (z’’l), Jane Schiff
Synagogue Representatives
Stan Alliker, Cantor Donna Azu, Rabbi Ariel Boxman, Rabbi Ammos Chorny, Joshua Garfield, Rabbi Mendel Gordon, Rabbi Mendy Greenberg, Rabbi Mark Gross, Joseph Henson, Rabbi Howard Herman, Rabbi Adam Miller, Charles Flum, Rabbi James Perman, Dr. Arthur Seigel, Rabbi Fishel Zaklos
Staff
Nammie Ichilov: President & CEO
Jeffrey Feld: President & CEO Emeritus
Eduardo Avila: Campaign Associate
Reneé Bialek: Program Director
LC Cardenales: Administrative Assistant
Michelle Cunningham: Receptionist
Alicia Feldman: Development Director
Pat Pastorius: Facility Manager
Linda Sherman: Receptionist
Susan Spoerlein: Accounting Manager
Alexandra Wein: PJ Library Coordinator
Federation's mission is to enhance and enrich the quality of Jewish life by recognizing and supporting the charitable, educational, humanitarian and social service needs of the Jewish community locally, nationally, overseas and in the state of Israel.
Programs include:
• Annual Community Campaign
• Celebrate Israel
• Educational & Cultural Programs
• Israel and Overseas Committee
• Israel Scouts
• Jewish Book Festival
• Jewish Community Relations Council
• Jewish Young Professionals
• Jewish Russian Cultural Alliance
• Men’s Cultural Alliance
• PJ Library
• Publication of Federation Star and Connections magazine
• Singles Social Group
• Women’s Cultural Alliance
• Women in Philanthropy
• Youth Activities Committee –sponsoring youth education and scholarships for Jewish Summer Camp and Israel Experiences
Happy Passover!
TReneé Bialek Program Director
he Jewish Book Festival concludes on Wednesday, April 2 at 1 p.m.
as we welcome David and Susan Schwartz, authors of “The Joy of Costco.”
Thank you to the Men’s Cultural Alliance for sponsoring this event.
Indigenous People's Struggle for its Ancient Homeland.”
The Cardozo Legal Society will have a Meet & Greet at 6 p.m. Catholic-Jewish Dialogue and The Israel and Overseas Committee invite everyone on Tuesday, April 8, 1 p.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church. Coauthor Dina Kraft will speak on “Anne Frank's Memory Keeper: Documenting the story of Hannah Pick-Goslar.”
The Israel and Overseas Speaker Series invites everyone to hear Dina Kraft on Wednesday, April 9 at 1 p.m. The topic will be “Post-Oct. 7: Stories of Healing, Resilience and Resistance.”
Everyone is welcome to join Pilates on Tuesday, April 15 at 10 a.m.
Connections, Conversation & Coffee with The Social Coach Sue Abrams will take place Thursday, April 24 at 10 a.m.
Thank you to JBF Chair Robin Committee and volunteers have done to make this book festival a success. Our community enjoys coming together to listen to these authors. And congratulations on 10 years of Jewish Book Festivals.
Everyone is invited to attend Judge Altman’s presentation on Monday, April 7 at 7 p.m. The topic is “An
All grandparents of children with special needs are encouraged to attend this unique networking program. Come share your stories and advice. Please join us for a Yom HaShoah program on Sunday, April 27 at 4 p.m. This year, the event commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and the liberation of Nazi death camps. The program will take place at Temple Shalom.
The Naples Jewish Film Festival was a hit with five films. Thank you to the committee members, sponsors, volunteers and all the patrons and ticket holders.
Upcoming program dates
Please save these dates:
• Sunday, April 27 – Community Yom HaShoah Program at 4 p.m.
• Sunday, May 4 – Community Yom Ha’Atzmaut Musical Celebration at 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 28 – “American Dissonance,” a musical performance and dialogue with a pianist and a saxophonist at 6:30 p.m.
Make sure to register for all of these programs via our e-blast or website calendar.
Please make sure to read our weekly Monday e-blast to view new programs and click on the registration links for the above programs as well as new programs being added. Please register for all events at www.jewish naples.org.
Dates and times of upcoming events are announced on our website homepage. If you aren’t receiving our weekly Monday e-blast, please email me at rbialek@jewishnaples.org.
“Tax Smart Giving Strategies”
By Paula Filler, Endowment Chair
Jewish Federation of Greater Naples is excited to share a valuable new seminar that can help you and your family maximize the power of your philanthropy as well as gifts to your heirs. Registration is required for this luncheon program on Thursday, April 3, 11:30 a.m. at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. Even if you are unfamiliar with financial, tax or estate matters, our speakers will explain, in easy-to-understand language, how you can use tax smart strategies to amplify your generosity.
As the tax rules constantly change and many financial advisors speak in three-letter acronyms, many of us have questions when it comes to managing our money or considering how to best leave assets to loved ones. How can we leave the most wealth to loved ones which will not be severely diminished by taxes? And because we want to exercise our Jewish values of charity, what are some of the best tax smart strategies for giving to a not-for-profit?
Our distinguished speakers are experts in estate planning and financial advisory services. Ed Wollman has a busy practice focused on estate planning, trust and probate administration, tax planning, elder law and charitable giving. Mia Hyatt is a vice president and banker in the Naples office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank, providing financial advisory services. She is a certified financial planner. Jill Hagler has 25 years of experience
as a philanthropic advisor in the Jewish community. All three are leaders in our Jewish community. They share your values of generously giving back to the Jewish community, protecting families and are devoted to nurturing a culturally rich and safe Jewish life in Greater Naples. To register for this program, send an email to Eduardo Avila at eavila@jewishnaples.org.
JOIN US!
“Tax Smart Giving Strategies” Seminar
When: Thursday, April 3, 11:30 a.m.
Where: Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center Cost: Free Register: eavila@jewishnaples.org
Paula Filler
Dina Kraft
Sue Abrams
The Peak of Drywood Termite Swarm Season is On the Horizon
by Anna Wallace, Truly Nolen
Like clockwork, once Spring begins, drywood termite swarm season takes off each year. With the peak of swarm season for Southwest Florida occurring from April through June, I wanted to share some helpful information about this insect.
As their name implies, drywood termites infest dry wood and can ravage attic framings, according to the National Pest Management Association. These light brown bugs do not need soil to survive and can form colonies of up to 2,500 members.
They are commonly found in warm climates and areas with a low content of moisture. In addition, they do not require soil moisture content to live. Because they are more of a small colony insect, they are difficult to detect because their colonies are spread over a wide area.
In addition to their colonies, drywood termites typically enter homes after swarms, especially after heavy rains, which casts “April showers” in a whole new light!
Compared to subterranean termites, drywood termites can be more difficult to detect and are not typically noticeable until small piles of
black pellets (their feces and unwanted cellulose) plus color of wood that is infested collect. They make their nests within the wood they consume and infest walls, columns, beams and furniture. They also attack floors, furniture and books.
The most effective prevention for drywood termites can be "built-in" to a home during its construction phase with the installation of pressure-treated lumber wherever a builder can do so.
Meanwhile, untreated wood can be sprayed with borate solutions. Once construction ends, it becomes much more difficult to completely treat all wood in a finished house with residual chemicals.
If a drywood termite infestation is suspected in your house, I suggest having a trained pest control professional conduct a thorough examination of the entire structure.
As a homeowner, you should make notice of specific areas when the professional visits and keep samples of the pellets whenever possible.
In cases where a drywood termite infestation is found, liquid treatment injection of galleries in
the infested areas and preventative coatings of through interior baseboard injections and attic treatment is highly effective.
As a reminder, you can always request a FREE inspection by calling us or by visiting www.trulynolen.com and clicking “Schedule Free Inspection.”
(Anna Wallace is the Manager for Truly Nolen in Naples. Her service office can be reached at (239) 643-2555.
Founded in 1938, Tucson-based Truly Nolen of America (www.trulynolen.com) is one of the largest family-owned pest control companies in the United States. To learn more about Termites and the variety you may have in your home, please visit https://www.trulynolen.com/termite-control/)
Israel's resilience
A message of gratitude
TNat Ritter Federation Board Chair
he war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, has deeply impacted Israel in ways most of us can scarcely comprehend. Every Israeli knows someone who has been killed, wounded or taken hostage. The wounds — both physical and emotional — run deep.
In January, I joined a remarkable trip through Temple Shalom with the Emergency Volunteer Program (EVP), traveling with 16 fellow Naples residents to support Israeli soldiers and communities. Our mission was simple but profound: to prepare meals for 3,500 IDF soldiers and offer tangible support during these challenging times.
What struck me most was the palpable sense of isolation many Israelis feel. In Tel Aviv, hotels house families displaced from the north, with children adapting to uncertain lives away from their homes. Restaurants were quiet, tour guides hadn't worked in two years, and everywhere we heard the same message: Israel feels alone.
At Kibbutz Aza, we met a young IDF soldier whose father was the first victim of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Walking through the devastated kibbutz, he shared that no one expects to return until 2026 or 2027. At Kibbutz Ne'ot Mordekhai, we helped prepare for residents’ return, witnessing incredible optimism in the face of constant threat.
Our visit to Mount Hermon, along the Syrian border, revealed soldiers who had just completed a mission pushing back Hezbollah. Their appreciation for our support was overwhelming
— supplemental gear, meals and simply being present meant more than we could imagine.
Jewish Federation of Greater Naples has been instrumental in this support.
Our Israel Emergency Fund — now the Israel Resilience Fund — ensures 100% of local donations directly support Israeli needs: housing, food, medical care and mental health support.
But beyond material aid, our most important contribution is showing solidarity. We're demonstrating that diaspora Jews stand united — that we take care of each other regardless of where we live.
To everyone who has donated, supported or simply cared — thank you. Your contributions are keeping the Israeli fighting spirit alive. In these challenging times, every act of support matters. Let us continue to stand with Israel, to show them they are not alone.
“Documenting the story of Hannah Pick-Goslar”
Presentation by co-author Dina Kraft
By Reneé Bialek, Program Director
Everyone is welcome to attend the presentation “Anne Frank's Memory Keeper; Documenting the story of Hannah Pick-Goslar” by co-Author, Dina Kraft on Tuesday, April 8, 1 p.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church.
A writer and journalist based in Tel Aviv, Dina Kraft co-authored “My Friend Anne Frank: The Inspiring and Heartbreaking True Story of Best Friends Torn Apart and Reunited Against All Odds” and is the opinion editor for Haaretz English. She has written from the region for over two decades for The New York Times,
The Christian Science Monitor and The Los Angeles Times, reporting on Israeli and Palestinian politics, culture and society. Please register so we can plan accordingly and update you on the location. Go to https:// JFGN.regfox.com/myfriend-with-dina-kraft.
This program is brought to you by the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County of the Jewish Community Relations Council as well as the Israel and Over seas Committee of Jew ish Federation of Greater Naples.
Beginner Pilates classes
Everyone is invited!
By Reneé Bialek, Program Director
Come join us for Pilates with instructor Victoria from AB Sea Pilates on Tuesday, April 15, 10 a.m. at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. Each 50-minute class is $10 (a portion of the proceeds to benefit Jewish Federation of Greater Naples).
Join our Beginner Pilates class and
JOIN US!
“Anne Frank's Memory Keeper: Documenting the story of Hannah Pick-Goslar”
By Co-Author Dina Kraft
When: Tuesday April 8, 1 p.m.
Where: St. Agnes Catholic Church Register for this free program: https://JFGN.regfox.com/ my-friend-with-dina-kraft
discover the benefits of mindful movement! Focus on building strength, flexibility and body awareness with low-impact exercises that engage your core, improve posture and enhance overall mobility.
Led by WCA member Victoria Leschen, you'll learn the fundamentals of Pilates in a supportive and welcoming environment.
Whether you're aiming for better balance, less stress or a stronger body, this class is your first step toward a healthier you! Bring the following: a yoga or Pilates mat, water, towel, grip socks or come bare foot (please wear shoes to the center!). Register here at https://jfgn.regfox. com/pilates.
Dina Kraft
Bone Builder osteo exercise program
By Reneé Bialek, Program Director
You are invited to this free program, which protects against fractures by increasing muscular strength and bone density.
The RSVP Bone Builder class is special because not only are the participants improving their strength through controlled exercises, but their progress is tracked by the instructor. Certified Bone Builder Isabel Curran has been a trainer for more than eight years in Collier County.
The program will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays in June and July (no class on June 3), 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center (4720 Pine Ridge Rd.). Sign up at https://JFGN. regfox.com/bone-builders-2025.
Please print and fill out A doctor’s note is required to participate.
Print out and complete the physicians form: https://s3.amazonaws. com/uploads.webconnex.com/ 26851%2F1708098710678-Physicians+ Form.pdf. Remember to bring it to the first class.
Additionally, a consent form is required to participate. Find it at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/uploads. webconnex.com/26851%2F17080 98766447-Consent+form.pdf. Bring completed form to the first class as well.
You must bring
• Weights (1 lb. or 2 lb.; unless you are experienced, then bring heavier weights)
• Water • Closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothes
• Doctor’s note and consent form (see
Cardozo Legal Society
By Joshua Bialek, Chair of CLS & Attorney
The Cardozo Society was formed as a way to network among the Jewish attorneys in the Greater Naples legal community. The Cardozo Society inspires to build strong relationships among legal professionals through educational opportunities and social events.
forms above). If you do not have a printer, please come to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples’ office to pick up the forms. Please arrive at 9:15 a.m. to check in with the instructor. If you can't attend certain dates in June and July, please email me.
JOIN US!
RSVP Bone Builder Class
When: Tuesdays & Thursdays in June and July, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (no class June 3)
Where: Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center Cost: Free Register: https://JFGN.regfox.com/bone-builders-2025
The Society is named after Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo, an American lawyer and jurist who served on the New York Court of Appeals from 1914 to 1932 and as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1932 until his death in 1938. Considered one of the most distinguished judges in American legal history, Justice Cardozo was known for his profound legal thinking and impactful judicial opinions. Whether you’re looking to network, learn from experts on issues affecting Jewish communities, or take on leadership roles, you will find plenty of opportunities within the Cardozo Legal Society, a group of Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. Our next Meet & Greet will be on Monday, April 7 at 6 p.m. Following this meeting, we will sit together at Honorable Altman’s talk at 7 p.m., on Zionism: An Indigenous People’s Struggle for its Ancient Homeland. RSVP to Reneé at rbialek@jewishnaples.org.
To Our WCA Volunteers
Every April during National Volunteer Week, organizations nationwide celebrate and recognize the efforts of their volunteers.
The Women’s Cultural Alliance proudly thanks the hundreds of amazing women who create, organize and facilitate activities for WCA.
Board of Directors
Women’s Cultural Alliance wcanaples.org
YOU are key to the success of the outstanding programming that WCA offers to our members. A Community of Friendship
ADVERTORIAL
The Benefits of Independent Senior Living
Retirement is a time to embrace new opportunities, explore passions, and enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of hard work. For many seniors, choosing the right living environment is crucial to making the most of these golden years. Independent senior living communities offer an ideal blend of comfort, convenience, and community to fit this need, providing a perfect setting for a fulfilling and vibrant retirement.
The most valuable benefit of retiring in an independent senior living community like Bradford Square is the access to top-notch amenities and services. These communities are designed with the comfort and well-being of residents in mind, offering spacious living spaces equipped to meet seniors’ needs. From gourmet dining options to fitness centers, residents can spend their retirement in facilities that feel more akin to resorts.
Social interaction is another key component of happy, healthy, and fulfilling retirement lifestyles. Independent senior living communities foster a strong sense of community by offering a wide range of social activities and events. From group fitness classes and art classes to book clubs and movie nights, there is always something happening to keep residents engaged and connected.
These communities often organize outings to local attractions, such as museums and restaurants, providing residents with opportunities to explore their surroundings and enjoy new experiences outside of home. The vibrant social scene helps residents build lasting friendships and create a supportive network of peers. Studies have shown that social connection in the senior years can improve health and wellness—senior living communities allow for easy access to these benefits.
Retiring in an independent senior living community offers much-needed convenience. Many communities provide a range of on-site services, such as housekeeping, valets, and transportation by appointment, allowing residents to focus on enjoying their retirement without the burden of daily chores. Additionally, many communities offer concierge service to assist with everything from greeting guests to arranging travel plans.
Safety and security are also top priorities in these communities. With 24-hour security and emergency response systems in place, residents can have peace of mind knowing that help is always available if needed. This level of security allows residents to feel safe and secure in their new home.
Maintaining good health is essential for a fulfilling retirement. Independent senior living communities prioritize the health and wellness of their residents by offering a variety of fitness and wellness programs. From yoga and flexibility classes to cardio and strength training, residents have access to a range of activities designed to keep them active and healthy.
Many communities also have on-site wellness centers staffed by professionals who can provide routine health screenings, wellness consultations, and personalized fitness plans. This focus on health and wellness helps residents maintain their independence and enjoy a higher quality of life.
One of the most crucial aspects of independent senior living communities is the emphasis on independence. Residents have the
Retirement, Served to Perfection
Retire in a community where every meal is an experience, every detail is curated, and every day is a celebration. From chef-inspired dining and vibrant social events to resort-style amenities, our dedicated team handles every detail, allowing you to savor every moment with peace of mind!
freedom to live their lives on their own terms, with the added benefit of a supportive and caring community. This balance of independence and support allows residents to enjoy their retirement to the fullest, pursuing their interests and passions without the constraints of traditional senior living arrangements.
