Friday, November 15, 2019
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Florida SHELLEY BENVENISTE FLORIDA EDITOR
IT’S MY OPINION
Accountability: The Buck Stops Where? It is difficult for individuals to take responsibility for their actions. Even those who are in a position of authority are hesitant to be held accountable. Apparently, the idea that “the buck stops here� has gone by the wayside. There always seems to be someone or something else to blame. Perhaps this attitude is just a component of human nature. However, the consequences of such thinking can be a formidable danger. If no one is ever to blame when things go wrong, there is no reason to examine current practices, ad-
mit errors, and work to improve a situation. Yes, there are certain happenings like tornadoes and tsunamis that come under the title of “acts of G-d� and are not influenced by human efforts. However, most of the misfortunes of life do not fall under this heading. The recent Florida Senate vote confirming Gov. Ron DeSantis’s removal of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel is a compelling example of this trend. Israel was the sheriff responsible for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida at the time of the 2018 massacre which resulted in the deaths of 17 students and staff members. Israel contends that he is innocent of charges that his lack of direction was, in part, responsible for the carnage. In reality, the department that Israel had led for six years was tragically unprepared for the horrific event. Even a mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale Airport in 2017, also an area in the sheriff’s jurisdiction, failed to result in the much needed revamping of department training. The details of the Parkland shooting are disturbing. Israel’s deputies remained outside listening to gunshots inside the school. The sheriff permitted his deputies to decide for themselves if they would enter a building in cases where a shooting was going on.
Red flags concerning the obviously disturbed shooter were grossly mishandled. The litany of acts of mismanagement goes on and on. When questioned about his part in the making of this tragedy, Scott Israel has said, “That responsibility is with the killer.� He “understands� the negative feelings directed toward him by the parents of the murdered children, but he thinks they are misdirected. Israel feels that his removal from office was a mistake, and he is confident that voters will reinstate him to his post. Israel will be running for the position of sheriff in the 2020 election. Unfortunately, Israel’s lack of self-reproach for his seeming culpability in this matter is not an anomaly. Admitting fault can be daunting. The recent observance of the Jewish New Year provides a countermeasure to deal with this dilemma. On Yom Kippur all worshippers stand together in the synagogue, reciting their sins aloud and asking for forgiveness. The viddui prayer, a communal confession, is an affirmation that all people make mistakes and that the solution is not to hide the fact, but to ask for forgiveness and vow to do better. We would be well served to remember this important truth in our daily lives. A little “Al Chet� (the confessional prayer) is good for us all.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS WHAT: CARLEBACH FRIDAY NIGHT - musical - lively - soulful. Bring your Jewish neighbors and friends and join the Shabbat Project with Jews in over 1,150 cities & 95 countries for one Shabbat as part of the global, grassroots movement that brings Jews from across the world together to celebrate Shabbat. WHERE: Young Israel Congregation, 9580 Abbott Ave., Surfside, FL WHEN: November 15 starting at 5:15 p.m. CONTACT: For more information, contact Steve Eisenberg at steveevents2019@gmail.com or 917945-7342, or Rabbi Avi Fried 305-619-7773
and Your Jewish Cancer Genes: Everything You Need to Know. Hear from Sharsheret’s Genetics Program Coordinator Peggy Cottrell, M.S., C.G.C., as she discusses how genetics and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer can impact you and your family. A Sharsheret peer supporter will share her personal story, and a live question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. A transcript and video recording will be available at www.sharsheret.org following the event. WHEN: Wednesday, November 20 at 8 p.m. COST: No charge CONTACT: For more information, contact Yael Baldinger at ybaldinger@sharsheret.org
***** WHAT: SHARSHERET INVITES YOU TO A FREE NATIONAL WEBINAR - You, Your Family,
***** WHAT: THE GREATER BOYNTON COMMUNITY KOLLEL - Welcome to South Florida’s
largest weekly Torah classes - Fall/Winter Semester 2019-20 WHERE: Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Boynton, 10655 El Clair Ranch Road, Boynton Beach, FL CONTACT: www.chabadboynton.com ***** WHAT: VIOLINS OF HOPE: STRINGS OF THE HOLOCAUST - a concert featuring violins that were played in the concentration camps during the Holocaust WHERE: The Shul, 9540 Collins Ave., Surfside FL WHEN: December 2, 2019, 8-10 p.m. COST: $54 per person CONTACT: Call 305-866-0203 or email yakira@ yicbh.org
