Friday, December 27, 2019
The Jewish Press
Page 81
Florida SHELLEY BENVENISTE FLORIDA EDITOR
IT’S MY OPINION
Getting Mixed Up With The Wrong Crowd This is a cautionary tale of a girl who got mixed up with the wrong crowd and sadly went off the derech. There is much to learn from her unfortunate fall from grace. Police in Sarasota, Florida reported the case of a unique crime spree and its unconventional accomplice. It seems that a bulldog named Maggie was part of a suspected burglary ring. The canine was taken from
her California home four years ago and fell into a life of crime with the two people who are said to have kidnapped her. It seems that at least eight burglaries took place with Maggie acting as a co-conspirator. Was the dog used as a lookout? A sentry? A distraction? We will never know for sure. Maggie isn’t talking. She has assumed “omerta,” the Mafia code of silence. How was it possible that a docile house pet emerged so quickly as a willing partner to wanton lawlessness? The attitudes and behavior of one’s companions can have tremendous influence. There is a tendency to give acceptance to the thoughts and actions of those who surround us. The dog-napping couple has been arrested. Thanks to an imbedded identification chip, Maggie was returned to her home. However, there are several questions that remain to be answered. Why didn’t Maggie bolt from her captors when the opportunity arose? Surely, there were times that she could have escaped. Did Maggie suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, a disorder in which hostages identify with
their captors, forming a psychological bond – or did she just enjoy the thrill of her new and exciting life? Hopefully, Maggie will get counseling and work out her issues. Meanwhile, we should all be aware of how easily it is to succumb to negative influence. This unlikely scenario can give us a chuckle, but the underlying theme is certainly not funny. Falling in with bad company can be a disastrous occurrence. It becomes easy to follow these individuals and model their behavior. Parents need to carefully guide their children as to whom they spend time with. However, the need to be surrounded by good influences is not limited to youngsters. Adults also need to have positive role models around them. Unseemly influence can occur in very insidious ways. Machiavellian individuals are often quite charming. Jewish tradition has a countermeasure for this dilemma: In Pirkei Avot, the first mishna of Chapter 1 instructs, “Distance yourself from a bad neighbor, don’t attach yourself to a wicked person, and don’t divert your mind from the possibility that bad things can happen to you.”
Yotzer Ohr Presents School-Produced Film Yotzer Ohr is a new and innovative Orthodox Jewish Art School accommodating girls from grades 6 through 12. Yotzer Ohr features small class sizes, individual attention, and a focus on emotional intelligence. In addition to a full Judaic and college prep curriculum, the school offers art, dance, music, cooking, film, and more. On Sunday, December 15, the school kicked off their season with a special showing of their newest school-produced movie. Film producer and director Farrell Goldsmith noted how impressed he was at the level of talent and commitment shown by the students. The girls were able to film two episodes of their new, annually recurring series last year, which they premiered in front of a large crowd at KSpace Miami in the Waterways. This week, they’re back at work as they begin filming the next two installments of their series.
Principal Nietzah Benbenishti says that she especially loves that “the girls are involved in the production. They’re learning about set design, wardrobe, makeup, lighting, and film techniques.” Yotzer Ohr continues to impress with its unique and highly effective educational methods and programs. This year’s production promises to be a huge success. The school is located in Aventura, Florida. For more information, call Mrs. Benbenishti at 786-2900216.
Young Israel Congregation
Girls of Yotzer Ohr working on their new movie.
Invites the community to a Scholar-in-Residence Shabbaton
Malcolm Hoenlein
Shabbos Parshas Vayigash January 3-4 Young Israel Congregation 9580 Abbott Ave Surfside, FL 33154
Friday Night Lecture Challenges Facing Israel and World Jewry in 2020 Shabbos Morning DrashaAnti Semitism in the World and America
SUNDAY MORNINGS 9:30 -11:00AM ON WWNN 1470AM & WWNNradio.com
WWW.ShalomSouthFlorida.com
Shabbos Afternoon Seuda Shlishit For Men and WomenQuestion / Answer Session
Attendance, Including Shabbos Dinner by Advance Reservations Only Member $80 • Non-member $90 Children (under 12) $25 Reservation must be made by 12/30/19 Limited Space Reserve Early! Call (305) 866-0203 or email yakira@yicbh.org
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The Jewish Press
Friday, December 27, 2019
Florida Children At CEC Celebrate Chanukah
Children in the class of Morahs Chaya Wolff, Chana Mochkin, Rivka Ostrowiakm, and Sandra Baranes delight the audience at their Chanukah show.