Retiring in an independent senior living community offers a wealth of benefits, from unparalleled comfort and amenities to a vibrant social scene that focuses on health and wellness. These communities, including Bradford Square, provide the ideal setting for a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement, allowing seniors to embrace this new chapter of their lives with confidence and enthusiasm. Call today to plan your visit: 239-316-4144 or visit BradfordSquareRetirement.com.
“American
Dissonance”
Thank you to our 2025 Annual community Campaign Sponsors
MENSCH
Stacey & Frank Baum
Goldie & Lou Bertone
Rosalee & Jerry Bogo
Paula & Ronald Filler
Ellen Frankel
Judith Finer Freedman & Jeremy Freedman
Carole Greene
Wendy & Larry Israelite
Estelle & Stuart Price
Susan & Nathaniel Ritter
Ellaine & Richard Rosen
Wendy & Rick Rubin
Laurie Lieberman & Marc Saperstein
Jane Schiff
Allison Tucker & Mark Shiffman
Arlene & Michael Sobol
Sharon & Paul Stein
MISHPUCHA
Penni & Mark Blaskey
Rhonda Brazina
Cheryl Ginsburg
Marcia Cohodes & David Goldsteen
Arline & Ronald Kaplan
Anne Schuchman & Stephen Light
Nancy & Steve Schachtman
Anita & Michael Siegal
Gail & Russell Smith
SIMCHA
Marcy Aizenshtat
Sandy & Brian Kamin
Elaine & Fredric Kamin
Linda Singer & Louis Klein Jr.
Judy & Mayer Levitt
Karen & Neil Moss
HEYMISH
Gertrude & Samuel Levine
A musical dialogue with Isaac Dorio and Matthew Johnson
By Reneé Bialek, Program Director
JOIN US!
“American Dissonance”
Through a series of 20th Century works for solo piano and classical saxophone, pianist Isaac Dorio, together with saxophonist Matthew Johnson, will explore the question of what it means to be an American. This curated set of repertoire exemplifies the complexity of the American experience. The performance will invite the audience into a musical dialogue, offering space for reflection and conversation throughout the program.
Isaac Dorio is a pianist, conductor and educator currently pursuing degrees in music and anthropology at Cornell University. Matthew Johnson is a classically trained saxophonist completing his undergraduate degree in music performance at Florida Gulf Coast University.
A musical dialogue with Isaac Dorio and Matthew Johnson
When: Wednesday, May 28, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Centerr
Cost: $18 pp; students free Register: https://jfgn.regfox.com/american-dissonance
Beading Buddies make a difference while having fun
By Carol Hirsch
The Beading Buddies, sponsored by Temple Shalom and Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, make beaded jewelry for local projects. We donate handmade jewelry to the children of the Guadalupe Center in Immokalee for Mother’s Day gifts and to Shop with a Sheriff for Christmas. All are welcome to attend our sessions held at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. There is no charge if you bring your own supplies, however, supplies are provided for a donation which is used to buy more supplies. Our next session is on Thursday, April 17 from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
I would like to thank the “beaders” who have helped make this project
successful: Maxine Brenner, Becky Cornacchia, Janett Edelberg, Ellie Wasserman, Susan Feld, Deborah Fidel, Linda Simon and others who have contributed time and supplies.
Isaac Dorio
Matthew Johnson
A “Bissel” song, humor and joy highlighted the Day of Learning
As advertised
By Jeff Margolis
Those who attended the 10th Annual Jewish Day of Learning at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center were treated to a morning of Yiddish song and humor, klezmer music, and an up-close look at recorded sound archives and the rare books and manuscripts at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
Stage, film, TV and Yiddish theatre performer Adam Shapiro entertained the audience with stories and songs of his career including his role as the rabbi in “Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish.”
Dr. Tom Cimarusti, professor of music at Florida Gulf Coast University brought his “Klezmaniacs.” He told an interesting history of klezmer while the “Klezmaniacs” provided songs that brought the crowd to its its feet with a rousing rendition of Hava Nagila as well as a tribute to Israel with “Hatikvah.”
Daniel Scheide and Alethea Perez presented an enlightening PowerPoint “tour” of the Special Collections Department of Florida Atlantic University’s library. Perez played music from the unique collection of Jewish song, explained the different types of media in their collection and gave a tour of their vintage equipment.
Scheide showed a great variety of rare books archived at the Special Collections at the FAU library. There are over 10,000 books from 1530 to today, including handmade books, illustrated manuscripts and one-of-a-kind books.
An invitation was extended to all those in attendance to make an appointment and visit the collections. Attendees
were ready to do so and asked for return visits from Shapiro and Dr. Cimarusti and the Klezmaniacs.
Many thanks to all of those who helped make this year’s program a success.
April 4: 7:27 p.m. April 11: 7:31 p.m.
April 18: 7:34 p.m.
April 25: 7:38 p.m.
Thank you to the Day of Learning Committee — Ida Margolis, Andy Roisman, Dale Hackerman, and Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Program Director Reneé Bialek, along with Jewish
Community Relations Council Chair Lisa Koppel. The program is part of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.
Adam Shapiro
Klezmaniacs
Dr. Tom Cimarusti
Daniel Scheide and Alethea Perez
We Must Not Think of Ourselves
by Lauren Grodstein
Thursday, March 27, 2025 10:30 AM • $25
In this heart-wrenching story of defiance, prisoner Adam Paskow, a middle-aged non-observant professor, takes testimonies to keep the stories of the Warsaw Ghetto's residents alive. Grodstein reveals that love may be found even in the starkest of situations.
[Inspired by the testimony-gathering project with the code name Oneg Shabbat.]
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Jewish Book Festival Sponsors
Copy of Lori Gottlieb’s book
FastPass & separate check-in
Recognition in Federation Star
Reserved VIP seating
Reserved seating area
Free book voucher(s)
Patron event with an author TBA Extra luncheon event ticket for guest
Venues
Hilton Naples: 5111 Tamiami Trail N., Naples
The Joy of Costco
by David & Susan Schwartz
Wednesday, April 2, 2025 1:00 PM • $25
David & Susan Schwartz are two of Costco's biggest fans. Since 2016, visited more than 225 of Costco's 850+ warehouses in the US and in 13 Topics from Cashews and Chicken to Hot Dogs and Hawaii are covered whimsical A to Z format. Fun Fact: Costco sells more than half of the world's
PLATINUM
Susan Ain
Nathaniel Ritter
Susan Ritter
Jewish Book Festival Sponsors
Elaine Rosen
Patti Bloom
We are grateful to these businesses and organizations for their support of the
Ellaine Rosen
Jewish Congregation of Marco Island: 991 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island
Naples Conference Center: 1455 Pine Ridge Road, Naples
Visit the official Festival website at www.jewishbookfestival.org information on the authors and their books, event updates and a printable order form. Have questions that have not been answered in this insert? Send an email to fedstar18@gmail.com or call the Federation office at 239.263.4205.
Tickets ARE Transferable
Jackie Paulson
Jeanne Pelletz
Susan Pittelman
Estelle Price
Mark Blaskey
Penni Blaskey
Cipora Brown
Norma Carl
Schedule of Events:
Stuart Price
Ann Cowen
Helene Koenig
Deborah Kohler
Toby Kosloff
Debbie Laites
Elaine Landau
Terri David
Judi Lazan
Consider purchasing a Patron Festival Package. Even if you can’t make it to all 12 events, you can gift your tickets to friends, colleagues and family members.
Multi-Author Events
For the events with more than one author, due to travel arrangements, the order in which they present will be decided a few days prior to their event. If you’d like to know the order, please email fedstar18@gmail.com or call 239.263.4205.
Barbara Druckman
David Feinstein
Maureen Feinstein
Arnan Finkelstein
Marlene Finkelstein
Louise Forman
Dale Lazar
Lynn Lazar
Dana Lefkowitz
Linda Lerner
Arlene Litow
Marci Margolis
Jewish Book Festival
enjoyment at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. becoming a patron or to purchase individual tickets.
Thank You!
Jewish Book Festival Committee and Volunteers. We greatly appreciate your support!
Lea Bendes, Emily Berkowitz, Jill Binder, Patti Boochever, Ann Cowen,Linda Denning, Gayle Dorio, Larry DuKatz, Linda DuKatz, Judith Finer Freedman, Louise Forman, Spencer Forman, Ken Getnick, Molly Getnick, Jan Goldman, Carole Greene, Sherry Greenfield, Lenore Greenstein, Lee Henson, Burton Hirsch, Carol Hirsch, Bobbie Katz, Carolyn Kimmel, Deborah Kohler, Karen Kolodny, Lisa Lauber, Judi Lazan, Barb Lefkowitz, Cipora Levine, Arlene Litow, Debbie Lurie, Ida Margolis, Jeff Margolis, Marci Margolis, Lynn Miller, Rochelle Miller, Darlene Muller, Mindy Nadell, Susan Pittelman, Gale Schulman, Dorothy Schwebel, Dina Shein, Iris Shur, Linda Simon, Marc Simon, Rosalie Slansky, Elaine Soffer, Phyllis Strome, Dana Strull, Monika Vigran, Leslie Wasserman, Jack Wiadro, Nancy Wiadro, Phyllis Winski, Deb Wyman, Steve Yussen, Suzann Yussen, Joni Zalasky they have countries. covered in a world's cashews.
2024-2025 Book Festival Chair: Robin Mintz
JBF Patrons
Susan McDonough
Marla Osgood
Rick Osgood
Jeani Park
Steven Podolsky
Ben Post
Gerald Post
Susan Post
John Reiches
Mae Riefberg
Barbara Ross
Arnold Sameroff
Susan Schaffer
Anne Schnesel
Harriet Schweitzer
Mark Shiffman
Anita Siegal
Charles Siegel
Lori Siegel
Cathy Silver
Gail Smith
Carol Smoler
Arlene Sobol
Elaine Soffer
Susan Sokolov
Janet Solot
Barbara Steckler
Joyce Steckman
Sharon Stein
June Streisand
Dana Strull
Estelle Tauch
Fritzi Thorner
Heidi Thorner
Joyce Toub
Allison Tucker
Linda Wainick
Ferne Walpert
Jay Weintraub
Laurie Weiss
Leona Wreschner
Judy Zahn
BRONZE Anonymous
Leslie Aderson
Doris Adlestein
Sheryl Affrime
Nancy Armocida
Diane Aronson
Wendy Avner
Patti Badiner
Lea Bendes
Natalie Berman
Minda Bernberg
Rose Bernstein
Jill Binder
Paula Blachman
Nancy Blankstein
Jamie Blatter
Beverly Blazar
Ellen Bohn Gitlitz
Patti Boochever
Stacy Braverman
Rhonda Brazina
Tim Broms
Nancy Brother
Peggy Brown
Deena Caplan
Barb Carlstrom
Tom Carlstrom
Ellen Chaney
Jeanie Charness
Jacqueline Chizever
Nan Ciralsky
Diane Clarke
Geri Cohen
Marcia Cohodes
Dorothy Collens
Marilyn Davidson
Sherry Delinko
Sandra Diamond
Sandra Doren
Gayle Dorio
Marty Dorio
Benjamin Dubin
Larry DuKatz
Linda DuKatz
Janett Edelberg
Ellen Edelstein
Susan Elfman
Sally Ann Endleman
Geraldine Feldman
Leslie Feldman
Rosetta Felzer
Susan Feuerman
James Fine
Marcia Fine
Phyllis Fine
(as of 2-28-25)
Susan Gallagher
Nancy Garfien
Phyllis Garon
Ken Getnick
Molly Getnick
Heidi Gilbert
Howard Gilbert
Elizabeth Girardat
Renee Glickman
Mark Goetz
Cindi Goldfine
Melvin Goldfine
Donna Goldstein
Hannah Goodman
Rochelle Goodman
Ellen Gordon
Barrie Graham
Lenore Greenstein
Arlene Griff
Elaine Griver
Andree Haas
Susan Hager
Jean Haven
Byrl Hendler
Sarah Hendler
Lee Henson
Deborah Hermalyn
Sharyl Hertz
Carol Himmelstein
Linda Hirsch
Shielagh Hochberg
Ronna Hochman
Jan Hoffman
Mitchell Hoffman
Rochelle Jacob
Diane Kaplan
Judy Kaplan
Judy Kargher
Jackie Kerlek
Charlene Kerner
Carolyn Kimmel
Linda King
Lori Kleiman
Marsha Klein
Harriett Kleinman
Susan Koeppel
Karen Kolodny
Susie Kravetz
Barbara Kushnir
Sayde Ladov
Harold Lauber
Lisa Lauber
Barb Lefkowitz
Bettye Leibowitz
Judy Leventhal
Arlene Levin
Hilda Levine
Marilyn Levitt
Hilda Levine
Program Director: Reneé Bialek
Rosie Liebovich-Hyman
Jacqueline Lipton
Debbie Lurie
Phyllis Luts
Paula Maisel
Robert Maisel
Paulette Margulies
Harriet Matz
Sherri Melamut
Sheila Mesulam
Linda Miller
Lynn Miller
Roberta Miller
Rochelle Miller
Alys(Elyse) Morande
Marsha Moranz
Erica Morse
Darlene Muller
Mindy Nadell
Helene Naimon
Mary O’Haver
Carol Orloff
Barbara Ostrolenk
Ann Packman
David Packman
Barbara Paganelli
Stacy Pinck
Joel Pittelman
Terri Polacheck
Karen Posner
Barry Rabin
Nancy Rabin
Susan Rabin
Estelle Rauch
Sue Reiver
Elaine Marcus Ida Margolis
Ellen Rodwick
William Rodwick
Andrea Roisman
Lila Rosenweig
Midge Rozen
Arnie Rubin
Linda Russell
Lanie Samuels
Laurie Sandler
Sandra Sanfilippo
Maureen Schaab
Karen Scheck
Deborah Schreier
Stephen Schreier
Gale Schulman
Carole Schwartz
Dorothy Schwebel
Millie Sernovitz
Jane Shaw
Dina Shein
Ricki Shine
Julie Shlensky
Michael Shlensky
Iris Shur
Jamie Silverstein
Martin Silverstein
Linda Simon
Ruth Simon
Rosalie Slansky
Gail Solomon
Harold Stein
Jennie Stein
Ilene Steiner
Barbara Suden
Denise Sultan
Ann Swartz
Shira Swartz
Marla Taub
Suzanne Tolpin
Margot Tutun
Susan Ugell
Beth Ungerman
Jacqueline Urso
Joan Van Berg
Ann Varsano
Joan Vazakas
Monika Vigran
Lisa Vogel
Gail Volk
Sara Waldstein
Ellie Wasserman
Leslie Wasserman
Marianne Wassmer
Sydelle Weinberger
Suellen Weiner
Ellen Weisberg
Barbara Wenk
Joan Werhane
Jack Wiadro
Nancy Wiadro
Phyllis Winski
Susan Yale
Steven Yussen
Suzann Yussen
Cathy Zacks
Joni Zalasky
Cindy Zelby
Deborah Zvibleman
Now more than ever…
By Alicia Feldman, Development Director
Whether it’s the four questions we have our children ask or the subtle traditions meant to inspire curiosity, Passover, more than any other holiday, is about passing our Jewish traditions and stories to the next generation. We are taught that within every generation, a person is obligated to show themselves as if they had left Egypt.
Each year around the Passover table, we are reminded that it wasn’t just our ancestors who were redeemed but every
generation thereafter. Together as a people, we ventured into the unknown of the desert and trusted each other and in G-d with our fate. It was this faith that allowed us to leave Egypt, and together as one, reach our homeland.
This is our story. The story of our peoplehood and togetherness. The story of what we can accomplish as a community. The story of the power of unity. It can be felt when we come together to support the needs in Israel — the
needs of our people, our brothers and sisters. It can be felt when we unify to support Jewish communities around the world — whether in Ukraine, Morocco or Argentina. It can be felt when we rally to build the security infrastructure necessary to protect our schools or synagogues from antisemitism. And it can be felt when we advocate for the most pressing and critical needs of our Jewish community here in the Greater Naples area.
This Passover, we ask how you will ensure that in every generation, including ours, the Jewish community remains strong and united. This last year-and-a-half
Welcome guests with a brick paver
By Eduardo Avila, Campaign Associate
Would you like to add your name to a brick paver as a welcome to guests visiting our new Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center? Contact me at eavila@ jewishnaples.org or 239263-4205.
has shown us that it is up to us, collectively, to ensure the strength and sustainability of our shared Jewish values. It is time for our generation to ensure our traditions, morals and values continue for generations to come.
No gift is too small. Every gift is meaningful. Together, as one, we can make a difference!
If you haven’t made your commitment to the 2025 Annual Community Campaign, please call me today at 239-449-8266 or email me afeldman@ jewishnaples.org. Thank you.
Make your check payable to JFGN and send it, with this completed form, to:
Indicate how you want your engraved brick to read, using the grid below for the size brick you are purchasing. Each square is the space for one letter or number. Each row counts as one line of text, only use the amount of lines specified below for your brick.
Community Yom Ha’Atzmaut MUSICAL CELEBRATION
Hashayara , a vibrant ensemble of Israeli musicians from the Galilee, is proud to bring the spirit of Israel's Independence Day to Naples.
Through music and storytelling, we celebrate Israel's diverse culture, innovative spirit, and the incredible resilience that has defined our nation since its founding. Our performances blend traditional favorites with contemporary Israeli hits, creating a powerful connection between Israel's past and present. This program is brought to you by Jewish Federation of Greater Naples
Connecting Jewish moms in Naples
By Dena Igel, JeWEL Society Leadership Board
Tstrengthened our bonds and our bodies and were teased with more fun times to come.