PASSOVER at
• Oceanfront Resort & Multi-Million dollar World-Class Renovation • Gourmet Glatt Kosher Meals • Signature and VIP Suites • Family & Individual Packages available • Passover Catering and Takeout • Large and small groups are welcome • Exquisite Private Beachfront, Water and Sparkling Pools • Luxurious private halls for sedarim/yom tov meals
Maxie Beckman 305-975-5270
Book by December 15th
For Catering or to book an Event, Bar/Bat Mitzvah or Wedding call Monica at
5225 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33140 Chef Micha 954.548.6981 • 305.341.6501 • 4BMFT@alexanderhotel.com www.AlexanderHotel.com • www.OrchidMiamiBeach.com
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Florida Jewish Social Club For Seniors Back By Popular Demand by Mushky Sossonko Social interaction is beneficial for one’s health in many ways. It boosts feelings of well-being and can reduce various physical challenges. Café Chai is a Jewish social club that enables retirees and seniors to enjoy a delicious luncheon and an invigorating afternoon among friends. “Chai” means life. Café Chai aims to increase vitality and joy of life through its inspirational and entertaining programs. Attendees can Seniors enjoying luncheon at Café Chai Social Club. meet new people and engage in fascinating lectures and conversations. SE 3rd Street. Admission is free; donations are The Café Chai winter series will take place ev- welcome. Café Chai is a project of United Jewish ery month from November through April on the Generations. first Thursday of the month. Dates are: November For more information, visit www.unitedjewishge7, December 5, January 2, February 6, March 5, nerations.com/cafechai. Reservations are required. and April 2. The sessions will begin at 12:30 p.m. Email reserve@unitedjewishgenerations.com or call at the Hallandale Cultural Community Center, 410 305-770-4540.
The Ocean Pavilion Synagogue The Yamim Tovim are over. The weather up north feels welcome. Litvish, chassidish, Modern Orthohas already turned cold. Meanwhile, the ocean spar- dox, yeshivish, and even non-affiliated Jews all join kles, palm trees sway in the soft breeze, and South together in a way that is truly a beautiful kiddush Florida readies for another sunny and beautiful win- Hashem. Rabbi Sam Intrator has been the spiritual ter season. leader at the Ocean Pavilion Synagogue since 2005. Jewish visitors and seasonal residents often flock Intrator previously led the Carlebach Shul in Manto the area around 41st Street in Miami Beach. The hattan and was rabbi of the Saatchi Shul in London. profusion of kosher restaurants runs from coffee His wife and three beautiful children are very supshops to gourmet dining to well-stocked kosher shops. portive and assist in many of the shul’s programs as There are many opportuwell as the rabbi’s work nities for learning and atwith singles. tending Torah classes and This year Rabbi Inlectures. There are also trator has procured some many venues of entertainspecial new accommodament and organizations tions for his congregants. hosting dinners, concerts, There is a beautiful aron and programs at this time kodesh, a classical design of the year. with and oak wood finOne of the jewels of the ish on an octagonal base. neighborhood is a wonderThe four pillars highlight ful little shul located in two stars of David. The an oceanfront building. look is stunning. AnothThe KavanahLife Carleer addition are bookcases bach Minyan at the Ocean creating a free lending Pavilion, located at 5601 library available to those Collins Avenue, is not who stay at the Ocean only a place to daven, it Pavilion Building. The is a place where everyone rabbi is currently stockcan feel at home. The syn- Rabbi Sam Intrator at the new Ocean Pavilion Li- ing the shelves. agogue is located on the brary. Rabbi Intrator also mezzanine level and conheads KavanahLife Sinveniently accessible by use of the building’s Shabbos gles, an organization that draws Jewish singles from elevator as well as the beautiful staircase. It is the around the country to its popular programs. The group oldest continuously functioning synagogue on the hosts annual High Holiday retreats in beautiful hotels beach strip. in Miami Beach, and has also held weekends in BalDuring the “season,” the Ocean Pavilion shul holds timore and Phoenix. Its unique signature program a daily 8 a.m. shacharit minyan. Mincha and maariv consists of a “Power Discussion” moderated by Rabbi start at sunset every day. Every Friday night there Intrator. The conversation that is generated allows is a Carlebach Kabbalat Shabbat. Mincha begins ten singles to get to know one another better, and many minutes after candle-lighting. Shabbat morning ser- participants have met and gotten married as a result. vices are at 9 a.m. followed by a kiddush. A seuda For more information on the shul or singles’ group, shlishit is also served. call Rabbi Intrator at 786-201-1677. For information The atmosphere at the shul is warm and everyone on Ocean Pavilion, call Maxie at 305-975-5270.