The children at the Child Enrichment Center (CEC) of The Shul of Bal Harbour have been busy getting into the Chanukah spirit. The preschoolers learned the story of Chanukah and worked to decorate their classrooms. On Wednesday, December 18, the youngsters put on a charming musical perfor-
mance for their parents and grandparents. Dressed as latkes, candles, dreidels, Maccabees, and sufganiyot, the children sang and danced. After the show, the children and their families created beautiful mosaic menorahs and enjoyed delicious donuts. Happy Chanukah!
Yud Tes Kislev Celebration In Miami Beach The Capt. Hyman P. Galbut Jewish Learning Center-Chabad, located at 41st Street in Miami Beach, hosted the Grand Annual Celebration of YudTes Kislev and annual completion of Shas for South Florida. Speakers included world-renowned lecturer and chasid HaRav Shimon Raichik, and HaRav Yehuda Leib Schapiro, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah and rav of Beis Menachem of Miami Beach. The celebration was followed by a farbrengen. Led by directors Rabbi Dovid Shapiro and Rabbi Yitzchok Teitelbaum, Anshei Lubavitch Boys enjoy a lively celebration of Yud-Tes Kislev. of Miami and The Capt. Hyman P. Galbut Jewish Learning Center-Chabad about this and upcoming events, visit www.jlconline. co-hosted the celebration. For more information org.
Young Israel Congregation: A Program For All The Young Israel Congregation located at 9580 Abbott Avenue in Surfside, Florida, has programs for everyone in the community. Children’s youth groups meet every Shabbat morning and create a beautiful experience for youngsters of all ages. Father-and-child learning takes place every Motzei Shabbat at 7 p.m. Teens are welcome. Rabbi Yossi Manne hosts a fun atmosphere with fresh pizza, great prizes, storytelling, and best of all, time to bond. Sunday after the 8 a.m. minyan and Monday through Friday after the 7 a.m. minyan features Daf Yomi with Rabbi Aryeh Citron. The congregants are studying the last masechet in Shas, Masechet Niddah. Now is a great time to join the shiur. The ladies’ Tehillim group meets in the beis midrash on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. “Want to Get the Most Out of Life? Learn the tools to deal with life’s challenges - Inspirational Lessons from the Torah” takes place on Monday nights at 7:30 p.m. with Rabbi Yaakov Laredo. Men and women are invited.
Refreshments are served. On Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., Rabbi Moshe Gruenstein, spiritual leader of the congregation, presents a weekly shiur on the book of Shmuel, The user-friendly sessions take the lessons of Tanach and apply them to our everyday lives. The YICBH Youth program proudly presents Chanukah Party 2019 on Sunday, December 29 from 12-2 p.m. Festivities will include carnival games, Ninja wall, menorah and dreidel crafting, cookie decorating, music, and food and drinks. For more information, contact Elijah Salver at 305-336-1328. The Young Israel Congregation is famous for its Scholar-in-Residence events. The program featuring Malcolm Hoenlein on Shabbos Parshas Vayigash, January 3-4 promises to be an amazing event. Dinner on Friday night is available by advance reservation only. Cost is $80 for members, $90 for non-members, and $25 for children under 12. Seating is limited. To make reservations or for more information, contact Yakira at 305-866-0203 or yakira@yicbh.org.