The JeWEL Society is working to connect our diverse group of Jewish moms in
Naples through philanthropic, social and outreach events. Our goal is to broaden our community, strengthen our Jewish connections through our events, and forge our next generation of Jewish leaders!
PJ Library playdate at Twist gym
By Alexandra Wein, PJ Library and PJ Our Way Coordinator
Hello PJ Families! Who else gets really excited about Passover? I could eat matzah pizza or matzah candy year-round! I’m also one who truly enjoys gefilte fish — I might be biased, but my grandma’s was the best. We had a very active March with our soccer clinic, and I’m excited to help our PJ littles get more energy out with this month’s activity: a playdate at Twist gym! Join us on Sunday, April 6 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. This event is open to kids ages five and under.
There have been so many exciting ideas for our PJ Moms and JeWEL Society events. I’m in the process of planning more exciting things but would love to hear what types of events interest you! I also have an idea for a fun program to include PJ grandparents in the excitement of getting new PJ books. If you are interested in learning more in either of those, please email me at programs@ jewishnaples.org!
Please be sure to follow PJ Library – Jewish Federation of Greater Naples on Facebook for upcoming events and up to date info on all things local for PJ Library.
he JeWEL Society met at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center on a Sunday morning for Pilates and laughs thanks to ABSea Pilates. We
Dena Igel
New and exciting things happening at JYP Naples
By Cayla Schreier, JYP Coordinator
February may be the shortest month, but it certainly can be one of the busiest! From the Super Bowl to Valentine’s Day, JYP Naples members always make time to get together and catch up.
Nine JYP Naples members joined me for a Super Bowl party on Sunday,
We shared our week’s challenges and successes while partaking in Shabbat traditions such as candle lighting, reciting the Pri Hagafen and Hamotzi.
We wish everyone an easy Passover with their friends and family.
Feb. 9. While watching the game, we ate some snacks and learned about Jewish sports stars and coaches, such as Mark Spitz, Sandy Koufax, Shawn Green, Igor Olshansky, Justine Siegel, Bruce Pearl and Todd Golden, who have been vocal about their proud Jewish heritage and support for Israel. They have shattered perceptions of weak Jews while spreading positivity about their Judaism.
Additionally, we hosted two Shabbat dinners this past month at Ruth’s house.
Future events
Details about upcoming events will be distributed via email and the Facebook group chat. Please reach out to Reneé (rbialek@ jewishnaples.org) if you would like to be added to those group communications. We also have a Google form for members to fill out to receive members’ feedback and ideas on what type of JYP events they would like to see in the future.
I look forward to seeing everyone soon!
How expensive is it to attend college now?
By Josh Schaier, JELF CDO
What do you think it costs to go to college these days? Okay, that’s a loaded question. Either you already know the answer (maybe you have children or grandchildren who are in college right now) or you realize that there are several factors that create a major disparity in cost, like where you go to school, which can be a complicated matter.
If affordability is the top priority, then the student staying closer to home seems like the most obvious choice. But, unless you’re also planning on living at home, there’s a strong possibility that going to school further away could outweigh the benefits of living close by. Many students dream of going to a particular college and set their goals way ahead of time to ensure they are well positioned to be accepted. It can, therefore, be very difficult to tell a student who has chased these dreams that their family cannot afford it.
In 2024, the total cost for a student from Naples to attend University of Central Florida in Orlando was $27,000. This includes tuition and fees, books/supplies, dorm/board, food, transportation to/from school, transportation at school and miscellaneous/personal expenses. You might be thinking that this doesn’t sound so bad. After all, the cost to attend Rollins College, a private university located in nearby Winter Park, estimated at $77,350, is considerably more expensive.
Jewish Educational Loan Fund (JELF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides interest free loans to Jewish students in need. These JELF loans are designed to help students who are pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and/or vocational school. In 2024, JELF provided $1,094,913 to 227 Jewish students from Florida. As you can imagine, this is a huge amount of relief!
Servicing a five-state region (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia — excluding metro DC), students can attend school anywhere in the U.S. so long as their school is accredited, and they are registered as a full-time student. In short, JELF helps Jewish students chase their dreams — interest free!
Former JELF recipient Dr. Alina C. is currently an internal medicine resident at Naples Community Hospital. Dr. Alina C. is incredibly proud to have utilized JELF, stating, "JELF made it possible for me to focus on my education without the added stress of high-interest debt. Their support allowed me to pursue my degree with confidence, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity they provided."
Want to learn more about JELF and see if you, or someone you know, qualifies? Visit jelf.org/app. Jewish Educational Loan Fund’s application for 0% interest student loans is available from now through April 30, so start your interest free journey today before it’s too late!
WCA Community Volunteer Expo 2025
By Linda Hyde, WCA Board Member and Community Volunteer Expo Coordinator
The WCA Community Volunteer Expo is one of the highlights of season. This much-anticipated annual event provides members of the Women’s Cultural Alliance (WCA), as well as members of our larger community, with the opportunity to learn how they can “give back” and support our Greater Naples community by introducing them to nonprofits that rely on volunteers to carry out their mission.
WCA’s third annual Community Volunteer Expo was held on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. This signature event brought together 25 local
WCA Members Fran Grossman and Rhonda Marko spoke with Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Director of Development Alicia Feldman (on
nonprofit agencies from Southwest Florida, each showcasing its mission to more than 115 WCA members and their guests.
Five agencies participated in the Expo for the first time this year: AmeriCorps of Collier County, CHADD of Collier County (which provides education and support to people and parents with ADHD), Habitat for Humanity Collier County, Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center and the Naples Historical Society. Each agency had a table to display information about the organization, photos and other materials. WCA members walked around the tables, stopping to speak to representatives of agencies they wanted to learn more about.
I was delighted with how many people signed up to volunteer. There was so much interest in looking for volunteer opportunities that at least three of the agencies set up tours for potential volunteers to visit their sites.
After speaking with representatives from Alliance for Period Supplies of
WCA member Yvonne Holtzman, WCA Foodies Liaison Lea Bendes and Dolores Siok of Café of Life
Volunteer Services Manager Deborah Lageman and WCA Member Phyllis Barolsky represented Baker Senior Center.
Louise Forman, Minda Bernberg and Ann Cowan volunteered at the Expo
Event Coordinator Linda Hyde with Guadalupe Center Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager Elizabeth Cuevas and WCA Director of Event Management Ann Cowan
SWFL, WCA member Nancy Kahn was so moved by the agency’s mission, she pulled out her checkbook and made a donation on the spot! Kahn later shared with me that within days of having made the donation, she received a thank-you note from the agency that not only thanked her for her gift, but also described how each dollar of her donation was going to be spent.
As the event’s coordinator, I received several thank you notes from both
agencies and participants, with several of the nonprofits wanting to reserve a spot at next year’s Expo.
There is a Hebrew phrase, tikkun olam, that means “repairing the world.” This concept has evolved over nearly 2,000 years of Jewish thought and practice and has been used by many organizations in working toward human rights, ending poverty, alleviating hunger and aiding refugees and other people. This central principle is what motivates many WCA members to give of their time and talent. Volunteering is giving back to the community and the desire to do so is what fosters this event and makes it so successful.
A special thank you to WCA Director of Event Management Ann Cowan and all the other volunteers who contributed to the success of the Expo. Jewish Federation of Greater Naples’ new home, the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center, provided a perfect venue for the event. Much appreciation to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples for not only providing the beautiful space, but also for the staff’s assistance, which added to the day’s successful outcome. “It takes a village,” and we certainly have one of the best in WCA.
I am already looking forward to the 2026 Community Volunteer Expo, when we will have the opportunity to showcase
Participating Agencies at the 2025 WCA Volunteer Expo
Thank you to these nonprofit organizations for all you do to strengthen our community.
Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL AmeriCorps
Baker Senior Center Naples Bikes for Tykes
Boys & Girls Club of Collier County Café of Life
CHADD of Collier County Champions for Learning Collier County Guardian ad Litem Program
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
Grace Place for Children and Families
Guadalupe Center
Habitat for Humanity Collier County
Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center
Humane Society Naples
The Immokalee Foundation
Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Lighthouse of Collier Naples Historical Society
Neighborhood Health Clinic Pace Center for Girls STARability
Youth Haven: SWFL Youth Shelter
our returning nonprofit agencies and welcome new ones. They share their mission and their goals, and we provide the volunteers. Truly a winning combination!
Special thanks to Linda Hyde for coordinating this very special event. Thank you also to Susan Pittelman for helping to write this article.
Many WCA Volunteers helped to make the Volunteer Expo run smoothly.
far left)
MCA’s first centenarian
A milestone achievement as membership in organization surpasses 900
By Michael Sobol, MCA Member
The Men’s Cultural Alliance (MCA) has long been a beacon of camaraderie, support and shared interests. As we celebrate our first member reaching the incredible age of 100, we also take pride in surpassing the milestone of 900 members. This dual achievement is a testament to the vibrant and thriving community that MCA has fostered over the years.
A tribute to longevity
Reaching the age of 100 is a remarkable feat, deserving of recognition and celebration. Esteemed member Irwin Mannis has reached this iconic milestone. Born in 1925, Irwin witnessed and contributed to a century of change, growth and innovation.
MCA exceeds 900 members
From its humble beginnings, MCA has grown exponentially, reaching and exceeding 900 members. This growth reflects the association’s ability to adapt, innovate and meet the evolving needs of its members. Our diverse community is united by a shared commitment to fostering connections, promoting wellbeing and enriching lives through various activities and programs.
Programs and activities
MCA offers a wide range of programs and activities that cater to the diverse interests of our members. From educational workshops and cultural events to recreational sports and social gatherings, there is something for everyone. Our commitment to providing high-quality, engaging and inclusive programs has been instrumental in attracting and retaining members.
Member involvement
The success of these initiatives relies heavily on the involvement and feedback of members. We encourage all members to actively participate in shaping the future of MCA by sharing their ideas, volunteering their time and engaging in our activities. Together, we can build an even stronger and more vibrant community. The celebration of our first member reaching 100 years old and surpassing 900 members is a momentous occasion in the history of MCA. It is a testament to the enduring appeal and impact of our association. As we honor these achievements, we also reaffirm our commitment to serving our members and fostering a community that thrives on connection, support and shared passions. Here’s to many more years of growth, friendship and success at MCA!
Jack Abel’s interview with Irwin Mannis
JA: Thank you for meeting with me. I was made aware that you are about to celebrate your 100th birthday on April 15. Fantastic and mazal tov. Where were you born?
IM: I was born in Cleveland on April 15, 1925, and I spent most of my life there.
JA: Tell me about your parents.
IW: My father came from Belarus and worked in various city jobs — driving a truck, etc. He worked until the age of 81 and lived until the age of 94. He was divorced and had three daughters from his first marriage.
My mother came from Lithuania. She was a homemaker and seamstress. She was previously married and had two boys from her first marriage. She was a widow and lived to the age of 97and-a-half.
JA: I am beginning to see genetic longevity in your family. But let’s move on to your educational background.
IM: I attended public school, but when it came to high school, I decided to attend a technical school since I had an interest in aeronautics.
JA: You graduated from high school in 1943 during WWII.
IM: That’s right. Shortly after graduation, I was drafted into the army. After basic training, I was assigned to ASTP (Army Specialized Training Program) at the University of Pittsburgh. For the next six months, I took engineering courses. Thereafter, I got chicken pox and was quarantined in Pittsburgh. I have always said that “chicken pox saved my life.” I was not sent to a fighting battalion. Rather, I went home and 60 days after D Day, I was sent to Omaha Beach to join the Red Ball Express — driving trucks loaded with supplies and equipment from Belgium to Patton’s third army on the front lines.
JA: So, you never actually were involved in any battles.
IM: That’s correct. In fact, I was later promoted to the rank of sergeant. I also drove Nazi POWs from France to Germany.
JA: Did you ever experience any antisemitism either growing up or in the army?
IM: Never. In fact, in my army service, my partner was a West Virginian red neck. We got along fabulously well.
JA: What did you do upon your discharge from the army?
IM : I returned in 1946 and, with the aid of the GI Bill, I attended Case Western Reserve for a few years and then transferred to Cleveland Marshall Law School. I attended school at night while working during the day.
JA: Did you then begin a law career?
IM: No, I did not. I never practiced law. For the next 20 years I ran an auto trim shop. Thereafter, I started my own similar business just outside Cleveland. At the age of 62, I sold the business and retired.
JA: When did you get married?
IM: I married Shirley in 1950. We were married 62 years. She passed away in 2012 at the age of 88.
JA: How did you meet?
IM: Shirley worked around the corner from where I worked while going to school at night. I met her while having lunch at the local soda shop. She grew up in Cleveland and attended public schools. Shirley was a homemaker and had her own antiques business.
JA: Do you have any children?
IM: We had two daughters. Charlene is married and has two children and three grandchildren. She is a home maker and has an estate sales business. My other daughter passed away last year.
JA: You are one of the most optimistic people I have met. I am sure that you have been asked this many times: What is the secret to your long life?
IM: No alcohol, no smoking and no sex.
JA: I will keep that in mind. But there is one more thing that I noticed. You are always smiling and keep on telling me jokes
IM: I do tell jokes at Rabbi Muller’s Comedy night. Be sure to catch my performance at the forthcoming event. By
JA: I am interviewing you at Charlene’s beautiful home where you now reside. You have a part-time care giver. Tell me what an average day is like.
IM: I usually get up at 8 a.m. I go to the club house and exercise. I also go to the Baker Senior Center a few times a week where I play Rummikub and have lunch. I also go with my son-in-law, Gordie, to Costco and Publix to pick up my prescriptions.
JA: How do you spend relaxing time?
IM: I read The New York Times every day, cover to cover. I also love to watch sports. I am a big fan of the Browns, Cavaliers and Guardians. For news, I tune into CNN. I really am interested in all topics. By 10:30 p.m., I am tired and go to sleep.
JA: Do you dine out?
IM: I do go out occasionally. My favorite place is Mission Barbeque for lunch.
JA: I must tell you that you seem quite an independent guy for your age.
IM: I drove till the age of 98 and really try to be as independent as I can. I am still upset that it was only very recently that I had to use a walker rather than a cane.
the way, I meant to tell you that I am in excellent health, take very little medication and have all my original parts.
JA: What do you feel about the world we are living in now?
IM: I am very disturbed that we are fighting each other, and we should be taking care of the poor and homeless in our country.
JA: How would you like to be remembered?
IM: As a good and funny guy. A mensch.
JA: Irwin, I will be back in New York on April 15, but I want to wish you a happy birthday and may you live until 120. I have a feeling you will live beyond that. I absolutely loved meeting you. Your optimism, smile and jokes are an example of the way to face our aging future. You are independent, with remarkable memory, active and, as I understand from you, you are still looking at women. Finally, I want to say that you are so fortunate to be surrounded by such a great family. It is something I wish we all could have as we grow older. Again, happy birthday.
On this side of history
By Marina Berkovich, president
Marina Berkovich JHSSWF President
n April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor. Less than 34 hours later, Union forces surrendered. Traditionally, this event has been used to mark the beginning of the Civil War.
On April 9, 1865, the Civil War ended when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. The final surrender of Confederate troops on the western periphery came in Galveston, Texas, on June 2.
During this war, thousands of Jewish men, including West Point graduates, fought on the side of Confederacy, guided primarily by their family affiliations and allegiances, honor and integrity. During this time, many of them were engaged in battles against their family, friends and business partners from the North. It is an unfortunate normalcy of wartime that we see in many conflicts throughout history,
including both 20th century World Wars, the Cold War and modern day. By that time the U.S. South was opened to Jewish settlers for just 100 or so years. Notably, for example, Louisiana since 1724 and Florida since 1763. Although both South and North Carolinas’ earliest Jewish settlers arrived as part of British colonization in the 16th century, they perished with the rest, and the real Jewish life there was established in the last quarter of 18th century. Most prominent Jewish families of those early days were related by both blood and trade.
Judah P. Benjamin, who served as Louisiana’s U.S. Senator March 4, 1853Feb. 4, 1861, was known as “the brain of the Confederacy.” He served in three posts during the Civil War, finishing as Secretary of State (Confederate). His Jewish face was on Confederate paper money. Born on Aug. 6, 1811, on the island of St. Croix, Benjamin was first cousin to Florida’s first Jewish statesman, David Levy Yulee, born June 12, 1810, on the island of St. Thomas. Confederate Quartermaster General Abraham C. Myers was born in Georgetown, South Carolina on May 11, 1811. His family settled in the Carolinas in the 1760s. His grandfather was the first rabbi in Charleston, North Carolina, his father a mayor of Georgetown. The City of Fort
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Myers has proudly worn their name for more than 170 years, yet so few residents know why.
Born within one year from one another, these three Jewish men left an indelible mark on our country’s history. Their names are respected by some of current-day southern communities in which their families lived. Most northerners, including Jews, have never heard of them.
The name of President Ulysses S. Grant is generally revered. Despite the dirty history of his Union Army General Order No. 11, which was issued when he was Major General on Dec. 17, 1862. This order was to expel all Jews from Grant's military district, comprising areas of Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky, effectively
blaming “Jews and other unprincipled traders” for corruption among Union Army personnel and the illicit trade in southern-produced cotton.
These are just facts. You can learn more and participate in discussions during future Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida presentations and events. Your membership and generous support help us in our work. Sign up to receive announcements, reminders and news by email. Donate online, mail or contact us at office@jhsswf.org.