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Florida ZOA Florida Holds “Heroes for Israelâ€? Dinner The Florida chapter of ZOA is proud to announce its second gala dinner, “Heroes for Israel,â€? to be held on Sunday, December 15 at Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus, 20350 NE 26th Avenue in North Miami Beach. Board member Liz Brauser will chair the event. Honorees are: The Hon. Ron DeSantis, governor of the State of Florida, Young Israel of Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale under the leadership of Rabbi Yosef Weinstock, and the Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation. Special guests for the evening will include ZOA national president Morton A. Klein and Deputy Consul General of Israel in Miami Kasa Harbor. At last year’s event, then Governor-elect DeSantis announced that his first foreign trip as governor would be to Israel. DeSantis fulfilled this promise, and brought a delegation of university presidents, CEOs, elected officials, and ZOA president Klein to Israel on his first official overseas visit. DeSantis has worked tirelessly on behalf of Israel, leading efforts to acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital, highlighting the relevance of the Shomron, prioritizing a strong U.S./Israeli relationship, expanding efforts to fight those seeking to counteract his anti-BDS initiative, and backing actions to (L to R:) ZOA Florida Executive Director Sharona Whisler, Governor Ron DeSantis, ZOA National President Morton combat anti-Semitism. The Governor will re- Klein (photo credit: Joey G Photography). ceive ZOA’s highest honor, the Zionist Hero Award, well-deserved for this champion of serious problem on college campuses, should present special event, go to https://weblink.donorperfect.com/ Israel. this award to the next generation of Zionist leaders. flheroesforisrael2019.com or contact fldinner@zoa. Young Israel of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale and To register or have a tribute included at this very org or 212-481-1500. its spiritual leader, Rabbi Yosef Weinstock, are also being honored at the dinner. They will receive the Pillar of the Community Award for exceptional commitment to Zionism and Israel. Their annual Yom Hazikaron commemoration and Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, the incredibly high number of youngsters from the synagogue who go on to serve in the Israel Defense Forces when they %RFD +DPOHW EHGURRP SOXV RႈFH WK EHGURRP ò EDWK SRRO KRPH )DEXORXV turn 18, and the recent DQG PRYH LQ UHDG\ &* SOXV H[WUD VWRUDJH URRP weekend dedicated to 7KRUQKLOO *UHHQ EHGURRP EDWK KRPH ZLWK D ODUJH VFUHHQHG LQ SDWLR DQG &* emotional support of for mer IDF soldiers are just /DV %ULVDV -867 /,67(' 0RYH LQ UHDG\ EHGURRP ò EDWK WRZQKRPH .LWFKHQ DQG a few of the reasons why PDVWHU KDYH WRWDOO\ the synagogue is a worthy EHHQ UHGRQH LQFOXGLQJ LPSDFW ZLQGRZV LQ PDVWHU EDWK DQG EHGURRP recipient of this award. %RFD 3DWLR 9LOODJH Finally, the Irving I. EHGURRP EDWK YLOOD 6LWV ULJKW EHKLQG WKH FRPPXQLW\ SRRO &* Moskowitz Foundation, 4ODAYgSČŠ*EWISHČŠ-USIC WITHČŠAČŠTASTEČŠOFČŠTHEČŠČŠPAST &DSWLYD whose late namesake was -867 /,67(' EHGURRP EDWK SRRO KRPH ZLWK D &* 0DVWHU VKRZHU LV as proud a Zionist as they QHZ DQG QG EDWK KDV EHHQ UHGRQH 7KH HOHFWULFDO SDQHOV DUH DOVR QHZ come, will be honored 3DODFLRV with presenting the Mos EHGURRP EDWK XSGDWHG NLWFKHQ QHZ Ă€RRULQJ SRRO &* 9LOODJH 'HO 0DU kowitz Student Leader EHGURRP EDWK XSGDWHG SRRO KRPH ZLWK D &* DQG ODUJH FRUQHU ORW Award to Jacob Covas, a junior at Florida Inter%R\QWRQ %HDFK %DQQRFN DW ,QGLDQ 6SULQJ national University who EHGURRP EDWK XSGDWHG FRQGR ZLWK D JROI YLHZ has exhibited exceptional )25 5(17 21 7+( &,5&/( activism, dedication, en7KRUQKLOO *UHHQ !LSOČŠLISTENČŠONLINEČŠAT EHGURRP ò EDWK PRYH LQ UHDG\ KRPH &* ergy, and leadership as a -867 /,67(' EHGURRP EDWK KRPH 1LFH EDFN\DUG Zionist. It is fitting that a &DSWLYD 5HQRYDWHG EHGURRP EDWK KRPH ZLWK &* foundation that has long had a devoted commit&ORČŠADVERTISINGČŠINFORMATION ment to ensuring a prosperous future for Israel and the Jewish people, RONI 3HALOM3OUTH&LORIDA COM especially at time when anti-Semitism is such a