Friday, December 27, 2019
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The Jewish Press
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Florida Torah Academy Of Boca Raton 5th Grade Boys Enjoy A Pizza Party Last week, Rabbi Guttman’s 5th grade boys enjoyed a pizza party courtesy of Masmidei HaSiyum. Masmidei HaSiyum is an organization that encourages boys in yeshivas throughout the world to do extra learning and call in to report what they have accomplished. The aim is to include youngsters in the celebration of the upcoming worldwide Siyum HaShas on January 1, 2020. Masmidei HaSiyum also runs raffles throughout the year, and a few weeks ago the 5th grade in Torah Academy won first place. The fun continued when the students discovered that there was another Rabbi Guttman who teaches in Brooklyn and whose class had won the second-place prize that same week! Arrangements were made for the two classes to wish each other mazel tov over the phone during class. The Torah Academy boys offered to pool together a few dollars to bring the Brooklyn class up to the same prize level that the Boca boys had been awarded. The Torah Academy boys were so happy to do this unexpected kind gesture. Mazel tov to the 5th grade for all of their beautiful learning and for their display of kindness bein adam le’chaveiro. Boys celebrate their learning with a pizza party courtesy of Masmidei HaSiyum.
RASG Hebrew Academy Girls Perform Grease The girls of the RASG Hebrew Academy in Mi- Stiflel, Alexa Szafranski, and Ella Zaret. ami Beach recently presented the iconic teenage tale The RASG Hebrew Academy is a Modern OrGrease. The two performances took place on Saturday thodox Jewish Day School accommodating students night, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 in the through 12th grade. The school is located at 2400 school’s auditorium. The Pine Tree Drive, Miami cast performed a delightBeach. Call 305-532-6421 ful musical journey that for more information. took the audience back to the 1950s and inside Hebrew Academy cast and the challenges and trials crew of Grease. facing students at Rydell High School. Grease is a journey to another deBoca Hamlet cade, yet it deals with 4 bedroom plus oďŹƒce/5th bedroom 4 ½ bath pool home. many of the same issues Fabulous and move-in ready. 2CG plus extra storage room. faced by all young people $1,325,000.00 through the ages. Boca Patio Village The talented cast took 3 bedroom 2 bath villa. Sits right behind the community pool. 1CG $339,000.00 on an ambitious task, as Captiva this was not an easy pro3 bedroom 2 bath pool home with a 2CG. Master shower is duction to put together. at new and Sandy Durst, play direc2nd bath has been redone. The electrical panels are also new! tor and Hebrew Academy $599,000.00 drama teacher, coordinatPalacios ed the efforts. The “guysâ€? 2 bedroom 2 bath updated kitchen new ooring, pool, 2CG $579,900.00 and gals of Rydell High 3 bedroom 2 bath, amazing kitchen, indoor laundry, danced, sang, and acted and so much more. 2CG $635,000.00 with finesse. The creative Village Del Mar sets, props, choreogra3bedroom 2 bath updated move-in ready pool home with a phy, and pacing were all 2CG and large corner lot $750,000.00 well-executed. The result Boynton Beach was a thoroughly funBannock at Indian Spring 2 bedroom 2 bath updated condo with a golf view. $189,999.00 filled and entertaining FOR RENT ON THE CIRCLE show. • Oceanfront Resort & Multi-Million dollar World-Class Renovation Thornhill Green Members of the cast • Gourmet Glatt Kosher Meals • Signature and VIP Suites 4 bedroom 2 ½ bath move-in ready home 2CG included: Michaela Ace• Family & Individual Packages available • Passover Catering and Takeout 5 bedroom 3 bath home. Nice backyard. vedo, Natalie Alishayev, • Large and small groups are welcome Captiva Sarah Attias, Shirel Ba• Exquisite Private Beachfront, Water and Sparkling Pools Renovated 3 bedroom 2 bath home with 2CG • Luxurious private halls for sedarim/yom tov meals ranes, Michelle Behar, Devorah Benveniste, Book by December 15th Mary Berkowitz, TzyioFor Catering or to book an Event, na Gheblikian, Ariella Bar/Bat Mitzvah or Wedding call Monica at Jaimovich, Avigail Kahn, Esther Nahon, Jaclyn 5225 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33140 Nussenblatt, Eliana PolChef Micha 954.548.6981 • 305.341.6501 • 4BMFT@alexanderhotel.com www.AlexanderHotel.com • www.OrchidMiamiBeach.com lack, Bailey Spitz, Chana
PASSOVER
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