The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida is a section 501(c) 3 charitable organization. Contributions are deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
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Judah P. Benjamin David Yulee Levy Abraham C. Myers
Hadassah this month
ANancy Wiadro, Presidents Council for Collier/Lee Chapter
pril is a busy month on our calendars. Some of us will be packing to head back north while others will be preparing for Passover. The first Seder is Saturday evening, April 12. This is a rare opportunity for many to be together over a weekend as we share the Israelites’ journey from slavery to peoplehood at the Seder table. Some say Passover is the most celebrated of our biblical holidays.
Collier/Lee Chapter of Hadassah invites you to an important program on antisemitism. The program will be presented by Rabbi Ariel Boxman on Wednesday, April 23, 11 a.m. at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center at Jewish Federation of Greater Naples on Pine Ridge Road. To register for this program, kindly email collierleehadassah@gmail.com and put “Antisemitism” in the subject line. Jews continue to remember their more recent history as we celebrate Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 24, and April 30 is Yom Ha Zikaron, Israel Memorial Day. Remembering those whom we have lost, as a people, is ever more meaningful since Oct. 7, 2023. In Israel, sirens blare, traffic comes to a standstill, and everyone observes a heartfelt moment of silent memories.
At Hadassah’s Gandel Rehabilitation Center on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, survivors with PTSD as well as grim physical injuries, receive the latest treatments. Recent studies suggest the potential of B-caryophyllene (BCP) a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound found in
essential oils, combined with the statins we take to lower cholesterol, promote bone formation and reduce bone resorption through multiple biochemical pathways. Both BCP and statins have shown promising results in preclinical studies, enhancing bone density and promoting fracture healing.
At Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, we celebrated a first-in-the-world transplant of ovarian tissue from a healthy woman to her non-twin sister with a genetic syndrome. A healthy baby was born to a single mom!
Hadassah is the first in Israel with VECTRA, for skin cancer detection, which creates an extremely accurate 360-degree picture almost immediately. The photography is noninvasive and contains no radiation. During regular patient appointments, dermatologists at Hadassah hospitals can now examine every potential skin anomaly in three-dimensional detail. This is a dramatic contrast to what can usually be done during patient check-ups, when dermatologists focus on specific kinds of blemishes, freckles, beauty marks and moles.
Collier/Lee Hadassah is non-partisan and pluralistic. We welcomed 60 new members in 2024 and are well on our way this year. If you have relocated to Southwest Florida and were a member elsewhere, please send an email to collierleehadassah@ gmail.com so that we can help you transfer to our vibrant, active chapter. We have Raquela study groups in both Fort Myers and Naples.
Monday, May 5 is our regular Board meeting at Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. Following that 10:30 a.m. meeting, we will enjoy a cookie swap to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of our chapter. All are welcome.
Hag Pesach Sameach – Happy Passover to all!
Collier/Lee Hadassah honors outstanding women
By Diane Schwartz, Co-President, Hadassah President’s Council
The Collier/Lee Chapter of Hadassah created the Inspiring Women event to recognize the importance, value and impact empowered women make in our communities. The Fourth Annual Inspiring Women luncheon honoring three outstanding women was a sold-out success. These women were recognized for the impact their actions, support, skills and leadership have had in their organizations, work areas and our communities at large.
The 2025 Inspiring Women honorees, outstanding women who make a difference, are philanthropist and community leader Susan Bookbinder, distinguished artist and community leader Paula Brody, and business leader and advocate Elizabeth Dosoretz.
Kudos to the chairs and leadership committee who created a special event: Co-Chairs Cookie Rosenblum and Lisa Vogel, Event Treasurer Denise Sultan, and Chapter VP of Digital and Graphic Communication Patti Bloom. Several chapter members handled registration and other “behind the scenes” activities.
Monies raised from the event will be used to purchase equipment needed for the Gandel Rehabilitation Center located on the campus next to Mount Scopus Hospital in Jerusalem, joining with Hadassah Hospital, Ein Karem also in Jerusalem, plus the new Gandel Rehabilitation Center, which is heading towards completion. All are part of Hadassah
Honorees happily show their awards with the leaders of the Hadassah chapter. Hadassah Co-President Diane Schwartz, Honoree Elizabeth Dosoretz, Honoree Paula Brody, Honoree Susan Bookbinder and Hadassah Co-President Nancy Wiadro.
Medical Organization (HMO). The Rehabilitation Center was called into action on Oct. 7, 2023, by Professor Yoram Weiss, M.D. With only four out of 10 floors completed, Hadassah created a trauma hospital out of the parking garage
with other services and surgeries taking place in converted spaces.
Hadassah and Israel are related through Hadassah’s 113 years of activity and growth, including decades in pre-state Israel. As an organization, Hadassah led
the way to create a healthcare system in a newly birthed country. Now, HMO hospitals are recognized as world-class leaders in research, treatment and caregiving to people from all walks of life, nationalities, races and religions.
It took a village
TWe will feature the husbandand-wife team who wrote “The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z.”
he 2024-25 Greater Naples Jewish Book Festival will soon draw to a close. Only one event, which takes place on April 2 at 1 p.m., remains.
Carole Greene has written a delightful review of this book that appears on page 3A. Please plan to join us as this event promises to be a lot of fun.
By Robin Mintz, Greater Naples Jewish Book Festival Chairperson
Putting on the Greater Naples Jewish Book Festival involved many people; one might say it “took a village.”
“Behind the scenes” work on this year’s festival started last May when our volunteer “readers” began reviewing the many cartons of books and PDF files we received from the Jewish Book Council. Also in May, our “Selection Committee” comprised of Emily Berkowitz, Carol Hirsch and Susan Pittelman, along with Reneé and me, listened to nearly 300 authors present their books (for two minutes each!) via Zoom. Between these marathon Zoom sessions, we evaluated the author presentations, taking into account the book reviews from our readers. From there, we narrowed down the list, then extended an invitation to the authors we hoped to include in our festival.
Once the season was underway, Volunteer Chair Carol Hirsch recruited a cadre of dedicated volunteers. At each event,
teams of volunteers greeted guests at the door, checked-in guests and ushered them to their seats. Head Usher Spencer Forman and his dedicated team helped to seat between 250 and 420 guests efficiently and with a smile.
We all agree that food is a very important component of any Jewish gathering! Susan Pittelman and Joni Zalasky planned and executed the delicious, themed refreshments and decor that you enjoyed at each event. Pittelman, Zalasky and their talented team approached each event more creatively than the previous one.
All our volunteer moderators did an outstanding job both preparing for and engaging with each of our authors. We are fortunate to have “local experts” to facilitate our events.
And, of course, Program Director Reneé Bialek was with us every step of the way.
Robin Mintz
Check-in desk volunteers Dorothy Schwebel, Darlene Muller, Gayle Dorio and Jan Goldman
Book sellers Carole Greene and Burton Hirsch
ZIONISM:
An Indigenous People’s Struggle for its Ancient Homeland
GUEST PRESENTER: GUEST PRESENTER:
The Honorable Roy K. Altman MONDAY, APRIL 7 AT 7:00 PM
Everyone is invited to attend
The talk traces the history of the Jewish people on the land of Israel back to 1205 BC, explains the legitimacy of the State of Israel’s existence under international law, debunks the myths that Israel is an apartheid state, that Jews are colonists or occupying settlers in the Land of Israel, that Gaza was in any way occupied since 2005, and that Israel has been an impediment to a two-state solution, and conclusively refutes the blood libel that Jews are committing genocide in Gaza. In fact, as the lecture makes clear, Israel has been in full compliance with the Laws of War since October 7. Finally, the lecture explains how and why anti-Zionism has become the new antisemitism.
Free program. Please register so we can plan accordingly at www.jewishnaples.org
On April 4, 2019, Judge Altman was confirmed to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. At 36, he became the youngest federal district court judge in the country—and the youngest federal judge ever appointed in the Southern District of Florida.
Judge Altman received a BA from Columbia University, where he played quarterback on the football team and pitched for the baseball team—earning All-Ivy honors.Judge Altman received his JD from the Yale Law School, where he was projects editor of the Yale Law Journal. After law school, the Judge clerkedonthe11thCircuitCourtof AppealsfortheHonorableStanleyMarcus.
Judge Altman then became a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami, where he twice received the Director of the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys’ Award for Superior Performance by a federal prosecutor. In 2013, JudgeAltman was named “Federal Prosecutor of theYear” by the Miami-Dade Chiefs of Police and the Law Enforcement Officers’ Charitable Foundation.
Our “village” is rounded out by our very generous sponsors and patrons. Your financial support enables us to continue to bring outstanding authors to our community. It also helps Jewish Federation of Greater Naples further fulfill its mission.
Last, but certainly not least, are you, the members of our community. Thank you for enthusiastically attending and supporting this year’s highly successful Greater Naples Jewish Book Festival.
Food Prep volunteers Molly Getnick and Lee Henson
Ushers Sherry Greenfield, Spencer Forman and Linda Simon
Food Prep volunteers Lisa Lauber and Patti Badiner
Food Prep Chairs Susan Pittelman and Joni Zalasky
Joy is where you find it
Review of “The Joy of Costco” by David and Susan Schwartz
By Carole J Greene, Jewish Book Festival Committee Member
At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, the Jewish Book Festival audience will hear all about Costco. Authors David and Susan Schwartz will share stories about this global merchandiser and its history, from its founding in the early 1990s to the end of the authors’ peripatetic research that took them from 2016 to 2023. And from their home in New York City to all but a handful of the U.S. states plus 200,000 miles of foreign travel to visit Costco warehouses around the world. Welcome to “The Joy of Costco.”
The secret to why I enjoyed this book so much — never mind that I love to shop at Costco — lies in its subtitle: “A Treasure Hunt from A to Z.” Yes, finally, a book I did not have to read from front cover to back! I could, and did, open to a lettered section anywhere in the book and learn fascinating information about one of the world’s most successful retailers.
Take the section marked “C.” Here I found disparate facts grouped together only because each topic started with “C.” It began with Canada, moved on to Carts, followed by Cashews, then Caskets & Coffins (yes, they are different objects), then Chicken, China, Code of Ethics, Coffee, Costco Connection, Costco Services, Costco Wholesale Industries, and, finally, Credit Cards. Almost any one of
them could expand to a chapter all by itself. This testifies to the Schwartzes’ brilliant formatting concept: alphabetize their research findings so that if some part of the “C” section is a bit dull, readers will find other parts more scintillating.
Take, for example, the iconic rotisserie chicken that, from its inception, has never gone up in price. It began at $4.99 and still is, even though production costs have risen. According to the authors, the reasoning says a lot about how Costco is run: “Costco believes strongly that this unique member value is worth maintaining, instead of increasing the price and capturing as much profit as possible.”
Turn a few pages and find Code of Ethics. This set of principles governs all aspects of behavior. It is the foundation for the entire Costco organization. “Obey the law. Take care of our members. Take care of our employees. Respect our suppliers. Reward our shareholders.” A mere 19 words guide one of the world’s largest retailers. You will find a sign posting
a hot dog and soda (with a refill), at the Food Court, has not changed since 1985, when Price Club — which morphed into Costco — introduced this bargain at $1.50. Originally, they sold Hebrew National and Best Sinai, both kosher. In 1993, Conagra bought Hebrew National and Sara Lee bought Best Sinai. When the new owners raised prices, Costco decided to manufacture their own so they could manage costs. However, they are no longer kosher. But still yummy! Also interesting are the unusual hot dog toppings used in such places as Iceland, South Korea, or Mexico. (I won’t spoil it: page 142.) Want a hot dog fact to take with you? How about this: Costco sells seven times more hot dogs than all MLB baseball stadiums combined.
this code near the entry of every Costco warehouse, manufacturing facility, or other corporate building anywhere in the world.
Costco shoppers sometimes get hungry while strolling the aisles looking for treasures. Good thing the price of
This review only scratches the surface. Come to the event and learn many more stories about what is probably your favorite place to buy 36 rolls of toilet paper! Then ask the Schwartzes how they manage such bulk purchases since their NYC apartment is all of 475 square feet!
WHAT IGNITES YOUR CREATIVE SPARK?
When mind, body, soul, and senses all play together, you’re living the creative life. At The Carlisle Naples, you’ll encounter fascinating neighbors, stylish ambiance, chef-crafted cuisine, and a tantalizing array of creative activities and clubs to embrace. If the dance of life has a hub, this is it.
Visit TheCarlisleNaples.com and call (239) 388-3768 for a personal tour.
The Szyk Haggadah
By Arlene Stolnitz
The Haggadah (Hebrew:
, "telling;" plural: Haggadot) is a foundational Jewish text that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder. According to Jewish practice, reading the Haggadah at the Seder table fulfills the mitzvah incumbent on every Jew to recount the Egyptian Exodus story to their children on the first night of Passover (Wikipedia).
Who doesn’t remember the Maxwell House Haggadah of bygone days?
A staple in American Jewish homes, it was one of the most widely used haggadot of its time. Its unique popularity for generations sparked my interest. My curiosity led me to an exploration of haggadot through the centuries.
I already knew of the collection of my friend and teacher, the esteemed rabbi and biblical scholar, Mark Levin, of Prairie Village, Kansas. Rabbi Levin owns a large collection of well-known haggadot. He often speaks of famous haggadot, but the only one I ever l knew of was the Sarajevo Haggadah (1350), because I had read Geraldine Brooks’ novel, “People of the Book” with my book club.
In my research, I learned of many famous haggadot — The Golden Haggadah (1300), The Birds’ Head Haggadah (1300), The Rothschild Haggadah (1450), The Vilna Haggadah (1920), and
APRIL 12, 2025
Gabriel Fauré: Pavanne, Op. 50
Max Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46
many others leading up to the many contemporary haggadot of modern time.
Each one has a story of its own, which, if interest prevails, might be topics for my future articles in Federation papers.
While reading about these haggadot, one sparked my interest and seemed familiar. I recalled seeing the beautiful blue velvet cover on one haggadah in my father’s collection when I was growing up. Given to him as a gift, it was the Szyk Haggadah (pronounced “shik’) but, alas, it was only a reproduction of an early edition!
The Szyk Haggadah was created in pre-WWII Germany and was illustrated by Polish-Jewish artist Arthur Szyk in the manner of illuminated manuscripts of earlier time.
This quote by Szyk seemed to speak to me of the essence of his work. “I am resolved to serve my people with all my art, with all my talent, with all my knowledge.”
I started wondering just who Arthur Szyk was and why he was so influential in his time.
Born in Lodz, Poland, Szyk lived in London at the outbreak of World War II. He had experienced antisemitism firsthand when living in Poland in the ’30s. Szyk recognized the danger to the Jews of
OUR 32 nd YEAR!
NAPLES
Europe and used his art to fight fascism, antisemitism and bigotry. His illustrations and caricatures in political art became well known for their portrayal of the brutality of the Nazis. These illustrations were widely seen in popular magazines of the ’30s, such as Time and Look. He was a staunch advocate for Israel as a homeland for Jews.
In the mid ’30s, he began the most important work of his life, his illustrated Haggadah. “Art is not my aim; it is my means,” Szyk stated.
David Taylor, Violin
Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105
DATES FOR 2026: January 24, February 21, March 21, April 11
All concerts held at Moorings Presbyterian Church 791 Harbour Dr, Naples at 3:00 pm • Reception follows
It was clear to Szyk that the Nazis were the “new Egyptian taskmasters” bent on the annihilation of European Jewry. One article spoke of the original manuscript with swastikas painted on Egyptians and snakes attacking the Israelites. The Egyptians were portrayed as military leaders. However, prior to publication, the artist painted over all the swastikas in response to his publisher’s refusal to deal with the pressure of the controversy it would cause.
No swastikas are seen on any of the early editions or original artwork, undoubtedly painful for Szyk. There are some rare lithograph reproductions made
prior to his revisions that support his use of Nazi symbols.
Today, with our current challenges, we can look at the Szyk Haggadah with renewed interest.
Every year we read the same story, and I find asking myself the same question: “What lessons have we learned?”
Arlene Stolnitz, the “Jewish Music” contributor to Federation papers for the past eight years, has started a new series focusing on Judaic Folk Art. It will appear in Federation newspapers on an irregular basis. Stolnitz, a native of Rochester, New York, is a retired educator and lives in Venice, Florida
Arlene Stolnitz
RSVP today to experience the unparalleled lifestyle that awaits you at Eagleview.
Israel and Overseas 2024-2025 SPEAKER SERIES
Topic: Israel at Crossroads Post October 7
Sunday, November 3 at 3:00 pm NOV 2024
DEC 2024
Topic: How ALLMEP’s network is advancing civil society peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians
Wednesday, December 18 at 2 pm
FEB 2025 Ofer Bavly
Topic: Uplifting the Marginalized Israeli Druze Minority
Sunday, February 23 at 11:00 am
MARCH 2025 Akiba Covitz
Topic: Ultimate Allies: Current Tensions and Future Prospects in US-Israel Relations
Wednesday, March 12 at 4:00 pm
Topic: The Magical Story of Moroccan MuslimJewish coexistence
Tuesday, Jan 21 at 4 pm JAN 2025
APRIL
Become an IOC Patron for 2024-2025
LAST ONE
2025 Dina Kraft
Topic: Post-October 7th: Stories of Healing, Resilience, and Resistance
Wednesday, April 9 at 1:00 pm
ISRAEL SCOUTS IN THE SUMMER
All events will take place at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center Buy individual tickets at $18 or become a Patron. Patron Levels: Diamond, Gold and Silver.
