JJN March 2018 by JewishLife Magazine

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Jacksonville Jewish News • March 2018

federation news

Shlicha Corner: Happiest month of the year is coming BY SHELLY SHALEV

Community Shlicha jaxshlicha@jewishjacksonville.org

Shalom everyone! Taking the time to reﬂect each month about the upcoming month is a little gift that I value for having the JJN as my gateway to the community but also to arrange my thoughts for what’s next to come on our Jewish calendar, we are marking Chodesh (month) Adar which in this month we say “‫ןיברמ רדא סנכנשמ‬ ‫ ”החמשב‬- when Adar arrives we increase our joy. There are so many celebrations to look forward to this days, but my all time favorite is deﬁantly Purim - the happiest most colorful holiday, the time when all of the streets of Israel are full of happy people wearing fun and wild costumes that gives you a sense of the Israeli ethos of the year, where we are commanded to celebrate, and joy and to just love. So, what makes this month and Purim so great? In the Esther scroll, we are witnessing the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to Mordechai, Haman and King Ahashverosh - every single one of them represents a stream in our society which is being represented until this very day in our modern society.

Mordechai is a believer, he loves and respects the fact that we are controlled by an higher force that is not our own and he is not shy in showing it as a practicing Jew, Haman for the other hand is all about Humanism - we are our own god and with that being said, no religion should exist and with that he tried to ﬁnd a way to annihilate the Jewish people, and then we have King Ahashverosh that is all about power and control and by promoting Haman shows he is not that clever but has a good sense of right and wrong after exiling him from Paras.

Upcoming event with our Community Shlicha

March Jewish Java to focus on work, impact of Federation

Mindfulness meditation

BY ISABEL BALOTIN

When: March 11 at 4 p.m. Where: JCA

Shalom Jacksonville Director

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Shalom Jacksonville’s March 7 Jewish Java will feature Federation president Kenneth Jacobs and Alan Margolies, Federation’s executive director. This will be an enlightening and educational morning for Ken Jacobs all who want to learn more about the good works of the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville. Ken will speak on Alan Margolies the Federation’s sacred work and the impact the money raised has on improving the lives of people locally and throughout the world. Alan will share the details of the recent merger of the Jewish Foundation and the Federation. Please join us for Jewish Java on Wednesday, March 7 at 9 a.m. at the River Garden’s Cohen Auditorium. The morning begins with a complimentary bagel brunch followed by the program.

Java Continued from pg. 5 memoration of Yom Hashoah, Tommy Cohen will share his experiences hiding from the Nazis in Leiden, Holland while separated from his parents who were hiding in Rotterdam under the stairwell in the home of a friend. A fascinating story. Wednesday, May 2- Michelle

Everyone is invited to join us for this program held the ﬁrst Wednesday of every month. Jewish Java is a joint program of the Jewish Federation and River Garden Senior Services. Please RSVP to Isabel Balotin, 904-448-5000 x1206 or shalomjax@jewishjacksonville.org Money raised from the Jewish Federation’s 2018 campaign will allow our partner organizations to meet the needs of our growing Jewish community. The JCA- Jewish Community Alliance to expand services to Julington Creek and Beaches to accommodate the growing Jewish population Jewish Family & Community Services will increase services provided to more than 87 Holocaust Dr. Ken Power of Positive Aging Part 1 10am Cohen Auditorium survivors living in our community River Garden Senior Services will expand home healthcare program to allow seniors to age in their own homes. Martin J. Gottlieb Day School and Torah Academy of Jacksonville will receive money to increase tuition assistance to provide more children with a Jewish education. Additional allocations went to our local synagogues, Chabad and Youth Programs. Over $600,000 is sent to Israel and overseas to protect and enhance the well-being of Jews in more than 70 countries worldwide.

Pargman, licensed Mental Health Counselor will present a dynamic presentation on coping tools for the mind, body and soul entitled, “Tools for the Whole Mishpucha ( Family)” If you are new to the community or newly interested in getting involved, please contact the Jewish Federation’s Shalom Jacksonville director, Isabel Balotin, 904-448-5000 x 1206 or shalomjax@jewishjacksonville.org.