TICKETS: WWW.JEWISHNAPLES.ORG
DIAMOND (Yahalom) PATRON
benefits ($500 per person):
• Guaranteed admission to all IOC events.
• Preferred seating at all events.
• Invitation to attend receptions with the speakers.
• Acknowledgement at the event
• The heartwarming feeling that you are supporting the Israel and Overseas Committee above and beyond the cost of event admission.
GOLD
(Zahav)
PATRON
benefits ($250 per person):
• Guaranteed admission to all IOC events.
• Reserved seating at all events.
• Invitation to attend 2 receptions with the speakers.
• Acknowledgement at the event
• The heartwarming feeling that you are supporting the Israel and Overseas Committee above and beyond the cost of event admission.
SILVER (Kesef)
PATRON benefits ($136 per person):
• Guaranteed admission to all IOC events.
• Acknowledgement at the event
• The heartwarming feeling that you are supporting the Israel and Overseas Committee above and beyond the cost of event admission.
Ido Aharoni Aronoff
Kari Reid
Peter Geffen
Rogen Stars; Jewish PBS princess; unicorns; and much more
Stars of David
By Nate Bloom, Stars of David Contributing Columnist
Editor’s Note: Persons in bold are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of this column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in, or identify with, a faith other than Judaism. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish.
“The Studio”
This AppleTV+ comedy series premiers its first two episodes on Wednesday, March 26. The eight remaining episodes of this first season will premiere on the following Wednesdays (ending on May 21). Of course, subscribers can view an episode, any time, after an episode premieres.
Seth Rogen, 42, stars as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of the floundering, near-broke Continental Movie Studios. Remick and his team struggle to keep movies “alive,” engaging in endless battles with difficult actors and writers and with craven corporate overlords.
The series’ strong supporting cast includes Catherine O’Hara, Kathyrn Hahn and Ike Barinholtz, 47. Almost all the guest stars this season play themselves. They include Zac Efron, Zoe Kravitz, Peter Berg, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Olivia Wilde and Charlize Thereon.
The series was created by Rogen and Evan Goldberg , Rogen’s almost lifelong creative partner. The duo cowrote the first two episodes and the season-end episode.
“Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light”
Here’s another late-March premiere series that I plan to catch up with this month — and you can easily catch-up with it, too: “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light” is based on the third (and final) novel in an acclaimed series about King Henry VIII (1491-1547) and Thomas Crowell, who was a longstanding right-hand man to the King.
It premiered on PBS on Sunday, March 23 and new episodes premiere the following Sundays through April 27. You can catch reruns on the PBS app (free for about a month after first airing).
The two first novels were dramatized by the BBC in two “Wolf Hall” series. Those two, critically acclaimed series got big audiences when they aired on the BBC and on PBS (in America). Damian Lewis plays Henry and Mark Rylance plays Cromwell.
The series was directed by Peter Kosminsky, 68, a top British TV program director. Lilit Lesser, 16, plays Princess Mary, Henry’s daughter. (Mary, also known as “Bloody Queen Mary,” took the throne following the death of her father and her half-brother).
Lilit Lesser is the daughter of Anton Lesser, 73. He’s a British Jewish actor who is best known in America for playing Qyburn, the evil scientist in “Game of Thrones.” (I don’t know if Lilit’s mother is Jewish).
Anton played Sir Thomas More in the first (2015) “Wolf Hall” series. Sir Thomas lost his head, literally, for opposing Henry’s break with the Catholic church so he could divorce Princess Mary’s Catholic mother.
“Death of a Unicorn”
Opening in movie theaters on March 28, Eliot (Paul Rudd, 55) works for Leopold, a pharmaceutical titan (Richard Grant) in “Death of a Unicorn.” On the way to Leopold’s rural home, Eliot and his teen daughter accidentally run into a unicorn (!). Not long after, Leopold’s stooges get hold of the carcass of the unicorn and discover that its flesh, blood and horn have magical curative properties, and they plan to make big money from the carcass. But there’s a magical revenge on the Leopolds! (No more spoilers!)
“A Minecraft Movie”
Based on the Minecraft video game, this live-action comedy adventure film opens in theaters on April 4. Here’s the premise: four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled thorough a portal to the wacky “Overworld.” They have to do many things to get back home — Steve (played by Jack Black, 55) helps them to this end.
Black’s late mother was Jewish and his father converted to Judaism. His wife, since 2006, is musician Tanya Haden , 53, and they have two sons. Haden’s mother was Jewish. A few years ago, Black said his sons went to Hebrew school.
“The Amateur”
Opening in theaters on April 11, “The Amateur” is a spy thriller based on a 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell, 90. Before becoming a journalist (Newsweek), Littell served in the Navy where he was a ship’s navigator and an anti-submarine officer.
Here’s the movie’s premise: Charles Heller (Rami Malek), a CIA code expert, loses his wife in a terrorist act. He realizes his bosses are doing nothing to find and kill the terrorists. He blackmails the CIA bigwigs to train him as a field officer, and he makes them stand aside as he hunts down his wife’s killers. Jon Berenthal, 48, and Michael Stuhlbarg, 56, have big supporting roles.
“The
Accountant 2”
This sequel to “The Accountant,” the hit 2016 movie, opens in theaters on April 25. Ben Affleck stars as Christian Wolff, an autistic accountant who often launders money for sleezy criminals. A Treasury agent asks Wolff to help her. He agrees and enlists his security expert brother, Brax (Jon Berenthal, again), to help him.
Diamond/Yahalom
Jack Abel • Albert Benchimol • Elissa Benchimol
Bill Benedikt • Myra Benedikt • Stuart Brown
Debbie Laites • Ben Z. Post
Nathaniel Ritter • Susan Ritter • Sarah Rockler
Gold/Zahav
Rosalee Bogo • Paula Brody • Harvey Cohen
Barbara Goldenziel • Gene Goldenziel
Merrill Hassenfeld • Ronald Kaplan • Jerry Kumin
Jane Schi • Paul Stein • Sharon Stein
Silver/Kesef
Martin Barber • Susan Bookbinder • Fran Goldman
Gayle Levy • Je Margolis • Alys Morande • Steven Podolsky
Judit Price • Anita Shapiro • Richard Shapiro • Carol Simon
Gene
Zahn
Melvyn Zahn
At the Holocaust Museum
HErin Blankenship President & CEO
ello! I am thrilled to join this community as the new President and CEO of the Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center. I have admired the Museum from afar as it has grown over the years and am honored to help advance its important work in Southwest Florida. We owe retiring President and CEO Susan Suarez enormous thanks for her tremendous accomplishments in developing the Museum into the leading cultural and educational institution it is today. She was generous enough to work with me for several weeks before she left to make the transition a smooth one.
For those of you who don’t know me yet, I most recently served as Deputy Director of The Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. During my tenure of more than 23 years, I managed the museum’s American Alliance of Museums accreditation process, developed and stewarded national and international partnerships, and created innovative programming in support of Holocaust education. It has been the highlight of my life to work with Holocaust survivors, liberators and their families; to preserve their stories and the precious mementos of survival; and to
share their stories of hope and resilience with others. Because of this, growing The FHM's permanent collection was central to my work — increasing from 1,000 objects to its current size of over 24,000 artifacts, artworks and archival pieces.
Triumph of Resilience event
I couldn't have joined the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center at a better time. My first few weeks here, I have had the opportunity to meet a number of our community members at our wonderful “Triumph of Resilience” event. The recent sold-out dinner honored Holocaust survivor Sam Harris, co-founder and president emeritus of the Illinois Holocaust Museum. We also shared the short film about Harris’ life, “An Undeniable Voice,” which was produced by actress and activist Sharon Stone. The film’s director, Price Arana, was on hand to introduce the film. Later, Harris and his granddaughter, Jessica Kreamer, discussed the impact he has had on her life.
thanks to Sam and Dede Harris and their family, our event sponsors and all who made this evening memorable. Net proceeds benefited the Museum’s education programs.
Museum programming
At the “Triumph of Resilience” sponsor reception, guests were treated to a preview of Harris’ remarks and met with educators whose students have been impacted through the work of the HMCEC. Our
Thank you for making Triumph of Resilience such a Memorable Evening!
Special thanks to Triumph Honoree Sam Harris, his wife Dede, family members Jessica, Julie, Jeremy and Jeff Kreamer, Price Arana, Triumph Sponsors, Patrons and all who attended in support of our Holocaust Education programs.
Triumph Sponsors
UpStander: Shelley and Steven Einhorn
Remembrance: Ellen and Alan Englander; Maureen and Arnold Lerner; Carol and Stuart Mest, Estelle and Stuart Price
Testimony: Sam Levin Foundation, Ashley and Anthony Solomon/The Ronto Group, Molly and Rich Yovanovich
Hope: Patti Bloom, Dede and Sam Harris, Gracia Kuller, Fran and Rob Nossen, Mindy and Jay Sterns; Publix Supermarket Charities
Inspire: Felicia and Ken Anchor, Silvie and Herb Berkeley, Nina and Michael Diamond, Paula and Ron Filler, Jo Ann and Lawrence Golden, Leslie and Steven Goodman, Deborah and Michael Greenberg, Rissa Grossman, Dottie McGovern, Susan and Nathaniel Ritter, Sandy and Fred Roth, Judy and Stanley Ruskin, Anne Schuchman and Stephen Light, Gail and Russell Smith, WGCU Public Media, Marjie and Scott Zucker
Take advantage of one of the Museum's many free public programs. Recently, we were honored to host two special programs: "The Women of Ravensbrück and the White Buses Rescue" and "The Holocaust in Salonika, the Jerusalem of the Balkans." Richard Ohlsson, president and creator of the Better Futures Foundation, shed light on the special 1945 rescue mission originally meant to help only Scandinavian women, but which eventually liberated 15,500 prisoners of more than 20 nationalities. Sam Varsano, whose parents were Holocaust survivors, spoke of the impact of the Holocaust in Jewish communities in Greece.
Nortman and Jack Nortman Remembrance Hall. “Upstanders” are people who make the choice to help those facing persecution and hatred. The stories we share are of upstanders whose international, national and local actions made a difference to those in need. Guests are invited to write and post a note on one of the panels sharing a message about upstanders they know.
Our current special exhibition, “Convincing the Masses: Propaganda at Home and Abroad,” is on display in the Estelle and Stuart Price Gallery through mid-August 2025. This original HMCEC exhibition features artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collection and materials loaned specifically for the exhibition. It illustrates the many ways propaganda was used during World War II by both the Nazis and the allies. The exhibition reminds us how important it is to “consider the source” regarding news and information. From common household goods to items commemorating special events, these items were used to help to build and secure loyalty among citizens and potential allies to that side’s cause.
When you visit, be sure to see the new “UpStander Profiles” exhibit in the F.E.
Tour the Museum
Did you know we have a variety of tours to help you explore the Museum? Self-guided tours are always complimentary with admission. Docent-led tours are now available by reservation on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 12:15 p.m. Visit our website, hmcec.org, to RSVP for the date of your choice.
Our private group tours are also a great activity for family, friends and organizations. Available by appointment when the Museum is closed to the public, you can choose from several program options while having the Museum to yourselves. Contact Julie@hmcec.org for more information.
To schedule a student field trip, please contact Katie@hmcec.org for more information. School tours are also held when we’re closed to the public and offer age-appropriate Holocaust Education programs and activities.
Finally, on Sunday, April 27 at 4 p.m., the community is invited to attend the Annual Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day Service. The program will take place at Temple Shalom (4630 Pine Ridge Road, Naples). The program is free and registration is requested at www.jewishnaples.org.
I look forward to meeting you and hope to see you soon at the Museum!
Radio Model Display
Propaganda Exhibit 1936 Olympics Display Case
Upstander - Romeo Dallaire panel
Upstand - Bielski Brothers Panel
Experience fine art and culture
Naples Fine Art Show returns April 12 and 13
Courtesy of Hot Works
Art lovers and collectors, mark your calendars! The Naples Fine Art Show, produced by Hot Works, returns on April 12 and 13 at the Naples Italian-American Foundation (7035 Airport Pulling Road, Naples). This highly anticipated event promises to be a weekend filled with world-class art, culture and community connection.
Recognized as one of the nation’s top juried art shows, the Naples Fine Art Show features an exceptional selection of fine art and crafts created by renowned artists from across the country. From paintings, sculptures and ceramics to glass, photography and wearable art, there’s something for everyone — whether you’re a serious collector or simply looking to find a unique piece for your home.
Meet acclaimed Jewish artist Jeffrey Jobe
Among the talented artists at this year’s show is skilled jeweler Jeffrey Jobe from Thomasville, North Carolina. With a background in historical archaeology and metals, Jobe specializes in hand-forged and braided metal jewelry, using a blend of traditional silversmith, blacksmith and goldsmith techniques.
Jobe’s passion for history and craftsmanship is deeply personal. His Jewish heritage traces back to Germany and
Poland, where much of his extended family was lost during the Holocaust. Despite this, he continues searching for connections and honoring his ancestry through his work.
Each of his pieces is meticulously crafted by hand, utilizing centuries-old techniques and tools dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. His designs draw inspiration from archaeological research, period texts, paintings and artifacts, including chain patterns based on shipwreck finds from 1715 off the Florida coast and button designs replicated from excavated colonial relics.
Jobe’s artistry extends beyond his own work — he also teaches apprentices and demonstrates his techniques at art shows, ensuring that these historic methods remain alive for future generations.
Supporting young artists
Beyond showcasing incredible fine art, the Naples Fine Art Show is committed to nurturing the next generation of artists. The Youth Art Competition, sponsored by the Naples Art Institute (formerly known as the Institute for the Arts &
Education), invites young artists (grades 6-12, ages 9-19) to submit their work for public exhibition and professional recognition. This initiative fosters creativity, encourages artistic growth and provides an inspiring platform for young talent.
A weekend of art, culture and community
With an intimate artist-focused setting, the Naples Fine Art Show offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage directly with artists, learn about their creative processes and discover original, handmade works of art.
The event is a welcoming, familyfriendly atmosphere, complete with delicious food and a vibrant cultural setting. The Naples Italian-American Foundation provides the perfect backdrop, blending fine art with the rich traditions of Naples’ diverse community.
Where: Naples Italian-American Foundation (7035 Airport Pulling Road, Naples)
Cost: Free Admission; $5 Parking (proceeds benefiting Boy Scouts of Naples and art education) For more details, visit www.hotworks.org.
The 80th anniversary of the end of WWII Let’s use this memory to create a better world
By Ida Margolis and Shelley Lieb
Among my interests are history and language. The year 2025 is the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and the anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. The historical significance of these two events can barely be comprehended. In addition to the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis (that is two out of every three European Jews) there were likely over 70 million casualties, both military and civilian. This is the deadliest conflict in human history, devasting for so many with consequences that lasted decades.
Many individuals have been quoted saying something similar to “Those who do not remember history are destined to repeat it.” There are many concerned that students today have little if any knowledge of history. And certainly, for many
reasons, we should be remembering significant historical events. They can help us make better decisions in the present and future; understand our identity, change current problems; and learn about our shared past and connectedness to humankind.
With all the important reasons to study history, it is fascinating that there is no single word from ancient Hebrew that directly translates to "history" in the traditional sense. When speaking about "history" in modern Hebrew, the word used is "historia," which is borrowed from Greek. The closest concept in Hebrew is "memory" (zikaron). Interestingly, the word “yizkor” (same word as the word for the memorial prayer many of us are familiar with) means “remember.”
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Thus, while history may refer to objective facts, memory seems to mean more. Our memories make us what we are. We are all links in a chain.
I saw a young man on YouTube say, “That is what Yom HaShoah should be all about.” It should be more than just a piece of history, although it is interesting that the date selected for commemorating Yom HaShoah is the anniversary of
the Warsaw Ghetto uprising — and that “memory” and “to remember” is what Yom HaShoah is all about. As the young man on YouTube suggested, we should use memory to help us build a brighter future and a better world.
Please attend the
Yom HaShoah commemoration this year on Sunday, April 27, at 4 p.m. at Temple Shalom. The reception for survivors and GenShoah members is at 3 p.m. What better time than now to work together to build a better world.
GenShoah extends sincere thanks to Susan Suarez for her years of support for GenShoah. Congratulations on all she has done for the Museum; contributions too many to mention. We all wish her much happiness and a fulfilling next chapter. GenShoah warmly welcomes Erin Blankenship, the new museum president and CEO. We look forward to working together.
There may still be time to register for the excellent Genealogy workshop that will be presented by knowledgeable member Hank Bitterman on Sunday, April 6 at 1 p.m. Contact liebro@gmail.com to RSVP. A show of historical interest, “Good Jew,” is being presented April 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 2 p.m. at the Norris Center at Cambier Park. Information can be found at www. good-jew.com. Register at Eventbrite with the code
The first step is the hardest. Reach out, contact me and we will work together to improve your life. I believe in the power of connection and the power of words, and you are welcome whether your issues are large or small.
15OFF for discount price or call the box office at 239-409-1588.
If you are a 2G or 3G, you can become part of history and our chain by writing your parents’ or grandparents’ story. An editor and help will be provided. Just e-mail GenShoahSWFL@hmcec.org. If you have any interest in preserving the history and memories of the Holocaust, you can join GenShoah. No charge and no obligation. You will always be welcome. GenShoah is only an e-mail away: GenShoahSWFL@hmcec.org.
Cheryl Alifeld, Shirley Besikof and Sarah Rockler
GenShoah Co-Chair Shelley Lieb presented a gift and special poem to outgoing Holocaust Museum President and CEO Susan Suarez.
Lee Henson and Paula Apsell
Ida Margolis and Shelley Lieb
Did your parents or grandparents survive the holocaust? An
opportunity for remembrance
By Ida Margolis and Shelley Lieb
The Jewish community of Southwest Florida will commemorate Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) in Greater Naples on Sunday, April 27, 4 p.m. at Temple Shalom. It will be a time for meditation, reflection and somber memorial.
We want to include the names to remember; the parents and grandparents of our local second (2G) and third (3G)
generations of the Holocaust. Please submit your name along with the names for remembrance by March 30 to genshoahswfl@hmcec.org.
Examples
• Rochelle Zelcer Lieb - Daughter of Auschwitz survivors Mayer Zelcer and Marta Zwecher Zelcer
• Ida Margolis - Daughter of
Auschwitz survivors Max and Janet Zuchter Moskowitz
Membership in GenShoah SWFL is open to the entire community. It is an affinity group of the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center and is for Holocaust survivor families and others who are interested in promotion of Holocaust education and human rights, preservation of the history and memories
of the Holocaust, connection with other second and third generation families and supporting the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center.
There are no fees or mandatory attendance. Programs of interest and a monthly newsletter are available to all members. For more information, make contact at genshoahswfl@hmcec.org.
Baker Senior Center offers three pillars of wellness
BDr. Jaclynn Faffer President/ CEO
aker Senior Center Naples (BSCN) is the only comprehensive senior center in the United States. It is also one of 111 senior centers to receive national accreditation from the National Council on Aging. Because of the wide range of programs and services offered, we have begun to develop a paradigm within which to frame what we do. At the end of the day, it is all about “wellness.”
wellness programs and services at BSCN.
No. 1: The Senior Center
Located on our first floor, the Senior Center is where we offer more than 40 diverse programs a week featuring opportunities for physical activity, social engagement and cultural enrichment.
With our many physical fitness and balance enhancing programs we encourage and assist our members so that they can become stronger, healthier and remain independent. Our programs that focus on creativity, intellectual stimula-
struggle when a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Our 4-hour evidence-based dementia respite groups provide opportunities for individuals in the mid to moderate stages of cognitive decline to be fully engaged in theme-based activities that encourage communication, light physical activity, creativity and engagement. Our caregiver support programs are a vital component for emotional wellness. It is here that we provide guidance, resources and a sense of community for those caring
being that they can remain in their own homes, aging safely and with dignity. Our licensed clinical social workers provide individual and group counseling, strengthening the emotional wellness of older adults who are struggling with life-cycle issues, such as loss and grief, relationship concerns, and mild anxiety and depression.
For more information about how Baker Senior Center Naples can help you along your journey, please visit our website, BakerSeniorCenterNaples.org or
Join us for brunch and learn how you can minimize taxes and maximize your charitable support of our Naples Jewish community. Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Location: Jewish Federation of Greater Naples
Panelists:
Edward E. Wollman, J.D., LL.M., CAP® Partner, Wollman, Gehrke & Associates, P.A.
Mia Hyatt, CFA®, CFP® Vice President, Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank (Naples Office)
Email: info@jewishnaples.org for more
There is a place for you at our table
By Lee Henson, Program Director
Come join us for a kosher seder at Beth Tikvah on Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m. Send in your check for a reserved spot ($90 for each member; $120 for each non-member). Reservations must be received by April 4.
You will not want to miss our warm, family seder led by Rabbi Chorny. Share this invitation with your friends in the larger community who wish to celebrate
with you. We are eagerly awaiting your call to 239-434-1818 and/or email to info@BethTikvah.us
We are located at 1459 Pine Ridge Road in Naples.
Beth Tikvah bethtikvahnaples.org 239-434-1818
NJC events open to the community
By Chuck Naumoff, Publicity Chair
Naples Jewish Congregation will hold its annual Passover Seder on Sunday, April 13 at the beautiful Cypress Woods Country Club. The Seder service will be conducted by Rabbi Howard Herman with a traditional Passover dinner following. The cost is $50 members/family; $60 guests/nonmembers; $35 kids, ages 12 and under. Order tickets online at naplesjewish congregation.org or mail your check to NJC, P.O. Box 111994, Naples, FL 34108.
Everyone is welcome to attend our Shabbat services, which will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday night April 4, 11, 18 and 25. Join Rabbi Herman, Music Director Alla Gorelik and our choir for song and inspiration at our home at the Unitarian Universalist Church (6340 Napa Woods Way, Naples). Worship together with the members of the small congregation with a big heart.
By Melanie Metzman, Temple Shalom Director of Development
There is something for everyone at Temple Shalom.
Celebrate Shabbat at Temple Shalom
Join us for a meaningful and uplifting Shabbat experience this April. Whether you’re looking for soulful melodies, a beachside gathering or a traditional service, we have something for everyone.
Soulful Shabbat – Friday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. Shabbat evening services at Temple Shalom
Oneg to follow. Kick off Shabbat with a fully musical service accompanied by the Temple Shalom Band. If you're celebrating a birthday or anniversary in April, Rabbi Miller will invite you up to the Locketz Bima to receive a special blessing (and a chocolate bar)!
Choir Shabbat – Friday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. Shabbat evening services at Temple Shalom
Oneg to follow. Experience the beauty of Shabbat with the Temple Shalom choir leading us in song.
Beach Shabbat – Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. Shabbat evening services at Lowdermilk Beach.
Celebrate Shabbat by the Gulf! We meet at the north end of Lowdermilk Park Beach. Bring a beach chair and join us for a breathtaking sunset service on the sand.
For more information, please contact the Temple Shalom office at 239-4553030. We look forward to celebrating Shabbat with you!
Shop for Passover!
Get ready for Passover with our beautifully curated selection of Judaica at the Sisterhood Gift Shop. To schedule an appointment, contact Amy Young at 973919-2918 or younga321@aol.com.
Got a zahbel keh? (match)
Zoog mir in Yiddish
By Sol Awend, GenShoah SWFL
It’s that time of year, and it’s hard to believe that Pysec’h (Passover) is just around the corner. If you’re Jewish and remotely celebrate Passover, memories just seem to percolate to the forefront of one’s mind about everything the holiday represents: freedom, joy, spring ... a new beginning.
Sol Awend
Me? Ich geh denk (I remember) the time I burned up our backyard.
The fact that I didn’t burn down my Jewish neighborhood was a miracle. To me, that was as close as the miracle of God parting the Red Sea. I was eight years old and attended Talmud Torah. Not that I
Tributes
was anything of a star pupil, but I did try my best to put what I learned into practice.
As is common knowledge, searching for C’hoometz (any food that contains leavening agents and is made from grains) the night before Deh Seideh (the Seder) is of prime importance.
According to ritual, pieces of bread are dispersed around one’s house. One lights a candle and looks for telltale culprits of leavening. To be honest, me walking around with that lit candle became a cause of concern, as my mom shrieked, “Voos tist dee!? D’est fah breneh deh shteep!” (What are you doing!? You’re going to burn up the house!) She
Tributes to the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Campaign
To: Anita Siegal In Memory of Gerald Peskind
May his memory be a blessing and bring you peace in this time.
From: Jane Schiff
To: James Knafo In Memory of Ester Knafo
May her memory be a blessing and bring you comfort.
From: Jane Schiff
To: Elliot Derfler In Memory of Helene Derfler
Helene was a friendly and caring person. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
From: Robert & Deborah Mandell
To: Spencer Forman In Loving Memory of Your Brother, Jeffrey Forman.
From: Jane Schihff
Tributes require a minimum donation of $18.
To place a tribute in FederationStarin honor or memory of someone, please contact Linda Sherman at the Federation office at 239-263-4205 or lsherman@jewishnaples.org. Tributes require a minimum donation of $18. A note will be sent to the person/family you are honoring. Tributes help further the work of Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.
was right, of course. Thank God my dad wasn’t home. It’s not hard to say what might have happened.
Talk about miracles ... following my search, I wrapped up the bread morsels and spoon. Falling asleep, I thought about the upcoming burnt offering. The next morning, my mom was busy preparing for Deh Seideh. She didn’t notice that I got zahbel kehs (matches) and was headed downstairs. I figured she had her work, and I had mine.
St. Louis, where we lived, had not yet welcomed spring. Backyard lawns were still brown, but that didn’t concern me. I laid the bag of bread in the center of the lawn, said the prayer, struck a match and started a fire. What was a religious experience turned into a disaster. The lawn started to burn.
I had no one who could help me, and the thought of becoming a part of the burnt offering was becoming an actual reality. The fire was hungry and beginning to spread.
Frantic, I looked at the back of the two-story apartment, which also was made of wood siding. Gratefully, I noticed there was a hose connected to a faucet. Running over, I uncoiled the hose and turned it on to full blast. Thankfully, water gushed out as I shlep’t deh kishkeh, (pulled the hose) and began spraying the fire. Gratefully, I put the fire out in the nick of time.
Not only was the chometz burned to a crisp but so was half the lawn.
Coming back into our apartment, my mom asked, “Fah voos shmeks’t dee fin royec’h?" (Why do you smell like smoke?)
In a shriek, she answered her own question and looked outside at the smoky lawn. “Voos ost dee geh teyen?!” (What did you do?!) Tearfully, I told her my maaseh (story) and made her swear silence to you-know-who.
That was some 70 years ago, and I knew why I was not allowed to light the menorah candles on the following Chanukah.
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Sephardic Charoset Will Rock Your Seder Table This Year
By Chef Dalia
One of my favorite childhood memories from the Passover Seder (besides receiving a new book as a prize for finding the afikomen) was that first bite of the sweet charoset in the traditional maror and charoset sandwich. After patiently waiting through the entire telling of the full story of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt, that first bite always gave me hope that we were getting close to the real meal.
When Passover begins in a few weeks (the first Seder is Saturday night, April 12), Jewish people around the world will celebrate the freeing of the ancient Hebrews from the slavery in Egypt several thousand years ago. The Jewish people left Egypt in such a hurry (and I would too if Pharaoh’s army were running after me!) that they didn't have time to let their bread rise. And so, modern-day Jews avoid bread and all yeast-raised products for eight days.
Passover memories are some of my most cherished from childhood, and I continue to embrace religious customs that focus around family, culture and food. The Seder tradition is something I’m passing down to my own children. This year, I hope my boys will be able to make it through all four questions!
Growing up, my parents would host Seder in our home. Our friends’ relatives would come over for a reading of the Haggadah and participate in the festive meal.
Every Passover, I would look forward to my Safta Dalia’s famous Sephardic
charoset, which I thought was the greatest! Can we all agree that charoset is the best part of the Passover Seder? Okay, searching for the afikomen is pretty fun, and the kosher for Passover chocolate cake for dessert is usually nice, but let's be honest, when you're two glasses of wine deep into a four-hour meal and all you've had to eat is some dry matzo and celery, that sweet, spiced mixture of fruits and nuts tastes pretty mouthwatering.
For most American Jews, charoset hardly varies. The mixture is made with chopped apples, chopped walnuts, sweet Passover wine, a little honey and cinnamon.
But for Moroccan Jews, the traditional staple is entirely different. Moroccan Jews know how to do food right in the most festive and colorful way. So, it is only natural that the Moroccans would do the Seder right as well! And definitely, Safta Dalia’s Moroccan charoset tastes different than other charosets and is amazingly good. The consistency is also different. While the apple and walnut version doesn’t much resemble a paste, Moroccan versions hold together much better.
My Moroccan Safta used dates in her recipe. They give it a much deeper taste than other charosets, but what really stands out is that this delicious paste is made into balls rather than left as a spread. What doesn’t taste better bite-sized?!
It was 40 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Every year, the evening before the Seder, my grandmother
Jewish Congregation of Marco Island P resents
Our 43rd Annual Congregational Passover Seider Saturday, April 12, 2025 P romptly at 6:30 P M
The Haggadah will be read by the attendees, led by Rabbi Mark W Gross and Cantorial Soloist Hari Jacobsen A Complete Traditional Passover Meal P repared By
Members of our Devoted JCMI Family
Entrée Brisket
* Attention, please contact office for Special Dietary Restrictions Visitors and Guests Welcome For Passover Seider reservations, please mail this form with your check, MADE PAYABLE TO JCMI, Jewish Congregation of Marco Island, Passover Seider, 991 Winterberry Dr., Marco Island, FL 34145, Or Phone: 239 -642-0800. Your check or credit card will hold your reservation.
Please indicate your seating preferences
Adults: Members - $60.00 Visitors/Guests - $65.00
Children 4-12: Members - $25.00 Visitors/Guests - $30.00
Children under 4 are Free
Name Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number:
Please seat at Table with:_________________________________________________
To ensure your seating preference, MAKE YOUR PAID RESERVATIONS EARLY – NO RESERVATIONS
ACCEPTED AFTER 3:00PM ON MONDAY, APRIL 4th, 2025 – NO REFUNDS
Dalia Hemed can be reached at daliahemed@msn.com.
would go into the kitchen with huge quantities of dates and nuts, and with her little old grinder, she prepared charoset in huge quantities.
On the eve of the holiday, she would place a huge bowl full of charoset on the counter of her restaurant. All the residents from the neighborhood, as well as her customers, would come with glassware and fill them with the delicious charoset. What wonderful memories of the old days!
Can you imagine? The recipe for charoset was her mother's original recipe from Morocco. She must have improved it a bit with Israeli ingredients. Years later, she gave me the recipe, and I modernized it, too.
And since then, Safta Dalia’s charoset appears on our Seder table as a guest of honor. In fact, the charoset is no longer a guest but a permanent tenant. It is sweeter, richer and makes us happy.
This may not be the charoset you are used to, but this recipe is so good and so easy to make. My husband describes it as a “little bit of heaven,” and boy, is he right!
Chag Sameach!
Sephardic Charoset
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup pitted medjool dates
1 cup grape juice or kosher wine (like Manischewitz)
3 tablespoons Silan (date syrup) or honey
1 tablespoon pomegranate juice
1/2 cup pecan halves
1/2 cup hazelnuts
1 teaspoon mint leaves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Finely ground nuts to roll the charoset into balls (optional)
Directions
Bring wine to a light simmer on medium heat, then stir in dried dates and cinnamon. Cook uncovered until dates are well hydrated and wine has reduced to thick syrup, about 15 minutes. Add salt to taste and set aside.
In a food processor, roughly chop pecans and hazelnuts in short pulses. There should be no whole nuts remaining;
a mix of large chunks and small crumbs is preferable or finely ground nuts to roll the charoset into balls. Remove nuts from food processor and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Add dates mixture to food processor and pulse until dates just begin to come together into a paste, approximately two-to-three 30-second pulses. Do not be afraid to over process until smooth. Transfer dates to mixing bowl and combine well with nuts. Stir in pomegranate juice and silan (date syrup) or honey. Serve at room temperature.
Optional
To serve as charoset balls (12-20 balls), take a piece of the mixture about the size of a large olive and roll into a ball. Roll it in the ground nuts and set aside. Continue with the remaining mixture until it has all been used.
To store, keep in a cool place, but don't refrigerate.
Decorate with mint leaves.
Personal Chef
Seniors on wheels fly the friendly skies
By Rabbi Barbara Aiello
Boom! Something hit the floor with a loud crash, waking Linda from her snooze. Linda raced to the bedroom closet, hoping that her husband, Dave, was OK. “No worries,” Dave shouted. “Just the suitcase that fell from the top shelf. I’m thinking about packing for our next trip.”
Linda and Dave had plans to travel to Chicago for their granddaughter’s bat mitzvah, a trip Linda believed they’d have to decline because of Dave’s orthopedic surgery several months ago. Linda shook her head. “Dave, we discussed this. A complicated trip with two connecting flights is out of the question right now.”
Dave wasn’t buying it. “Listen Linda, we’ll get to the airport and commandeer one of those wheelchairs. They’ve got dozens of them. You’ll give me a push, and we’ll be all set.”
Dave is half-right. Indeed, airports now have many wheelchairs, often different types for different mobility needs, but unlike decades earlier when a lone wheelchair could be used without reservation, government regulations and airport policies have joined forces to organize and execute a smooth experience for disabled travelers.
Thanks to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACCA), a federal law enacted by Congress in 1986, commercial airlines are prohibited from discriminating against passengers with disabilities. This means that travelers like Dave, along with nearly 250,000
airline passengers who need wheelchair service each year, can access procedures that make traveling by wheelchair less difficult and more pleasant.
I know this from personal experience. I’ve recovered from successful surgery, but the result is that I walk slowly and sometimes I’m unsteady on my feet. On a recent trip from Sarasota, Florida to my home in south Italy, I navigated four airports, three airlines, three countries and two continents, all by wheelchair and all successfully.
Preparation is the key. For me the requirements for Delta, KLM and ITA (formerly Al Italia) were the same. Online sites state that in order to request special assistance such as a wheelchair, passengers are encouraged to call the airport directly at least 48 hours before flight time.
Thanks to the ACCA regulation, airports are required to have staff dedicated to providing travel assistance to seniors. They will mark your itinerary “special assistance requested,” allowing the airline to prepare for your arrival.
Airlines request that special needs passengers arrive at the airport well in advance of their flight so that an assistant trained in wheelchair operation can be assigned to the traveler. This person will
remain with the traveler from check-in through boarding.
In Sarasota, I was assigned a wonderful assistant. Barry wheeled me through security with ease and offered to bring me to the bathroom door. In Atlanta, a charming young woman, Coco, asked if I was hungry and offered to wheel me to the deli choices. I waited while Coco kindly made my purchase.
When weather canceled my flight to Rome, Coco knew just where to take me to rebook another flight. Which I did. To Amsterdam! Although Holland was not on my original itinerary, Coco explained the situation to a most helpful Delta customer service representative who amended my itinerary so that I would have a wheelchair waiting for me when I arrived first in Amsterdam and then in Rome. There, I was escorted by Alessia who undauntedly pushed me from Rome’s Terminal E, through terminals D, C and B, all the way to Terminal A and my last flight home.
In addition to the in-person services offered by individual airlines, websites for each carrier suggest travel tips for wheelchair users, including information on special TSA screening procedures for seniors older than 75 as well as accommodations for those who wear special medical devices.
Recommendations for seat selection include choosing an aisle seat, which makes for easier access for both the disabled traveler and those seated beside them or in the same row. Choosing a seat near the bathroom or near the front of the plane can make navigating the airplane aisle as hassle-free as possible.
Before I experienced airline wheelchair travel, I was more like Dave than I’d like to admit. And like Dave, I hadn’t given careful thought to my mobility needs.
In the Torah portion, Vayikrah, we read, “You shall not place a stumbling block before the blind.” We interpret this prohibition to mean that we should not make life more difficult for those who are already challenged.
Thanks to governmental efforts like the Air Carrier Access Act, with planning and forethought, Dave can travel to the Chicago bat mitzvah and the rest of us wheelchair users can anticipate a successful experience “flying the friendly skies!’
For 10 years Rabbi Barbara Aiello served the Aviva Campus for Senior Life (Sarasota, Florida) as resident rabbi. Now, she is rabbi of Italy’s first Reconstructionist synagogue. Her most popular columns are now published in her new book, “Aging Jewishly,” available on Amazon books. Contact her at Rabbi@ RabbiBarbara.com
Rabbi Barbara Aiello
Center to provide Nova Music Festival massacre recovery, support and remembrance
Netanya, Israel (Feb. 24, 2025) –
UJA-Federation of New York, in partnership with the Tribe of Nova Association, has announced a permanent community center for Nova community members and survivors near Netanya. The new “UJA New York Nova House,” expected to open before the end of 2025, is funded through private philanthropy.
Located at Ya`ar Ha'ilanot, just east of Netanya, between Highways 2 and 4 near the Netanya railway station, the house will serve as a vibrant hub for survivors, members of Nova’s bereaved families, and their families, as well as for the broader public. This 10-million-shekel project, primarily funded by UJA-Federation of New York donors, will include a variety of services and programs aimed at helping the community rebuild. It will offer long-term recovery, sports, cultural activities, workforce development, and many other activities, benefiting an estimated 3,500 survivors and 2,500 immediate bereaved family members of the 411 lost loved ones, and in total, over 10,000 community members.
The UJA New York Nova House will offer:
• Community anchor and enrichment and empowerment programs – therapy workshops, seminars, and a variety of
programs designed to provide emotional and social support, including a unique mentoring companionship initiative.
• Training workshops – skill-building workshops to help community members thrive.
• Community recovery activities –cultural events, sports, dance, film, theater and social gatherings to aid in emotional recovery.
• Access to treatment – various forms of therapy and first aid support.
• Education and Commemoration Center – memorial exhibitions and memorials, open to host groups from Israel and around the world.
“It fills my heart to know that we, as a community of Nova survivors, will have a place to be anytime we are having a rough day or week, or want to volunteer and give back, and have consistency for a place of healing, learning and gaining coping tools,” said Rita Wonder, a 35-year-old mother of a 4-year-old child from Haifa, who survived the Nova festival. “I am sure the location will be a place of strength, where we help each other through the worst and celebrate the best to come.”
This project is being developed in partnership with Alin Beit Noam, an organization with expertise in providing therapies and support for individuals with disabilities
and special needs. They are establishing The Neighborhood of Unlimited Possibilities: A Utopia of Inclusivity for Humanity, a groundbreaking new center that unites individuals with and without disabilities, with various forms of trauma, fostering a comprehensive and inclusive society. The whole community is partnering with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
"The UJA New York Nova House stands as a powerful symbol of hope, resilience and the enduring strength of the Nova community. True to the Nova slogan, 'We will dance again,' this House will provide opportunities for the community to heal and grow together," said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of New York.
"The lack of a permanent location has limited our ability to expand our activities. Since October 2023, we have operated in temporary spaces, but a permanent House is crucial for the long-term healing and recovery of our Nova survivors. This center will provide a safe, flexible space that will grow with the community and allow us to support each other through every stage of this process," said Reef Perez, Chairman of the Tribe of Nova Organization.
For more information, go to the Tribe of Nova Foundation at https://www.tribe ofnova.com.
Birthright Israel Onward launches storytellers program
A space for Jewish creatives and thought leaders around the world
New York (Feb. 10, 2025) – Birthright Israel Onward is excited to announce the launch of its new Storytellers Program, designed to be space for every Jewish person — whether vocal about their Judaism or not — to explore their Jewish identities in the context of their spheres of influence given today’s polarized world. Through a combination of hands-on experiences in Israel, mentorship from global experts and incubator sessions, 80 fellows from around the world will gain the tools, knowledge and a global network to drive positive change in their industries and online communities. Fellows will deepen their connection to their Jewish roots, refine their storytelling and elevate their platforms.
Birthright Israel Onward is curating a select cohort of thought leaders, builders
and creatives at different stages of incorporating their Jewish identities into their platforms — whether they’ve never addressed it or already are integrating elements of their heritage and connection to Israel.
Both emerging and established leaders with an existing audience on digital mediums such as social media, podcasts, film, TV, news or radio are invited to apply. The cohort will include participants across industries including media, entertainment, art, fashion, food, science, business, law and social justice.
Registration is open until April 1, and applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis. To apply, visit https://birthrightisraelonward.com/our-programs/storytellers.
“The program’s primary goal is to help influential Jews integrate their Jewish
voices into their work, overcoming challenges such as the fear of alienating followers or facing online hate,” said Gidi Mark, CEO of Birthright Israel. “We view this as a long-term strategic investment for the Jewish people in an era where building digital influence is key to standing out as a leader.”
Track details
The program offers two specialized tracks for applicants between the ages of 18–35:
designed as an incubator for collaborative experiences and deep conversations around being a Jewish person of influence today. Participants, who already have an audience, will master the art of storytelling and can lead a workshop or performance related to their expertise. Flights are included.
1. Storytellers Reichman Fellowship –A four-week fellowship at Reichman University (IDC) in Herzliya, Israel, in July 2025. Led by global-experts, 40 selected fellows will dive into Jewish history and contemporary geopolitics, refine their storytelling and branding skills, and explore content creation across digital platforms while living in Tel Aviv. Fellows will pick between two specialized focus areas for their final projects: policy or creative. This fellowship is highly subsidized, costing only $499 for a month in Israel, including housing. Flights from gateway cities are included.
2. Storytellers Impact Incubator Journey – A fully subsidized, experiential 10-day journey through Israel for a handpicked group of 40 established Jewish thoughtleaders, builders and creatives from around the world. The trip will take place from June 30 to July 9, 2025. This program is
"As a Jewish female entrepreneur, this experience is an opportunity to unlock my power on my platform, extending beyond just fashion and lifestyle," said Ali Gropper, a 28-year-old celebrity stylist from Los Angeles, who will join the inaugural Storytellers journey this summer. I’m eager to make a tangible impact in the Jewish community both online and offline, and even more excited to experience this alongside influential, inspiring leaders who are shaping culture across industries and digital platforms."
Through the Storytellers Program, Birthright Israel Onward will provide participants with the tools, network and confidence to amplify their voices. The program will foster a new generation of prominent leaders across all fields, inspiring others to embrace their Jewish identity online. Program Director and Onward Alumni Jacqueline Korren said, “Every Jew has a story to share and deserves the opportunity to grapple with deep questions in a community of likeminded people. That’s why we created Storytellers.”
Ali Gropper Courtesy of Birthright Israel
UJA New York Nova House. Credit: Alin Beit Noam - Ilanot
Jewish National Fund-USA hosts annual Stand with Israel Luncheon in Naples
Naples, Florida (Feb. 25, 2025)
— On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Jewish National Fund-USA hosted its second annual Stand with Israel Luncheon at the Vineyards Country Club in Naples to thank local partners (donors) who are members of the organization’s Legacy Society and support the land and people of Israel through their long-term financial or estate plan.
The event’s featured speaker was Colonel Richard Kemp, a decorated military leader with 30 years of experience fighting terrorism in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones and who is considered to be one of the most respected voices in global security. Kemp defends Israel at the U.N., in the media, to national parliaments and political leaders, and on university campuses to counter the deluge of lies and misinformation spread about Israel via news headlines and social media posts.
“This is not just Israel’s war, it is also a war against the West and its democratic values,” said Kemp. “Anyone who is in a position to do so has a duty to stand up and expose the lies.”
Kemp’s keynote speech focused on the Israel-Hamas war and how Israel is fighting a war on seven fronts; the deeply overexaggerated casualty numbers provided by the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health; how Hamas uses civilians as human
shields; and how the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has taken extraordinary measures to provide Gazans with humanitarian aid.
“No country ever (that I know of) in a war has taken such steps to deliver humanitarian aid to its enemy population at the same time it’s fighting a war in the same place. This is unheard of,” added Kemp.
Attendees also heard from Jewish National Fund-USA’s Director of Planned
Giving, Florida, Robin Dermer, who highlighted Jewish National Fund-USA’s Build Together plan for Israel’s South and its Reimagine plan for Israel’s north,
and how the organization is consistently meeting the changing needs of Israelis living on (and currently evacuated from) the Gaza and Lebanon borders. She also demonstrated the organization’s Circle of Impact, whereby every project, initiative and program supports job creation, community resilience and economic development — key drivers of population growth in these frontier regions.
Jewish charity supports thousands of Ukrainian refugees to rebuild their lives
London (Feb. 25, 2025) - Three years on from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, humanitarian agency World Jewish Relief reveals the remarkable impact of STEP Ukraine, the U.K.’s largest employment program for Ukrainian refugees.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes. By March 2023, approximately 170,000 Ukrainians had arrived in the U.K. facing significant barriers to employment, primarily due to limited English proficiency. Recognizing these challenges, World Jewish Relief, which has a nine-decade history of supporting refugees, launched the STEP Ukraine program in August 2023, aiming to provide English language and employment training to Ukrainians escaping conflict.
Funded by the U.K. Government, STEP Ukraine has become the nation's largest employment program for Ukrainians displaced by war. Just 18 months from the launch of the initiative, World Jewish Relief reports more than 13,000 Ukrainian refugees have received intensive English language training and one-to-one employment support, with 99% improving their English language skills. As a result, 65% of participants are currently employed.
The scheme has aided many remarkable people including Alex Lidagovsky, a prominent Ukrainian sculptor whose studio was destroyed during the conflict. After being forced to flee from his home, Lidagovsky joined STEP Ukraine and was supported by World Jewish Relief to establish himself in the UK. He has since
secured high-profile commissions and was accepted into the prestigious Royal British Society of Artists.
At the heart of the program’s success is the shared refugee journey of Ukrainians and Jews. Founded in the 1930s, World Jewish Relief played a key role in the Kindertransport, the 1938 rescue operation that saved 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from the Nazis. During the 1940s and ’50s, the agency continued to support tens of thousands of Jewish refugees, many whose records are preserved in its archives. World Jewish Relief’s Chair, Maurice Helfgott, is the son of Sir Ben Helfgott, a Holocaust survivor who was brought to the U.K. after the war through a scheme devised by the charity. It is this legacy that inspires World Jewish Relief, many decades
“Since Oct. 7 last year, Jewish National Fund-USA has provided steady and farreaching support throughout our Homeland,” said Dermer. “Within one week of the terrorist attack, Jewish National Fund-USA helped evacuate and relocate over 63,000 Israelis from the Israel Envelope to safety. We supplied and delivered over 19,000 support packages to evacuated families and IDF soldiers. To ensure the security of those moving back home, we provided 270 new bomb shelters and 20 new emergency response centers are in various stages of construction. Four thousand people from the U.S. participated in our Volunteer in Israel Missions and harvested over half a million tons of food from local farms. All of us are partners in writing the next chapter in Israel’s miraculous story. Whatever you do, you will be leaving your legacy while ensuring a stronger, more secure homeland for future generations.”
To learn more about the many meaningful ways you can leave a legacy for Israel, call a Planned Giving specialist at 800-562-7526 or email plannedgiving@ jnf.org.
later, to continue supporting individuals fleeing war.
“Inspired by our Jewish history and values, we empower people within and beyond the community to build fulfilling and prosperous lives for themselves: the highest form of Tzedakah (charity). The outstanding success of this program is a testament to the courage and determination of Ukrainians,” says World Jewish Relief Chief Executive Paul Anticoni.
In addition to working with Ukrainian refugees, World Jewish Relief has supported more than 330,000 people inside Ukraine with lifesaving and life-changing assistance since the start of the war. To find out more about the Jewish response to conflict, crisis and disaster, visit www. worldjewishrelief.org.
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As Pesach approaches, I want to share this excerpt from the sermon I delivered after the deaths of Ariel and Kfir Bibas. It is vital that we show the world – Am Yisrael Chai – the people of Israel still live.
From February 21, 2025: Today a new Dead Sea flows in Israel. Not from the Jordan River. Not named for the lack of life within its waters.
It is sea made from the tears that have poured out without end over the last two days as we faced the horrific deaths of Ariel and Kfir Bibas.
Emotions swirl and bubble inside us as we wrestle with the anger, grief, rage and sadness that their deaths present for all of us. For so many, these two boys represented the complete lack of humanity and decency within our enemies. Who would take two children, ages 4 years and 9 months, at gunpoint from their home, drag them through the desert, along with their mother, and hold them in captivity?
million people, there has not been a single righteous Gazan to stand up and identify a hostage. Not one.
The confirmation of Ariel and Kafir’s deaths casts a shadow over us all. Many have been in a daze for the last two days, finding it hard to focus, emotions churning beneath the surface and avoiding the news or social media, knowing that those outlets will only enrage us further. How dare they be called captives and not hostages? How can anyone note their deaths without saying they were murdered? How is everyone on planet earth not weeping beside us!?
How are we to move on, to live and to experience joy with all this sadness?
Elie Wiesel spoke about the ritual they had within the concentration camps — to gather small bits of wax, bread and juice, that they could make Shabbat each week. When asked why, he said it was important, even in those bleakest of times to say L’Chaim, to life. To keep the spark of hope alive.
“Despiteallthat wehavesuffered, allthepainthat wefeel,the lastthing we should ever consider is to giveuphope.”
Along those lines, Rabbi Emil Fackenheim, created the 614th commandment: “Thou shalt not grant Hitler a posthumous victory.”
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Every time we saw protests lionizing Hamas, we asked ourselves, who would support those who would do this to young children? How much do they hate Jews that they can justify the abductions of Ariel and Kafir? It is a permanent mark of shame on the Red Cross, the U.N., Doctors Without Borders and every other nonprofit that failed to search or show compassion for these two red-headed boys.
At the same time, their faces filled with life gave us hope. We hoped and prayed until the final confirmation that somehow, some way, they would survive this terrifying ordeal and return. That at least one Gazan would have the courage of those Germans who stood up during Nazi Germany, risking their lives to save or protect Jews, and they would help save this mother and her two boys. There is an entire forest in Jerusalem dedicated to the Righteous Among the Nations — to those who resisted the Nazis. Among 2
Despite all that we have suffered, all the pain that we feel, the last thing we should ever consider is to give up hope. To forget our rituals. To leave behind the traditions that we have been carrying on for generations.
Every time we celebrate Shabbat or a holiday, every time we say a blessing, every time we sing a prayer, we show that our enemies have failed. That includes everyone from the Babylonians and Romans to the Nazis and Hamas. For as long as we embrace our Judaism, we remain the ultimate victors.
While the joy of Passover may not reach the heights of years past, know that should your voice crack or tears stain your cheeks, they are but marks that we have not forgotten those we have lost. They remain with us. Ariel, Kfir, and all those whose lives have been taken during this bloody conflict, and by our enemies across the generations. With our hearts and our voices, we will honor them all by showing that our enemies have not won. We live on. Am Yisrael Chai Rabbi Adam Miller serves at Temple Shalom
Hosting a humanistic, traditional Passover celebration in a virtual world
ARabbi Howard S. Herman DD
s our world becomes more digital, when it comes to celebrating Jewish holidays, the challenge of maintaining the essence of traditional celebrations like Passover becomes increasingly significant. Passover, our time-honored celebration of freedom, is rich with rituals, stories and family gatherings. Despite the shift towards virtual interactions, it is possible to preserve the humanistic, familial and traditional aspects of this meaningful celebration.
One of the key strategies for maintaining a traditional Passover celebration in a virtual world is to embrace the technologies available. Video conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet allow families and friends to come together virtually, regardless of geographic distances. The following are some simple steps.
Virtual Seder – host a virtual Seder where participants join from their respective homes. Assign different parts of the Haggadah to various family members, ensuring everyone has a role and feels involved.
Shared digital resources – utilize digital Haggadot and other Passover resources that can be shared over screens. Websites and apps dedicated to the celebration of Passover can offer inventive interactive and engaging ways to follow our important traditions.
Pre-meal prep – coordinate with family members to prepare the same recipes in different kitchens. Share the cooking process virtually, making it a collective, engaging experience.
Even in a virtual setting, the humanistic aspects of Passover can be preserved by fostering connection, empathy and shared experiences:
• Emphasize storytelling, a core element of Passover. Encourage family members to share personal stories of liberation and perseverance, drawing parallels to the biblical Exodus story.
• Engage everyone in rituals such as the four questions, the breaking of the middle matzah, the ritual of Miriam’s Cup, and the search for the afikomen. These activities can be done in a way that involves all participants, even via a screen.
• Use the Social Justice Readings on the Four Cups. With each cup of wine, these readings ask us to think about our own ability to create redemptive change in the world.
• We can also introduce thoughtful questions like these:
1. Traditionally, wine is intended to
signify joy. What makes this Seder joyful for you?
2. Freedom is the primary theme of Passover, what freedom are you celebrating tonight?
3. Four is a key number in the Haggadah. Can you name some things in your life that have come in fours?
• While physical hugs may not be possible, virtual hugs and toasts can create a real sense of closeness. Raise a glass together to celebrate freedom and unity.
Passover is a time for family, and maintaining these important bonds is crucial. Here are some ways to ensure the celebration remains familial:
• Involve grandparents, parents and children in the virtual Seder. This helps pass down traditions and stories, reinforcing family connections.
• Share family photos and memories related to past Passovers. This can be done through a virtual slideshow or by simply holding pictures up to the camera.
• Singing traditional Passover songs together, even virtually, can enhance the sense of unity and joy. Create a shared playlist and sing along.
The traditional practices of Passover, from the foods eaten to the prayers recited, can still be upheld in a virtual celebration. Encourage each household to set their table with the Seder plate and all necessary ritual items. This creates a shared visual experience, even via electronic screens.
Maintain the traditional order of the Seder, using the Haggadah as a guide. Assign different sections to various participants, in different places, to read aloud.
Share recipes (perhaps family recipes) in advance so everyone has the same traditional foods, from matzah ball soup to charoset, enhancing the sense of shared experience.
While the virtual world presents challenges, it also offers opportunities to innovate and keep traditions alive. By embracing technology, fostering human connections, preserving familial bonds and honoring traditional practices, we can ensure that our Passover celebrations remain meaningful, humanistic and deeply rooted in tradition, no matter the distance.
May you have a zissen Pesach.
Rabbi Howard S. Herman DD serves at Naples Jewish Congregation.
Passover: A festival of freedom in a world still yearning for liberation
ARabbi Ammos Chorny
s we prepare to celebrate Passover, the Festival of Freedom, we are reminded of the timeless themes of liberation, justice and the unyielding human spirit. Each year, as we gather around the Seder table, we retell the story of the Exodus — a narrative that transcends time and geography, speaking to every generation about the struggle for dignity and the right to live as free people. This year, however, our reflections on freedom come with an acute and painful awareness. While we celebrate our historical redemption from bondage in Egypt, we cannot ignore the harsh reality that
freedom remains elusive for many in our world today. From oppressed communities struggling under tyranny, to political prisoners held without justice, the story of the Exodus is not merely ancient history, it is a call to action.
For the Jewish people, this Passover carries an especially heavy weight. The tragic events of Oct. 7, 2023, brought unspeakable suffering and the anguish of those still held in captivity weighs on our collective heart.
The Torah teaches us, "You shall not oppress the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 22:21). Our own history of oppression makes us deeply sensitive to the plight of the captive and the persecuted. This year, as we declare "Next year in Jerusalem!" our voices are filled with prayers not only for spiritual redemption but for the safe return of our brothers and sisters who remain in captivity.
Passover is more than a commemoration of the past — it is a reaffirmation of our values. Judaism holds freedom as a fundamental principle, not only as a national memory but as an enduring moral imperative. The Exodus reminds
The Exodus reminds us thatoppression,inanyform, is an affront to humandignity.
us that oppression, in any form, is an affront to human dignity. That is why we cannot turn away from those who remain shackled — whether by physical chains, oppressive regimes or the injustice of silence and inaction.
As we dip our fingers into the wine for each plague, we acknowledge that
our own joy cannot be complete while others suffer. As we eat matzah, the bread of affliction, we are reminded that our redemption came only through divine intervention and human resilience. And as we open the door for Elijah, we express our faith in a future where all will be free.
May this Passover inspire us to work toward a world where the cries of the oppressed are answered, where captives are swiftly reunited with their families, and where the light of freedom shines for all. In this season of redemption, we pray fervently for the safe return of those who remain in captivity, for peace in our homeland, and for a world where liberty is not a privilege but a universal right.
Chag Pesach Sameach — May this Passover bring renewal, hope and, above all, freedom!
Rabbi Ammos Chorny serves at Beth Tikvah.
How was Temple Shalom’s volunteer mission to Israel?
"HowDeborah Rosen Fidel, JD, MAJPS Executive Director
was your trip?” Dozens of people have asked me this question since we returned home on Jan. 31 from the third Temple Shalom volunteer mission to Israel with EVP (Emergency Volunteers Project). I don’t really know how to answer, because I am still sorting out a jumble of conflicting emotions. However, the joy and satisfaction that I felt every time one of the IDF soldiers smiled and thanked us (!) for being there and making them a special meal was a great feeling — pure and simple.
It was beyond fulfilling to meet and personally thank the Israeli Air Force helicopter pilots who rescued and returned hostages from Gaza and flew a daring and covert mission in which Israeli special forces dismantled an Iranian missile factory in Syria last September.
A barbecue lunch sounds like such a small gesture in the face of such immense heroism, but they appreciated that every steak and shawarma was made with love by our team from Temple Shalom. They were also delighted to read all the cards made by our YESh students, which we used to decorate the picnic tables.
We were speechless when we learned that we were the very first civilians to step foot on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, captured by The Israeli Air Force’s elite Shaldag unit in December. We met the reservists of the Alpinist unit who were serving on the mountain top, in the snow and the cold, far from their homes, families and jobs.
I was proud to be part of a community that stepped up to the plate and donated the necessary funds to buy them heavy-duty, warm boots and specially insulated outerwear. Their gratitude was palpable, but we were the ones who felt indebted to them for their service.
It was such a privilege to prepare a beautiful barbecue and share a meal with the young men and women soldiers of Oketz, the IDF canine special forces unit on their training base. We walked
of burnt cars memorial, made of almost a thousand bullet-ridden and burnt cars whose owners had been brutally attacked at the Nova Music Festival. We heard the accounts of survivors of that “Black Shabbat” that made us gasp and cry.
among the stone markers in the dog cemetery on their base and heard incredible stories of the many soldiers whose lives were saved by their four-legged friends.
As we had on our previous trip, we visited the sites of the Nova massacre and the battle for the police station in Sderot. We also stopped at a memorial to the young female lookouts or “spotters,” created by their parents, and the wall
We went to Hostages Square on both days hostages were released during our stay. I don’t think there are words in the English language to adequately capture the way I felt when I saw the helicopter carrying 80-yearold “Saba” (Grandpa) Gadi Mozes land on the roof of the hospital nearby. My heart filled with relief and joy for his family and then broke into pieces as I remembered how many of the people
gathered all around me would have to continue waiting in agony for their loved ones to return.
In addition to feeding soldiers, we cleaned the children’s area at Kibbutz Neot Mordechai (near the border with Lebanon) where Naot sandals are made. We also toured the Knesset and met with Speaker Amir Ohana before paying our respects to the recently fallen at Har Herzl, Israel’s Arlington Cemetery. So, how was the trip? Since I started writing this article, I figured out how to answer the question. It was intensely satisfying and meaningful, and I can’t wait to do it again!
If you think you might like to join me on a future trip, please let me know as soon as possible. You can reach me at Dfidel@naplestemple.org or 239-455-3030.
Celebrate Pesach with us
PCharles Flum
President
esach is just around the corner. Time for matzah, gefilte fish, four cups of wine and more at our Sedarim. Speaking of Sedarim, Naples Jewish Congregation is holding
a community Seder at Cypress Woods Country Club at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. Rabbi Herman will conduct the Seder. If you would like to attend, go to NaplesJewishCongregation.org, scroll down a bit and click on “Annual Passover Seder” Click the link to pay. Tickets are only $60 per person. Checks are acceptable if mailed by April 1. Click the link to pay by credit card. The deadline is April 6, so get your reservation in right away. Pesach is a time when freedom is in the forefront of our thoughts. May all the
At Beth Tikvah
MShelley Goodman BETH TIKVAH
Jewish community’s most enduring rituals because Passover is at its heart a festival of liberation and the journey towards freedom that we take together as a society.
hostages be freed. May people everywhere have the freedom to live healthy and productive lives.
I would like to invite you to any of our services. The schedule can be found at the website mentioned above. Every (and I am not exaggerating) guest has said that we are a very warm and welcoming congregation. Come and experience our hamishness for yourself.
Interesting facts about Pesach
According to the Talmud, matzah must be made from one of five grains — wheat, barley, spelt, oats or rye. Otherwise, they cannot be used during the holiday. These grains ferment when water is added, since leavening is forbidden. Rambam added rice because he said rice putrefies when water is added, so there is no leaven. However, Ashkenazi Jews do not follow Rambam in this case. Sephardic Jews follow Joseph Caro, a Sephardic Jew, who said rice and legumes are okay on Pesach.
out of peanuts and there is no possibility of flour in its making.
Liquors made out of the five grains are forbidden on Pesach. However, alcohol made out of other ingredients, such as vodka, are permissible.
Originally, Pesach was two holidays. Chag HaPesach (Festival of the Paschal Lamb) is older than Chag Hamatzot. After the Exodus, which also occurred in the spring, the two holidays were merged onto Pesach.
Lastly, a Pesach joke
A Jewish airplane manufacturer conceived of a new plane. However, when they took it out for its first trial, the wings fell off. Back to the drawing board. The second attempt went the same as the first, the wings fell off. So did the third. The airplane manufacturer was beside himself.
arch was a month of constant activity. Rabbi Elson was our Scholar in Residence. In addition to conducting services, he spoke to the congregations on the topic of artificial intelligence and inspired us with a discussion of how, by living in the moment, we could hold onto the memories
Rabbi Chorny conducted a very interesting class for several sessions explaining how one could navigate technology through the lens of Halacha.
Amici Music returned to Naples, entertaining and teaching us about Jewish Jazz, and The Phil Jason Speaker series highlighted talks by Joyce Schrager and June Sochen on world events as well as Stuart Mest who spoke about medical driven genocide during the Holocaust.
Beth Tikvah partnered with Jewish Federation of Greater Naples to create a community collaboration and a bright future for the Naples Jewish Film Festival. Four films were shown and a fifth was added for those who subscribed to the series. Once again, the event was well-attended and a great success. This new collaboration will allow the festival to continue its tradition while broadening its reach and appeal to an even wider audience.
April is upon us and our winter residents are leaving to resume their lives up north. Much like summer camp, we find ourselves saying goodbye to days packed with activities as well as many dear friends. We wish all who are leaving Naples a healthy, happy few months. Travel safely and come back to us soon.
April is a busy month full of all things Passover. Passover Seder is one of the
On April 12, on the Eve of Passover, an excited crowd of members and nonmembers will gather to celebrate a kosher Seder. The food will be catered by Aroma and served by Chef Herb and staff from Prestige Catering. Rabbi Chorny will conduct the traditional Passover service enhanced by music and song provided by his family.
Prior to the Seder night, Arlene Levin will conduct a class to demonstrate some of her favorite Passover dishes. Space is limited and reservations are required. If you are interested in attending the class or the Passover Seder, go to www.bethtikvahnaples.org, contact office@bethtikvah.us or call 239-434-1818.
All Beth Tikvah events are open to the Greater Naples community. We hope you will come and celebrate with us by reserving at office@bethtikvah.us.
As always, it takes a village to raise a community. We are very grateful to all who willingly volunteer to make Beth Tikvah the warm welcoming sacred place for all who enter to pray and learn. It is our honor to work together to continue to grow with pride in our past and faith in our future.
April happenings
• April 8 – Arlene Levin demonstration of Seder dishes
• April 12 – Passover Seder, 7 p.m.
• April 19 – Passover Last Day –Yizkor, 9 a.m.
Religious services
• Friday services – 6:15 p.m.
• Saturday services – 9:30 a.m., concluding with a Kiddush luncheon
We convene Yahrzeit minyanim upon request.
You may reach Rabbi Chorny directly at 239-537-5257.
For Ashkenazi Jews, peanut oil is allowed, but peanuts are not. Peanuts might be made into flour and due to confusion, may be used, as legumes are not allowed. Peanut oil is okay as it is pressed
One day he was talking with his rabbi and told him about his problem. “Put holes all along the wing next to the fuselage,” the rabbi advised. “How will that help?” asked the manufacturer. “Have you ever seen a piece of matzah break along the holes?” asked the rabbi.
Hope everyone has a zissen Pesach.
We warmly invite all grandparents of children with special needs to a unique networking event:
Thursday, April 24 | 10-11:30 a.m. At the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center Register for this free program at www.jewishnaples.org
This is a wonderful opportunity to:
• Connect with other grandparents who understand your journey.
• Share stories and advice
• Learn about local programs and support available
• Build a supportive community Why Attend?
• Support: Gain emotional and practical support.
• Community: Be part of a caring and understanding group.
• Resources: Access valuable information and resources.
Our teens officially kicked off their spring term on Saturday, Feb. 8, by attending a hockey game. That night, the 16 teens watched the Florida Everblades take on the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at Hertz arena. The BBG’s bonded with their prospects while sitting together and talking about school and other hobbies. The AZA’s bonded over the three ensuing fights between the hockey players.
Hosted by Jonah Miller, the AZA’s watched the Super Bowl game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9. They enjoyed watching the game together, eating delicious snacks, and welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles as the new 2025 Super Bowl champions.
The BBGs hosted a Galentine’s Day party at the BBYO Lounge on Sunday,
Feb. 16. The girls made DIY sugar scrubs while watching a rom-com and eating delicious sweets.
Two of our teens, Adam Berman and Kendal Massie, attended BBYO’s International Convention Feb. 13-17 in Denver, Colorado. They were able to connect with other BBYO teens from across the country and world while learning leadership skills and celebrating Shabbat.
We hope you all have a nice, easy Passover holiday with your friends and family.
Upcoming events
More details on all upcoming events to follow. Please keep an eye out for emails regarding all upcoming Naples and Fort Myers BBYO events.
What is BBYO?
BBYO is a diverse and inclusive Jewish youth group to encourage Jewish teens to become more immersed and interested in meaningful Jewish activities and programs. This organization accepts Jewish teens attending eighth through twelfth grades of all backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender, race, denominational affiliation or socioeconomic status. BBYO currently reaches over 70,000 teens worldwide, with participants in over 60 countries and hundreds of chapters across the United States.
financial support, volunteers and community involvement opportunities for the BBYO teens. We thank each and every one of our BBYO Alum, friends and other supporters for making this a safe and positive environment for the teens of BBYO Naples and Fort Myers.
Supporting our teenage Jewish community
It is crucial to engage teens post-B’nai Mitzvah age in Jewish activities. Having teens get involved in BBYO and be eager to create and confidently continue their own Jewish community within their greater Jewish communities is critical to our future.
The BBYO chapter of Naples has entered its 11th year of partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, Temple Shalom, Chabad of Naples and Beth Tikvah. Each organization provides
If you know of someone with a teen who might like to join BBYO Naples or Fort Myers or know of someone who may want to be an advisor to our chapters, please email me at cschreier@bbyo.org. You can also follow us on Instagram @ Mishpacha_BBG and @Negevaza. Scholarships to attend BBYO conventions and summer programs are available through both Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and the Temple Shalom Men’s Club. Please contact me for more information on scholarships. If you are a BBYO Alum and would like to be included in our Friends and Alumni of BBYO mailing list, please email us at mjs0821@aol.com.
Bringing together the local Jewish student community
By Rabbi Mendel Gordon
Spring semester at Florida Gulf Coast University has been full of Jewish pride and joy for the students, with full houses every week for shabbat and an exciting welcome back barbecue.
A big Challah Bake on campus was full of fun and laughter, as students learned new challah braiding techniques and tried to compete on the best challah topping. And, of course, food for the soul, as we explored the significance of the challah ingredients and discussed how lots of other fun things are crazes and fazes, but being Jewish is who we are and with us for life.
The girls had two amazing craft nights. They designed gorgeous mezuzah cases using resin, which they can use to beautify the doorways of their dorm rooms and illustrate a masterpiece of Jewish connection.
In honor of Tu Bishvat, they put together fruit charcuterie boards, exploring the fruits of their Jewish involvement. They went beyond the basics and put in extra effort to make our connection with Hashem sweet and enjoyable.
Our weekly minyan for Israel, which the guys host in the dorms, has been going strong, making every part of campus a holy place.
Lots of amazing Jewish learning has happened, where students go above their busy class schedules and explore their heritage. So far this semester, we have had mini courses on:
• Jewish tips to happiness
• Secrets to success
• 10 keys to a purposeful life exploring 10 basic mitzvas
• Soul maps, learning Jewish mysticism
and using that to overcome life’s challenges We are looking forward to large student Passover Seders this year on April 12 and 13. Please reach out if you know of a local Jewish student looking for a place for Seders.
Chabad services Jewish students of all levels of observance at Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Southwestern and other college age students in the area. If you know any Jewish students at FGCU or other nearby colleges, please reach out to connect them with the local Jewish student community. For more information or to help make that connection, contact me at Rabbi@ chabadfgcu.com or call 239-355-8481.
Get ready to prepare the feast and share in the seder. And don’t forget the matzo ball soup! Start planning your Passover meal with recipes for traditional favorites.
